Wildlife Wednesday 07/17/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! 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 2 dozen species of fireflies found in Ohio. All fireflies glow…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 07/10/2024
It’ssssssss #WildlifeWednesday and we are highlighting one of our resident animal ambassadors, Zea the corn snake! The corn snake is a type of rat snake found in North America, mostly in the central and southeastern United States. It is not venomous, and kills its prey instead by constriction (squeezing). It is a beneficial animal to…
Read MoreWhite-lined Sphinx Moth
The white-lined sphinx moth is a fascinating creature. It’s a member of the moth family Sphingidae which has over 1400 species worldwide and 115 in North America. The white-lined sphinx moth is widespread and abundant. It can be found throughout Central America, the United States, and into southern Canada. It’s a large moth having a…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 07/03/2024
It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are celebrating the upcoming Independence Day holiday with our national symbol, 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 More30th Annual Foto Fest Winners
Thank you to all who participated in the 30th Annual Foto Fest at The Wilderness Center! The winners are… Best of Show: Shirley Weyrauch, Milky Way in the Tetons Novice Division: Animals: Judge’s First Place- Kathy DeHass, Hey You… Just Checking In People’s Choice- Mary Douglas, Groundhog Snack Birds: Judge’s First Place- Mary Douglas, Egret…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/26/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The Wilderness Center’s high quality habitats are home to many species of salamanders. One of the terrestrial salamanders that can be found is the Northern slimy salamander. Its common name comes from the sticky slime it produces in glands on its tail and lower back, which it uses to defend itself from predators.…
Read MoreJune 2024 Full Strawberry Moon
As the Sun is setting on June 21, 2024, the first full Moon of summer, the Strawberry Moon, will be rising. The rising strawberry Moon won’t be pink, but it will appear large and golden in color. And because this full Moon follows on the heels of the summer solstice which occurred on June 20…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 06/19/2024
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 06/12/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Known for its striking yellow and pink coloration, thick wooly body, and fuzzy antennae, the rosy maple moth is a favorite among moth enthusiasts. A small member of the silk moth family, the rosy maple moth is found in the eastern United States and Canada. It makes its home in deciduous forests and…
Read MoreSnapping Turtle
The common snapping turtle is a nocturnal reptile found in southern Canada from Alberta to Nova Scotia and throughout the eastern two-thirds of America from the Atlantic coast to the edge of the Rocky Mountains and south to the Gulf Coast and into Central America. They are an ancient turtle that evolved in North America…
Read More