Mike Benard
@benardmf.bsky.social
Biologist, ecologist, herpetologist. Views expressed here are my personal opinions. Professor & Department Chair at CWRU https://sites.google.com/a/case.edu/benard-lab/the-benard-lab-at-cwru
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Our conservation work
For more than 40 years, the Aquarium has worked to protect the ocean that shapes our lives.
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Nearly 3,000 acres of land in Ohio’s only national forest will be auctioned for fracking in September. The Bureau of Land Management announced 41 parcels totaling 2,840 acres in Wayne National Forest will go up for a bid on Sept. 15 ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/07/30/f...
Federal government will put 2,840 acres of Ohio’s only national forest out to bid for fracking • Ohio Capital Journal
The Bureau of Land Management announced 41 parcels totaling 2,840 acres in Wayne National Forest will go up for a bid on Sept. 15.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
Profits Soar As Taylor Farms Rebrands As Biological Weapons Manufacturer
Periodical reminder that Many-plume Moths exist. And they always seem to end up on the inside of my bathroom window. And they pack a LOT of "amazeballs" into a teeny package - 1cm wingspan (just under 1/2") Montana six-plume moth (Alucita montana) #inverts #becurious 1/2
Our new commentary rdcu.be/ftx6h in @natecoevo.nature.com written with folks from @inaturalist.bsky.social and @cornellbirds.bsky.social shows that use of AI to manipulate existing or create new wildlife images undermines the huge value of vast citizen science databases. 🌍🪰🪶 #Ornithology 🧵 1/10
Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
Nature Ecology & Evolution - Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
rdcu.be
Shame to see this apparent AI-driven mangling of a real photo by Crain's Cleveland Business described in a recent reddit post: www.reddit.com/r/Cleveland/... @crainscleveland.bsky.social
From the Cleveland community on Reddit: Sloppy AI use from Crain's Cleveland
Explore this post and more from the Cleveland community
reddit.com
An electric ice-cream maker was listed at just $17.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. Then it became unavailable at Best Buy, and more than tripled in price to $59.99 at Amazon. Here’s how it happened… 🧵
For the past two nights, Cope’s Gray Tree Frogs have been calling with everything they’ve got (this one stopped as soon as we opened the back door)… 1/2
A new example of Meta shithousery. This is a post of mine on Instagram (left). Click the dots top right and this advisory note appears (right). I never use ai, never will. Why would they do this? Who benefits? Are they just trying to make viewers think everything is genAI so they just accept it?
A reminder that our t-shirt fundraiser ends on the 21st. Go to www.customink.com/fundraising/... for these limited edition t-shirts.
AmphibiaWeb celebrates 9000 amphibians, Supporting Regents of the University of California at Berkeley
AmphibiaWeb connects people around the world by synthesizing and sharing information about amphibians to enable research, education, and conservation. We do this work with volunteer experts and enthus...
customink.com
Young slimy salamander (and snail friend) found in northeast Ohio today - Arguably one of the prettiest non-Ambystoma salamanders in North America.
A cut milkweed leaf oozes toxic white latex - a defense from many herbivores.
Last week saw this green treefrog hanging out under the purple flowers of a pickerelweed, with a honeybee buzzing just above it. The frog's water-conserving posture almost makes it look like it is praying. Found a little south of New Orleans while taking a side trip during #JMIH26.
Washington County residents are raising concerns that injection wells in southeastern Ohio leaking brine waste will eventually pollute Marietta’s drinking water. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/07/14/t...
'The precipice of an emergency.' Marietta residents worry drinking water could become contaminated. • Ohio Capital Journal
Washington County residents are raising concerns that injection wells in southeastern Ohio leaking brine waste will eventually pollute Marietta’s drinking water.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
The dragonfly that started it all for my adult obsession! Widow Skimmer in the garden today! This is a beautiful female with yellow stripes down her abdomen. Do you have a favorite dragonfly?
Sunday morning violence, invert style. This three minute battle was an eternity. Regret to inform @arborscientiae.bsky.social #inverts
Hundreds of thousands of bats emerge from a large Mexican-free tailed colony in East Texas. The bats gave us a spectacular show with plenty of daylight left, emerging about 20 minutes before sunset 🦇
The Pollockettes have put on their early fireworks display in honor of the 4th July. Insect flight trails as they move in and around the garden.
Frog’s out there having a long conversation with his wrestling buddy from one pond over😄
This little ant was one of many insects foraging on common milkweed this afternoon in northeast Ohio.
Truly, it never gets old. Swainson’s nabbing bats as they flyout from the bridge. 🪶
Time lapse of tonight’s sky with clouds moving between the earth and heavens. Trees shaking in the breeze.
Really sad today to see this magnificent beech tree that just fell over. Another victim of Beech Leaf Disease. holdenfg.org/beech-leaf-d...
Finding a photo to go along with tonight’s Bluesky entertainment was challenging but here’s a turtle with attitude on some scaffolding (look, it’s the best I could do 😅) #herps 🌿
she seems to be thriving in the new place and loving to climb into everyones' hands, good night lil queeny
Came across a rock next to a stream where a swallowtail butterfly met its end today. I am guessing it fed a bird.
One of my little prairie lizard friends, some live in my shed, this one was right where I'd walk so I'm pleased I was watching out for them. I like to think they know me, I talk quietly to them as I take their photos. ❤️🦎❤️
