Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge

07/23/2026

Calling all pet owners! Our last two planned B.A.R.K. Ranger programs for the year will take place next Saturday, August 1st and in a month, on Saturday, September 5th. During these FREE programs, participants take a hike with a Park Ranger, learn proper “petiquette” when visiting the refuge and other public lands, and pledge to be good public land stewards to earn a certificate and a B.A.R.K. Ranger bandana. Group programs will be 1:00pm-2:00pm on August 1st and 10:00am-11:00am and 1:00pm-2:00pm on September 5th.

Have a pet that does best without unfamiliar dogs? We will hold individual ceremonies that same day in 15 minute increments from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on August 1st and 11:00am to 2:00pm on September 5th. Please call or text Ranger B at (419) 607-7506 to reserve your spot! Space is limited.



Photo: B.A.R.K. Ranger Millie with her bandana and certificate by B. Gawin/USFWS.

07/21/2026

To protect our habitats, we would like to remind you to Leave No Trace when you are enjoying the refuge!

Recently, structures have been appearing in the woods on some of our properties. The sticks and branches found scattered on the ground in a woodland are used by animals for shelter, hunting, and nesting purposes. When these pieces are moved around and/or stacked, their habitat is being disturbed. The building of forts and other structures in the woods also encourages off trail hiking. Hiking off trail can cause harm to our native plant species. By leaving no trace, you can do your part in protecting native species and their habitats!

Thank you for recreating responsibly and Leaving No Trace!



Photo: A structure built of sticks in the woods by B. Gawin/USFWS.

07/19/2026

Olé, Olé, Olé! ⚽

As you watch the game today, please don't forget to celebrate responsibly! Littering is a foul that can result in a red card! 🟥

Just like soccer connects people across the globe, our waterways and ecosystems are connected as well. These two soccer balls were recently found at a beach at Cedar Point NWR, which is closed to the public. We don't have VAR to figure out where they came from or how they got there, so we're going to rely on you to be our assistant referees and make sure everyone is playing by the rules and putting litter in its place. Think of the garbage can as the goal, and work with your team to score! GOOOOOOOLLLL!



Photo: Two toy soccer balls on a beach by B. Gawin/UFWFS.

07/19/2026

Felt like you were missing out on art lessons with our Draw a Duck programs for kids? Fret no longer! We are leading a Draw a Duck session for adults! Join us this Friday, July 24th from 2:00 to 3:00pm to learn how to draw waterfowl and about the species that visit the refuge! All art supplies will be provided but personal supplies are welcome.

Resources about the Federal Duck Stamp will also be handed out. For 90 years Duck Stamp funds have raised over $1.3 billion dollars for the conservation of more than 6 million acres of wetland habitat. 98 percent of funds go directly towards helping acquire and protect wetland habitat. Wetlands acquired with Duck Stamp dollars help purify water, aid in flood control, reduce soil erosion, and improve outdoor recreation opportunities.

Waddle on over to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge to join us in drawing these fantastic fliers that help fund wetland conservation! Program will be led in the Visitor Center Multipurpose Room. Registration is required on Eventbrite. 🦆



Photo: An Adult Draw a Duck program flyer by M. Michael.

07/18/2026

Starting today, we are celebrating National Moth Week 2026!

As part of our celebrations, you can join Invasive Species Manager, Trevor, at the refuge for a special mothing event next Saturday, July 25th from 9:30pm to 10:30pm.

You may be wondering, what is mothing exactly? Mothing is when you hang a sheet, usually white or light colored, outside and shine lights on the sheet to attract nocturnal moths and other cool bugs. They land on the sheet, which gives you an up close look at their intricate patterns and unique shapes and colors! Registration for this event on Eventbrite is encouraged. See the Facebook event for more details.



Photo: Trevor sitting in front of a mothing sheet by B. Gawin/USFWS.

07/17/2026

The Puddles Shuttle will not be running again today, Friday July 17. Crane Creek Paddles are also cancelled today due to the ongoing Air Quality Advisory.

Shuttle Cancellation: We will not be running the shuttle today, July 16, for the safety of our visitors and volunteers. The Air Quality Index is currently at 624 here which is hazardous to everyone. Please stay safe today.


Photo: Ottawa NWR Visitor Center with smoky skies. USFWS

07/16/2026

Did you know that today is 🐍World Snake Day🐍? On this holiday, we'd like to show appreciation for the various snake species that call the refuge home.

Snakes play an important role in balancing an ecosystem by regulating prey populations. Many of the species in Ohio feed upon pest species such as rodents and insects and help reduce the spread of disease.

Ohio is home to 25 species of snake, 7 of which can be found on the refuge. When out on the trails, you may come across species such as the Northern watersnake, Eastern gartersnake, Gray ratsnake, Eastern milk snake, Dekay’s brown snake, Butler’s gartersnake, and the Eastern fox snake.

The best way to view snakes on the refuge is on warm, sunny days when they are out sunning themselves on the trails or by the water. Most snake species on the refuge can be quite shy and will flee if approached, so they are best viewed from a distance.



Photo: A Northern watersnake on gravel by T. Everhardt.

07/16/2026

Shuttle Cancellation: We will not be running the shuttle today, July 16, for the safety of our visitors and volunteers. The Air Quality Index is currently at 624 here which is hazardous to everyone. Please stay safe today.


Photo: Ottawa NWR Visitor Center with smoky skies. USFWS

07/14/2026

Join us on Friday, July 24th at 10:00am for a free guided hike to learn how to identify trees, facts about our native species, and the importance of plant identification. Use plant terminology to point out notable features that distinguish different species. All ages are welcome and no prior plant knowledge is needed!

IDing plants is like a fun puzzle and uses many tools such as a dichotomous key. Don’t let this big word scare you! “Dichotomous” comes from the Latin Greek words dicho- and tomo-, meaning to divide in half equally (dicho-) and to cut (tomo-). By answering questions about a tree (“does it have needles or leaves?”), a dichotomous key helps you narrow down what your plant is. It works like a game of Guess Who or Twenty Questions! Many plant ID books have a dichotomous key in the front pages. It comes in different forms that achieve the same goal.

Our guide will provide and demonstrate how to use a simplified key. They will also help you use your own guide if requested. No registration required.



Photo: A flyer for the plant ID hike by M. Michael.

07/12/2026

Join Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge intern Kelsey next Sunday, July 19th at 11:30am for 🐍Snake Spotlight🐍, a presentation highlighting the snake species of Ohio! The purpose of this presentation is to dispel misinformation about these often misunderstood creatures.

The presentation will open with general information and history of the snakes of Ohio before narrowing down to the species found in Ottawa county and on the refuge. Detailed information about habitat, diet, and behavior will be given regarding the species found on the main property, followed by information on notable species within the county and how to differentiate between venomous and nonvenomous species. Finally, the presentation will close out with ways to coexist with our local species and how to report listed species. No registration required.



Photo: An eastern fox snake hiding in the leaves by T. Everhardt.