The visit offered a unique perspective on how offshore wind can be responsibly developed while powering communities, creating jobs, and moving us toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system. 

Advocates from the Gulf of Mexico and Mid-Atlantic regions recently ventured 27 miles offshore into federal waters to see the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. The visit brought together advocates from different coastal communities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Gulf to share perspectives, explore the opportunities offshore wind is bringing to their regions, and consider what’s possible for the future growth of this industry.

The CVOW project marks an important milestone in the growth of offshore wind in the United States. As the nation’s largest offshore wind project, its 176 turbines will generate enough clean electricity to power up to 660,000 homes once fully constructed in 2027. The construction phase alone is supporting over 800 local jobs. Operations and maintenance of the project will provide over 1,000 long-term jobs.

The first stop on the two day tour included a cruise in Norfolk Harbor to view the Portsmouth Marine Terminal (PMT), the main staging hub for turbine parts for CVOW. A former container terminal, PMT has been repurposed to handle the massive equipment needed for offshore wind development.

Charybdis, the first U.S.-built wind turbine installation vessel, was built in Ingleside, Texas and could be seen loading components at PMT as it prepared to return offshore to continue installing turbines. The vessel can transport four turbine components at a time from the terminal to the project site, where it takes two days to complete a turbine installation.

The main event included an hour and a half boat ride out to the project. Even though everyone was on the lookout for turbines the entire journey out to sea, it was over an hour before anyone could spot one on the horizon. The structures, standing 836 feet above sea level, cannot be seen from shore.

While all passengers on board the boat support advancing responsibly developed offshore wind in the United States, it was the first time many of them were able to actually see offshore wind in action.

Numbers on a factsheet just don’t do it justice. It’s humbling to sit beneath one of these structures looking up. It’s even more awe-inspiring to know the human ingenuity and innovation it took to get them there. Just one rotation of a blade can produce enough energy to power the average U.S. home for an entire day.

Many participants noted how incredibly quiet the turbines are. Only a slight whoosh could be heard as the blade passed overhead—and only if no one was talking and the boat sat idle. 

Access to the lease area is unrestricted outside of periods of active construction, when a 500-yard safety buffer is required. All fishing activity is permitted within the site, including right at the base of a turbine.

How’s the fishing around the project? Judging by the number of boats out around the turbines, it seemed to be pretty good! As one participant noted, people wouldn’t spend the time or money to go 27 miles offshore if the fishing wasn’t good there. 

The turbine foundations function as an artificial reef, attracting both marine life and anglers fishing for a variety of species such as flounder, black sea bass, and mahi. This helps the local economy as well with the associated revenue generated from fuel sales, bait, tackle, restaurants, hotels, etc.

For advocates who are supporting offshore wind development in areas that do not currently have planned projects, such as the Gulf Coast, seeing CVOW firsthand made tangible the incredible opportunity offshore wind offers the nation to not only deliver significant economic and energy benefits but also protect wildlife. 

Dominion Energy uses several measures to protect wildlife during construction of the project. Before construction, more than two dozen studies and surveys were conducted to assess potential impacts on marine life and birds. To reduce underwater noise from installing turbine foundations, Dominion uses bubble-curtain technology that creates a barrier of air bubbles to dampen sound waves.

Certified Protected Species Observers monitor for whales, dolphins, sea turtles and other protected marine animals during critical operations, and construction is stopped if animals enter designated exclusion zones.

Crews also receive environmental training, and underwater sound levels are monitored in real time. Additional measures, including seasonal restrictions, anti-perching devices and acoustic monitoring, help reduce potential impacts on birds, bats and other wildlife in the long-term. Dominion also uses lessons learned from its two-turbine pilot project, along with collaboration with state and federal agencies, to inform environmental protections for the commercial project.

By slowing the growth of offshore wind, we risk missing out on economic opportunities, delaying investments in domestic supply chains and infrastructure, and leaving valuable clean-energy resources under-utilized at a time when the nation’s energy needs are significantly growing and climate change is continually impacting wildlife and people.

CVOW demonstrates how offshore wind can contribute to a more diversified and resilient energy system while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions equivalent to removing over one million cars from the road each year.

Its significance extends beyond clean energy: projects like this can create new opportunities for workers, ports, manufacturers, and coastal communities—all while ensuring protections for wildlife and habitat. CVOW provides a model for what large-scale offshore wind development can look like in other coastal regions.

Now is the time to prepare for the next wave.

Doug’s vision, described in this book, truly struck home. “When we all take part, we create the connected habitats that life depends on.”

With my young children in tow, I began making day trips around Maryland in search of native plant nurseries and started incorporating native plants into my own landscape.

At just three and five years old, my boys became enthusiastic wildlife gardeners, amazed by the butterflies, birds, bees, and even turtles that began showing up in our yard. Because of this connection, I became a Master Naturalist, continued researching native plant supply networks, and eventually founded my own business to help bring native plants and sustainable landscape design to others throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Fast forward to 2014, I was hired to lead the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Certified Wildlife Habitat® program to help scale the movement nationally.

I share this story because it is just one of thousands that demonstrates the profound influence Dr. Tallamy has had on people across the country. Every day, he inspires new people to transform traditional landscapes into thriving habitats. He remains one of the movement’s most passionate advocates, traveling extensively to meet with communities eager to replace lawns with vibrant native plant ecosystems.

