The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry reminds Ohioans to take necessary precautions if they are planning to burn debris this fall, and to know the state’s outdoor burning regulations. Ohio law states outdoor debris burning is prohibited from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 1 through Nov. 30.

Burning is limited in the fall due to the abundance of dry fuel on the ground in the form of grasses, crops and crop debris, weeds, and fallen leaves. Winds can make a seemingly safe fire burn more intensely and escape control. An especially dry late-summer and the extended period of warm weather has increased the concern this year.

“Outdoor burning of trash and debris is an activity that requires considerable care,” said Greg Guess, fire program administrator and assistant chief for the ODNR Division of Forestry. “An awareness of safety tips and the burning regulations can help prevent unnecessary risk.”

If a fire does escape control, immediately contact the local fire department. An escaped wildfire, even one burning in grass or weeds, is dangerous. Violators of Ohio’s burning regulations are subject to citations and fines. Residents should also check the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency regulations, which include additional restrictions, and consult with local fire officials about burning conditions.

The ODNR Division of Forestry offers these safety tips for burning debris outdoors:

– Consider using a 55-gallon drum with a weighted screen lid to provide an enclosed incinerator.
– Know current and future weather conditions, have tools on hand, and never leave a debris burn unattended.
– Be informed about state and local burning regulations.
– Consult the local fire department for additional information and safety considerations.
– Visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov and firewise.org for more information and tips on protecting a home and community

– Remember: “Only you can prevent wildfires!”

Ohioans should also remember that food waste, dead animals, and materials containing rubber, grease, asphalt, or petroleum should never be burned.

ODNR asks hunters to help keep Ohio’s deer healthy

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife is asking deer hunters to help keep Ohio’s wild white-tailed deer herd free of Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD is an incurable fatal neurological disease that affects deer populations.

There is no strong evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans; however, hunters are encouraged to follow standard precautions when handling deer parts, including:

– Wear rubber gloves when field-dressing and thoroughly wash hands and instruments after butchering and field dressing.
– Minimize the handling of brain and spinal tissues.
– Do not eat the brain, spinal cord, eyes, spleen, tonsils and lymph nodes.
– Do not consume meat from any animal that appears sick or tests positive for CWD.
– Hunters may have their deer tested by the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory for a small fee. Please call 614-728-6220 for more information.

To help protect Ohio’s deer herd from CWD, hunters should properly dispose of their deer carcasses by double-bagging all high-risk parts (brain, spinal cord, eyes and lymphoid tissue) and dispose of them in a secure container.

To minimize the risk of spreading CWD, hunters planning to hunt outside of Ohio are reminded to follow carcass regulations prior to returning. The proper handling of carcasses, trims, and parts dramatically decreases the odds of introducing CWD into Ohio’s wild deer herd. No person is permitted to bring high-risk carcass parts of CWD-susceptible species (white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, caribou or moose) into Ohio from any state, Mexican state or Canadian province. High-risk carcass parts may be transported through Ohio if they are not unloaded within the state.

If you hunt outside Ohio, you must bone out the meat before returning to the state with an elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black-tailed deer, caribou or moose. Only the following parts may be brought into Ohio:

– Meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached;
– Meat that is boned out, securely and completely wrapped either commercially or privately;
– Cleaned hides with no heads attached;
– Skull plates that have been cleaned of all meat and brain tissue;
– Antlers with no meat or tissue attached;
– Cleaned upper canine teeth;
– Hides and capes without any part of the head or lymph nodes attached; or
– Finished taxidermy mounts.

If hunters have questions about CWD or actions they may take to help protect Ohio’s wild deer herd, they may call their county wildlife officer, 800-WILDLIFE (800-945-3543), or a wildlife district office.

Visit wildohio.gov.