ODNR’s 2026 Wildlife Legacy Stamp Now Available

Article Presented By Kingston National Bank…

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Conservationists can support wildlife by purchasing the 2026 Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. This year’s legacy stamp is on sale now and features a killdeer and its fledgling. A killdeer is a popular and vocal shorebird found throughout Ohio.

Each year, the legacy stamp showcases a photograph of Ohio’s native wildlife species, selected through an annual contest. The killdeer photo featured on this year’s stamp was taken by Jennifer Beck, of Lyndhurst. Beck is a two-time winner of the Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp photo competition. Her photo of a bald eagle and an eaglet was featured on the 2022 legacy stamp.

A killdeer is one of Ohio’s most abundant shorebirds, found on beaches and in wetlands, bare fields, grassy lawns, and even parking lots. Killdeer lay well-camouflaged eggs in gravel and successfully nest along driveways or on rooftops, as well as more natural habitats. Killdeer are named for their loud, sharp call, a repeated “kill-deer” sound. This shorebird is easy to identify with two broad, black bands across its breast and a rusty-colored tail.
 
For $15, Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp purchasers receive a collectible stamp and commemorative card. Stamp holders can also receive a discount on stays at nine of Ohio’s state park lodges. Purchase the legacy stamp at wildohio.gov or through the HuntFish OH mobile app.

All of the stamp’s proceeds go to wildlife conservation with most benefiting species of greatest conservation need. Every year, the Division of Wildlife donates $1 from every stamp sold to the Southern Wings program, which protects the overwintering habitats of Neotropical migratory birds that pass through Ohio.

The remaining Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp proceeds go to the state’s Wildlife Diversity Fund. This fund supports habitat restoration, wildlife research projects, educational materials, and efforts to conserve endangered and threatened species. The fund ensures that all wildlife species, from the killdeer to the bald eagle, have the habitat, resources, and protection necessary to succeed in Ohio’s varied ecosystems.

Southern Wings is an initiative of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), an organization which gives a collective voice to state, provincial, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies in North America. Through Southern Wings, AFWA is helping migratory birds across their annual lifecycle, supporting conservation at breeding, migration, and nonbreeding sites. The program has contributed more than $4 million to projects in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Ohio residents can anticipate entering the 18th annual Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp Photo Contest this summer, with the winner featured on the 2027 legacy stamp. Mammals are the subject of the next stamp.