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The United Nation’s New Climate Report: What to Know and What You Can Do October 22, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife We may be on the wrong path to addressing climate change, but it’s not too late to correct course and limit the harm, concluded a new report on climate change from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released last month. Despite progress to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on track to “overshoot,”… 
Colorado Wildlife & Communities Would Benefit from Proposition 137 October 21, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife There are many measures on the Colorado ballot right now, but there’s only one focused on dedicated funding to mitigate the effects of drought and wildfire across the state. Proposition 137 will provide critical funding for state conservation and improve access to Colorado’s great outdoors. Here at National Wildlife Federation we are urging a Yes… 
Listening to the Fakahatchee Jam: At Play in the Wildest Place East of the Mississippi River October 19, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife Florida is an interesting place, existing at a crossroads of incredible development and population growth while still having profound and incredible biodiversity. Florida’s Nature Coast, Everglades National Park and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP) underscore this point. In the late 1980's I was sitting in the library at the University of South Florida (USF)… 
Owls: The Mysterious, Wise, and Graceful Birds of Prey October 15, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Wildlife Facts Owls are probably one of the most popular groups of birds flying through the air due to their beautiful feathers and big eyes; they are certainly one of my favorites! I often hear an owl chorus at night while I’m trying to fall asleep. Owls are mysterious, often heard, but not seen. They are thought… 
The Heat Is On: Understanding How Mexican Free-tailed Bats Regulate Body Temperature During High Heat October 15, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature Bats in California’s Central Valley Bats provide a remarkable natural pest-control service, helping protect California’s Central Valley crops, from rice and vegetables to orchards of fruit and nut trees. Across the United States, bats provide billions of dollars’ worth of natural pest control. Their contribution is especially relevant in California’s Central Valley, one of the… 
Securing Colorado’s Rich Outdoor Heritage: Amendment 83 October 12, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife The National Wildlife Federation was founded in 1936, largely by the will of hunters and anglers who were fed up with widespread habitat degradation, wildlife populations dwindling, and politicians who were unresponsive to ongoing environmental crises. One of our first big victories was led by hunters and anglers with the passage of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife… 
Finding Home Again in Florida’s Changing Climate with a Hammock and Hope October 12, 2026 Posted in: Get Outside, People and Wildlife I bought a hammock just a while back. A normal thing to do, all things considered, but the real importance was what it symbolized for me—recreating home and finding resilience in the new world we live in on the Florida coast. In our new normal of intensifying hurricanes, climate change and sea level rise, these… 
California’s Prop 45: Vote No on Fast-Tracking Pollution & Habitat Destruction October 6, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife The LeConte’s thrasher has always been elusive—its pale plumage blends into the desert landscapes it calls home. But the sand-colored songbird is growing even more difficult to spot. Its population has shrunk by more than 50% over the last 50 years, primarily due to habitat loss. Most LeConte’s thrashers live in California, and one of… 
How Data Center Development is Shaping Rural America’s Farmlands October 1, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Conservation, People and Wildlife Why Farmland Has become a Target for Data Center Development Data center electricity demand is projected to double by 2027, while data centers’ land needs are expected to triple in the next five years. As data center development accelerates, driven by investments in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, developers are searching for more land. Increasingly, that… 
Celebrating National Public Lands Month with Passion, Spirit, and Voice September 30, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife Happy National Public Lands Month! The effort to celebrate, conserve, protect and enhance our public lands culminates with National Public Lands Day on September 26th. This month, I am hopeful that many Americans will gather in shared purpose and spirit on this special day in a fellowship of service and join efforts at the local,… 
A Lively Landscape for Birds and Wildlife: The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge September 28, 2026 Posted in: People and Wildlife The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a gem of the Pacific Northwest, located just off Interstate 5 and a short drive from Portland, Oregon. Wetlands, grasslands, and forests come together here, creating a landscape where diverse wildlife can thrive and visitors can quickly escape into nature. It is particularly special for its accessibility, providing a… 
Pine Needles Are Leaves, Too September 28, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats, Wildlife Facts Every autumn, we talk about fallen leaves: why to leave them when you can, how the leaf litter feeds the soil, who shelters in them through the winter. But some of the most common leaves on the ground probably never come to mind when picturing a yard full of them: pine needles! Pine, or conifer,… 
Leave the Leaves to Attract Birds September 25, 2026 Posted in: Garden Habitats Each October, we celebrate the immense importance of fallen leaves for wildlife through our annual Leave the Leaves month. While many homeowners are used to raking up their leaves and carting them away in yard waste bags, there can be huge benefits to using the leaves in your garden. Learn how backyard birds use the… 