As of 2026, Dr. Tallamy has recorded 1,388 species of moths and 62 species of breeding birds on his property, along with many other species of wildlife benefiting from his landscape.

Dr. Tallamy has long championed and advised NWF’s 53-year-old Certified Wildlife Habitat program, helping shape its scientific foundation. His groundbreaking research with Kimberly Shropshire on plant-insect interactions serves as the backbone of NWF’s Native Plant Finder and Keystone Plant Lists.

To expand this vision and reach even more people with the message that native plants can help restore biodiversity, Dr. Tallamy co-founded Homegrown National Park®.

Today, it is with great excitement that the National Wildlife Federation continues to strengthen its partnership with Dr. Doug Tallamy and Homegrown National Park. NWF’s Native Plant Habitats team and the team at Homegrown National Park have entered a more intentional partnership to grow our shared grassroots movement and transform private properties into vital ecological corridors that support wildlife and biodiversity.

As Homegrown National Park Executive Director Tim Snyder notes:

“Every native plant counts, but it counts more when we see it together. The National Wildlife Federation has helped so many people create habitat. Homegrown National Park gives people an opportunity to map their habitat alongside everyone else’s, so a single backyard becomes part of a living network for insects, birds, and pollinators to thrive.”

How You Can Help

Put Your Habitat on the Map

Share your native plant habitat on Homegrown National Park’s interactive Biodiversity Map. From a single container garden on a balcony to hundreds of restored acres, every habitat counts. By helping to map these spaces, you can help visualize our collective conservation impact and the growing network of habitat across the country.

Many National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat owners are already represented on the Homegrown National Park Biodiversity Map, including Dr. Tallamy himself, whose property recently became the 350,000th Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Connect Locally

Get involved with a habitat organization in your state through NWF’s Affiliate Habitat Network. More than 30 state affiliate organizations are committed to expanding Certified Wildlife Habitat® and Community Wildlife Habitat programs and helping local communities restore habitat where they live.

Certify Your Habitat

Already on Homegrown National Park’s Biodiversity Map but not yet certified? Take the National Wildlife Federation’s Habitat Quiz to discover whether your property qualifies as a Certified Wildlife Habitat and learn simple ways to improve your space for wildlife.

Share Your Story

As we celebrate the collective impact of this movement, we’d love to hear your story. How did you first discover the power of native plants? What changes have you made in your own landscape? What wildlife have you welcomed back?

Every habitat starts with a single step, and every story has the power to inspire someone else to begin. Share your journey and the impact you’re making for wildlife here.

EJAC member and co-founder and president of We The People Detroit, Monica Lewis-Patrick is known as the “Water Warrior” and is one of the country’s biggest champions for equitable access to clean drinking water. As a member of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition Governance Board, the International Joint Commission Great Lakes Water Quality Advisory Board, and the Michigan Advisory Council on Environmental Justice, Lewis-Patrick advocates for policy that ensures all communities have access to clean water while empowering Michiganders to protect their communities’ health.

I spoke with Monica Lewis-Patrick to learn more about her journey to becoming the “Water Warrior,” her relationship with the National Wildlife Federation, and how Big Greens can better support community-based organizations.

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

What led you to environmental justice work?

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “I was working in the space of working as an advocate for youth in the criminal justice space [in] Tennessee. And so my background was more clinical and actually working with youth. And then, when I first moved to Detroit in 2008, I was in the middle of fighting against the privatization of public education. And so in that fight against the privatization of public education, within a short period of time of being in the city of Detroit, not even a year, I found myself in the middle of fighting against the privatization of water.

[Reverend Dr. JoAnn Watson], who partnered with Councilwoman Maryann Mahaffey in the fight for water affordability, was my mentor. She is the person that would send me to these meetings where people were talking about the environment and urban gardening and farming. And, I had no idea the intensity and the intentionality of those moments.

As a matter of fact, I would tell people I’m not an environmental justice person, I’m a social justice person. And I had an elder by the name of Rhonda Anderson, who is a very well known activist and really a godmother in the EJ space here, who worked for Sierra Club. And she stopped me after I gave this speech about what was happening in terms of the austerity in Michigan. And I told them I didn’t do that EJ stuff; I do social justice. She stopped me at the end of that meeting and said, “Baby, I need to talk to you – you can’t be a good social justice advocate without being a good environmental justice advocate.” And it was that good talking to from an elder that shifted my perspective. And from that day to this day, I’ve taken on a different perspective in terms of what environmental justice is, and what my role is in it.”

What have been some memorable moments since you dived into the environmental justice space?

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “Oh my goodness. I would say there’s been a couple. I think a critical moment for me was when we were able to finally start seeing some traction in the Biden administration around water infrastructure and really investing in infrastructure in a way that really would make a difference. To be welcomed into that space as an activist, and then have my recommendations and input taken seriously, was a powerful moment, I think, for all of us as activists.

I think the second thing is that Dr. Brenda Mallory and Dr. Jalonne L. White – Newsome with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) appointed me as the chair of the water affordability table for the White House. [That] was another powerful moment because water organizers across the country have fought for 25 years just to get people to recognize water affordability as an issue. And not just something that only pertained to Detroit or to a very hyper-urban core, but [as] a national crisis at this point.

