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Three Ohio raptor species making a comeback

January 13, 2008 @ 11:54 AM

Herald-Dispatch.com

COLUMBUS, OH - Wildlife biologists proposed to change the status of three Ohio raptors from endangered to threatened at the January 9 Ohio Wildlife Council meeting, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
 
"Down-listing is a tribute to the dedication and hard work of biologists and volunteers across the state that assisted in the restoration of these raptors," said David M. Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife. 

Bald eagles, peregrine falcons and osprey will continue to be protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. And, the bald eagle will have additional protection under the Bald Eagle Protection Act. Killing any threatened or endangered species can result in a significant criminal charge and fine.

 

Ohio adopted its first list of endangered wildlife in 1974, listing 71 species. An extensive examination of the list is conducted every five years.  Wildlife officials solicited comments from more than 100 research biologists, noted professional and amateur wildlife experts, and academics before proposing the current de-listing. 

 

Ohio's current list includes six categories of classification, encompassing 352 species. The categories include: endangered, 128 species; threatened, 47 species; species of concern, 93 species; special interest, 41 species; extirpated, 34 species; and extinct, 9 species. Visit wildohio.com for more information on the state-listed species.

 

Revisions will also add five animals to the species of concern list. The additions include the smooth earth, smooth green, and queen snakes; ground skink; and Blanchard's cricket frog.

 

Open houses will be held on Sunday, March 2 in each of the state's five wildlife district offices to provide the public an opportunity to discuss proposed changes with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.

 

A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, March 6 at the wildlife division's District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed changes during its April 2 meeting.