Biology Society embarked on the annual shed hunt at the Land Lab on Valentines Day.
Shed hunting may sound like searching for little buildings in your backyard, but actually it involves looking for antlers left behind by deer. Antlers differ from horns largely because antlers are shed and regrown, while horns are permanent. Deer annually shed their antlers between January and March, making February a fantastic time to look for them.
“We follow various deer paths and we look for deer activity on our hike with high hopes of finding a shed,” Bio Society advisor Mr. Scott Maretka said.
Though the club members did not find any antlers this year, Bio Society still took the opportunity to learn and have fun.
The purpose of the shed hunt is “to learn about what deer do in the wintertime,” junior Rylee Shepard explained.
Maretka wished for Bio Society to “experience what a deer might have to go through.” He noticed how exhausted the students looked after the hike through the snowy Land Lab trails, which reflected the conditions the deer face every wintery day. Though the relatively high temperature of February 14 allowed for a nice hiking day, the high-piled snow proved difficult to trek through.
Along with learning about deer and their antlers, Maretka emphasized the importance of “getting together with your friends and enjoying the natural world.”
Junior Melina Rodriguez agreed. She highlighted the significance of “seeing the beauty of nature and really appreciating it.”
As with every Bio Society hike in the wintertime, the event concluded with a cozy serving of hot cocoa and cookies in the Land Lab classroom.
Before shed hunting, Maretka advises checking for permission. Shed hunting is legal in Ohio on public property or if granted permission, but illegal in some states and national parks. Maretka suggests checking the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
To see photos of this year’s shed hunt, check out the Bio Society instagram at @bio.society. To learn more about upcoming trips, use the Remind code outside of Maretka’s room (111).
