Are there protected species in Ohio?

Yes, there are protected species in Ohio. According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife, there are over 1,000 species of plants and animals that are listed as threatened or endangered in the state. These species are protected by state law and it is illegal to kill, possess, or transport them without a permit. Some of the protected species in Ohio include the bald eagle, Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, loggerhead shrike, and Karner blue butterfly.