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

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

Missing Disturbances

They blocked out the sun. That’s a phrase writers in the 1800s used to describe several natural events, including migrations of passenger pigeons, Carolina parakeets, and Rocky Mountain locust. All of which were extinct a relatively short time later.

The environment is always changing, going through a series of contractions and renewals. Change happens; the problem is when the contraction of one area goes too far to allow a following expansion. If the landscape gets too fragmented or a population of a species becomes too small, the cycle can’t be completed. The result is visibly less diversity, but the impact on the future could put even more species at risk.

Read the complete column, Creating Natural Positive Change

Photo: https://www.audubon.org/sites/default/files/boa/illustration/plate-62-passenger-pigeon.jpg

My nest box brings all the birds to the yard

Spring is officially here, according to the calendar. While the weather in Southwest Ohio will do what it does, meaning whatever it wants, the changes outside are going to progress rapidly.

In just a blink of an eye, trees will be filled with leaves and freezing temperatures behind us. Now is the time to take care of outdoor chores to benefit both the environment and so that you can enjoy the outdoors later.

Get those bird houses and feeders ready: Spring brings the feathered friends to the yard

Nest Box Plans from Ohio Division of Wildlife

Resources and events

Pearmegeddon - Butler County

https://bit.ly/4sqf1w3 

Signs of Spring - Five Rivers Metro Parks - Montgomery County - Conservation Kids Series Mar. 28th 

https://bit.ly/419q1BX 

Wildflower Wander - Clark County - National Trails Parks and Recreation

https://bit.ly/4sQr5Xl 

Fullmoon Hike at Hisey Park - Warren County

https://bit.ly/4sPXLQG 

Beautiful Blooms Wildflower Tour (Adults) - Centerville Parks and Recreation, Mar. 28

https://bit.ly/4169f6K 

Wildflower Walk - Greene County

https://bit.ly/3N5Y6ja