That’s why every fall, my elementary school art teacher would load our class onto a bus and take us to Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Together, we’d sit quietly along the banks of the preserve’s wetland and sketch our entries for the Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

While the blazing sun beat down the same as ever, it felt like our class had been transported to an oasis, and the usually quiet desert was teeming with life. Warblers and thrushes darted through the brush. Native waterfowl like mallards and ruddy ducks drifted and dove across the open water.

My pencil was never quite quick enough to capture the fleeting motion, but that didn’t matter to me. It was a way to connect with nature in a place where it can feel so scarce.

But Nevada is only getting drier. The American Southwest is undergoing a severe “mega-drying,” and in Nevada, studies show that nearly 40% of groundwater wells have experienced major water level declines. Groundwater-dependent ecosystems like wetlands shrink as a result.

For waterfowl, that means fewer places to land and feed during migratory season. These small, fragile habitats that support the majority of wildlife in Nevada could disappear altogether.

Nevada’s wetlands rely on conservation efforts from hunters and anglers. In 1934, sportsmen, concerned about dwindling duck populations, rallied around the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, commonly known as the Duck Stamp Act.

Signed by President Roosevelt, the act established the Duck Stamp Program, an annually released stamp featuring wildlife art. The first Duck Stamp was designed by renowned conservationist and National Wildlife Federation’s first president, Jay N. “Ding” Darling.

Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service holds an annual competition for artists and wildlife enthusiasts to showcase their bird-themed artwork, with the winning design printed on that year’s Duck Stamp. They also host the Junior Duck Stamp Contest, an entry point into conservation for many (including myself).

Not only do these stamps raise awareness for conservation, but the Duck Stamp Program has been one of the most successful tools for funding wetland protection.

Since its inception, the Duck Stamp has raised over $1.3 billion dollars and protected over 6 million acres of habitat for waterfowl and countless other species. Artist or not, you can help support wetland conservation. 98% of the proceeds of the Duck Stamp go directly towards acquiring and protecting wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Those who are interested in entering the 2026 Duck Stamp Contest can submit their art to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Headquarters from June 1 to August 15, 2026. This year, contestants can choose from this list of approved species to feature on their design:

• Cackling Goose
• Blue-winged Teal
• Mottled Duck
• Long-tailed Duck
• King Eider

You can learn more about the Duck Stamp Contest submission guidelines here.

In Florida we call our Bigfoot by their proper Florida name, Skunk Apes. “Skunk” refers to the purported strong horrible odor that surrounds them. And “Ape” is a reference to their primate-like qualities. 

My appreciation of conservation biology leads me to profound skepticism, but I do hold out hope that an Ivory-billed Woodpecker or two still haunts the deepest, most remote swamps and lowlands left in Florida. Perhaps they occasionally gaze down at a Skunk Ape from their secretive perches or cavity trees.

What does it mean when all the mystery of a place is gone? How does that shape our concept of wilderness? Is the darkened swamp more valuable to us because we think something mysterious might still be out there, just beyond what we understand? 

The Gulf Coast of Florida, while highly developed in many places, still has some long stretches of remote refuges and preserves filled with longleaf pines, oak hammocks, cypress stands, seagrass meadows, coastal marshes, swamps, spring fed rivers and blackwater and alluvial river basins.

Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area and National Wildlife Refuge, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge, Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, the southern portions of Apalachicola State Forest and Tate’s Hell State Forest all seem like good Skunk Ape territory. Remote and wild still.

Rumor holds that Goethe State Forest is a hot bed of sightings of Skunk Apes. Articles have appeared in local newspapers over the years. Is the truth indeed out there? 

When I started my research for this essay I immediately was drawn to something intriguing and somewhat heartwarming. Those who are seeking the Skunk Ape in Goethe frequently take and leave gift baskets for them. In today’s current environment, this small act of kindness seems almost quaint and surely heartfelt.

