Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species
With a little patience and excellent observational skills, your streamside wanderings might turn up one of the threatened, rare, or endangered species that call the Raccoon Creek watershed home. One federally threatened species, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), one of 13 bat species found in Ohio, has been sighted in the Wayne National Forest. Other rare or endangered species utilizing the habitat in and around Raccoon Creek include bald eagles, river otters, timber rattlesnakes, sharp-shinned hawks, red-shouldered hawks, cerulean warblers, Eastern box turtles, bobcats, and black bears.
Timber Rattlesnake
The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) is on the state’s endangered species list and is designated as endangered or threatened in 17 other states. In the early 1800s, the species was found in 24 counties; now they occur in only eight. One of three venomous snakes found in Ohio (along with the copperhead and massasauga rattlesnake), the timid timber rattlesnake avoids human encounters and is not aggressive unless provoked. An inhabitant of the MeadWestvaco Experimental Forest, the elusive timber rattlesnake is a topic of scientific research and educational tours.
Eastern Spadefoot Toad
The eastern spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), the only frog designated as endangered in Ohio, is found in the sandy soils of southeast Ohio’s river valleys. The spadefoot lives primarily underground, but during times of heavy rain, congregate at breeding grounds in a reproductive frenzy. Spadefoots were recently found in the Lake Hope area, thanks to Lake Hope Naturalist, John Hickenbottom. These newly discovered toads show that habitat conditions are improving in the watershed. Two established populations still exist in Meigs and one in Athens county as well.
Bobcat
Once common throughout eastern Ohio, another state endangered species, the bobcat (Felis rufus) was extirpated from the state in 1850. Fortunately, the elusive cat seems to be making a comeback, as there were 20 verified sightings (through road-kill, photograph, accidental trapping, etc.) in Ohio in 2005 alone. Many of these reports originated here in the Raccoon Creek Watershed!
Black Bear
Black bears (Ursus americanus), removed from the state in the 1800s by deforestation and predator control programs, were completely extirpated from Ohio by the 1850s. However, like the bobcat, numbers have been consistently rising throughout the last few decades! As natural succession increases the acreage of forested land in Ohio, black bears have been able to return. According to the division of Wildlife, there were 105 black bear sightings (representing about 58 individuals) in 2005, including sows with cubs. As of 2022, that number increased to a remarkable 285 sightings! 19 of those were in Athens county, second only to Ashtabula county, and 67 of the total sightings were in Raccoon Creek watershed counties. Bears are frequently misrepresented as vicious killers, but in reality, are shy curious creatures who tend to avoid urbanized areas and feed primarily on vegetation, nuts, berries, and carrion (dead animals). Problems with wildlife occur when humans feed wild animals, creating nuisance individuals who lose their fear of humans.
Recreation Opportunities
Because of the wide variety of aquatic habitat in the Raccoon Creek Watershed, the diversity of fish species (about 65 total species) is extensive. Near Gallipolis, where Raccoon Creek enters the Ohio River, big river species such as freshwater drum, sauger, gar, mimic shiners, and flathead catfish can be found. In the middle portions of the watershed, creek species are abundant. These include bass, sunfish, grass pickerel, bullhead catfish, darters, and an assortment of shiners. In the upper section of the watershed, headwater species such as creek chubs, redside dace, and blunt nose minnows prevail.
For Raccoon Creek boating access sites visit the ODNR Division of Watercraft.
Some of the more popular fishing destinations in the watershed include Lake Hope, Jackson City Reservoir, Lake Alma, Lake Rupert Wildlife Area, and Tycoon Lake. Fishing is permitted on the majority of the Public Land in the watershed. Bathometric fishing maps are available for many of the lakes and rivers in Ohio from the Division of Wildlife.
Local Fishing Clubs
Post your local fishing clubs’ information, events, and photos on our website by contacting Amy Mackey, Water Quality Specialist at the address above.
View photos of successful anglers and their catch from Raccoon Creek and its tributaries!
Raccoon Creek Fishing Photo Gallery
Add to our collection by submitting your photos, with your name and catch location to:
Amy Mackey
Raccoon Creek Watershed Coordinator
Ohio University
Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs
The Ridges, Building 22
Athens, OH 45701
740-597-1473
mackey@ohio.edu
If you have photos of fish caught from the Raccoon Creek watershed, send them to Amy Mackey at:
mackey@ohio.edu
or
Ohio University
Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs
The Ridges, Building 22
Athens, OH 45701
Be sure to include your name and approximate catch location!
Whether a casual woodland hiker, avid birdwatcher, or seasoned hunter, wildlife viewing opportunities abound in the Raccoon Creek Watershed. And with the vast amount of public land, everyone is able to enjoy these precious living resources! Just remember, wildlife is wild and for the safety of you and the animals, should be enjoyed from a respectful distance and should never be approached.
With a little patience and excellent observational skills, your streamside wanderings might turn up one of the threatened, rare, or endangered species that call the Raccoon Creek watershed home. One federally threatened species, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis), one of 13 bat species found in Ohio, has been sighted in the Wayne National Forest. Other rare or endangered species utilizing the habitat in and around Raccoon Creek include bald eagles, river otters, timber rattlesnakes, sharp-shinned hawks, red-shouldered hawks, cerulean warblers, Eastern box turtles, bobcats, and black bears.
