January 2, 2025, press release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources: COLUMBUS, Ohio — After the holidays, live-cut Christmas trees can be repurposed as habitat for various species of animals, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Before you discard your tree, remember that it can find life after the holidays for Ohio’s birds, fish, mammals, and more.
Local nature enthusiasts had the chance to learn more about the natural history of Allen County! The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District was at the Lima Public Library talking about past landscape in the county. The park district talked about remnants of bedrock and limestone deposits underground along with glacial traces left behind. They also discussed how these things altered the soil and how that affected plant, animal, and human life throughout the county.
November 7, 2024, Press Release from the Allen Soil and Water Conservation District: Winter is right around the corner and many homeowners are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures to complete autumn yard maintenance before the ground freezes. This includes the last-minute application of fertilizer onto lawns.It’s important to remember that a lawn or garden that is fertilized should be tested every three years. For a little amount of time, postage, and a small processing fee, a lot of helpful information about one of the most significant assets on your property can be learned. Soil testing is essential because over-fertilizing is so easy to do since many don’t give it much thought when applying it. However, excess fertilizer is washed into our rivers and streams every time it rains. Once it gets to the river, it causes algae problems, robs oxygen from the water, and is a leading contributor of poor water quality. Statistics show that those who put fertilizer on their yards tend to do at eight times the amount farmers put on crop fields.
October 2, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio’s wild turkey poult index, a metric used to estimate nest success and poult survival for the bird, was slightly above the 10-year average at 2.9 poults per hen in 2024, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The Division of Wildlife relies on public reports of wild turkeys and their young, called poults, in July and August of each year to estimate nest success and poult survival. The annual poult index can serve as an indicator of wild turkey population trends and inform harvest regulations in future years. Turkey brood success is largely influenced by weather conditions, habitat, and predation.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources unveiled a newly completed wetland project in Allen County. Area residents and partners gathered to tour the Baughman Project, which spans 19 acres in the northern part of the county near the Allen Oakwood Prison. Over the last year, native vegetation was planted, basins were dug, and pipes were put in place to create 3 main wetlands areas. The hope is these additions will drastically reduce flooding, which has been negatively impacting the surrounding roads, neighborhoods, and property values for around 30 years.
September 18, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Picking and planting milkweed seed pods this fall can help future eastern monarch butterflies, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. These butterflies are currently migrating through Ohio on their way to Mexico, where they spend the winter. Various species of milkweed are the only host plants for monarch caterpillars. Each spring, eastern monarchs lay eggs on milkweed as they migrate north from Mexico. Monarchs travel between 50 and 100 miles per day on a journey that may cover several thousand miles in total. After several generations, monarchs reach their northernmost range in southern Canada.
August 19, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry invites the public to attend in-person open houses to learn more about the Annual Work Plan for State Forests. All three open house events will take place September 10 – 12. The Division of Forestry’s managers and foresters develop an annual work plan to guide specific management activities for 24 state forests in Ohio. This work plan encompasses more than 200,000 acres combined. The open house events provide opportunities for the public to ask questions and comment on Ohio’s plans for sustainable forestry, which include recreation, aesthetic value, treating invasive species, prescribed burning, and timber cruising and harvesting.
BLUFFTON, OH (WLIO) - Volunteer researchers spent Saturday documenting biodiversity in local nature reserves.
July 1, 2024, Press Release from the the University of Findlay and Bluffton University: FINDLAY, Ohio — University of Findlay announces Bioblitz 2024, a collaborative effort with Bluffton University aimed at exploring and documenting the rich biodiversity within their respective nature preserves. Scheduled for July 13, 2024, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., volunteers and community members are invited to join faculty experts in the day-long exploration of local ecosystems.
July 1, 2024, Press Release from the Ohio Division of Wildlife: TOLEDO, Ohio – Hawkins STEMM Academy in Lucas County was recently dedicated as a WILD School Site, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Wild School sites are supplementary education programs created by schools where students, teachers, and the community can come together and learn about wildlife and the environment. Hawkins STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) Academy is the 211th WILD School Site in Ohio and the sixth in Lucas County. This is the first Toledo Public School to be certified as a WILD School Site.
