Ohio Species Survival! How Many Ohio Endangered Animals Can You Name? (First of a three-part series)

The Northern Long Eared Bat

Cullen McQuay

Emerson Elementary

Grade 3

Mrs. Gerg’s class

How many Ohio endangered or threatened species in Ohio can you name?

Do you know that the Northern Long Eared Bat is in trouble in our very own state, Ohio?

A disease called white nose syndrome is killing bats!

I hope you are as concerned as I am!

Why is this bat called the Northern Long Eared Bat? 

As you might guess, this bat has long ears!

The Northern Long Eared Bat is a threatened species in Ohio.

Scientists saw this disease first in 2006, and white-nose syndrome has spread fast.

The population of northern long-eared bats have declined by up to 99 percent in the Northeast.

Other things are affecting the Northern Long Eared Bat too.

Sometimes people put up gates or other barriers to keep people from caves and mines. This keeps bats from flying and moving from the cave. These gates can change the temperature of a cave by a few degrees making their homes horrible for them to live. 

People explore caves and disturb bats while they are hibernating. This wakes up the bats and they use up valuable energy storage. 

This can lead to the Northern Long-Eared Bat not surviving the winter. 

Wind turbines kill bats and road construction disrupts roosting bats in the summer.

What can we do to help?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers these tips:

  • Do Not Disturb Hibernating Bats

  • Leave Dead and Dying Trees Standing: Like most eastern bats, the northern long-eared bat roosts in trees during summer. Where possible and not a safety hazard, leave dead or dying trees on your property. Northern long-eared bats and many other animals use these trees.

  • Install a Bat Box: Dead and dying trees are usually not left standing, so trees suitable for roosting may be in short supply and bat boxes may provide additional roost sites. Bat boxes are especially needed from April to August when females look for safe and quiet places to give birth and raise their pups. 

  • Spread the Word: Understanding the important ecological role that bats play is a key to conserving the northern long-eared and other bats. 

  •   Visit www.whitenosesyndrome.org for more information about white-nose syndrome.

  • Join and Volunteer: Join a conservation group; Volunteer at a local nature center, zoo, or national wildlife refuge.  

Bats are an important part of Ohio’s ecosystem. Without the Northern Long-Eared Bat, we will be in trouble.

Let’s do something today!

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Karner Blue Butterfly

by Norah Daisy Murtha

Emerson Elementary

Grade 3 

Mrs. Gerg's Class

Did you know there are endangered species in  Ohio? 

Can you name them? 

I know that the Karner blue butterfly is one. 

I am the voice of this special Ohio insect!

The Karner blue butterfly was Federally listed as an endangered species in 1992.  

Did you know that by 1988, the Karner Blue Butterfly had been eliminated from Ohio?

It is currently listed as a state-wide and nation-wide endangered species.

The main threat to the species has been habitat loss. 

The Karnerś blue  butterfly is endangered because people are getting rid of fields to make buildings where these butterflies live and eat. 

The larva or caterpillar is only dependent on the wild lupine plant as its food source. The adult butterflies depend upon a number of flowering plants. This limits where they can survive.  

Also did you know that the  lack of natural disturbance, such as wildfire and grazing by large mammals, has made their population go down?  This type of disturbance helps maintain the butterfly's habitat by pushing back forests, helping lupine and flowering plant growth.

Did you know people collect  Karner blue butterflies? 

Butterfly numbers are very low and collection of even a few butterflies could harm the butterfly population. 

Collection is illegal without a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service!

In 1997, adult Karner blue butterflies from Michigan were taken to the Toledo Zoo, where a population of adults was bred. 

Adults released at Kitty Todd Nature Preserve in the summer of 1998 have bred and are doing well. 

Fortunately, the Karner blue is once again part of the Ohio landscape.

If people don't do something your kids and grandkids will never see it.  

The Karnerś blue butterfly needs your help! 

What can you do? 

Here are a few tips from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

  • Learn more about the Karner blue butterfly and other endangered and threatened species. 

  • Understand how the destruction of habitat leads to loss of endangered and threatened species and our nation's plant and animal diversity. 

  • Tell others about what you have learned.

  • Volunteer - Volunteer at a nearby zoo, nature center, or National Wildlife Refuge.

  • Join - Join a conservation group; many have local chapters.

  • Plant - Plant a garden with flowers that attract butterflies. Use native plants in your lawn and gardens.



Work with me to keep Karner blue butterfly living in Ohio! They are an important part of Ohio's ecosystem!

NORAH DAISY MURTHA 

                    Karner blue butterfly

Wild blue lupine 

Norah Daisy Murtha

  Emerson Elementary

  Grade 3

  Mrs. Gerg’s class



Mary McCool Berry

Mary McCool Berry is a 30 year Lakewood resident and retired Lakewood City Schools educator (31 years). McCool Berry is the author of numerous grants funded to bring deep learning experiences to Lakewood's students. Mary McCool Berry, M.Ed., is the founder of Schools with Soul, who works as an independent educational consultant. Schools with Souls is an organization dedicated to bringing whole child, experiential, project based learning to all children in every school. schoolswithsoul.com McCool Berry also volunteers at Emerson and Roosevelt elementary schools. Students at these schools are involved in project based learning experiences involving immigration and species survival. Mary McCool Berry also posts education articles on her Linked In page.

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Volume 15, Issue 22, Posted 4:39 PM, 11.20.2019