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Miss Wildlife USA August 26, 2026 Posted in: Wildlife Facts As Miss USA premieres on this final week of August 2026, we thought we'd throw our own beauty pageant featuring fresh, bold, talented, and diverse contestants. Don't miss this fierce competition of feathers and scales! Who's your favorite beauty queen on Miss Wildlife USA? Miss Maryland | The black rail Talents: Black rails are typically… 
U.S. Workers Deserve Protection From Extreme Heat August 26, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife Across the country, temperatures climbed into the triple digits this summer, putting over 100 million people under a heat alert in early August. Summers like this have become increasingly common. Year after year, extreme heat is breaking records and heat waves are occurring more often and lasting longer—46 days longer, in fact. Extreme heat has… 
Meet the Neighbors Helping Wildlife Thrive: 5 Trees for Wildlife Triumphs in 2026 August 24, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Garden Habitats, People and Wildlife Native trees are some of the best neighbors a community can have. Their branches provide homes for nesting birds, their flowers feed hungry pollinators, and their roots protect waterways and reduce flooding. They also make our neighborhoods healthier by cooling down streets, cleaning the air, and creating safe places to gather. Every native tree strengthens… 
Plan a Garden Party and Find Out What Native Tree YOU Are! August 24, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Throwing a party is often how we bring people together and build community, which is essential for human well-being. Trees may not throw parties, but they are still important community members that support wildlife and humans alike. A native tree is any tree that has naturally occurred in your region for hundreds or thousands of… 
Enlivening Green Spaces with the Sacred Grounds Program August 18, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats Sacred Grounds™ is a National Wildlife Federation program that recognizes congregations, houses of worship, and faith communities who both create wildlife habitat and actively link faith practices with caring for the environment. Throughout year-round programming, we work alongside local partners in assisting with project planning and technical expertise to increase native plant gardens. Learn more… 
A Case Study in Nature-Based Solutions: Coney Island, NY August 18, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature By protecting, restoring, and integrating nature into our communities, we can create more beautiful and enjoyable environments while helping to protect ourselves from mounting natural disaster risk. These approaches are known as “natural infrastructure” or “nature-based solutions.” They harness nature and natural processes to address everyday challenges. The case study below is featured in NWF’s… 
America’s Whale: The Endangered Rice’s Whale Can No Longer Call its Gulf Home Safe August 12, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Wildlife Facts The Rice’s whale is listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and is one of the rarest whales in the world with fewer than 100 whales left on the planet. Some call the Rice’s whale, America’s whale, because it is believed to be the only whale species that lives year-round in U.S.… 
Expanding Clean Energy Requires a Responsible Critical Minerals Supply Chain August 11, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy We are currently witnessing the consequences of an overheating planet. Prolonged heat waves, uncontrollable wildfires, flash flooding and other extreme weather events have become too common in recent years. Pollution from burning fossil fuels for over 200 years has built up in our atmosphere—overheating the planet and causing the real-world impacts we’re seeing daily. The… 
The Other Day in Florida: How A Journey to the Gulf Coast Inspired the Modern Conservation Movement August 5, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside As I drove north along Florida’s Nature Coast just the other day, I pondered the legacy of John Muir's journey of over 1000 miles that led him to the Gulf at Cedar Key, Florida and to a deeply different direction in his life. Muir, a conservationist and co-founder of the Sierra Club, was a young… 
An iconic orca calf has arrived. And it needs more to eat July 30, 2026 Posted in: Conservation It’s summer in the Pacific Northwest, and with it comes news of the arrival of a Southern Resident orca calf. Each time, we greet this news with joy, yet prepare for heartache.This round is no different: New southern resident orca calf spotted as another vanishes. The photo accompanying the June news story of a newborn… 
More Than Volunteers: How General Motors Mentors Power a Year of Eco-Schools Impact July 27, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature Behind every impact metric in the National Wildlife Federation General Motors Green STEAM Partnership is a relationship. For over a decade, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and General Motors (GM) have partnered to bring Eco-Schools U.S. to students, educators, and schools across Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Missouri, and at the heart of that work… 
Spark Joy in Your Outdoor Events by Blending Forest Bathing, Nature Appreciation, and Wildlife Education July 9, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside Did you know you can practice forest bathing in any natural environment, such as your backyard, a local park, or a Certified Wildlife Habitat® garden? Read this blog to learn more about the practice of forest bathing and to access tips and resources on how to level up your outdoor events this summer through forest… 
