July 2026 Full Buck Moon

It’ssssssss #WildlifeWednesday and tomorrow is #WorldSnakeDay, so let's learn about 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 humans as it keeps populations of wild rodents in check, particularly near agricultural land and crops. There are two origins of the name “corn snake.” One says the name comes from the tendency of the snake to live near stores of grain and maize, where it hunts rats and mice. The other suggests that the name comes from the distinctive checkered scales on the belly, which resemble variegated kernels of corn. The lifespan for wild corn snakes is 6-8 years, but in captivity they can live to well over 20. Zea is 13 years old. Corn snakes are popular to keep in captivity for educational purposes and as pets due to the ease of their care, calm temperament, and tolerance for being handled. Zea is a curious snake with a gentle disposition. She is very receptive to being held and enjoys meeting visitors and audiences at programs and outreach events. She also likes supervised exploring and slithering outdoors, exercising on her tank's climbing wall, and making tunnels in her substrate. Join us tomorrow, World Snake Day , for a special free presentation featuring Zea!

Woof-woof, it’s #WildlifeWednesday! The hot and humid time period between July 3rd and August 11th is referred to as the “Dog Days of Summer,” and today we will talk about two of the canines 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 have color variations of black, silver, and brown. The enormous bushy tail of the red fox ends in a white tip. The gray fox is smaller and has a grizzled silvery gray coat with reddish patches on the chest and sides and white marking on the face. A black stripe runs along the top of the tail. The gray fox’s snout is shorter and more catlike than that of other foxes. The gray fox also has specialized claws that allow it to climb trees! To stay cool in the heat both species of fox will seek shade and even dig or use holes in the ground. Since their fur coats prevent them from being able to sweat through their skin, they pant just like our domestic dogs to release excess heat. Their coats are also much thinner during the hot months, as they begin shedding their thick winter fur in the spring, giving them a sleek summer look. Both foxes are omnivores and eat a wide range of foods, including rodents, birds, reptiles, insects, eggs, fruits, and plant material. In the heat of summer they target berries as they provide extra hydration in addition to being a tasty treat. You might not be digging holes in the ground, but we hope you find ways to stay cool like a fox today!

Bobcats are native to Ohio. However, being solitary, elusive, shy and nocturnal they are rarely seen. Bobcats have had rough go in Ohio. Prior to the arrival of settlers, they were found throughout the state. Throughout the 1800s forests were cleared and marshes and wetlands were drained so that farmsteads and towns could be built. By 1850, due to habitat loss and hunting for the fur trade the bobcat became extinct in Ohio. Nearly a century later bobcat-suitable habitat started coming back as farmed areas were being changed back to forests and abandoned strip mines were rehabilitated. In the 1990’s a bobcat reintroduction program brought these cats back to Ohio. As of 2021, the most current ODNR data, there have been 561confirmed bobcat sightings in 81 of Ohio’s 88 counties. Although most bobcat sightings are in southern and southeastern Ohio, confirmed sightings are moving northward - Stark, Wayne, Holmes, and Tuscarawas counties have confirmed sightings. Bobcats are about twice as big as a house cat and weigh up to 30 pounds. They are fierce, highly skilled, carnivorous apex predators and important members of the ecosystem. These cats are ambush predators relying on their exceptional hearing and night vision to stalk prey before pouncing. They can jump as far as 12 feet to pounce on prey, run as fast as 25 to 30 miles an hour, and they are skilled swimmers. They can even jump high enough to catch low-flying birds. Their prey includes mostly rabbits, young white-tail deer, and small mammals. Although mammals make up most of their diet, they are considered generalist carnivores and will also eat insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and birds. They help to keep these prey species in check. We don’t often get to celebrate the return of a once-native species - the resurgence of bobcats in Ohio is an environmental success story the state prides itself on. Bobcats are protected in Ohio. There is no hunting or trapping season for them and their most common predators, wolves and mountain lions, don’t live in Ohio. With the success of the re-introduction program the bobcat was removed from Ohio’s endangered and vulnerable species list in July 2014. For the bobcat to succeed they need the night to be dark. Light pollution or skyglow can reach hundreds of miles from the urban area creating the pollution. It reaches into the dark areas where bobcats live and interferes with their hunting and safety. Light pollution is one challenge to the bobcat’s success that everyone can do something about.

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 a fish-eating bird of prey, they will also consume ducks, rodents, reptiles, and carrion. The Bald Eagle is a sturdy raptor, weighing between 7 and 14 pounds. Females are about 25 percent larger than the males. The plumage of immature eagles is brown, with the white feathers of the head and tail developing at around 6 years of age. They live for an average of 20 years in the wild and can have an even longer lifespan in captivity. Bald Eagles mate for life, often returning to the same nest for several years. The courtship rituals are elaborate, with the males performing astonishing aerial flight displays. The pair will lock talons and cartwheel, spin, and freefall, separating their hold on each other just before hitting the ground. The nest is the largest built by any bird in North America and typically can be 8 feet wide and 13 feet deep. A record-setting nest in Florida weighed nearly 3 metric tons! Another famous nest located in Vermillion, Ohio was used for 34 years and was shaped like a wine glass, weighing over 2 tons before the tree that held it blew down. The Bald Eagle was classified as an endangered species in the mid-20th century due to severe population decline caused by the pesticide DDT. The chemical affected calcium levels in adult birds, and as a result their eggs were too thin and would break when sat upon. Illegal shooting and lead poisoning from shotgun pellets left in animal carcasses killed by hunters also contributed to their decline. With the ban of DDT and development of wildlife protection and environmental regulations, our national bird has made a comeback and remarkable population recovery. The Bald Eagle species status was changed from endangered to threatened, then de-listed altogether, and now holds a risk level of least concern, which is indeed something to celebrate!

