Morel Madness

Morel mushrooms, properly “Morchella” are fungi that appear in the spring across the northern hemisphere, but especially drive “mushroom hunters” near mad in the Midwest. Trespassing. Camouflage. Cash under the table. Missed work.

All have been attributed to or used in the quest for these fungi. Why?

Because they’re delicious. They’re prized by French and Catalan chefs. Here in SW Ohio, if you’re in the right spot at the right time, they can be plentiful and not too difficult to find. The right place at the right time is the trick. While you might get an experienced morel hunter to help with the timing, don’t expect directions or holding hands to their best spots.

Read the complete article here: 

Morel mushrooms, nature’s spring morsels, drive locals crazy

Image: creative commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morel_Mushrooms.jpg#filelinks

Citizen's Arrest, Citizen's Arrest - The Call to Stop Amur Honeysuckle

It looks innocent. Just a mid-size bushy shrub with arching branches 6-20 feet, with white flowers in early spring, red berries in the fall, and holding green leaves into near winter. I’m sure that’s why the Amur honeysuckle (honeysuckle) was brought from Asia and Europe in the 1800s as an ornamental plant and arrived in Southern Ohio in the 1950s. Growing quickly and easily nearly anywhere they find an opening was also seen as a positive. It’s not. It needs to be locked up in Ohio and organizations are calling on citizens to arrest the spread. And you don't need anymore authority than Gomer Pyle had in Mayberry. 

Honeysuckle in Ohio creates a variety of issues for native plants, animals, and even people, making it a multiple offender. Their ability to proliferate through birds carrying fruit coupled with a fast growth rate means that they can take over an area in the blink of an eye. They’re the classic example of if you give an inch they’ll take the fence row. And that’s what’s happening.

Read the complete article, on the Dayton Daily News Site, Average Guy Outdoors: Ohioans need to help stop the spread of honeysuckle.

Check out Events Where You Can Help Beyond your Property Lines

Greater Dayton Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever Habitat Day

Mar. 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM - Habitat Day at Woodland Trails.  Hang out with friends, take down honeysuckle and trees, and enjoy a free lunch while assisting the local quail population.

Register: https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/c9cb257d-77f8-4a21-aec9-7d1e3101f2a7 

Buck Creek State Park - Invasive Species Plant Talk

Apr 12, 2025 - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm  Buck Creek

Join the Naturalist learning about invasive species found in the area. What are they? How to maintain them? Bring hiking shoes, and water· Meet in front of the camp store.

Get info: https://ohiodnr.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events/parks-wc-events/SW-Ohio/InvasiveSpeciesPlantTalkBuckCreek-4-12-25 

Cowan Lake - Green Up Day 

Apr 12, 2025 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Cowan Lake

Meet at the parking lot by the  Kayak Launch to join in on making Cowan a more beautiful place. Whether you want to help pick up trash, or remove invasive plants, there will be plenty to do. This event makes a great volunteer opportunity for church and scout groups, families, or individuals. All are welcome! Close-toed shoes and water are recommended.

Get Info: https://ohiodnr.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events/parks-wc-events/SW-Ohio/GreenUpDayCowanLake-4-12-25 

Resources: 

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/broad-leaf-trees/amur-honeysuckle-Lonicera-maackii 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2973004/#:~:text=Overall%2C%20these%20experimental%20results%20confirm,increasing%20the%20resulting%20disease%20risk 

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/recreational-safety/ticks-in-ohio#:~:text=Unlike%20pets%20and%20humans%2C%20wild,to%20a%20person%20or%20animal

https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2024/02/uc-botanist-uses-nontoxic-way-to-kill-invasive-species.html 

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/plants-trees/invasive-plants/amur-honeysuckle

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/F-68 

https://events.pheasantsforever.org/events/c9cb257d-77f8-4a21-aec9-7d1e3101f2a 

https://ohiodnr.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events/parks-wc-events/SW-Ohio/InvasiveSpeciesPlantTalkBuckCreek-4-12-25 

https://ohiodnr.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events/parks-wc-events/SW-Ohio/GreenUpDayCowanLake-4-12-25 

Surrounded by Rainbows

 Don’t look now, but if they say you’re always within (pick some arbitrary distance) of a spider, here’s another example of animal proximity that's an actual fact. At some point between now and May you'll probably be within 15 minutes of a swimming Rainbow trout. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources annual spring trout stockings started last week and continue into May, releasing 85,000 Rainbow trout across Ohio including 20 different lakes and ponds in SW Ohio. 

