Our Animal Ambassadors

Those of you who have seen us conduct programs know that we view our education animals as valuable education tools — ambassadors for their wild cousins. They are not pets and we never treat them as such. However, to help staff and volunteers in identifying each animal, we have given each of our education animals a name. We find that children, in particular, can more easily relate to the animals if they have a name. With this in mind, we'd like to introduce you to our "Cast of Characters.”

Part of our mission is to provide a permanent home for more than fifty non-releasable wild animals that are either too sick or too injured to go back into the wild. We've provided biographies for several of these animals below, but they do not account for a full list of all animals that are cared for by Ohio Nature Education. These animals are as follows:

Barn Owl
Virginia Opposums
Big Brown Bats
Evening Bat
Striped Skunks
Eastern Box Turtles
Albino Corn Snake*
Corn Snake*
Honduran Milk Snake*
Curly-Haired Tarantula*
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula*

* denotes non-native animal

Southern Flying Squirrels
Great Horned Owls
Barred Owls
Peregrine Falcons
Red Tailed Hawks
Red Shouldered Hawks
Eastern Screech Owls
American Kestrels
Turkey Vultures
Eurasian Eagle Owl*

Bert & Ernie are two male American kestrels that came to us from a falconer in Michigan. They are captive bred and unable to be released.

Bert & Ernie are two male American kestrels that came to us from a falconer in Michigan. They are captive bred and unable to be released.

Igor is a permanently injured turkey vulture. Despite the name, Igor is a female. She was found in the spring of 2001 wandering around the grounds of Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Upon further inspection it was discovered that Igor had a det

Igor is a permanently injured turkey vulture. Despite the name, Igor is a female. She was found in the spring of 2001 wandering around the grounds of Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Upon further inspection it was discovered that Igor had a detached retina in her left eye and an old healed fracture in her left wing.

Mad Eye Moody is a male Great horned owl who came to us from Ohio Bird Sanctuary with an obvious eye injury. He also had suffered a bite on his foot from a tangle with a skunk.

Mad Eye Moody is a male Great horned owl who came to us from Ohio Bird Sanctuary with an obvious eye injury. He also had suffered a bite on his foot from a tangle with a skunk.

Peri is a male Peregrine falcon who came to us with a wing injury in February, 2020 from Wildside Rehab Center in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

Peri is a male Peregrine falcon who came to us with a wing injury in February, 2020 from Wildside Rehab Center in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.

Rachel, a female American kestrel who lives with Jack Sparrowhawk, came to us with a wing injury in August, 2019 from Glen Helen Raptor Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Rachel is named after Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring.

Rachel, a female American kestrel who lives with Jack Sparrowhawk, came to us with a wing injury in August, 2019 from Glen Helen Raptor Center in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Rachel is named after Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring.

Rocky, a red-tailed hawk, came to us from Glen Helen Raptor Center with residual symptoms of West Nile Virus - specifically to his eyesight - making him a poor candidate for release.

Rocky, a red-tailed hawk, came to us from Glen Helen Raptor Center with residual symptoms of West Nile Virus - specifically to his eyesight - making him a poor candidate for release.

Teddy came to us in the fall of 2016 from the Medina Raptor Center. He had been found under some power lines with a wing injury which unfortunately did not heal properly. He is named after President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsman who was ins

Teddy came to us in the fall of 2016 from the Medina Raptor Center. He had been found under some power lines with a wing injury which unfortunately did not heal properly. He is named after President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid outdoorsman who was instrumental in starting our national parks.

Jack Sparrowhawk is a male American kestrel. Jack came to us in August, 2019 from Utah with a wing injury of unknown origin.

Jack Sparrowhawk is a male American kestrel. Jack came to us in August, 2019 from Utah with a wing injury of unknown origin.

Bellatrix, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, is a non-releasable captive-bred falconry bird. Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world.

Bellatrix, a Eurasian Eagle Owl, is a non-releasable captive-bred falconry bird. Eurasian eagle owls are the largest owls in the world.

Luna, a barn owl, is a non-releasable captive-bred falconry bird. Barn owls are a threatened species in Ohio.

Luna, a barn owl, is a non-releasable captive-bred falconry bird. Barn owls are a threatened species in Ohio.

Oz came to us all the way from Kansas. She is a female Barred owl who has a missing toe on one foot and a wing injury that not only prevents flight, but prevents the proper growth of some of her primary feathers. Her injuries were sustained from bein

Oz came to us all the way from Kansas. She is a female Barred owl who has a missing toe on one foot and a wing injury that not only prevents flight, but prevents the proper growth of some of her primary feathers. Her injuries were sustained from being caught in a soccer net.

