Below you find a variety of resources with information on woodland wildlife and how to attract them to your woods. Click on the images to watch the videos.
Update on Ohio Bats (What you didn't learn watching Batman)
Join OSU's Extension Wildlife Program Specialist, Marne Titchenell, as she presents an update on Ohio's bat populations in this video. Marne will address current threats to bat populations, Ohio species and their habitats and ecology, and the ways in which you can help our top predators of night-flying insects!
Orphaned and Injured Wildlife
With spring upon us and summer on its way, you may come across baby wildlife that are along. Realize however, that wildlife parents often leave their young unattended while they search for food. The best place for wild animals is in the wild, so unless something really seems wrong, keep to a safe distance and leave the young alone. For more information on this subject, plus a list of wildlife rehabilitators should you find an injured or truly abandoned wild animal, visit the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife website. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a webinar on this subject with Commmunication Specialist, Jamey Emmert with the Division of Wildlife.
Update on Monarch Butterfly Listing
If you've been following the news on monarch butterflies, then you'll know it was under consideration for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). After a thorough assessment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has found that listing is warranted by precluded. What exactly does that mean? It means the monarch butterfly is now a candidate for listing under the ESA, and every year its status will be reviewed until it is no longer a candidate. This decision underscores the importance of continued efforts to conserve monarchs. For more information on the listing, see here. What to learn more about monarchs? Monarch Joint Venture is a great place to start.
Snake ID
Learn how to identify Ohio's snakes in this presentation by Brian Hackett, Wildlife Specialist for Knox County Soil & Water Conservation District. This presentation, originally presented at the 2020 Farm Science Review Online, covers snake ecology, myths surround the slithery serpents, and identification features for many of Ohio's snakes. Enjoy!
Dealing with Raccoons, Skunks, and Opossums in Your Backyard
Join OSU's Extension Wildlife Program Specilist, Marne Titchenell, as she discusses ways to manage conflicts with raccoons, skunks, and opossums in your backyards, underneath your porch, in your attic, and more in this video.
Note: CBS Sunday Morning aired an informative and fun segment with the School of Environment and Natural Resources professor Stan Gehrt, on city raccoons, their paws and curiosity. Watch and read about here.
Recreation Lease Hunting
Join Gabe Karns, Assistant Professor in the School of Environment and Natural Resource, as he discusses lease hunting for recreational activities in this video. Gabe will cover the basics of leasing your property, give some examples, and explain how to get started. If you are a landowner entertaining the idea of leasing your property to a group of hunters, anglers, or for some other recreational activity, this is the presentation for you.
The Ohio Bat Working Group - New Website and Bat Week Video Series
The Ohio Bat Working Group (OBWG) has launched a NEW website, filled with information for landowners, land managers, homeowners, and educators on Ohio bats. In honor of Bat Week (every year Oct. 24-31), the OBWG has also created a Bat Week Video Series, which features 9, 15-minute videos on a variety of topics – bat habitat, Ohio species, threats the Ohio bats, how to help bats, what to do if you find a bat (single bat or colony), and more. Special thank the authors of the videos: Sarah Stankavich, Danielle Thompson, Melissa Proffitt, Cindy Maravich, Tammy O'Neil, Marne Titchenell, and Rick Shears. Have a bat-tastic week!
Owls of Ohio
Looking for a quick refresher on Ohio's owls species and how you can manage for them in your woods? Check out this 7-minute video from Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension's Wildlife Program Specialist. This video was part of the 2020 Farm Science Review Online. For more conservation-related talks from FSR, check out the schedule.
Birds with Silviculture in Mind
Check out this guide that keeps foresters in mind as it explains the habitat requirements of several focal bird species. The Focal Birds Pocket Guide for Massachusetts Foresters is from Massachusetts Audubon's Forests for the Birds program. Along with great visuals and descriptions of habitat, this guide also lists management recommendations and silvicultural treatments for each species.
Remember, Ohio also has two guides for managing forest birds. Find them here.
Birding with Brad: Raptors
Brad Perkins, Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, birder extraordinaire, and amateur photographer is back again with a video on bird ID. In this video, Brad takes us through an identification journey of Ohio's birds of prey - the raptors! Enjoy and happy birding!
Birding by Ear: Tips for Beginners
In this article, Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension's Wildlife Program Specialist, shares some tips and resources for identifying bird calls. Birding by ear can be challenging, especially in the beginning, but with practice this is a great skill to acquire to bring your bird watching excursions to the next level. Happy birding!
Birding with Brad: Marsh Birds of Ohio
Brad Perkins, Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, birder extraordinaire, and amateur photographer is back once again with another video on bird ID. In this video, Brad takes us though ID tips to identify Ohio marsh birds by sight and by sound! Enjoy and happy birding!
OSU Partners for Pollinators Webinars
Denise Ellsworth with the Ohio State University Extension and Department of Entomology has been offering some great webinars on pollinators. In case you missed them, visit the Partners for Pollinators site to view them at your leisure!
