Eagles Soar Over the Center

It pays to look up! One of our wildlife staffers hustled through the hallways and back offices of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center this week to urge us to leave our computers and appreciate the spectacle of nature outside. They had spotted an eagle soaring in the sky and wanted to share the discovery.

We all tumbled out onto the sidewalk and after some patient scanning of the sky, we were treated to the beauty of not one, but two bald eagles soaring overhead. Instructor Bev Walborn shared binocular views with the kids who joined the small crowd staring into the blue expanse.

Bald Eagles are in the midst of baby season in Ohio. At least two Ohio pairs were confirmed sitting on eggs in the cold of early February and should have babies ready to hatch or in the nest by now.  

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, our state's bald Eagle population grew from 4 pairs along Southwestern Lake Erie in 1979 to a record 215 eagle nests in 2009. Please remember that state and federal laws protect bald Eagles and their nests, so if you come across a nest high in the trees, keep your distance and do not disturb.

Of course, you are always welcome to visit and get up-close to our resident Bald Eagle, a former rehab patient with injuries that prevent its release.

Rehab Update: Transitioning From Winter Into Spring

The weather this week has us thinking spring! For our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program that means preparing for an extremely busy time of year. Before we jump into spring baby season, we wanted to share some photos and tell you about a few more of our winter season patients.

Back in January, we had a pair of Screech owls come in within weeks of each other with eye injuries. The outcomes illustrate how unpredictable Wildlife Rehabilitation can be. The treatment regimen for both included steroids and eye drops for the injured eyes. The red phase Screech made a full recovery and was released in Sheffield. The gray phase Screech Owl’s injuries were more severe and did not respond to the treatment. It had to be euthanized.

Another winter patient that was successfully released, was this opossum, found in a sewer with an amputated tail. Although it was lethargic and losing weight when it was brought to rehab intake, it made steady improvement and was released in February.  

Finally, our bat “hibernation” refrigerator is still hosting two winter residents. You can read more about how we care for bats who have their winter hibernation disturbed in these “bats on ice” stories from last winter. Once their insect food sources return, we’ll look to release these beneficial creatures back into the environment.

As we move into spring, we remind you to please CALL US with questions about wildlife BEFORE you interfere with wild animals including spring babies! You can reach us 7 days a week at 440-871-2900 x 204.

Two New Eggstravaganza Time Slots!

This just in! Because of the popularity of our Eggstravaganza programs, we are opening up two new times for ages 1 - 5 WITH an adult on Thursday, April 1 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Update: 10 a.m. is now wait-listing. That was fast!

This special spring program includes a low-key egg hunt (with a special "golden egg" among them) and a visit with one of our resident bunnies. If the weather doesn't cooperate we'll simply move our hunt inside!


Stop in or call the front desk at 440-871-2900 to secure a spot. The fee is $7/child; OR for Center Members $5/child. Pre-register as soon as you can, since space is limited and these will likely fill as fast as our Friday programs.

Coyotes On The Move

Recent news reports in Northeast Ohio warn about coyotes coming out of hiding as they work harder to find food in this snowy winter. Our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program staff fields phone calls about coyote behavior throughout the year. Our Wildlife Educaton & Rehabilitation Specialist Amy LeMonds was interviewed by WOIO-TV’s Dawn Kendrick today and offered the following advice:

“Animals definitely have to work harder for food in tough winter conditions and you will see animals out during unusual hours when food is scarce. It's not common, but coyotes are capable of taking a small dog or cat, so we advise people to keep an eye on their pets when they’re outside especially from dusk to dawn. People should also avoid feeding animals outside and secure their garbage. Excess food will not only attract coyotes but will also support animals such as rodents which are a large part of a coyote's diet. We never want to alarm people, but we live side by side with coyotes in this area and we need to be aware of their behaviors.”

One of the more interesting behaviors this time of year is the way these canines use frozen Lake Erie to travel. It offers a much safer route than crossing our dangerous highways as they roam in search of hunting prospects. The photos here were taken in Bay Village by Erica Maddox. Erica reports that three coyotes were on the lake the day she snapped the pictures.

Watch for Dawn’s coyote report with Amy at 4 and 6 p.m. on 19 Action News. Check out our one-page flyer, Co-existing with Coyotes, at this pdf link.

5th Annual Globe at Night Campaign

Globe at Night, the annual 2-week campaign that helps to address the issue of light pollution is returning in less than a week! The loss of dark skies, caused by "light pollution," is a concern on many fronts: safety, energy conservation, cost, health and effects on wildlife, as well as our ability to view the stars. How can you help?

