Eagles Soaring Over Ohio

“I know something you don’t know,” isn’t the gleeful greeting you expect from someone well past elementary school, never mind retirement. And in reality, there are a lot of things I don’t know and I expect that everyone knows things that I don’t. But it didn’t bother me because it was too big a secret for them to hold very long. That’s kind of typical with that phrase.

Read the complete column here: National Symbol Soaring High in the Miami Valley

Where to see Bald Eagles

You could see an eagle literally anywhere in Southwest Ohio. Immature Bald Eagles can be difficult to differentiate from a Golden Eagle, but there’s no mistaking the adults. 

• C.J. Brown Reservoir 
• Great Miami River near Carillon Blvd
• Any major body of water

Little Miami Conservancy Bald Eagle Nest Cam - Live YouTube stream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHOdKaPsFk8

Resources

https://ohiodnr.gov/ and search for eagles

https://www.history.com/articles/how-did-the-bald-eagle-become-americas-national-bird

Beavers - Reshaping Edges and Water

 KERSPLASH!

We were quietly casting jitterbugs after sunset towards the shore of what was an Ohio Power (now American Electric Power (AEP)) pond when it sounded like someone had lobbed a bowling ball into the water towards our jon boat. We were fairly remote, and there weren’t any other campers around. Flashlights didn’t reveal Bigfoot on the bank. No trees had fallen into the water. Back to fishing, working our way around, and it happened again. Then again.

We retired for the night, knowing something was out there. But it was the 1970s, and there was no internet available to search “big splash at night.” Also, no cellphones to call for help if it were an escaped convict or locals trying to scare us away from their favorite lake. ’70s TV and Scooby Do will make a kid think that way. Turns out it was a local family trying to scare us away — a family of beavers.

Read the complete column: Beavers Making the World a Wetter Place

New Tick in Town

Being outdoors in southwest Ohio has its blessings. While we don’t have snowcapped mountains or sweeping oceans, it’s also relatively safe. Walking outside doesn’t mean prepping against a host of lethal things trying to stick, sting, bite, or eat you immediately. There are no alligators in the pond. Poisonous snakes are rare. Maybe an occasional bear wandering through. For the most part, we deal with minor annoyances that have existed for centuries, probably led by mosquitoes.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cautious and prepare for what is out there. In Ohio, it’s often not an immediate, imminent danger that gets us; it’s the later consequences of insect encounters. Lyme disease, carried by blacklegged or deer ticks, has been around for centuries and has become more common as deer and human populations have grown and shifted. I’ll go ahead and throw honeysuckle amur under the bus with that one as well.

Read the complete column here: Lone Star Tick

Summer Fishing School

 

Sometime during my elementary school years, a guy built a pond on his land in the middle of our neighborhood. I don’t know all of what was said or discussed about having a pond in the middle of a neighborhood, but I’m sure it was a lot. But he did it anyway. And there it was.

It was private property, in complete view of his house and anyone driving by. If someone was fishing, you’d see them, but there never was. Rumor was that it was stocked with fish, but no one was allowed.

One of those things turned out to be true one summer.

Read the complete column here: Local Events to Get Kids Fishing

Quiet Neighbors - Grey Rat Snakes

“If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.” That’s great advice and a truism for almost all wildlife, something even a four-year-old can recognize. It’s especially true for Ohio’s longest reptile, the Grey Ratsnake (Pantherophis obsoletus), previously called the Black Ratsnake. Recent advancements in genetic research have led to a deeper understanding of snake evolution and the differences between the 10 recognized species in North America, and a subsequent name change.

The young are light gray with a series of dark brown or black markings on their back. As they mature, they turn to solid black or dark gray with a lighter or yellowish belly. They are commonly found between 42 and 72 inches long, but can reach 8 feet. That will get anyone’s attention.

Read the complete column here: Average Guys Outdoors: Why Ohio’s Grey Ratsnakes are good neighbors

Side note: getting bit by any wildlife will stick in a 4-year-old or even younger child's mind for a long time. Just so you know. 

Resources

If you’ve never seen one and want to, local nature centers are a great place to guarantee a sighting. The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery has one, CJ, that celebrated its 15th birthday last July.

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/animals/reptiles-amphibians/gray-ratsnake 

Boonshoft Museum - https://boonshoft.org/ 

Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Reptile Field Guide  - https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-odnr/wildlife/documents-publications/backyard-wildlife-documents 

https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Pub%205354_Reptiles%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Guide.pdf 

Miles for May

 It’s been technically “spring” for weeks now, but we’re just now passing into the frost free zone in Southwest Ohio. The morning chill is less biting and the afternoon highs haven’t pick up the humidity to come later. Tucked beneath a canopy of trees or out an in an open meadow you, you’ll find relatively pleasant temperatures. You can also find the nations largest paved trail network - more than 350 miles across the Miami Valley - as well as hundreds of miles unpaved routes through a variety of local, county, and state parks. 

The Miamivalleytrails.org website detailing connections and the miles and miles of trails, many of which were part of the rails to trails program. Those routes follow former railroad tracks now turned into paths for public use. With relatively minimal grade, they make for easy walking or peddaling while connecting local communities throughout the area. From short walking jaunts downtown to extended cross-county cycling journies, they offer low resistance, self-propelled travel options, and show the areas dedication to the outdoors.

Read the complete column here: 

https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/average-guy-outdoors-miami-valley-touts-350-miles-of-trails/article_2bfec1a1-b732-5e1f-846b-3d069b8587f5.html

SW Ohio Trail Events

If you like your events more social, or sociable, and with rewards, you’re in luck. There are a variety of options, much more than I can list here. Check local websites for details, but here are a couple that standout. 

America Hikes 250

To celebrate the countries 250th birthday, the Ohio Department of offers the America Hikes 250 Challenges. It has two go-at-your-own-pace options of completing 25 or 250 total miles before Dec. 31, 2016. Participation is through the outerspatial app and you choose the routes and dates. https://ohiodnr.gov 

Five Rivers Metro Park - 2026 Trail Challenge

Throughout Montgomery County, Five Rivers offers 28 new trails to explore an win prizes at your own pace. Tail length varies from 0.5 to 5.5 miles, and must be completed before Oct. 31, 2026. https://www.metroparks.org/trailschallenge

Twin Valley Trail Challenge

Looking for bigger challenge? Go long with the Twin Valley Trail challenge, on Saturday, June 6th, hiking anywhere from 1 to 28.7 miles. Preregestration required. 

https://www.metroparks.org/twin-valley-trail-challenge/

Fishing Update - What they’re hitting

Matching river conditions now is key. Shaun Gardner used a slow approach with jigs, tubes and ned rigs to land 81.25 inches of fish, winning round 2 of 2nd NAPRA Elite Stage 2 event held on Greenville Creek on Sunday, May 3. 

Morels Are Where you find them

“If you get out, you’ll find them.”

That’s what Clark County morel mushroom hunter Jim Neff told me. It’s great this year, with the big yellows starting now. If we get some rain, they will really pop,” he said. “But I bet if you go look right now, you’d find some.” If you haven’t looked already, the time is now.

What’s the big deal?Backing up just slightly, Morel mushrooms are easily identified seasonal mushrooms. They are commonly referred to by their top colors. The stalks are always light in color, white, cream or beige. The tops of true morels are attached to the stalk at the base, making them complete and hollow if cut in half lengthwise.

Read the complete column here: https://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/morel-season-is-here-how-to-find-and-identify-the-prized-spring-mushrooms/article_d4ca0067-88d2-411f-a10e-c832a758c4b0.html