That was another powerful moment because it allowed me to bring my mentor, the Honorable Councilwoman JoAnn Watson, who worked closely with the Honorable Councilwoman Maryann Mahaffey, to the White House to hear congressional leaders in the White House screaming her name – because they knew the significance of the work that she had done all of those years ago along with the Honorable Maryann Mahaffey.

[Dr. JoAnn Watson] passed away in 2023 so she didn’t even get to see even the advances we’ve made over the last two years to move water affordability closer to a real human right in these United States. But it was the brilliance and the genius that we stand on today. So we often lift her name and lift her story, because none of the work that we do would exist if she had not been laboring in the vineyard to do what she had done.”

It seems like it hasn’t been the single work of a person. It’s someone who’s been in this for three decades, someone who’s been in this one decade, someone who joined yesterday, chiming in at once, and it seems like it makes a big difference.

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “Well, I mean, case in point would be, there’s a former vice president for the National Wildlife Federation, Simone Lightfoot. Simone has played a critical role in inviting me into some spaces that I would have never even known that they existed in terms of decision making and the brokerage of power. And so I just always have to credit Simone Lightfoot –  for National Wildlife Federation finding her, and her being such a jewel in the movement, and then her being so willing to take a risk on me.”

 What are you involved in right now?

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “I’m really having a lot of fun working with young people right now. They’re actually working on a project right now, where they just finished 14 weeks of GIS mapping. And to see teenagers in the summertime excited about GIS mapping was just so thrilling. I mean, super excited. But it’s really giving [them] these tools for life, so that as more and more climate impacts happen, more and more flooding, more and more water disparities, that more and more of our children, especially children of color, have the tools that they need to navigate these very complex issues and conversations.

I would say another thing that we are doing that’s super fun is that we’re building out a national campaign called Water for Everybody. And that national campaign kicked off because my communications director was trying to work with me on condens[ing] a phrase that would capture all of the water issues. And we, the Community Water Center, DigDeep, US Water Alliance, and the Water Hub, we’re building out a national campaign that we’re super excited about that’s gonna roll out this coming year.

And then the last thing that we’re super excited about is that we’ve started – and this was with the support of the National Wildlife Federation and Freshwater Future in 2015 –  having listening sessions with our communities around what would it take for community to build the necessary coalition to actually build a state policy to advance water affordability, true water affordability. We are excited because we have a package of bills that have been introduced in Lansing [Michigan], and that package of bills is called Affordable Water Now, House Bill 4555 and House Bill 5170 to 5173.”

I am curious to learn more about the origin of your relationship with NWF. You mentioned Simone Lightfoot was a really important figure to help bring you into the fold, so to speak. But I would love to hear more about those early years and how that’s changed over time.

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “Simone introduced me to Andy Buschbaum [former director of NWF’s Great Lakes office and co-founder of Healing Our Waters]. Andy was my first introduction to an environmental lawyer. And so, [I] spent some time with Andy, Mike Shriberg [NWF’s former Great Lakes regional executive director], and Oday Salim [senior attorney at NWF] and they were really critical in terms of helping us shape the framework for the legal packaging of legislation.

As it relates to how I got invited to the HOW [Healing Our Waters] – [It’s] because of a couple of things. The HOW was going through a DEI analysis about the organization itself. It was also during the time that Milwaukee was having a lead crisis. Toledo was having algae bloom issues, and Detroit was having massive water shut off. And we had just finally gotten a name for the Flint water crisis, even though we had been working there a year before everybody else even knew what was going on.

So, as we were coming to the table, a couple of white members of the HOW governance table stepped down and relinquished their seats, so that people of color would be represented at the governance table for the HOW. I thought that was really significant. Because these were not just white allies saying that they were allies. They actually demonstrated relinquishing power to ensure that persons of color were able to be represented at the table and have power. And what I can say to the credit of Healing Our Waters and NWF is that they really took a risk at a time where people were really afraid of some of the work that was coming through environmental justice folks. We were concerned about no water, or toxic water, or lead-infested water; That wasn’t the case for people that we were showing up with.”

Environmental justice is not a widely supported movement, which makes attempts to mischaracterize or attack environmental justice even more harmful. What is a common misconception about environmental justice that you’d like to correct?

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “I would say the biggest one that I encounter is that environmental justice leaders and organizations are only concerned about people of color. I don’t think that’s an honest characterization of the fight. I think we are prioritizing those most at risk, those most in danger.

I’m really proud of how we’ve been able to lift rural communities, conservative communities, more white, conservative-leaning communities. Even as we may differ on other things, my humanity and my compassion says I must care that you have water, even if I don’t agree with your political stance.”

What advice do you have for people who are early in their environmental justice advocacy?

Monica Lewis-Patrick: “My first one would be to find a good mentor.  As a matter of fact, get two or three. Because sometimes you’ll have one that is better, more gifted in one area of expertise that you need. And then it may be someone else you may need for something totally different.

And you’re gonna need them throughout your life.

The second thing that I’ve learned is it is so important to build relationships. As a matter of fact, Simone Lightfoot, one of the things she used to say all the time is get your friends before you need them. And I found that to be true. Over the years as I have come to these tables and spent time learning and engaging with people, it’s been amazing who I’ve needed over the years to help me advance the work we do.

And then the third thing I would say is as you age, spend time with young people. And don’t spend it in an extractive way of, you know, I’m trying to pick your brain for this project, but just spend time with them.