Sea Turtle Conservation and the Familial Bonds Shaped by Nature July 9, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife People gaze at me with a puzzled expression when I explain that a nesting loggerhead sea turtle helped build our family. It is the truth. On a darkened, windswept beach along the coast of Georgia, a sea turtle nested as we struggled to build our family. The magic, the miracle she shared with us that evening, still… 
Marine Animal Quiz: It’s Plastic Free July! July 6, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Wildlife Facts This Plastic Free July, take the time to learn more about how plastic pollution in the oceans of the world harms marine life and consider action steps you can take to reduce your plastic waste footprint. The first-ever global analysis of plastic production found that “between 2002 and 2015 we made the exact same amount… 
Pondering Extinction, Creation, and Endangered Species Day June 26, 2026 Posted in: Conservation The Rev. Fred Morris, then the president of the Florida Council of Churches, once observed that losing a species to extinction was akin to “tearing a page from the Book of Genesis.” As a person of faith, I take these words to heart. One morning this past spring, I pondered this thought while I was… 
Why You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Tarantula Hawk Wasps June 25, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts If you’ve planted milkweed for monarchs in the US Southwest and started noticing big, iridescent blue wasps with bright orange wings working in the flowers (or worse, rocketing straight toward you!), it’s understandable if your first reaction is alarm. These are tarantula hawk wasps, and they have a bad reputation for their sting, which is… 
7 Moths that Make Butterflies Look Boring June 24, 2026 Posted in: Wildlife Facts Butterflies are incredible insects, but let’s be honest, moths need some love. They just aren’t as popular as butterflies, and they certainly should be! Both belong to the large order of insects, Lepidoptera, which refers to the tiny scales covering most moth and butterfly wings. Despite butterflies getting more attention, moth species actually dominate the… 
Go Plastic Free This July June 24, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Summer is here, and we are all on the go. We are headed to the beach to visit family and friends, going out into nature on a camping trip, and the list goes on. This means we reach for the easy and convenient options as we head out the door, pack our bags and cars… 
NWF Program for High Schoolers in New York State Fosters Community, Hope and Civic Action June 23, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature “The YSC provides a place for students who are passionate about climate change to meet and learn. The program helps students see all the possibilities they have through activism and guest speakers. Every student deserves a place to connect with people who share similar values. Connection, organizing, activism, and education is crucial for climate progress.… 
What Drought Reveals About Our Changing Climate June 23, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Conservation As of May 2026, more than half the country had experienced drought this year, making it the worst spring drought recorded in decades. Unfortunately, these drought conditions have been increasing for years. From 2020 to early 2023, more than 40 percent of the continental United States remained under some level of drought for extended periods.… 
Wild Kingdom Grant Program Supports Research and Conservation on Campus June 23, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and the National Wildlife Federation continue their partnership to inspire and support the efforts of the next generation of conservation leadership. We are collaborating on a series of grants that support colleges and universities in showcasing and funding innovative, solutions-based programs that help protect threatened and endangered wildlife and their habitats.… 
Meet the 2026 Class of NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows June 22, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is pleased to introduce the recipients of this year’s graduate student research fellowships. Each year, NWF Graduate Student Research Fellows support the advancement of NWF Education and Engagement programs through dedicated research projects. This research helps to expand the content and development of a variety of efforts across NWF's Education and… 
10th Annual EcoCareers Summit: Where Inspiration Meets Preparation June 22, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature This spring, students and young leaders from across the country hoping to work in careers that protect the planet came together for the tenth Annual NWF EcoCareers Summit. The Summit provided key career and leadership development advice from leaders in sustainable landscaping, climate resilience, and wildlife and habitat protection. Each day of the summit opened with inspiring keynote addresses, followed by sector-specific career panels where industry professionals shared… 
QUIZ: Dive Into the Hammerhead Shark Challenge! June 22, 2026 Posted in: Wildlife Facts While the great white shark might be one of the most well-known of all sharks, the hammerhead shark is easily the most recognizable. Instead of the more common pointed head of many shark species, the hammerhead shark has a wide head, some think it looks like a hammer (hence the name), or a mallet, with… 
Rolling Back Bonding Reforms Threatens Wildlife, Clean Water, and Taxpayers June 18, 2026 Posted in: Conservation The Department of the Interior announced it will roll back important safeguards that protect wildlife, clean water, and taxpayers by proposing to repeal oil and gas bonding reforms on public lands. These commonsense reforms were designed to ensure that oil and gas companies—not the American public—pay for cleaning up drilling sites when operations end. That… 