The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus) is on the state’s endangered species list and is designated as endangered or threatened in 17 other states. In the early 1800s, the species was found in 24 counties; now they occur in only eight. One of three venomous snakes found in Ohio (along with the copperhead and massasauga rattlesnake), the timid timber rattlesnake avoids human encounters and is not aggressive unless provoked. An inhabitant of the MeadWestvaco Experimental Forest, the elusive timber rattlesnake is a topic of scientific research and educational tours.
The eastern spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), the only frog designated as endangered in Ohio, is found in the sandy soils of southeast Ohio’s river valleys. The spadefoot lives primarily underground, but during times of heavy rain, congregate at breeding grounds in a reproductive frenzy. Spadefoots were recently found in the Lake Hope area, thanks to Lake Hope Naturalist, John Hickenbottom. These newly discovered toads show that habitat conditions are improving in the watershed. Two established populations still exist in Meigs and one in Athens county as well.
Once common throughout eastern Ohio, another state endangered species, the bobcat (Felis rufus) was extirpated from the state in 1850. Fortunately, the elusive cat seems to be making a comeback, as there were 20 verified sightings (through road-kill, photograph, accidental trapping, etc.) in Ohio in 2005 alone. Many of these reports originated here in the Raccoon Creek Watershed!
Black bears (Ursus americanus), removed from the state in the 1800s by deforestation and predator control programs, were completely extirpated from Ohio by the 1850s. However, like the bobcat, numbers have been consistently rising throughout the last few decades! As natural succession increases the acreage of forested land in Ohio, black bears have been able to return. According to the division of Wildlife, there were 105 black bear sightings (representing about 58 individuals) in 2005, including sows with cubs. As of 2022, that number increased to a remarkable 285 sightings! 19 of those were in Athens county, second only to Ashtabula county, and 67 of the total sightings were in Raccoon Creek watershed counties. Bears are frequently misrepresented as vicious killers, but in reality, are shy curious creatures who tend to avoid urbanized areas and feed primarily on vegetation, nuts, berries, and carrion (dead animals). Problems with wildlife occur when humans feed wild animals, creating nuisance individuals who lose their fear of humans.
Hunting is a popular sport, both for residents of the watershed and for those visiting from urban areas. Extirpated from the state for almost 20 years, Ohio’s state mammal and our only large game animal, the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is now a plentiful inhabitant of the Raccoon Creek watershed. Deer hunting draws a large crowd, with archery season from late September through January, shotgun season in late November and mid-December, and muzzleloader season in late December. The counties included in the Raccoon Creek watershed have some of the highest white-tailed deer harvest rates in the state. Athens County came in the highest of the six Raccoon Creek counties in the 2006-2007 hunting season with 5,124 deer harvested, while Vinton County had the fewest taken at 3,420 (ODNR Summary of 2006-07 Ohio Deer Seasons)
Continuing the annual deer harvest is vital to maintaining a healthy deer density as they have few natural predators. Without hunting pressure deer populations would quickly explode, resulting in the rapid overexploitation of food resources, more deer-vehicle collisions, and an overall unhealthy herd. Aside from humans, the only large predator capable of controlling deer numbers is the coyote (Canis latrans). Though not frequently seen due to their elusive behavior, coyotes are becoming relatively common throughout the area. Coyotes resemble medium-sized domestic dogs and prey primarily on rodents and rabbits but will also remove young and unhealthy deer from the herd.
Other popular game species in the watershed include turkeys, rabbits, doves, grouse, squirrel, and various waterfowl. Over the years, area trappers have also experienced success with viable populations of beaver, muskrat, fox, mink, raccoon, opossum, skunk, and weasel. Visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Page for more hunting and trapping information.
Birds are everywhere in the watershed, so grab your binoculars and get outdoors!
The Raccoon Creek watershed boasts a wealth of land open to the public in the form of National Forests, State Forest, State Parks, and Wildlife Areas.
A variety of forests, lakes and wildlife areas within the watershed allow residents diverse opportunities for recreation, hunting or outdoor activities.
Lake Alma State Park, located one mile northeast of Wellston, contains 219 acres surrounding the 63-acre lake. Visitors can fish, hunt, hike, picnic, swim and camp in the park.
Within the watershed, there are four Wildlife Areas and one Public Hunting area managed by the Division of Wildlife. These areas are open to the public for wildlife and bird watching, fishing, and hunting. Maps and descriptions of each are available at the following links:
To view maps for all of Ohio’s Wildlife Areas, visit the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Areas page.
Wellston Wildlife Area located in Vinton County has 1,298 acres (which includes the 325-acre Lake Rupert) on which public fishing and hunting is allowed.
Tycoon Lake Wildlife Area located in Gallia County has 684 acres available for public fishing and hunting. The wildlife area has habitat for both upland and forest game and limited waterfowl hunting. A boat ramp and parking is open to the public.
Cooper Hollow Wildlife Area in Jackson County has 5,421 acres for public hunting and fishing.
Buckeye Furnace Mining Company Public Hunting Area in Jackson County has 1,034 acres for public hunting and fishing.