Discover stories in North America
Watching a Baby Bison Die
This spring, well-meaning tourists tried to rescue a Yellowstone bison calf from the cold. It didn’t end well. What happens when we put our human narratives on the wild.
The Cactus Smuggler: Are Desert Plants Being Loved to Extinction?
Across their range, cacti are disappearing. The number one culprit? Illegal collecting. A look at the cactus smuggling trade.
10 Overlooked Wildlife Experiences in Our National Parks
Move over grizzlies and bison. We’re looking for some of the more unusual national park wildlife encounters, from pupfish to endemic chipmunks to salamanders. How many have you seen?
Recovery: Saving Timber Rattlesnakes, Why Wildlife Recovery Isn’t a Popularity Contest
You know you’ve arrived as a naturalist when you support saving timber rattlesnakes. Ted Williams reports.
The Four Biggest Hazards Facing Monarch Butterflies, and How You Can Help
A recent scientific paper argues that monarch butterflies are at risk of “quasi-extinction.” But what does this mean? Our blogger breaks down the issues facing butterflies.
Recovery: Mending Point Reyes, a Park Impaired by Invasive Mammals
Point Reyes National Seashore is recovering from an unusual invasive threat: non-native deer. Ted Williams reports.
The Incredible Shrinking Bison, an Unexpected Impact of Climate Change
Shrinking bison? One of the unexpected impacts of climate change is bison changing their diets. And it could in turn affect how we manage the prairie.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Western Sycamores that Weren’t
The problem? As trees in some of their restoration sites grew to maturity, they didn’t look like the native western sycamores the scientists were sure they had planted.
The Alligator in the Basement: Breeding Bird Colonies Benefit Alligator Health in the Florida Everglades
Scientists have discovered that alligators living near nesting bird colonies in the Florida Everglades are healthier than those without access to this food resource.
Snow Rollers: “Spontaneous Snowballs” at Silver Creek Preserve
The fields looked like a busload of kids had been busy rolling large snowballs. But this was not the work of human hands.
Recovery: Rehoming Brook Trout, the Dweller of Springs
Throughout its natural range, the brook trout is finding less and less of what it needs most: clean, cold water. But recovery efforts are underway, Ted Williams reports.
Snow Birds: 10 Birds to Look for in Winter
Winter birding isn’t easy, but it is amazing. If you’re ready to brave the cold, here are 10 winter-only species to search for this month.
