Latest news with #ODNR
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cincinnati beware — cicadas pee. And they have 'stronger streams than many mammals'
Millions if not billions of 17-year cicadas have descended on Greater Cincinnati and Southwest Ohio, creating a deafening noise and leaving behind a real mess in their wake. But that mess is not just the nymph shells they leave behind when they emerge from underground. No, cicadas pee, and unlike most insects, they pee a lot. "[C]icadas are able to pee well above their weight class and produce stronger streams than many mammals," writes Scientific American, reporting on a March 2024 paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. Now people bothered by the insects have another reason to be disgusted by them. Here's what to know. According to Scientific American, cicadas feed on the fluid in a plant's xylem system. Because that fluid is 95% water, cicadas must consume 300 times their body weight each day to get enough nutrients. And that means they pee a lot. While most insects flick away liquid waste one drop at a time, cicadas pee "in high-speed streams reminiscent of the bathroom habits of mammals," according to the publication. In fact, cicadas can produce stronger streams than some species of small mammals, per Scientific American, including bats and a breed of rodent known as the Wistar rat. Yes. After 17 years underground, Brood XIV is emerging, and it will bring millions if not billions of the noisy insects to Southwest Ohio and a dozen other states this spring. Brood XIV is one of 15 recognized broods of periodical cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years, and one of four that appear in the Buckeye State, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. Annual cicadas emerge worldwide each year, but periodical cicadas are found only in eastern North America. They live underground as nymphs for either 13 or 17 years before emerging above ground in massive numbers. Different populations of periodical cicadas are called 'broods' and are numbered with Roman numerals. They are active for three to four weeks as they focus on mating and reproduction, per ODNR. Male periodical cicadas produce a deafening chorus of calls to attract females. Once mated, female cicadas deposit their eggs into the branches of trees and shrubs. Brood XIV cicadas will stretch from northern Georgia to Massachusetts. In Ohio, they will emerge in more than a dozen counties, per ODNR, mostly in Southwest Ohio: Adams Brown Butler Champaign Clermont Clinton Gallia Greene Hamilton Highland Jackson Lawrence Pike Ross Scioto Warren Washington Some of the edge counties will not see as heavy an emergence as others. The cicadas that emerge every 13 or 17 years are different from the ones seen every summer, and it's not just the amount of time between sightings. Dr. Gene Kritsky with Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati and founder of Cicada Safari, a group that tracks the emergence of cicadas based on user submissions, told WKRN in Nashville that periodical cicadas emerge in May or June, while annual cicadas show up later, in late June and July, and through the rest of summer. While swarms of noisy insects may be unsettling for some, cicadas are harmless to people and pets, according to ODNR. They are also a valuable food source for native wildlife, including birds, mammals and fish. Egg-laying by female cicadas can cause 'flagging' on trees and shrubs (death of branch tips, from the egg-laying site to the end of the branch), but there is little to no impact on established, otherwise healthy plants, ODNR states. Small or newly planted trees and shrubs are more vulnerable to damage and can be protected by covering them with fine netting for the few weeks that adult cicadas are active. Using pesticides on cicadas is not warranted or recommended. States expecting cicadas this year include Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, Gene Kritsky, founder of Cicada Safari, a group that crowdsources and reviews data on cicadas, told USA TODAY. Kentucky and Tennessee probably will get the most cicadas this year, said John Cooley, an ecology and biology associate professor in residence at the University of Connecticut. There will also be large numbers in Georgia, the Carolinas and Pennsylvania, he said. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Do cicadas pee? Way more than most insects. What to know about Ohio brood
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Muskingum River reopens to navigation; May 31 celebration includes free rides, family fun
