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Timber Thieves

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According to the ODNR:

timber theft ohio
Recent timber theft has increased around the state due to the high prices for white oak and black walnut timber.

Current high prices for white oak and black walnut timber have created a recent increase in timber theft. Tree theft in rural areas of Ohio should be of concern to residents and landowners, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry offers tips to help residents prevent this activity.

“Timber is a marketable commodity, with well-formed trees of some species having substantial value,” said Dan Balser, chief of the Division of Forestry. “Keeping an eye out for timber theft on your property or on your neighbor’s land can go a long way to deterring theft and significant monetary and resource losses. We have recently seen timber thefts from both public and private land in Ohio.”

Timber poachers often work in secluded areas not visible from residences. They often remove the most valuable lower log section of the tree and leave upper sections and limbs. Thieves use small equipment like small trailers and winches, or logging equipment like loaders and large trucks.

ODNR offers these tips when illegal tree theft activity is suspected:

  • Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement immediately. Do not personally confront anyone working a suspected timber theft operation.
  • Leave contact information with a neighbor, especially if you are an absentee woodland owner. Keep them informed of your plans for the property.
  • Inspect your property regularly. Cable or gate access lanes and install locks.
  • Mark all of your boundaries with paint or signs to deter potential thieves.
  • Conduct a timber inventory and estimate the value of your timber.

When conducting a timber sale, work with a professional forester to know what resources you own, follow a management plan with defined outcomes, use sustainable forestry practices, solicit multiple bids, research any potential buyer or logger, require a bond, use a contract for harvesting work and include best management practices to protect soil and water. Resources are available at callB4Ucut.com/ohio or by calling 877-424-8288.

The Division of Forestry works to promote the wise use and sustainable management of Ohio’s public and private woodlands. To learn more about Ohio’s woodlands, visit forestry.ohiodnr.gov. Follow us on Instagram at @odnrforestry (instagram.com/odnrforestry).

ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR website at ohiodnr.gov.

Spring-Beauty Wildflowers

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Cincinnati’s Springtime Mascot

Spring-beauties are some of the first spring wildflowers you will see starting in March. The flowers will bloom through to May but once it starts getting warm out, spring beauty flowers will fade quickly.

Cincinnati hiking trails for spring wildflowers
Spring-beauty wildflowers are found in woodlands and along the edges of trails.

You can find spring-beauties in just about any woodland setting. Look for them in shaded areas as well as open grassy areas that have yet to be mowed.

Hikes to See Spring-Beauty Wildflowers

One of my favorite places to hike in the spring is the paved trail around the perimeter of Sharon Lake at Sharon Woods. This trail never fails to put on quite a show of spring wildflowers.

Other spring wildflower hikes in the Cincinnati area include Caldwell Nature Preserve, Cox Arboretum, Germantown Metropark, Sugarcreek Metropark, Withrow Nature Preserve, Woodland Mound, and Clifty Falls State Park and Nature Preserve.

Cincinnati has several hiking trails lined with spring wildflowers like spring-beauties.
Small native bees visit spring-beauties for the nectar since it is one of the first flowers to bloom.

Spring-beauties are smaller than a dime in diameter and appear as a brilliant white with vibrant pinkish purple stripes. These stripes serve as nectar guides.

Spring-Beauty & the Bees

Like dandelions, spring-beauties are an early source of nectar for native bees. The small bees visiting the flower as most likely a species of mining bees known as Andrena erigeniae.

hiking around cincinnati just hike
Small bees seek out spring-beauty wildflowers for their nectar. On colder days, you might catch a glimpse of a bee napping until the sun warms them up.

The great thing about looking for and photographing spring wildflowers is that they don’t run or fly away/ Just be careful to stay on the trail because you wouldn’t want to crush upcoming spring wildflowers!

Get started on identifying spring wildflowers with this guide, this one, or this one.

hike cincinnati disclosure

A Museum Without Walls Beacons You To Hike Cincinnati’s National Historic Landmark

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Spring Grove Cemetery And Arboretum

If you like history and sculptures, then Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is where you want to go for a spring hike in Cincinnati.

