The Ohio State University (OSU) loss in the first round of March Madness is not the only thing troubling Brutus the Buckeye. A new report from the National Wildlife Federation says Ohio’s iconic buckeye forests may also be losing out to climate change.

Ohio State University associate professor of forest management Roger Williams noted that drought, storms and heat brought on by a warming climate are causing the best areas for Ohio buckeyes to move north and into Michigan.

“Shifting in latitude of forests is one response that forests have to climate change, but as it concerns the buckeye, that’s the one that obviously people are concerned about, because they don’t want the buckeye to be up in Ann Arbor,” Williams said.

The report outlines how Ohioans can reduce their own carbon footprint through energy efficiency measures, sustainable transportation and their support of policies that reduce carbon emissions.

Tracy Sabetta, Ohio coordinator, National Wildlife Federation, said while the report does take a light-hearted approach, the impact of climate change is a critical issue.

“Just as our basketball Buckeyes suffered a blow in the NCAA March Madness tournament, we are really hoping that the same type of loss is not experienced by the buckeye trees in the state,” Sabetta said.

Acting now to cut carbon pollution is crucial in protecting wildlife and habitat and preserving clean air and water for generations to come, Sabetta added.

“Sportsmen and others who love the outdoors and know Ohio’s climate best because they’ve spent so much time outside hiking and fishing and hunting, they’re concerned about the buckeye, and also about Lake Erie fish and birds and game animals,” she said.

“Mascot Madness: How Climate Change is Hurting School Spirit” details the challenges faced by many college mascots across the country, from falcons to alligators to wolverines. The report is available from the National Wildlife Federation at www.nwf.org.