5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Happy New Year!!! Did you know that people have been celebrating and making New Year’s resolutions for an estimated 4,000 years? Many people make them, saying that they’re going to do something to better themselves or others. I’ve never been any good at making New Year’s resolutions (or sticking to […]

The holiday season is upon us again, and as I wrap gifts for my family and friends I cannot help but imagine the mounds of gift wrap that will soon be piled outside people’s homes, waiting for the garbage to be picked up. This scary image is enough to motivate me to make my holiday […]

This is the time of year when turkeys are on many minds…and on many dinner plates. In the spirit of the season, let us revel in the tastiness of this bird and in some very impressive facts about them. For instance, did you know that Benjamin Franklin was disappointed in our nation’s choice of the […]

For humans, the arrival of colder weather means evenings indoors with hot cocoa, a warm fire and the frenetic yet wonderful arrival of the holiday season. We combat winter with coats, scarves and our snug houses. But how does wildlife cope with the changing seasons? Animals have developed some amazing strategies to survive the winter […]

“Oh nuts!” said the wild turkey. “There are only half as many acorns as last year.” While 2013 yielded a bountiful black walnut, hickory nut and beech nut crop in our area, acorn production is down across Ohio. Every year, Ohio Division of Wildlife personnel generate statistics regarding Ohio’s annual acorn crop. This information is […]

Fall is a marvelous time to see lots of migrants making their way south for the winter. As these birds migrate, they are in search of food and resting places along their journey. At Winton Woods, we have a fabulous viewing place for this at the West Fork Dam silt basin pond. In the spring […]

Working on Parky’s Farm in November, you’d probably think I’d write all about turkeys! However, the month of November doesn’t mean turkey time for the staff at Parky’s Farm. Instead, it’s all about a mysterious creature called a PFamboozle. This creature has been leaving all sorts of evidence around the farm: footprints, scat and piles […]

Part of my routine for getting the visitor center ready to open for the day includes checking on all the program animals as I turn on their lights. One particular day last week I noticed our long-time amphibian ambassador, the tiger salamander, didn’t look quite right. Although I already knew it wouldn’t matter, I misted […]