From March 3 - 16, you can join people all over the world and record the brightness of your night sky. You simply match the appearance of the sky (toward the constellation Orion) with star maps of progressively fainter stars found online. Submit your measurements online with your date, time and location. A few weeks later, organizers release a map of light-pollution levels worldwide.
 
Over the last four Globe at Night campaigns, volunteers from more than 100 nations have contributed 35,000 measurements. To learn more about participating, head over to the Globe at Night website. For children's activities, check out http://www.darkskiesawareness.org/DarkSkiesRangers.

With half of the world’s population now living in cities, many urban dwellers have never experienced the wonder of pristinely dark skies ...and maybe never will. Your measurements can make a world of difference!

Red-tailed Hawk in Rehab

A local Animal Control officer recently brought a Red-tailed Hawk with a shoulder injury into our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program. The large bird was picked up near a Berea home. Wildlife Rehabilitation Specialist Amy LeMonds says the striped tail indicates the hawk is a young bird – first or second year juvenile.

In the photo, you can see Amy, with the help of rehab volunteer Trish Binder, using the red wrap to stabilize the wing and prevent further injury. Rehab staffers have also administered anti-inflammatory drugs to aid in the healing process.

Our hope, as always, is to release this hawk back to its natural home in the wild. You can read more about this protected Ohio resident (and listen to its call) at this Ohio Department of Natural Resources web page on the Red-tailed Hawk.

Take Our Groundhog Quiz

How much do you really know about the wild creature we celebrate today? Take our quiz and find out!

There's a printable pdf version of our Groundhog Quiz posted in our online Kids Corner. You can also find a Groundhog Fact Sheet with all the information you need to verify or correct your answers!



1. In addition to groundhog, I’m also known as a_____________.

a. Giant Squirrel
b. Woodchuck
c. Beaver
d. Prairie Dog

2. One of my nicknames is _______________.
a. The Whistle Pig
b. The Digger Hog
c. The Weather Watcher
d. The Wonder Rat

3. I’m related to________________.
a. Squirrels
b. Mice
c. Beavers
d. Porcupines
e. All of the above
f. None of the above

4. Based on what I eat, I am a_______________.
a. an herbivore
b. a carnivore
c. an omnivore

5. I fall fast asleep all winter, which means I go into________________.
a. extinction
b. insomnia
c. hibernation
d. hypnosis

6. True or False: I like to climb trees!

7. True or False: I can predict the weather.

8. True or False: I live in a nest.

9. True or False: My home has many rooms.

10. True or False: I have my own holiday.

Happy Groundhog Day! (OK, that last question is a gimme.)

Free Public Event Focuses On Climate and Carbon

A variety of distinquished speakers and discussion workshops are open to the public as part of the Sustainability Symposium: Climate and Carbon being held March 1 - 2 at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea. This dynamic two-day event will bring together world-renowned leaders, prominent Northeast government representatives, experts and community members (like you!) to discuss the issues surrounding energy, climate and carbon and how they affect our health and the economic vitality of our region.

 All events listed below and in more detail at the Sustainability Symposium website are free and open to the public.

Monday, March 1, 10 a.m.
Sandstone III, Strosacker Hall, College Union 120 E. Grand St.

Senator Sherrod Brown shares his vision for a clean energy economy in northeast Ohio and beyond.

Monday, March 1, 8 pm.
Kulas Musical Arts Building, 96 Front St.
Keynote by Dr. Susan Solomon, senior scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Earth System Research Laboratory and the lead U.S. scientist for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN body that provides scientific and policy analysis on climate change.

Tuesday, March 2
Strosacker-Hall, College Union, 120 E. Grand St.
Concurrent panel sessions will take place in the morning and afternoon.

• It’s Real if We Can Measure It:
   The Metrics of Corporate Sustainability
   10-11:30 a.m. - Sandstone III
• Carbon and Food Systems:
   How One Large Industry Can Make a Difference
   10 - 11:30 a.m. - Quarry Room
• Prospects for a Clean Energy Industry in NE Ohio
   1-2:30 p.m. - Sandstone III
• Small Businesses:How to Get Started
   1-2:30 p.m. - Quarry Room

Tuesday, March 2, 3 p.m.
Sandstone III, Strosacker Hall, College Union, 120 E. Grand St.
Chris Connor, CEO of Sherwin-Williams Corporation will share his company's success producing a line of environmentally preferred paint.