News
Bears, bobcats and badgers: Ohio's wild side is quietly rebounding
2+ hour, 23+ min ago (959+ words) Within the past year: a black bear was hit by a truck in Richland County. There have been bobcats and an American badger caught on trailcams in Ashland County. Reports of sandhill cranes, fishers, river otters and trumpeter swans have…...
The Wilds opens for summer season with new rhino calves
2+ week, 5+ day ago (663+ words) CUMBERLAND, Ohio'The Wilds is officially open for the 2026 summer season, welcoming guests to explore nearly 10, 000 acres of rolling pastures, connect with rare and endangered species, and experience one of North America's most unique conservation destinations. This season brings even more…...
Purpose after prison: How raising orphaned wildlife helped one woman heal
2+ week, 6+ day ago (722+ words) POWELL " Sharon Young estimates she cared for more than 4, 000 orphaned Ohio animals in a 14-year timespan " all while incarcerated. For 43 years, Young lived at the Ohio Reformatory for Women before her release in October 2025. Now at 69, Young works as a…...
A perfect balance of grace & badassery, Pleasant Hill ospreys prevail against all odds
1+ mon, 2+ day ago (1687+ words) PERRYSVILLE " For the past two decades high drama has played out at Pleasant Hill Lake as the osprey population soared. These apex predators not only held their own but multiplied prodigiously. And they did it with the help of the…...
Rhino calf born at The Wilds highlights Ohio's conservation efforts
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (613+ words) CUMBERLAND, Ohio "The Wilds has welcomed a second southern white rhino, a female calf born on March 28, into its herd. This arrival comes just weeks after welcoming its first rhino calf of the year. This calf is the third for…...
Frogs, fossils and feeding day: Crawford County Park District announces upcoming programs
1+ mon, 3+ week ago (231+ words) Spring is upon us and there's no better way to celebrate than immersing yourself in the natural world. Whether you enjoy hunting for artifacts or toads, or prefer to stay indoors and marvel at serpents and gems, the Crawford County…...
Butler couple charged in non-profit animal welfare case in Knox County
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (665+ words) COLUMBUS " Two Butler residents and their Mount Vernon business have been named as defendants in a lawsuit accusing a purported animal welfare nonprofit of diverting charitable donations to bankroll a for-profit business that sold puppies. The suit, filed Monday by…...
A Stroll Through the Garden: Woodpeckers are on my barn
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (763+ words) Starting in late fall, I feed the woodpeckers suet cakes. A while ago, I was at Home Depot picking up a shovel for a job when I heard someone asking how to fix a woodpecker that was leaving holes in…...
Ohioans can support wildlife, nature preserves & scenic rivers with tax donations
3+ mon, 5+ day ago (639+ words) COLUMBUS" This tax season, when Ohioans check the Wildlife Diversity or Nature Preserves and Scenic Rivers funds on their state income tax form, they're supporting the protection of Ohio's endangered plants, animals, healthy streams, and unique ecosystems. Donations are administered…...
A Stroll Through the Garden: Why aren't there songbirds in my yard?
4+ mon, 3+ day ago (780+ words) A reader recently asked, "Why are there fewer birds in my yard than there were a few years ago?" There are many reason why there are fewer birds which needs a column all its own. The key is understanding the…...