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Our Firefly Festival is coming up on Friday evening so let's prepare with a few fantastic 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 in Ohio. All fireflies glow as larvae. They use this glow to warn predators that they do not taste good. Fireflies contain a bitter unpalatable steroid as a defense to avoid being eaten by animals such as birds, bats, and spiders. Firefly larvae eat snails, slugs, and worms. Fireflies produce light through bioluminescence, light emitted due to a chemical reaction in a living organism. Bioluminescence in fireflies is nearly 100 percent efficient and little energy is wasted to produce their light. Fireflies use their flashes to attract mates. Firefly light can be yellow, green, or orange. Fireflies have been featured in human culture and folklore around the world for centuries. They can be symbolic of inner light, hope, transformation, guidance, and good luck. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and light pollution are contributing to the decline of firefly populations. Join us Friday as we celebrate all things firefly with games, crafts, displays, planetarium programs, campfire tales, and of course, guided night hikes through the fields and forest to observe fireflies!

The day we’ve been waiting for, summer solstice, is almost here! This astronomical beginning of summer happens on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 4:24AM EDT. And it doesn’t matter where in the northern hemisphere you live on Earth the summer solstice happens at the exact same moment for everyone on the planet no matter what time your clock says. Every day since the Spring equinox the Sun has been rising and setting a little farther north on the horizon. At the moment of summer solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost point in our sky. No matter where you live on Earth, at summer solstice the Sun rises and sets its farthest north on your horizon. This apparent change in the position of the sun is due to the 23.5-degree axial tilt of the Earth and our orbital movement around the sun. This is the reason we have seasons. Summer solstice occurs when the Earth is in the part of its orbit where the northern hemisphere is most tilted toward the Sun making the Sun appear to be high in our sky and allowing the Earth to receive the Sun’s light and warmth most directly. Solstice is Latin for “Sun Stand Still.” This came from the observation that the Sun’s position appears to stop or stand still in the days surrounding the solstice. After these few days the Sun’s apparent motion begins to carry it southward once again. Ancient cultures around the world watched and studied the Sun’s path across the sky. They understood that the Sun’s position along the horizon at sunrise and sunset moved in a regular and predictable way during the year. They also knew that the amount of daylight also changed in a predictable way through the year. Many of these cultures built monuments to align with the solstices. We are familiar with Stonehenge built around 3000B.C. by the early neolithic people in England. On the summer solstice the Sun rises directly over the Heel Stone. Around the same time that Stonehenge was being built, Egyptians were building two pyramids, the Great Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Great Sphinx in Giza. The Sphinx and pyramids are aligned so that when standing in front of the Sphinx on summer solstice the Sun sets exactly between the two pyramids. Ancient Native Americans also used rock to mark the solstice. Bighorn Medicine Wheel is located on top the Bighorn Range in Wyoming. Built by Plains Indians around 800 years ago, there is evidence that it might be much older. The Wheel has an 80-foot diameter outer circle made of stones with a center doughnut shaped circle which is connected to the outer circle by 28 spoke-like stone lines. One alignment points to the summer solstice sunrise and a second alignment points to the summer solstice sunset. Other alignments pointing to rising stars may have been used to pinpoint the date of the summer solstice. In New Mexico on Fajada Butte behind three stone slabs Ancestral Puebloan people in Chaco Canyon carved two spiral petroglyphs into the rock – a large one and a small one. Late morning on the summer solstice the sun shines on the three stone slabs creating a spot of light directly above the large spiral. During the next 15 minutes this spot of light stretches into a shaft of light called a “sun dagger” that goes through the middle of the spiral and gradually moves down the spiral and disappears. Such sites were sacred and held deeply religious meaning to those who used them and, for the Bighorn Medicine Wheel, still use them. Also knowing when the summer solstice occurred was important to ancient cultures because it marked the longest day of the year, it marked the transition from planting season to the growing season for crops and with more sunlight and warmth it promised the abundance of nature. For us today summer solstice means the day with the longest hours of sunlight, and the shortest night of the calendar year that ushers in the long warm days of summer.

