The Courier Electronic Edition

A new native tree found in Clermont County


A native tree has been found in Ohio, the first in more than half a century.Sugarberry, Celtis laevigata, a large, broad, fast-growing, deciduous tree with a rounded crown of spreading, pendulous branches, has been found in the Chilo and Utopia areas in southeastern Clermont County.

Private Lands Forester Brian Riley discovered the trees, which are closely related to the common hackberry.

"We are excited to now know that Ohio has a small, thriving population of sugarberry that is well-established on the northern edge of the species' distribution," said David Lytle, chief of forestry for the state Division of Forestry.

Sugarberry grows well in the rich, bottomland soils of the lower Ohio River Valley and can be found throughout the Mississippi River Valley and the southern United States.

A mature tree can produce tens of thousands of red, pea-sized berries. They remain on the tree into the late winter months, providing a valuable food source for migratory birds each spring.

By tree standards, it is also short-lived, typically not surviving more than 150 years.

Sugarberry mixed with hackberry supplies the lumber known as hackberry. Small amounts are used for dimension stock, veneer and containers, but the main use of sugarberry wood is for furniture.

The Ohio wood industry generates more $15 billion annually.

The last native tree species discovered in Ohio was Mexican plum in 1941, also found in Clermont County.

Our state is home to 149 species of native hardwood trees and nine species of softwood trees.

For more information about Ohio's trees and private woodland care, visit www.ohiodnr.com/forestry.

Along the Way:

Archers take to the woods each fall to pursue the whitetail deer, Ohio's only big-game animal. This is the reward for the off-season preparation required to become and remain proficient in that craft's skills.

Field and Stream Bowhunters Club cater to this expertise. It's nestled into a woodlot along Allen Township 109 just west of the Interstate 75 overpass, a five-minute drive from Findlay.

The club was organized in 1967 and began shooting in an area that is now part of Van Buren State Park. As the park expanded, the club moved and incorporated in 1982.

Findlay's Harold Spence has served as Field and Stream's president for 27 years.

"The club was established by bow hunters but any archer is welcome. We formed it to promote traditional archery, so we don't allow firearms or crossbows on the grounds," he said.

Members can go to the club at any time to practice. A line of static targets is available as well as 33 standing targets scattered through the woodlot. These are set to mimic shots that might be presented to hunters.

The club offers competitive matches, an awards banquet, a bi-monthly newsletter, a regular meeting schedule and new friends. At just $45 per year, it's a bargain.

This year's remaining match schedule includes:

• May 31: 30 target mixed McKenzie.

• June 28: 30 target mixed McKenzie.

• July 26: 30 Perrine targets, Safari Shoot.

• Aug. 23: 30 2-D and 3-D targets, Pope and Young Match.

• Sept. 20: 30 target McKenzie deer.

Matches are open to the public.

J&S Archery, 419-422-6756; Betts Archery, 419-422-8451; and Harold Spence, 419-423-9861; can provide both shoot and membership information.

Step Outside:

• Thursday & Friday: Trap & Skeet Shooting, 6 p.m. UCOA, Findlay. Public welcome.

Abrams is wildlife officer supervisor for the state Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via e-mail at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com.

7 Comments

Latest comments listed first.

gettin mad wrote:

tagging
DNR wants pat themselves on the back for this but wont take responsibility for the coyotes they released, or bobcats that are in the celina area. how about the red wolves in southern Ohio. The coyotes have dont little to control the deer population, so oops we'll release red wolves next.Thats thinking with your dipstick JIMMY!

Friday, September 11, 2009 7:45:03 PM

bt wrote:

Cops
Just like here,the poor people up in Michigan actually have to pay these morons while they drive around doing nothing-disgraceful

Saturday, March 14, 2009 7:23:10 AM

Norman S Wolfrom wrote:

Birds
I am not a birder but enjoy the article Friday in my local paper and todays article in the Courier. I had an unofficial bird count in my back yard Sunday.
I only saw a few morning doves; robins [they winter here] gamble quail, sparrows and a circling bald eagle plus a red tail hawk on a piece of beef fat I have hanging in the back yard----I watch the coyote jumping in the air at night to get it and the Javelin just smell it and look up.
Our birds are very few here in the summer except for quail who come in from the wild to hatch there young----a we have maybe a hundred in our community. It is great seeing the newly hatched quail running around---they look like little rocks with legs. I had one pair nest in a large flower pot in the back yard.
I have more ground feeding birds then those at the feeder----so I must empty some of the feeder onto the ground daily.
For some reason we do not have the normal amount of winter birds.

Monday, January 12, 2009 9:20:08 AM

John wrote:

Otters
You can see several otters that are living in the Blanchard now. There is a small group that I see frequently just upstream from the spill way by Findlay Reservoir 1. I was wading there by myself late this summer when I noticed them swimming around me. I didn't even know that they lived here. Really cool to watch them swimming and playing.

Monday, November 10, 2008 11:56:13 AM

Norman S wolfrom wrote:

Don Ramge
I had the privilege of knowing Don very well as my father and I fished Hancock County and we also done some coon hunting in the areas he patrolled. He was always a gentleman while doing his job. Then later in life I would have coffee with him at Wilsons.
I now live in Arizona and I have got to know many DPS officers [state highway patrol] so many are from the same mold as Don Ramge---be they male or female. I retired from ODOT and spent many years working with the Ohio Patrol on road projects I was supervisor . Most of them was not from the mold as Don nor our DPS officers here in Arizona.
I know that Don Ramge is now in good hands and may god bless him.
Norman S Wolfrom

Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:57:21 AM

Norman S Wolfrom wrote:

Fall migration
Fall migration
I now live in Arizona but when I lived in Findlay I loved the late night honking of the Canadian geese and the different birds that would be seen in both the spring and fall migration.
I raised racing homing pigeons and in the loft if the pigeons would get flighty I could take my field glasses an scan the sky an see a flock of birds---I was told that they were hawks heading south out of Canada.
I live in the mountains at Sedona , Az an I really enjoy watching the migration of the swallow tail butterfly along with the monarch butterfly they are in large numbers.
Most people do not notice the beautiful part of nature.

Monday, September 01, 2008 10:25:29 AM

Kay wrote:

red tail hawks
I have out here in rural Hancock county red tail hawks living in my windbreak/treeline. I have a bird feeder by my window for song birds. Occasionally the hawk sees the feeder as his own drive thru fast food joint.
You'll have that.
The feeder has become a testament to the circle of life and sense of nature allowed to do as she should in this way.
The feeder attracts birds. The birds drop seed on the ground that attracts mice. The seed that doesnt get eaten grows lush and green and attracts snakes, that eat the mice. The hawk trims off a bird or two that keeps the songbird population in check (three 'litters' this year alone in an unused dryer vent in the wall.)
I have plants growing in planters on my porch. They get watered every day. The wasps and bees that show up to get a drink and some nectar are causing my little potted veggies to grow which attracts rabbits,,,last week I saw a red fox stroll through the yard..looking for rabbits?
The circle of life, everything in balance and checks. And I get the priveledge of watching it all.
Keep the cat inside until it is too big to be of interest anymore.
And enjoy the show.

Sunday, August 31, 2008 11:45:55 AM