I try to spend time with them just trying to understand, one, how to be a better elder, understanding too that some of the challenges that we had to navigate are different. The landscape looks different. So [I’m] trying to be a translator, if you will, between an intergenerational movement that we’re trying to build lovingly – giving critique when necessary, but also lovingly giving support.”

By investing in the next generation and building strategic partnerships with large environmental organizations like the National Wildlife Federation, Lewis-Patrick is passing forward her mentors’ lessons and working to build a future where all people can have clean water in their communities with community expertise at the helm.

As the National Wildlife Federation works to strengthen our environmental justice efforts, we appreciate Monica Lewis-Patrick’s and the rest of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council’s guidance. Stay tuned for the rest of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council profiles and visit We The People Detroit’s website and their Instagram to learn more about their work in Michigan.

There is More than One Crow Species in the United States

Many of us assume that all the crows we see are the same species, but there is actually more than one species found in the United States. Many sources will list the American crow and fish crow as the only two species, but there are two more that exist within limited areas of our fifty states. While all crows are omnivorous, meaning they eat a variety of food types, the primary diets of each species tend to reflect their habitats.

American crow

The very social American crow and their notorious calls are the quintessential crow depicted in American pop culture. It is the most common crow species found in a variety of habitats across much of the continental U.S., avoiding the extreme desert areas of the Southwest.

There are subtle physical variations amongst geographical populations of American crows but all of them are completely black and have a distinctive wing flapping. As omnivores, they consume a variety of foods from worms, fruits, and seeds to multiple types of proteins, and are known to steal food from other wildlife species and even pets. They often take advantage of living around humans by eating our scraps or peanuts that are offered to them. The oldest known American crow to live in the wild was seventeen years old.

Fish crow

The fish crow can be found in coastal areas in the Atlantic states and eastern Gulf states. However, populations of these crows have also been found in the interior states along the Mississippi River in recent years. They are built very similarly to American crows and have been known to blend in with them in areas where both species overlap.

The best way to distinguish the fish crow is through their nasal calls, especially their double-noted caws that sounds eerily similar to a human saying “uh uh”. Their diet includes more marine species than other crows but they will eat almost anything. Fish crows are also known to save caches of food for later.

Tamaulipas crow

While the Tamaulipas crow is primarily found in a small arid area of northeast Mexico, these crows can also be spotted around Brownsville, TX–especially at the garbage dump. These crows were thought to be a part of another crow species in Mexico but DNA testing proved that they are a distinct species.

What also makes this crow special? Unlike many other crow species, the Tamaulipas crow has glossy feathers with a purple cast and frog-like calls. There are many things that experts do not know about these smaller crows. More studies are needed to fully understand the private lives of these crows.

‘Alalā, or Hawaiian crow

The endangered ‘Alalā, or Hawaiian crow, is the only surviving species of five corvid species that used to inhabit the Hawaiian Islands. ʻAlalā are ecologically and culturally important. They eat a variety of native fruits and are important to forest health as seed dispersers for native plants. ʻAlalā are also revered as spiritual guardians in Hawaiian culture.

Habitat loss and the introduction of non-native wildlife and diseases brought these crows to the brink of extinction. The collaborative conservation efforts of the ʻAlalā Project partnership have fostered successful captive breeding efforts and the reintroduction of the revered ʻalalā back into Hawaiʻi’s native forest.

Another crow that is native to the U.S. territories is the federally endangered Mariana Crow on the islands of Rota and Guam.

Crows are Highly Intelligent

Multiple studies in recent years have proven that these birds are highly intelligent and can easily adapt to complex situations. Crows are able to develop individual learning, craft tools to access food, help each other (including with nesting responsibilities), and engage in social learning to train fellow members of their flock as well as pass down the information through the generations.

Because of these remarkable cognitive and social abilities, people sometimes refer to them as “petty” because they teach other crows about which human is a threat and hold on to that knowledge (or grudge) for years. It’s best to treat them with respect.

Do Crows Migrate?  

Crows and other corvids are listed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, but crows are not migratory in the same way that hummingbirds or monarch butterflies are considered. American crows are considered “partially migratory” or “short distance migrants”, where some of the flock may shift towards the warmer ends of their residential range while the other half remains where they are.

Fish crows do shift around their year-round range but have not been found more than 180 miles outside of their breeding areas. Tamaulipas crows and ‘Alalā are not considered migratory.

Do Not Confuse Crows With These Other Birds 

Some crow species share ranges with other black birds. Here are two types of birds that are often confused with crows:

Crows are fascinating birds that deserve more respect than they are often given. We encourage you to continue to learn more about crows or other wildlife featured during Halloween. Stay tuned for the next edition of “What’s in My Backyard?” to cover other common wildlife neighbors.

A special thanks to the Maui Forest Birds Recovery Project for contributing to this blog.

Despite progress to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, the world is on track to “overshoot,” or exceed the Paris Agreement’s previously set global warming limit of 1.5°C (3.3^oF) of average surface temperatures above pre-industrial levels in the next few years—at least temporarily. 

This amount of warming may not sound like a lot, but for our planet, it’s enough to cause sizable shifts in suitable habitat for many plants and animals, intensify extreme weather events such as heat waves and droughts, flood coastal communities, and increase the likelihood of an ice-free summer in the Arctic. And these risks will increase as warming increases. Limiting the “overshoot” above 1.5^oC and bringing global temperatures back down will require removing more carbon pollution from the atmosphere than we emit. 

