Posts Tagged ‘wildlife wednesday’
Wildlife Wednesday 10/09/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we will learn about a nocturnal animal that wants to be seen, smelled, and recognized…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 along…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 10/02/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Sometimes referred to as crawfish, crawdads, river lobsters, or mudbugs, today we are talking about crayfish. Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans and Ohio is home to over 20 species. Meaning “shelled one” in Latin, a crustacean is an invertebrate animal with an exoskeleton. Crayfish have 10 appendages that are considered legs, with one pair…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/25/2024
The striking luna moth, also known as the American moon moth, spends about a month of its life cycle as a hungry caterpillar. Found in deciduous woodlands in North America where their larval foods occur, the hardy caterpillars spend all of their time eating. Constantly. They munch upon the leaves of walnut, hickory, birch, and…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/18/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! How much do you know about slugs? Let’s learn some interesting facts about them! Slug bodies are mostly made up of water. Since they lack a protective shell, they must produce mucus to prevent drying out. Slugs are most active at night and after a rain. This is also related to helping them…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/11/2024
It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are talking about bears (oh my!). More specifically, the American black bear. 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, black bears were abundant throughout Ohio, prior…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 09/04/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Monarch migration is underway! Eastern monarch butterflies are currently flying through Ohio on their way from their summer breeding grounds in Canada to their overwintering areas in Mexico. The monarchs will migrate thousands of miles, traveling up to 100 miles each day during the months of September and October, reaching their roosting sites…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 08/28/2024
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we are showcasing an animal frequently associated with happiness, the Eastern Bluebird! Fairly common and easy to see from the grounds of The Wilderness Center, a bluebird sighting is always a treat, the males in particular a stunning brilliant shade of royal blue on the back and head and brick-red on the…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 08/21/2024
Woof-woof, it’s #WildlifeWednesday! Let’s learn about two of the canines/dogs that make their home here in Ohio, the red fox and the gray fox! The red fox is the larger and taller of the two species and is traditionally known for its bright red fur and black “socks” on its legs, though its coat can…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 08/14/2024
Today’s #WildlifeWednesday is also a summer #WildflowerWednesday as we highlight wingstem, a member of the aster family which is currently in full bloom at The Wilderness Center. Wingstem, also referred to as yellow ironweed, grows in moist areas near woodland areas and bodies of water. Damp prairies, meadows, and roadside ditches are also ideal habitats…
Read MoreWildlife Wednesday 08/07/2024
It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we are showcasing an intriguing ephemeral plant that is coming up in the area, ghost pipe! Monotropa uniflora, also called ghost plant and Indian pipe, is a herbaceous plant that is usually completely white in color, though sometimes will have hints of a pink hue. It flowers from early summer through early…
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