Ohio Division of Wildlife Initiating K-9 Program

Wildlife Officer Gilkey with Mattis will be serving Meigs County and District 4 of the Ohio Division of Wildlife. Photo from the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) announced Jan. 16, 2018 that the ODNR Division of Wildlife is joining more than 20 states in the adoption of a wildlife K-9 program.

One wildlife officer from each of Ohio’s five wildlife districts will become handlers in the program. These highly skilled K-9s are trained to detect hidden wild game such as white-tailed deer, turkey, waterfowl and fish, along with other non-game scents like ginseng and gun powder. They will also have the ability to track people and will be used to find lost hunters and people hunting without permission.

In District 4 which includes Meigs County, the county’s own Chris Gilkey has been training and partnered with, Mattis, one of the K-9s. Wildlife Officer Gilkey said working with Mattis took an “already amazing job and made it that much more incredible.”

Beginning next week, three K-9s and the wildlife officer handlers will begin a 10-week training academy where they will master their skills. The program will be in line with the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy standards for law enforcement K-9s in Ohio. The K-9s will also get advanced training in wildlife detection – finding wild animals and parts such as fish, deer, turkey, waterfowl and more.

Mattis has further training and is one of K-9s in the Ohio Division of Wildlife program. Photo from Ohio Division of Wildlife.

The K-9s will also be friendly and socialized to participate in conservation programs and youth events, allowing people to meet them and ask questions about our newest law enforcement members. The K-9s will be valuable in enforcing Wildlife laws and deterring potential violators. They can also be utilized to back up and assist other agencies in and around Meigs County.

According to a statement from the ODNR, “We look forward to our K-9 teams performing unique and highly visible roles in helping to accomplish the ODNR Division of Wildlife’s mission of conserving and improving fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all.”
ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov