Prior to settlement Ohio was home to a wide variety of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. Extirpation of large carnivores out of fear and over hunting of many species seen as an “unlimited resource” put many species on the brink.
Regulations on hunting, trapping, and fishing as well as the creation of the Ohio Division of Wildlife have lead to many population recoveries. We now have healthy populations of many game species. Meanwhile, a number of various species are currently facing continuous declines from pressures such as habitat loss, disease, and invasive species.
