Ohio was once covered by a thick forest and populated by a great variety of animals, but the first blows of settlers' axes heralded cataclysmic changes. By 1900 only about 15 percent of the state remained tree-covered. The effects of settlement upon native animal species varied widely, and the fortunes of many have risen and fallen more than once.

Large predators such as wolves, panthers, and bears disappeared early, as did big herbivores such as bison and elk. Hunters and trappers drove many furbearers out of existence, though wildlife managers have successfully reintroduced beaver...

This latest collaboration of Carolyn V. Platt and Gary Meszaros is a beautifully photographed book that explores Lake Erie and its effects on the birds that make this region their home.

Birds of the Lake Erie Region observes a year of weather changes and avian migrations--from the wintertime convergence of ducks and other waterbirds on the lake's last ice-free areas to the excitement of the raptor and shorebird migrations in the fall.

Expert or novice, birders and nature lovers will be moved by Platt's celebration of these birds and their habitat and by Meszaros's...

The southeastern third of Ohio is quite different from the flat or gently rolling portions of the state, differing in landscape, geologic history, ecology, and human history. It is the deeply dissected hill country that was formed over many millions of years by sediments eroded from four ancient mountain ranges. Continuing erosion and massive runoff from great ice-age glaciers further shaped the land and its drainage systems.

In Ohio Hill Country, author Carolyn Platt describes how plant and animal life evolved to fill the many niches and microclimates afforded by the...

With text by coauthors Gary Meszaros and Guy L. Denny and striking photographs by Meszaros, The Prairie Peninsula examines the many prairie types, floristic composition, and animals that are part of this ecosystem. It also tells the story of the early settlers and the hardships they endured.