Spring Grove hosts over 1,200 species of trees, shrubs, and ornamentals. The collection continues to grow including a patents for new species. In fact, Spring Grove is more like a massive laboratory for universities, nurseries, and growers to test new species.

For more detailed information, Spring Grove is Hike #35 (pages 198-203) in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati.

One of the many statues memorializing a lost loved one at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. The paved drives make hiking with toddlers a lot easier.

Since the very beginning of the cemetery grounds extreme care has been given to creating a beautiful landscape.

One of the unique features of Spring Grove Cemetery is that all roads are gentle curves. This further enhances the aesthetic of the land.

However, my favorite feature of Spring Grove are the stunning sculptures at the memorials.

Beauty abounds throughout Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. Over 1000 species of trees, shrubs, and ornamentals decorate the grounds.

Gothic Architecture

While strolling the ground, look the Dexter mausoleum, which is a private family Gothic Revival mausoleum and chapel that was constructed around 1866. It is near the edge of Geyser Lake so you can also enjoy the views of the small lake.

Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum has a Self-Guided Walking Tour that covers some of these locations.

If you love Gothic architecture, look no further than Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. Take your time looking at the Dexter Mausoleum and you’ll begin to see more of the fine details.

Johnny Appleseed

Sit for a while at the Johnny Appleseed statue and enjoy the serenity on this sunny spot which honors John Chapman.

His missionary work in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Kentucky changed the landscape and the people.

Chapman collected seeds from cider mills, grew the seeds into saplings, transplanted the saplings into nurseries, and maintained the nurseries. And, then distributed his crop throughout the region.

Visit Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum

There is a lot to see at Spring Grove and there are several hills whihc will help you stretch all of your muscles. Here is a map of Spring Grove.

For more detailed information, Spring Grove is Hike #35 (pages 198-203) in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati.

Take your time and enjoy the scenery, your company, and the day because a cemetery certainly puts your life in perspective.

Be thankful, rejoice, sing out loud, and hike whenever you can.

Popular Cincinnati Hiking Groups

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Happiness, Connections, & Hiking

Hundreds of scientific studies show the benefits of hiking for not only your physical health but also your mental health. We humans crave being in nature and when we are deprived this green-forest-bathing experience – we get cranky.

Doctors are prescribing nature! Get your dose of nature bathing or forest bathing by taking a hike. Don’t let not having someone to hike with stop you. Join a hiking group or hike solo to be able to think or not – the choice is yours on the trail.

For more detailed information, on Fort Thomas Landmark Tree Trail (pages 308-312), Cox Arboretum MetroPark (pages 55-59), and California Woods Nature Preserve (pages 162-166) in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Cincinnati.

Top 10 Health and Wellness Benefits of Hiking:

  1. Decrease your stress levels
  2. Increases your contentment.
  3. Lowers your risk of heart disease.
  4. Decreases your blood sugar levels.
  5. Lowers your blood pressure.
  6. Increases bone density.
  7. Increases the strength of your leg and core muscles.
  8. Increases your ability to balance.
  9. Decreases your risk of mental health issues.
  10. Increases your sense of well-being.
  11. Bonus: Hiking makes you not want to smack people.
Don’t worry about being a slow hiker. There is a hiking group for every speed. (FYI I’m ridiculously slow because I’m constantly stopping and enjoying it all.)

However, for some hiking is a challenge because hiking alone is an obstacle to you getting more time in nature. You might not know where to hike, be able to find the time, or are afraid of hiking alone for safety reasons.

Hiking clubs and groups are a solution to a few of those hurdles.

Let’s get you on the trail!

Here are some local…wait for…you guessed it…hiking and walking clubs to get you started!

I can’t say enough nice things about the wonderful people who run the Tri-State Hiking Club of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Here is their official spiel: This regional non-profit group dedicated to creating a community of friends who enjoy hiking. Meet other fun people who love the outdoors as much as you do! Our group meets weekly for hikes. All are welcome from beginners to experts; locals to new transplants. Come experience the outdoors with us! We hike all around the Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana area. Most members are from greater Cincinnati, Dayton, or Northern Kentucky.

Hiking with Baby or Little Ones?

HIking with your children is a perfect way to spend the day as well as rediscover the magic of being on nature.

Hike it Baby is a group of parents who regularly meet and hike together with their children.

