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. The glue-like slime is very adhesive and binds to the attacker, inhibiting its ability to move and bite. An amphibian and member of the plethodontid family, this lungless salamander conducts respiration through its skin and tissues lining the mouth. Its preferred habitat is woodlands and ravines, where it spends its time under cover in moist soil and damp leaf litter beneath large stones and rotting logs. This black salamander with silvery spots along its back is active at night, feeding on earthworms, slugs, spiders, ants, beetles, and other invertebrates. Fiercely territorial, it will defend its territory from rival slimies and other salamander species with tail whipping, slime secretion, vocalizations, and biting. In fact, its genus name “Plethodon” means “great number of teeth.” Pictured are a couple of Northern slimy salamanders found earlier this week by students on a school field trip to TWC.
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! A stunning bird that can be seen in Ohio right now is the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They can be found in woodlands and along forest edges and are also very frequent visitors to bird feeders. Several of these gorgeous songbirds have been regular visitors to the TWC Nature Center’s wildlife observation area over the past few weeks. Grosbeaks are in the cardinal family and are fairly stocky in build with chunky triangular bills. Males are black and white in coloration with a bright splash of rose on the chest. Females look very different and are brown with heavy white streaking. The name “grosbeak” comes from the French “gros bec,” which translates to “large beak.” They use their big bills to feed on insects, seeds, and fruit. The song of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak is widely thought to be one of the most beautiful of the avians. Modern naturalists have been quoted as saying the singing is “so entrancingly beautiful that words cannot describe it,” and “it has been compared with the finest efforts of the robin and the Scarlet Tanager, but it is far superior to either,” and present-day bird watchers have suggested it “sings like a robin that has had opera training.” The sweet tune is composed of notes that rise and fall, and both the males and females will sing even when sitting on the nest. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks love eating sunflower seeds from feeders, so keeping a supply in stock is a good way to attract these melodic beauties to your yard. And be sure to stop by the Nature Center to observe them at our feeders!
The Common snapping turtle is the largest species of turtle in Ohio, with some full-grown individuals weighing 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! Egg-laying season in Ohio occurs during the months of May, June, and July and females are often spotted crossing roads and venturing into neighborhoods and yards in search of suitable nest sites. Even though they spend most of their time in the water, they build their nests and lay their eggs on land. A female will dig a hole about 5-7 inches deep in which to lay, depositing up to 80 eggs. She then uses her back legs to bury the eggs for protection and incubation. She leaves the nest on its own and returns to her home habitat. Hatchlings emerge in September. Many eggs and young turtles are eaten by predators but since so many eggs are deposited in each nest, some are bound to survive. The sex of the turtles is determined by the temperature of the environment. Cooler temperatures result in male hatchlings while warmer temperatures cause females to hatch. Baby turtles venture into the world and fend for themselves upon hatching. If you notice a turtle needing assistance crossing a busy street or sidewalk, whether a youngster or an adult, it is important to move it in the direction it was heading and not change its course. Mature snapping turtles can be feisty when out of water so take care to keep the head away from your body and hold the turtle by the shell behind its back legs. Do not pick up a turtle by its tail as this can cause spinal injury to the animal.
Rarely seen, American Badgers are solitary, secretive, and nocturnal. They go largely unnoticed in Ohio with most people not even realizing that badgers are found in Ohio. In fact, according to the ODNR these traits make the animal so elusive it’s difficult to know exactly how many badgers call Ohio home. Badgers are not native to Ohio. They began entering the state in the late 1880’s as Ohio’s forests were cleared for farmland. They’re mostly found throughout western areas of the state – Ohio’s historical prairie regions – and above the state’s glacial line. This area provides flat or gently rolling land like the prairies they came from. They prefer habitats with short grass such as fields and pastures. It’s believed that Ohio is as far east as they have moved. Badgers are digging machines. It’s said they live to dig and dig to live. They dig for food, shelter, defense, and sometimes just for fun. The badger is the only true fossorial carnivore in North America. A fossorial animal is built to efficiently dig, and lives primarily underground but also spends time above ground. Badgers have stocky bodies, short legs and a tapered head. They have a very distinctive black and white striped face. It’s their black cheek patches or badges that give them their name. They have powerful front legs and feet. Their front feet have two-to-three-inch curved claws and the toes that are partially webbed for even stronger digging ability. They have 34 teeth that sharpen each other automatically when they open and shut their mouth. They have nictitating eyelids, a translucent third eyelid that protects its vision from being damaged by flying soil. They have excellent senses of smell and hearing, allowing them to locate prey below ground. They can eat rattlesnakes and are immune to their venom unless bitten on the nose. They use stench from their musk glands as a deterrent and they have loose skin that enables them to turn around in tight spaces. One more fact about badgers- there is documented evidence that badgers occasionally pair up with coyotes to hunt. It’s incredibly rare to have two different species helping one another. The badger being the superior digger can take advantage of prey hiding underground from the coyote and the coyote can take advantage of ground squirrels that make a run for it when dug up by the badger. Badger-coyote hunting teams even appear in Native American stories. Scientists studying this pairing found that when hunting together coyotes were 34% more successful in hunting ground squirrels than when hunting alone. It was harder to quantify the success rate of the badgers as they eat their prey while underground. However, badgers spend more time underground when hunting with a coyote, so it’s assumed that they too were more successful. Badgers are amazing animals and quite beneficial to the ecosystem. As predators they help keep rodent populations in check and since they sometimes eat grapes or gooseberries, they help spread native plant seeds. Their burrowing helps the soil, turning it over, transferring nutrients, moving nitrogen, and increasing oxygen. They also benefit other species. Possums, woodchucks, foxes, skunks, and ground squirrels will use abandoned badger dens. A dark night provides the badger with everything it needs to thrive. Let’s protect dark skies so that these secretive creatures can continue to play their role in the ecosystem.
