Category: Wildlife - Warren Co SWCD

Celebrating the Cousin Who "Could Chuck Wood"- Happy International Beaver Day!

4/1/2021

Photo credit: Max Saeling, Unsplash

Each year, April 7th is recognized as International Beaver Day! There are two distinct species of beavers; the Eurasian beaver found in Europe and Asia, and the American beaver found across North America, including here in Ohio. April is when our native beavers start to emerge after several months of confinement in their lodges during the winter. These animals are well adapted to life in the water, equipped with webbed feet, a flat tail, clear "third-eyelids", and waterproof fur!

Beavers are also the world’s second largest rodent. The rodent family is known for having those big front teeth. And unlike their famous "wood chuck" cousins, beavers actually put those chompers to use felling trees for food, lodge and dam construction, and to create wetlands. Wetlands are special aquatic ecosystems that work as nature's filtration system, cleaning pollutants out of the water. These traits earn the American beaver the title of nature's best engineer! Want to learn more and do a fun activity with the kids? Check out Warren County SWCD’s program Dress Like a Beaver on YouTube!

Maryann the Freshwater Mussel: Why is she so important for Ohio Rivers?

1/13/2021

The Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District has gained a new team member: Maryann the freshwater mussel. Maryann is very passionate about the water quality of her river because she is a filter feeder! If the water quality in her river is poor, Maryann will be negatively affected by a toxic diet. Freshwater mussels help keep our rivers clean, making them vital to the aquatic ecosystems in Ohio.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 11 freshwater mussel species have become extinct, and 46 more are struggling on the endangered species list. The Ohio river basin, encompassing 14 states and over 25 million people, is home to 41% of freshwater mussel species native to North America. Our streams and rivers empty into the basin, eventually emptying into the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Freshwater mussels filter feed anything and everything we dump into our rivers, causing mussel species in Ohio to be disproportionately affected due to dense populations of mussel species. More specifically, the Little Miami River holds 36 species of freshwater mussels, including two threatened species.

Not only are mussels threatened by water pollution, they are also fighting for resources with the invasive Zebra Mussel species. Zebra mussels are native to Eurasian freshwater bodies, but spread through dumping ballast water into the Great Lakes by ships from Europe. Zebra mussels thrived in this new environment with no natural predators, allowing them to spread rapidly across the country. Native mussel species are reducing in number due to these invasive mussels, causing a decline in overall biodiversity in our rivers.
Freshwater mussels are vital for our rivers’ ecosystem filtration, but many species are declining in population due harvesting for shiny buttons, and nutrient rich sea food in the past. Human impact on the freshwater mussel population can be greatly reduced by keeping our rivers clean, helping to reverse the negative affects of previous harvesting. According to the Ohio River Foundation, our river is a source of drinking water for more than five million people. Without freshwater mussels digesting harmful bacteria such as E. coli, our rivers would become very dirty.

Article written by WCSWCD Intern Abbey Raison

It is incredibly important that we all do our part to prevent water pollution in our river and consume fewer mussel products to protect the native species of freshwater mussels.
You can adopt a mussel just like Maryann! Visit https://secure.donationpay.org/ohioriverfdn/adopt.php to adopt the mussel of your choice, and help the Ohio River Foundation protect the freshwater mussel population. According to the Ohio River Foundation website, "The donors of the Adopt a Mussel program provide much needed funds for food, aquariums and other supplies needed to care for and house these important conservation ambassadors for our Mussels in the Classroom program." These education initiatives align with those of Warren County SWCD and we are proud to support water quality education!

For questions regarding Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District programs and/or technical assistance on water or soil questions, visit http://warrenswcd.com or call, 513-695-1337.

Additional Resources:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- https://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/clams/ohio_rvr.html
Marion Renult 2020- https://undark.org/2020/04/13/freshwater-mussel-death/
Zebra Mussels-https://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/mollusks/zebramussel/zebra_mussel_faqs.pdf
Carrie Blackmore Smith 2020- https://www.alleghenyfront.org/fighting-for-the-ohio-river-watersheds-mussels/
Ohio River Foundation- https://ohioriverfdn.org/about_the_river/ecology/index.html
Ohio State University- https://ocvn.osu.edu/news/little-miami-river-watershed

gobble, gobble!

