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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… 
Growing Change: How New Jersey Students Are Leading the Way in Sustainability May 6, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature Step into the courtyard of Lincoln Middle School in Kearny, and you’ll immediately notice something special. This isn’t just an outdoor space—it’s a living classroom. Beneath a covered pavilion, surrounded by bird feeders, raised garden beds, and pollinator plants, students are actively learning, growing, and giving back. What happens in this courtyard extends far beyond… 
Rooted in Place: Lessons from a Wildlife Refuge May 5, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside Growing up in northwest Pennsylvania, I was surrounded by the rhythms of rural America. Farmers tended their fields down the road from me, my family headed out for hunting trips, and many people in our community took pride in the shared sense of self-sufficiency that came from the land. There was a deep understanding that… 
Three Unexpected Places to Find Refuge in Nature Near Denver, Colorado May 4, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife Colorado is known for its sweeping landscapes, recreational opportunities, and iconic wildlife. Any visitor or resident who is online searching for, “Things to do in Colorado,” is soon inundated with a never-ending list of options for nature-lovers and recreationists alike. With world-class nature destinations dotting the I-70 corridor and beyond, it’s easy to be overwhelmed.… 
Kentucky Wins in Environmental Protections Campaign May 4, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife A dangerous model bill is spreading across state legislatures nationwide, threatening waterways, wildlife, and public health by tying the hands of state regulators—making it extremely difficult to respond to water quality and public health challenges. These bills—which appear to be written by a conservative DC think tank—would effectively make it illegal for state environmental and… 
Data Centers, Water, and the Strain on Local Resources May 4, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Data Centers and Water Use Data centers are driving huge increases in electricity demand in the U.S.—and placing parallel pressures on water. Data centers are quietly becoming major water users, often in water-stressed regions. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates demand for computing power, data centers are expanding rapidly, placing new and largely unregulated pressure on… 
Fighting Toxic “Forever Chemicals” on Our Farms April 30, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife PFAS are toxic, nearly indestructible chemicals found in cookware, firefighting foam, and sewage waste. They’re poisoning farms, wildlife, and drinking water, threatening the livelihood and cultures of fishers and hunters. Jason Grostic ran a century-old organic beef farm in Michigan, which had been in his family for generations. His family fertilized the farm with “biosludge”… 
Behind the Scenes of Conservation: The Role of Conservation Technical Assistance April 30, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers several voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs that help farmers, ranchers, and foresters implement practices that protect soils, water and wildlife. In fact, in 2023 USDA conservation impacted over 53 million acres, or an area larger than the state of Utah. This was the result of $6.6 billion in funding… 
Riverscape Restoration: Where the Grass is Greener on the Riverside April 29, 2026 Posted in: Conservation In the middle of Northern Nevada’s desert landscape, Maggie Creek stands out like a beacon. Its streambanks boast a diversity of vegetation, including grasses, cattails, and willows. During some of the hottest, driest months of the year, the slow-moving waterway continues to flow. If you were to rewind a few decades, the scenery would look… 
Connecting to Wild Florida and the Gulf in an Era of Climate Change April 28, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife Florida has always been a land of profound changes. Seas have naturally risen and fallen over thousands of years, greatly expanding and contracting the peninsula. A key difference now is that the invading sea that confronts us is rising as a result of human interference—a new reality we are facing across the globe. Florida, in… 
Eco-Schools Kicks Off Another Year of Student-Led Sustainability Through STEAM Learning April 27, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature In early 2026, the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program launched another impactful year in partnership with General Motors (GM), bringing together schools across Metro Detroit and beyond to drive sustainability in their school communities. Now in its 11th year, this collaboration empowers students and educators to take climate action through hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering,… 
Monarch Heroes: Taking Flight Beyond the School Grounds and into the Community April 22, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Garden Habitats, People and Wildlife, Students and Nature On March 17th, Mexican officials announced a 64% increase from the previous year in the overwintering monarch butterfly population in Mexico—the largest population in seven years!! How do researchers know there is an increase? They estimate the population by measuring the total area of trees occupied by the species. This winter season, the butterflies occupied… 
What in the Hellbender? April 22, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife, Wildlife Facts Endangered Species Day this year falls on May 15, 2026. In 2006 the U.S. Congress designated the third Friday in May as Endangered Species Day (ESD). ESD spotlights and advances conservation efforts for threatened and endangered species in the U.S. and around the world. It’s an opportunity to learn about endangered species and to take… 
Wildlife Gardening Can Provide Mental Health Benefits, Too! April 21, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, People and Wildlife May is both Garden for Wildlife® Month and Mental Health Awareness Month! To celebrate these two important causes, we’ve pulled together 6 ways your garden can help support mental health. Join us this month by getting outside in your own garden (or a community green space) to plant native species and enjoy all the benefits… 
On the Anniversary of the Largest Oil Spill in U.S. History, Gulf Wildlife are Again at Risk April 21, 2026 Posted in: Conservation The Gulf Coast in the late spring and early summer of 2010 was unrecognizable. Oil slicks covered miles of open water, tar balls washed on to beaches (where they’d be found for years to come) and pictures of brown pelicans and endangered sea turtles awash in oil covered the front pages of newspapers across the… 
The American Flamingo is Fabulous in Pink April 20, 2026 Posted in: Wildlife Facts The National Wildlife Federation is proud to continue its partnership with LG Electronics (LG) on their ongoing campaign to highlight vulnerable and endangered species. This spring, LG’s Time Square display spotlights the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber). The American flamingo is one of the largest species of flamingo, it can be up to 5 feet tall… 
