9 Of The Weirdest Things You Might Spot In The Greater Cleveland Wilderness
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Our world is wild and wonderful. We have lions, and tigers, and bears all across the globe, but here in Northeast Ohio we only have boring critters like ducks and deer… right? Wrong! There are all sorts of weird animals in Cleveland, and many of them are straight out of a science fiction movie. You might encounter these unusual creatures during any of your hikes — so keep your eyes peeled and prepare to come face-to-face with an Ohio native you never suspected existed.
This bizarre little work of art will, very soon, transform into living, breathing beings. Lacewings are insects in the order Neuroptera, and they're beneficial for eating pests. Their eggs, however, are arguably just as fascinating as the insect itself. Look at those things, hung just out of reach of predators!
Star-nosed moles are all over North America, but you don't usually see them. They tend to live in marshes and moist areas, as they love to burrow into the moist dirt and swim. Yes, it can swim even though it is blind! It can even smell underwater. Its nose is covered with circa 25,000 sensory receptors, allowing it to "see" prey. It can react in just 8 milliseconds, making it the fastest known forager on the face of the planet.
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Spittlebugs, also known as froghoppers or prosapia bicincta, are the culprits behind those weird saliva-like masses that you might spot in local fields and meadows. In their nymphal stage, these colorful critters thrive in plant sap. It hides them from predators, encases them in an insulated environment, provides moisture control, and also provides nutrients. The sap bubbles they produce are often colloquially called "snake spit."
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Despite having a face only a mother could love, Mother Nature has blessed hellbenders with distribution throughout several eastern states. These salamanders live in rivers and streams, living alone under rocks and debris until mating season approaches. Hellbenders can grow to nearly 16 inches, a size that enables them to feed on crayfish and minnows.
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Picture this — you're in a latrine at a campground in the middle of the night when you spot a subtle flash of light toward the ceiling. You shine your flashlight in the direction of the flash and lay eyes upon what appears to be a remnant of the Paleozoic era. That was this author's first memorable encounter with one of these guys, at Camp Ledgewood out in Peninsula. Glow worms, or armored glow bugs, are the larval state of various types of insects. The one pictured here is a baby firefly.
Also known as longnose garpike or needlenose gar, the lepisosteus osseus has thrived in North America for nearly 100 million years. Though they still have primitive features, the modern evolution of this species first appeared during the last ice age. Longnose gar can reach circa 39 years of age, and you just might spot one in Lake Erie. With a maximum size of up to six feet, these fish truly feel like a remnant of Ohio's ancient ocean.
Wheel bugs, arilus cristatus, are among the largest tree bugs in North America. These armored guys prefer to hide in leafy areas, but they often come out at night to hunt. Their prey includes pests, meaning they're a beneficial part of our ecosystem. While typically docile, you don't want to anger a wheel bug — their bite is said to be more painful than a wasp sting.
I know what you're thinking... and, yes, this is a porcupine at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Are porcupines really native to Ohio? The answer is that it's complicated. The North American porcupine used to be a common sight in Northeast Ohio until circa 1890, but urbanization eventually drove them out. Nonetheless, nature has a way of reclaiming what is hers. Porcupines, as a result, have been spotted in Northeast Ohio in recent years. They're thought to come over from neighboring states like Pennsylvania.
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Many are surprised to learn that bats, in actuality, can be somewhat canine and cute in appearance. When it comes to the Rafinesque's big-eared bat, however, these critters almost look like they could be in the rabbit family. Featuring ears that are over an inch in length, Rafinesque's big-eared bats have a wing-span of 12 inches, a body length of 4 inches, and a lifespan of circa 10 years. As a member of the vesper bat family, these guys may roost alone or may live alongside hundreds of family members.
You may find any number of weird animals in Greater Cleveland, but these nine critters take the cake. What’s the weirdest thing you have ever spotted in the Northeast Ohio wilderness?
If you spot a kangaroo running around Greater Cleveland, you might not be crazy. In addition to these native critters, some extremely out of place animals have been spotted in Northeast Ohio.
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