The goal is to provide enhanced fishing opportunities and access to fish with “high rates of angler success and harvest.” The bodies of water were chosen for the accessibility that they offer residents. That means no matter where you live in the area, trout are already in or coming to a waterway near you.

Read the complete article in the Dayton Daily News here: 

Average Guy Outdoors: No matter where you live in the area, trout are already in or coming to a waterway near you

Ohio DNR Fish Management Info

https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/fishing-resources/trout-stockings 

Ohio Rainbow Stocking 2025 Dates, Locations, and Directions

ADAMS LAKE, Adams Co., 3/14/2025

RUSH RUN WA POND, Preble Co., 3/17/2025

DARKE WA POND W4F3, Darke Co., 3/20/2025

PATTISON PARK, Clermont Co., 3/21/2025

ENGLEWOOD NORTH PARK POND, Montgomery Co., 3/21/2025

COWAN LAKE YOUTH POND, Clinton Co., 3/22/2025

SYCAMORE STATE PARK POND (SMALL), Montgomery Co., 3/25/2025

SYCAMORE STATE PARK POND (LARGE), Montgomery Co., 3/25/2025

TAWAWA LAKE, Shelby Co., 3/26/2025

RESERVES PARK, Butler Co.,, 3/27/2025

TAYLORSVILLE POPLAR CREEK POND, Montgomery Co., 3/27/2025

CLARK LAKE, Clark Co., 4/3/2025

DEER RUN-SYMMES TOWNSHIP POND, Hamilton Co., 4/12/2025

HOME OF THE BRAVE PARK POND, Hamilton Co., 4/12/2025

ROCKY FORK SOUTH BEACH POND, Highland Co., 4/12/2025

CRYSTAL LAKE, Preble Co., 4/12/2025

DAVIS LAKE, Auglaize Co., 4/14/2025

HARMONY LAKE, Highland Co., 4/26/2025

CAESAR CREEK YOUTH POND, Warren Co., 4/26/2025

MOUNTS PARK POND (SMALL), Warren Co., 5/3/2025

District Location Directions

Adams Lake (West Union): From West Union, follow SR 41 east/north 1.5 miles to the Adams Lake State Park entrance on the left.

Caesar Creek Youth Pond (Waynesville): From Waynesville, take OH-73 east about 3.5 miles to the Caesar Creek State Park entrance and turn left and follow the signs to the Youth Fishing Pond.

Clark Lake (Springfield): From the Springfield area, take I-70 east to the US 40 exit. Follow US 40 east for just 0.1 mile, and turn left (north) on Bowman Road. Follow Bowman Road about 1.2 miles to Old Columbus Road. Turn right (east), and follow Old Columbus Road one mile to Vernon Asbury Road. Turn left (north) on Vernon Asbury Road, and the entrance to Clark Lake is ahead on the right.

Cowan Lake Youth Pond (Wilmington): From Wilmington take US-68 south/S. South Street, in 6 miles turn right onto US-350 west, turn right on Beechwood Road, turn left onto Yankee Road, turn right on the next road and follow to the parking lot adjacent to the Park’s Storybook Trail.

Crystal Lake (Eaton): From the Eaton main intersection of Main Street (US-35) and S. Barron Street (US-127) take S. Barron Street South, turn right on W. Wadsworth Street to Water Street. Pond is directly ahead.

Darke WA Pond W4F3 (Greenville): From Greenville take US-36 east about 5 miles, turn left on New Harrison Bradford Road, in 0.6 miles turn left into wildlife area to parking lot adjacent to the pond.

Davis Lake, (15500 Saint Marys River Road): From US 33 and SR 66 in St. Marys, head north on SR 66 for two miles. Turn left onto Glynwood Road. Follow Glynwood Road. for two miles, then turn left onto St. Marys River Road. The entrance to the lake will be .5 mile on the left.

