Ohio Mixed Bag: Ohio bear struck by motorist, euthanized

Mansfield, Ohio — A black bear was struck and severely injured by a motorist on a rural road in Richland County.

The bear suffered serious injuries and had to be euthanized, according to the ODNR Division of Wildlife.

The driver of the pickup truck that struck the bear on State Route 546 near Black Road was not injured.

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the pickup truck was pulling a livestock trailer when the bear entered the roadway. Wildlife officers and state patrol troopers responded to the scene.

Black bear sightings in Ohio are rare, according to ODNR, providing information to WLWT TV in Cincinnati that this was just the fifth bear sighting in the county since the early 1990s.

However, there’s been an uptick in sightings of the Ohio endangered animal recently, most notably in Licking and Morrow counties in central Ohio.

The Division of Wildlife reminds residents not to approach bears if encountered. Instead, report sightings to the Ohio Division of Wildlife at wildohio.gov or local authorities. Tracking these sightings helps biologists monitor Ohio’s growing black bear population.

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Ohio budget wrangling could cost DNR funds

Dingell-Johnson Act Up For Reapproval

Alexandria, Virginia — Congressional Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) recently introduced the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025 (H.R. 3858) in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would reauthorize the Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act through 2031.

Originally passed in 1950 and widely supported by the sportfishing industry and recreational fishing community, the Dingell- Johnson Act created the Sport Fish Restoration Fund, which collects an excise tax of up to 10% on the sale of most fishing equipment. This excise tax is distributed to states, tribes and territories to fund habitat restoration, fisheries research and access improvements.

The excise tax on sportfishing equipment is considered one of the most successful “user pay, public benefit” programs in the world and a cornerstone of the American conservation model. Since its inception, the Sport Fish Restoration Fund has generated over $12 billion, created and improved more than 9,000 public boating and fishing access sites, supported 320 fish hatcheries that stock around 1 billion fish annually, and funded aquatic education programs that have introduced over 850,000 people to fishing.

The current authorization of the Dingell-Johnson Act expires in late 2026.

JB Hodgdon Dies At Age 88

Lawrence, Kansas — John Brewster “JB” Hodgdon of the Hodgdon Powder Co. passed away on June 13 at the age of 88. A lifelong resident of Kansas, Hodgdon was born on October 16, 1936. He grew up in suburban Kansas City and was extremely active in his hometown community with first responders, Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America), and the classic car community holding special places in his heart. He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1959 with a degree in business.

In his career, Mr. Hodgdon held many roles at the Hodgdon Powder Co. In the early days, he packaged powder at the family dining room table. He led international sales and served as the face of Hodgdon at industry trade shows. He served on the Hodgdon board in various roles, including board chair, for many years and was named Chairman Emeritus in 2025. With his brother Bob, JB continued the legacy of Hodgdon Powder Co. started by his father and grew the company into the preeminent supplier of gunpowder and black powder substitutes.

Comment Period On Waterfowl Zones Open Until July 9

Columbus — The public comment period for revised waterfowl hunting zones for the 2026 to 2030 seasons is open now until Wednesday, July 9, according to the Ohio DNR (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

The Ohio Wildlife Council received the proposal for the waterfowl zone revisions in late April. In the new proposal, Zone A falls in northwest Ohio, Zone B includes northeast Ohio and some areas in northwest Ohio, and Zone C comprises the remainder of the state. A map and description of the proposed zones can be found at wildohio.gov. Hunters should note that under the proposed rules the waters of Lake Erie are part of Zone B, and the Zone A boundary extends 100 yards offshore into Lake Erie.

Public comments on the proposal are accepted at wildohio.gov. A statewide hearing on the proposed rules will be held on Wednesday, July 16. The proposed waterfowl hunting zones were created in response to waterfowl hunter surveys and within regulation frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As in past seasons, the proposal includes three zones. The current waterfowl zones remain in place for the upcoming 2025-26 duck and goose hunting seasons. If approved, the proposed zone change would take effect for the 2026-27 waterfowl hunting season.

Whitetails Unlimited Donates To FHFH

Columbus — During the past fiscal year, Whitetails Unlimited has granted $17,800 to Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry (FHFH). FHFH focuses on partnering with butchers to cover the costs of processing meat from deer and other big game animals. The meat is then distributed to area food banks for those in need. This is made possible because hunters in some parts of the country can harvest more deer than they can eat or share with their friends and family.

To learn more, visit its website at https://feedingthehungry.org.