From teddy bears to Yogi the Bear, bears have captivated the human imagination for generations.  These large charismatic mammals have featured in stories, poems, movies, and more as majestic, and sometimes intimidating, apex predators in their environments. On June 7th each year, we focus on one particular North American bear (and the only bear to call Ohio home!) - the black bear (Ursus americanus)!

What kind of bears live in Ohio?
Only black bears live in Ohio (but not very many- estimated 150 individuals). ​

​Black Bears in Ohio: Guidelines to Enjoying Ohio's Expanding Black Bear Population
Historically, black bears roamed the Buckeye State. Although black bears inhabited Ohio prior to settlement of the region, unregulated hunting and the extensive deforestation that occurred by the mid-1800s as farms, towns, and industry were established resulted in a sizable reduction in the number of bears residing within the state's borders. Unfortunately, these pressures rendered black bears extirpated (locally extinct) from Ohio by 1850. Today, Ohio is again home to a small but growing population of black bears. Ohio’s bear population is estimated to be anywhere from 50-150 individual bears. It is important we understand a little about the biology and habits of the black bear if we are to coexist comfortably with this Ohio resident.
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Most black bears range in size from 100 to 400 pounds, are 5 to 6 feet in length and average 3 feet high at the shoulder. The majority of bears in Ohio weigh between 125-250 pounds, and are juvenile male bears. Dispersing young black bears will often travel great distances in search of new habitat and are most likely to be seen by or interact with humans. These bears are extremely agile and are able to run up to 35 mph, climb trees with ease and swim long distances. Bears are omnivores, meaning they will eat a wide variety of foods. Depending on the season, their diet may include grasses, forbs, berries, mast from oak, hickory, and beech trees, carrion, and insect larvae.

What To Do If You Encounter a Bear
Black bears are usually fearful of people, therefore bear attacks are a rare occurrence. Bears do not attack or kill children or pets as long as the bear is given its space and not cornered. The first thing to do when you see a bear is REMAIN CALM. Generally, black bears are non-aggressive and prefer to flee from the area as soon as they are aware of your presence. If you encounter a bear, and it is not aware of your presence, simply back away from the area slowly. If the bear is aware of your presence and it does not leave the area, avoid direct eye contact with the animal, give the bear an easy escape route and again, simply back slowly away from the area. Always avoid running or climbing trees, which may provoke a chase. An easy way to remember this is to be AWARE:

• Act calm and do not run. 
• Warn the bear that you are near; talk in a firm, calm voice. 
• Allow space between you and the bear. Step aside and back slowly away. Do not make the bear feel trapped or threatened. 
• Raise your hands above your head to appear larger if the bear approaches. Clap your hands or shout to scare the bear away. 
• Exit the area. 

Bear-Proofing Your Backyard
Black bears are large animals and can cause significant damage while in search of an easy meal. If your yard is being visited by a black bear there are several things that must be done to ensure that the animal doesn’t become a “problem bear”. A “problem bear” can be defined as an animal that has lost its natural fear of humans and habitually causes property damage while in search of food. In this instance all potential food attractants must be removed from the area. This includes:

• Bird feeders and other wildlife feed-remove feeders, including hummingbird and suet feeders.
• Trash receptacles-store your garbage either in a garage or a secure container.
• Pet foods-keep pet foods inside, especially at night.
• Grease from grills-clean out grease traps after each use; store grill in garage or shed.
• Secure beehives-place electric fencing around beehives.
• Crops-pick fruit from berry bushes as soon as possible; scare bears out of agriculture fields as soon as damage occurs.

Best Places for Black Bears
Forested areas in:

• Northeast Ohio (Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Trumbull, & Tuscarawas counties)
• Southeast Ohio (Washington, Athens, Hocking, & Vinton counties)

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2023 Update
Black bears are a state endangered species that occurs in forested habitats throughout the eastern half of Ohio. Black bear sightings in Ohio have been increasing since the Division of Wildlife began tracking sightings in 1993. In 2022, 285 sightings were reported in 52 counties, 161 of which were confirmed based on the presence of evidence such as photos or tracks. Sightings occur throughout the year but are most common in late May through early July.

The number of individual black bears present in the state each year is estimated based on the number and location of confirmed reports, but it is not known how many of these individuals remain present in the state year-round. It is likely that the majority of bears seen in Ohio are young male bears dispersing from Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In the absence of a resident female, dispersing male bears are not likely to remain in an area for an extended period of time, and until recently, there has not been much evidence of resident female bears in Ohio. However, in recent years, evidence of adult females with cubs have been documented in several counties in northeast Ohio, near the Pennsylvania border. Adult female bears show strong home range fidelity, meaning once they establish a range, they tend to stay there. This recent evidence of reproduction occurring in the state is a positive indicator for the future of the Ohio black bear population.

​Black Bears in Ohio - In the News!

