Wildlife officer reports for Northwest Ohio

JUNE 24 MEDIA RELEASE — During the 2024-25 white-tailed deer muzzleloader hunting season, State Wildlife Officer Nathan Cass, assigned to Crawford County, received information that a hunter had exceeded the county bag limit of three deer. Officer Cass discovered that the suspect had harvested six deer, with three game-checked in Medina County despite being harvested in Crawford County. The suspect was charged with three counts of taking more than the county bag limit and three counts of providing false information when game checking a deer. The suspect was ordered to pay $1,220 in fines, court costs, and restitution and received 60 days of jail time, suspended, and 12 months of supervised probation. The venison was seized as evidence.

State Wildlife Officer Craig Barr, assigned to Allen County, received a phone call from two employees at a restaurant regarding a bird that flew inside the building. Officer Barr responded and found a sparrow inside the restaurant. After several attempts, the sparrow was captured and released outside, where it flew away unharmed.