Parks and Recreation

July 30, 2015 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information on these programs, contact the park district at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

Controlled Hunting Returns

Geauga Park District will host public lotteries for the 2015 Controlled Hunting Program on Aug. 3 at 3:30 p.m. for archery and Aug. 10 at 3:30 p.m. for all guns.

Both will be held inside Big Creek Park’s Donald W. Meyer Center, 9160 Robinson Road in Chardon Township.

Applications for this year’s program are being accepted through July 31, and are available at http://bit.ly/gpdhunting, The West Woods Nature Center and Big Creek Park’s Meyer Center, as well as Top Gun Shooting Range and Great Lakes Outdoor Supply in Middlefield.

Controlled hunting has been used since the 2007-08 season to maintain healthy, balanced populations of plants and animals on park district properties. Time has proven it a viable management tool and a proactive approach to the park district’s mission.

The Last Bats?

Aug. 6, 8-9:15 p.m.

So. Newbury Union Chapel

As White Nose Syndrome continues to decimate bat populations, this may be the last opportunity to witness Little Brown Bats emerging for an evening of food foraging from a special roosting structure, built on the Union Chapel property on state Route 44 in Newbury more than a decade ago as an Eagle Scout project, capable of housing hundreds of bats at once. Bats hunt use echo-location to catch flying insects such as moths, beetles and flies.

White-nose syndrome is a cold-tolerant fungus that continues its rampant spread to caves and rock shelters throughout eastern North America, moving west, killing hibernating bats by the millions since 2006. Marked reductions have already been observed in Geauga County summer bat populations, with the syndrome found in local rock shelters where bats usually hibernate.

Registration is required at 440-279-0880 for participation. Attendance is limited by number of vehicles, so carpooling is encouraged.