Whooooo’s ready for our upcoming owl prowl? It’s #WildlifeWednesday and we will highlight the 3 owl species we are most likely to encounter on our grounds this time of year. The Eastern Screech-owl is Ohio’s smallest and most common owl, occurring in all 88 counties. This little owl is about the size of an American Robin, though double the weight. It has wide yellow eyes and can be seen in two color morphs, red or gray. It has small “ear tufts,” which are skin formations covered in feathers found in some species of birds. Resembling mammalian ears but unrelated to the owl’s ability to hear, these tufts help with camouflage, are used to make the little bird look bigger and more threatening to predators, and may also help in courting a mate. The Eastern screech-owl’s vocalization is not actually a screech, but instead a combination of whistles, trills, and whinnies. It is very adaptable and can occupy a wide variety of habitats, including woodlands, suburbs, urban areas, and woodlots. It is even common in backyards. Its diet is more varied than any other North American owl, preying upon rodents, birds, insects, and worms. The Great Horned Owl is the largest owl in Ohio and with its enormous yellow eyes and deep hooting call, it is the classic owl that jumps to mind from storybooks and drawings. It has ear tufts which are so large they resemble horns, giving the species its name. Its preferred habitat includes woods interspersed with fields and open areas, as well as swamps, wetlands, meadows, orchards, and agricultural land, making The Wilderness Center and its surrounding area an ideal location for it to call home. The Great Horned Owl is almost strictly nocturnal, with peak activity occurring after dusk and before dawn. This massive powerful owl is at the top of the bird of prey food chain and has no predators. Finally, we have the Barred Owl, a sizable owl with length measurements comparable to those of the Great Horned, but with only half the weight. The Barred Owl has dark black eyes, prominent facial discs, and lacks ear tufts. An extremely vocal owl, its call is described by the mnemonic “Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?” Pairs will often perform duets with this song, vocalizing loudly for extended periods of time. The Barred Owl has a delicate and graceful flight style as it swoops through forests and prefers wooded areas over open spaces. While most active at night, the Barred Owl can sometimes be seen during the day roosting on tree branches and inside cavities. Barred Owl fledglings begin to leave the nest and start branching and learning to fly during the month of May, so we might get lucky and come across some young owlets! Join us this Friday from 8:30-9:30 PM as we hike our trails on an Owl Prowl night hike . Whoooo knows which owls and other nocturnal creatures we might find?
Happy #WildlifeWednesday! It’s that time of year when white-tailed deer babies start showing 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 purposely leave their young unattended, hidden in shrubs or tall grass while they forage for food throughout the day. This behavior keeps them safe from predators. The fawns quietly sit still and their spotted fur coats and lack of odor help them blend in with their surroundings. Humans often notice the young deer and assume they have been abandoned. This is rarely the case. You can monitor the fawn from a distance to see if the mother checks in to nurse or move the youngster. Do not offer the fawn food as it requires specific nourishment from its mother and consuming inappropriate items can harm it. Only in the cases of the fawn being injured or sick, or if you are certain the mother is dead, is it acceptable to intervene. In these rare instances one should contact a local wildlife rehabilitation expert .