But what exactly does one put in said basket? Further research led me to several examples of beef jerky, crackers, and loose tobacco being offered as gifts between Homo sapiens and Gigantopithecus Ameripithecus Floridanus (ok, truth be told there is not one accepted scientific name for Skunk Apes as technically they are not recognized by western science, BUT this is the best name I could hobble together after a few meanders through Google and A.I.).

One early morning in March, a glorious spring day filled with a sense of exploration and adventure, I left as the sun rose and headed north to Goethe State Forest into a morning rich with possibility. 

A convenience store near Inglis, Florida offered the gift basket supplies I needed. I assumed a Skunk Ape would appreciate me opening the beef jerky and cracker packages for them. I took great pride in my purchases. I bundled them in a handmade basket my mom had woven. Perhaps sharing the crafts of our species, made by hand in an ancient art form, would strengthen the connection and my odds of communion.

It would be easy to treat this as a joke, but as I drove a deeper set of questions began to form in my mind. Could a state as populated as Florida still harbor a creature that remained a mystery to science? Indeed, had it in days long past when fewer people called the Sunshine State home?

The Seminole word for Skunk Apes was “Esti Capcki.” Numerous newspaper articles from the 1800s mention sightings. Florida’s human population in 1900 was only roughly 500,000 people making it the least populated state in the American South. Oh, how times have changed.

As the day ended and sunset approached, I headed home with my gift basket retrieved from where I had left it, leaving no trace (take only pictures, leave only footprints). I will however be back, bearing gifts and good wishes.

I will take my mystery and wonder of nature through the philosophy of deep ecology, the belief that nature has its own value separate from us and our needs. Nature has all the wonder and mystery I need, and this deserves preservation. But, a Skunk Ape could not hurt. Particularly one with an Ivory-billed Woodpecker as a neighbor.

Click here to learn more about Goethe State Forest.

An edited and abridged version of this essay originally appeared in FAU’s The Invading Sea.

Joe Murphy is a former Wildlife Policy Specialist for NWF and contributes blog posts to the NWF Gulf Program as an alumnus and supporter. He occasionally is mistaken for a Skunk Ape when out on the river or the trail. No apologies needed, but a gift basket wouldn’t hurt. You can follow Joe on Facebook (https://bit.ly/joemurphyfacebook 

Find a Public Garden that is a Certified Wildlife Habitat

There is a long history of the National Wildlife Federation recognizing public gardens for their wildlife friendly actions. Even as far back as 2003, the U.S. Botanic Garden was named the 100,000^th Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Today, roughly 200 public gardens nationwide are recognized as Certified Wildlife Habitats. You can visit one in your region to get inspiration for your own wildlife garden. See how these gardens use native species, water features, and landscaping to support wildlife and make their space enjoyable for people too.

Find a Certified Wildlife Habitat public garden near you.

Garden Highlight: The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, AK

“The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks is proud to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat, with a strong focus on native plants and pollinator education. Our dedicated Ozark native plant garden showcases species that support local ecosystems and provides a model for visitors looking to incorporate natives at home.

We also partner with organizations such as White River Nursery and the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists to offer educational programming and seasonal native plant sales.

Pollinator conservation is a core part of our work. In partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Beekeepers Association, we maintain an on-site apiary and provide educational opportunities focused on the importance of bees and other pollinators.”

– Ashley Wardlow, Executive Director at The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

Garden Highlight: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, NC

“Cape Fear Botanical Garden (Fayetteville, North Carolina) supports a variety of native plants and pollinator species throughout key areas of the Garden, including the Butterfly Stroll, Pond Lawn, and Wellons Arbor.

These connected spaces create an expanded habitat where pollinators can feed, nest, and rest, contributing to a healthier local ecosystem. 

These plantings also support a wider range of wildlife, including birds, beneficial insects, and other native species that rely on these habitats for food and shelter.

Beyond these cultivated areas, the Garden’s wooded trails provide important habitat for larger mammals that often go unseen within the city.

While visitors may occasionally spot white-tailed deer, the Garden supports a broader range of species, reinforcing its role as a meaningful urban refuge for wildlife.

