Bruckner Nature Center 06 09 2025
This is a tried and true classic event with the kids. It's low cost, there are a lot of cool animals and some awesome hiking trails that I would love to explore someday. We've been many times and will hopefully be back many more times but here's a pretty complete documenting of the experience.
When you first get there you'll be greeted by this statue. I assume it's of Mr Bruckner.
Here's the map of those sweet looking hiking paths. I've explored a little bit but usually after getting the kids here and looking at all the cool animals the kids have no interest in going on a cool hike.
Here's a cool outdoor play area and some picnic tables.
Some more picnic tables. When we were there yesterday there was a group of kids visiting from some kind of day camp or church group. I guess they have a lot of frequent summer activities set up here. Very cool.
Here's a historical cabin, I'll post a picture of the historical marker that I've never read before.
My little man swears this cabin is haunted but we managed to get him to check out the inside.
Kids checking out the insides of this spooky cabin.
Other side of the cabin.
Here's the historical marker.
Here's the view from the front. I guess this is Mad Anthony Wayne's cousin Ben's house and also the oldest home in the county. Neat.
I think this cyote is pretty cool and one of my favorite animals on display.
Check out these TWO BIG HOOTERS.
Here's a wood duck, he was a pretty cool water fowl.
A pair of big vultures.
A barred owl.
Some kind of hawk, I forgot what type.
A crow!
A red tail hawk and some other kind of bird. I forget what that other fella is.
A BALD EAGLE.
There's also a cool pond right by the parking lot. The kids will try to look for frogs and stuff.
Closer to the pond.
Board walks are always the best.
My daughter spotted TWO water snakes. I have a picture of the other one too but it's really hard to tell what's what.
The kids spotted this bug, I think it was dead but I'm no entomologist.
My daughter was going to drink some fountain water until she saw this spider eggsack.
My son wanted to bring his giant Pikachu squishmallow because he had never been to Bruckner before. My Little man is a pretty righteouos chap.
Inside they have this butterfly sculpture made out of GARBAGE.
There's also a giant SPIDER SCULPTURE IN THE STAIRWELL!
Downstairs there's a window where you can observe forest creatures. Above this area are a bunch of bird feeders so the stuff falls down here and squirrels and chipmonks eat the scraps.
What to do if you find an injured rabbit. I think this is where we actually dropped off an injured rabbit we found in the backyard once like 10 years ago.
They have some box turtles inside which was pretty cool. I like box turtles a lot.
There's a GIANT red squirrel sleeping in that little hammock thing. My daughter loves that animal but we didn't get to see him on this visit because he was a sleepy boy.
There's a sleepy oppossume in that log. That's right I still include the O and Pluto's a planet I don't care what are you going to do about it ***** boy? Go start your own website.
My son visiting the turtles.
They have this stuffed mink. I read somewhere once that all counties in Ohio have minks running around. I don't believe that for a minute. I ain't never seen no mink. I've seen all the other allged Ohio creatures running around but never no dang mink.
Here's some kind of swimming turtles.
I thought this corn snake was pretty cute.
Here's an Eastern Hellbender.
Do you think they sent some fresh faced 15 year old volunteer out into the harsh Ohio wilderness to scoop up this Deer doo doo? Or is it even worse and they had to create FAKE deer turds for this display?
Seriously just look at how cute this little snek is.
According to the sign that little feller on the left is a Grackle. He's a little black bird with a head that kind of appears blue. I saw one of these things on the hood of my truck the other day. I think he may be the bird responsible for dropping the HALF INCH THICK giant bird turd on my hood.
These Bob Whites are pretty cool too. I think hunters will hunt these guys. I wonder if they're tastey.
Here's some other type of owl.
My son was sad to learn these little guys were dead.
This bird just kind of looks goofy. I think he was called an Ovenbird.
This sign describes the ovenbird I think it's that guy up there looking goofy.
They have some spots where you can play with tidbits. My son tossed this together and named him Junior.
Back to the observation area at the ground level. They have some little binoculars available here for better observations of varmints.
Chipmonk!
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