A white snowy owl with some brown stripes on the feathers flying low over a snow-covered landscape. — Snowy Owl Snowy owls are native to the Arctic regions of both North America and the Palearctic, breeding mostly on the tundra. © Shutterstock

Be Brave, Stay Wild

Brave Wilderness and The Nature Conservancy partner to educate and explore.

March 05, 2021

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has teamed up with Brave Wilderness to help protect nature. TNC works to maintain much-needed biodiversity in nature, and protect and restore natural habitats for the wellbeing of even the most threated animal species.

At its core, Brave Wilderness seeks to promote a message of compassion and welfare for our environment. Coyote Peterson, Mario Aldecoa and their crew give viewers an up-close and personal look at the wonders of the animal kingdom. As they travel to all new destinations, they share their experiences with some of the most fascinating, bizarre, and iconic animals on this planet.

Snowy Owls in Ohio

The first collaboration from Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Brave Wilderness is focused on the snowy owl whose visit to Ohio from the frigid Arctic has captivated onlookers for weeks.

Snowy Owl Puke?!

Mario Aldecoa, one of the hosts for Brave Wilderness, was able to spend a lot of time observing the snowy owl that visited central Ohio. He nicknamed her 'Nieve' which is the spanish word for snow. He wanted to learn more about what snowy owls eat, so he studied owl pellets. In their snowy owl video, Coyote and Mario take a close look at what's inside an owl pellet, which is actually - owl puke! Watch their video to see what they find.

WHAT DID I FIND?! - Dissecting Snowy Owl Pellets! Coyote Peterson and Mario Aldecoa study owl pellets to see what's inside. What do you think they will find?

Snowy Owl This snowy owl visited central Ohio and stayed for several weeks in late 2020. © Stuart Siegfried

Fun Snowy Owl Facts

The feet of snowy owls are covered with feathers, like fluffy slippers.
Snowy owls are heavy. They need a lot of insulation to keep them warm and protected from cold temps, so they have a lot of feathers. They can weigh as much as 70 ounces which is about 10 times as heavy as a hamster, which makes it the heaviest owl in North America.
Wingspans average 4-5 feet and help these birds sneak up quietly on prey.
For birds around the world, habitat protection is vital. For the Snowy Owl, that means protecting breeding and nesting grounds in the arctic.

Snowy Owl Bark and Bill Snap

Listen to a female snowy owl barking and snapping its bill.

Download Audio

A recording of a female snowy owl making barking sounds and snapping its bill.

Protecting Birds in Your Own Backyard

For birds around the world, habitat protection is vital. Habitat loss is the major factor contributing to bird species decline worldwide. We've lost nearly 90% of habitat for just about every bird species.

For the snowy owl, protecting breeding and nesting grounds in the arctic is incredibly important. For other bird species, that means protecting and restoring forests, grasslands, wetlands or other natural habitats near your home.

Create natural spaces in your own yards and communities, and make sure to include native plants. Plant species in your gardens that provide berries or attract caterpillars and other insects that bird like to eat. Learn about invasive species and avoid those. Create a space that is welcoming to birds and they will use it.

Stay Curious and Keep Learning

Nature is the fantastic factory that makes the building blocks of all our lives—food, drinking water, the stuff we own, and the air we breathe. The Nature Conservancy and its 550 scientists have created Nature Lab to help students learn the science behind how nature works for us and how we can help keep it running strong. Nature Lab is a collection of online virutual field trips and learning resources for kids, parents and teachers.

I have been fascinated with animals my entire life, and it’s my goal to share this passion with the rest of the world while proudly encouraging a continued drive toward the conservation of species and their habitats.

Coyote Peterson

Host of "Brave Wilderness"

Exploring TNC Preserves

Coyote, Mario and the Brave Wilderness Team will be exploring more of The Nature Conservancy's preserves across the globe. TNC staff are excited to share in the adventures to find and study the amazing wildlife of this world.

One place they plan to explore is the Edge of Appalachia Preserve System in Southern Ohio. Nicknamed 'The Edge' by TNC staff, this preserve is 20,000 acres of forests, prairie remnants, large rock outcroppings and more. Over 100 rare and unusual species call this preserve their home.

Exploring TNC Preserves

**Brave Wilderness Hosts** Mark Vins, Coyote Peterson and Mario Aldecoa plan to explore the creatures and critters that make their homes in The Nature Conservancy preserves. © Wilderness Productions, LLC

**Eastern Box Turtle** This turtle gets its name from its ability to completely enclose its body inside its shell. The shell can close up like a box and protect the turtle. © TJ Vissing

**Edge of Appalachia Preserve** The Edge of Appalachia Preserve is 20,000 acres of beautiful vistas and habitats in southern Ohio. More than 100 rare plant and animal species make their home here. © TJ Vissing

**Timber Rattlesnake** One of the three species of venomous snakes found in Ohio. The head is triangular in shape and the eyes have a vertical pupil; both features of venomous snakes in Ohio. © Jacob Ian Wall, CC BY-NC 2.0

**Morgan Swamp Preserve** This 2,000 acre preserve in northeast Ohio has an abundance of water filtering wetlands which is home to a diversity of wildlife like salamanders and turtles. © Kent Mason

**Blandings Turtle** Blanding's turtles are rare in Ohio. Their numbers have been on the decline due to habitat loss. You'll know you've found one when you see their bright yellow neck. © Ryan Rasmussen

**Kitty Todd Preserve** Our Kitty Todd Nature Preserve is in the unique Oak Openings region in Northwest Ohio. One-third of all rare plants and animals in Ohio reside in this area. © Randall Schieber

Timber Rattlesnake A young timber rattlesnake moves through a ground layer of dead sticks. © Derek Montgomery

Timber Rattlesnake

One of those rare species at the Edge preserve, and one the team hopes to learn more about, is the timber rattlesnake. The timber rattlesnake is one of three species of venomous snakes found in Ohio. It is listed as endangered in Ohio. These snakes are very private and will avoid contact with humans when possible. The Edge preserve contains the type of habitat they like to live in. It will be a fun challenge to find clues and look for signs of this species to hopefully lead us to see one.

TNC staff and the Brave Wilderness team will always follow local laws and regulations when searching for and filming any wildlife on our preserves.

Explore More Places We Protect

The Nature Conservancy owns nearly 1,500 preserves covering more than 2.5 million acres across all 50 states. These lands protect wildlife and natural systems, serve as living laboratories for innovative science and connect people to the natural world.

See the Complete Map

Stay Connected to Nature

Learn about the work of TNC and keep track of Brave Wilderness visits to our preserves.

Keep Learning

A snow white owl with black-flecked feathers sits on a snow covered ground.

Understanding the Nomadic Habits of Snowy Owls

Snowy owls are among the most nomadic of all birds, rarely nesting or wintering in the same place twice. Learn how researchers are studying them.

A small brown bird sits on a branch-tip in the snow.

Midwest Winter Birds

Winter in the Midwest provides an opportunity to provide birds with cover, food and water. In return, you might just get to see more birds in your yard!

Girl holding binoculars up to her eyes, looking at the camera.

Nature Lab

Learn about science and nature through virtual field trips of places across the globe and online study guides that keep you exploring.