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Wildlife Sightings

Spot some local wildlife? Tell us about it!

Use the form below – including photos, if you have them – to let us know the date, time and location of your sighting (be it in the parks or in your own backyard), as well as what type of wildlife you spotted and the behavior you observed.

Your regular reports will help populate this page for the enjoyment of your community of fellow Nature lovers and the interests of our Natural Resource Management team. Thanks in advance!

Please note that while this form does collect your name and contact information, those items will not be posted with your sighting, only used in case we need to contact you for additional details.

Report Your Findings

Step 1 of 4 - Sighting Date & Time

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • :

  • River Otter

    Date: Mar 26, 2023 at 8:00 pm

    Location: Beartown Lakes Reservation

    Wildlife Seen: 2 River Otter

    Behavior Observed:

    Swimming and playing on the logs. Seems to have swam across the lake to check us out.

  • Bald Eagle

    Date: Mar 06, 2023 at 7:15 pm

    Location: Terrace Glen mhp, Hambden

    Wildlife Seen: 1 Adult bald eagle

    Behavior Observed:

    Sitting in tall tree looking around

  • Sandhill Crane

    Date: Feb 21, 2023 at 12:45 pm

    Location: Near Bass Lake

    Wildlife Seen: 2 Sandhill Crane

    Behavior Observed:

    Flying northeast

  • Beaver

    Date: Feb 12, 2023 at 5:10 pm

    Location: Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve

    Wildlife Seen: 1 Beaver

    Behavior Observed:

    I walked up to the boat launch/observation deck at Glacier Trail (Burton Wetlands), and heard a splash as I walked on the boat ramp. To my left, under the ice I saw a medium sized beaver swimming towards the bank. As I watched, and recorded video, he was moving rather quickly. To me it seemed like I spooked him, and he was looking for an escape route. As an avid hiker, and nature enjoyer, I was very excited to see a beaver this close. I’ve visited at least one park from each county in Northeast Ohio, and this is my first Beaver sighting. Otter is next on my list (hoping to see at Eldon Russell trail this spring).

    Click here for the link to Benjamin’s beaver video now shared on Geauga Park District’s YouTube.

  • Bald Eagle

    Date: Oct 13, 2022 at 1:44 pm

    Location: Near our home in Hambden Twshp 608

    Wildlife Seen: 1 Eagle

    Behavior Observed:

    Eagle was flying near our home, perched in tree near open field and flew over our house several times. Noticed flock of crows that appeared to be chasing him. During the week we also spotted TWO eagles together, flying, no crows around that time.

    Naturalist's Response

    VERY cool!

  • Hawk

    Date: Nov 22, 2022 at 3:45 pm

    Location: Our backyard, in Hambden 608

    Wildlife Seen: 1 Hawk

    Behavior Observed:

    Very still, just hanging out in our pine tree

    Naturalist's Response

    Though you reported a “Snowy White Owl,” what you photographed, based on the size and coloration we can tell, is most likely a hawk species — still a really neat sighting. If you have another photo to submit, perhaps we can identify it more specifically for you. Thanks for reporting it!

  • Mink

    Date: Nov 15, 2022 at 1:00 pm

    Location: Backyard off Route 306

    Wildlife Seen: 1 Mink

    Behavior Observed:

    Fishing for Koi and swimming in the backyard pond.

  • White skunk

    Date: Nov 01, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    Location: Home

    Wildlife Seen: 1 White Skunk

    Behavior Observed:

  • Evening Grosbeaks

    Date: Oct 27, 2022 at 4:15 pm

    Location: Kile Road, Hambden

    Wildlife Seen: 3 Evening Grosbeak

    Behavior Observed:

    At feeders, interacting with goldfinches a bit.

  • Gray Fox

    Date: Sep 13, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    Location: Clay St. East of Route 86

    Wildlife Seen:

    Behavior Observed:

    I saw a large gray fox running North across Clay St. in an open field toward the woodland.