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Webinars
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is offering a series of webinars on a variety of subjects. These webinars are designed for all ages, so grab your kids before you start watching. Webinars are being offered twice a week and this month wildlife are featured. The easiest way to access these events is to visit ODNR's Facebook page (@ohiodnr).
Managing Forest Patches for Birds
Join Matt Shumar, Program Coordinate of the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative as he talks about the importance of providing forest habtiat for birds in this video. Matt will share information on the current status of many birds, and offer recommendations for woodland owners interested in enhancing their forest patches for birds.
Warblers of Ohio: ID and Ecology
Join Brad Perkins, Director of the Ohio Forestry Association, birder extraordinaire, and amateur photographer, in this video as he guides us through 36 species of Ohio warblers. Brad shares easy identification tips and information on habitat and ecology for each of these beautiful songbirds. Enjoy and happy birding!
Who's Croaking? Identifying Ohio's Frog and Toad Calls - Part 2
Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension's Wildlife Program Specialist, is back with Part 2 of Who's Croaking. Join her as she guides you through identifying calls of the less common and less known members of Ohio's frogs and toads. Did you miss Part 1? Scroll down to find it, or click here.
NEW Ohio Bee Guide
Check out this new guide on Ohio's bees. It's packed with information about Ohio's native species - did you know Ohio has over 500 species of native bees?? This guide is modeled after the Maryland Bee Guide and edited by Denise Ellsworth, OSU Extension's Native Bee and Pollinator Specialist, Amy Schnebelin, and MaLisa Spring.
Landscaping for Birds
Join OSU's Extension Wildlife Program Specilist, Marne Titchenell, as she talks about Birdscaping - incorporating bird-friendly plants into your backyard. This webinar was originally part of the Master Gardener Volunteer Horticulture Lunch and Learn seminar series. (We did have a few technical difficulties in the beginning of the webinar, apologies, so feel free to skip to around the 4 mins and 15 second mark to avoid it.)
NEW Bulletin! Managing Small Forest Patches for Birds
The Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative (OBCI) published a new guide for landowners with small forest patches on their property. The resource is intended to help landowners manage their woods in ways that provide resources to birds throughout the year. Despite global conservation efforts and successes, many bird species have continued to decline over the past century. These declines received a lot of attention last year with the published paper in Science, detailing the loss of 3 billion birds in North America, as well as Audubon’s report on climate change. Many of the species detailed in these reports rely on forests for part of or all their lives. Although many birds require large tracts of forests, particularly for breeding, during other stages of their life cycle, they can still benefit from smaller fragments, or “small patches,” of forest scattered throughout a non-forested landscape. Other bird species may also rely on these small patches throughout their life cycle. This new guide provides information on management techniques and contact information for local resources and financial assistance.
Who's Croaking? Identifying Ohio's Frog and Toad Calls - Part 1
This is the time of year when Ohio's frogs and toads are very vocal! One of the easiest ways to identify many of Ohio's croakers is by listening to their mating calls. Join Marne Titchenell, OSU Extension's Wildlife Program Specialist, as she guides you through identifying calls in this video presentation.
NEW Division of Wildlife Online Educational Resources Tab
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife has a new tab on their education page, that contains a one-stop shop for all things online education from the Division of Wildlife. There are resources on gardening/pollinator habitat, birds and bird watching, endangered species, fish and wildlife management and research, invasive species and wildlife diseases, and citizen science programs.
TREE TALK: Oak Acorns and the Wildlife Connection
The Ohio State University South Centers’ YouTube channel records Tree Talk programs on the second Thursday of each month. Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension, and Jamie Dahl, Forest Outreach Coordinator with Central State University Extension serve as the hosts. Tree Talk covers a wide range of topics of interest to woodland owners and enthusiasts. On this episode, special guest OSU Extension's Marne Titchenell, Wildlife Program Specialist, discusses with Jamie Dahl the important of oak acorns to wildlife.
TREE TALK: Oaks and the Insect Connection
In this session of Tree Talk, OSU Extension's Marne Titchenell, Wildlife Program Specialist, talks with Jamie Dahl about the importance of oaks to certain groups of insects. Tree Talk is a program on the OSU South Center's YouTube channel hosted by Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension, and Jamie Dahl, Forest Outreach Coordinator with Central State University Extension. Click on this link or search for 'OSU South Centers Tree Talk' in your web browser for a complete listing of programs.
TREE TALK: Diversity is KEY - Other Food Resources for Forest Wildlife
This final session of Tree Talk discusses the importance of a diveristy of woodland food resources to wildlife and a bit about the threat of invasive plant species to wildlife. Tree Talk is a program on the OSU South Center's YouTube channel hosted by Dave Apsley, Natural Resources Specialist with Ohio State University Extension, and Jamie Dahl, Forest Outreach Coordinator with Central State University Extension. Click on this link or search for 'OSU South Centers Tree Talk' in your web browser for a complete listing of programs.