Kitty Todd Preserve

Arguably the best remaining example of the Oak Openings Region

Oak Savanna in September

Kitty Todd Preserve is my personal favorite nature preserve in Northwest Ohio. This 700 + acre preserve is privately owned by The Nature Conservancy.

It is named after former Nature Conservancy Board member and Toledo conservationist, Kitty Todd.

Blends in with the neighborhood

Kitty Todd Preserve doesn't look like much from the road. If you were to drive by it on Old State Line Road you may not even notice it.

It isn't like a state preserve or metropark with big signs and swing sets. There is a sign at the end of Eber road but that's about it. It actually looks like any of the other private property along the road.

There is a small building in the front. That was the home of the original owners of the property. The building now serves as the office of the preserve. There is also an out building used for storage.

A True Nature Preserve

The reason for the lack of fan fare at the preserve entrance is that it is a true preserve. The land is carefully managed by Nature Conservancy staff and volunteers.

Visitors to the preserve are asked to remain on the established trails. This is because there are so many rare and unusual plants that it would be easy from someone to accidentally step on one. .

The preserve is open to the public May through October from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. It is also open the first full weekend of every month (May through October).

What you can see there

One of the reasons I like Kitty Todd Preserve is that there is something different to see on each visit.

A female Karner Blue on wild
lupine

In May the lupine and plains puccoon are in bloom. And of course the federally endangered karner blue butterfly can be seen (if you're lucky). Other spring butterflies also can be seen in May. May is one of the best times of the year to go.

During the weekends that the preserve is open (remember, first full weekend of each month) there are often volunteers who will take you off-trail. This is an excellent way for you to get a chance to see something that might be in bloom that can't be seen on the regular trails.

Blue Weekend Celebration

In mid-May the preserve holds their annual Blue Weekend. It's their way of celebrating everything blue at the preserve. The main stars of the weekend are obviously blue lupine and the karner blue butterfly.

During Blue Weekend there are many speakers and naturalists who give walking tours of the preserve. Its a good chance to get the assistance of the naturalists who point out the various rarities on and sometimes off the trails.

Native plants are for sale during this weekend. There are usually butterfly experts who discuss the reintroduction of the karner blue butterfly to the preserve. This is the best way to get to see one of the butterflies, by letting the experts track one down.

Reintroduction of the Karner Blue Butterfly

Kitty Todd Preserve is the first place in Ohio that the federally endangered karner blue butterfly was successfully reintroduced. Combined efforts of the Toledo Zoo and Nature Conservancy have provided this rare butterfly the chance to repopulate in the preserve.

A visit to the preserve will show you why.

The only food of the karner blue larvae is lupine leaves. Lupine is quite abundant at the preserve and provides the rare habitat for the butterfly. It's also gorgeous to see.

Rare Plants and Animals

Throughout the rest of the summer and early fall there are MANY other rare plants and animals to be seen at Kitty Todd.

Some of the species include:

Plants

Grass Pink Orchid

Yellow Ladyslipper

Orange Fringed Orchid

Butterflies

Frosted Elfin

Persius Duskywing

Silver-bordered Fritillary

Edward's Hairstreak

Birds

Lark Sparrow

Red Headed Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

A Lark Sparrow at
Kitty Todd Preserve

Kitty Todd is well worth the trip. If you are a nature lover and appreciate the rare and unusual beauty of the Oak Openings Region you will appreciate Kitty Todd Preserve no matter when you go.

How to get there

From Interstate 475 on the west side of Toledo:

Exit at Airport Highway (State Route 2), traveling west toward the Toledo Express Airport
Turn right (north) on Eber Road
Eber Road dead ends into Old State Line Road
Turn left onto Old State Line Road
The preserve entrance is about 1/4 mile down the road on the right side of the road.
Follow the signs to the preserve office and parking lot at 10420 Old State Line Road.

Return from Kitty Todd Preserve to Ohio Parks

NW Ohio Nature Oak Leaf