Babies, Babies, Babies!

by Brittany Friedel, Outdoor Education Intern

Spring has finally, if begrudgingly, sprung in Ohio!  This means warmth, flowers, and babies!  This annual rite of passage is always met with anticipation from wildlife and nature enthusiasts.  Who doesn't audibly sigh at the sight of a cute fuzzy duckling or a wobbly fox kit?  Who can resist smiling at a newly-hatched tiny turtle, or a timid curled up fawn?  
Watching the cycle of birth to adulthood is a time honored tradition that can inspire anyone to reveal their inner naturalist.

Many Ohio mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles are already in the process of finding mates, nesting, nursing, or incubating their eggs. There is much to see if you know where and when to look.  With Easter right around the corner, now may be the perfect time to brush up on your baby and egg identification.  


AMPHIBIANS
As mentioned in an earlier post, now is the perfect time to get out and see salamanders, frogs, and toads migrating to vernal pools.  For frogs and toads, the females will lay their jelly-like eggs in the water and the males will fertilize them. 

Salamanders reproduce similarly, but some species differ in that the females will take male sperm packets into their bodies to internally fertilize, before laying their jelly eggs.   Although they walk on land, these animals are tied to their evolutionary aquatic roots for reproduction.  In the coming weeks, tadpoles and juvenile salamanders will grow, develop and continue the cycle in years to come.  

BIRDS
Many resident birds are engaging in the frenzy of preparing their nests and laying their eggs.  Summer breeding birds are migrating back from their winter roosts and working on establishing nesting territory with their partners.  Great blue herons have been seen carrying and placing sticks in their rookeries, while peregrine falcons have already finished courting and moved on to laying and brooding their eggs.  Our year-round cardinal residents are beginning to breed and nest as well. 

Barred owls are currently sitting on two to three eggs, which will hatch in early to mid-April.  Great horned owls begin nesting earlier than any other bird in Ohio, typically laying eggs at the end of January.  Eggs hatch late February, early March, so right now, great horned owlets are clambering around their nest site, practicing their balancing and maneuvering techniques.  Remember to look up when you’re walking in the woods and you may just see a couple of bright baby owl eyes watching you!           

MAMMALS
This time of year is prime time for red fox kits to be born, but don’t be surprised when you don’t see any.  Vixens, or female foxes, dig dens about four feet underground, and nurse them until the young are able to accompany the parents on hunting trips in the summer.  Reynards, or male foxes, will bring food to the female during this time.   

Gray foxes, on the other hand are just ending their mating cycle, and won’t have young until late April or early May.  Red foxes live in prairie, grassland habitats, whereas gray foxes prefer wooded areas.  

Striped skunks are also in their mating phase and will give birth to litters of three to ten young in about two months. You can read about skunks' romantic exchanges in this previous blog post.  

Beavers are just starting to give birth, after mating in January or February.  Beaver young are precocial, which means they are born fully-furred, eyes open, and are able to swim just 24 hours after being born!  Squirrels are born in leaf nests anytime in late February, early March.  Unlike the beavers, squirrels are slow to develop, making them altricial; they're born hairless and their eyes do not open until about 36 days after being born!  In about a month the young will start eating solid foods, and a couple weeks after that, they will clamber outside of the nest to explore.  Those leaf clusters at the tops of trees may hold more than meets the eye; see if you can spot a mother going in and out to nurse her babies.  

Whitetail deer are currently with fawn, and do not give birth until mid-May, early June.  











REPTILES
Right now is peak breeding time for Eastern garter snakes.  These snakes are unique in that young emerge alive from the mother (viviparous), unlike most snake species that lay eggs to hatch (oviparous).  An average of 20 young are born anytime in July through October and are self-sufficient immediately, requiring no care from the mother.    

Northern map turtle, Eastern musk turtle, midland smooth softshell turtle, and the red-eared slider are all examples of turtles that breed in the early spring. Gestation times vary, but generally last a couple months.  One fascinating fact of turtle gender is that it is dependent on the temperature of the eggs while developing.  Female turtles will bury their eggs in the ground and the surrounding soil temperature affects the growing embryos.  With the exception of the softshell species, all Ohio turtle species exhibit this fascinating trait.   

There is much to see as you venture out into Ohio this spring.  Wetlands, prairies, and forests are all awakening after their winter slumber, as are the animals that inhabit these areas.  

A reminder to all educators who would like to bring the outdoors into their classroom this spring, no person can take or possess native wildlife without a license or permit.  This includes wild animal parts, nests, eggs, mounts, skins, and live wild animals. If you would like to qualify for an Ohio education permit, which allows educators to possess some of the above for educational programming or display, contact the ODNR Division of Wildlife Headquarters, permit coordinator at 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543).