11/26/2020

Did you know that we have wild turkeys right here in Ohio? While they have many things in common with their domestic cousins, they also have some unique wild traits!
Learn some fun facts about wild turkeys from what they eat to how they communicate; and what the heck is a dust bath?? Watch this fun, short video to find out!

With over twelve different calls, the Wild Turkey is no stranger to good
communication. From the gobble to the cluck, the sounds of the Wild Turkey let you know exactly what they are doing. Some of the most common turkey calls include:

• Tree Call – This call is typically made from the roost in a tree first thing in the morning.
• Gobble – This call is made primarily by male turkeys in the spring to attract female turkeys for mating.
• Putt – This is a short, one-syllabled alarm call. When used in a series, it indicates that the turkey has seen or heard danger.
• Cluck – This call is usually in a series of short, soft notes. It is used to get the attention of another turkey.
• Purr – A soft, rolling call, the purr is often made by content turkeys mainly when they are feeding.
• Assembly Call – This call is usually made by the adult hen when calling her young poults.

Want to make your own turkey call? Grab a small plastic cup (K-pod cups or small play-dough containers work great!) and some string and follow these easy instructions!

turkey_call_activity.pdf
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Bat Week!

10/9/2020

In 2019, Ohio government recognized National Bat Week. National Bat Week is every year from October 24th – October 31st. National Bat Week is an annual, international celebration of the role of bats in nature and raise awareness about the need for bat conservation. Visit the National Bat Week’s website at www.batweek.org for more information on bats and how to take action not matter where you are.

Ohio Bat Week Video Series:
Ohio Bat Working Group members have created a series of videos for Bat Week and beyond! These videos were created to address a variety of topics related to bats in Ohio with the intent to aid educators in preparing and delivering bat programs.

Check out these videos which include videos from Warren County SWCD Education & Communications Specialist, Melissa!

Wonderful wiggling Worms- GCEE

9/29/2020

Educators, did you get a chance to check out the virtual Greater Cincinnati Environmental Educators Expo this year? If not, take a sneak peek at the session presented by our Education Specialist, Melissa! She presents on the various program options teachers can do with worm observations, and is joined by Clermont SWCD educator to discuss the new SW Ohio Education Site.

Check out the segment from the conference below!
(This conference is usually hosted by the Cincinnati Zoo, so enjoy an animal encounter during the first 15 minutes of the video or jump to the 15 minute mark to begin the lesson presentation!)

Project WILD has Remote Learning Activities!

6/18/2020

2020 has seen a significant increase in remote learning options and curriculum due to the coronavirus pandemic. Great collaborations and partnerships in the education world are creating amazing online learning opportunities. Project WILD from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is no exception!

For the new WILD about Remote Learning Page the organization states, "As universities, colleges, and schools move learning online in the wake of the coronavirus spread and COVID-19, many educators are interested in how to conduct WILD activities remotely. See below for ideas and resources to guide students through WILD activities at their own location. If you have additional ideas or resources, feel free to send them our way at projectwild@fishwildlife.org. Stay WILD and healthy!"

Here at Warren County SWCD our education staff has created some video lesson content to support some of these online Project WILD activities!

For all of the Remote Project WILD activities click HERE

For more remote lesson ideas from Warren County SWCD click HERE

More Ohio Symbols!

4/16/2020

While we have shared some native plants that serve as Ohio Symbols, there are still more! You probably already know some of them, even if you don’t realize it. Has anyone ever called you a “Buckeye”? That term is a reference to the State Tree of Ohio, the buckeye tree featured in our last blog. Let’s take a look at a few more of our state’s symbols!

The Ohio State Bird: Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) adopted in 1933. In 1803 when the state of Ohio was formed, there weren’t as many Cardinals as there are today. The heavily wooded young state wasn’t the best habitat for cardinals! By 1903 much of the state had been cleared of deep forests thus opening up more desirable habits for the cardinals. Cardinals do not migrate so we can find them year-round. They prefer woodland edges and prairie with shrubbery to hide and nest in. By 1933 when the state bird was chosen the Cardinal was found in all 88 counties in the state. Six other states have the Cardinal as their state bird!

