Named for their polka-dot-like markings, spotted turtles have declined throughout most of their range, which stretches from Maine south along the Atlantic coastal plain to northern Florida, and from…

This week, deep in the shady woods, we discovered a filmy dome web – a less common (or at least, much harder to find) variation on the bowl and doily sheet webs that one often encounters in…

Spittlebugs are the color of a new spring leaf, their bodies both tiny and so fat that you hardly notice their six miniature legs underneath. This plumpness makes them an appetizing snack for various…

This week in the woods, in between storms, we’ve been walking along foggy trails, and wondering … were red-eyed vireos always this loud? Although wet air supposedly dampens sound,…

Your June photos show an abundance of pink and showy lady’s slippers, butterflies and moths, and bird nests. In Randolph, New Hampshire, Jon Gilson discovered a young fawn, and in Chilmark,…

On a walk in the rain, we found this silk-wrapped package of Christmas fern frond leaflets. What created this fern ball? And what benefit does it provide?

Bill Reid’s interests range from history and natural resources to paddling and hiking, so he seems perfectly matched to his role as the Chief Ranger for The Last Green Valley National Heritage…

This week in the woods, the beaver empire’s plans to turn the entire continent into a pond are going swimmingly, and if you look around an active beaver dam, you’re likely to see recent…

When I worked on a college campus, a northern mockingbird often accompanied me on the walk between my car and my office. This slender gray bird darted from the hedges, flashing white wing patches and…

This Week in the Woods, keep an eye out for nature’s fireworks. All this recent rain, combined with a forecast for hot, muggy days, has set up perfect conditions for fireflies. In the meantime,…

When our lilacs bloom in late May, pale yellow butterflies with black stripes arrive to feed on their nectar. These are tiger swallowtails. These exquisite butterflies have a broad black band along…

Beech bark disease, a complex ailment involving a scale insect and two species of Nectria fungi, arrived in North America more than a century ago. The disease complex kills large beech trees, which…

I love a good treasure hunt. I’m not talking about a quest to find buried gold, but the dip and pull of my ponding net. I delight in each search and sort, finding gems such as green damselfly…

The natural world holds countless examples of things intricately connected and seemingly perfectly designed. One spectacular example is the relationship between the ruby-throated hummingbird…

For wood sculptor Danielle Rose Byrd, the creative process is much like a conversation, an intuitive back-and-forth with the block of wood she will carve into a work of art. She considers the flow of…

Young ospreys usually remain at or near their nest for at least 10 days after they can fly, and their parents continue to bring fish to them. When the young are roughly 3 months old, their parents…

When you see an unfamiliar bird, do you reach for a book … or your smartphone? For many of us, it’s the latter. There’s a profusion of bird-identification apps available, but the…

Dewy Meadows Farm in northeastern Pennsylvania has experienced many changes during the past two centuries. One constant, however, is the Dewing family, which has owned this 500-acre parcel since the…

Moisture is a major factor encouraging the growth of northern hardwood trees, but timing is just as important as volume. New research from University of Vermont and the U.S. Forest Service has…

Northeastern bats are on the decline for multiple reasons, especially fungal pathogens that cause white-nose syndrome. To support bat conservation efforts, researchers at University of New Hampshire,…