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​

In a galaxy far, far away students are returning to the classroom and educators are on the look out for excellent environmental science materials to share with them. Well educators, look no further! (Well, at least stop here for some great resources!) The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) has released its 2024 National Stewardship Week materials and they are out of this world.  The theme revolves around the topic of forestry and these educator materials will assist in curriculum planning and support.  NACD describes the materials as having "​hands-on-learning and experience-based activities for K-8 grades all in a single guide with comprehensive background material, easy instructional resources, and suggestions for modification to include all students. There are also accompanying student journal resources for extending the learning experience. "

And don't forget that our education staff is available to present programs and loan education materials to local Warren County educators.  We have several tree-rific resources from Project Learning Tree we can share including the Tree Factory, hands-on biofacts like tree cookies, leaves and seeds, and Climate Change, Forest Change, and Tree Ring Analysis Discovery Kits.  Contact us at 513.695.1337 to learn more.   May the Forest Be with You!

It is National Pollinator Week! Every year people across the country recognize the importance of pollinators and encourage others to support their conservation. Pollinators come in all forms including birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals. These fauna pollinate plants by spreading pollen and helping plants reproduce and produce fruits, and they are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food! This year the emphasis is on the affects of climate change and pollinator decline. Pollinators are being negatively affected as their food sources and habitats are declining, diseases are increasing, and rising temperatures and natural disasters are affecting their ability to survive. Climate change is driving these conditions, but the conservation of pollinators and their habitats can help to combat climate change by supporting healthy ecosystems, air, soil, water, and plants.
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Get ready to celebrate our world’s only flying mammal! Every year on April 17, conservationists and nature enthusiasts around the globe come together to recognize International Bat Appreciation Day. Of the over 1400 species of bats on our planet, 10 species call Ohio home.  All our native bats are microbats—small, insect eating bats ranging in size from 2.5 to 6 inches long in body length. Of these 10 species, 6 of them have been hibernating through the winter in caves and abandoned mines. These include the tri-colored bat (Ohio’s smallest bat), the northern long-eared bat, big brown bat, little brown bat, small-footed bat, and Indiana bat (federally endangered). Meanwhile, the remaining 4 species will be returning from a southern migration. In spring and summer months we will see these species, which include the red bat, evening bat, silver-haired bat, and the hoary bat (the largest Ohio bat). 

Many folks are familiar with and have bird houses on their property, but we would love to see more bat houses in our communities. Bat houses provided shelter space for bats and roosts where moms can raise their young pups in maternity colonies. To attract bats, you can plant night blooming flowers which will bring the insect food supply bats need.

For ideas on bat houses and more bat facts, check out the Ohio Bat Working Group website at https://u.osu.edu/obwg/ 
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​When many of us look at the natural world around us, some of the first features we notice are the magnificent trees that characterize portions of Ohio’s landscape. Even in our more urban and suburban areas we see these pillars of biology that provide beauty, shade, and many ecological services for air quality, soil stabilization, and wildlife habitat. One particular tree has become ever more present over the years since its introduction to Ohio in the early 1900s: the Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana). In the spring, you will see the many white flowering trees lining neighborhoods, business lots, and highways, and while they may have a visual appeal, they are wreaking havoc on our natural ecosystems. 
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The reason we are seeing more and more of these trees is because they are invasive in Ohio.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines an invasive species as a non-native species in the ecosystem under consideration and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. The ability of the Callery pear to grow quickly, and its cultivars (like Bradford pear) to cross pollinate with each other despite being previously believed to be sterile, causes the plant to rapidly spread and outcompete some of our native species.  

​Due to these invasive characteristics, the state of Ohio has joined others states in banning the sale of Callery pear trees. The state ban recently went into effect on January 7, 2023, in hopes of slowing down the encroachment of this tree in the forest understories around the state. However, many of these established trees will continue reproducing, especially as they are growing on residential and commercial properties across our communities. And while all Ohioans will need to choose new species to plant instead of Callery pears going forward, many are also choosing to replace their established pear trees. Besides the environmental issue these trees can cause, they are also losing their original landscape appeal as they become more susceptible to damage and limb breakage during storms as they grow.

