Wildlife Wednesday 06/24/2026

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.

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?