By Traci Keller, Wildlife Care Assistant Manager

Summer is the time to celebrate our wild neighbors! The Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center is home to many different species of native Ohio wildlife. These amazing animal ambassadors help us teach about the importance of wildlife conservation. Let’s take a closer look at some of the remarkable creatures that live in our own backyards.

The Eastern cottontail rabbit is one of the most common wildlife species native to Ohio. You can find them browsing in your lawn (especially in the evenings) enjoying grasses, clover and dandelion. Rabbits can have up to five litters each year between March and September. They make shallow nests lined with fur in your backyard and even sometimes in your garden or flower beds. It’s important to watch out for these nests—keep your pets away and check your lawn before mowing.

Fun fact: Rabbits have been known to reach speeds of 18 mph and can obscure a predator’s view by running in a zig zag motion in order to escape. 

Clover, our ambassador rabbit, had an unfortunate accident with a mower and lost her front right leg
when she was just a baby. She has adapted well but cannot be released into the wild. 

Some wild neighbors can be quite stinky at times, but don’t be upset when you see a skunk out on an evening prowl—it is doing a great job cleaning up all of those unwanted pests in your yard. These nocturnal critters find and consume many grubs and bugs each night through their keen sense of smell and great hearing. They devour pesky bugs that may cause damage to your vegetable gardens, allowing your plants to grow healthy without the use of pesticides.

Fun fact: Skunks give a warning stomp before spraying.

Odie, our ambassador skunk, loves to dig in the dirt for bugs and he especially loves to eat mushrooms. 

The Virginia opossum, North America’s only marsupial, has adapted well to the urban lifestyle and is a very beneficial neighbor. These omnivores help keep your backyard clean and healthy by controlling pests including mice, rats, insects and larvae (some of these pests are known to carry infectious diseases). Opossums can aid in the prevention of tickborne illnesses (such as Lyme disease) by keeping the tick populations in check in your neighborhood.

Fun fact: The opossum is one of the few species of wildlife that are immune to snake venom. They carry special amino acids in their system to neutralize this toxin.

Jill, our ambassador opossum, was orphaned at a young age when her mother was hit alongside the road.
Jill loves to look for bugs on her daily walks through the woods of Penitentiary Glen Reservation.

There are so many beautiful feathered friends that inhabit our neighborhoods, including many birds of prey. These birds hunt and feed on live prey with the aid of their sharp talons and keen eyesight. If you look into your forested backyard, you might get the chance to see a red-shouldered hawk or a barred owl. These birds often cohabitate and can be found in a riparian zone, a diverse habitat found alongside moving fresh water, such as a stream, riverbank or waterfall. 

Fun fact: Barred owls have been known to wade in streams to catch crayfish.

Hemlock, our ambassador barred owl, loves to eat smelt for dinner, along with a mouse or two.

No matter where your backyard rests, either rural or urban, you are bound to be greeted with some fascinating furry and feathered friends. Everyone’s backyard plays an important role in wildlife conservation by providing a safe place for these critters to call home. So take a moment to enjoy the beautiful natural world right in your own backyard.

Fun fact: Red-shouldered hawks will mate for life and will reuse the same nest year after year. 

Lakota, our ambassaor red-shouldered hawk, was named after a Native American tribe that found
the “red hawk” to be a symbol of courage and strength.

Note: The Kevin P. Clinton Wildlife Center is closed to the public until further notice due to COVID-19 public health protocols. Animals cannot be accepted for care at this time, so please DO NOT attempt to drop off wildlife. Injured and orphaned wildlife are still important to us; please click here for answers to commonly asked questions about injured or orphaned wildlife.