Our actions today will determine the risks of tomorrow, the report emphasizes. The lower we keep Earth’s warming, the lower the risks to ecosystems, communities, and economies. The less time we spend in overshoot, the lower the likelihood of crossing tipping points and other irreversible impacts. And the sooner we reduce emissions, the greater the opportunity to avoid losses in the most fragile ecosystems and the most climate-vulnerable communities. 

This isn’t the time to give up—this is the time for all hands on deck. Keep reading to learn more.

How does climate change affect wildlife conservation?

Climate change poses ever-growing risks to biodiversity conservation and multiplies the impacts of other threats such as pollution and invasive species. We’ve already seen the first climate-driven extinctions and mass wildlife die-offs in terrestrial and marine environments driven by extreme heat. 

The new report is clear: warming above 1.5^oC will result in serious—and sometimes irreversible—impacts for ecosystems. Climate change will lead to ecological mismatches, species redistribution, and both direct and indirect effects of extreme weather. When these impacts lead to species extinction, as has already happened at least 20 times since global warming began, they are irreversible.

As warming continues, some ecosystems will be particularly vulnerable, including marine, montane, and polar ecosystems. And without adaptation, climate change may render some of our traditional conservation strategies ineffective.

Exceedance of 1.5^oC also increases the risk of irreversible “tipping points” in the polar ice sheets, the Amazon rainforest, and other systems. Warm-weather corals have a warming threshold of 1.2^oC, and it is unlikely that corals would survive an extended period of time with temperatures above 2^oC. Some of our most treasured ecosystems are at risk.

Other key takeaways

Here are five other things to know from the new report:

1. Exceedance of 1.5^oC threatens our communities and economies. Challenges related to food and water security, disease transmission, and air pollution will all intensify as warming continues, harming human well-being, reducing productivity, and imposing massive costs related to infrastructure and public health. Simultaneously, sea level rise poses serious risks to coastal communities and small island nations. Around the world, those who have contributed the least to warming will bear the greatest burden. 

2. Climate mitigation and adaptation must happen simultaneously. Mitigation refers to reductions in GHG emissions, and adaptations are strategies to cope with unavoidable warming. We can’t pursue emissions reductions without adaptation, and without emissions reductions, our adaptation strategies will prove insufficient. Instead, we need to think of mitigation, adaptation, and other efforts to enhance the resilience of ecosystems and communities as complements. 

3. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is essential—but it’s no substitute for cutting climate pollution. We’re now on a pathway that will require actively taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere  through CDR, as we work to return temperatures to below the 1.5^oC threshold. “Conventional” strategies to remove carbon from the atmosphere include reforestation and ecosystem restoration, while novel technological approaches include direct air capture systems with storage, which suck carbon from the air. All CDR strategies present trade-offs and risks. Ecosystem-based strategies are vulnerable to reversals that re-release carbon, for example, through wildfires or other disturbances—especially as the climate continues to warm—while technological strategies tend to be costly and less mature.

4. We can’t afford further “carbon lock-in” that commits us to carbon emitting technologies for the long term. Investments in long-lived infrastructure, such as fossil fuel power plants or transportation systems, will constrain our options to reduce emissions in the future. That’s why the frenzy of investment in gas-fired power plants and delays in the retirement of coal-fired plants, stimulated by ballooning energy demand by AI data centers, is so concerning. 

5. We already have the solutions we need. We don’t have to wait for some new silver bullet. We can take readily available steps to reduce climate pollution across the economy, reduce high-impact superpollutants like methane, and conserve and restore ecosystems, including grasslands, mangroves, peatlands, and rainforests.

What You Can Do

The situation is dire, but it’s not time to give up hope. Every bit of warming matters—and the faster we can return from peak temperatures, the better. 

It can feel overwhelming to realize that we’re on a pathway that will put many of the species, places, and people we love in harm’s way. But the new report’s very title, “Limiting Overshoot,” is a call to action and a reminder of the opportunity we have to avoid the worst impacts.

None of the actions below can solve this problem alone. It’s not the responsibility of individuals to solve the climate problem on their own. At the same time, we are far from powerless to make change, and we each have a part to play. Even in the face of a problem that seems much bigger than one person, your part matters. Here are some ideas to get started:

• Start local: Contact your local elected representatives and urge them to take action on climate change through nature-based and renewable energy solutions, or write an op-ed about the climate impacts and harms you’ve seen where you live. (Remember, much of the energy and transportation transition needed to address climate change will take place at the local level.)

• Vote! Check your voter registration, and vote for environmental leaders in every election (and remind your friends and family to do the same). If your local candidates are not addressing climate change in their platforms, ask them to do so.

• Admire the world and share what you’re working to protect. Take time to admire the nature in your backyard, in your garden, or in your favorite park. Then use your skills—as a communicator, an artist, a comedian, a baker, a scientist, a storyteller, or a healthcare worker—to help remind others why this planet is worth fighting for. 

• Find your other climate superpowers! For more ideas, check out SHIFT, a science-backed climate action guide created by Dr. Kimberly Nicholas and the Project Drawdown team.

From the vast plains of eastern Colorado to the rugged beauty of the Western Slope, Colorado is full of breath-taking scenery and diverse wildlife species.

However, after years of unprecedented drought and wildfires throughout the state, there are a number of challenges that are impacting wildlife and their habitat, while simultaneously jeopardizing communities that depend on both to thrive. Unfortunately, many of the state’s conservation programs that would address these issues are chronically underfunded. 

