Orwell Wildlife Area

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION
The Orwell Wildlife Area is situated in northeastern Ohio, in the southern part of Ashtabula County, Orwell Township, 20 miles north of Warren. The area is bounded by County Road 6 (Windsor Road) to the south and the Western Reserve Greenway Trail to the west. U.S. Route 322 is 1.5 miles to the south, State Route 45 is one mile to the west, and State Route 46 is three miles to the east.

The area is in the glaciated Allegheny Plateau region of Ohio. Soils are poorly drained and nearly level. Approximately 86 percent of the habitat consists of second growth hardwoods. The timber stands consist of red maple, sugar maple, ash, hickory, pin oak, red oak, black cherry, and tulip poplar. Index of Ohio's trees from the Division of Forestry. Brushland makes up 12 percent and water two percent of the wildlife area.

HISTORY AND PURPOSE
The Orwell Wildlife Area was purchased in 1939 and has been developed as a forest management unit. Although small, Orwell furnishes a variety of hunting opportunities. A shallow water impoundment at the west edge is used by migrating waterfowl and nesting wood ducks are found in the nesting boxes provided. Wildlife management goals include maintaining a diversity of brush-forest openings to improve the area for grouse, deer, and a wide variety of migrant and resident bird species. To provide this diversity of timber and brushy cover types, a timber harvest rotation has been initiated. Squirrel production has been enhanced by erecting squirrel den nesting boxes.

WILDLIFE
Good populations of fox squirrels, turkey, ruffed grouse, and white-tailed deer utilize the area. Furbearers, particularly muskrat and beaver, are found in small numbers. Raccoons occur in good numbers throughout the area. A great variety of both nesting and migrant birds use the area.

HUNTING AND TRAPPING
The Orwell Wildlife Area is popular for hunting squirrels, grouse, and deer. Trapping for furbearers, especially muskrats and raccoons, is good around the four-acre shallow impoundment on the west boundary of the area.

PUBLIC USE FACILITIES
One parking lot is located on the south end of the area at the intersection of County Road 6 and Township Road 556.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Further information may be obtained from the Area Manager, Mosquito Creek Wildlife Area, 8303 North Park Ave., North Bloomfield, Ohio 44450; telephone (440) 685-4776 or from Wildlife District Three Office, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319; telephone (330) 644-2293.