Something Wild

Autumn in New Hampshire is a wonderful time to watch and observe some easily recognizable stages of natural cycles. But we should note that there are varying degrees of “cyclical” activity that can be quite complicated.

N.H.’s osprey population, in jeopardy forty years ago, now thrives. We talk about the key to the raptor’s success with a researcher who monitors the population, and find out how to identify an osprey as it migrates.

We don't often think of trees when we speak of harvest. But as a society, we consume forest products as much as we do farm products. And sometimes when a tree comes down, it's to make room for another tree.

The sound of crickets invokes warm summer evenings; Nathanial Hawthorne called it "audible stillness." By listening closely to the cricket song, and doing some math, you can determine how warm it is!

In our series about Mount Washington’s ecological zones, we explore the distinctly different forest zones on the flanks of Mt. Washington, and discover why birch trees shed their bark.

New England’s highest peak is unforgiving above treeline. But for some species of flora and fauna, the alpine zone provides exactly what they need to survive.

The dark form of a turkey vulture soaring overhead is a sight seen across the U.S. There are many things to appreciate about the bird.

How can you outsmart poison ivy? 85% of the population is allergic to the ingredient in the plant that causes the itchy, blistering rash.

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

Learning bird songs and calls links you to a kind of birding folklore passed down from generations of birders.

There are so many idioms and expressions inspired by the natural world that it can be hard to see “the forest for the trees.” 

There are so many idioms and expressions inspired by the natural world that it can be hard to see “the forest for the trees.” 

We continue celebrating 25 years of Something Wild by going back to another favorite episode. This one features a glimpse of peregrine falcons up close on cliffs in Rumney.

As we celebrate 25 years of Something Wild, we revisit this episode exploring how annual rites of nature make indelible family memories.

Have you noticed the bright colors in the twigs and stems of early spring? Try not to compare them to the springtime flowers farther south! It's subtle, but the wash of color on hillsides in early spring shows some trees are getting a jump-start on photosynthesis.

For some, maple sugaring is a perennial ritual, painstakingly completed as we usher out the bitter wisps of winter, and embrace balmier, brighter days of early spring.

We celebrate a collaboration - over 900 episodes long - that explores nature in the Granite State. And one of the longest-running features on NHPR’s Morning Edition!

We are able to see more bobcats in more places than ever before, thanks to wildlife cameras.

There's great excitement in the birding world as the rare raptor turns up again this winter on the coast of Maine.

Sue Morse’s wildlife tracking courses are training citizens to look and listen to their natural surroundings, to collect data, and to get involved in conservation planning.

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.

In the new year, resolve to get outside, be still, listen and observe. And revisit Jane Yolen's Owl Moon for inspiration to go owling.

Something wildly obsessive drives us to clean-up or “improve” the woods near our homes, dragging branches and tree trunks into piles, which are often fuel for a bonfire. But letting those brush piles decay provides benefits for the forest.

The rough-legged hawk is an Arctic visitor that spends the winter in New Hampshire. It has a unique ability to hover in mid-air while hunting, and tracks its prey using UV vision.

We talk with the Maine state moose biologist, about the state’s study of an innovative moose population management approach. Does fewer moose mean fewer winter ticks, and a healthier moose population?