By designing and preserving these varied spaces, we not only support wildlife activity but also make it visible and accessible to our guests. Visitors are able to observe these interactions in real time, deepening their understanding of the essential role native plants and habitats play in sustaining both pollinators and the broader ecosystem.”

– Beth Hess, Marketing Consultant at Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Garden Highlight: Smithsonian Gardens

The Smithsonian Gardens was the 81st public garden to get recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat® back in 2020.

“Each Smithsonian Garden adeptly weaves the theme of specific museums to the natural history and elements of the habitat gardens on their grounds.  Recent reports of the loss of 3 billion birds across North America since 1970 make exhibits like the National Museum of Natural History’s Urban Bird Habitat essential.

The exhibit highlights the diversity of spaces where birds live and raise their young through large-scale realistic nests. The African American Museum’s Live Oak grove tells the story of the shelter and gathering place these trees provided in the African American journey to freedom and community building.

The story then connects the sheltering theme to how oak trees provide multitudes of insects, birds, and other wildlife with a place of cover. For example, an oak tree is a host for over 500 insect species.”

– Mary Phillips, National Wildlife Federation

Learn more about this garden here!

Go Public Gardens!

Go Public Gardens is a year-round initiative led by The American Public Gardens Association to encourage the public to visit, value, and volunteer at public gardens.

With so many public gardens that are Certified Wildlife Habitats, we hope you take the time to visit one near you.

As a young person, I learned so much from the outdoors: observation, patience, and a deep appreciation for plants and wildlife. Nature taught me to slow down, pay attention, and understand that every season, every species, and every ecosystem has a role to play.

Recently, while visiting family back home, I decided to spend some time at the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. I wanted to go for a hike and see which wildflowers were starting to peek out in early spring.

As an adult, I look for opportunities to travel and experience the incredible diversity of our ecosystems. I love seeing what the local flora and fauna reveal about a place. I pay attention to how landscapes shape a city’s identity, its traditions, and even the food people eat.

Everything comes back to the land from how we interpret our surroundings, what resources are available, and how communities build their shared sense of place.

That truth felt especially clear at Erie National Wildlife Refuge.

Established in 1959 to support migratory birds, the refuge was originally purchased using funds from Duck Stamps. Today, it spans more than 8,800 acres of wetlands, forests, and shrublands across two divisions, Sugar Lake and Seneca.

More than 40 percent of the refuge is made up of wetlands. Beaver ponds, marshes, wet meadows, forested wetlands, and creeks provide critical habitat for hundreds of species. These wetlands are especially important for the more than 225 species of birds recorded there. Over 100 species of birds’ nest on the refuge, including bald eagles.

The refuge also plays a critical role in freshwater conservation. Endangered freshwater mussels, including the northern riffleshell and clubshell mussels, depend on refuge streams for survival. Countless freshwater fish, aquatic invertebrates, and native aquatic plants are endemic to the area and rely on it for survival.

The refuge also helps protect the larger French Creek watershed, one of the most biologically diverse watersheds in the eastern United States. It serves as a forested buffer for Muddy Creek and its tributaries that feed into the watershed. This conservation area helps protect freshwater resources that millions of people rely on.

I originally went to the refuge hoping to find ephemeral spring wildflowers, and I was lucky enough to spot trout lilies, red trilliums, and mayapples. On my hike, I listened to the birds migrating through in early March and was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of caws, whistles, and songs I heard around me.

What stood out even more, though, was how many people there were finding their own connection to the outdoors. I saw families walking their dogs, people birding, artists painting, and hikers enjoying the trails.

I’ve also been told it’s a favorite spot for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. And if you know anything about winter in northwest Pennsylvania, you know you must find ways to celebrate the long season, especially when it comes with plenty of snow.

All these activities reminded me that wildlife refuges are not only sanctuaries for wildlife, but they are also places of refuge for people. They offer space away from the day-to-day grind. They give us room to reflect, reconnect, and remember that conservation is not separate from our own lives. It is deeply personal. Protecting wetlands, forests, and freshwater systems means protecting our communities, our health, and our future.

