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5/24/2022

Outdoor Summer Fun

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As the school year winds down, and gearing up for summer begins, here are some ideas to keep your young students engaged in the natural sciences through outdoor discovery and play!  Whether you have a whole day or just a spare hour, including outdoor activities into the routine can help to keep the mind and senses tapped into the natural world around us.  According to the National Association for the Education of young Children (NAEYC) some of the benefits of outdoor play are:
  • It invites children to learn science
  • It creates opportunities for social interaction and collaboration
  • It promotes physical health
  • It invites new contexts for learning
  • It promotes better sleep
  • It gives children a chance to take appropriate risks
  • ​It supports STEM skills


Getting outside can involve going to a near by park or green space, or simply stepping outside your own front door to see what you can see.  Keep a journal of notes or drawings to track changes you see over the summer.  This is called phenology.  Watch our "Making Observations" video series on YouTube to learn about what kind of observations we can make. 

​And here are some other simple, fun outdoor activities from various partners and organizations across the country!

Get Outside:
  • Backyard Plant Dyes
  • Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard
  • Calculating Cloud Cover ​
  • Leaf Rubbing Art
  • Making a Solar Oven
  • Nature Paintbrush
  • Nature Tic-Tac-Toe
  • Picture a Tree
  • Outdoor Belly Hike
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Shapes in Nature
  • Start a Pollinator Garden

​
Check out our Education page for more activity ideas!

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11/30/2021

Shifting Soils

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​The soils of the world are diverse and allow us to produce a plethora of crops and food to support the global population.  World Soil Day, celebrated annually on December 5th,  was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to celebrate one of our most vital resources. Soil is essential for filtering pollutants from our water, storing carbon, and providing the foundation for an estimated 95 percent of the world’s food supply.  ​The theme for the 2021 World Soil Day is Halt soil salinization, boost soil productivity.

According to the FAO, soil salinization and sodification are major soil degradation processes threatening ecosystems and are recognized as being among the most important problems at a global level for agricultural production, food security and sustainability in arid and semi-arid regions. The goal of World Soil Day aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, fighting soil salinization, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.  
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Soil is a non-renewable resource that we must conserve and care for in order to continue thriving in this world.  However soils are subjected to pollution and loss, especially due to erosion.  Soil particles can be detached and moved out of a field by both wind and water. Wind can pick up small soil particles, transporting them long distances. Water moving along the ground surface can remove a thin sheet of soil, create small channels, or wash out large gullies.

​Factors that contribute to erosion:
1. Rainfall — soil erosion increases as length or intensity of rainfall increases
2. Slope length/grade — soil erosion is worse on longer/steeper slopes because water moves faster across the soil
3. Vegetation/residue — growing plants and residue protect the soil from rain impact, slow down flowing water and increase infiltration of water into the soil, as well as protecting the soil from wind erosion.
4. Soil texture/structure — Courser soils (sands) with larger pores allow for faster infiltration (less erosion) of water than soils with finer textures (clays). Soil structure is the arrangement of sand, silt, and clay particles into aggregates. Good structure at the soil surface will also allow for increased infiltration, poor structure leads to more runoff and erosion. Poor structure is associated with low organic matter, equipment traffic on wet soils, and exposure of disturbed soil to adverse weather.
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The costs:
​1. Yield Potential — soil erosion removes topsoil, which is high in organic matter and contains the nutrients essential for crop growth. Erosion generally decreases yield potential.
2. Nutrients — nutrients needed for crop growth are located in the topsoil where fertilizers, crop residues, and manure are applied; soil erosion will decrease the nutrient content.
3. Water holding capacity — loss of topsoil organic matter can change the overall texture of a soil and result in lower water holding capacity
4. Organic matter — topsoil is high in organic matter where crop residues and manure have been added to the soil. Erosion usually results in decreased organic matter.
5. The environment — water quality in streams, lakes, etc. can be greatly negatively affected by sediment and nutrients that are brought in by soil erosion. Wind erosion can result in reduced air quality.
 
