Changes in Ohio Endangered Species List

February 4, 2002
news release of the Ohio DNR

During a quarterly meeting of the Ohio Wildlife Council in early January, the ODNR Division of Wildlife proposed several changes to the state’s endangered species list. The proposed changes would see river otters removed from the state list of endangered species, and cattle egrets added to the list. Several other bird species would be moved from endangered to threatened status, and others moved from endangered status to either species of concern or special interest status.

Barn owls, dark-eyed juncos, hermit thrushes, least bitterns and yellow-crowned night-herons will be moved from endangered to threatened status; sedge wrens will be moved from endangered to a species of concern and Canada warblers, little blue herons, magnolia warblers, northern waterthrushes and winter wrens will be moved from endangered to special interest status.

“This is good news for several species of Ohio wildlife. Our biologists determined that populations are stable for these species, and that's why we propose changing their listings,” said Mike Budzik, chief of the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

Open house forums will be held in each of the five wildlife agency districts from noon until 3 p.m. on March 3 to allow the public to provide their input on these changes. These forums provide the public opportunities to view and discuss proposed changes with Division of Wildlife personnel. Directions to the meetings can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

A statewide hearing on the proposed rules will be held Thursday March 14 at 9 a.m. at the wildlife agency's District One office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After reviewing public input, the Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed changes during its April 10 meeting.