The Ohio State Gemstone: Ohio Flint was adopted in 1965. Flint is plentiful in Ohio, especially in central and eastern Ohio. Flint comes in many colors including red, pink, green, blue, yellow, grey, white and black. Flint is a type of quartz which means it’s very hard, can be highly polished and honed to a sharp point. Prehistoric and historic Native Americans used flint for many different types of tools, weapons and ceremonial items. Flint from Flint Ridge in Licking and Muskingum counties were often traded by the Hopewell Indians. Points made of Ohio Flint have been found from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico. Flint can be made into beautiful jewelry.

The Ohio State Fruit: Tomato adopted in 2009. The tomato as the state fruit was selected for the same reasons Tomato Juice was named the state beverage. Ohio farmers played a huge role in the popularity of the tomato. Ohio is the third largest producer of tomatoes!

The Ohio State Beverage: Tomato Juice was adopted in 1965. That year Ohio was second largest producer of tomato juice in the US. The adoption of Tomato juice as the state beverage was in coordination with the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival in Reynoldsburg, OH. This festival celebrates Alexander Livingston who in 1870 began to grow tomatoes commercially. It wasn’t until the 1840s that tomatoes began to be grown for consumption. Before that it was commonly thought that tomatoes were poisonous. North West Ohio is known for its production of tomatoes.

The Ohio State Frog: the American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Adopted in 2010. In 2002 students in Mr. Kaeser’s classes at Grizzell Middle School in Dublin, Ohio started to petition for the American Bullfrog to be the state frog. Eight years later their dream was realized! The American Bullfrog is a long-lived animal. As a tadpole it can take 1 – 3 years to become an adult. As an adult a bullfrog can live 7-9 years! They can also get very big. An adult can weigh over one pound! Bullfrogs are carnivores and eat a wide variety of insects, mice, crayfish, other frogs and even mice and small birds! Bullfrogs live in large permanent bodies of water. Bullfrogs can be found in swamps, lakes, and ponds. Bullfrogs are found in all of Ohio’s state parks and in all 88 counties. Two other states have identified bullfrogs as their state frog!

The Ohio State Fossil: The Isotelus (a type of trilobite) adopted in 1985. A trilobite is an invertebrate marine animal with a hard outer shell. It lived 430-480 million years ago in an ocean that covered Ohio. The Isotelus is the largest trilobite which could grow up to 2 feet across! Two other states have identified trilobites and their state fossil!

The Ohio State Mammal: The White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) adopted in 1988. The white-tailed deer has been in the State of Ohio since the end of the last ice age. The deer have been important to all prehistoric and historic populations. Native Americans used all parts of the deer for food, shelter, clothing and tools. The deer products were important to trade. The term “buck” for a dollar was used during the time Ohioans used buck skins for trade. With the depletion of the forest habitats due to increased population in the state, the population of deer shrunk. By 1904 there no longer any white-tailed deer in Ohio. During the 1920s and 1930s a restocking program began. By 1956 white tailed deer were once again found in all 88 counties in Ohio. The white-tailed deer population in Ohio today is estimated at 600,000. A white-tailed deer can run up to 40 MPH, jump up to 9 feet and swim up to 12 MPH! Eleven other states have selected white tailed deer to be their state’s mammal too!

The Ohio State Reptile: Black Racer Snake (coluber constrictor) adopted in 1995. The black racer is found in a variety of habitats including rocky ledges, pastures, overgrown fields, dry or moist woodlands and backyards. They are non-venomous. They feed on any smaller animal they can catch! Prey includes lizards, insects, moles, birds, eggs, rodents, smaller snakes, tads and frogs. The average 20-56 inches long.

Ohio State Amphibian: The Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) adopted in 2010. The Spotted Salamander can be found throughout Ohio in low lying moist woodlands near vernal ponds. Spotted Salamanders are nocturnal and considered Fossorial meaning it spends most of its life underground. Spotted Salamanders come up from underground in the early spring to travel to vernal ponds to reproduce. The salamanders use vernal ponds because they lack fish which will eat the eggs and larva of the salamanders. Spotted salamander adults eat insects, worms, slugs, spiders, and millipedes. Adults can range from 6 – 10 inches long. One other state has a spotted salamander as their state amphibian!

Pollinator Partnerships

8/26/2019

"Believe it or not, you have a bee to thank
for every one in three bites of food you eat."

