100 Years of Cunning Super Genius Canis Latrans

Years ago, (let’s say late 1990’s) I was taking an early spring morning walk on the edge of a fenceline with my German Shorthaired Pointer, Eva. When a coyote popped out in front of us, maybe 60 yards from me and 30 yards from Eva, I wasn’t sure what to expect: Eva had never took a step backwards in her entire life. When the coyote bolted, she took off after it and made up the 30-yard head start in less than 100 yards. Calling her back was to no avail, so I ran too. 

I learned two things that morning. First, coyotes aren’t nearly as fast as I had expected. No wonder Wile E. Coyote can never catch the roadrunner. And two, I didn’t worry as much about encounters with single coyotes and my medium-sized dogs anymore, at least not ones traveling alone. Coyotes are survivalists, and tangling with hunting dogs isn’t smart for that objective. My perspective would change if the dog were smaller and alone, or multiple coyotes were involved.

A Century of Coyotes

Coyotes weren’t Ohio residents at the turn of the last century. The first sighting was around 1919, a handful of decades after wolves were extirpated from the state. At a time when many other wildlife populations were just beginning to recover across the state, whitetail deer for example, they walked in at an average weight of 35 pounds as the new apex predator on the block. Read the complete column here: This cunning predator has called Ohio home for 100 years

Sweet End to Winter - Maple Syrup

According to Buddy the Elf, the fourth and most natural (least processed) of the elves’ food groups is syrup.

Judging by the movie scenes, it’s maple syrup — that’s what people mean when they say syrup. It doesn’t need additional description unless it’s not maple.

And while some states to the north of Ohio have a reputation for great syrup, Southwest Ohio is no slouch. There are a number of local producers available. Starting soon or now is the time to begin tapping maple trees and collecting syrup. While I’ve never done it, it’s something within the reach of anyone with access to some maple trees, some basic tools and some time, at least according to the Ohio State Extension Office and the internet.

Check out details and a list of events here: Events highlight the local maple syrup making process

Feb. 14: Maple Celebration and Backyard Bird Count at Armco Park: warrencountyparks.com

Feb. 21: Maple Sugaring for Beginners at Caesar Creek: ohiodnr.gov

Feb. 21: Maple Sugaring at Carriage Hill Metro Park" metroparks.org

March 14: 59th Annual Maple Syrup Festival at Hueston Woods: ohiodnr.gov

Hobby maple syrup production: ohiomaple.org/documents/Hobby-Maple.pdf

It’s of Snow Value to You

A blanket of snow. Today, most people hear the phrase and think of it only as a visual metaphor, if they think of it at all. Snow covers everything; it looks like a blanket, end of story. What’s really happening is much more than a visually blanketing; it’s a literal blanket. And it’s not just for Nordic babies taking winter naps outside (living that “no such thing as bad weather” early), it's part of the seasons of life.

Snow is a little bit of frozen water surrounded by a lot of air. Just like home insulation is some foam or fiberglass with pockets of air (just ask these guys), it provides a barrier to the different temperatures on both sides without conducting it through. And while to our exposed skin ice particles are cold, temperature is relative. In many instances (take last week for example), the snow is comparatively much warmer than the outside air temperature. This provides protection for plant roots and stems from extreme cold or dramatic freeze and thaw cycles. 

Read the column on the Dayton Daily News website here: The Real Power of a Blanket of Snow

Different animals deal with winter and snow in varying ways. On extremely cold nights, ruffed grouse will sometimes give up their roost in trees for one under the snow, diving into the powder to completely cover themselves until morning. Check out this video.

Resources

Nordic Babies in Winter

Farmers Almanac - Winter Garden

Nitrogen and plants

Ruffed Grouse Under Snow

Winter Reptilian and Amphibian Survival

Ohio Ticks and Diseases

Boundary Waters

 Have you been? I haven't. Want to go ... ever? i certainly do. Check the progress.

New Outdoor Callings, Maybe with Calls

Another waterfowl hunting season come and gone in Southwest Ohio (well maybe one more week for geese) and I didn’t hunt waterfowl. I joke about embracing cold or wet, but never the two simultaneously. Cold and wet is what waterfowl hunting has always looked like to me, never mind the really early mornings. But I know there has to be more to it than that because it clearly gets to people I know and becomes their passion. 

I was pheasant hunting along the Mad River years ago when I heard what I was sure had to be the worst duck caller in the world. It didn’t sound at all what I thought a duck call should sound like. Clearly my experience was limited, because there weren’t any other hunters on the property, just hundreds of ducks filling up the ice free river that day. I filed that in my brain under “outdoor TV shows haven’t actually taught me much about duck hunting.” So I don't know anything, but there are ways to learn. The ODNR has outlined steps.

• The Benefits of Learning to Hunt
• Waterfowl Hunting Considerations
• Hunter Education and Safety
• Build Your Skills: Learning Opportunities
• Learning Resources: Preparing for the Hunt
• Learning Resources: Hunting Equipment
• Learning Resources: Hunting Waterfowl
• Learning Resources: After the Hunt
• Cooking - Make Your Culinary Experience Wild!

