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Fact vs. Myth

**There are only 3 poisonous snakes found in Ohio!**  

  They are the Northern Copperhead, the Timber Rattlesnake, and the Eastern Massasauga.  The Timber Rattlesnake and the Massasauga are both endangered species in the state of Ohio. Only the Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake are found at Tar Hollow. 

Baby Copperheads

   We did not at any time parachute or in any way release rattlesnakes at Tar Hollow. Timber rattlesnakes are endangered, and only found in 7 counties in Ohio. Ross, Hocking , and Vinton are three of them. Tar Hollow lies in all three counties. Timber rattlesnakes spend their entire lives in one den. If we were to have taken rattlesnakes from somewhere else and released them here, come winter they would search for their original den and freeze to death. They will not find a new den. Obviously as a State Park we would not sentence an endangered species to death.

  Timber Rattlesnakes are reclusive snakes that prefer our dry rocky ridge tops. The females don’t start reproducing until the age 10 or 11. When they do start reproducing, they only reproduce every 2 to 3 years. When they do, they only have 8 to 10 babies, and within the first year 66% of the young will die. You can do the math real quick to see that we will never be over run with rattlesnakes.    

Report sightings of timber rattlesnakes & learn about restoration efforts.

  Black Bears ARE found in Ohio. The Division of Wildlife estimates that there are 50- 75 permanent resident Black Bears living in Ohio. Tar Hollow State Forest is the third largest state forest in Ohio. It is only a matter of time before they will find their way here. If you spot a Black Bear,  call 1- 800-Wildlife and report it.

   Black Bears are the smallest and most common bear found in North America. Black bears rarely become aggressive with humans unless, you encounter a mother with a cub. If you do encounter a bear out in the wild, back up waving your hands, and/or a stick high above your head. Try to appear larger than you really are. Do not play dead!

Division of Wildlife - Bear Aware

  Bats are our friends. One little brown bat can eat 3,000 insects in one night! Bats do not attack humans. Bats with rabies do not act rabid! They become non social and go off to die. So, if you see a bat lying on the ground, don’t pick it up! The truth about bats and rabies: Less than half of one percent of bats contract rabies. Only about a dozen people in the U.S. and Canada are known to have contracted rabies from bats in over 40 years!

Division of Wildlife

*THERE ARE NO WATER MOCCASINS IN OHIO!* 

Range in Ohio
The Water Moccasin does NOT live naturally in Ohio. The closest that it comes to this state is southernmost Illinois. In the very unlikely event that you should see a Water Moccasin in Ohio, the snake would have escaped from captivity. In any case, this is one of the most deadly snakes in North America, so don't take chances. Be sure of your identification!