Ohio Mixed Bag: New openings at Appalachian Hills

McConnelsville, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio DNR (ODNR) Director Mary Mertz recently celebrated the opening of two recreation sites aimed at providing a deeper connection to Ohio’s great outdoors in the Appalachian region.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the opening of the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area Visitor Center and a new campground and cabins at nearby Jesse Owens State Park.

“The new visitor center, cabins, and campground in the Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area and Jesse Owens State Park will be great new resources for those who love exploring the great outdoors while also supporting the greater community through increased tourism and economic activity,” said DeWine.

The Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area contains 54,525 acres of land in Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, and Noble counties. The property is reclaimed mining land previously owned by AEP. The majority of the acreage was transferred to the state under the DeWine administration.

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Killdeer Legacy Stamps on Sale Now

Columbus — Conservationists can support wildlife by purchasing the 2026 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, according to the Ohio DNR (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This year’s legacy stamp is on sale now and features a killdeer and its fledgling. A killdeer is a popular and vocal shorebird found throughout Ohio.

Each year, the legacy stamp showcases a photograph of Ohio’s native wildlife species, selected through an annual contest. The killdeer photo featured on this year’s stamp was taken by Jennifer Beck, of Lyndhurst. Beck is a two-time winner of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp photo competition. Her photo of a bald eagle and an eaglet was featured on the 2022 legacy stamp.

A killdeer is one of Ohio’s most abundant shorebirds, found on beaches and in wetlands, bare fields, grassy lawns, and even parking lots. Killdeer lay well-camouflaged eggs in gravel and successfully nest along driveways or on rooftops, as well as more natural habitats. Killdeer are named for their loud, sharp call, a repeated “kill-deer” sound. This shorebird is easy to identify with two broad, black bands across its breast and a rusty-colored tail.

For $15, Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp purchasers receive a collectible stamp and commemorative card. Stamp holders can also receive a discount on stays at nine of Ohio’s state park lodges. Purchase the legacy stamp at wildohio.gov or through the HuntFish OH mobile app.

All of the stamp’s proceeds go to wildlife conservation with most benefiting species of greatest conservation need. Every year, the Division of Wildlife donates $1 from every stamp sold to the Southern Wings program, which protects the overwintering habitats of Neotropical migratory birds that pass through Ohio.

Protection Urged for Wood Turtles

Washington, D.C. — The Center for Biological Diversity and 66 organizations and individuals urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect wood turtles as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. These rare turtles were once common across the Northeast and the upper Midwest.

“Wood turtles are disappearing at an alarming rate. Without the lifeline of the Endangered Species Act, I’m afraid they’ll slide into extinction,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior advocate at the Center. “The Trump administration must do its job and protect these turtles before it’s too late.”

The organizations’ letter to the USFWS says wood turtles are one of the most imperiled turtle species in North America, having lost more than half of their suitable habitat over the last century because of urbanization and agriculture. The remaining places where the turtles survive face new threats from development, roads, fragmentation, poaching, and predation. Populations have experienced a 50% decline in less than 10 years.

In 2012, the Center and allies petitioned the USFWS to protect wood turtles under the Act. In 2016, the Center filed a lawsuit to push the USFWS to set a firm date for making a decision on the turtle’s protection, which is now more than a decade overdue.

There have been widespread reports of declining populations in many locations, with likely only a small number of places left where the animals can survive long term, according to the Center.

New Zanesville Trail Recently Dedicated

Zanesville, Ohio — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine recently joined leaders from the city of Zanesville, Muskingum Valley Park District, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, and the Ohio DNR to break ground on a new walking and biking trail along the banks of the Muskingum River.

The new Canal Park Trail will begin at East Main Street in Zanesville, proceed along the riverfront through Muskingum River State Park, and end at the historic Lock and Dam No. 10. It will feature benches, picnic tables, an ADA accessible kayak launch, a deck overlooking the river, and an amphitheater for public events. Local partners hope to eventually connect the Canal Park Trail to other local trails, creating a continuous paved recreational trail from South Zanesville to Dresden.

The project is being funded with a $1.1 million grant from DeWine’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative. The initiative is part of the larger Appalachian Community Grant Program that is investing $500 million into Ohio’s Appalachian region.

In addition to the Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative, the Appalachian Community Grant Program also includes the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, which has launched school-based health clinics throughout the region, and the Appalachian Downtowns and Destinations Initiative, which is focused on raising the region’s profile.