This IBA consists of the 4,525 acres of the Mohican-Memorial State Forest, the 1,294 acres of Mohican State Park, and 28 acres in the Clear Fork Gorge State Nature Preserve. Three divisions of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources manage these components. Two major streams-the Clear Fork River and Pine Run–create scenic valleys in this IBA. The Clear Fork River is a major tributary of the Mohican River, a State Scenic River designated by ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. The forested landscape includes hemlock ravines, pine plantations, and mature deciduous forest. Within the State Forest, about 3,200 acres are native hardwood species and 1,300 acres are planted pine, but the forest also has large native white pines scattered along the slopes of the Clear Fork Gorge. The canopy is predominantly closed over a mixture of multistoried, mixed-age trees. Ridge tops are a dry mix of oaks, cherry, hickory, and maple. Areas of beech-maple and mixed hardwoods are also found.

This IBA forms essential habitat for breeding birds as well as migrating songbirds and as such exhibits excellent neotropical migrant bird diversity. The Mohican area including the Mohican State Forest, Mohican State Park, and Mohican State Scenic River is one of Ohio’s most significant sites for breeding birds. Over 100 species of birds nest in this IBA each year, including more than 20 species of warblers. Important priority bird species breed in this IBA.

The Mohican IBA attracts large numbers of northern species as well as large numbers of individuals using the area for summering and breeding. Rare species associated with the northern Canadian Zone breed in the hemlock ravines. Some of the more unusual breeders or suspected breeders have included Blue-headed Vireo, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler (13 singing males found in 1997), Canada Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, and Dark-eyed Junco. The area probably holds 25% of all Black-throated Green Warblers nesting in Ohio. A Swainson’s Warbler was confirmed by S. Snyder 21 May 2005.