Deer Run – Symmes Township Park Pond (11600 N. Lebanon Road, Loveland): From Loveland area head west on West Loveland Ave., turn right on North Loveland Drive, turn right into Symmes Township Park.

Englewood North Park (500 Old Springfield Rd., Vandalia): From I-75 take US-40 West for 8 miles to Frederick Pike, turn left on Antioch School Road, turn right on Kley Road which turns into Old Springfield Road, turn left into park, pond on the left (east side) is trout stocking location.

Harmony Lake-Liberty Park (201 Diamond Drive, Hillsboro): From Hillsboro (US-50/Main Street and US-62/High Street) head north on US-62 for 2.5 miles to Diamond Drive, turn right and follow road past the Highland County YMCAto the pond.

Home of the Brave Park Pond (Loveland): From Loveland area head west on West Loveland Ave., Turn right on North Loveland Drive, turn left into Home of the Brave Park, follow road to the back parking lot.

Mounts Park Pond (4851 Stubbs Mill Road, Morrow): From South Lebanon take SR-48 South to East Mason Morrow Millgrove Road and turn left, in 2 miles turn left on Stubbs Mill Road, in 0.5 miles turn right into park, the trout are stocked in the smaller pond just West of the baseball fields.

Pattison Park Pond (2228 US-50, Batavia, OH 45103): From Batavia take OH-132 north for 1.7 miles, turn left on Benton Road for 1.4 miles, then turn right onto US-50 east for about 0.5 miles to the park entrance on the left.

Reserves Park Pond (5119 Grandin Ridge Dr, Liberty Township): From Hamilton take OH-129 east, take exit 21 for OH-747 toward Middletown/Springdale, turn left onto OH-747 N, turn right at the 2nd cross street onto Grandin Ridge Drive, park entrance will be on the right.

Rocky Fork – South Beach Pond (Hillsboro): From Hillsboro take OH-124 East about 6 miles, turn left onto Chestnut Road, in about 2 miles turn left onto Blue Ribbon Road which ends at the pond.

Rush Run Wildlife Area Pond (Somerville): From Germantown, follow SR 725 west to Gratis. Continue west on SR 725 another 3.7 miles to Wayne Trace Road. Turn left (south), follow Wayne Trace Road 3.5 miles to Northern Road. Turn right (west), follow Northern Road about 1.5 miles to gravel parking. Follow posted signs from gravel lot along path to the pond. No parking in the Wildlife Area Office/maintenance building area.

Sycamore State Park Lake & Pond (Dayton): From Trotwood, take Wolf Creek Pike west about 2.8 miles to Diamond Mill Road. Turn right (north), follow Diamond Mill Road about 0.5 mile to Providence Road. Turn left (west), follow Providence Road about 0.5 mile, and turn left into the entrance for the Overlook Picnic Area.

Tawawa Lake (Sidney): From I-75 and SR 29 interchange, take SR 29 east about 2.2 miles to downtown Sidney. Follow SR 29 east across the Great Miami River. Turn left onto SR 47 East/North. Follow SR 47 one half mile, and turn right onto Tawawa Drive at Tawawa Park.

Taylorsville Poplar Creek Pond (7790 Johnson Station Road, Vandalia): From I-70 take Old Troy Pike (SR-202) south, turn right on Taylorsville Road which turns into Rip Rap Road, turn right onto Little York Road, turn right onto Johnson Station Road (S Cassel Road), park entrance is about 0.5 miles on the right.

More Deer = More Antlers

 Did that big buck make it? That’s what many wildlife watchers and deer hunters want to know as winter ends. Did the buck they were watching make it through the season? Finding an antler can answer that question. 

Whitetail deer throughout the state typically cast off or “shed” their antlers beginning in February and accelerating through March. Their heads are bare until later in the spring when they start regrowing their annual headgear. Before that growth starts, it can be hard to identify individual animals, especially at a distance. If you have the antler, you know he is still around. Finding that can inspire wildlife watchers and fire a hunter’s dreams with plans for the coming fall. Searching for them gives a spring walk purpose, so much so that it’s become a hobby for many.

