• Image of bluebells in the spring

    Cuyahoga Valley

    National Park Ohio

There are park alerts in effect.
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  • Canal Visitor Center Closure

    Canal Visitor Center will be closed for construction, starting Monday, May 6, 2013. It will reopen with new exhibits in early 2014.

  • Riverview Road Closure

    Riverview Rd from the Cuyahoga Falls line north to the Peninsula line will be re-paved, beginning the week of April 22. Expect delays. Flaggers will direct traffic. Final resurfacing and striping will take place following the Memorial Day holiday.

  • Bald Eagle Closure in Effect

    RR tracks, and 30 foot right of way on either side, are closed to all foot traffic from the Rt. 82 Bridge at Station Rd, north to the RR tracks at. The Cuyahoga R. downstream of the Brecksville Dam to the Fitzwater Rd Bridge is closed to water activities.

Hungry Wildlife

Coyote on the towpath.
©R. Belkin
 
Pair of deer in winter.

©Cheryl Osgood

Like all farmers, those in the Cuyahoga Valley face challenges from wildlife. Deer, raccoons, coyotes, and other animals affect crops and livestock.

More than any other wild animal, deer threaten most crops, eating vegetables before they have a chance to fully grow. Within the last half century, the deer population has grown dramatically, creating more pressure on those who make a living off the land.

 
Oral history audio.
In Their Own Words
Click the topics to hear stories about Cuyahoga Valley life.

Hawks and Raccoons (21 seconds)
Alan Halko, who operates Spring Hill Farm and Market in Brecksville, talks about how hawks and raccoons threaten his chickens.

Deer Problems (43 seconds)
Gerald and Marilyn Polcen, who no longer farm in the valley due to the rising deer population, talk about a creative method for warding off deer from their fields.

More Deer (24 seconds)
Carl Boodey describes how the large deer population has affected the valley landscape and contributed to tree loss.



Did You Know?

Monarch Butterfly - US Fish and Wildlife Service Photo

Early September is the time to watch monarchs feed in Cuyahoga Valley fields rich with goldenrod and New England aster. These places serve as important re-fueling sites for these long distance travelers on their way to oyamel forests near Mexico City more than 2,000 miles away.