How You Can Make a Difference in Conservation This 250th Birthday June 18, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” - Margaret Mead This year, the United States is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, an incredible document created by people determined to make change happen. Undoubtedly, communities across the… 
Restoring Hope: NYC Students Help Build Coastal Resilience for Climate Impacts June 17, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife, Students and Nature For the fifth consecutive year, hundreds of New York City public school students, their teachers, and community and corporate volunteers came together to plant American beachgrass in Coney Island Creek Park—Brooklyn’s last urban estuary. The Park is an 8.5-acre natural area that provides recreation for more than 50,000 people. Once rich in fish, oysters, crustaceans,… 
Environmental Justice and the Path to Citizenship: Part 2 June 17, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice This is the second blog in a two-part series on environmental justice and local civic engagement. In the first blog, I spoke with EJ Policy Advocate Aurora Rugerio with CAUSE about the importance of participating in local events and organizing opportunities for residents to share their experiences with environmental injustices and to reach out to… 
Environmental Justice Through Civic Engagement at a Local and State Level: Part 1 June 17, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice This is the first in a two-part series on environmental justice and local civic engagement. Next, we’ll talk with the founders and coordinators of Swap Meet Justice/Justicia Tianguera about what it takes to stay civically engaged while navigating the path to citizenship, and how those barriers can limit participation in decisions that shape a community’s… 
Where Indigenous Stewardship Meets Federal Policy June 11, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This spring, the National Wildlife Federation hosted a Tribal Advocacy Fly-In in Washington, D.C., bringing together Indigenous conservation leaders from across the country to share solutions and advocate for policies that protect wildlife, restore ecosystems, and strengthen Tribal stewardship. Advocates representing Tribal nations met with members of Congress to discuss a range of priorities including… 
How to Garden for Pollinators Using Evolutionary History June 9, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts There’s a quiet conversation happening in our gardens and it’s older than any one of us. A flower’s shape, color, scent, and the time of day it opens are all ways of saying something, something specific, about who’s invited to dinner. Every bloom is advertising to a particular pollinator, which has been coming for millions… 
Data Centers are Driving Up Your Energy Bill June 9, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy Electricity demand in the United States is growing faster than it has in over 20 years. One major reason? Data centers. With the gratuitous rise of artificial intelligence (AI), tech companies are quickly trying to build the infrastructure needed to power these hubs. New data centers are popping up across the country, with large-scale data… 
Educating North Carolina Landowners on Longleaf Pine Management June 9, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Deforestation, People and Wildlife There’s nothing like an Earth Day spent learning about restoring native forests, and this April, that’s exactly what nearly 40 Southeastern residents did. Landowners and professionals gathered in Maysville, North Carolina, tucked away in the coastal plain, for The Longleaf Alliance’s Longleaf and the Landowner Academy. This three-day workshop focused on providing landowners with resources… 
Growing Tomorrow’s Environmental Leaders June 8, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature Across Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Missouri, students are discovering that sustainability is more than an environmental responsibility—it's an opportunity to become scientists, engineers, problem-solvers, and leaders. For 11 years, the National Wildlife Federation's Eco-Schools U.S. program and General Motors (GM) have partnered through the GM Green STEAM Partnership to support student-led environmental action. Through… 
Why Neglecting the Great Northwoods Threatens Michigan’s Businesses June 2, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Deforestation, People and Wildlife John Mueller has owned the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge since 2018. This property, built in 1934 on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula, resides in the Great Northwoods—more than 60 million acres of pure, intact forests spanning Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. These woods are a recreational haven, and the Lodge is at the heart; it serves as a rustic… 
4 Wildlife Gardens Across the Country June 2, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, People and Wildlife The Certified Wildlife Habitat® program is over 50 years old and remains one of the largest national (and increasingly international) native plant movements. Since 1973, our goal has been to inspire people to plant native and maintain their yards, gardens, and community green spaces to benefit wildlife and people. Today, an estimated seven million people… 
Ocean IQ: How Well Do You Know the Big Blue? June 1, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Wildlife Facts There is one global ocean that covers 71 percent of the earth, and it’s divided into five oceanic regions—the Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, Pacific, and Southern (also called the Antarctic) oceans. These five oceans can be beautiful, calming, scary (sometimes), and often provide endless fun for kids AND adults—swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving, boating, fishing, the list… 
