NUISANCE ANIMALS IN OHIO

Eastern Fox Squirrel : The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is one of four squirrel species in Ohio; gray, red, and flying squirrels are the other three. Of the four, the fox squirrel is the largest. Fox squirrels were not originally inhabitants of Ohio. The extensive, heavily wooded forest of pre-settlement Ohio was not their preferred habitat. Only when settlement cleared some of the dense woods away and provided open areas and fewer dense woodlots did the fox squirrel start to make Ohio home, moving into the area from the geographical Midwest prairie edge.

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Eastern Gray Squirrel : The gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) was one of the most populous species of wildlife in Ohio at the time of settlement. Gray squirrels had extensive habitat in the state taking advantage of the widespread forest in Ohio. Early historical records speak of gray squirrel populations so dense that "...it took a month for an army of squirrels to pass." In fact, gray squirrels disrupted early agricultural efforts in the state to such an extent that Ohio law required each taxpayer to turn in a quota of squirrel skins along with his tax payment. But, as the human population grew and more land was cleared, elimination practices continued and gray squirrel numbers begin to dwindle. By 1885, hunting laws were enacted restricting the hunting seasons and bag limits for the gray squirrel.

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Red Squirrel : Red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) store conifer cones in middens, or piles, instead of burying them like their larger cousins do. The middens made by red squirrels can be up to 30 feet across and 1.5 feet deep!

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Southern Flying Squirrel : The flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) may be one of the most common squirrels in Ohio, but because they are nocturnal and seldom seen, they often go unnoticed.

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Eastern Chipmunk : This squirrel-like mammal inhabits deciduous forests and brushy areas. The name chipmunk comes from the noise "chip, chip, chip" commonly made by these furry animals.

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Canada Goose : Before 1950, Canada geese (Branta canidensis) were only known as migrants and winter visitors to Ohio. In the early 1950s, the Ohio Division of Wildlife initiated a program to establish resident flocks within the state. These introduction efforts were immediately successful. The Canada goose is a large gray-bodied bird with a black head and a long black neck. The best field mark is the large white cheek and throat patch. The sexes are alike. The size of this goose varies considerably - some are the size of a large duck and others are two to three times larger. At least 10 distinct subspecies exist. 

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Roosting Birds : Sparrows, starlings and pigeons are the most troublesome of the birds commonly found in the urban environment. When these birds congregate in large numbers their droppings can create a foul-smelling, unsightly mess.

Netting can effectively be used to exclude birds from virtually any kind of structure and from roosting or nesting in trees. The net will not entangle birds. Netting may be draped across the front of buildings; fasten it tightly from above windows to below the ledge to discourage perching.

Most birds prefer to perch on flat surfaces. Surfaces with an angle of 60 degrees or greater cause birds to slide off when they try to land. Wood or metal sheathing cut at an angle can also be added to the problem area. Another deterrent is to install porcupine wire on ledges and rails where birds roost. Thinning tree branches will remove perch sites and reduce a source of wind protection, which may force the birds to move to another site. Combinations of noise (AM/FM radio, wind chimes, firecrackers, banging pots and pans) and visual stimuli (colored flags, reflective tape, revolving lights, balloons, replicas of hawks and owls) used persistently can evict birds. Control measures should be initiated as soon as the problem is identified.

Raccoon : Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are found in all parts of Ohio. For many years our raccoon population has been growing. They have moved into towns and cities and can live almost any place where there is food for them to eat and a den to serve as shelter. Many of them live, temporarily at least, in drain tiles and sewer systems. There is little wonder why they are plump, as raccoons will sample anything that even remotely resembles food.

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Woodchuck / Groundhog : When Ohio was first settled, groundhogs, also known as woodchucks (Marmota monax), were a rare sight. However, as Ohio’s forested land was cleared for agricultural production, the number of groundhogs increased. Today, groundhogs can be found in all of Ohio’s 88 counties as well as throughout most of North America. Groundhogs are prevalent in the sandy gravel soil of east-central Ohio.

Groundhogs must put on a thick layer of fat to survive their hibernation through the winter months. In the early fall, groundhogs begin to ready themselves for hibernation by spending most of their time eating. Hibernation comes to an end as the first warm days of spring arrive. This is when the groundhog will see, or not see, its shadow (according to legend)!

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Virginia Opossum: The opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is North America’s only marsupial (a mammal that carries its underdeveloped young in a pouch until they are capable of living independently). It is also one of the oldest and most primitive species of mammal in North America. This animal is little changed from its ancestors 70 million years ago.