May treats us to two full Moons! The first full Moon known as the Flower Moon occurs at 1:23PM EDT on Friday, May 1st, 2026. This exact moment when the Moon is officially full occurs when the Moon is below our horizon. Remember being able to see a full Moon at the exact moment it’s 100% illuminated depends on your location. The full Moon alignment happens at one specific moment in time, regardless of the observer’s time of day or location on Earth. But no worries the Flower Moon will still be round and full when it rises at 8:47PM EDT. In fact, weather permitting, the Moon will look full on April 30th and May 2nd as well. The Algonquin people have been given credit for the Flower Moon name that honors beautiful and colorful wildflowers such as bluebells, lupin, violets, anemones, sundrops, and so many more that bloom during May. While Flower Moon is the most common name for May’s full Moon there are other nature-inspired spring names – as this Moon is not only the harbinger of all the beautiful wildflowers to come, but also of trees and bushes leafing out, migrating birds returning, butterflies and moths appearing, and baby animals of all kinds being born. Some of these names are based on other plant observations, for example the Cree call this Moon the Budding Moon and the Leaf Budding Moon. The Dakota and Lakota people call this Moon the Planting Moon as May is when seeds are planted. The Abenaki call this Moon the Field Maker Moon, and the Winnebago call it the Corn Moon. There are also animal inspired names for the May Moon. If you’ve been at the Wilderness Center, you’ve heard the beautiful call of the spring peepers. The Cree heard the frogs too and called this the Frog Moon. And the Oglala call it the Moon of the Shedding Ponies. All these names reflect the changes warmer weather brings. The second full Moon is a Blue Moon that occurs on Sunday, May 31st, 2026, at 4:45AM EDT. If you stay up really late or get up really early, you can see this Moon at the exact moment it’s full and before it sets at 5:36AM EDT. However, if you enjoy sleeping this Blue Moon will look full and round when it rises after sunset on May 30th and on May 31st. This Moon is being called a full Blue Micromoon. Micromoon is a trendy internet term for what astronomers call a full moon that happens at, or very near apogee, the exact moment in time the Moon is farthest from Earth. A Micromoon is a bit smaller and dimmer than an average full Moon, but these differences are so small the eye can’t see them. This second Moon will not be blue in color; it’s blue in name only. The name Blue Moon is used when there are two full moons in a single month – the second Moon is called a Blue Moon. You may see blue-colored Moons in photos. Almost always these photos are made by using blue filters on the camera used to take the photo or by using processing software such as Photoshop. However, there are rare occasions when an actual, blue-colored Moon occurs, and the Moon doesn’t have to be full, it can happen during any phase of the Moon. For this to happen Earth’s atmosphere must contain high-altitude dust or smoke particles, the type of particles produced by wildfires or ash from erupting volcanoes. These high-altitude particles scatter red light in our atmosphere while allowing the longer wavelengths of blue light to pass through the atmosphere. It’s this blue light in our atmosphere that makes the Moon appear blue in color. Two full Moons in a month is rare – it happens about seven times every 19 years. If the weather cooperates, take time to enjoy the full Moons of May. Perhaps take a night hike and enjoy what nature has to offer under these two full Moons.
Here they come! It’s #WildlifeWednesday and a truly delightful harbinger of spring is the dazzling appearance of hummingbirds as they return from their wintering grounds in Central America. The most common species of hummingbird in Ohio is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird, which is the only hummingbird that breeds in the eastern part of the United States. With their brilliant iridescent red throats and sparkling emerald backs and crowns, the males are the first to arrive, usually 1-2 weeks ahead of the females, who lack the ruby throat and are more muted in plumage color. The males arrive earlier in order to scout for food and set up territories. Their diet consists primarily of nectar and insects. They prefer to drink from red and orange tubular flowers, using their long bills and tongues to access the center of the bloom while hovering in the air, and they will also frequent backyard feeders. Insects may be caught while on the wing or plucked from foliage and spider webs. Ruby-throats are precision flyers and able to hover, flapping their wings at 53 beats per second. Between the males aggressively defending their favorite feeding locales with swift aerodynamic chases and dramatically swooping and diving while performing elaborate courtship displays, this species is very captivating and entertaining for human observers. To attract these charismatic birds to your yard, plant flowers such as trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, jewelweed, bee-balm, and red morning glory. You can also provide food in the way of a hummingbird feeder. The liquid mixture in the feeder should be ¼ cup of sugar to 1 cup of water and there is no need to add red food coloring or dyes. To keep your avian visitors healthy, thoroughly clean the feeder the recommended every 2-3 days or when the water gets cloudy, as harmful bacteria and mold can accumulate and sugar can ferment and become toxic. A number of feeders rather than one large feeder is generally better due to the territoriality of the hummers. Place the feeders and enjoy the show! Join us for Backyard Actions for Spring Bird Migration on May 2nd from 9:30 - 11 am! https://www.wildernesscenter.org/inspire-events/15148
