Conservationists can join thousands of wildlife supporters by purchasing the 2025 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 hummingbird clearwing moth, a popular summer visitor to Ohio’s backyard gardens.

Each year, the legacy stamp showcases a photograph of Ohio’s native wildlife species, selected through an annual contest. The hummingbird clearwing moth photo featured on this year’s stamp was taken by Roger Friedman of Westlake.

A hummingbird clearwing moth (Hemaris thysbe) is an important pollinator of native Ohio plants. This moth can be seen from April to September in fields, gardens, and meadows and it frequently visits bee balm flowers. Named for its resemblance to ruby-throated hummingbirds, this clear-winged pollinator is in the sphinx moth family.

For $15, Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp purchasers receive a collectible stamp, sticker, and commemorative card. Stamp holders can also receive a discount on stays at nine of Ohio’s state park lodges.

All of the stamp’s proceeds go to wildlife conservation, with most benefitting species of greatest conservation need through the Wildlife Diversity Fund. 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 hummingbird clearwing moth to the barn owl, 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 17th annual Ohio Wildlife Legacy Stamp Photo Contest this summer, with the winner featured on the 2026 legacy stamp. Shorebirds and wading birds are the subject of the 2026 stamp.

The mission of the Division of Wildlife is to conserve and improve fish and wildlife resources and their habitats for sustainable use and appreciation by all. Visit wildohio.gov to find out more.

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.