Right now, Colorado voters have the opportunity to approve a dedicated funding stream for critical conservation across the state and improving public access—without adding a new tax. Vote YES on Prop 137! Your YES vote will:

Dedicate Funding to Restore Wildlife Habitats

Colorado’s Prop 137 will provide additional funding for habitat restoration across the state—without creating or increasing taxes by dedicating a portion of the existing sporting goods sales tax towards state conservation.

Colorado’s infamous mountains, high plains, and expansive forests support some of the

highest mammal and bird diversity in the country. The vast terrain is home to captivating mammals such as moose, lynx, as well as smaller ones such as the adorable American pika. However, many of the fish and wildlife species in Colorado are struggling due to a variety of factors including encroaching development, invasive species, and habitat degradation.

Right now, there are more than 30 federally endangered and threatened species in Colorado as well as hundreds of other vulnerable species that are trying to survive on diminishing habitat. While state and local conservation programs have made remarkable progress, there are still not enough funds to sufficiently respond to the wildlife conservation crisis.

Protect Colorado’s Water Resources & Reduce Impacts of Wildfire

Proposition 137 will also help protect our clean water supplies, reduce the impacts of catastrophic wildfires and help support the recovery of fire-impacted watersheds.

The majority of Colorado’s watersheds originate from melted snowpacks in the mountains. When healthy, these freshwater habitats can provide clean drinking water, reduce the impacts of floods and fires, and are essential habitat for fish and wildlife. But many of these watersheds are already stressed due to years of drought and increasingly vulnerable to wildfires.

Large wildfires like the East Troublesome Fire in 2020 can degrade water quality at the source, increase water treatment costs, and damage critical water infrastructure that is expensive and time consuming to replace. Three of the worst wildfires occurred in the last five years, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and losses.

The good news is we CAN build resilience to wildfire back into Colorado’s watersheds by restoring our rivers and streams, but the needs currently outpace the available funding to protect our watersheds and communities from additional damage.

Colorado just experienced its worst snowpack on record, and the impacts of record-breaking drought are straining our water supplies and worsening wildfire risk. Vote YES on Prop 137 to dedicate funding towards water conservation and fire prevention projects.

Increase and Improve Access to Nature

“Connection to nature can be a doorway into a wider, deeper and even healing world—if we pay attention.”

– Richard Louv

Colorado Prop 137 will improve nature accessibility for Coloradans, support environmental education programs, and create new parks.

The outdoors is one of Colorado’s best assets and most popular attractions. The flowing rivers, vast landscapes, parks and trail systems, healthy wildlife populations, and abundant recreation opportunities are what make Colorado an outdoor destination. But not every child and family shares equal access to these opportunities.

Barriers like cost, transportation, and accessibility prevent many families from accessing nature in Colorado. Yet, connecting people and nature has important health benefits. Studies show outdoor time helps children grow strong, enhances imaginations and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance.

In addition, children who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment. Establishing new parks, providing environmental education, and improving access to current nature areas will make a difference for many Coloradans–and ultimately wildlife.

Vote YES on Colorado Proposition 137

Many of Colorado’s vast open spaces, rivers, and forests are facing worsening threats. Catastrophic wildfire, intensifying heat and drought, and rapidly encroaching development are challenging communities, drying up water supplies, undermining economic growth, and deteriorating forest health.

Without action now, Colorado risks depleting its most treasured and valuable asset: our abundant natural areas. Funding water and land conservation, outdoor recreation, wildfire risk reduction and access to nature is the best way to protect the Colorado we know and love.

Proposition 137 reaffirms Coloradans’ long-time support for the outdoors with actual resources to improve habitat and safeguard our water. Vote YES on Colorado Proposition 137 to support conservation in Colorado!

To learn more about the issue, visit the Yes on Prop 137 website.

*Paid for by National Wildlife Federation. Registered Agent: Ish Savadogo, CFO

In the late 1980’s I was sitting in the library at the University of South Florida (USF) yearning for adventure. This was around the first time I read about the FSPSP: “Fakahatchee Strand is perhaps the wildest place east of the Mississippi River.” I was hooked.

Sometimes I flew solo, sometimes I convinced a few friends to go with me. Sweaty, dirty, chronically cash-poor college students crammed into the cab and camper shell of my old truck, heading out into the night. A jumble of backpacks, grills, firewood, hiking boots, sleeping bags, tents, paddles, PFDs, coolers, and a very loud boom box rattled around the vehicle.

We would return many, many times.

FSPSP is nestled above the Ten Thousand Islands portion of Everglades National Park and lies just next to Big Cypress National Preserve. It is wet, wild, fecund, sublime, dark, dangerous, and demanding. Wading is as common as hiking. Reptiles and amphibians of all types are abundant as are insects, native plants, and iconic Florida species from bears to panthers, to crocodiles, to alligators.

We saw a Florida black bear on our first trip. We found Florida panther tracks in the soft oozing mud along the trams. The evening chorus of frogs, insects, birds, and God knows what else was a deafening cacophony. Florida folk musician and wilderness poet Dick Joslyn christened it the “Fakahatchee Jam.” We were not in Kansas anymore… and a gator was eyeing Toto for a snack.