La Influencia del Presupuesto Nacional en el Centro de Conservación de los Polinizadores September 22, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Crisis de los polinizadores Los polinizadores son esenciales para la vida silvestre y su contribución es vital para los ecosistemas y la cadena de alimentos. Todas las abejas, mariposas, polillas, murciélagos y colibríes autóctonos son polinizadores de las plantas que proporcionan los alimentos de los seremos humanos, crean los hábitats de otras especies de la… 
How the National Budget Can Shape the Center’s Work for Pollinators September 22, 2026 Posted in: Conservation Pollinator Crisis Pollinators are essential to wildlife yet often overlooked contributors to our food systems and ecosystems. All native bees, butterflies, moths, bats, and hummingbirds are pollinators and play a crucial role in sustaining the plants that provide food for humans, create habitats for wildlife, stabilize soils, and maintain entire food webs. Unfortunately, these populations… 
Small Potholes, Big Impact September 15, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, People and Wildlife, Wildlife Facts Potholes have a bad reputation. I’ve driven through my fair share of potholes, cringing every time and hoping I won’t end up with a flat tire or knock my car’s alignment out of place. But not all potholes are bad—in fact, there are some extremely important potholes located in the northern Great Plains. Spanning Montana,… 
Nature as Resilience for Environmental Justice September 15, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice Decades of discriminatory planning, disinvestment, and exclusion have led to Black, brown, indigenous, and low-income communities being disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards while being denied environmental benefits. In particular, environmental justice communities have experienced the disproportionate destruction, degradation, and denial of trees, wetlands, parks, and other types of nature. This ‘nature gap’ has resounding consequences… 
Reolink Supports Owl Conservation at SUNY Morrisville September 11, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Students and Nature Reolink and National Wildlife Federation are teaming up again to help college students capture and research owl activity on campus with a goal of advancing conservation and increasing awareness of these bird species. In some areas across the United States, cavity-nesting owl populations, including the American barn owl, have declined. One reason for this decline… 
A Bird’s Eye View of Data Centers September 10, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Environmental Justice Data centers along the Columbia River. Credit: EcoFlight A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take flight over one of the country’s data center hotspots. Within the hour, I got a bird’s-eye view of what attracts data centers to an area like the Columbia River: hydroelectric dams, which provide plentiful energy, large swaths… 
We Knew that Gary, Indiana Was Vulnerable. September 9, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice On August 11, winds reaching 99 miles per hour tore through Gary, Indiana, as part of a powerful derecho that swept across the Midwest. The storm caused significant damage to infrastructure including several downed trees and power lines. As a result, tens of thousands of customers in and around Gary lost electricity. For some residents,… 
Listening to the songs of the Longleaf pines September 9, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Deforestation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife I am a child of Florida, born and raised, and plan on being a Floridian until the end. I love all the varied and wild ecosystems of my home state, but if I had to pick my favorite tree and ecosystem, it would be the sandhills and uplands of the longleaf pine. These special trees… 
Why Labor and Environmental Partnerships Matter September 8, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Environmental Justice, People and Wildlife For 20 years, the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA) has brought an essential idea to the environmental movement: protecting our climate and creating good jobs are not competing goals. They are part of the same vision for a healthier, more prosperous future. For their anniversary, we at the National Wildlife Federation (a member of BGA) are reflecting… 
Meet NWF’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council: Reverend Leo Woodberry September 3, 2026 Posted in: Environmental Justice This blog is part of a series introducing National Wildlife Federation’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC). Established in 2023, the EJAC provides advice and guidance not only to the Environmental Justice, Health, and Community Resilience and Revitalization program, but to the National Wildlife Federation and its board of directors. This council is the first of… 
Celebrating the 2026 NWF E&E Youth Advisory Council Session August 31, 2026 Posted in: Students and Nature The National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Education & Engagement (E&E) team expresses our appreciation for our 2026 Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This enterprising group of six young leaders, ages 15-22, brought a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, education, and career preparation and planning. Guiding Career Exploration at Eco-Schools in Detroit and Beyond This year’s council was… 
5 Benefits of Using Fallen Leaves in Your Garden August 31, 2026 Posted in: Conservation, Garden Habitats One of the best things you can do for wildlife, the environment, and even your wallet is to intentionally use the fallen leaves and other organic matter in your garden. Discover all of the benefits provided by leaving the leaves! 1. It Helps Wildlife There are so many wildlife species that depend on fallen leaves.… 
Gone Fishing at the Offshore Wind Turbines August 27, 2026 Posted in: Clean Energy, Conservation, Get Outside, People and Wildlife In the early morning hours of a hot day at the end of July, anglers from across the country gathered on a dock in Point Judith, Rhode Island, to spend the day on the ocean fishing at wind turbines over 15 nautical miles offshore. The anglers excitedly loaded their poles, coolers, and other gear onto… 
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… 