17th Annual Mohican Wildlife Weekend

By Samantha Holzman

Looking for something exciting to do this month? Check out the Mohican Wildlife Weekend, happening on April 27-29th. There are over 30 programs this weekend at 13 different locations, so there’s something for everyone. Come out and enjoy nature, wildlife, and history!

 Quick schedule:

Friday night starts off with a wildflower extravaganza, followed by a welcome reception and keynote speaker. Later will be a sunset hike and a campfire cookout!

Saturday: Events from 8am-10pm

Sunday: Events from 8am-4:30pm

For a full schedule of events, visit https://www.mohicanwildlifeweekend.com/calendar/2018/04

The keynote speaker this year is Jacob "Moose" Coffy, Appalachian Trail 2016 hiker. He will talk about the pursuit of his dream of hiking the entirety of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,200 mile path stretching across 14 eastern states. He accomplished his dream after four months of hiking. Jacob will also be presenting a “Backpacking: Tricks and Tips” program on Saturday. What an amazing experience- you won’t want to miss this!

Events to look out for:

Hands on Animals: “Enjoy the experience of touching, holding, and learning about some of Gorman Nature Center's resident reptiles and amphibians. All of GNC's educational animals are native to the Richland County area. This program is enjoyed by and suitable for all ages.”

Bug Eating: “You are formally invited to view a presentation on insect edibles, formally known as Entomophagy. Yes, samples and recipes will be available!”

Photographing Raptors: “Capture the beauty of Ohio's birds of prey. Six different species will be positioned in natural settings for photography and everyone's enjoyment.”

The animals that travel with Jack Hanna: “Featuring the Columbus Zoo's "Animals That Travel with Jack Hanna" program that will give you the opportunity to get up close and personal to learn about Jack Hanna's animals. Discover where they're from, what they eat, and possibly touch the birds, reptiles, and a variety of mammals.”

Birds of Prey Presentation: “Join an Ohio Bird Sanctuary staff member at the Mohican Lodge for a close up look at a few of our educational raptors and learn about their natural history.”

Birding Boat Tours/Clearfork Reservoir: “Enjoy a one hour pontoon boat ride on the Clear Fork Reservoir to bird and observe the local eagles care for their young. $10/person, Boat limited to 9 passengers.”

Bigfoot Hike- Are you a believer?: “Join us for a hike to learn about the legend of Bigfoot, local sightings, and tips to see these giants for real!”

I talked to Louis Andres, Park Naturalist with Pleasant Hill Lake Park, about this event. “Mohican Wildlife Weekend is an annual event highlighting the Greater Mohican Area located in Ohio’s Ashland and Richland Counties. Special programs feature the area’s rich heritage, abundant wildlife, vast recreation opportunities, and diverse natural resources. This event is for those who love the outdoors to discover what the area has to offer, share their experience with others, and return again throughout the year,” says Louis.

Why is this beneficial to Ashland and surrounding counties? 

“It brings visitors into the area during our shoulder off-season and it gets people excited about returning in the summer.”

 Who is the target audience? 

“All ages, families, adults and seniors”

 Why should people attend? 

“People get to see attractions and programs that are not normally provided this time of year, with less crowds." 

What should people be looking forward to the most? 

“Experiencing the great natural beauty of the area and see places they may not have been to!”

Are there any events that people would be looking forward to the most?

“People enjoy the hikes, nature, and live animal programs.”

There are over 10 program sites, including:

• Byers Woods
• Charles Mill Lake Park
• Fin Feather Fur Outfitters
• Gorman Nature Center
• Landoll’s Mohican Castle
• Malabar Farm State Park
• Mohican Lodge and Resort
• Mohican Outdoor School
• Mohican State Park
• Ohio Bird Sanctuary
• Pleasant Hill Lake Park
• Shelby Wetlands
• Wolf Creek Grist Mill

For more information or details about Mohican Wildlife Weekend, visit https://www.mohicanwildlifeweekend.com/ (and sign up for a free Yeti cooler give-away!)