It may not be an official holiday, but September 6 is a holiday for bibliophiles: National Read a Book Day. Of course, every day is a great day to read a book! But, in honor of this novel holiday and celebrating the remaining days of summer, here are favorites, classics and new reading recommendations from the Great […]

As the early settlers of the U.S. forged westward, their main priority was finding a place to call home. However, as they began to inhabit our country, not only did they affect the animals who lived here first, they affected where these creatures lived. The natural predators that called Ohio’s landscape home – the black […]

If you’ve spent any time at Winton Woods Campground this summer, you may have witnessed a rather unnerving site. Just as the sun is setting and daylight begins to fade, large birds with a six-foot wingspan glide in and cover the trees. A closer look reveals huge wings, a naked head and a razor sharp […]

The newest addition to our Great Parks’ animal ambassador team is an eastern screech owl (Megascops asio). As such a new member to our team, she doesn’t have a name yet. However, this particular owl has an injury to the retina in her left eye, rendering her blind, and thereby not able to survive in […]

If you spend any time outdoors, you have likely noticed some odd residents growing on rocks, sidewalks and tree trunks. With shades of gray, green and blue, growing interspersed with mosses, these organisms are often mistaken for plants. Closer inspection reveals that these residents – lichens – are something unique among living things. So, what […]

Our national symbol, the bald eagle, begins to think spring earlier than some other animals. This is a great time of year to put your eye to the skies for an opportunity to see this bird soaring above. Here are six facts to keep in mind as you keep watch: 1. They’re picky about where […]

Make a list of some of the most endangered animals on the planet and the first that come to mind might be large mammals like tigers, rhinoceroses and gorillas. However, some lowly mollusks should be on the list. Mussels are some of the most endangered animals in not only Ohio, but also the country. Approximately […]

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of the gloomy browns and grays of winter, not to mention the cold and ice that change my daily schedule and tend to keep me indoors. So on a blue sky day, I rejoice! I can’t wait to get outside and take a walk. One of […]