Hellbenders are one of many creatures I have unfortunately never seen. Growing up in the south, I’ve encountered many kinds of amphibians and reptiles, but this reclusive and uncommon critter eludes me. However, it doesn’t deter me from doing my best to learn all about these fascinating mysteries.

Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) are fully aquatic amphibians, meaning they spend all of their lives in water. They primarily feed on crayfish, snails, small fish, tadpoles, insects, and worms, and have long life spans, sometimes up to 30 years. Other examples of fully aquatic amphibians are axolotls and mudpuppies, which are often confused due to their similar body shapes, but they’re quite different in biology and lifestyle.

Hellbenders breathe through their skin even though they have gills, but like most amphibians, they lose their frilly external gills once they reach adulthood. While gills are often a telltale sign of amphibians, their absence is a key and fascinating difference between hellbenders and mudpuppies, which retain their distinctive feathery gills throughout life. Their wrinkly skin allows them lots of surface area to breathe while underwater.

That distinctive, rippled appearance has earned them one of their many nicknames, “lasagna lizard”. Shockingly, the nicknames get stranger from here. Despite their odd appearance, Pennsylvania even went so far as to name the Hellbender their official state amphibian.

Hellbenders have many nicknames, including “Snot Otters” and “Devil Dogs”!

What is the lifecycle of hellbenders?

In the fall, the male hellbender finds and cultivates a carefully chosen spot along the river bottom. They carefully select just the right rock and, using their bodies to sweep away gravel and debris, create a protected cavity beneath. He then waits patiently for a female to choose him and his skillfully crafted den for laying her eggs.

Once the female lays her 200 to 400 eggs, the male hellbender remains, guarding and defending the eggs to give his offspring the best chance of survival. For this strategy to work, the water flowing through the nest must remain clean, cold, and free of sediment.

Hellbenders are the only living members of their genus, Cryptobranchus, and have existed for over 150 million years. Sometimes called a “ground puppy,” this species of giant salamander can grow up to 30 inches in length. This long evolutionary history is one reason why protecting their habitat is so important, as these ancient habitat specialists depend on clean, clear, and cold rivers to survive.

Download the Hellbender Fact Sheet to share in your community.

What is the conservation status of hellbenders?

There are two subspecies, and unfortunately, both are facing serious conservation challenges. They are the Eastern Hellbender and the Ozark Hellbender.

The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) has experienced widespread decline across its habitat and listed as endangered in Missouri since 2019. It was recently proposed for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act across all the states where it occurs, including Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In contrast, the Ozark (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) was federally listed as endangered in 2011, wherever it’s found, and is now only found in southern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas. This reflects its much smaller range and steep population declines from its historic range.

What is threatening hellbenders?

While the regulatory process can be complex, the broader picture is clear: hellbenders are facing serious challenges. Their habitat is declining, they are increasingly vulnerable to disease, and extreme weather events are placing additional stress on already fragile populations.

For example, Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding in parts of the region, damaging the cold, clear, fast-moving streams hellbenders depend on. Pollution, sedimentation from land use, and habitat fragmentation from dams and development continue to degrade the rocky streambeds where they live and reproduce.

These threats showcase the importance of a simple but powerful principle: “leave no trace.” A common and preventable activity like stacking rocks, whether for fun or social media, can unintentionally harm hellbender habitat.

Male hellbenders build dens beneath large rocks for nesting, and moving those rocks can destroy critical breeding sites. Even returning rocks to the water can be harmful, as they may crush a hidden hellbender or block access to an existing den.

A common and preventable activity like stacking rocks, whether for fun or social media, can unintentionally harm hellbender habitat.

Scientific research highlights the urgency of the situation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports eastern hellbender populations have declined by more than 80% across portions of their historic range, with some populations now functionally extirpated. Because hellbenders require exceptionally clean water and stable stream habitats, their decline often signals broader problems within freshwater ecosystems.

Despite these challenges, hellbenders have captured the imagination of many local communities. These wrinkled amphibians, sometimes affectionately called “snot otters”, have become unlikely conservation mascots. In Boone, North Carolina, residents have rallied around the species, supporting conservation efforts, advocating for stronger protections, and even celebrating the hellbender through public art.

Still, in some places, hellbenders have already disappeared from rivers where they once thrived. Historically present in many streams, they are now absent in areas impacted by decades of pollution, sedimentation, and habitat alteration. These local extirpations are a stark reminder that once populations are lost, recovery is extremely difficult.

