Conservation

Protecting natural resources—from sea to sky—is about much more than planting a few trees.

Latest in Conservation

The spiney water flea is invading the Upper Midwest.

Environment

A spiky flea could ruin Midwestern ecosystems and kill native fish A spiky flea could ruin Midwestern ecosystems and kill native fish

By Abi Cole/ Outdoor Life

plastic bottles bound together

Environment

Microplastics are everywhere. Here’s what that means for our health. Microplastics are everywhere. Here’s what that means for our health.

A captive spotted eagle ray feeding on mollusks in a tank

Environment

Listen to the soothing sounds of a snacking stingray Listen to the soothing sounds of a snacking stingray

By Purbita Saha

sharks in the ocean

Environment

Sharks and rays are far less abundant in the world’s oceans than 50 years ago Sharks and rays are far less abundant in the world’s oceans than 50 years ago

By Kate Baggaley

Masha Krasnova-Shavaeva illustration

Environment

These jellyfish seem to cheat death. What’s their secret? These jellyfish seem to cheat death. What’s their secret?

By Sara Kiley Watson

corpse flower from above

Environment

Corpse flowers across the country are swapping pollen to stay stinky Corpse flowers across the country are swapping pollen to stay stinky

By Doug Johnson/Undark

The Trump border wall made of concrete and steel on the edge of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona

Environment

How the Trump border wall sapped a desert oasis dry How the Trump border wall sapped a desert oasis dry

By Lucy Sherriff

Red crab on water.

Science

Why everything eventually becomes a crab Why everything eventually becomes a crab

By Sara Kiley Watson

The White House covered in snow

Environment

The Trump administration’s environmental legacy can be undone. Here’s how. The Trump administration’s environmental legacy can be undone. Here’s how.

By Purbita Saha

Borneo’s Gunung Palung National Park

Health

The fight to stop the next pandemic starts in the jungles of Borneo The fight to stop the next pandemic starts in the jungles of Borneo

A pod of fish with red backs and green fins splashing in shallow running water.

Environment

North America’s biggest salmon run may no longer be in danger North America’s biggest salmon run may no longer be in danger

By Alex Robinson / Outdoor Life

Environment

Researchers found signs of human pollution in animals living six miles beneath the sea Researchers found signs of human pollution in animals living six miles beneath the sea

By Kate Baggaley

tropical peatlands Markurius Sera / Borneo Nature Foundation

Health

Conserving tropical peatlands could be key to preventing the next pandemic Conserving tropical peatlands could be key to preventing the next pandemic

Tim Robinson illustration

Environment

Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer Appalachia’s ginseng goldmine may not last much longer

By Emily Cataneo/Undark

Environment

Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA Scientists are tracking down deep sea creatures with free-floating DNA

Environment

Gray wolves are leaving the endangered species list. But should they? Gray wolves are leaving the endangered species list. But should they?

southern right whales

Environment

The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes The secret to helping this resilient whale species lies in its genes

By Emma Carroll/The Conversation

cave spelunking

Environment

Look inside the hidden world of Earth’s most beautiful caves Look inside the hidden world of Earth’s most beautiful caves

By Purbita Saha

William Perry Pendley, Bureau of Land Management.

Environment

One of the country’s top environmental officials has been serving illegally One of the country’s top environmental officials has been serving illegally

By Andrew McKean/Outdoor Life

Environment

We finally know why sea pickles glow We finally know why sea pickles glow

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Environment

How 25 chinchillas could save a mountain How 25 chinchillas could save a mountain

By Ed Stoddard/Undark

mixed-conifer forest

Environment

Healthy forests do more than just prevent wildfires Healthy forests do more than just prevent wildfires

By Bales & Conklin/The Conversation

Dungeness Crabs

DIY

14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean 14 wild edibles you can pull right out of the ocean

By Bob Mcnally/Field & Stream

A ruby-throated hummingbird that hit a glass window, held in someone's hand

Environment

How to help an injured bird How to help an injured bird

By Purbita Saha

Dhritiman Mukherjee captured this gharial daddy giving over 100 of his offspring a ride on his back.

Environment

This crocodile daddy giving 100 babies a ride puts your carpool to shame This crocodile daddy giving 100 babies a ride puts your carpool to shame

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Environment

We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs

By Kate Baggaley

Environment

Loggers could soon slice through one of the most important forests in the US Loggers could soon slice through one of the most important forests in the US

By Bjorn Dihle/ Outdoor Life

Environment

Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help. Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help.

Monarch butterflies

Environment

Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them. Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them.

By D. André Green II/The Conversation

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Environment

This giant Gulf of Mexico reef is a conservation success story—here’s why it’s thriving This giant Gulf of Mexico reef is a conservation success story—here’s why it’s thriving

By Amal Ahmed/Texas Observer

A mother wolverine and her kits ascend a tree.