Hiking and learning have never been more fun (makes me wish I was a kid again) than with the Free Forest School of Cincinnati

Cincinnati Area Hiking Clubs

Cincinnati Parks Foundation Hiking Club

Great Parks of Hamilton County Walking Club

Dayton Area Hiking Clubs

Hiking clubs are a great way to get outdoors, meet new people, and maybe make a friend or two.

DaytonHikers.Org

Dayton, OH
5,578 Hikers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ REMEMBER: YOU MUST BE SIGNED UP FOR A HIKE. DON’T JUST SHOW UP. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~…

Next Meetup

Get Out And Go! – Taylorsville MetroPark Hike

Tuesday, Mar 5, 2019, 4:30 PM
1 Attending

Check out this Meetup Group →

Southwestern Ohio Hiking Clubs

Sierra Club International (Miami Group)

Buckeye Trail Association: Miami Rivers Chapter

The Miami Rivers Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association

Oregonia, OH
703 Buckeye Trail Hikers

The Miami Rivers Chapter of the Buckeye Trail Association is the chapter for those who live near or along the Williamsburg, Loveland, Caesar Creek, and Troy sections of the Bu…

Next Meetup

Day Hike – Mt.Airy Forest with Cincinnati Parks Hiking Club

Wednesday, Mar 6, 2019, 4:30 PM
2 Attending

Check out this Meetup Group →

American Walkers’ Association of Greater Cincinnati

AMERICAN WALKERS’ ASSOCIATION of Greater Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH
2,104 Walkers/Hikers

THE AMERICAN WALKERS’ ASSOCIATIONof Greater Cincinnati, OH – 2016 – 100th yearThe Oldest Walking Club in the USA – Established December 1916Enjoy your visit to our site and…

Next Meetup

Let’s Meetup and walk THE DEARBORN TRAILS @ Lawrenceburg, IN

Sunday, Mar 10, 2019, 9:30 AM
3 Attending

Check out this Meetup Group →

Hiking Challenges

There are several hiking challenges and hiking staff programs around. Start your hiking challenge with these two Cincinnati favorites.

Cincinnati Nature Center Hike for Your Health Challenge

Great Parks Hiking Staff Program

“The Hiking Staff Program requires that you hike seven different trails in the park district in a year. You then become eligible to purchase a wooden hiking staff for $3. Each year following, when you hike seven Great Parks’ trails, you are eligible to purchase an annual metal emblem for your hiking staff for $2 (limit one emblem per year). Additional emblems for the following parks may be purchased for $3.95: Glenwood Gardens, Miami Whitewater Forest, Shawnee Lookout, Sharon Woods, Winton Woods, Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve, Fernbank Park and Woodland Mound.”

Hiking Staff Program Form PDF

Natural Resources Jobs

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Natural Resources Seasonal Jobs

States are now posting for seasonal employees for their summer seasons as well as seasonal college interns.

If you have a student who is wanting to get into the natural resources field, then a seasonal job is a great way to earn some experience, establish yourself as a smart worker, and make connections for future employment possibilities.

To search for natural resource jobs by state:

  1. Do a Boolean search in your search engine of choice type in state name+Parks and recreation association job board to find job boards specific to your state. For example, California+parks and recreation association.
  2. Scroll past the advertisements.
  3. Ignore the aggregated commercial job boards.
  4. Look for .org endings and non-profit names ending in society or association such as California Parks and Recreation Society.
  5. Click on that link and begin your search.

Natural Resources Jobs in Indiana. Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia

To find natural resources jobs in Ohio:http://ohiodnr.gov/jobs

To find natural resources jobs in Indiana:https://www.in.gov/dnr/3243.htm

To find natural resources jobs in Kentucky:https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/forestry-jobs

To find natural resources jobs in West Virginia:http://www.wvdnr.gov/admin/personnel.shtm

natural resource careers

National Natural Resources Job Boards

Check out the Conservation Job Board:https://www.conservationjobboard.com/

National Recreation and Parks Association has an extensive job board. https://careercenter.nrpa.org/jobs

National Association for Interpretation (Naturalists):https://www.interpnet.com/nai/interp/career_center/nai/_resources/career_center/career_center.aspx?hkey=2ff5e8bf-f88e-4124-8284-ef07c5b14054

Purdue University’s Agriculture Forestry and Natural Resources job board is intense. https://ag.purdue.edu/fnr/lists/job%20posting/allpostings.aspx  

The WILDLIFE SOCIETY also has job and career lsitings: https://careers.wildlife.org/

Your best options are to stick with job boards that are on state, association, society, or university sites rather than generalized aggregate systems.