Each day, pollinators are responsible for 1 out of 3 bites of food we intake on average. Many pollinators are at a critical point in their own survival; there are various reasons contributing to their decline. One thing is for certain, providing more pollen and nectar sources from native flowering vegetation will improve the health and numbers of our pollinators. Pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes also revive the health of bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats and other pollinators.

Milkweed for Monarchs

Monarch Joint Venture - Creating Habitats for Monarchs

What is the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge (MPGC)?
The Million Pollinator Garden Challenge is a nationwide call to action to preserve and create gardens and landscapes that help revive the health of bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators across America. As we explore and enjoy the "great outdoors", take time to make connections between pollinators and the healthy food we eat.
http://millionpollinatorgardens.org/partners/

Annual Milkweed Pod Collection:
September 1st and goes until October 30th (pods accepted thru November 1st)

The Ohio Pollinator Habitat Initiative is calling on all Ohioans for another year of Milkweed pod collections! This project started in 2015 as a 7 county pilot and since that time hundreds of Ohioans have worked together collecting thousands of pods across the state.

Milkweed is the host plant for the Monarch butterfly for egg laying and caterpillar rearing. It also serves as a food source for Monarchs and many other pollinator species. . The disappearance of milkweed across the U.S. has contributed to the 80% decline of the eastern monarch butterfly population over the last 20 years. We are working hard in Ohio to change this, and you can help!

Here are helpful and simple collection tips:
• Before you collect seed pods, become familiar with the common milkweed to avoid harvesting pods from similar plants such as hemp dogbane (a poisonous herb) or swamp milkweed.
• It is best to collect the pods when they are dry, grey, or brown. THIS is IMPORTANT! Pod collection starts Sept 1 and runs through Oct 31… please use September as the benchmark time to locate milkweed plants and to keep an eye on the pods while they ripen; then pick them once they look like the picture shown below.
• If the center seam pops with gentle pressure, they can be harvested.
• Store the pods in paper bags (vs. plastic bags collect unwanted moisture).
• Place the date and county collected on the bag when you turn them in.
• Keep the pods in a cool, dry area until you deliver them to the nearest collection site as with Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District located in Lebanon, Ohio or you can find the nearest collection site at:
www.agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/soil-and-water-conservation/find-a-local-swcd/swcd-list

http://www.ophi.info/

Photo Courtesy of a Monarch
by Molly Conley, WCSWCD Director and
Natural Resource Engineer

Monarch Butterfly - Danaus plexippus

Monarch Butterflies are migratory; they live in the northern region of our continent during the summer and avoid bitter cold winters by flying south to warmer regions in Mexico or southern U.S. regions. In one season, a single Monarch can cover thousands of miles of flight.
The arrival of monarchs is celebrated in many towns; citizens even help scientists document and share data, like est. population counts, dates of arrival and departure with geographic location included .
The Viceroy Butterfly looks similar to the Monarch butterfly (mimicry), but differs slightly in color and pattern. For identification purposes, observe the black border around the monarch's wings that has rows of tiny white dots. A hairy, black body "sports" a few tiny white dots on the monarch's head and "neck", intricate white dashes are on both sides of its black abdomen, and their colors will begin to "pale" as the monarch butterfly becomes weathered.

Male or Female?
Unlike female monarchs, the male monarchs have a small black spot on the surface of the hind-wings. The spot is visible when the wings are open (faintly or non-visible with closed wings).
Males also have slightly thinner wing veins. Female monarchs tend to be slightly darker than males; the tip of the abdomen of the male and female are visibly different.
https://journeynorth.org/tm/monarch/id_male_female.html

Video link:
https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals-source/0000016c-72b9-df6e-a36c-fefd45c10000

National Geographic Kids: Monarch Slideshow

Save the Bees!

Numerous pollinator species are at risk; many are listed as federally endangered or threatened. Disturbances such as habitat loss, climate change and application of pesticides contribute greatly to diminishing populations and disrupting ecological interactions.

ODA Plant Health Division - Apiary Program:
https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/divisions/plant-health/apiary-program

Seven Ways to Help Pollinators: //www.pollinator.org/7things

https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/

Become a Bee Spotter...The Cincinnati Zoo has teamed up with Bee Spotter to learn more about the bees in the greater Cincinnati area, and we need your help! Simply snap pictures of bees that you see and submit it with a date and location to beespotter.org/cincinnatizoo. An expert will identify the species and add it to the database.