Raleigh is a female Barred owl who hails from Raleigh, NC. She suffers from wing injuries sustained when she was hit by a car.

Raleigh is a female Barred owl who hails from Raleigh, NC. She suffers from wing injuries sustained when she was hit by a car.

Otus came to us from the Back to the Wild wildlife rehabilitation facility in Castalia, Ohio after it was determined that he was non-releasable due to being struck by a car. Otus is a male, grey Eastern screech owl.

Otus came to us from the Back to the Wild wildlife rehabilitation facility in Castalia, Ohio after it was determined that he was non-releasable due to being struck by a car. Otus is a male, grey Eastern screech owl.

Brutus was injured after being struck by a car. His injuries prevent him from being able to survive if released into the wild.

Brutus was injured after being struck by a car. His injuries prevent him from being able to survive if released into the wild.

Henna is a female red shouldered hawk who came to Ohio Nature Education from a wildlife rehabilitation center in Lake County, Ohio.

Henna is a female red shouldered hawk who came to Ohio Nature Education from a wildlife rehabilitation center in Lake County, Ohio.

Rusty, like Brutus, was permanently injured after being hit by a car.

Rusty, like Brutus, was permanently injured after being hit by a car.

Artemis, a male red shouldered hawk, was found by an employee of the Licking Park District after being hit by a car in Licking County.

Artemis, a male red shouldered hawk, was found by an employee of the Licking Park District after being hit by a car in Licking County.

Ichabod is a male turkey vulture who suffered eye and head trauma from an unknown injury.

Ichabod is a male turkey vulture who suffered eye and head trauma from an unknown injury.

Bella is a female red-tailed hawk who came to us from the Columbus Airport area with a wing injury. We received a call from Angela Miller at the Senior Times reporting that they'd been observing a downed hawk on their property for a few days. An ex

Bella is a female red-tailed hawk who came to us from the Columbus Airport area with a wing injury. We received a call from Angela Miller at the Senior Times reporting that they'd been observing a downed hawk on their property for a few days. An examination of the hawk revealed no apparent fractures, but she was rather thin and was having difficulty flying. Sadly, Bella never improved her ability to fly and could not be released.

Tank, Shelly, Cara, and Dozer are four Eastern Box Turtles. Most turtles are animals that people illegally confiscate from the wild and cannot be returned to prevent spread of disease. Eastern box turtles need to be returned to their home territory

Tank, Shelly, Cara, and Dozer are four Eastern Box Turtles. Most turtles are animals that people illegally confiscate from the wild and cannot be returned to prevent spread of disease. Eastern box turtles need to be returned to their home territory or will not survive. We strongly suggest leaving turtles alone. If you see one trying to cross the road, help it by taking it to the side that it was heading in, NOT the direction it was coming from.

Luna is a female Big Brown Bat who found her way to Ohio Nature Education when she was discovered by a wildlife rehabilitator in Licking County, Ohio. It appeared she had fallen off of her mother. For reasons unknown, Luna is unable to fly and is n

Luna is a female Big Brown Bat who found her way to Ohio Nature Education when she was discovered by a wildlife rehabilitator in Licking County, Ohio. It appeared she had fallen off of her mother. For reasons unknown, Luna is unable to fly and is not releasable. She serves as an important ambassador because she teaches people that bats are amazing, highly beneficial creatures.

Echo and Radar are two male Big Brown Bats that are unable to fly. They live with Luna and Tes & Chiro, two other non-releasable big brown bats.

Echo and Radar are two male Big Brown Bats that are unable to fly. They live with Luna and Tes & Chiro, two other non-releasable big brown bats.

While not native to Ohio, Cornelius the red rat snake or corn snake is closely related to Ohio's gray rat snake, formerly black rat snake.

While not native to Ohio, Cornelius the red rat snake or corn snake is closely related to Ohio's gray rat snake, formerly black rat snake.

Amelia and Houdini are two southern flying squirrels who were illegally kept as pets. They live with two other flying squirrels who are permanently injured due to cat attacks.

Amelia and Houdini are two southern flying squirrels who were illegally kept as pets. They live with two other flying squirrels who are permanently injured due to cat attacks.

Frida is a Sinaloan milk snake that was rescued from a reptile show. Sinaloan milk snakes are from in Mexico, like the famous artist Frida Kahlo.

Frida is a Sinaloan milk snake that was rescued from a reptile show. Sinaloan milk snakes are from in Mexico, like the famous artist Frida Kahlo.