There is at least one national wildlife refuge in every state, all part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Together, the network includes more than 550 refuges and 95 million acres dedicated to wildlife conservation.

These places provide lifelines for migratory birds, safe spaces for endangered species, and opportunities for people to hike, fish, hunt, photograph, and learn from the natural world.

As someone who cares deeply about the natural world, I’m excited to continue exploring other refuges. Every visit is a chance to better understand the plants, animals, and landscapes that shape a community and a reminder that we are part of the landscape, too.

With world-class nature destinations dotting the I-70 corridor and beyond, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. From the famed Rocky Mountain National Park, to the vibrant mountain towns of Aspen, Steamboat Springs, and Breckenridge, there are infinite possibilities to get out to Colorado’s most popular nature attractions. If you are looking for free alternatives to beat the crowds, skip timed entry, and stay close to Denver while still getting your nature fix, National Wildlife Refuges may be the answer.

Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a diverse network of public lands and waters created to protect America’s rich fish and wildlife heritage. The system is made up of over 570 national wildlife refuges across all 50 states and 5 U.S. territories, and consists of 96 million land acres and 760 million marine acres of protected area. 

There are three national wildlife refuges within 30 minutes of the Denver metro area: Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, and Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge. 

These nearby nature havens are a place where people and wildlife can thrive, and represent a wider commitment to restore and preserve land for the sake of our shared future. Once designated as sites to manufacture weapons, agricultural chemicals, and beyond—Rocky Flats and Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuges’ transitions from Superfund sites to wildlife refuges are two success stories whose impacts ripple through the Front Range today.

Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge

Directly west of Denver International Airport, in the world’s list of top ten busiest international airports, and northeast of downtown Denver lies one of the largest urban refuges in the country—Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. 

With expansive views of the Denver skyline and Rocky Mountain Front Range, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal is a unique nature oasis chock full of opportunities to see wildlife including a growing bison herd and the endangered black-footed ferret.

The Refuge also offers free and low-cost recreational opportunities (see below) for any recreationist looking for an easy to access, affordable option to get out in nature. You can even enjoy the views from the comfort of your vehicle thanks to their 11-mile scenic wildlife drive—a Front Range safari!

Recreational Opportunities: 11-mile wildlife drive, fishing, hiking, biking, birding, archery, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, photography, and education and ranger-led programs.

Wildlife: Bison, black-footed ferrets, bald eagles, deer, coyotes, and prairie dogs. 

Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge

The next time you’re passing through Boulder, take a break from Pearl Street Mall and get a new view of the quintessential Flatirons (minus the crowds), and choose Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge as your easy-to-access nature getaway. 

Established in 2007, the Refuge was created to preserve and protect more than 630 species of plants, as well as one of the most imperiled ecosystems on the planet, the xeric tallgrass prairie. It is home to 239 migratory and resident wildlife species, and provides an important protected corridor for migrating wildlife. 

You can explore Rocky Flat’s 15 miles of trails through rolling hills of mixed and tallgrass prairie year-round by foot, bicycle, e-bike, horse, or even snowshoe and cross-country ski when weather allows. 

Recreational Opportunities: Wildlife viewing, hiking, biking, birding, horseback riding, archery, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and photography.

Wildlife: Prairie falcons, deer, elk, coyotes, songbirds, and the federally threatened Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Located just 12 miles northwest of downtown Denver in the heart of Arvada, Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge is perfect for a quick escape from the daily hustle of city life. 

Standing at 72-acres, the Refuge is home to more than 250 species of wildlife, and boasts a small but mighty network of walking trails and other recreational opportunities. Here, you can enjoy views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range while meandering through prairie grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands.

Two Ponds is a great example of how nature’s benefits aren’t solely linked to the ‘wildest’ of places. Instead, sometimes the most impactful moments in nature come from the green spaces that are closest to home (or hotel), for both our neighbors and local wildlife.