The Farm Bill and Wildlife: Why This Policy Moment Matters April 16, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Do you remember back in 2018, when the world watched the historic Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the highly anticipated royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, or the record-breaking premiere of the movie Black Panther? What you might not remember is that 2018 also marked the last time the Farm Bill officially passed. Congress typically… 
Earth Month Bingo! April 14, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife We’re well into Earth Month—April, that is! The love for our shared planet couldn’t be contained to just one day. Globally, there’s so much action happening around climate change, land and wildlife conservation, and sustainability. It can be daunting to figure out how one person can make a change or start an earth-friendly habit. To… 
Postcard from the Pacific Flyway: Willapa National Wildlife Refuge April 14, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside The Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is a broad network of interconnecting waterways, coastal forest, estuaries, sloughs and riparian and river ecosystems. This rich mix of diverse habitat provides refuge for over 200 bird species to rest, nest and winter, including over 30 species of waterfowl (ducks and geese) and over 30 species of shorebirds. It’s… 
Glowing in the Dark: The Secret UV Lightshow in Your Backyard April 14, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, Wildlife Facts Somewhere outside your window right now, animals are glowing. You won’t see it without help, but shine an ultraviolet flashlight into your backyard on a warm night and you might find pink opossums, bright blue frogs, or green and yellow bats. This is biofluorescence: one of the least understood but surprisingly widespread phenomena of the… 
Butler University in Indianapolis certifies as a National Wildlife Federation Plastics Reduction Partner April 13, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is excited to award Butler University the Plastics Reduction Partner Bronze level certification for their efforts to reduce single-use plastic waste on campus. Butler University, a private university in Indianapolis, Indiana, earned points towards their Bronze-level certification through actions to build awareness on campus about the harmful impacts of plastics, by… 
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the MSA and the Angler Contributions that are Critical to Healthy and Abundant Marine Fisheries April 13, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife This April, the National Wildlife Federation joins conservationist and anglers around the globe in celebrating the milestone 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, also known as the “MSA”. The MSA is the primary U.S. federal law that governs fishing in our nation’s ocean waters. Considered one of the most effective fishery… 
Science is for Everyone: Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Cities Monitor Monarch Migration Through Community Science Efforts April 9, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife Every year, cities participating in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge program monitor different legs of the monarch migration through community science events. These events encourage individuals to collect data that contributes to scientific knowledge and shapes sustainability efforts. A large group of community members often has the capacity to collect more data across a broader geographic… 
National Wildlife Refuges: A Birdwatcher’s Paradise April 6, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife Birding sits at the intersection of so many of my interests: the solitude of nature, the beauty of wildlife, and the excitement of discovery. Blend in my longtime love of photography, and the gravitational pull was too much to resist. From backyard Baltimore orioles to transient cerulean warblers and theropodian heron to truly ineffable American… 
Know More to Grow More April 3, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Conservation outreach professionals are tasked with the challenge of not only clearly explaining conservation programs but also personally connecting with farmers. This combination of technical skills and personal communication skills is rare, since the skills are seldom taught in school and professional development opportunities are uncommon or unsupported. The National Wildlife Federation designed a training… 
Why Conservationists—and Everyone—Should Care About the Right to Vote April 3, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife People from all walks care about our country’s wildlife, beautiful natural landscapes, and other issues affecting their lives and communities. We all rely on clean air, clean water, and intricately intertwined ecosystems that help prevent wildfires and flooding. At its best, our democracy connects Americans’ concerns and needs with the decision-makers who can address them.… 
The Wonder of the Oregon’s Wallowa Mountains and HB 4134 April 1, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife On the edge of the Eagle Cap Wilderness in Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon, I found myself surrounded by forests of firs and pine criss-crossed by mountain streams and dotted with alpine meadows. These habitats support abundant wildlife including Pacific marten, the gray wolf and even the elusive wolverine—of which there are likely fewer than… 
How Family, Friend and Neighbor Care Providers are Bridging the Nature Gap for Young Children in Colorado March 31, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature Across Colorado and around the country, families with young children are leaning on trusted members of their communities for a valuable and essential service—child care. Grandparents, relatives, friends, and neighbors are a vital thread in the fabric of our nation’s early care and education system. Family, Friend and Neighbor (FFN) care is a broad term… 
Building hope, organizing communities, and strategic planning on Florida’s Coast March 27, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Anyone who has the fortitude to follow the news these days has concluded that climate solutions are not currently coming from leaders in Tallahassee, Florida or Washington, D.C. It is easy to succumb to despair rather than hope. But while we may not find solutions from above, we are blessed with springs of hope and… 
Oil and Gas Mandates Could Reshape Colorado’s Public Lands and Wildlife March 26, 2026 Posted in: Conservation When the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed last year, its sheer size and complexity made it difficult to grasp the full scope of its consequences. Months later, the picture is coming into sharper focus—and for those of us who care about public lands, it is troubling. The law’s mandatory oil and gas leasing… 
8 Ways to Celebrate Native Plant Month March 26, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats April is Native Plant Month! Did you know that native plants have many benefits? They are the best bet when it comes to supporting wildlife like butterflies and bees. Plus, they are naturally adapted to thrive in your soil and the weather of your region, making them easy to care for. Learn more about native… 