Posts by Sarah Watson
Geminid Meteor Shower 2025
The Geminid meteor shower is a perennial favorite and is well known for being the best meteor shower of the year. Earth’s orbit passes through the Geminid meteor stream every year from about November 19 to December 24. 2025’s expected peak, when the most meteors can be seen, is from Saturday night, December 13 into…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 12/03/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday. Visitors to The Wilderness Center often ask if bears live in our woods and the answer is… not right now. But they have in the past, and could again in the future. Historically, American black bears were abundant throughout Ohio, prior to major human settlement. But by the 1850s bears were considered officially…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/26/2025
Gobble gobble! It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the Wild Turkey! Preferring woodland habitat interspersed with open spaces such as fields, pastures, and orchards, these large heavy-bodied game birds with long necks and small heads feed on the ground, strutting and striding through forests and grasslands. Adult males, or toms, weigh in at 12-25 pounds…
Read MoreThe State of Conservation at TWC: Part 1: Implementing Our Vision- Overview of TWC’s New Monitoring Program
Curious about the health of our local ecosystems and how The Wilderness Center (TWC) protects them? This series will provide a transparent look into our ongoing efforts, highlighting the critical work being done to safeguard the natural beauty and biodiversity, right here in Ohio. This kickoff session introduces TWC’s comprehensive ecological monitoring program, newly implemented…
Read MoreNorthern Saw-Whet Owls
“I shall never forget the thrill I experienced when I first met this lovely little owl. … I had never seen so small an owl, or one so beautiful.” Arthur Cleveland Bent, Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey, Part 2, August 8, 1938. Mr. Bent was writing about the northern saw-whet owl. Of…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/19/2025
Whooooo’s ready for our upcoming owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we will highlight the 3 owl species we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year. The Eastern Screech-owl is Ohio’s smallest and most common owl, occurring in all 88 counties. This little owl is about the size of an American…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/12/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we will learn about a nocturnal animal that wants to be seen, smelled, recognized, and remembered…the striped skunk! While many animals use camouflage, burrows, and fleeing to hide from predators, the skunk does not rely on any of these. Instead its strategy is to stand out, showing off the bright white stripes…
Read MoreNovember 2025 Full Beaver Moon
November’s full Beaver Moon occurs on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 8:19AM EST. Unfortunately, the Moon has set and is well below the horizon by this time. Not to worry! The Moon will still look round and bright when it rises later that evening at 5:04PM. Native Americans were very in tune with nature and…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/05/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of the year! That time of year when Ohio gets a chill in the air and enjoys the arrival of large flocks of the “snowbird,” also known as the Dark-eyed Junco. These cute sparrows with pink bills and long tails with flashy white outer-tail feathers are an abundant winter visitor…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 10/29/2025
Happy WildlifeWednesday! The Wood Duck is a colorful and ornate species of waterfowl found in North America, considered by many to be among the most beautiful birds. The male is particularly spectacular, with a glossy emerald head, chestnut breast, striking red eyes and bill, and other bold markings. Its stunning plumage includes intricate patterns and…
Read More