The Refuge provides important habitat for migratory and resident wildlife, and is managed to protect and restore native prairie ecosystems while providing wildlife-centered recreational opportunities for all ages. 

Recreational Opportunities: Wildlife viewing, hiking, birding, photography, and education and ranger-led programs. 

Wildlife: Coyotes, red fox, beaver, turtles, deer, and over 120 species of birds. 

Whether you’re just passing through to soak up the majesty of the outdoor legacy in Colorado, or you call the state and all its natural wonders home, make sure to check out these go-to nature destinations the next time you’re in Denver.

Looking for a place to find refuge in nature near you? Find a National Wildlife Refuge in your state.

 A key difference now is that the invading sea that confronts us is rising as a result of human interference—a new reality we are facing across the globe.

Florida, in the human era, has always been a land of change. It was a land devoid of people, then a land of native tribes, a land of Spain, England, the United States, the Confederacy and the United States again. Many flags have flown over Florida.

In 1900, Florida was one of the least-populated states in the American South, with a population of roughly 528,000 people. By 1970, when I was born, Florida had grown to a population of almost 7 million people. Now, in 2026, Florida’s population is estimated at just over 23 million. To add to that, roughly 143 million tourists visit each year. 

The Florida experience in the human era has always been defined by some degree of change. Some changes have been for the better, but most have been dramatically for the worse when viewed through the perspective of natural resources or quality of life of existing residents.

While valiant efforts have been made to protect and preserve some of Florida’s wild places, the pace of preservation has not kept pace with the pace of loss. And even when land is conserved, recent scandals in Florida remind us that nothing is permanently protected.

In the last wild corners of Florida, the bulldozers are at the gates of Eden.

Add to this the unrelenting impacts of climate change, and the future of Florida can seem bleak indeed. Worsening hurricanes, increasing flooding, sea levels rising, invasive plants and animals spreading, resiliency decreasing and new pressures on even intact natural systems create an ominous future for Florida.

While we must do all we can to fight the causes and impacts of climate change in every way possible and protect every last wild place we can, we must do one more essential thing to ensure some positive vestige of the Florida experience continues: we must embrace, explore and exult in wild Florida! We must commit to immersing ourselves in all things natural in Florida.

We must do this to ground conservation efforts in essential human experiences, and we must connect our youth and new residents to the Florida we have known. But at a deeper level, we must nourish our souls in the springs and rivers of this state. We must hike vast pinelands and rest under massive live oaks.  We must swim in the Gulf and seek its bounty.

We must do this to keep some semblance of humanity alive in us.

And we must do this because places generations have known and loved are disappearing, due to development and, increasingly, climate change.

Curb the causes of climate change, promote and enact policies and practices that embrace adaptation and resilience and work to conserve wild places—we must do all these things.  I support the National Wildlife Federation because they seek these things.

At the same time though, we must explore, enjoy and immerse ourselves. Fill your soul with all things natural in Florida as an antidote against cynicism, a source of strength and resilience and because we still can.

The Florida experience has always been about the strange and chaotic things that comprise Florida. And the Florida experience will evolve in the era of climate change.

With that said, let it always be grounded in part in the deep, powerful and beautiful wild that surrounds us. Let us seek it just beyond that next bend in the river, down that winding trail and on the windswept beach. Let us connect in love to know, and know in love to preserve.

Resources for Exploration of Wild Florida

• Florida Park Service
• Florida Forest Service

Joe Murphy is a former staffer for NWF’s Gulf Program.  He contributes these blog posts as an alumnus and as a supporter.  You can follow Joe on Instagram and on Facebook.

An edited and abridged version of this essay originally appeared in FAU’s The Invading Sea.

To make things fun, we’ve created an Earth Month bingo card to spark your celebration ideas. Whether you’re a backyard gardener or an Earth Day rallyer, read further for a few activities from our bingo card that will serve as a timely reminder: There is no Planet B! 

Watch a nature documentary

Who knew you could celebrate Earth Month right from your couch? Kick back, grab the remote, and try out these mesmerizing nature documentary recommendations. Or you could just watch the one with Will Smith in it.

