Citizen scientists plan ‘bioblitz’ at Shawnee State Forest in June

searched Rock Run’s vernal pools for the salamanders that emerge from the ground for a few weeks each spring.

Despite hours of scouring, they didn’t come across any rare, listed species. But Howard said small hikes such as this one are familiarizing him with Rock Run, leading up to the big June survey.

And with the Division’s permission to assess the area without a looming sale, the surveying effort can afford to be thorough. After all, a rushed hike kind of misses the point.

Sunday’s trek was a testament to that, as the group moved through the woods at a crawl.

“It’s contagious,” he said, adding that even people without training are welcome to join the blitz and carry clipboards, hand out water and learn more about forest biodiversity from experts.

That’s how you turn a nature-lover into a full-blown naturalist, Howard said.

“You just feed them bits of information and experiences,” he said. “Next thing you know, you’ve got a real powerhouse. I’ve seen that happen.”

MARION RENAULT / THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Aaron Crank, 17, reaches for a newt buried in a floating clump of frog eggs. Crank is helping with a survey of the Rock Run watershed in Shawnee State Forest. He plans to study herpetology after graduating high school.

AP A police relations board created by Gov. John Kasich will require all police to collect data on the race and gender of people pulled over in traffic stops.