Gray Fox
Gray foxes are nocturnal and elusive, making them hard to spot. This fox is considered a paraphyletic fox, meaning it’s not a true fox because it doesn’t belong to the genus Vulpes but rather the genus Urocyon. Belonging to the family Canidae, the gray fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus, and one other fox, the island fox, are…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 05/14/2025
The Common snapping turtle is the largest species of turtle in Ohio, with some full-grown individuals weighing well over 35 pounds. While they achieve massive size as adults, when first hatched they measure only 2-3 centimeters, or about the size of a quarter! Peak egg-laying season in Ohio is during the months of May and…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 05/07/2025
Whooooo’s ready for our owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are highlighting the 3 species of owls we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year. The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in Ohio and with its enormous yellow eyes, long ear tufts, and deep hooting call, it is…
Read MoreMay 2025 Full Flower Moon
Our next full Moon, the Flower Moon, occurs at 12:56PM EDT on May 12, 2025. This exact moment when the Moon is officially full occurs after the Moon has set for us. Remember being able to see a full Moon at the exact moment it’s 100% illuminated depends on your location. The full Moon alignment…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/30/25
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of year when white-tailed deer babies begin to be seen curled up in yards and on lawns. Fawns are born in Ohio between May and July and although they are able to walk at birth, they need to spend several weeks with their mother for food and protection. Mother deer…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/23/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It is almost the delightful time of year known as “baby bird season” and geese and ducks can be spotted swimming and waddling around with their numerous adorable offspring in tow. Canada Geese and Mallards are the most common waterfowl that make their homes at TWC’s Wilderness Lake and it can be tempting…
Read MoreDekay’s Brownsnake
Dekay’s brownsnake is common, small, secretive, nocturnal and seldom found out in the open. Their Latin name is Storeria dekayi. The species name dekayi honors James Ellsworth Dekay, a naturalist/zoologist who collected the first specimen of this snake on Long Island, New York and Storeria honors David Humphreys Storer, an American physician/naturalist/ zoologist. This is…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/16/2025
Hoppy #WildlifeWednesday! Let’s leap in and learn some fun facts about the impressive American bullfrog! The American bullfrog is the largest frog in North America, with adults weighing more than a pound. The name “bullfrog” comes from the noise males make during the breeding season, which sounds like a bull bellowing. Their croaking call is…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/09/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! You may have noticed more than the usual number of large dark birds circling and soaring in the sky overhead lately. Welcome back, Turkey Vultures! While some Turkey Vultures stay in Ohio all year, most migrate for the winter, traveling to the southern USA and even as far as South America. Often associated…
Read MoreApril 2025 Full Pink Moon
April’s full Moon is called the Pink Moon, and it occurs on Saturday, April 12. The Moon will look full when it rises at 8:01PM EST, but it won’t be a true full Moon until 8:22PM EST when the Moon has moved in its orbit so that Earth is directly between the Moon and Sun. …
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