The birth of Ohio conservation

This is part two of a four part series. In the span of only a few generations, settlement, intensifying agriculture, abrupt changes in habitat and unchecked harvest took a heavy toll on Ohio's native wildlife. Following the killing of the state's last bison near Vesuvius Furnace, mountain lions, beaver, elk, gray wolves, black bears and bobcats were all considered gone by 1850. While many of these losses seemed to occur with little public outcry, the killing of native songbirds did raise concern. In 1857, the legislature passed a nongame protection law making it unlawful to kill or injure bluebirds, martins, mockingbirds, swallows, cardinals, catbirds, robins or sparrows on public lands or upon the lands of another. The original bill suggested that the passenger pigeon also be protected. A committee selected to examine the issue saw little need: "The passenger pigeon needs no protection. Wonderfully prolific, having the vast forests of the North as its breeding grounds, traveling hundreds of miles in search of food, it is here today and elsewhere tomorrow, and no ordinary destruction can lessen them, or be missed from the myriads that are yearly produced." It would be a century before additional rules were passed to protect other nongame animals. By then, of course, the passenger pigeon would provide a grim lesson in the danger of assuming abundance meant permanence. Wildlife on land was not the legislature's only concern. Fish numbers in Ohio's rivers and streams were also diminishing. Water mills used for manufacturing and grist-grinding occupied about 1,000 sites along the state's waterways. The accompanying dams were having substantial effects on fisheries, preventing many important fish species from making their natural migrations to spawning grounds. The obstructions also compounded the effects of stream pollution and drought. As early as 1838, Dr. Jared P. Kirtland, a renowned Cleveland ichthyologist, had recognized the problem: "The early settlers of this state derived abundant supplies of fish from the different rivers, but as of late, many of the finest species have forsaken their resorts owing, in a great measure, to the obstructions occasioned by the construction of so many dams. A sluiceway in every dam should be provided to allow them free passage up and down the streams in conformity to their instinctive laws of migration." Kirtland's words did not go unheard, although it took some time for them to ring through the halls of the state capital. Ohio's first law protecting fish was passed on April 17, 1852, "making it illegal to prevent the natural transit of fish in navigable streams and lakes." In 1871, chutes were mandated to allow fish passage. The problems, however, were becoming larger than dams. Agriculture continued to dominate Ohio's economy, but industrialization increased dramatically following the Civil War. With the state's population approaching three million, transportation improving and industrial jobs booming, Ohio's cities swelled with newcomers seeking work. There were few regulations governing runoff, industrial spillage or waste disposal, and the state's waterways—including Lake Erie—were suffering the consequences. Fish populations began showing the combined effects of pollution, agricultural and mining runoff, dams and other ecological changes. Legislators received complaints about degraded waterways and dead and dying fish. Sport and commercial fishermen alike reported sizeable reductions in the fish they depended upon, whether destined for a family table, restaurant or store counter. They increasingly insisted that something be done. Ohio's legislature, during the administration of Governor Edward Follansbee Noyes, examined the fisheries problems confronting the state. Lawmakers decided the public—and the resource itself—deserved an answer, or at the very least the beginning of one. In 1873, Ohio created its first state agency charged with exploring ways to reverse the losses. Three men were selected for the newly established Ohio Fish Commission: John C. Fisher of Coshocton, Robert Cummings of Toledo and John H. Klippart of Columbus. Their assignment was considerable: "It shall be the duty of the commissioners to examine the various rivers, lakes, ponds and streams of the State of Ohio, with a view of ascertaining whether they can be rendered more productive of fish, and what measures are desirable to effect this project, either in restoring the production of fish in them or in protecting or propagating the fish that at present frequent them; said commissioners shall inquire into the matter of the artificial propagation of the fish in the various waters throughout the state; and any recommendations they may have to offer, at the next meeting of the General Assembly of this state." By 1875, the Fish Commission was investigating fish propagation and the creation of hatcheries while also approving the introduction of German carp and Atlantic salmon. Fish stocking was emerging as one possible means of supplementing dwindling wild populations. The commissioners were not optimistic that Ohio's native fisheries would recover on their own. Their assessment was remarkably bleak: "It affords substantial grounds for believing the total extinction of fish life