Happy #WildlifeWednesday and Happy Earth Day! Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 to raise awareness of environmental issues and encourage worldwide conservation and sustainability. The first Earth Day was observed in 1970, as a result of increasing concern about the health of the environment. The bestselling 1962 book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson alerted the public to the grave dangers of pesticides. During the 1960s pollution was rampant, with toxins dumped into the water and air with little to no regulations or legal consequences. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill caused a substantial outcry after thousands of ocean-dwelling and coastal animals were killed, including marine creatures such as dolphins and seals, and numerous species of seabirds. Also occurring in 1969 was a massive fire on the Cuyahoga River that was particularly well-covered by news outlets, becoming a defining symbol of industrial pollution. These events, juxtaposed alongside the awe-inspiring 1968 Earthrise photograph of Earth from the Moon published by NASA, were among the catalysts that established Earth Day as a day of action. A massive turnout of over 20 million Americans participated in rallies, protests, and teach-ins across college campuses, parks, and major cities, calling for change. The overwhelming public participation prompted bipartisan support for environmental protection, leading to the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December 1970. Further momentum resulted in landmark legislation including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Endangered Species Act. The first Earth Day is widely considered to be the birth of the modern global environmental movement. Today over 190 countries participate and celebrate by engaging in activities such as community cleanups, tree plantings, nature appreciation, recycling drives, planting pollinator gardens and native plants, and participating in educational programs. Here in Ohio many of our wildlife species have flourished as the result of the cleanup of habitats, banning of pesticides, and protective legislation. Birds such as the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Osprey suffered extreme population declines until the ban of the pesticide DDT in 1972, after which they saw significant recovery. These species, along with the Sandhill Crane and numerous waterfowl, have also benefited from the cleanup of rivers, streams, and wetlands, making huge comebacks thanks to reduced toxins and restoration of healthy habitat. The list of conservation success stories goes on, including charismatic Ohio animals such as the bobcat, beaver, river otter, and fisher. Many species still need attention and protection. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, and bats are at risk due to habitat loss and climate change. Amphibians, particularly frogs and salamanders, are in decline due to disease and habitat loss due to agriculture and deforestation. We can continue towards conservation success by celebrating Earth Day every day. Reducing pollution, using sustainable products, planting trees and native plants, and supporting conservation organizations like TWC are key actions people can practice locally to protect the planet globally.
The reviews are in! TWC Astronomy Day declared out-of-this-world! Between a meteor entering the atmosphere as a fireball over northeast Ohio causing a sonic boom before fragmenting and the compelling coverage of the Artemis II lunar flyby mission, it’s been a month of noteworthy space-related action. Included in this was our 2026 Astronomy Day celebration at TWC! Visitors were delighted throughout the day and night to a wealth of programs, expert speakers, crafts, activities, planetarium shows, and viewing of celestial objects through our telescopes. On the speaker front, three guest lecturers delivered interesting talks on a collection of cosmic topics. To kick things off, Dr. Darren Williams from Penn State University detailed the discovery and exploration of exoplanets (planets outside of our solar system orbiting a star other than our Sun) and indications that some may be suitable homes for life! Next, retired NASA Glenn Senior Research Engineer Tom Benson gave a lively and entertaining talk about life on the International Space Station. With an in-depth video virtual tour, this fascinating program gave viewers the chance to see what living on the ISS is like down to the intimate details, including where the astronauts sleep, how they exercise and brush their teeth, and looks at the kitchen and even the bathroom, answering the burning question of how a space toilet works. And finally, TWC Astronomy Club President David Gill showcased how scientists search for life in the universe outside of Earth and what the future of this thrilling research could entail. Four planetarium shows throughout the event covered topics including the origin of our own Moon and its role in making Earth a habitable planet, moons of other planets in our solar system, methods astronomers use for discovering alien worlds and exoplanets (thousands have been identified!), and the transformation of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. TWC Astronomy Education Specialist Robin Gill’s “Tonight’s Sky” segments detailing the seasonal constellations and planets that were visible at the time were an additional treat. Family-friendly drop-in activities, crafts, and science demonstrations were available to guests throughout the day and everyone had a blast designing their own exoplanets, writing and sharing space stories, drawing and coloring with relaxing atmospheric space-themed tunes, and learning how Saturn could float in a massive hypothetical “bathtub” due to its low density with an amusing demo using bowling balls and a big tub of water. Our interactive Dark Sky Lab gave users the chance to experiment with light fixtures and bulbs and learn about resources and habits to become Dark Sky Friendly. Additionally, the TWC gift store had plenty of nifty outer space-themed gear to purchase, including tee shirts, books, toys, mugs, and puzzles. As for the weather, the day itself was warm and pleasant, and hikers were happy to complete the Solar System Walk, a mile-long trek around our Pond Trail with placement of informational stations along the way representing the placement and distance of celestial bodies to scale. Thanks to the clear sky, solar viewing was a daytime opportunity in our Observatory to observe the Sun safely through powerful telescopes, and viewers could even see sunspots (dark areas on the surface indicating magnetic intensity) and prominences (loops of hot plasma that extend into the corona). As day transitioned to evening and the sky became dark, stargazers were awed by the wonders of the night sky. Astronomy Day was truly an out-of-this world celebration filled with education and fun and we are already looking forward to next year! Space is the place!