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Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Are you unknowingly harboring tiny hitch-hikers? One of the ways pests, diseases and harmful weeds spread is by hitching a ride with humans, pets and vehicles. An invasive pest is one that is introduced to areas that are not part of its natural range, where it may not have any natural enemies to keep its [...]

Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste left outside wash down storm drains and into local waters. Pet waste can harm water quality in lakes, rivers and streams, making the water unsafe for drinking. Bacteria and nutrients from pet waste can turn fertile waters green from weed and algae growth, making the [...]

Ah-choo! High pollen levels throughout much of the country mean that millions of Americans are sniffling, sneezing and itching. Spring allergies are usually caused by tree pollen, while grasses are generally the culprit during late spring and summer. Weather and environmental conditions affect the severity of your allergy symptoms. Pollen moves around less when conditions [...]

For every two minutes a car idles, it uses about the same amount of fuel it takes to drive one mile. While it may be tempting to idle your car for a few minutes to “warm it up” during winter, 30 seconds is plenty of time to get going. Tailpipe emissions from cars contain pollutants [...]

January is National Radon Action Month. What is radon? Radon is a radioactive gas produced when uranium in soil decays; it can be found all over the United States. Radon gas moves up through the ground into your home through cracks and holes in the foundation, becoming trapped inside. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates [...]

According to AAA, nearly 40 million travelers hit the roads over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! Increased traveling distance and unpredictable weather can result in hazardous driving conditions at this time of year. Here, read about some memorable Thanksgiving weather events and get tips for safe and efficient travel, whether your destination is near or far.

As you get outdoors this fall, know how to protect yourself if you are allergic to urushiol oil of plants, such as poison ivy and poison oak.  Poison ivy’s appearance can vary greatly between plants and in different locations. It always has three leaflets per stem, but some leaves can be broad and big like [...]

Thanks to ragweed, fall is hay fever season for many Americans. Common ragweed occurs all over the country and is in full bloom in Texas in August and September.  It is often confused with tall goldenrod, a showier native plant across much of the United States. Viewer Tip: The “rag” in ragweed comes from the [...]

National Public Lands Day (NPLD) will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011 in more than 2,000 communities around the U.S.  For nearly 20 years, NPLD has been supporting national, state and local public lands by bringing volunteers together to give back and spruce up the lands that belong to all Americans. Volunteers have fun, [...]

Recent flooding, wildfires and earthquakes provide good reminders of the importance of being prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies. According to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, there have been 10 billion-dollar weather disasters so far in 2011, including flooding from Hurricane Irene; drought, heat waves and wildfires in the Southern Plains and Southwest; and [...]

Even on days with relatively mild temperatures of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach dangerous levels. While the windows of a car do not warm very much from the sun’s rays, the objects inside of a car absorb and radiate heat. A dark-colored seat or dashboard can reach temperatures of [...]

Nitrogen and phosphorus are part of healthy aquatic habitats. These nutrients support the growth of underwater plants that provide oxygen and habitat for fish and other animals. They also support algae growth, which is a source of food for many fish and shellfish. Aquatic habitats can become unbalanced, however, when too much nitrogen and phosphorus [...]

Have you noticed more frequent encounters with yellow jackets recently? Yellow jackets are a type of paper wasp found across the country. Depending on the species, they either nest above or below ground in colonies with workers and one queen that lays eggs. During the spring and early summer, workers build-up the colony with chambers [...]

Ocean and lake beaches around the country get closed every year due to poor water quality from pathogens – disease-causing bacteria and viruses. One way that pathogens get into the water is from pet and wild animal waste being washed down storm drains when it rains. In most communities, storm drains discharge storm water directly [...]

Some cities in the United States, such as Miami and Phoenix, receive over 3,000 hours of sun every year! In the summer, when temperatures can top 90 or even 100 degrees, a popular way to beat the heat is to take a dip in the pool. Unfortunately, in some states – including California, Florida and [...]

Although thunderstorms impact relatively small areas when compared to winter storms or hurricanes, they are still dangerous.  Thunderstorms can be accompanied by hail, strong winds and flash flooding. Every thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning. Viewer Tip: In 2011, there have been 13 lightning fatalities* in the United States – all of them have occurred outdoors. [...]