Native & Local Plant Sale:
Visit the Zoo’s EcOhio Farm and Wetland in Warren County, Saturday September 29th, 2019

Learn more about native local plants and about the group "Pollen Nation" that supports pollinator conservation. Multiple beehives on EcOhio Farm are home to thousands of honeybees that help pollinate the entire ecosystem. Observe honeybees up close through an observation frame, and learn how these busy creatures keep people, and their hives, fed.

EcOhio Farm is located at 2210 north Mason-Montgomery Road, Lebanon, OH 45036.

National Geographic - Honeybee Apis mellifera:
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/honeybee/

Field Guide - Common Bees and Wasps of Ohio ODNR

http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/id%20guides/Pub5488_Bees%20and%20Wasps%20of%20Ohio.pdf

"on the road again"... monitoring and Protecting Ohio Bats

7/25/2019

It's A Rap!

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District wishes to thank our Earth Team Volunteers, Staff, Interns, Partnerships and OCVN's for assisting with Bat Acoustic Surveys this past July. We will highlight some of our results at a "Tech Free Tuesday" Event held on August 6th at Landen Deerfield Park. Come learn about our beautiful, native bats, real bat biofacts and build a batty craft! These programs are FREE to the public! Programming starts at 10:00 am. Address: Deerfield Township 2258 W. St. Rt. 22/3, Maineville, Ohio 45039

What Bats Do For Us

One of the most important things bats do for us is consume vast amounts of insects each night; many of these insects are damaging agriculture pests. In fact, pregnant or nursing mothers of certain bat species can consume their body weight in insects each night. Scientists estimate that throughout the United States bats help save farms $3.7 billion a year in reduced crop damage and pesticide use. Bats also save over $1 billion in the corn industry alone. Ohio's bats are "insectivores". Controlling the pest population is not the only thing bats do, they are also pollinators of certain plants and disperse seeds. "Bats are an important part of the ecosystem and do more for us than we even realize." - Sidney Thomson

Acoustic Bat Survey photos from the Caesar Creek/Warren County route that also ventures into Clinton and Greene Counties.

What You Can Do

Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District partners with the Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODNR) to perform acoustic bat surveys in July; this is a perfect way for people to get involved in tracking populations of bats. In addition, ODNR trains others, county-wide, to perform bat monitoring surveys throughout Ohio. Look on ODNR's website for more information.

Another great way to help bat populations is to build a bat house and count the number of bats that use the house. Being mindful and minimizing the disturbance of bat habitats or places that bats are known to hibernate helps their over-all population and ecosystems. A big factor that increases bat populations is to avoid the possible spread of White Nose Syndrome by people. Bats slowly reproduce, female bats typically have one pup at a time, so it is important for us to do whatever we can to protect our bats.

Ohio Bat Roost Monitoring

Bat roost monitoring surveys are used to identify locations where bat maternity colonies are roosting and determine the approximate size of the colonies. The data helps to understand where the bats are living and how the populations are changing.
Little brown bats used to be the most common species of bats in Ohio; their population has declined by as much as 99% according to winter hibernacula counts.

2019 Ohio Bat Roost Monitoring Project

2019 ODNR Mobile Bat Acoustic Surveys 2018 Report

Data from this project allows the Division of Wildlife to monitor population changes for bats through long-term assessments. As potential threats to bat populations increase in Ohio (e.g., White-nose Syndrome, habitat destruction), it is imperative that we continue to monitor and assess our Ohio bat populations.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease caused by a fungus that affects bats. It is considered one of the worst wildlife diseases in modern times; the fungus, called Pseudogymnoascus destructans or Pd for short, has killed millions of bats across North America. Pd grows in cold, dark and damp places; it attacks the bare skin of bats while they are hibernating in a relatively inactive state. Pd sometimes looks like a white fuzz on the faces of bats, As the Pd fungus grows, it directly causes changes in bats, making them become more active than usual. Bats with white-nose syndrome may do strange things like fly outside during daytime in the winter. The infected bats burn up fat that is crucial to survive the winter. Besides, Ohio's Bats are nocturnal.

