Beaver Creek Wildlife Area

About this Location

Beaver Creek Wildlife Area was acquired with help from The Nature Conservancy in the late 1980s and is today owned and managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife. A hunting area for deer, waterfowl, and furbearers, visitors should wear bright clothing in hunting season. Prime hunting season runs from about September 1st through January.

In the 1990s Wright State University biologists built three experimental fens to study wetland restoration methods. A fourth wetland restored by the Division of Wildlife and the Beaver Creek Wetlands Association is now a beautifully forested wetland, with standing water 3-4 months of the year. A fifth restored wetland containing a shallow pond and a hillside fen was built to replace wetlands lost due to local development.

The 380-acre Beaver Creek Wildlife Area contains a unique wetland complex in southwestern Ohio. The general topography of the area is flat to moderately rolling and is located in the Till Plains Eco-Region of Ohio. The Beaver Creek wetland corridor is thought to be related to the old Teays River system that existed prior to the glaciers. The area can be easily reached from I-675 or OH-35.

The Beaver Creek Wildlife Area consists of a mosaic of wetland types, including shrub swamp, wet meadow, and wooded riparian corridor. The remaining upland areas off New Germany-Trebein Road have been converted to prairie. The 50-acre freshwater fen is located off of Fairgrounds Road and can be viewed from the boardwalk and observation tower.

Purchasing of land for this public hunting and wildlife observation area began in 1990 with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy and Beaver Creek Wetlands Association. The ODNR, Division of Wildlife purchased 130 acres from the Siebenthaler Nursery to protect and enhance the Siebenthaler Fen. This unique wildlife area contains five of six wetland types found in Ohio. Primary objectives of managing the area are to protect, preserve, restore, and enhance wetlands, and improve and protect habitat for nesting and migratory wetland wildlife species. The area will be managed to provide quality recreational opportunities to wildlife enthusiasts. Three wetlands have been either constructed or restored to improve wetland and wildlife diversity.

Siebenthaler Fen is managed as part of the Beaver Creek Wildlife Area.

Features

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

  • Roadside viewing

Content from Beaver Creek Wildlife Area webpage and Beaver Creek Wetland Association website

Last updated February 12, 2023