in Ohio is drawing near." That prediction struck a nerve with the General Assembly. This was no longer simply a matter for naturalists and fishermen. Fisheries were part of Ohio's economy and an important source of food. Legislators could hardly expect voters to remain patient while a resource once taken for granted disappeared from the state's rivers—and potentially from its kitchen tables. Nor were fish the only warning. As Ohio approached its 80th year, 83 percent of the state's once-vast forests had been cleared. Most of the large animals that had inhabited Ohio had been extirpated or soon would be. Other species—including passenger pigeons, Carolina parakeets and prairie chickens—were declining rapidly. Even wild turkeys and white-tailed deer had become scarce. In less than a century, Ohio had transformed itself from a largely forested wilderness into an agricultural and increasingly industrial state. Prosperity had come with a bill attached, and wildlife and waterways were helping to pay it. The Ohio General Assembly was beginning to understand that repairing the damage would require more than an occasional law protecting a bird or opening a passage through a mill dam. It was about to take another aggressive step toward what would eventually become modern wildlife conservation. "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." – Aldo Leopold Along the Way During the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) honored 13 recipients for their achievements in conservation and protection of Ohio's natural resources with a special ceremony; inducting six people into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame. A local Seneca County man was among those celebrated. H. Thomas Bartlett: Tom Bartlett (Seneca County) is a beloved and respected retired high school biology teacher who has been banding birds and spreading a love of birding for more than 50 years in northwestern Ohio and across the Lake Erie islands. In 2021, he banded his 100,000th bird, a northern saw-whet owl. Tom's research through banding has directly contributed to the scientific understanding of bird populations, migration patterns, and ecosystem health. Tom also founded the Big Sit, an annual fundraiser for the Black Swamp Bird Observatory of which he was a charter member. Other inductees included: Pamela Dillon: For five decades, Pamela Dillon demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and service to Ohio's natural resources, especially in boating safety, waterway management, paddle sports, and outdoor recreation. Bill Frost: Frost has been a stalwart in hunter safety education for youth in south-central Ohio for nearly half a century. He has taught at least 5,000 youth hunters. Today, Bill continues his hunting safety course at Logan Elm High School in Pickaway County. Frances Beasley, of Columbus: Frances Beasley's passion for conservation began in the 1970s. Her leadership established the Noe Bixby Road Urban Scenic Byway, an award-winning national model of watershed protection on Columbus' east side. Doug Gonzalez: Gonzalez has more than 40 years of experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry, and a pioneer in directional drilling, but it's his work and techniques with plugging idle and abandoned oil wells, called orphan wells, that have been a huge asset for Ohio. His efforts improved the health and safety of hundreds of orphan well sites, including many that were leaking oil, gas, and brine into nearby waterways. Terry Cosby: Cosby has been dedicated to public service and conservation since his first job as an intern with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service up through his final role as chief from May 2021 until retirement in January 2025. He also spent 16 years as the Ohio State Conservationist, leading efforts such as establishing Ohio as the first state in the nation to use Environmental Quality Incentive Program funds for forest management practices. He currently serves on the Ohio Wildlife Council. Step Outside • Thursday: Trap and Skeet Practice, open to the public. 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. UCOA, 6943 Marion Township 243, Findlay. • Sept. 6: Primitive Blackpowder Muzzle Loader Match, round ball only, Bull Match. 1 p.m. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders Club, 8831 Township Rd. 19, McComb. Email: roadkill4u@hotmail.com. On Facebook: Visit: www.facebook.com/findlayblackswampmuzzleloaders • Sept. 6: Trap Shoot, 1 p.m. Mount Blanchard Gun Club, 21655 Delaware Township 186. You can find them on Facebook. • Sept. 26: 3-D Archery Match, this shoot will be the popular Whitetail Warm-Up. Time to get ready for the hunting season! Field and Stream Bowhunters; 11400 Allen Township 109, Findlay. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Contact: John Fenimore at 419-957-8764. • Upcoming Hunting Seasons Openers: — Sept. 1-Nov. 9: Dove Season— Sept. 1-Jan. 31: Squirrel Season— Sept. 13-Feb. 1: DSA (Disease Surveillance Area) Deer Season. See you hunting digest or visit wildohio.gov for full details.— Sept. 6-14: Early Canada Goose and Teal Seasons— Sept. 27-Feb. 1: Deer: Statewide Archery Season Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via e-mail at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.