Wildlife Wednesday 07/09/2025
Psssssst. It’s #WildlifeWednesday. World Snake Day is coming up next week so let’s learn about a creature frequently seen on the trails at TWC, the gray ratsnake. Native to North America and primarily a forest-dwelling, this snake is widespread throughout Ohio. They are agile climbers and are as comfortable slithering along the ground in the…
Read More31st Annual Foto Fest Winners
Thank you to all who participated in the 31st Annual Foto Fest at The Wilderness Center! The winners are… Best of Show: Michelle Whittensolder, Owl Eyes Experienced Division: Animals: People’s Choice- Mary Douglas, Red Fox Kit Judge’s First Place- Mark D. Stotzer, Sliding Into Spring Judge’s Second Place- Kathy DeHass, Have a Happy Day Judge’s Third Place- Dan Lux, Lone…
Read MoreJuly 2025 Full Buck Moon
July’s full Buck Moon will rise on Thursday, July 10, 2025, being its fullest and brightest at 4:37PM EDT. The Moon will be below the horizon when this exact moment of full moon happens. Be outside looking to the southeast at 9:24PM to watch this beautiful Moon rise. Native Americans named Moons after what they…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 07/02/25
It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the upcoming Independence Day holiday with our national bird, the Bald Eagle! The Bald Eagle is found throughout Ohio, with the largest concentration of birds located in the marsh regions along Lake Erie. They prefer areas with large old growth trees for nesting near open bodies of water. Primarily…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/25/25
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! If you’ve hiked to our pond lately, you may have noticed rows and piles of painted turtles covering the logs and banks. The most widespread native turtle in North America, they are abundant in Ohio and can be easily found in freshwater aquatic habitats including ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. They can be…
Read MoreSummer Solstice 2025
Summer solstice, the astronomical beginning of summer, occurs after the Sun sets on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42PM EDT. Solstice is Latin for “Sun Stand Still.” This came from the observation that the Sun’s position appears to stop or stand still in the days surrounding the solstice. For those of us in the northern…
Read MoreFireflies
Fireflies come out at dusk and mesmerize and delight us with their flashing lights. These beetles have been around for 100 million years. More than 2,200 species are found on every continent except Antarctica. In North America alone there are nearly 170 different species of flashing fireflies. Despite all their success as a species, in…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/18/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! We are so excited for our Firefly Festival next weekend, so let’s enjoy some fun facts about fireflies! Fireflies are soft-bodied beetles commonly referred to as lightning bugs. There are more than 2,000 species in the firefly (Lampyridae) family. Many but not all of the species produce light as adults. There are about…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/11/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we are featuring an animal frequently associated with happiness, the Eastern Bluebird! A bluebird sighting is always a treat, the males in particular with their stunning brilliant shade of royal blue on the back and head and brick-red on the chest. Eastern Bluebirds can frequently be spotted in open country, perched on low…
Read MoreJune 2025 Full Strawberry Moon
June’s full Strawberry Moon is the last full Moon of spring. This full Moon happens on Wednesday June 11, at exactly 3:44AM EDT. But it will not be strawberry red in color. The Moon then sets a short time later at 5:36AM. All of this happens before most of us are up for the day. …
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