Journey With Nature

Most people don't like rats and naturally wouldn't understand why anyone would want to try to save them. Yet the native Allegheny woodrat is a rat anyone could love. State endangered since 1984, Indiana would be at a great loss if these sweet little creatures ended up on our extinction list.

A swamp is not a marsh, and a bog is not a fen, but they are all wetlands. There are many names for our sopping and soggy lands, but what, exactly, makes a wetland a wetland?

We tend to think of exotic, far-away destinations as to where we need to go to see wild orchids, sometimes the best place to look is in our own backyard.

Invasive species displaces our native species, disrupt ecosystems, disturb recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking and has cost us millions of dollars in control efforts. Raising awareness of invasive species is an important first step in preventing future introduction and spread of these aggressive, non-native species.

World Environment Day is commemorated every June 5th as a way to stimulate global awareness of environmental issues and to promote political action.

Bobcats are Indiana's biggest, and most elusive, cat. Although the most common wildcat in North America, they were included in Indiana's original endangered species list in 1969. Lucky for us, and them, the bobcat has made a comeback and was removed from the list in 2005.

When we think of Northwest Indiana, oil refineries and steel mills quickly come to mind. Yet tucked away in the midst of a region known for its heavy industry and dense urbanization lies a globally rare and specie-rich natural community called dune and swale.

The treasure we know as the Great Lakes are now protected in a new way. Indiana was the third state to adopt the Great Lakes Compact - an agreement between the Great Lake states that will keep this national treasure healthy and prevent diversions of water from the basin.

As a federally endangered species since 1967, it goes without saying that the recent sudden deaths of Indiana Bats across the eastern United States have been the cause of much concern for conservationists and scientists alike.

The environmental crisis is an outward manifestation of a crisis of mind and spirit. There could be no greater misconception of its meaning than to believe it is concerned only with endangered wildlife, human-made ugliness, and pollution. These are part of it, but more importantly, the crisis is concerned with the kind of creatures we are and what we must become in order to survive. - from Lynton K. Caldwell's textbook Environmental Science

On every last Friday of April, Hoosiers around the state come together to celebrate trees. And why not? Trees are vital to the environmental quality, and the quality of life, in Indiana.

It is said that frogs have an easy life as they can eat what bugs them. Unfortunately life isn't all that easy for our four-legged friends.

Here's the deal...climate change is very much real. It's impacts have already been felt in our communities and communities all over the world. Although it's a big problem, a few small changes in our daily lives can help lessen the impact of climate change in our society and for future generations to come.

Why did the chicken cross the road? Who cares? Better to ask, why does the sandhill crane fly thousands of miles each year during its migration? Each fall sandhill cranes-plus millions of other birds-fill Indiana skies on their way toward warmer climates.

There is something majestic fluttering across the prairies of northwestern Indiana. A bit of royalty in our state we might have lost forever if not for a bit of land saved in the nick of time.

There's a thief in our forests! It isn't after our gold, but something more precious. It's stealing water, nutrients, and light. The thief is called Asian Bush Honeysuckle, a shrub popular in landscaping for decades. It has been planted in yards across the Midwest - maybe even in yours.

It's winter, and outside the grey skies cast a colorless shadow across Indiana. Yet in woodlands across the state, a botanical fireworks display is poised to appear.

Have you hugged your Teddy Bear today? Seriously. Your Teddy Bear and the natural resources in United States have one thing in common: President Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, also known as the Conservation President.

Insidious. Treacherous. Dangerous. Words used to describe most-wanted criminals and terrorists. But as spring approaches these words are often used to describe the unwelcome garlic mustard, an unrelenting invader of forests across Indiana and the eastern United States.

Ahh, Valentine's Day. THE day for love and romance. This year be sure to include Mother on your list. Mother Earth, that is. With just a little effort, you can find Valentines Day gifts that are both romantic and environmentally friendly.