Public comment sought on wildlife issues

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife will welcome the public to its annual Open Houses on Sunday, March 2, 2008, from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m.  "Anyone interested in providing input and participating in Ohio's professional wildlife management process is welcome," said David M. Graham, chief of the Division of Wildlife. Graham adds that fish and wildlife biologists along with law enforcement officers will be on hand to answer questions.  Open houses will be held at the same day and time in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay, Huron, and Xenia. Information recorded at these open houses is forwarded to the division's central office in Columbus, where it is considered during the formulation of 2008-2009 fishing, hunting, and trapping regulations. For more information or directions to the open house, please call 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543). Proposals and directions can also be access via the Internet at www.wildohio.com. A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 6 at the wildlife division's District One Office, located at 1500 Dublin Road in Columbus. After considering public input, the Ohio Wildlife Council will vote on the proposed rules during its April 2 meeting.