So, the question then becomes, what can we plant instead? Several native species are suggested by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) as appropriate replacements for Callery pear, including:

• serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
• eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis)
• chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
• American plum (Prunus americana)
• flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
• eastern hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
• American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
• yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea)
• hawthorn (Crateagus spp.)
• blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica)

 
Several of these species, including eastern redbud, flowering dogwood, and serviceberry, are available through the Warren County SWCD annual tree seedling sale. The tree sale helps to support local reforestation efforts and promote conservation action of increasing native tree plantings in our community.  The annual tree seedling sale takes place every year, with trees available in early spring. Learn more about this event and how to order on our 2023 Tree Sale page https://www.warrenswcd.com/tree-sale.html
 
For information on how to remove or control Callery pear in forested or natural settings: OSU Extension fact sheet https://woodlandstewards.osu.edu/sites/woodlands/files/d6/files/pubfiles/0045.pdf
 
Contact your ODNR Division of Forestry State Service Forester for further assistance: https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/about-odnr/forestry/landowner-assistance

One thing that unites all of us is food. Though there may be a diverse range of tastes and diets, we all still need that life sustaining nourishment to survive. This means we are all intrinsically linked and dependent on healthy soils across the globe, for it is from the soil that we can grow our food, and that soil is alive with organisms and organic elements that provide for a healthy and fertile base for plant life.

The 2022 theme for World Soils Day, “Soils: Where food begins”, seeks to promote how important proper soil management is to the health and well being of our ecosystems and human societies. The loss of nutrients in the soil from poor management is a critical degradation which threatens nutrition across the world. However, agricultural practices can go a long way to support soil health and conserve this precious resource, and whether you operate acres of cropland or raise a small vegetable garden, there are steps you can take to protect your soil!

To properly care for your soil, it is important that you know what condition your soil is currently in. Soil testing is a tool to evaluate nutrient imbalances and understand plant growth. Soil testing allows landowners to adjust soil pH to the optimum range (6.0-7.0), which makes nutrients more available for plant growth. Any application of phosphorus or nitrogen fertilizers can be done in a targeted, as-needed basis which then prevents excess of these nutrients from entering our surface and ground waters through over-application and runoff. The organic matter present in soil contributes to the physical, chemical, and biological properties of that soil. Soil structure, water holding capacity, nutrient contributions, biological activity, water and air infiltration rate, and pesticide activity are all properties influenced by organic matter. The more organic matter present, the better water holding capacity, nutrient holding, and more beneficial biological activity that soil will demonstrate. Learn more about soil testing on our website HERE.

One of the best ways to safeguard soil health and conserve the organic matter of the soil is to reduce erosion. Wind and water can carry soil particles away, depositing them elsewhere in the environment where often this sediment itself then becomes a type of pollution. Poor soil structure connected to low organic matter increases this erodibility. Visit our previous blog Shifting Soils to learn more about solutions to erosion! 

When we see a bright orange and black butterfly, many of us will recognize that iconic coloration of the beautiful monarch butterfly. Monarchs have captured the hearts of many an admirer with their amazing powers of metamorphosis, pollination, and migration. Yet the secret to their success all lies with having a good meal to start off! And when you are a monarch caterpillar freshly hatched from your egg, that meal can only come from the milkweed plant.

Milkweed species occur across almost all regions of the continental United States, except parts of Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. Milkweed is also native to southern Canada and Mexico.  Of the 17 milkweed species native to Ohio, there are 10 species which serve as host plants for monarchs.  Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate) are two of those species.  Another common species which occurs and is a good nectar source for adult butterflies but does not serve as a caterpillar host is hemp dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum). These different milkweed perennials differ from one another in a couple of structural ways. Common milkweed has a single stem that is hairy and can reach 6.5 feet tall. Hemp dogbane and swamp milkweed both have multiple stems, but the leaf pattern is different. Hemp dogbane has leaves that grow opposite each other on the stem while swamp milkweed has long, narrow leaves that grow in pairs up the stem. 

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!

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

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Check out our Education page for more activity ideas!

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!