Spring 2026 Newsletter
Greetings from Ohio Nature Education! As I write this our weather is still in yo-yo mode but the trees are completely leafed out. The birds are migrating back as I enjoy an Ovenbird and Wood thrush singing in the yard this morning. The Carolina wrens that are being raised in the barbecue grill are almost ready to fledge and the hummingbirds are back. Ah, Spring in Ohio! Please take the time to get out an enjoy it. It passes so quickly.
Incoming Interns
We are happy to be welcoming two new faces to our team.
Ben Teter comes to us from Granville High School as a junior. He enjoys being outdoors and to watch and play soccer. Ben states, “on top of this I also like to ski and I’m part of my school ski club. I have always enjoyed being around animals whether it was being around a family dog or going to a zoo, I would always enjoy that experience. I enjoy listening to music and hanging out with my friends.”
Nandini Bhatt joins us from New Albany High School. “My name is Nandini Bhatt and I am a junior at New Albany High School. I do Track and Field for my high school and do jazz dance at a studio. In my free time I like to draw, listen to music, and watch movies (my favorite is 10 Things I Hate About You). I am a cat person and I love birds. I am excited to start at Ohio Nature Education this summer!”
Welcome aboard. You are going to learn so much!
New Acquisitions
We mentioned in our last newsletter that we would be obtaining new ambassadors (it’s a surprise). They will be coming to us in late July-early August. However, since then, we have obtained an American crow from The Avian Conservation Center in South Carolina. We’ve named her Tippi ( if you’re old enough, you’ll get it). Tippi was found and illegally kept as a pet. The owner passed away, and the avian center was contacted. She was flown in on a private plane, no less, from a kind gentleman who lives in Ohio but has a cousin who volunteers at the avian center. It worked out perfectly for us, and Tippi is adjusting well. She loves her baths and mealworms.
Our newest acquisition is Pete, the Virginia opossum. He was being overwintered by a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with plans to be released in the spring. Apparently, he’s grown accustomed to being in captivity which can be unusual for Virginia opossums. Well, do we have plans for him!
Sid Frazier
It has been our absolute pleasure to work with Sid Frazier from the Columbus College of Art & Design. Sid has been filming our programs so that we can offer them to our customers that are too far for us to travel. We hope to offer these distance learning opportunities in the Fall of 2026. Sid is majoring in Animation and minoring in Film & Creative Writing. He is transferring to Savannah College of Art & Design in the fall and hopes to end up in the entertainment industry. Thank you, Sid for all the time that you’ve donated to this project and our mission.
Future Building Projects
Like any other property owner there’s always something that needs repaired or replaced. It’s no different for us here at Ohio Nature Education. Last year we designed and built a new opossum enclosure where Ali currently resides. While the other mammal compound is still safe for our remaining opossums and skunks it’s time for a new rebuild. The existing building dates back to June 2008(pictured below brand new).
In addition we need to add a coat of paint to most enclosures. Cost of project is $10,840.85. You can do with this as you’d like. These prices are estimates based on previous purchases.
Fundraiser alert!
Hi everyone! This is Dani, Board President here at Ohio Nature Education. I’m an endurance athlete, and am going to be attempting the Tahoe 200 mile race June 12-16th. This is going to be a huge effort for me, and even though I might not finish, our animals at Ohio Nature Education are still in need! We need to rebuild our mammal enclosures, so I am pledging $1 for every mile I complete of this race. I’m hoping to use this as a way to bring awareness to our mission, We Need Nature! If you feel called to donate, our mammals would greatly appreciate it! Keep an eye on ONE’s social media for updates on the race!