It wasn't too long after the end of the Civil War that the leadership in Ohio recognized the need for a government entity to oversee and manage a precious resource – our fish.

The Ohio Fish Commission was founded in 1873 and over the ensuing 15 decades the name has changed multiple times, the role has expanded significantly, and the organization has seen exponential growth, but the mission the Ohio Division of Wildlife still carries today – “to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all” – has persevered.

“We have remained devoted to managing and improving wildlife populations and habitats for the people of Ohio,” said Kendra Wecker, chief of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, which evolved from that humble beginning as the Fish Commission.

“Ohio’s wildlife has seen incredible success stories over the years; from bald eagles to river otters, many species thrive today thanks to the dedicated work of the Division of Wildlife and its partners.”

With a meager budget of $1,000, the Ohio Fish Commission had been charged to look for methods that would improve fish populations in the state, and thus improve the fishing and overall experience for anglers. Last year, the Division of Wildlife stocked 52.3 million fish of 11 species in more than 200 locations around the state.

The agency that would work to conserve and protect fish and wildlife populations, create places where the citizens could enjoy the outdoors in natural settings, and undertake extensive additions to the state's portfolio of lakes and properties, would officially become the Division of Wildlife in 1949. That was when the Ohio Department of Natural Resources was formed, and Wildlife was made one of its seven charter divisions.

The Division of Wildlife took on another major role in 1968 when it was designated to enforce stream litter laws in Ohio. Just five years later the job description expanded again when several hundred more species of wild animals were placed under its care and management. The direction to identify, manage, and protect all endangered species in Ohio followed shortly thereafter.

Ms. Wecker said that, along with its duty to protect endangered native species while fighting to control invasive ones, the Division of Wildlife continues to increase the public lands available for hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching.

“We are committed to creating and improving wetland habitats . . . bringing more outdoor recreation opportunities to a wider number of Ohioans, and protecting wildlife resources through sound management practices and enforcement,” she said. “We are proud of the many accomplishments in our past and recent histories and look forward to tackling the challenges still to come.”

First Published September 23, 2023, 2:30 p.m.