Tag: 2026-02-26

Let’s be honest: If you live in Ohio, you’re going to have a "run-in" with a wild animal eventually. It’s part of the deal when we share our landscape with nature. Whether it’s a skunk under the barn or a raccoon in the trash, these moments are inevitable. The goal isn't just to get rid of them; It’s to learn how to coexist by being smarter about our own backyards. Retired wildlife officer Jim Abrams explains why critter trouble is inevitable and how to manage your own uninvited guests.

Columnist Paul Locher how Ohio pioneers fought cabin fever by carving intricate butter prints, creating early American folk art and a clever way to brand farm goods.

Don't settle for "good enough." Discover how moving beyond the "usual, customary, and reasonable" mindset helps kids build grit and reach their full potential.

Eliza Blue reflects on her 48th birthday, the wisdom of age, and why "mistakes" like Girl Scout cookies and pony dreams are always worth the joy.

Want more birds in your yard? Guernsey SWCD's Madyson Black talk about how to plant for pollinators, choose the right bird feeders and manage Ohio wildlife habitats this season.

Relive the glory of "barn ball," where winter basketball meant dodging bulls, watching for newborn lambs, and playing for ultimate bragging rights.

Between 5 a.m. possum chases and a raccoon "subletting" the heated cat house, Kymberly Foster Seabolt realizes Walt Disney lied:Real-life wildlife doesn't turn pumpkins into carriages—it just refuses to leave the porch.

Chairman Glenn Thompson’s 2026 Farm Bill claims to be modern, but its reliance on decades-old "base acres" and 1980s policy suggests otherwise.

Reporters Liz Partsch and Paul Rowley give readers a rundown of the top stories in the Farm and Dairy the week of Feb. 26, 2026.

Ticks don't die in the winter. Ohio State University's Catelyn Turner talks about how to identify tick habitats and use pasture management to protect your animals from anemia and tick-borne diseases.