• Our Great National Parks, presented by former President Barack Obama
• David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
• Kiss the Ground
• Tiny World, narrated by Paul Rudd
• America the Beautiful

Do a recycling audit

You may think you can recycle that item, but you really can’t. With over 9,000 community recycling programs across the U.S., there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what materials can or cannot be recycled. Oftentimes, when a batch of household recycling is mixed with unaccepted items, the entire batch is thrown away, resulting in a lower overall recycling rate.

Websites like How2Recycle can help with general guidelines and understanding package disposal labels, but ultimately you’ll want to check with your city or locality’s recycling guidance to make sure you are only placing accepted items in the recycling bins. 

Many people collect their recyclables in plastic grocery store bags and toss it all in the recycling bin for pickup day. In reality, less than half of plastic packaging is recyclable, and plastic bags and films are one of the least recyclable materials. They usually end up jamming the materials sorting equipment.

Lots of household waste is also being under-recycled! Just 21% of residential recyclables are being recycled. Find out exactly which materials can be processed in your community—you might be surprised to find that batteries, old cords, or wood are accepted in your city’s recycling program.

Try new recipes

You’ve definitely heard of Meatless Monday. But have you heard about Scrappy Saturday?

This Earth Month, we invite you to try new ways of preparing food. Maybe there’s a vegetarian or vegan recipe you’ve been eyeing (vegetarian diets result in ∼35% lower greenhouse gas emissions than most current omnivore diets, after all!), or wondering how to reduce household food waste.

No-waste or “scrappy” cooking is just what it sounds like—diverting as much food and food packaging from the landfill as possible. This can look like: using leaves, stems, greens, seeds, peels, and skins in other recipes (think roasted pumpkin seeds or kale stem pesto); juicing or blending and dehydrating scraps to make soup or smoothie add-ins, saving kitchen scraps to make homemade stock, or freezing, pickling, and jam-making. 

As a last resort, you could try starting a small backyard (or apartment patio) compost bin, just as an experiment. If you’re a city dweller committed to the cause (or just have no use for compost), many localities have public or private compost collection programs. Find one near you!

Become a citizen scientist

Did you know April is also Citizen Science Month? This month recognizes the contributions of everyday citizens toward broad, efficient, and vast data collection. Science is not only conducted by folks in white coats! Read this blog on participatory science in bird watching. 

Attend an Earth Day event

Use the interactive map on the official Earth Day website to find an Earth Day event near you, register an event, and get even more ideas about how to help the planet. Our bingo card is light work compared to the 50 Earth Day tips provided. Happy Earth Month!

It’s just one stop on the broader itinerary that makes up the Pacific Flyway. For the estimated 300,000 birds that arrive each migration season, it’s an important lay over for them to recharge and refuel. As I learn more about the Pacific Flyway, I think of it as an international air terminal for these very seasoned  travelers. 

As spring gets underway, the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge is a critical stopover location for these birds, and provides vital nesting habitat, food and shelter. Skirting the coast between Oregon and Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, it’s one of the last stops before these birds head into Canada and beyond. 

Partnerships Forge a Wildlife Sanctuary, a Weekend Get-Away.  

Extending over 21,000 acres, the Refuge encompasses an expansive, diverse landscape in a region known for its relentless rain.

Though the people who visit are widely outnumbered by the birds, nonetheless, they too flock here for the unparalleled opportunity to recreate amid the beauty this sanctuary offers.

The anglers, the surfers, birders, hikers, paddlers, big game hunters, kite flyers, beach combers, storm watchers: Weekend warriors and get-away seekers find an array of escapes from the city and the daily grind. It’s a destination for the birds, and for anyone who wants to unplug and connect with the rhythms of nature. 

Yet, it’s important to remember that it took great effort and extraordinary partnerships to preserve and restore this area to the state I found it in today.