Why did the turtle cross the road? To find a mate of course! As temperatures are warming up,  turtles are on the move.  As they journey in search of mates and food, they often have to cross our roadways . Here are some tips on how you can help turtles that you might spot on the road from the US Fish and Wildlife Service:
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1. Drive slowly in areas where turtles frequent.
2. If you have to move a turtle be very careful when moving them (it could be injured or it could bite you depending on what species). If possible, sometimes it is best to just stand guard as the animal crosses the road on its own.
3. Always keep your own safety in mind – watch out for oncoming vehicles, signal properly when pulling over and recognize your surroundings first before working to help save an animal.
4. If the animal does need to be moved, put it down on the other side of the road in the same direction it was going.
5. Do NOT take it with you - please only focus on helping it get safely to the other side.

Our animal ambassador Tucker the Turtle says "Thank You" for helping out his wild relatives!

Is that a coyote you heard? Or was that the distinct aroma of skunk you smelled?
If you are noticing more signs of these animals lately, it is because love is in the air, and not just because of Valentine's Day. It is also mating season!  According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, skunks and coyotes are more active during the spring as they search for mates, venturing out of their typical ranges to do so.  Habitat loss due to development also displaces them into urban areas, increasing potential interactions with these species. Both coyotes and skunks are generalists, meaning they eat a variety of foods and can easily adapt to various environments, including around humans.

Coyotes mate in late January through early March. They are socially monogamous breeders, meaning once a mate is found, the pair typically remains together. Litters are born in March and April and can contain 5 to 10 pups!  Skunk mating season in Ohio begins a little later than the coyote, starting in February and continues until the end of March. Female skunks usually have one litter, while male skunks can father multiple litters.  Each litter produces 4 to 6 kits on average, in May or June. 

In Ohio, we have Eastern coyotes, which are descendants of Western coyotes and the gray wolves that once populated the Great Lakes region. Coyotes are actually not native to Ohio, but they slowly moved into the area over time as land was cleared for agriculture and other, larger carnivores like the gray wolf were extirpated (locally extinct). They have been recorded in the state since 1919.
Striped skunks are native to Ohio, however. Identifiable by the two white stripes that run down their backs and tails, striped skunks are found across North America, including the United States, northern Mexico and southern Canada.

If you encounter one of these species, the recommended response differs. Coyotes are highly intelligent animals, and do not typically want to confront humans. Making yourself known through loud noises and gestures generally will encourage a coyote to move along.  Skunks though are less intelligent, and have poor eyesight.  Their main defense mechanism is, of course, their signature scent which comes from a liquid produced by a skunk's anal glands, and contains several chemical compounds which are rich in sulfur. If you see a skunk, back away and give it plenty of space. Adult skunks typically wag their tail and stomp before spraying, so you have a chance to avoid the worst of the confrontation!

​What's the buzz about World Honey Bee Day? World Honey Bee Day is celebrated every third Saturday in August, falling on August 17 this year. While there are 20,000 different species of bees all around the world, the honey bee tends to be the most recognized. But it is also different from many other types of native bees here in Ohio. Most of Ohio's bees, like mason bees and leafcutter bees are solitary and do not live in large colonies like the honey bee.  And our native solitary bees are actually much more efficient pollinators than honey bees because they are not collecting the pollen for themselves to take back to a hive.  The honey bee however, utilizes much of the pollen it collects to make honey!

A single worker bee will visit up to a few thousand flowers per day and produces around 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its life time. A colony collectively may visit up to 225,000 flowers per day and can produce 200+ pounds of honey in a single season, with some even recorded as producing around 600 pounds!

Bees, like many insects, see from approximately 300 to 650 nm. That means they cannot see the color red, but they can see in the ultraviolet spectrum (which humans cannot). They also communicate through various body movements, commonly called the "bee dance".

Celebrate World Honey Bee Day by doing YOUR part to protect these essential pollinators!
- plant bee-friendly plants
- use eco friendly pesticides, or refrain from pesticides at all
- visit an Apirary to learn more about honeybees
- support local beekeepers! Beekeepers are providing shelter and care for a disappearing bee population

Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years, and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat. A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.
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Exotic plants that evolved in other parts of the world or were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t exist in nature do not support wildlife as well as native plants. Occasionally, they can even escape into the wild and become invasive exotics that destroy natural habitat. ​

Discovering the native plants where you live can also define a unique sense of place and heritage for your garden habitat while preserving the natural history of the flora and fauna of your region.

To learn more about native plants and find resources, please visit our Ohio Native Plants page! https://www.warrenswcd.com/ohio-native-plants.html

What is slimy, red, and helps you grow your veggies? If you guessed red wiggler worms, you would be correct! Red wiggler worms, also known as red worms, tiger worms, and manure worms, are a small species of earthworm measuring 3 to 4 inches long. Red wigglers are originally from Europe, but have now spread to all continents on the globe except Antarctica. For those of us who vermicompost, red wigglers are well known as these voracious eaters are excellent at breaking down food scraps to recycle the nutrients into a valuable soil amendment.  But let's learn a little more about these hard working critters!

