Extending Our Temporary Closure: COVID-19

March 27, 2020

Posted by Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center continues to follow the best guidelines from the CDC, State of Ohio and public health officials to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure the safety of staff, visitors and volunteers. Due to the rapidly changing nature of this pandemic, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will extend its temporary closure and reopen as soon as Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health provide directives indicating it is safe to do so.

Center leadership will continue to monitor the directives and guidelines issued by the Ohio Department of Health and communicate updates on our website and social media channels throughout the temporary closure.

Refunds will be issued to preregistered patrons for programs that are cancelled due to this extended closure. Registrants with questions regarding programs and refunds may email info@lensc.org.

The Center will not accept animals into our wildlife rehabilitation program during the temporary closure. The Center’s resident animals and current wildlife rehabilitation patients will continue to receive high quality care from wildlife staff. Community members with questions about ill or injured wildlife may email wildlife@lensc.org.

All employees of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center are following the State of Ohio’s Stay-At-Home Order and are working remotely as possible.

Lake Erie Nature & Science Center sends good wishes to our visitors, volunteers and supporters during this unprecedented time. Please stay safe and healthy!

Topic: News

How to Influence Positive Behavior in Preschoolers

March 24, 2020

Posted by Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

If you feel like you’re constantly reminding your preschooler what NOT to do, or your conversations seem to always include the words “Don’t” and “No” – it’s time to flip your script. The way you phrase words with small children can make a significant difference in how you influence their behavior.

Less is more

Most adults say too many words when communicating with children under age 4, who have extremely short attention spans and under-developed impulse control. Adults also tend to phrase sentences in the negative rather than the positive. As a result, when you say “Don’t run!” your child may only hear the word “run” and may not be able to think of an alternative to running.

As Miss Teece likes to explain to parents, talk like Tarzan—kneel down to speak at your child’s eye level, look at each other face-to-face, and talk like Tarzan by giving your child a clear and positive direction in two- to three-word phrases.

  • Tell your child what to do instead of what not to do.
  • Calmly and simply state your expectation.
  • Model the desired behavior by mimicking it yourself, but don’t over-talk about it. (When voices get too loud in play, calmly walk in and say softly in your child’s ear, “Use an inside voice.”)
What Not to Say: Instead, Say:
Don’t run! Use walking feet
Stop climbing! Keep your feet on the floor
Don’t touch! Hands in your pocket
No yelling! Use an inside voice
Don’t stand on the couch! Sit on the couch
Don’t hit! Use your words
Don’t steal her toy! Ask, ‘Can I use it when you’re done?’
Stop pulling the dog’s tail! Pet gently
Don’t throw your truck! Drive your truck on the floor
No biting! We only bite food
Stop splashing the water! Keep the water in the tub

Playtime conflicts

Teachers and parents can help young children learn social skills with their peers by observing play interactions from a distance, then stepping in to feed kids a line when they get frustrated or don’t know how to get their needs met.

If two preschoolers are fighting over the same toy, wait to see if they can work it out themselves before stepping in. Rather than talking too much about taking turns, which is not always a reasonable expectation for many children this age, help by giving each child the appropriate words to say to their friend. 

  1. Kneel down by the playmates and observe, “Hmm, it looks like you both like the T-Rex.”
  2. Have the shy child tell his grabby friend: “I’m still playing with this.”
  3. Then in the same exchange, have the grabby friend ask for a turn by saying: “Can I use that when you’re done?”

The answer is always “Yes,” and both kids get their needs met. This approach teaches children how to share and resolve conflict with their peers while also giving them practice speaking up for themselves.

Topic: Preschool

4 Myths About Baby Wildlife

March 16, 2020

Posted by Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

Spring is almost here and soon you will see baby animals in your neighborhood. As Lake Erie Nature & Science Center’s wildlife staff prepares for their busiest season of the year, here are four of the most common myths related to baby wildlife.

MYTH: “Mothers often abandon baby wildlife in nature.”

Baby wildlife is rarely abandoned in nature. Mothers will often leave their young unattended for hours for a variety of reasons.

For instance, a fawn lying quietly by itself is perfectly normal. Deer do this to protect their young, as the presence of an adult would attract the attention of predators.

Raccoons and squirrels will frequently retrieve their babies when they end up out of the nest too early. They often maintain more than one nest or den site and will move their babies as needed.

MYTH: “Baby wildlife must be protected from natural dangers.”

Eastern cottontail rabbits often build their nests in yards and open spaces. If you stumble across one, do not move the baby bunnies; if you do, their mother will be unable to find them. She will return at dusk and dawn to feed and groom her babies. Baby animals are vulnerable, yet resilient. Pets, predators and automobiles are all a natural part of their urban and suburban environments. Baby wildlife must grow up among these circumstances in order to learn how to successfully co-exist with them.

Growing up in the wild is dangerous, but removing animals from their parents can be equally as detrimental to their survival.

MYTH: “Wild animals will abandon their babies if they smell the scent of humans.”

Wild animals will not abandon their babies due to the scent of humans. In fact, most birds have little sense of smell! While mammals have a strong sense of smell, human scent is not nearly enough of a danger signal to cause mothers to abandon their hormonal and maternal behaviors.

A baby bird with skin still visible or only covered in downy feathers should be placed back in the nest or in an artificial nest. If fully feathered but unable to fly, the bird is a fledging that should be left alone, as it is in the process of learning critical survival behaviors.

MYTH: “Baby wildlife can receive the same quality of care from humans.”

Baby wildlife will never receive the same quality of care from humans as they would receive from their natural parents. Each species requires a specialized diet, and feeding an animal the wrong food can be harmful to its health. Human care can cause serious damage to the animal and should be seen as a last resort.

If you have questions about baby wildlife this spring, please contact the center’s wildlife staff at 440-871-2900 or wildlife@lensc.org before intervening.

The nonprofit Lake Erie Nature & Science Center is the only wildlife rehabilitation facility in Cuyahoga County and performs wildlife rehabilitation as a free service to the public. The center is able to perform wildlife rehabilitation services under permits from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife.

Topic: Wildlife

Our Response to the Coronavirus

March 12, 2020

Posted by Lake Erie Nature and Science Center

The health and safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors is a top priority of Lake Erie Nature & Science Center. The Center is taking appropriate action to limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Following directives of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Public Health, Cuyahoga Board of Health and the CDC to limit public gatherings, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center will close to the public, cancel all classes and programs and halt wildlife rehabilitation services from March 13 through at least March 31.

Beginning March 13, all classes and programs are cancelled until at least March 31 including:
• Preschool Programs
• Planetarium Programs
• Field Trips
• Scout Programs
• Birthday Parties and Room Rental Reservations
• Lights Out Monitoring Training on March 22
• Understanding the Preschooler’s Perspective on March 30

Visitors who have registered for programs between March 13 and March 31 will be provided a full refund. Program participants enrolled in session classes between March 13 and March 31 will be provided prorated refunds. Please allow 2-4 weeks for refunds to be processed. Registrants with questions or concerns regarding classes and programs may email info@lensc.org.

The Center will not accept animals into its wildlife rehabilitation program from March 13 through at least March 31. The Center’s resident animals and current wildlife rehabilitation patients will continue to receive high quality care from wildlife staff. Community members with questions about ill or injured wildlife may email wildlife@lensc.org.

The cleaning of the Center will follow recommended protocols, and staff have been advised about appropriate practices.

For the latest information on Lake Erie Nature & Science Center coronavirus precautions, please visit www.lensc.org/newsroom.
Topic: News