Once, the tidal creeks here were rich with Chum salmon, or pinks, that swam upstream to spawn in the fall. Salmon is an important food source for birds and key to the health of the broader ecosystem. But these salmon-bearing streams underwent drastic change due to the construction of levees and other pressures on the land. Habitat started to disappear and the fish populations plummeted.

Fortunately, an important restoration effort got underway in 2012, focusing on the Bear River estuary. Local Tribes, timber companies, fisheries and conservation organizations came together to restore the estuary and the southern shoreline of the bay. Pulling together resources from diverse sectors brought back the breadth of the ecological and economic benefits of a healthy ecosystem to Southwest Washington.

Bring on the Birds. And More Birds. And then More Birds. 

You don’t have to be a birder to appreciate the critical role that the National Wildlife Refuges play in supporting birdlife. Whether you step out along the shore or into the coastal forest, the landscape is alive with avian activity, soaring through the sky, scattered on the shore, bobbing in the waves, tucked in the branches and perched on the rushes. 

Migratory birds such as snow geese, trumpeter swans, dunlin, sandpipers, western snowy plovers, red knots and more populate the shore, mudflats, estuaries and wetlands.

Tides rule the day and birders will tell you that it’s best to get out to the viewing spots well before the low tide peaks, as the receding waters draw hungry birds hunting for food. This is a game changer when you’re used to hearing a bird more often than actually seeing it. 

Spring (April – May) and fall migrations (August – October) are the best times to see birds at the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge. Visit the sloughs to find river otters, buffleheads, and common and red-breasted mergansers.

For an amateur birdwatcher like me, it’s exciting to finally distinguish a few migrating bird calls, such as the snow geese and trumpeter swans, and discover how they mingle with the choir of year-round local residents like the belted kingfisher and the great blue herons. But most important, it’s realizing that there are so many spectacular National Wildlife Refuges to discover. 

What is Biofluorescence?

Biofluorescence is the ability to absorb short-wavelength light (ultraviolet or blue) and re-emit it as longer-wavelength, visible light. It is different from bioluminescence, which is when animals produce their own light chemically, the way fireflies or anglerfish do.

Biofluorescent animals need a light source, but once they do they can turn it into something completely different. A drab brown frog becomes electric teal. A porcupine’s quills change from white to blazing blue-green. A grizzled opossum can look like something straight out of a blacklight poster.

Why Do Biofluorescent Animals Glow?

Moths were the first animals scientists learned could glow, back in the early 1900s, but since then they have found the trait basically everywhere they look.

Every single amphibian species tested to date glows. All 2,500 known scorpion species glow. In a recent survey of 125 mammal and marsupial species, every single one showed some degree of fluorescence.

So what is all this glowing for? That’s where things get genuinely interesting, because for many species, we still have no idea.

Secret Communication

For some animals, the glow appears to serve a genuine purpose. The polka-dot tree frog’s glow, for example, accounts for about 30% of all light emanating from the animal (roughly 18% the brightness of a full moon). The wavelengths match almost exactly what frog eyes are most sensitive to. They even leave fluorescent residue on surfaces they touch. Taken together, it seems the light may be used to signal to their own kind.

Some birds show a significant preference for mates with intact fluorescent feathers over those with experimentally blocked. This is strong evidence that, at least for some species, fluorescence probably acts as a sexual signal.

The eastern tube-nosed fruit bat has distinctive vivid yellow-green fluorescent spots that appear to be unique to each individual, which would make sense as a mechanism for individual recognition in large colonies.

Although this species is Australian, we now know that at least six North American bat species glow under UV, including the big brown and Mexican free-tailed bats. Whether any of them use it for communication is still unknown.

Camouflage by Light

This might sound paradoxical until you realize that predators can often also see in UV— which means glowing in UV can help animals disappear into a glowing environment. Some of the strongest evidence comes from reef fish, which can use fluorescence to match the fluorescent colors of backdropped corals.

Research on reef communities has found that glowing species are often cryptic in other ways; for example pipefish with a body form that resembles aquatic grass. Glowing appears largely absent from conspicuous species like surgeonfish.

