Birding at The Wilds And Surrounding AEP Recreation Lands

General Information

Address

14000 International Rd, Cumberland, OH 43732

County/Counties

Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble

DeLorme Page Number and Coordinates

(7th Edition and earlier) Page 70 / B-4 and B-5 – note: roads may be drastically different from what is on Delorme maps or topographic quads as reclaimed areas are not accurate.

Nearest Town or City

3 miles SW of Cumberland, Ohio.

Directions from Nearest Town or City

From Zanesville – take SR 146 E of Zanesville, take SR 284 SE from Chandlersville, take International Road to the main parking lot area of the Wilds.

About The Wilds And Surrounding AEP Recreation Lands

The Wilds is a large reclaimed surface mine grassland area that has abundant wintering raptors and grassland nesting birds. Surrounding the Wilds (9200 acres) is thousands of acres of AEP RE-Creation lands that have similar habitats. While most of the region is this rolling grassland, there are also areas of ponds, lakes, wetlands, spoils forest, and remnant hardwood forests. Wide-open vistas make hawk-watching possible. Main roads are hard-topped, but many roads are light duty (gravel and dirt) and can be treacherous in wet seasons.

 

Birders are reminded that many of the coal-haul roads can be very bad in any season and that they are numerous and confusing. Getting stuck out there could mean a very long walk out. Some areas are beginning to be overgrown into thickets of autumn olive and planted young stands of black pine and green ash. Birding from the roadside is the suggested practice as these are private lands and many are posted for no trespassing. Groups can schedule special tours, workshops from the Wilds lodge, and hikes across remote areas of the Wilds. Checklists of birds seen at the Wilds are available on the Wilds website. Special “Winter on the Wilds” programs also offer birders a chance to see the area, guided by Wilds naturalists.

Visiting Information

Closed hours/season

The Wilds is open for naturalist-guided bus tours of the Wildlife Conservation Park from May 1 to October 31 on weekends, and from Memorial Day to Labor Day from Wednesday through Sunday. Breeding facilities and open-range pastures for world-wide endangered wildlife give you the opportunity to see rhino, giraffe, oryx, bison, and over 20 other hoofed mammals. Perimeter roads are open for birding anytime of the year.

Parking Areas

The main parking lot is located on International Road. A birdwatcher lookout is planned for the area near High Hill along SR 284.

Fees/Permits

A free permit is necessary to access the AEP ReCreation Land.

The Wilds is private property and birders who seek permission to bird on the Wilds must be accompanied by a Wilds staff person due to inherent dangers of large mammals on the property.

Restroom Facilities

Not available currently, except during open season for tour goers.

Harmful Insects, Poisonous Plants, or Animals

Copperhead snakes are found in some of the wooded areas.

Special Note

Reclaimed mines have numerous inherent dangers. Roads can be treacherous in wet seasons and may have scrap metal and rock shard tire hazards. Walking over areas can expose persons to very rugged terrain, high wall cliffs, pits hidden in grassy areas, boulder drain-ways, and deep sediment pools.

Restaurants in the Area

Restaurants are available in Zanesville on the way out to the Wilds.

Other Useful Information

The Wilds has group camps available for birders at the Conservation Yurt Camp, the Lodge, and a primitive campsite. Summer camps are available for wildlife-loving kids as well.

Other Birding Spots in the Area

Blue Rock State Forest – mature hardwood forests and neo-tropical migrants.