In 2007, Biologists first noted bats were sick and dying from white-nose syndrome in caves near Albany, New York. Cave explorers had taken a photo of bats with a white powder on their noses the year before in this same area. Thus, white-nose syndrome has been in North America since at least 2006.

http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/fish-and-wildlife-research/white-nose-syndrome

WCSWCD Volunteer Opportunities:
https://www.warrenswcd.com/volunteer-opportunities.html

Acoustic Bat Survey photos from the Little Miami State Park route.

Other WCSWCD Wildlife/Ohio's Bats Blog publications:
https://www.warrenswcd.com/education-connection-a-blog/sleep-all-day-stay-out-all-night-no-wonder-we-love-our-ohio-bats

https://www.warrenswcd.com/education-connection-a-blog/help-protect-bats-and-their-habitats

Authors and Contributors; Sidney Thomson, Ben Haynes and Marta Farrell

Energy pipeline

5/24/2019

Since the 1995 reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone, wolves are causing a trophic cascade of ecological change, including helping to increase beaver populations and bring back aspen, and vegetation.

Wolves are highly social animals that live in packs; pack sizes depend on the size and abundance of prey. In Yellowstone, ten wolves is an average pack size. The pack is a complex social family including older members (often the alpha male and alpha female) and subordinates. Each wolf has individual personality traits and roles within the pack. Packs defend their territory from invading packs by howling and scent marking with urine.

Wolves Feed Other Animals: The remains of a carcass left behind, unfinished by wolves, help feed grizzly bears, bald eagles, wolverines and many other scavengers.

Wolves consume a wide variety of large and small prey. They efficiently hunt large prey that other predators cannot often kill, like Bison. In Yellowstone, roughly 90% of their winter prey is elk and 10–15% of their summer prey is deer. Other animals benefit from wolf kills. Like when wolves kill an elk, ravens arrive almost immediately. Coyotes arrive soon after, waiting nearby until the wolves are sated. Bears are usually successful to chase the wolves away. Many other animals, from magpies to invertebrate, consume the decomposing remains.

Yellowstone: Wolves

Living With Wolves

Discover the history of wolves in Yellowstone, including what happened to the ecosystem when they were eradicated and when they were reintroduced Jan 12, 1995:
https://www.yellowstonepark.com/park/yellowstone-wolves-reintroduction

The loss of a breeding wolf can affect the fate of the pack: In 2012, biologists at Denali National Park and Preserve noted a drop in wolf sightings following the death of a breeding female from a pack that lived along the Denali Park Road. This was one of several instances where the death of an individual wolf from legal trapping or hunting sparked widespread attention. "The death of a breeding wolf could harm the packs that provide the greatest opportunities for park visitors to see a wolf in the wild, either through a lack of reproduction or the loss of the entire pack."
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140708103107.htm

Biotic (living) and nonliving (abiotic) resources are linked by energy that flows through an ecosystem. Each tropic, or energy, level plays a role in an ecosystem. Food Webs demonstrate the flow of energy through an ecosystem; this helps illustrate how energy is lost between the tropic levels. Energy Pipeline shows how energy from the sun affects top predators such as owls and humans.

energy_pipeline_lesson.pdf
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Wolves Strengthen Ungulates: Wolves cull sick, old and genetically inferior elk and deer, allowing the healthiest individuals to breed and perpetuate their species.

Wolves Improve Riparian Areas: Wolves have redistributed the elk herds, allowing vegetation to recover along rivers and streams. More willows and aspens provide food for beavers. More beaver ponds benefit aquatic plants and animals. Shade from the trees cools the water, making the habitat better for trout.

Wolves Decrease Coyote Populations: Wolves kill coyotes, so rodent populations increase, benefiting struggling birds of prey. Also, with fewer coyotes, pronghorn antelope calves are less likely to be preyed upon.

Wolves Boost Ecotourism: The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has attracted thousands of new visitors each year, adding millions to the local economy annually.

Educational Materials ODNR/Ohio Division of Wildlife:
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/education-and-outdoor-discovery/conservation-education-project-wild/education-materials

Ohio Wildlife History Timeline

Canid Comparison:
Wolves (back) are larger than coyotes (middle) and red foxes (front).
- NPS / Michael Warner

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wolves.htm

Mammals of Ohio Field Guide:
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/id%20guides/pub344.pdf

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelo

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