Year: 2026

Beneath the soil at Greenacres, a new generation of an endangered species is beginning to emerge. The American Burying Beetle (ABB) is federally listed as threatened and designated as endangered in Ohio. Once found across much of the eastern and central United States, this species has experienced significant population declines. Today, Greenacres Foundation and the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden are working together to better understand the species and support its recovery in Ohio.

American Burying Beetles play an important role in their ecosystems. They serve as decomposers of small animals due to their reproductive habits. ABBs locate small animal carcasses, bury them underground, and use them as a food source for their developing young. Understanding how these beetles reproduce, develop, and survive through changing seasons is essential to helping the species recover. Over the past 15 years, insect experts at the Cincinnati Zoo have developed a successful ABB breeding program and releasing these beetles throughout Ohio is a current goal.

In June 2026, the partnership took an important step toward that goal. Staff from Greenacres and the Cincinnati Zoo released 156 breeding pairs across two sites at Greenacres. Each pair was placed in a prepared underground chamber, or crypt, with a rat carcass to provide food for the beetles and their offspring.

Just two weeks later, researchers returned to a subset of the release chambers to look for evidence of reproduction. At the Greenacres Old Church site, approximately one-third of the monitored chambers contained larvae. In total, researchers documented 372 larvae, an encouraging early sign that the beetles were reproducing following the release.

But the work did not stop there. The next question was whether those young beetles would survive and emerge as adults.

Healthy animals are an important part of a healthy farm, and caring for them often means asking questions about how traditional practices can be improved.

This summer, Research Intern Liam Barker worked alongside the Greenacres Livestock team to explore a question in sheep health: How can parasites be effectively managed while reducing reliance on traditional chemical dewormers?

Liam’s research compared a conventional chemical dewormer with a natural deworming treatment. Throughout the project, the team monitored the sheep’s weights and fecal egg counts (FECs), which provide an indication of parasite levels within the animals.

The results offered insight into how the different approaches affected parasite levels. Sheep treated with the chemical dewormer showed an initial decrease in FECs, followed by a spike later in the summer. In comparison, sheep receiving the natural deworming treatment had more stable FECs throughout the summer.

Based on his findings, Liam recommended a three-pronged approach to managing parasites in sheep. The first is preventing infection through practices such as rotational grazing and selective breeding. The second is protecting sheep during months when worm pressure is highest by using natural remedies. When necessary, the third is treating highly infected sheep with a combination of chemical dewormers.

Liam shared his findings during his final intern presentation, bringing the project full circle and demonstrating the value of hands-on research. While parasite management remains an ongoing challenge for sheep producers, research like this helps Greenacres explore practical approaches that can support animal health while reducing reliance on chemical treatments when possible.

The Livestock team looks forward to building on what was learned and exploring how these practices may be incorporated into the care of Greenacres flocks in the future.

The evening was about more than music. Opening the property to the community gave Greenacres an opportunity to listen, too. Throughout the evening, guests shared ideas about programs and experiences they would like to see at Lewis Township in the future.

Those conversations offered valuable insight as Greenacres continues to serve the surrounding community. From research and education to special events and opportunities to simply experience the land, the evening was a wonderful reminder of the connections that can grow when people come together in a special place.

We were grateful to welcome our neighbors to Lewis Township and share an evening of music, conversation, and community.

What happens to bees when the landscapes around them change?

That is one of the questions researchers from The Ohio State University are exploring through the grant-funded project Native Bee Health and Population Dynamics Across Agricultural Landscapes. Greenacres is one of several field sites across Ohio, with research taking place at both our Indian Hill and Lewis Township properties.

The researchers are comparing conventional and diversified farming systems to better understand how different agricultural landscapes affect bee health and population genetics. Their work looks at several factors, including parasite prevalence, colony growth, and pollen preferences.

To support the study, honey bee hives, bumble bee colonies, and solitary bee nesting blocks have been established at both Greenacres sites. Researchers began collecting samples in 2025, and the work will continue through 2026.

For Greenacres, serving as a research site provides an opportunity to contribute to a broader understanding of how agricultural landscapes can support healthy pollinator populations. The information gathered through the project will help researchers develop recommendations for landowners and land managers looking to improve pollinator health and build more resilient agricultural ecosystems.