Posts Tagged ‘dark skies’
Snowshoe Hares
Snowshoe hares are found throughout Canada and in the northernmost part of the U.S. They were native to the northeast corner of Ohio but disappeared in the early 1900s due to the clearing of forests to create farmland. Early attempts to reintroduce these hares to Ohio were unsuccessful; however, in 2000 the ODNR Division of…
Read MoreMarch 2025 Full Worm Moon
The full Worm Moon occurs at 2:55AM EDT on March 14, 2025. For Southern Native American tribes, the name Worm Moon came from the observation that earthworms begin to appear as the soil warms in spring. However, early northern Native American tribes did not see earthworms in March because glaciers had wiped out all soil…
Read MoreGray Tree Frogs
The gray tree frog is one of two native species of tree frogs. The other is Cope’s tree frog which happens to look exactly like the gray tree frog though a bit smaller in size. They can be distinguished by their calls – the gray tree frog has a slower, more musical call. The gray…
Read MoreEastern Cottontail Rabbits
Eastern cottontail rabbits are everywhere in Ohio. Their ancient ancestors appeared at least 33 million years ago during the late Eocene Epoch. Adaptable creatures, they evolved into the eastern cottontail rabbits we have today. They’re the most common rabbit species in North America – ranging throughout North America, Latin America and Northern South America. While…
Read MoreJanuary 2025 Full Wolf Moon
The first full Moon of 2025, January’s Wolf Moon, rises on January 13 at 5:27PM EST. There are differing opinions on the origins of this name. Some say it’s Native American in origin and others believe it has Celtic and Old English origins. When early European settlers came to America gray wolves were widespread throughout…
Read MoreFive-spotted Hawk Moth
Known for their rapid flight and ability to hover over a flower while feeding, the five-spotted hawk moth is another important nighttime pollinator. Although found throughout the U.S. it is more often found in northern states including Ohio. They’re found in various habitats, including gardens, meadows, woodlands, and even urban areas if they provide the…
Read MoreStar-Nosed Mole
The star-nosed mole is an amazing little creature. Its most noticeable feature is the 22 fleshy tentacle-like appendages, forming a little star, at the end of its nose. Your first thought might be that these tentacles help the mole to smell, but you’d be wrong. They function more like an eye than a nose. The…
Read MoreComet C/2023 A3
“Comets are like cats: they have tails, and they do precisely what they want.” Davis H. Levy, Comets: Creators and Destroyers A visitor from afar is in the neighborhood. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-Atlas), A3 for short, will be visible by the end of September in the morning sky. Comet names tell us much about the…
Read MorePandorus Sphinx Moth
Some of the most beautiful, interesting and hard-working pollinators are rarely seen. Why? Because they work at night. One of the members of this night crew is the pandorus sphinx moth. Found throughout Ohio, this is a large moth with a wingspan of 3 to 4.5 inches. They have streamlined bodies and wings, their outline…
Read MoreBats & Dark Skies
Bats are amazing! They have lived on Earth for more than 50 million years. There are over 1,400 different species of bats, making them the second largest order of mammals. Bats are extremely adaptable and can be found in forests, wetlands, deserts, prairies, urban areas, and even cold places like Alaska and Siberia, and they…
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