Checkout this post about How to Improve Your CHances of Getting a Natural Resources Job

10 Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Natural Resources Job

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Finding a job in natural resources can be an adventure. Setting yourself apart from the competition means more than jsut having a snazzy resume and some experience.

Here are some ways to improve your chances of getting hired for a natural resources job:

careers in natural resources
  1. Know your sh*t. If you are applying to a forestry position, know everything you can about that position, the management team, what they have accomplished in the past, what the organization’s strategic plan is, what that organization has achieved in the past, and how all the pieces fit together in larger management plans.
  2. Volunteer for the people who you want to eventually hire you. Keep in mind, you are being evaluated the moment you pop-up on their radar.
  3. Volunteer at events the hiring people will be at as well. Even if you can’t volunteer for their agency, volunteer for a like agency, non-profit, or business and make sure you happen to “drop by” their booth to say hello.
  4. Send a follow-up note on real stationery thanking them for their time. I recommend the following nature-themed notes. For hunters, forestry also check here for a coupon for some original pieces. If it is a miniature piece of artwork, it is more likely to stay on or in someone’s desk.
  5. Join societies and associations that support the natural resource field you want to work. For example, if you want to be a wetlands biologist then join:
  6. Become an active member (take on leadership positions) of conservation and natural resources clubs in your area as well as regional and national clubs to increase your leadership skills and visibility.
  7. Job applications are typically graded by someone who doesn’t have a clue about the requirements for the job. They have a checkoff list to go over when they review your application. Therefore if you and I compete for a job, you can easily beat me at the application level by being thorough in your answers. For example, let’s say one of the requirements is to be able to operate a tractor. If you answer with all the tractors you have operated as well as all of the equipment you have used with those tractors such as a rock bucket, disk, and a hydraulic saw but I just answer that I can operate a tractor, well you are going to have scored well above me. The result will be you earning a spot for the interview cycle.
  8. Join a local Toastmaster’s International group and start practicing your speaking skills as well as taking on a leadership role with your club. Speaking and listening skills are a must to set yourself apart from the competition.
  9. Job interviews are also graded. This is to try to eliminate bias which is impossible but at least there is still some opportunity to crush the favored. Usually, natural resources job interviews for career positions will be 3-5 interviewers. They will take turns asking a few different types of questions such as: defining a management system, word, or acronym; explaining how you would handle an escalating problem; or the favs such as what is your biggest weakness, are you intimidated, and what are your strengths.
  10. The weird thing that you need to know is this…the moment that you start to answer their question — all of them will start writing. If you aren’t expecting it, iIt is super unsettling and can throw you off your game.

My first natural resources job was an interview with one person but several people stopped by during the interview and chatted. I didn’t realize then that these people were getting a read off of me and would have a say in if I was hired. The interview also consisted of several tests including an identification test to see if I had the knowledge needed for the job.

At another position, not natural resources related, I was the assistant manager but didn’t introduce myself with my title. Had they actually done any research, any at all, they would have known that I would be their supervisor.

They assumed I was front office staff and wasn’t relevant to them getting the job or not. I would casually chat up the interviewee pre-interview. Their actual interview was with me not the upper management who was “making them wait.”

What the interviewee didn’t know was that from the time they parked in the lot they were being evaluated. I watched to see if they were courteous to the maintenance guys carrying boxes – did they hold the door, did they offer to help? Then, how did they treat what they assumed was just the “front office” staff person? Did they get agitated that they were left waiting?

I’d ask them questions about if they were nervous, what kinds of jobs did they have before, why did they want this job, etc. Their nerves and assumption I wasn’t the person making the decision, provided our organization with straight forward no bullshit answers. And, lead us to hire great staff.

Check out this post for various places you can search for jobs in natural resource fields.