Black bears aren’t the only creatures making a comeback in Ohio. Sandhill cranes, once gone from the state, are also growing in number. And that’s good news for the Buckeye State.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced the results of the 2026 sandhill crane count on June 24. The bird, still a threatened species with only a few hundred individuals in the state, returned to Ohio in 1987. Their numbers has been slowly growing ever since.
Wildlife officials say that growth means the environmental conditions around the state are improving.
So how many sandhill cranes were found in the recent count? And where were they found? Here’s what to know.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources count finds nearly 350 sandhill cranes
Volunteer observers reported 344 sandhill cranes in Ohio during the 2026 Midwest Crane Count, the ODNR Division of Wildlife reported. The count was coordinated by the Division of Wildlife, Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, and International Crane Foundation.
During the 2025 count, volunteers observed 428 cranes. Officials blamed the decline on bad weather preventing some observers from conducting the survey. The three-year average for the count is 405.
Pre-selected counties are surveyed during the crane’s nesting season to monitor Ohio’s growing breeding population of sandhill cranes. Counties are selected based on the availability of wetland habitat that cranes use for nesting.
This year, volunteers searched assigned locations in probable crane habitat from 6:30-8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18, and reported results via eBird.
Which counties had the highest crane count in 2026?
Volunteers surveyed 33 counties this year and found cranes in 27 of them. The five counties with the most sandhill cranes reported during the 2026 count were:
Crane count results in Ohio by year
The inaugural Midwest Crane Count was in 2021, making this the sixth year for the count. Ohio’s count results, by year, are:
Sandhill cranes’ return means good things for Ohio’s environment
The birds were once extirpated (disappeared) from Ohio. They returned to Wayne County (west of Canton) in 1987 to breed and have been slowly expanding since. An increase in the sandhill crane population is an indicator of improving habitat conditions and water quality. However, the birds are still listed as a threatened species in Ohio.
Where to see sandhill cranes in Ohio
The best viewing opportunities for sandhill cranes, according to ODNR, include:
ODNR says these are prime breeding areas for the birds.
What does a sandhill crane look like? Habitat, behavior
A sandhill crane is a tall wading bird characterized by a long neck and bill. It is mostly gray in plumage with a red patch on its forehead. They are between 34 and 38 inches in height and have a six-to seven-foot wingspan. Weight varies from 7.7 to 14.4 pounds. Males are slightly larger than females.
Sandhill cranes are often recognized by their rolling bugle call. During the breeding season, sandhills are secretive and take on a rusty color from muddy environments. Sandhills are migratory, breeding in wetlands across the northern U.S. and Canada, and wintering farther south in North America.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sandhill crane population growing in Ohio. Here’s why that’s good news
Reporting by Chad Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Chad Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