Read the complete article on the Dayton Daily News Digital site here:

https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/now-is-the-time-for-shed-hunting-or-seeking-antlers-dropped-by-deer/XASGCCIJEBEITNFPQPYM5STRHU/ 

Resources Below

• https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-ODNR/news/ohios-final-2024-25-deer-harvest-report 
• https://ohiodnr.gov/buy-and-apply/hunting-fishing-boating/hunting-resources/deer-harvest-summary 
• https://www.fws.gov/story/eight-points-about-antlers#:~:text=No%2C%20typically%20antlers%20are%20not,spikes%20rather%20than%20branched%20antlers
• https://www.deerfriendly.com/deer/ohio/Ohio-Deer-Population-and-Management-archive 

Ohio Fish Hatcheries Serve Multiple Purposes

 

One of the truest axioms in the outdoors is to “fish where the fish are.” You can’t catch them where they ain’t.

Humans have been actively working to increase the odds of the fish being where they are for years. In Ohio, what is now the London Fish Hatchery was built in 1896 by the Ohio Fish Commission, a predecessor to the Division of Wildlife. It’s the oldest of six hatcheries managed by the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

According to a recent news release, in 2024 the division introduced 46 million fish into Ohio lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams. When you’re planning fishing trips, up your chances by going where the fish are.

History and facts on stocking: https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/fish-management/Fish%20Stocking%20Methodology.pdf#:~:text=Fish%20stocking%20has%20been%20an%20important%20component,as%20the%20Ohio%20Fish%20Commission%20in%201873.&text=A%20statewide%20management%20approach%20for%20all%20fisheries,to%20satisfy%20the%20expectations%20of%20most%20anglers

Search where Ohio Hatcheries have stocked fish here: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/data.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/data/view/ohio-fish-stocking-records__;!!JZyed81S!ljd7cS-WIUH8qPYyw9iK1CjLrcsvD_fUDftX-0UcEtP9lLLdSxOhU4irzZQu1h6wx2wNcwRo-gGaAzeEOZTP$ 

You can read more in the complete article here: https://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyles/fish-where-the-fish-are-hatcheries-have-multiple-purposes-in-ohio/GUJPNWBMMRCBXOZAI3MO3MV6XI/ 

Learn more about Ohio Fish Hatcheries Here: 
https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/fish-management/State%20Fish%20Hatcheries%20pub011.pdf

Ohio's Exotic Gamebird

 

Cardinals. Robins. Sparrows. Most birds have a lot of similarities. They have a recognizable shape. They whistle, sing or chirp. The fly from branch to branch and live a pretty ordinary bird-type of life. Then there's the American Woodcock. Although not rare, they are strange.

The American Woodcock is approximately softball-sized with understated brown plumage that is perfect camouflage for the damp, new-growth, forest floors where they live. Outwardly, they look like a shorebird that forgot to grow its legs. Males and females are essentially identical. You have to look closely, but that’s where the understatedness ends.

Unlike nearly every other animal in the world, their eyes are situated behind their ears. That enables them to see danger above while their long beak (more on that later) is sunk deep into the soft soil probing (and possibly listening) for earthworms that make up the vast majority of their diet. Often they rock back and forth, somehow causing invertebrates underground to give up their location and become dinner. I’m saying dinner because they’re primarily nocturnal and that meal seems to align best.

The preceding was an excerpt from The American Woodcock is an exotic bird visiting Ohio, published in the Dayton Daily News, Springfield News Sun, and Butler Journal.

Resources: 

https://www.woodcockmigration.org/migration.html 

https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/program_number=S39&api=programs&type=program 

https://ohiodnr.gov/home/news-and-events/all-events 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_woodcock#:~:text=Woodcocks%20migrate%20at%20night.,was%20recorded%20for%20this%20species. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97nnyyvXzmA&t=100s 

Interesting American Woodcock Nicknames:

• Timberdoodle
• Bogsucker
• Labrador twister
• Mudbat

How'd They Get Here? or This Must Be the Place!

 

We know, or think we know some things about how birds navigate using magnetic fields and possibly smells. But the magnetic signals are really weak, and birds without it still manage. Scent we're not sure. Here's a fascinating listen into another possible way migratory birds might navigate. I have to say that I like the idea of calibrating their system with the sunset ... I think Andrew Huberman might agree. 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gk2iSvGmVw0tLnCrCR1zA?si=27a1d51b86d0457a