Endangered Species Day is Every Day in Lucas County
As the steward of more than 12,000 acres of natural areas in Lucas County, Metroparks Toledo helps protect some very rare special places, plants and wildlife.
Did you know that Lucas County is known for having more state-listed rare species of plants and wildlife than anywhere else in the Ohio? From birds to mussels to butterflies to plants, this region is home to remarkable biodiversity.
A few specific state-listed endangered wildlife in Lucas County include:
- Blue-spotted Salamander (Ambystoma laterale)
- Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens)
- Lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
- And unexpected cycnia moth (Cycnia inopinatus)
Some of the rarest species in our county are Federally Endangered, such as the rayed bean mussel (Villosa fabalis) and Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis).
In honor of Endangered Species Day, Friday, May 17, take time to visit one of your favorite natural places on a trail along the water’s edge or through a prairie, marshland or woods. This great variety of habitats is what brings us the good fortune of having so many kinds of life here in our backyard.
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