We navigated the darkened waist deep waters you waded through with your feet, hidden beneath the water’s surface. We hoped the round objects you encountered were logs and not big toothy alligators. We saw endless snakes, many of which were fat and long and adorned with rattles, and others laid between ferns on a partially submerged log, thick as your forearm, were of the Moccasin variety. You were hyper aware of where you put your hands and feet. It was a long way to the hospital, and this was in an era before cell phones.

One afternoon we set up camp and hiked further along the tram to a large and open prairie. We lost track of time and after a miraculous sunset began hiking back to our campsite. Between the three of us we had one small flashlight with a feeble beam that barely penetrated the enveloping darkness. As we walked, we gradually kept drawing closer to one another. Then we made out a round elongated 8-10 foot wide shape in front of us. Was it a downed tree or log? Had we stepped over it before on the way in? We honestly could not remember.
Slowly, effortlessly, the log rose up on its four legs, and with great power and nobility eased into the darkened waters off the trail. Slowly. The darkened waters were still and silent again, betraying nothing of the modern dinosaur lurking within. The beam of the flashlight seemed ever more feeble.

We had a favorite island that we loved to camp on, remote and wild, in the Ten Thousand Islands. Comer Key was an official campsite within Everglades National Park. There were few amenities and it was only accessible by boat (or in our case, canoe).

A few months after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 we decided to return to our island paradise, perched along out near the edge of the islands along the Gulf of Mexico.  After leaving the boat launch in Everglades City in our canoes we arrived at a spot of open water and no island. Hurricane Andrew had simply washed it away. The power of nature.

I support NWF’s Gulf Program because I want there to always be places along the Gulf Coast that embody deep wilderness. I want to find places still, even in 2026, to get a little lost or to feel the power of nature. NWF saves the places that stir my soul.

So, in the spirit of adventure and exploration I urge you to travel south on I-75, jump on Tamiami Trail (US 41), leave Naples in the rearview and head east into the wild, wet, and wooly swamps. When you hit SR 29 head north to Copeland and enter FSPSP. While it might be a little less of a frontier than in the days of my youth, it is still one of the wildest places left east of the Mississippi River. Enjoy!

Learn more about Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.

Joe Murphy is a native and lifelong Floridian who lives along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s Nature Coast. Joe is a former staff member for NWF’s Gulf Program and contributes these blog posts as a supporter and alumnus. You can follow Joe on Facebook.

Here are some commons owls you might see in the United States:

• American Barn Owl: Recognized by its distinctive heart-shaped face, the barn owls prefer to live in human-made structures, like old barns.  
• Barred Owl: Recognized by its distinctive call that sounds like it’s saying “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?”, the barred owl can be found in mature woods and swamps in the eastern half of North America and the Pacific Northwest.
• Burrowing Owl: Known for its distinct white “eyebrows,” the burrowing owl makes its home in underground burrows.
• Eastern Screech-Owl: One of the smallest owl species in North America, the eastern screech-owl can often be found in suburban backyards, as well as forests and riparian areas.
• Great Horned Owl: One of the larger owl species in North America, the great horned owl lives in almost every type of ecosystem, from deserts to urban forests. 
• Western Screech-Owl: Known for sounding like a bouncing ping pong ball, the western screech-owl lives in the Western U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and commonly found in open woodlands, deserts, and suburban areas.

Download Owl Fun! Activity Guide for Kids and Families to Learn About Owls

Owls and a Healthy Ecosystem

Owls play an important role in a healthy ecosystem. They help control the rodent (e.g., mice, rats, etc.) and large insect populations (e.g., beetles, moths, etc.), which reduce the damage done to crops when there is an overabundance of these animals. Additionally, controlling the “pest” population also decreases the farmer’s need to use pesticides on their crops. Owls will often prey on sick, smaller mammals in the forest (like other predators also do) which helps reduce the chances of sickness or disease spreading through the prey population.

Threats to Owls and Conservation Strategies

Fortunately for wildlife enthusiasts, there are several species of owl across the country that are considered common (as highlighted above), but there are also a few owls facing population declines that have landed them under the protection of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Currently, there are three threatened species in the U.S. protected under the ESA:

• Cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl
• Mexican spotted owl
• Northern spotted owl

Read NWF blog, Spotted Owls: A Proven Strategy Against Extinction

One of the key threats to owls is habitat destruction. Practices such as logging, deforestation, and urban development destroy forests and other owl habitats, which impacts their ability to find safe spaces to raise young and to successfully hunt. Some conservation best practices for owls include leaving areas in your yard or in the community un-mowed to provide homes for owl prey and installing owl boxes. Additionally, leaving dead trees standing (if it is safe to do so) for nesting and perching.

Check out this DIY video from Roanoke College on how to build a screech owl box!

Owls can suffer secondary poisoning when they eat mice or rats that have consumed poisonous pest control baits (anticoagulant rodenticides), colloquially known as rat poison. The conservation community strongly encourages homeowners, farmers and others to forego the use of poisonous pest control baits and use other measures to deter rodents such as blocking entry to residences, reducing potential food sources, using mechanical rodent traps (if necessary), and/or consult a licensed wildlife control professional.

Advocating for laws such as the Endangered Species Act, that protect imperiled owl species and their habitats, and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which will provide much-needed funding to support the conservation of owls in decline and other species of greatest conservation need, when passed.

