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Marine debris, or trash that ends up in oceans and waterways, is harmful for wildlife, humans and ecosystems. Curious animals such as seals, dolphins and otters accidentally ingest or become entangled in these items. Other animals, such as birds and turtles, mistake trash for food. Ingested trash can choke and poison them, as well as [...]

September is National Preparedness Month! A 2009 national survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that just over half of respondents have set aside emergency supplies at home, but less than half of survey respondents have a household emergency plan.
Viewer Tip: Are you prepared? Make sure you have the supplies and information you [...]

On warm days, outdoor air pollution concentrations often rise to levels that can impact our health. But did you know that air pollution inside can be worse than air pollution outside? The air we breathe inside a sealed building can be 25 to 100 percent more polluted than the air outside. The U.S. Environmental Protection [...]

Have you noticed that encounters with aggressive yellow jackets increase at this time of year? 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 [...]

The Centers for Disease Control estimate that more than half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into flood waters; the next highest percentage of deaths is from walking into or near flood waters.  Many people falsely believe that cars, trucks and SUVs are heavy enough to maintain contact with the road [...]

Most areas of the United States are now receiving more total annual rainfall than they did 50 years ago. There is significant regional variability in this trend, however. Adding up the total regional positive and negative trends, the U.S. as a whole is now receiving five percent more precipitation each year. The Northeast and northern [...]

A new study from the U.S. Geological Survey shows that scientists found mercury contamination in every fish sampled in 291 streams around the country.  One-quarter of fish sampled exceeded mercury levels set to protect humans who eat average amounts of fish; two-thirds exceeded mercury levels of concern set by U.S. EPA for fish-eating mammals. The [...]

Those who are involved in outdoor sports and recreational activities between the months of May and September can be exposed to the dangers of lightning.  The majority of injuries related to lightning occur over the summer, with 80 percent of injuries occurring between 10 am and 7 pm. 
Viewer Tip:  If you spend time outdoors, have a [...]

Increase the health of your fields by planting a crop and leaving it for an entire season. The benefits of cover crops have been publicized for years. Although they are grown primarily to prevent soil erosion, cover crops can also contribute to nitrogen production, increase soil microbial activity, reduce insect pests and suppress weeds.
Viewer Tip: [...]

Late summer to mid-fall is the best time to observe the wonderfully miniature Ruby-throated Hummingbird.  To reach their wintering grounds, these remarkable birds make a 500-mile migration to Mexico by crossing the Gulf of Mexico without stopping. Saving energy for this trek is no easy task! In fall, the climate cools, plants fall out of bloom and [...]

Fall is a season of mixed messages. On one hand, many plants lose their foliage and revert to a dormant state. On the other hand, fall is nature’s greatest opportunity to introduce new life into our landscapes. Seeds from all kinds of plants are spread over a wide area through the help of natural forces [...]

Georgia has one of the most unique and challenging habitats for plant life on Earth. Places like Stone Mountain, Panola Mountain and Arabia Mountain are all major examples of granite outcrop habitats. Georgian granite outcrops formed from extreme heat and pressure caused when Africa collided with North America many millions of years ago. Over time, [...]

In fall, many plants delight us with the wonderful colors of their leaves. Plant leaves can turn yellow, orange, red, brown, pink, purple and even white! Sure, it provides a magnificent display of beauty. However, these many color changes can also be signals to wildlife.  Some plants’ leaves change colors to attract wildlife: red leaves [...]

Did you know that we live in a part of the country that has one of the best displays of fall colors?  Tourists from all over the world flock to the eastern United States and Canada to view, photograph and enjoy nature’s artistic side. Because of our mild climate and high annual rainfall, all forests [...]

Did you know that the number of automobile-wildlife collisions substantially increases in fall?  Fewer daylight hours results in poor driving conditions during morning and evening commutes. Wildlife is more active in the evening and early morning and especially active in the fall.  Animals that hibernate, like bears or raccoons, travel widely between patches of nut-producing [...]

Fall is a time when the sounds of nature steadily decline. Most people notice the lack of bird songs, but do not notice that frogs, toads and other amphibians also stop their loud, unusual calling at night. Like many other animals, frogs and toads slow down as the weather gets colder. For winter protection, amphibians [...]

If you walk along a Georgia beach in the fall you may see signs of hatching loggerhead sea turtles. Five species of sea turtles can be found in the waters off the coast of Georgia, but the loggerhead is the only species to nest here regularly and has been nesting here for centuries. When a [...]

The fall reshuffle may sound like a new dance step, but it’s actually a natural occurrence. The Eastern Gray Squirrel is the native American mammal people most frequently see east of the Mississippi River. You can see their nests of leaves in holes in trees or on tree limbs. Nests built on tree limbs as [...]

Some people suffer from hay fever all year-round, but it is most common in the spring and fall.  Did you know that animals can also have hay fever?  Some of our pets spend the majority of their lives indoors and when they do venture outdoors, they begin reacting to the pollen of grasses and trees. [...]

Did you know that most humans would operate on a 25-hour cycle without exposure to sunlight? Instead, we operate on a 24-hour cycle, following the 24-hour cycle of the sun.  Humans are “diurnal” animals, sleeping during the night and being active during the day, as opposed to “nocturnal” animals which are active at night.  When [...]