Per the news, I stopped feeding the birds in our backyard a couple weeks ago. I am cleaning the feeders with a 10 to 1 clorox solution. When can I start feeding again?

Thank you for your question!

As of July 14, 2021, we have taken down our bird feeders at The West Woods Nature Center and Big Creek Park. This was done per the recommendation of our colleagues at the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Click here for the poster we’ve put up at our feeding stations while the feeders are down.

For the latest information or to report diseased wildlife in your neighborhood, you can visit https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/home/additional-resources/division-of-wildlife/bird-disease-reporting.

-Chief Naturalist John Kolar

Hi, I have been reading a lot about taking feeders down because of some I identified bird disease. Are of the opinion that we should?

Thank you for your question!

As of July 14, 2021, we have taken down our bird feeders at The West Woods Nature Center and Big Creek Park. This was done per the recommendation of our colleagues at the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Click here for the poster we’ve put up at our feeding stations while the feeders are down.

Then, for the latest information or to report diseased wildlife in your neighborhood, you can visit https://ohiodnr.gov/wps/portal/gov/odnr/home/additional-resources/division-of-wildlife/bird-disease-reporting.

-Chief Naturalist John Kolar

Sending a photo of a gift I received. The tag says Benefical Insect House. Can you send me any more information regarding the house! Best place to hang....all year around? I am allergic to bees, wasps, etc. so I have to be careful where I out it, I think! Also have a dog. I have over an acre of land in Bainbridge Township. Anything or any site you can send me to will be appreciated. Thank you! I cant send as pdf....so it is a Natures Way Better Gardens Beneficial Insect House. THX!

The Beneficial Insect House you received is designed to provide nesting cavities for beneficial, docile, solitary bees especially active in spring and early summer pollinating apples, blueberries and other early flowers while gathering food to stash with eggs in the tubular cavities you provide or natural cavities like dry stems or woodpecker holes. These tiny, native bees do not have a hive and are “power pollinators.” The insect house also provides spaces for insects like ladybugs and lacewings that prey on garden pests. Install the house about five feet off the ground in a sheltered, east- or south-facing location near flowers rich in pollen. It can be left there through winter. Be patient and you should see some of the cavities will fill and be sealed with mud or pieces of leaves. You and your dog have no worries since these mason and leafcutter bees rarely sting! More information can be found at this link…enjoy!

-Naturalist Dottie Drockton

Hey, Trevor...took a winter hike with you the other day....had evergreen tips in my yard, too! Why?

Oh yeah, I totally remember this mystery we encountered on our Buckeye Trail hike! So it turns out that my thoughts were correct about the furry culprit. Our tiny Red Squirrels are know to feed on spruce buds chewing on spruce tip, but they don’t always chew through the whole branch tip, leaving them hanging by a thread. Then, after some big winds blow through, a mysterious pile of spruce tips can be found on the ground.

To see this info from another source, visit MSUE News at this link and, in the upper right-hand corner, search squirrels, spruce.

-Naturalist Trevor Wearstler

I was running on the inner loop at Frohring Meadows this afternoon (4:00 or so) and spotted a Massasauga rattlesnake attempting to cross the paved path in the northwest corner of the loop. I am so disappointed that I didn’t have a camera with me but studied it’s pattern for a few minutes so I could later identify. I would estimate it to have been roughly 24” long and 3/4”-1” in diameter at the thickest/middle. It was the highlight of my month so far! I’ll keep my eyes open (& phone handy) next time I’m there.

Thank you for exploring our parks! It’s especially great when you have a fun wildlife sighting! Snakes are commonly seen basking on the paved trails for warmth. As far as species, there are a couple that are common to the Frohring Meadows area. The Massasauga Rattlesnake is actually very rare to much of Ohio. It is listed as endangered in Ohio and threatened in the United States. But it does look similar to a common snake that is likely the one you saw at Frohring Meadows. The Northern Water Snake has been seen along the wetland areas near that inner loop where you were running, so I’m guessing that is the reptile you observed.

A resource I highly recommend for information on the reptiles of the state is from the Ohio Division of Wildlife, viewable online when you click here. It is also available via hard copy by calling the Ohio Division of Wildlife at 1-800-Wildlife.  They have many different field guides available on topics ranging from trees and butterflies to reptiles and more.

Thank you for enjoying our parks and for inquiring about what you saw. We look forward to hearing more of your sightings.

-Naturalist Nora Sindelar

I wrote earlier that I thought I had two female bluebirds sitting on one nest in my bluebird house. It turns out that it was a male and female. The female somehow killed the male bluebird inside the house. I have removed the dead male and the female is sitting back on the eggs. Have you ever seen anything like this? (I have a camera inside my house.)

Do you have House Sparrows?

They are notorious for killing bluebirds inside the nest box.

I don’t believe a female bluebird would kill her mate.

-Naturalist Denise Wolfe

Is this a Boletus Aereus?

I suggest contacting the Ohio Mycological Association for a proper ID on this: https://ohiomushroomsociety.wordpress.com/contact/. Good luck!

-Naturalist Karie Wheaton

Something went down on my street between birds - lots of feathers found, but no blood! Three main types: gray, black with some iridescent, and these half tan, half black. I think I know the origins of the gray and black (Coopers Hawk and crow?), but the tan/black ones are beyond me! Any ideas on the IDs of these feathers, and if you want, your best guesses for what happened? (Don't worry, didn't keep the feathers longer than to take their photos!)

I believe these are chicken feathers. Do any of your neighbors have them? My best guess is a predator carried it off. Maybe a coyote, fox or raptor.

-Naturalist Renell Roebuck

I have a lot of these beetles this year. I haven't seen them before. what are they?

You’ve found Dogbane Beetles!

-Naturalist Denise Wolfe

Came across this little dude. The picture doesn't reflect the amount of blue in it's wings. It was about the size of a quarter. Any idea what it is?

Looks like you photographed a Grapevine Epimenis Moth. Can you guess the host plant for the caterpillar? If you guessed “grape,” you would be correct. The adult moths, however, seek nectar from flowers of apple, redbud, sumac and others. It usually flies fairly early in the spring.

-Naturalist Linda Gilbert