Opossums were probably rare in the vast forests of unsettled Ohio, but began to take hold as the land was cleared for agriculture. Today they are found in every county of the state, and slightly more abundant in southern Ohio.

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Striped Skunk : Skunks are known to everyone by sight, smell, and reputation. They are found in every county of Ohio as well as throughout the United States. Pioneers found the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) when they came to Ohio, although skunk numbers are far greater now. Skunks are most abundant in rural Ohio where there are farms with fencerows, forest edges and old fields. They are also found in urban areas. Skunks are known for their ability to spray musk when threatened. They can spray with great accuracy up to 15 feet.

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The gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is one of the two fox species in Ohio and one of four in North America. The state's other fox is the red fox. The Arctic and swift foxes are the other species found in North America. North American foxes inhabit a wide range of habitats from deserts to forests to snow covered tundras. This isn't completely surprising as the gray and other foxes are members of the same family of adaptable animals that includes the wolves, coyote, and domestic dog-- Canidae.

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Red Fox : The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of two fox species in Ohio and one of five in North America. The state’s other fox is the gray fox. The Arctic, swift, and kit foxes are the other species found in North America. North American foxes inhabit a wide range of habitats from deserts to forests to snow-covered tundras. This isn’t completely surprising as the red and other foxes are members of the same family of adaptable animals that includes the wolves, coyote, and domestic dog -- Canidae.

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Coyote : Native American folklore is filled with tales of the coyote (Canis latrans). This animal is either revered for its intelligence and ability to resolve a conflict or is frowned upon for being a cunning and deceiving manipulator, much as it is thought of in real life. Love or hate it, the coyote can make the best of a bad situation to survive and prosper. Historically, coyotes were found in the open deserts and prairies of the West, but as land was cleared for agriculture and larger carnivores were removed from the landscape coyotes started to expand eastward. By the 1930s coyotes were present in Ohio and they were distributed statewide by 1988. As its presence across a variety of landscapes in Ohio shows, this versatile animal can make a home almost anywhere.

Bobcat : The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a species that is native to Ohio, and one of seven wild cat species found in North America. Domestic cats belong to the same family, Felidae, as the bobcat. Prior to settlement, bobcats were common throughout Ohio but were extirpated from the state by 1850. They began to repopulate Ohio in the Mid-1900s, and sightings became more frequent in the early 2000s. A combination of monitoring and research has revealed that Ohio now supports an established bobcat population in the eastern and southern parts of the state, and the population is continuing to expand into other areas of suitable habitat.

Muskrat : Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) are large freshwater rodents that look very much like a beaver, but are actually related to mice and rats. This is where they get the second part of their name, because their tail looks like that of a rat. The first part of their name comes from the strong-smelling odor, or musk, that the muskrat produces during mating season and to mark its territory. Muskrats have had many names given to them over the years: marsh rabbit, mud cat, mud beaver, and the Algonquin Indian tribe called it musquash.

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American Mink : The mink (Mustela vison) was probably common in Ohio before settlement and today it occurs in every county in Ohio. Because of its preference for small streams cluttered with vegetation or wooded banks, the highest population densities occur in eastern and southeastern Ohio. The mink is prized by the trapper both for its pelt and for the great skill required to capture it. To the wildlife enthusiast, the sight of this elusive furbearer is a thrilling surprise that must be experienced quickly, before the dynamic creature can scurry away to a place of concealment. ( Click on image for more information from ODNR )

Beaver : The beaver (Castor candensis) is North America’s largest rodent, weighing up to 60 lbs and measuring 25-30 inches long.

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River Otter : North American river otters (Lontra candensis) are semi-aquatic mammals that were historically distributed throughout much of North America. Otters are native to Ohio but were extirpated by the early 1900s. In 1986, the Ohio Division of Wildlife began a seven-year project to reintroduce the species to the state. Over this period, 123 otters were captured in Arkansas and Louisiana using modern foothold traps and were released in the Grand River, Killbuck Creek, Little Muskingum River, and Stillwater Creek watersheds. Since then, river otter presence has been confirmed in 75 watersheds throughout the state.

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White-tail Deer : The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), commonly referred to as the whitetail, is perhaps Ohio’s best-known wildlife species. It is seen in the state’s wildlife areas, parks and nature preserves as well as in the backyards of rural and suburban residents. As the state’s only big game animal, it has provided table fare for generations of the state’s inhabitants, from Native Americans to thousands of sportsmen and women today.