Oceans are the Heart of the Planet May 29, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Oceans are much more than just a major element of the world’s natural environment. They are essential to all life and humans’ progress can be directly linked in some way to the overwhelming presence and impact of oceans throughout the world. History reflects that they have figured in the spread of humanity around the world… 
The New Policy That Will Lower Energy Bills May 19, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy Across the country, families are experiencing rising electricity bills. In fact, you may be among the 1 in 3 households that struggles to pay their energy bills. Since 2021, home electricity costs have gone up almost 40 percent, with prices growing by 7 percent just last year. This increase is not only outpacing inflation, but… 
Buy a Duck Stamp, Save a Wetland May 19, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife, Students and Nature I grew up in the country’s driest state, Nevada. With annual rainfall averaging only about 10 inches, water is a precious resource in the desert, even more so for our wetlands. While wetlands cover less than 5% of Nevada, they support over 75% of native and migratory species. That’s why every fall, my elementary school… 
Major Milestones for Offshore Wind May 18, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy We are in a season of milestones for offshore wind energy. Three projects off the Atlantic Coast of the U.S. celebrated major progress towards completion: Vineyard Wind 1, an 800-megawatt (MW) project south of Martha’s Vineyard, MA, completed construction on all 62 turbines. The last turbines still need to undergo commissioning (the process of inspections,… 
You’ve Heard of Bigfoot… What About Florida’s Skunk Ape? May 14, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, Uncategorized I yearn to believe that even as Florida’s population crests 23 million people there still might be pockets of wilderness, deep or remote enough, to provide habitat for creatures not yet discovered. Or creatures not seen in many a year. In Florida we call our Bigfoot by their proper Florida name, Skunk Apes. “Skunk” refers… 
Students Tell us Why Protecting Endangered Species is Important! May 14, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature Launched in 2024 in the heart of Times Square in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the LG Vulnerable and Endangered Species Series, a part of their “Life’s Good” campaign, aims to educate K-12 students and raise awareness on issues related to biodiversity, wildlife conservation and habitat. What began as a collaboration pairing LG’s immersive 3D… 
What Repealing the Public Lands Rule Means for America’s Wildlife and Public Lands May 13, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife In 2024, the Bureau of Land Management finalized a Public Lands Rule (also called the Conservation & Landscape Health Rule) designed to improve the stewardship of public lands by putting conservation on par with other uses. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages more than 245 million acres of public land for many purposes, including… 
Visit a Public Certified Wildlife Habitat® this Spring! May 12, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Get Outside Botanical gardens and arboretums offer numerous benefits to the public. Outside of just offering a beautiful and calming space to enjoy nature, they provide education and can even serve as inspiration for your own garden. This month we’re excited to celebrate the Go Public Gardens Days with the American Public Gardens Association. Discover some great… 
Shining a Light on Conservation (Not the Beach): How Coastal Communities are Working to Save Sea Turtles May 12, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Our DaRin Butz Foundation National Wildlife Federation internship provided the opportunity to learn directly about the effects of coastal light pollution and to see those impacts firsthand. While participating in lighting surveys on Pensacola Beach, we observed how artificial lighting from nearby homes and businesses can disrupt nesting and hatching sea turtles. These experiences motivated… 
This Mother’s Day, Love Mother Earth May 8, 2026 Posted in: Deforestation There are many ways to show love — with words, actions, flowers, but few gestures say “I care” quite like chocolate! So this Mother’s Day, let’s show Mother Earth that we care about her, her health, her forests, and the people who call her home. We can do that by making better choices when we… 
The AI Data Center Boom Is an Environmental Justice Crisis May 7, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice The rapid expansion of data centers to power artificial intelligence (AI) is often described as a story of modern technology, innovation, and economic development. But for many environmental justice communities, it is a story about issues more familiar: a fight over land, water, energy, pollution, public money, and who gets a meaningful say before decisions… 
Deep Breaths: How One Community Took on Industry Pollution and Won May 7, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice Barb Pace sits in a room with several neighbors at the Shenango Coke Works plant on Neville Island, just north of Pittsburgh, attending yet another company-hosted luncheon. It was one of many that came with a serving of stuffed cabbage. “This is not overriding the smell of the pollution you got here,” she said boldly.… 
Rolling Back Clean Air Protections: What’s at Stake for Public Health, Wildlife, and the Economy May 6, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970 as a response to the increasingly deadly smog and air pollution that blanketed cities across the country, is one of the most significant environmental success stories in modern history. This law, along with other environmental regulations and amendments over the years, established national limits on harmful pollutants and… 