Mosquito Lake State Park

06/07/2026

🦅 A Sad Reminder About Fishing Line and Wildlife 🦅

This photo shows the male and female osprey from the nest in the southeast corner of Mosquito Lake. If you look closely, you can see fishing line dangling from the female.

According to reports, she spent much of the day struggling to free herself from the line. At this point, we are hopeful that it will work itself loose, but we wanted to share this story as a reminder of the impact discarded fishing line and litter can have on wildlife.

Right now, there is nothing we can safely do to intervene. However, we are asking the community to help us keep an eye on this bird. If the line becomes more entangled or if she becomes caught on the nest or another object, quick action could make all the difference.

If you happen to observe this osprey tangled, unable to fly properly, or otherwise in distress, please call immediately from your cell phone so that park staff and wildlife professionals can respond as quickly as possible.

This situation is also a reminder of an important conservation project currently being led by the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park. Volunteers are building fishing line recycling and collection stations that will soon be placed around the lake to give anglers a convenient place to dispose of unwanted fishing line. We are excited about this project, but these stations will only work if they are used. Every piece of fishing line placed in a collection tube is one less piece that can entangle an osprey, heron, turtle, eagle, or other wildlife. If you are interested in helping with the project contact Friends at Large Officer Steve Craiger at [email protected]

Most anglers care deeply about the lake and its wildlife. We simply ask everyone to take a few extra seconds to properly dispose of fishing line, hooks, and other trash before leaving. Small actions by many people can make a tremendous difference.

A special thank you to Scott Griffin and Christine Cope for bringing this to our attention and for providing the photos.

Let's work together to keep Mosquito Lake a safe place for wildlife and people alike.

06/06/2026

Sometimes the smallest moments remind us why we do what we do.

Today, a little girl came running up to me in the park and said, "Jason! Jason! I have my helmet on. Can I get an ice cream cone?"

To give you a little backstory, this was the same little girl who wasn't wearing a helmet last year. At that time, I couldn't give her one of our free ice cream cards because the whole point of the program is to encourage safe biking habits.

This year was different. She proudly had her helmet on and was excited to show me. Needless to say, she earned her ice cream card!

A huge thank you goes out to Irene's Ice Cream for donating these free ice cream cards for the second year in a row. What may seem like a simple ice cream cone has become a powerful tool for encouraging kids to make safe choices while enjoying the park.

Moments like this show that community partnerships really do make a difference.

If you own a local business and would like to help support programs like this, please reach out to the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park. Together, we can continue creating positive experiences for the families and children who visit our park.

Thank you again, Irene's Ice Cream, for helping us make a difference one helmet—and one ice cream cone—at a time! 🍦🚴‍♀️💙

06/06/2026

🏹 Good News! Archery & BB Guns Are On for 9:30 AM Today!

After keeping a close eye on the weather, it looks like we're going to be able to hold our Archery & BB Gun First Shot Program this morning at 9:30 AM!
Join our amazing volunteers and park naturalist as we teach the basics of archery and BB gun shooting with a strong emphasis on safety and fun. This program is perfect for all ages and experience levels—whether you've never picked up a bow before or you're looking to sharpen your skills.

All equipment is provided, and participation is free!
📍 Mosquito Lake Archery Range
⏰ 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Please remember: ✔️ Closed-toe shoes are required
✔️ Children must be accompanied by an adult
✔️ Waivers will be available on site
The weather is cooperating, so come on out and enjoy a great morning at Mosquito Lake State Park with us!

06/06/2026

⚠️ Weather Alert for This Weekend's Programs ⚠️

After an amazing week of beautiful weather, it looks like Mother Nature may have different plans for us this weekend. Severe storms are currently forecasted to move into the area and may impact some of our scheduled programs.

We are still planning to hold our weekend activities, including:

🏹 Archery & BB Gun First Shot Program – 9:30 AM
🦅 Mosquito Lake State Park Wildlife Show – 4:00 PM
🎣 Cast & Catch Fishing Program – 5:30 PM
🎬 Campground Movie Night – Dusk

However, visitor safety is our top priority. Depending on weather conditions, some programs may be delayed, relocated, modified, or canceled.

Before heading to the park, please check both the Mosquito Lake State Park page and our program website for the latest updates and announcements.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we monitor the forecast and make decisions that keep everyone safe while still providing the best experience possible.

For schedules and updates, visit:
www.tinyurl.com/lakeprograms

We are hoping the storms miss us and that we'll see everyone at the lake this weekend!

Program Updates

05/25/2026

What an incredible way to spend Memorial Day at Mosquito Lake State Park.

Today, we hosted two pontoon boat tours around the lake, giving visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty, wildlife, and rich history that make Mosquito Lake such a special place. From discussing osprey soaring above the water to exploring the history and engineering behind the Mosquito Creek Dam, the tours highlighted just how much there is to discover on and around the lake.

Guests also learned about conservation efforts taking place throughout the park, including wildlife habitat work, cavity nesting bird programs, and the importance of protecting the natural resources that make this area thrive.
Through the cooperation and support of the Friends of Mosquito Lake State Park and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the first of what we hope will be many pontoon tours was an amazing success on a beautiful day out on the water.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported the program, and helped make the day such a memorable experience. We cannot wait to continue sharing the stories, wildlife, history, and natural beauty of Mosquito Lake with the community.

05/23/2026

⚠️ Program Update ⚠️

Due to reported lightning and storms moving through the area, today’s Wildlife Show has been canceled for the safety of our visitors, volunteers, animals, and staff.

However, the fun is not completely washed away! Our naturalist will still be traveling around the campground area in between rain showers for the Traveling Naturalist program. If the weather gives us a break, keep an eye out and flag him down to see what wildlife friends might be tagging along for the ride today. 🦅🐍🐢

Please continue checking the Mosquito Lake State Park page for any additional weather-related updates throughout the day.

Stay safe and dry everyone!

05/23/2026

⚠️ Program Cancellation Notice ⚠️

Due to the weather conditions, today’s Archery & BB Gun First Shot Program has been canceled.

Using archery and BB gun equipment in this type of weather can become dangerous very quickly, and safety will always come first for our visitors, volunteers, and staff.
We are continuing to monitor the weather throughout the day and hopefully conditions may improve enough for some of our later afternoon and evening programs to still take place.

Please continue checking the Mosquito Lake State Park page and program website for updates throughout the day.

Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe and dry out there!

05/22/2026

⚠️ Program Cancellation Notice ⚠️

Due to the weather, tonight’s Cast & Catch Fishin’ Friday program scheduled for 5:30 PM has been canceled.
Please stay safe, stay dry, and use caution as we head into Memorial Day Weekend.

We are hopeful the weather clears out a bit tomorrow so we can continue with many of the amazing programs planned throughout the weekend and celebrate together at Mosquito Lake State Park.

Please continue to check the Mosquito Lake State Park page and our program website for updates regarding weather-related schedule changes.
Thank you for your understanding and support!

01/01/2026

❄️ Winter Hike Update – Schedule Change ❄️

Due to the heavy snow falling tonight, we are postponing the First Winter Hike until Sunday at 1:00 PM.

This decision is being made to ensure everyone’s safety, so no one has to travel on roads that may be hazardous following the heavy snowfall.

Please be aware that snow drifts may still be present in the morning, even after the snow has stopped. Use caution if you need to be out, and stay safe.

Thank you for your understanding—we look forward to hiking together on Sunday!