Overview

• Volunteers conducted two-hour April surveys in designated wetlands across 31 counties and documented cranes in 24 of them.
• Wayne (101), Lucas (97), Ottawa (59), Geauga (51) and Sandusky (19) posted the highest tallies in the latest count.
• ODNR’s annual census has increased each year since 2021, paralleling an expansion of survey coverage from 5 to 31 counties.
• State wildlife officials point to wetland habitat quality and restoration as drivers of the recovery from the species’ earlier disappearance from Ohio.
• Residents are encouraged to report sightings through eBird and to support conservation via the ODNR Wildlife Legacy Stamp.