Fall and the Spooky Season

I would be remiss to not mention the popularity of owls during the spooky season. Stories from Roman and Greek mythology have owls playing a leading role, sometimes as a wise, helpful mystic, or a guardian of the dead. According to NWF Blog by Braelei Hardt, naturalist and science communication specialist at NWF, Why are Bats, Owls, Toads, and Crows Associated with Halloween?, Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was often depicted with an owl companion. Athena’s owl was hailed as a symbol of knowledge and insight, and therefore owls were treated with reverence within Greek culture. In Roman mythology the owl was a bird of ill omen that fed on humans. When Rome defeated Athens in 146 BCE, this more malicious depiction of owls began to dominate both areas and spread into the world form there. 

And in autumn, the leaves are falling in the forest, allowing the sounds of the owl to be heard more easily.  There are simply better acoustics, with less foliage and a chill in the air. It’s also easier to see owls sitting in a tree, either hunting or just hanging out, without the cover of the tree’s leaves. Check out NWF blog, Trick-or-Tweet, to read more about Halloween’s haunted birds.

Now, are you ready to find out if you are as wise as an owl? Take our owl quiz.

Get outside and go on an owl prowl. Take a nighttime walk and see “whoooo’s” calling! If you are lucky enough to hear an owl, try calling back.

How to Help

• Leave dead trees standing (if it is safe to do so) for nesting and perching.
• Leave areas in your yard or in the community un-mowed to provide homes for owl prey.
• Install owl boxes in your yard or in the community.
• Advocating for laws such as the Endangered Species Act, that protect imperiled owl species and their habitats, and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which will provide much-needed funding to support the conservation of owls in decline and other species of greatest conservation need, when passed.

Kids’ Corner

• Owl Fun! Kids and Family Activity Guide
• Craft: Paper Plate Owl
• Craft: Make an Owl Mask
• Craft: Owl Door Hanger
• Craft: Pinecone Snowy Owls
• Recipe: Rice Cake Snowy Owl
• Video: Watch on Owl Turn Its Head
• Video: How do burrowing owls scare animals away?

Bats provide a remarkable natural pest-control service, helping protect California’s Central Valley crops, from rice and vegetables to orchards of fruit and nut trees. Across the United States, bats provide billions of dollars’ worth of natural pest control. Their contribution is especially relevant in California’s Central Valley, one of the nation’s major agricultural regions.

The Mexican free-tailed bat is not only the world’s fastest mammal, but also one of our key insect-consumers. By foraging high above the ground, Mexican free-tailed bats can intercept flying insects before they oviposit, or lay eggs, potentially helping prevent future generations of crop-damaging pests.

Despite being the most common kind of bat in the Central Valley, there is no time to waste when it comes to conservation efforts.

Mortality Events

As a frequent flier to the warm, arid landscapes of the Southwest and Mexico, Mexican free-tailed bats may appear well-adapted to high temperatures. However, a concerning pattern has emerged.

Over the past five years, several large mortality events have been documented at maternity roosts throughout California’s Central Valley. In June 2022, more than 200 Mexican free-tailed bats were found dead beneath a roost in Modesto, with no apparent cause of death.

Between June 2022 and August 2025, multiple mortality events involving at least 100 bats were documented beneath a bridge in Butte City. In July 2024, more than 1,000 pups were found dead beneath a separate roost in Bakersfield. Later that year, in September, several hundred dead bats were observed beneath a maternity roost near Fresno.

Each event coincided with a period of peak summer heat. This pattern raises concerns about the vulnerability of Mexican free-tailed bats and their maternity roosts as the Central Valley experiences a warming climate due to climate change.

Maternity roosts are essential refuges for Mexican free-tailed bats to give birth and raise their young until they can make the migration down south. In California, the largest maternity roost is composed of over a quarter of a million individuals. Protecting these roosts is therefore an important part of conserving Mexican free-tailed bat populations.

Bat Research at California State University Sacramento

Witnessing one of these mortality events firsthand inspired the central research question: How do Mexican free-tailed bats regulate their body temperature during periods of extreme heat in California’s Central Valley?

To answer this question, researchers at California State University, Sacramento (Sac State), embarked on a project funded by the Wild Kingdom College and University Grant Program, a collaboration of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and National Wildlife Federation.

This involved catching Mexican free-tailed bats emerging from a maternity roost and affixing temperature-sensitive transmitters to assess body temperature changes during high heat periods across late summer. Temperature loggers were also inserted into these roosts to compare body temperatures with outside temperature changes.

Research Goals

By revealing how these bats respond to extreme heat, this research can improve our understanding of their ability to cope with a warming climate and inform conservation efforts. Protecting Mexican free-tailed bats may also help preserve the natural pest-control services that benefit the Central Valley’s agricultural industry.

Beyond its conservation goals, this project also seeks to expand public appreciation of bats.

Students from Sac State gained hands-on field experience by helping capture, process, and release these incredible mammals. Outreach events, including those at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, introduced members of the public and legislators to bats and their importance. By combining research with education, the project aims to build appreciation for these often-overlooked animals.

About the Authors

Alexandra Lyon is a master’s student at California State University, Sacramento, with five years of experience working with wildlife across various fields, including environmental consulting. She is passionate about bat conservation, public education, and plans to pursue a career centered around bats and climate change.

Anna Doty is a Professor of Biology at California State University, Sacramento, with decades of experience studying small mammals and bats. She has worked across the world including Australia, South Africa, and the southeastern United States, where she has published research with an emphasis on bat physiological ecology.