Something Wild

Something Wild is all about connecting with nature, especially in your own yard. This summer, Something Wild co-host Dave Anderson spent some time sitting by the frog pond he created, tapping into the watery vibe.

Some relatively new discoveries, and new technologies, tell a remarkable story about New Hampshire’s ancient coastline and its rapidly-changing future.

NH naturalist and author Sy Montgomery introduces us to Fire Chief, a 42-lb. snapping turtle. She and illustrator Matt Patterson worked together to help Fire Chief regain the ability to walk after being hit by a car. This is the third episode in the series: “A glimpse into the heart, soul, and science of animals with Sy Montgomery."

N.H. naturalist and author Sy Montgomery had the rare experience of helping to raise two orphaned baby hummingbirds. We get a peek into the complex endeavor, and the strength Sy finds in these tiny birds, in our second episode in the series: “A glimpse into the heart, soul, and science of animals with Sy Montgomery."

There are fewer than 3000 Blanding’s turtles in the northeast. We spend some time with NH naturalist and author Sy Montgomery to learn how she’s helping to give the endangered turtles a head start.

Learning bird songs and calls links you to a kind of birding folklore passed down from generations of birders. How many can you identify?

When we go fishing, we rarely think about trees contributing anything beyond shade. But the more wood in a stream, the more trout there are and the bigger those trout become.

Have you checked out a vernal pool this spring? The Something Wild team discovers the surprising symbiotic relationship between salamanders and algae.

Heavy, wet April snow in New Hampshire snapped off saplings and uprooted trees. But in nature, disasters caused by all sorts of extreme weather are often followed by opportunities.

Heavy, wet April snow snapped off saplings and uprooted trees in the state. But in nature, damage caused by all sorts of extreme weather is often followed by opportunities.

Spring peepers spend the winter under leaf litter in a state of suspended animation. Once overnight temperatures are regularly in the 40s, they start thawing out and begin singing.

With spring migration underway, scientists are eager to study how birds, and wildlife in general, will react to this year’s total eclipse. Research from the 2017 eclipse suggests some things to look for in N.H. on April 8, 2024.

Cold, clear lakes require the winter reset provided by long-lasting winter ice. Beyond the winter tourism of ice-fishing and pond hockey, ice is a crucial part of the ecological health of our living lakes.

As little as six minutes of listening to bird song has been shown to reduce anxiety. No wonder an estimated 50 million people enjoy feeding feathered friends at a bird feeder. But who really benefits from feeding birds?

Listening to as little as six minutes of bird song has been shown to reduce anxiety. No wonder an estimated 50 million people enjoy feeding feathered friends at a bird feeder. But who really benefits from feeding birds?

A phenomenon called "thermonasty" causes rhododendron leaves to curl up when it’s really cold out. This adaptation allows these broad-leaved evergreens to thrive in the doubly-challenging conditions of damp soil and freezing temperatures.

There's a reason you may never have found an antler in the woods, despite N.H.'s population of 100,000 deer (not to mention a few thousand moose). Shed antlers provide nutrients to a whole host of forest-dwellers who recognize their value.

The weather in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has, over millennia, created forests that are specifically suited to extreme weather conditions.

Adaptations in many species in New Hampshire allows them to flourish in the cold winter temperatures. It’s also why you see more trees with light-colored bark the farther north you go.

The elusive yet bold spruce grouse is a little-known New Hampshire inhabitant that relies on forests that are specifically adapted to colder temperatures.

'Tis the season for Christmas carols! Something Wild decided to rewrite the "12 Days of Christmas" and put the focus on New Hampshire birds.

The North American river otter population is doing swimmingly! They are found in abundance in New Hampshire’s waterways, but they can be hard to spot until winter brings them out to play on the ice and snow.

From unexpected sightings in backyard gardens to near-misses – or worse – on our roads, white-tailed deer seem to be everywhere. A decade-long study is uncovering new insights about this iconic creature of eastern forests.

As part of Something Wild's 25th anniversary, we revisit one of our favorite episodes from 2020. Learning about where native bats roost in winter can help us protect the bat population in N.H.

This has been an epic season for finding mushrooms. We're just beginning to learn how important the fungi kingdom is for forest health.