Fireflies
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. …
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/04/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! A stunning bird that can be seen in Ohio right now is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They can be found in woodlands and along forest edges, and also are very frequent visitors to bird feeders. Several of these gorgeous songbirds have been regular visitors to the TWC Interpretive Building’s wildlife observation area. Grosbeaks are…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 05/28/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Recently spotted on our Wilderness Walk trail is this large communal nest of the Eastern tent caterpillar. These caterpillars, which will eventually become moths, are among the most social of larvae. An adult female moth lays her eggs in late spring or early summer. She lays just one batch each year, containing about…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 05/21/2025
Happy #WidlifeWednesday! With Memorial Day weekend and summer months approaching, Ohioans are looking forward to spending more time in the great outdoors. This is the perfect time for some tips about ticks, as this is the most active season for the tiny parasites. There are three primary tick species of concern in our area. These…
Read MoreGray 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…
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