Possible Solutions on the Farm:
​1. Reduce tillage — tillage exposes soil to the environment and makes it more likely to be eroded by wind or water.
2. Manage crop residue — keeping crop residues on the soil surface helps protect soil from wind, rain, and running water. Residue can protect soil from erosion when crops are not growing in a field
3. Grass waterways — maintaining grass waterways in low areas where a high volume of runoff is possible will slow the speed of running water and allow for sediment to be kept in the field.
4. Cover crops — cover crops allow protection for a field during times of the year when crops are not growing. Cover crops protect the soil from wind, rain, and running water.
5. Row width/direction — narrower crop rows will canopy sooner and allow for better protection of the soil. Crop rows that are planted perpendicular to slopes will decrease runoff and increase infiltration vs. rows that are planted in the same direction as the slope

...A
nd in the Neighborhood:

1. Stabilize soil by mulching with shredded bark, wood chips, leaves, or even pine needles - Look for locally sourced materials and cover bare patches of soil, hill sides, and spaces between plants.
2. Ground Cover - From lawn daisies to clover, keep it covered.  The roots of larger perennial plants do the job too of reducing erosion. 
3. Rain Gardens & Plant Catchments - Catch and control water when it’s moving downhill  by creating a rain garden.  A well-positioned rain garden can cut down on erosion and the possibility of pollutants reaching neighboring tributaries by over 30%. To plant a rain garden, select water loving plants adapted to your region and climate, and add stones and other features to direct the water.
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​Soil erosion has a large number of negative effects to both crops and the environment. It is important to use various management practices to protect the soil’s surface and minimize the likelihood of erosion.
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We all have soil to thank for the food on our tables and our ability to thrive on the planet.  Recognizing its importance and what steps can be taken to protect this vital resource are critical to that continued existence.

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6/18/2020

Project WILD has Remote Learning Activities!

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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

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5/15/2020

Warren County BioBlitz By Warren County Park District

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Step 1. Download the free, easy-to-use iNaturalist app (www.iNaturalist.org). After you create your iNaturalist account, search for project “Warren County Nature BioBlitz”.  If you have questions about how to use the app, go here: www.inaturalist.org/pages/help

Step 2. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, go outside with your smartphone or camera and become an “Observer.” Look for any and all natural life and snap photos (“observations”) to upload into our project. According to the Department of Natural Resources, Ohio has about 56 species of mammals, 200 species of breeding birds, 84 species and subspecies of amphibians and reptiles, 170 species of fish, 100 species of mollusks, over 4,000 species of plants and fungi, and countless species of insects and other invertebrates.  

We can’t wait to see what you discover and share with our project!
 
Questions? Contact Naturalist Shannon at MotherNaturesClassroom@gmail.com
For a list of Warren County Park District properties, visit www.co.warren.oh.us/Parks

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4/16/2020

More Ohio Symbols!

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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!
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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.
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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!
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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!
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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!
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3/31/2020

April is Ohio Native Plant Month! The white Trillium, and other Ohio State Symbols, that Are Also Native Plants!

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Starting in kindergarten, Ohio students begin learning about the importance of national and state symbols. Here in Ohio, we have many state symbols of significance.  From the Ohio state wildflower the White Trillium to the state native fruit the Pawpaw, here are some fun facts about Ohio state symbols that are also valuable native plants!

The Ohio State Wildflower: White Trillium (trillium grandiflorum) adopted in 1986. The white trillium is known by several different names! They include wake robin, snow trillium, wood lily, and giant or large white trillium. They live in the upland forests. They are known as an ephemeral plant meaning that it has a short lifecycle closely tied to the forest ecosystem it prefers. The White Trillium can be found in all 88 counties in Ohio.
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The State of Ohio Native Fruit: The Pawpaw Tree. Adopted in 2009. Also known as the Appalachian banana, poor man’s banana, Indian banana and Quaker delight.  The pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit tree. The pawpaw is found throughout Ohio. It likes to live in moist soil. In the dappled shade of the forest it will grow shrub-like. In full sun it can grow tree-like up to 30 feet tall. Prehistoric and historic native Americans used pawpaws extensively. It resembles a short fat banana. It is first green, then yellow, then brown. It has an avocado-like texture. It perishes quickly after harvesting with is why it’s difficult to market. It tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango. The pawpaw does not self-pollinate and needs to be planted with several plants in order to produce fruit.




The Ohio State Tree: The Buckeye Tree (Aesculus glabra) was adopted in 1953. The buckeye tree is mostly an understory tree meaning it can grow in partially shaded areas. It likes to grow along streams and rivers. Its lightweight wood was used to make artificial limbs! Carrying a buckeye nut in your pocket is good luck! The tree has its name from the shape of its nut which resembles the eye of a buck.