Environment

Mount Rainier’s first wolverine mama in a century is a sign of the species’ comeback Mount Rainier’s first wolverine mama in a century is a sign of the species’ comeback

The Brooks Range sets the backdrop for vital caribou feeding grounds in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Environment

The Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies—but none may bite The Trump administration opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies—but none may bite

By Scott L. Montgomery/The Conversation

pappy lane shipwreck

Science

This WWII shipwreck hosts an underwater kingdom of bacteria This WWII shipwreck hosts an underwater kingdom of bacteria

By Kate Baggaley

Health

Five stories of sailors who weathered COVID-19 out at sea Five stories of sailors who weathered COVID-19 out at sea

By Herb McCormick

bottlenose dolphins

Environment

Manmade pollutants could be harming marine mammals more than we think Manmade pollutants could be harming marine mammals more than we think

A National Park mountain range against clear blue and lightly clouded skies overlooking a wooded forest area.

Environment

The Great American Outdoors Act proves that grassroots advocacy and democracy still work The Great American Outdoors Act proves that grassroots advocacy and democracy still work

By Robinson & Krebs/ Outdoor Life

deforested area with cut logs

Health

Protecting nature could prevent the next pandemic Protecting nature could prevent the next pandemic

rain dripping off a roof during a storm

Environment

Capturing rainwater is an easy way to save money and the planet Capturing rainwater is an easy way to save money and the planet

Environment

Surfers are riding a wave of new technologies to their Olympic debut Surfers are riding a wave of new technologies to their Olympic debut

sand dunes in a desert with blue skies

Environment

Half of the Earth is still free from human impact, but it’s not all good news Half of the Earth is still free from human impact, but it’s not all good news

Black kids with binoculars

Environment

Black birders have never been safe or celebrated Black birders have never been safe or celebrated

By Jacqueline L. Scott/The Conversation

New Zealands animals

Environment

New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes

By Mara Johnson-Groh

"Albino" tigers are often just captive individuals bred for specific, atypical features.

Environment

‘Tiger King’ would have been more disturbing if it had focused on the big cat trade ‘Tiger King’ would have been more disturbing if it had focused on the big cat trade

By Allison Skidmore/The Conversation

sea turtle in tank

Environment

Sea turtles think old ocean plastic smells delicious Sea turtles think old ocean plastic smells delicious

A ruby-throated hummingbird dips into a nectar feeder.

Environment

Expert-approved ways to feed all your favorite birds Expert-approved ways to feed all your favorite birds

By Julian Avery/The Conversation

Environment

Trump tweets his support for permanently funding a beloved conservation program Trump tweets his support for permanently funding a beloved conservation program

By Ben Long/ Outdoor Life

A bioluminescent ponyfish with a light-generating organ in its esophagus.

Science

Fish gave us legs—and four other finny facts Fish gave us legs—and four other finny facts

Natalie Andrewson illustration

Environment

Whale earwax holds the ocean’s deepest secrets Whale earwax holds the ocean’s deepest secrets

By Donavyn Coffey

aquatic life illustration

Environment

Is it loud in the ocean? Is it loud in the ocean?

By Virginia Gewin

Releasing a redfish

Environment

Releasing a caught fish isn’t as simple as tossing it overboard Releasing a caught fish isn’t as simple as tossing it overboard

By Capt. Spud Woodward/Sportfishing Mag

peregrine falcon staring into camera

Environment

One of the most important laws protecting birds in the US just got gutted One of the most important laws protecting birds in the US just got gutted

joan wong illustration

Science

Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve

By Erin Blakemore

walking shark on the seafloor

Environment

These adorable sharks have evolved to walk across the seafloor These adorable sharks have evolved to walk across the seafloor

By Kate Baggaley

arctic terns flying against clouds with person silhouetted against background

Environment

Marine parks need to move along with the animals they’re protecting Marine parks need to move along with the animals they’re protecting

Lionfish underwater

Environment

This harpoon-throwing robot is designed to hunt destructive lionfish This harpoon-throwing robot is designed to hunt destructive lionfish

By Sara Kiley Watson

a firefighter silhouetted against a bushfire

Environment

Australia’s government needs to take drastic action to prevent future fires—and so do the rest of us Australia’s government needs to take drastic action to prevent future fires—and so do the rest of us

Environment

Australia’s historic bushfires could impact the world’s biodiversity forever Australia’s historic bushfires could impact the world’s biodiversity forever

Aerial view of deforested area of the Amazon rainforest

Environment

The Amazon has shrunk by 24,000 square miles over the last decade The Amazon has shrunk by 24,000 square miles over the last decade

By Liberty Vittert/The Conversation

A northern sea otter swims on its back in Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Environment

A modest proposal for hunting sea otters A modest proposal for hunting sea otters

By Michael R. Shea/Field & Stream

a bucket of penis fish

Environment

Get to know the very charismatic penis fish invading a California beach Get to know the very charismatic penis fish invading a California beach

By Rachel Feltman

A degraded coral reef.

Environment

Scientists have found an unlikely ally in the fight to save coral reefs Scientists have found an unlikely ally in the fight to save coral reefs

By Marlene Cimons/Nexus Media

Beach pollution. Plastic bottles and other trash on sea beach

Environment

The sun can help break down ocean plastic, but there’s a catch The sun can help break down ocean plastic, but there’s a catch

By Sara Kiley Watson

Finally, some good news about humpback whales

Environment

Finally, some good news about humpback whales Finally, some good news about humpback whales

The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it.

Environment

The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it. The Forest Service wants to open 9.2 million acres to potential logging. Here’s your chance to say something about it.

By Alex Robinson / Outdoor Life