The tube-nosed fruit bat may use light for camouflage, too. Its UV-reactive wing spots could break up its outline against dried leaves during daytime roosting, helping to avoid UV-sensitive birds and snakes.

Warning Coloration

While some glowing may help an animal stay hidden, it may serve as a warning system for others. The North American porcupine’s quills glow blue-green und UV, which researchers believe make the white tips of their sharp quills even more vivid to predators. That’s in addition to a defense system that already includes high-contrast coloration and pungent gland-secretion. Fluorescence may simply be one more tool in the arsenal.

The Mystery of Mammalian Glow

For many of North America’s most familiar glowing animals, all of the above hypotheses remain speculative at best, and this is especially true for mammals and marsupials. Flying squirrels and opossums are pink, some bats are green, and no one can tell why.

The leading alternative to the above theories is much simpler: it might just be chemistry. All mammal and marsupial fur contain keratin, a protein that fluoresces naturally, and porphyrins—byproducts of making hemoglobin.

Porphyrins are strongly fluorescent and degrade in light, meaning nocturnal animals that aren’t exposed to the sun are able to retain them.

The emerging consensus is that fluorescence is meaningful in some species and incidental in others, and that untangling the two will keep researchers busy for a long time!

Ultraviolet Safari: Try it Yourself!

Many of our glowing species live right alongside us! Consider taking an evening to explore your area in a different light using these guidelines:

• Get a UV flashlight. Look for a 365nm UV flashlight for the best experience.
• Add a filter. Yellow-tinted UV safety glasses block reflected UV and make fluorescent emissions stand out dramatically.
• Time it right. Warm, dark, moonless nights are ideal.
• Navigate with red light. When you need to see your surroundings, use a red light rather than white. It preserves your night vision and minimizes disturbance to wildlife.
• Be considerate. Avoid shining the light directly into an animal’s eyes, and keep exposure time short for vertebrates especially.

Not sure what to look for in your region? Here’s a quick breakdown of which groups glow, and what color:

From backyard Baltimore orioles to transient cerulean warblers and theropodian heron to truly ineffable American woodcock, birding was the excuse I needed to rediscover so many public lands, including our national wildlife refuge system.

National wildlife refuges offer some of the best opportunities to dodge the crowds, get outside, and observe birds in their native habitats. 

There are more than 573 federal wildlife refuges across the country—and many just a stone’s throw from major metropolitan areas. Unlike national parks and forests, there is a national wildlife refuge in every state and U.S. territory. 

Chances are there is at least one refuge within an hour’s drive of where you live. The Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge is located just outside New Orleans and features some of the most beautiful herons, egrets, and songbirds the Southeast has to offer. 

The Patuxent Research Refuge, which is just a stone’s throw from our nation’s capital, is a great alternative to the bustle of Washington, D.C., and home to overwintering waterfowl, osprey in the summer, and colorful songbirds like tanagers, kinglets, finches, sparrows and pine warblers.

Just eight miles from downtown Denver, the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is best known for its roaming bison herd—but it also harbors bald eagles, burrowing owls, hawks, and belted kingfishers. 

Driveable Refuges

The concerns of Edward Abby notwithstanding, not everyone is able to hike, horseback, or cycle our public lands. Fortunately for birders and other nature lovers alike, many federal wildlife refuges are easy to explore by car. Two of my favorites in the Mid-Atlantic, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, are easy to explore with the moving blind that is your car. Whether you’re using binoculars, a scope, or a camera, iconic species are easily observed in roadside ponds, grasslands, and forests. 

In a world that often feels crowded and fast-moving, our national wildlife refuges offer something increasingly rare: space to slow down, look closely, and reconnect—with nature and with ourselves. Whether you’re chasing a life list, testing a new lens, or watching a flock settle into a marsh at dusk, these places remind us that wonder doesn’t require a plane ticket or a long trek into the backcountry. It’s waiting just down the road, in the quiet flutter of wings and the thrill of a new sighting—proof that some of the richest experiences are still the simplest.