Read the complete column here: It's a good time to prepare for new outdoor interests

Check out the ODNR Getting Started information here, from pollinator gardens to waterfowl decoy setup.

Wildharvest Community

Getting Started Waterfowl Hunting

Cabela's Bargain Cave

It's a Start

This right now is the extent of my duck-hunting equipment: a gifted call that I have no idea how to use. 

Keeping Kids Smiling in the Cold

“I can’t feel my legs,” said Audrey Griswold in the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as her father Clark leads the family on a forced winter march in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Later, as Audrey relays her misery and increasingly worse symptoms to whoever will listen, he quips, “That’s all part of the experience.” For certain, that’s what many people think of when it comes to snow and colder temperatures: misery.

Read the complete column to learn some quick tips on keeping kids warm outside and local events: Outdoor activities don’t have to stop when the temperature drops

Events

Winter Tree Identification

January 31, 2026

Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Mead Westvaco Theatre | 10:00am - 12:00pm

AGE: 10-17 | $3.00

Did you know that even when the trees don't have leaves in the winter, there are still ways to identify them?!

https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=U122&api=programs&type=program 

Tree-Tapping Basics at Kingswood Park

 Jan 31, 2026

 10:00 am - 11:00 am

 Kingswood Park Activity Center

COST: Free

AGES: Any (children must be accompanied by a responsible guardian)

REGISTRATION REQUIRED?: Yes

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/tree-tapping-basics-at-kingswood-park/2026-01-31/ 

*A minimum of five people registered for this program to take place

Celebrate Backyard Birds

Saturday Feb 7, 2026

Germantown MetroPark: Twin Valley Welcome Center | 10:00am - 11:30am

AGE: 3-13 | FREE

Openings: 10

Like a canary in a goldmine, birds are indicators of change of the health of our local habitats. https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=V67&api=programs&type=program 

Toddler Trek: Woodland Birds

 Feb 9, 2026

 10:30 am - 11:30 am

 Armco Park- Jones Pavilion

COST: Free

AGES: 2-6 year olds with a responsible grown up

REGISTRATION REQUIRED?: Yes

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/toddler-trek-woodland-birds/2026-02-04/ 

Trail Tots: Love in Nature

Feb 12, 2026

Admin - Board Room

Age at least 3 yrs but less than 5y 11m 4w, Mixed

Little explorers will discover animal families and how they care for each other. Explore and spark a love for nature with a story, song and craft.

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ntprd/activity/search/detail/4607?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true 

Maple Celebration and Great Backyard Bird Count Open House at Armco Park

 Feb 14, 2026

 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

 Armco Park Jones Pavilion - 1223 N SR 741, Lebanon, OH 45036

FREE community celebration! Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count and enjoy an authentic maple sugaring experience.

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/maple-celebration-and-great-backyard-bird-count-open-house-at-armco-park/2026-02-14/ 

Maple Sugaring

Feb 21, 2026

Carriage Hill MetroPark: Carriage Hill Historical Farm | 10:00am - 4:00pm

AGE: All ages | FREE

Openings: Unlimited

Nature has its own way of providing us with sweeteners. Come join us as we do maple sugaring on the farm.https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=V4&api=programs&type=program 

Resources

https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4706590/scandinavia-world-happiness-report-nordics/

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=frostbite-and-frostnip-in-children-90-P02820 

Brownfieldagnews.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTKpKBzd7jg

Rolling the Dice on Ice

“I'm not going out there. That’s crazy.” That was the response heard in our car when we visited Madison, WI, one March. We were looking at a group of ice fishing tents.

As a guy who has repeatedly tested the height limits of hip boots against the uncertain depth of the muddy bottom of creeks and came up with not quite enough boot, I can assure you that Ohio water outdoors in January and February is plenty cold. And I’ve stepped through frozen cattails and found myself up to my knees. That’s more than far enough for me. I’m really not looking for any cold plunges, intentional or accidental. Making Ice The common expression and shared by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is “there’s no such thing as safe ice.” What they mean is that you should always be aware of the conditions and state of the ice. The only way to know for sure is make a hole with a spudbar or ice auger and measure. But you can get an idea of when it might be time to venture out and measure by calculating the number of freezing days. That can help determine if the body of water is making or losing ice. Calculate Freezing Degree Days (FDDs)

• Find Daily Average Temperature: (High Temp + Low Temp) / 2
• Calculate FDDs: 32°F (freezing point) - Daily Average Temperature
• Estimate Ice Growth: FDDs / 15 = Approximate inches of new ice or one inch of ice for every 15 FDDs

Read the complete article here: Ice Fishing in Ohio - All ice is not equal And avoid shortcuts across streams or any ice you’re not 100% sure about, as one deer hunter recently found out at Buck Creek State Park the hard way. But don’t miss out on opportunities out of fear. We ultimately all made it out onto Lake Mendota.

Resources

https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/recreational-safety/ice-thickness-guidelines 

https://ohiodnr.gov/go-and-do/family-friendly/winter-activities/ice-fishing

https://www.almanac.com/ice-thickness-safety-chart 

https://mikerowe.com/2020/03/walk-me-through-this-safety-third-thing/#

Gear
Ice Augers