Bats, Owls, and Spiders – Oh, My!

Immediate Release
October 9, 2009

Batavia, Ohio.  What creatures roam the wooded areas at Sycamore Park?  You’ll be able to find out, by taking the Animals of Halloween Fall Night Hike on Friday, October 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Batavia park.  A Clermont Parks’ naturalist will lead you on a non-scary, free, family friendly hike along Sycamore Park’s paved trail to look and listen for nocturnal animals.

“Before the hike, I’ll be giving a short presentation about bats, owls, spiders, and other animals, their beneficial qualities, and how they relate to Halloween,” said Clermont Parks Naturalist Laura Hoople.  “We’ll call for owls, and listen for other nocturnal creatures, like insects, mice, skunks, opossum, and raccoons.”

There’s a chance those on the Sycamore Park hike could spot an Eastern Screech Owl.  These are the smallest owls that can be found in Ohio, with a wing span of 20 inches, and weighing in at only 6 ounces.  Eastern Screech Owls have one of the most varied diets of any North American owl, eating things like snakes, lizards, crayfish, and insects.

For more information about this or other Clermont County Park District events, visit the Web site www.parks.ClermontCountyOhio.gov, or call (513) 876-9013.

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