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The Ohio State Flower: Red Carnation adopted in 1904. The red carnation (dianthus caryophyllus) was adopted by the state Legislature in 1904 in honor of President William McKinley. President McKinley was assassinated in 1901. He liked to wear a red carnation on the lapel of his jacket. **While this flower is technically native to Eurasia and not Ohio, it has been established here for over a century and provides nectar to important pollinators like butterflies!

And speaking of pollinators, let us include the native Convergent Ladybird Beetle here, which is also the Ohio State Insect! The Ladybug (ladybird beetle, Coccinellidae) was adopted in 1975. Ladybugs are found in all 88 Ohio counties. Ladybugs are ferocious predators especially good at eating aphids. Aphids are a small sapsucking insect that can cause damage to Ohio backyards and farmlands. There are many different species of ladybird beetle. While the legislature didn’t specify which type is the state insect, it is generally agreed upon that it is the Convergent Ladybird Beetle (Hippodamia convergens). In 1975 the Ohio General Assembly stated  that the ladybug “Is symbolic of the people of Ohio—she is proud and friendly, bringing delight to millions of children when she alights on their hand or arm to display her multi-colored wings, and she is extremely industrious and hardy, able to live under the most adverse conditions and yet retain her beauty and charm, while at the same time being of inestimable value to nature.” Ladybugs are a state symbol of 6 states!
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8/26/2019

Pollinator Partnerships

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

Milkweed for Monarchs
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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
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​​http://www.ophi.info/

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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.

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​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
TheBeeMD

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

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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.

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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
Honey Bee ODNR
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7/25/2019

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

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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
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​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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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​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.
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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

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5/24/2019

Energy pipeline

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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.
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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
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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
File Size: 1028 kb
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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.
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​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.
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​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.
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​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
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​

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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3/8/2019

Our Blue Planet

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World Water Day – March 22, 2019
Water is the building block of life. ​For some, it’s easy to take water for granted..."it just comes out of the faucet anytime you want it."  Yet around the globe, there are people who don’t have access to clean, safe drinking water. March 22, World Water Day, is dedicated to drawing attention to the water related issues that affect humans in almost every country. As created by the United Nations, the goal of World Water Day is to bring aide to people who are truly in need.
Try to reduce your water footprint:​
https://nationaltoday.com/world-water-day/
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Earth is the only known planet in our solar system that humans can live on. ​No other planet has oceans, Earth is also our only known planet to have bodies of liquid water on its surface and enough oxygen to comfortably breathe. Because we have so much water, Earth is is also referred to as the Blue Planet.​ The oceans combined with the atmosphere makes our planet look blue from outer space.
​About 71 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet where water can exist in liquid form on the surface. Less than one percent of Earth's water is drinkable. Most of Earth's water is salty (~ 97%) and over 2/3 of Earth's freshwater is frozen. Earth is the fifth largest planet and the third planet from the Sun.
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What is potable water?   Water that is suitable or safe for drinking. 
​Water is not distributed evenly across the Earth. Water can be found in oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, underground (ground water), in soil and in Earth's atmosphere. A molecule of water can remain in the ocean for thousands of years. A molecule of water can remain in the atmosphere for as short a time as just a few days. 
Visit DiscoverWater.org to experience an interactive
​on-line version of related topics.
​An estimated 780 million people live without clean, accessible drinking water. Drinking contaminated water can lead to a host of life threatening diseases. Although this may seem like a third world problem, Flint, Michigan showed us that water problems even plague the United States.

Our wildlife also require access to clean water. Every year, countless animals die as a result of water pollution. Pollution can occur in many ways, from physical litter to wastewater and chemical runoff, which causes the water to become toxic to the animals that depend on it for drinking and habitation.

​Many of the environmental problems we are coping with are intertwined — such as climate change and ecosystem degradation are related to and sometimes direct causes of water pollution, floods and droughts. — https://nationaltoday.com/world-water-day/
Project WET and Healthy Water Healthy People
Teaching people to understand and value water, promoting water conservation and protection for all:  
https://www.projectwet.org/
​ODNR Division of Wildlife Aquatic Education:
http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/education-and-outdoor-discovery/aquatic-education
ODNR Division of Wildlife Conservation Education:​
​http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/education-and-outdoor-discovery/conservation-education-project-wild
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USGS All About Water:  water.usgs.gov/edu/
2019 Caesar Creek Lake Calendar of Events:
​parks.ohiodnr.gov/portals/parks/PDFs/things_to_do/naturalists/USACECaesarCreek2019.pdf
Caesar Creek State Park

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