Posts Tagged ‘wildlife’
Long-Eared Owls
The long-eared owl is a beautiful nocturnal bird of prey built for hunting at night and being well camouflaged during the day. This owl spends most of its time in the boreal forests of Canada and northern parts of the U.S. Northern Ohio is on the very southern edge of this owls breeding range. However,…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/17/2025
The striking luna moth, also known as the American moon moth, spends about a month of its life cycle as a handsome and hungry caterpillar. Found in deciduous woodlands in North America where their larval foods occur, the hardy caterpillars spend most of their time eating. They munch upon the leaves of walnut, hickory, birch,…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/10/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! The Virginia opossum is the only species of opossum found in Ohio and is also the northernmost marsupial (animal that carries its young in a pouch) in the world! It is an omnivore and has 50 teeth, more than any other North American land mammal, and is able to eat a wide variety…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 07/30/2025
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! We are currently in the midst of the hottest part of the season in the Northern Hemisphere, often referred to as the “dog days of summer.” To celebrate we are highlighting one of the canines found in Ohio, the coyote! The coyote is a medium-sized member of the dog family that is found…
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 MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/30/25
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of year when white-tailed deer babies begin to be seen curled up in yards and on lawns. Fawns are born in Ohio between May and July and although they are able to walk at birth, they need to spend several weeks with their mother for food and protection. Mother deer…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 04/16/2025
Hoppy #WildlifeWednesday! Let’s leap in and learn some fun facts about the impressive American bullfrog! The American bullfrog is the largest frog in North America, with adults weighing more than a pound. The name “bullfrog” comes from the noise males make during the breeding season, which sounds like a bull bellowing. Their croaking call is…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 11/20/24
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! As the freezing autumn and winter weather approaches, an animal that uses hibernation as a survival strategy is the thirteen-lined ground squirrel. Also known as the striped gopher and leopard ground squirrel, this rodent is related to prairie dogs and is found in grasslands and open areas of Ohio. They may also use…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 02/14
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It is Valentine’s Day and love is in the air, especially for coyotes! Today marks the peak of coyote mating season, which spans from late January until early March. Pairs are monogamous and stay together throughout their lives, the strong bond breaking only upon the death of a mate. Coyotes are highly adaptable…
Read More