Nature in Dayton

Take another look at downtown Dayton

What do you think of when you connect the words "downtown" and "nature"?

Pigeons, rats? Yes, these, of course, but there are facets of urban life seldom considered even by people who have lived in the city for years. Dane Mutter learned that many things live downtown besides people.

An avid wildlife observer, he found a brown creeper trapped under a canopy in Courthouse Square, which led to his fascination with urban wildlife and to the writing of his Downtowner column.

His readers began to call and excitedly report, "I just saw a beaver swimming up Wolf Creek!" "Can you believe, I just saw a deer swimming under the Main Street Bridge!"

Here's what Miami Valley environmental leaders say about Dane:

"As a former public official, I have never known an individual who had a more profound influence upon the environment than Dane Mutter. Dane is a leading force within the environmental movement." -- Marvin Olinsky, Former Director-Secretary, Five Rivers MetroParks

"Dane Mutter was my introduction to the natural world that exists in our region. He instilled an appreciation I carry and share today." -- Charlie Shoemaker, Former Director-Secretary, Five Rivers MetroParks

"Dane Mutter is the iconic naturalist of Ohio's Miami Valley. A wise, compassionate soul, who has mentored scores of young people in the ways of the natural world and protected many precious tracts of wetlands, forests, and meadows." -- David Nolin, Former Director of Conservation, Five Rivers MetroParks

Dane Mutter has been a major player in the region's conservation and land stewardship progress. In 1963 he began working for the National Audubon Society as Director of the Aullwood Children's Farm, now Aullwood Audubon Farm and Center. In 1967 he joined the Dayton-Montgomery County Park District, now Five Rivers MetroParks. He stayed with this organization as Associate Director until 1988, and then served as Executive Director of the newly formed Beavercreek Wetlands Association. While with the Park District he started writing his weekly column, Downtown Naturalist, for the Dayton Downtowner, a supplement to the Dayton Daily News. He wrote his column for 13 years. In 2007 he and Brian Hackett of The Dayton Historical Society published the book, Gems of the Greater Dayton Region, an overview of the natural and cultural history of our region. In 2011 Dane was awarded the lifetime achievement award by the Partners for the Environment, a coalition of environmental organizations in the Miami Valley. And in 2018 the Beavercreek Wetlands Association named a newly created prairie the Dane Mutter Prairie. Today Dane lives near the Stillwater River, which flows by his house. Though retired, he still spends as much time as possible outdoors. You may run into him out on the trail somewhere.