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! With the official start to summer rapidly 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 are the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick (also called the deer tick), and the lone star tick. These ticks can transmit diseases including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever to humans and pets. Practicing tick safety will allow for an enjoyable time outside doing activities such as hiking, camping, and gardening. Ideal tick habitat consists of forests and woods as well as open areas with tall grasses and brush. To protect yourself, avoid these areas when possible and stay on trails when hiking. Wearing light-colored clothing can be helpful as ticks will be easier to spot. Pants tucked into socks and boots and long-sleeved shirts will minimize skin exposure and tick contact. Gear can also be treated with insect repellents. Be sure to keep your pets safe too! Ticks can be common even in neighborhoods, parks, along road sides, and near leaf litter and high grass. Monthly flea and tick prevention products are recommended, and there is even a Lyme disease vaccine available for dogs from your veterinarian. Upon completion of outdoor activities, checking yourself and your pets for ticks will minimize risk. Taking a shower and washing clothing right away also reduces chances of tick bites. While it is important to be aware of ticks and related health threats, their existence should not discourage outdoor recreation and enjoyment of nature.

Happy #WildlifeWednesday! Today we are highlighting an animal frequently associated with happiness, the Eastern Bluebird! Fairly common and easy to find on 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 bold brick-red on the chest. Eastern Bluebirds can frequently be spotted in open country, perched on low branches, posts, and fences. They prefer a meadow habitat near woods, as they will use holes in trees to make their nests. They are attracted to farmlands, orchards, and pastures, so the land around TWC is ideal habitat. Their summer diet consists primarily of insects, including caterpillars, beetles, spiders, and grasshoppers. In the fall and winter when insects are more sparse they will feed on fruits and berries.  The species is social and will often gather in flocks of over 100. During the breeding season however they become territorial and vigorously defend their nests from rival bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds. Eastern Bluebirds often have more than one successful brood each year, with young from nests early in the season leaving the parents during the summer and young from later nests staying with their parents over the winter. Bluebirds will readily use man-made nest boxes. Their population had declined in the early 20th century when competition from introduced species such as the House Sparrow and European Starling made defending tree cavities and nest holes difficult. Thanks to nest-box campaigns and establishment of bluebird trails, their numbers have recovered, which is certainly a cause for happiness!

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 2,400 species are found all over the world, on every continent except Antarctica. In North America alone there are nearly 150 different species of fireflies. And Ohio is home to over 20 of these species each with its own flash pattern. Fireflies have many names, including lightning bugs, moon bugs, and blinkies; however, not all fireflies have bioluminescence we can see. In the U.S., only firefly species east of the Rocky Mountains can be seen lighting up warm summer nights. In northeast Ohio peak firefly season runs from mid-June to mid-July. Fireflies tend to be most active on warm, humid evenings just after sunset. Despite all their success as a species, in recent decades fireflies have been disappearing from many of the places they once called home. Like other insects they are threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use. However, they are also uniquely vulnerable to the harmful effects of light pollution, and research indicates that it may be one of the main causes of their decline. Their bioluminescent flashes are necessary for their reproduction. Through their flash pattern and color, the male firefly signals what species and sex he is. If a female firefly recognizes her species’ pattern from a passing male, she will flash at him inviting him to visit. Artificial light at night makes it harder, and in many places impossible, for fireflies to see each other, interfering with their reproduction. These beetles are so sensitive to light that the light of a full Moon can outshine their flashes making it impossible for males and females to recognize each other. They generally won’t fly or mate around full Moon. Light at night also makes them more vulnerable to predators that would normally be repelled by their light. Not only are fireflies amazing to watch but they also play a vital role in our ecosystem. Most adult fireflies don’t eat; they live only a few weeks with their sole purpose being to mate and create the next generation of fireflies. Larval fireflies on the other hand never stop eating. They perform pest control duties eating things like snails, slugs, worms and tiny insects. They help keep their local soil ecosystem in balance. The few adult fireflies that do eat feed on nectar. These fireflies help pollinate the plants they feed on. Many animals eat fireflies, both adults and larvae, including bats, birds, frogs and spiders to name a few. And because fireflies need specific, unpolluted environments to live in they are considered an indicator of a healthy and balanced local ecosystem. Here’s how we can help fireflies thrive in our yards. We can help with habitat loss by planting native plants in our gardens and letting the grass grow a little longer – mow less frequently and set the mower blade so that grass is four inches long – at least during mating season. Fireflies love tall grass. When the fall leaves drop keep them. Leave them in your yard or if you must, rake them into your planting beds. The larval fireflies need this natural litter. This litter protects the larvae and the small critters that it will feed on. Use non-pesticide solutions for insect control. A dark night is critical to the survival of our fireflies. Turn off all outside lights at night. And, if inside lights are on, close the blinds, curtains or drapes to prevent inside light from spilling outside. Doing these things will allow the firefly to continue playing their role in the ecosystem so we and future generations can continue to enjoy watching fireflies dance in the night. To celebrate this year’s firefly season join us at The Wilderness Center on June 26th, 2026, for our Firefly Festival . This will be an evening of whimsical, family-oriented exploration and celebration of these amazing insects. On July 10th, 2026, join TWC Naturalist and firefly enthusiast Sarah Cline for our “ Silent Sparks Saunter ” program where you will explore the world of firefly diversity, their remarkable lives and the science behind bioluminescence. This program starts inside and ends with a night hike. Please note that the educational content and length of the hike for this program are not designed for children.