COLUMBUS — The Muskingum River Parkway is set to fully reopen for navigation for the first time since 2020. According to an announcement from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the reopening of Rokeby Lock No. 8 will restore full navigational access from Marietta to Zanesville. A celebration is planned for 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 31 at McConnelsville Lock No. 7, 698 E. Riverside Drive, McConnelsville. The event will feature free pontoon boat rides, offered by ODNR's Division of Parks and Watercraft staff. Pontoon boat rides are weather and water-level dependent. In the event of high river levels due to recent rainfall, rides may be canceled for safety. 'Restoring navigation to the entire length of the Muskingum is about more than boats on the water,' said ODNR Director Mary Mertz in the release. 'It's about preserving a remarkable piece of our heritage and celebrating the communities and families who've cherished this river for generations.' The Muskingum River State Park is home to one of the nation's last remaining systems of hand-operated locks, according to the announcement. Ten of the 11 original locks remain in operation, allowing recreational boaters to travel from Marietta to Zanesville. The locks and dams were constructed in the 1800s under the direction of West Point graduate Major Samuel Curtis. By 1841, the system connected to the Ohio and Erie Canal, ushering in an era of prosperity for towns along the waterway. Stockport Lock #6 is another stop along the Muskingum River that is open to boaters. In 2001, the system was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, placing it alongside American engineering marvels like the Golden Gate Bridge, the Empire State Building and Hoover Dam, according to the announcement. With navigation from the Ohio River through Zanesville Lock #10 restored, ODNR invites Ohioans to rediscover this historic waterway and experience the same scenic beauty and cultural richness that once drew settlers, traders and riverboat pilots to its banks nearly two centuries ago. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at or share your thoughts at with our News Automation and AI team. This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Restoration of lock will allow boaters to travel Muskingum River again
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Yahoo
1 taken to hospital after boat crash at Indian Lake
One person was taken to the hospital after a boat crash at Indian Lake Saturday night. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As News Center 7 previously reported, sheriff's deputies and ODNR officers responded around 10:30 p.m. to the Indian Lake Yacht Club on reports of a possible boat accident in Logan County. This is at the 200 block of Chase Avenue in Russells Point. TRENDING STORIES: Authorities working to catch loose dogs reportedly biting people in Moraine Officer who arrested college student detained by ICE resigns from department 71-year-old man dead after motorcycle hits house in Clark County A boat had crashed into the sea wall, ODNR said. One person was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The driver of the boat had left the scene and was later found at his apartment, ODNR. Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in the crash. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
If you see one — report it: ODNR
[WATCH: Unusual animal spotted in Ohio. See them in the video player above.] (WJW) – It's spring, and Ohio's wildlife is on the move. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources asks the public to report animal sightings to help biologists track a number of different species, including black bear, bobcat, river otter, ruffed grouse, turkey , and more. Scuba diver finds rare megalodon tooth off Florida coast Reports that include photographs or videos, as well as latitude and longitude coordinates, help wildlife experts quickly verify the sighting. Below is the list of animals Ohio's wildlife experts are especially interested in receiving reports of: Wild Turkey Badger Bald Eagle Nest Barn Owl Black Bear Bobcat Feral Swine Fisher Gray Fox Porcupine River Otter Ruffed Grouse Sandhill Crane Snowshoe Hare Weasel 'Remember to always view wildlife from a respectful distance for your safety as well as the safety of the animal,' writes ODNR. CLICK HERE to learn more and to report your animal sightings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
ODNR shuts down Ohio well over earthquake activity
(WKBN) — Seismic activity has forced the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to shut down a fracking well in Noble County. Recent earthquake activity has been reported in the area of the well near Pleasant City. The latest report, dated May 8, showed at least 33 people reporting a 'felt' event. On May 6, one felt report was recorded in the same area. On May 2, 12 people reported feeling an earthquake in the area, and then on April 29, 33 reported the same thing. ODNR spokesperson Karina Cheung confirmed to WKBN 27 First News on Thursday that the agency is looking into the well and the seismic activity near it. There has been some recent earthquake activity in Noble County due to oil and gas operations, specifically hydraulic fracturing operations by Energy Acquisition Partners (EAP) operating as Encino Energy. Hydraulic fracturing operations have been halted on the well pad. Some of these earthquakes which occurred in Noble County slightly surpassed magnitudes strong enough to feel. Karina Cheung, Ohio Departmnet of Natural Resources Fracking was blamed for the shutdown of a well in the Valley in 2011 after a 4.0 earthquake shook the Youngstown area. The late YSU Professor Dr. Raymond Beiersdorfer said at the time that there were over 700 earthquakes in the Valley, which he said were linked to fracking activity. Beiersdorfer was a leader in the Valley for trying to put the brakes on fracking and advocating for the ballot initiative 'The Community Bill of Rights,' which would have banned fracking in the area. The issue was never approved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