Fun facts:

• Scientific name Eisenia fetida. Fetida meaning ‘foul smelling’ 
• They are native to Europe but naturalized across all continents except Antarctica.
• They have a lifespan of up to 5 years.
• They are one of 7 species of worms that can be used to effectively compost. 
• They do best in a temperature of 55-90 degrees. 
• The earthworm is made of about 100-150 segments​

Many of us have fond childhood memories of spending summer evenings catching lightning bugs! But did you know that they are not all the same? In fact, here in North America, there are three main families of flashing fireflies--Photinus, Pyractomena, and Photuris.  You can observe the flash patterns of the lights to tell them apart!  This flashing, which gives the beetle its common name of firefly, is a chemical reaction in their abdomen.  Specific blinking patterns are a way for the insects to communicate, and each type has its own kind of "language".

If you enjoy watching fireflies, then put your observations to work and become a firefly watcher as part of the citizen science project Firefly Watch.  Spend 10 mins a week watching firefly activity in a location of your choice and submit your findings.  You will provide details about the habitat and then count the number of flashing fireflies you see over the course of 10 minutes in three 10 second periods, as well as the number of flashing patterns.

​Ready to get involved? Go to 
https://www.massaudubon.org/get-involved/community-science/firefly-watch/getting-started

Happy firefly watching!

World Wildlife Day is observed on March 3rd each year to celebrate and raise awareness about the flora and fauna around the globe! The United Nations selected this date as it corresponds with the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.  CITES is one of the world's most powerful tools for wildlife conservation the world community has because it regulates the international trade of over 38,000 species of wild animals and plants to ensure that international trade in such species is sustainable, legal and traceable.  Additionally that trade should contribute to both the livelihoods of the communities that live closest to them and to national economies for a healthy planet and the prosperity of the people in support of UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This year's theme for WWD is "Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration".  Each species plays a vital role in its ecosystem, and when one of those species is lost it can trigger a cascading effect.  And with more and more organisms being pushed to the brink of extinction, we risk these cascades increasing.  According to the International Union of Conservation of Nature's Red List of Endangered Species, over 30,000 species are endangered or vulnerable with another 8,400 species listed as critically endangered.  Continued loss of these species and degradation of ecosystems is a threat to people around the world that rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet their needs

Dagmar the Dragonfly wants you to know what Ohio is doing to protect its vulnerable wildlife populations, like the 13 species of endangered dragonflies!  In Ohio, the Division of Wildlife uses six categories of classification for wildlife status in the state:​

• ​Endangered: A native species or subspecies threatened with extirpation from the state. The danger may result from one or more causes, such as habitat loss, pollution, predation, interspecific competition, or disease.
• Threatened: A species or subspecies whose survival in Ohio is not in immediate jeopardy, but to which a threat exists. Continued or increased stress will result in its becoming endangered.
• Species of Concern: A species or subspecies which might become threatened in Ohio under continued or increased stress. Also, a species or subspecies for which there is some concern, but for which information is insufficient to permit an adequate status evaluation. This category may contain species designated as a furbearer or game species, but whose statewide population is dependent on the quality and/or quantity of habitat and is not adversely impacted by regulated harvest.
• Special Interest: A species that occurs periodically and is capable of breeding in Ohio. It is at the edge of a larger, contiguous range with viable population(s) within the core of its range. These species have no federal endangered or threatened status, are at low breeding densities in the state, and have not been recently released to enhance Ohio’s wildlife diversity. With the exception of efforts to conserve occupied areas, minimal management efforts will be directed for these species because it is unlikely to result in significant increases in their populations within the state.
• Extirpated: A species or subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European settlement and that has since disappeared from the state.
• Extinct: A species or subspecies that occurred in Ohio at the time of European settlement and that has since disappeared from its entire range.

By assessing and tracking these species we can take the best steps to conserve their populations and habitat to protect them from further decline.  Want to know which animals are endangered in Ohio? Learn more from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife by clicking the buttons below!

Here at Warren County SWCD we are always striving to find the most engaging ways to connect with students of all ages about environmental education and conservation. And what better way to do that than with an awesome animal!  Education ambassador animals help to create personal connections with people and increase the retention of information learned.  Our newest education team member hopes to share enthusiasm and knowledge across Warren County about all things nature. 

ABOUT TUCKER "SPEEDY" TURTLE

​​Our newest team member is a Woodland Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina a.k.a. Eastern Box Turtle) of unknown age.  Woodland box turtles are native to Ohio and are very familiar and identifiable wildlife to students of all ages. Sporting red eyes and a concave plastron (belly side part of shell), our new box turtle is a male that was seized from a private owner who did not have a permit, and released to the care of Brukner Nature Center in Troy, OH. Because he had been under human care for an indeterminate amount of time, he could not be released back into the wild. Taking individual animals from the wild in an unregulated fashion negatively impacts the wild population numbers of these species which is one reason a permit is required to possess such native animals. Because Warren County SWCD holds an education permit from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, we were eligible to become a new home for this little guy.

If you are a teacher or community group leader and would like to have Tucker visit your classroom or meeting with his trove of conservation knowledge, check out our program offerings on our Education Page! For questions or to schedule a program, contact Melissa Proffitt, Education & Communications Specialist, at (513) 695-3086.

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!