• Disease. Disease, including Chytridiomycosis and other fungal infections, has been documented in Ozark populations as well as in Eastern hellbenders in states like Georgia and Pennsylvania.
• Habitat Loss. Habitat degradation remains a central driver of decline, as hellbenders are habitat specialists requiring specific environmental conditions and are highly sensitive to change.
• Damming of Rivers. Low-head dams alter natural habitat and impair how a stream behaves, and removing them allows for a natural river flow, normal sediment load distribution, and high dissolved oxygen.
• Illegal Pet Trade. Lastly, and perhaps most unfortunately, the pet trade hasn’t done hellbenders any favors. However, there is reason for hope. Affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation, including groups in West Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas, are actively working to educate the public, promote responsible recreation, and help reverse these trends.

Hellbender Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts are underway across the country, and several organizations within the National Wildlife Federation affiliate network are leading education, research, and habitat restoration efforts including the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation is actively involved in conservation and public outreach related to the Ozark hellbender in Arkansas. The organization collaborates with partners such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to support restoration and monitoring efforts, particularly in the Eleven Point River watershed, where hellbender populations occur. Their work includes sharing information about ongoing restoration projects and supporting recovery efforts funded for the species in the region.

In addition to conservation partnerships, the federation leads a range of public engagement programs, including wildlife-watching events, social media campaigns to raise awareness about native species and habitats, and also works with the Arkansas Environmental Education Association to help deliver initiatives such as the “Marvelous Misfits” campaign. Through these and other educational efforts, the organization introduces the public to unique wildlife like the hellbender and promotes broader stewardship of Arkansas’s rivers and ecosystems.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation is actively engaged in conservation and outreach efforts focused on the Eastern Hellbender in western North Carolina. The organization has supported policy advocacy by contributing to a comment letter urging the listing of the species under the Endangered Species Act and by raising awareness through blog posts and species spotlight campaigns.

In addition to policy work, the federation coordinates on-the-ground conservation activities through local chapters in the mountains, including stream cleanups and native plantings that help restore aquatic habitats important for hellbenders. Volunteers and partners also participate in surveys at locations such as New River State Park, where participants snorkel in streams to help locate and measure hellbenders as part of monitoring efforts. Following impacts from Hurricane Helene, they hope to shift from reactive work back to proactive species conservation, as they were before.

Take Action! How You Can Help Hellbenders

Even though hellbenders are elusive, advocating for and protecting their habitat is important, even though I’ve never seen one in the wild. Small, everyday choices can make a real difference for these ancient amphibians and the rivers they depend on.

• Do Not Stack Rocks. Avoid moving or stacking rocks in streams. What may seem harmless can destroy nesting sites or crush a hidden hellbender. These animals rely on stable, undisturbed rocks to survive and reproduce.
• Practice “Clean, Drain, Dry”. If you’re fishing or simply recreating, always clean your gear between waterways. This helps prevent the spread of harmful diseases that can devastate amphibian populations.
• Support Clean Water Efforts. Hellbenders need cold, clear, unpolluted streams. You can help by reducing runoff at home (limit fertilizer use, plant native vegetation) and supporting local watershed protection initiatives.
• Be a Responsible Angler. If you accidentally catch a hellbender, release it immediately and gently back into the water. They are sensitive to toxins or pollutants that may be left on your hands. Never keep or handle them unnecessarily, as they are protected in many places and highly sensitive to stress.
• Get Involved Locally. Join stream cleanups, habitat restoration projects, or educational events through organizations like the Arkansas Wildlife Federation, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, or West Virginia Rivers Coalition. These groups are actively working to restore habitats and raise awareness.
• Be A Voice for Wildlife. No matter how big or small we think we are, when we speak up together, our voices can have a huge impact! It can be as simple as talking to friends and family, writing letters, and sharing your voice on social media.
• Support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Encourage your Congressional representatives to fully support and help pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This historic wildlife legislation offers the best hope for addressing the nation’s wildlife crisis.

Kids’ Corner with Ranger Rick®:

• Watch: Hellbenders
• Read: Salamander City
• Read: Reptile or Amphibian?
• Craft: Feed the Frog
• Game: Kahoot – Awesome Amphibians

Get outside for a Green Hour®

• Search for salamanders
• Look for lizards
• Be a frog scout
• Go on an egg hunt
• Signs of spring

Learn more about the hellbender at NWF’s online wildlife guide.

The American flamingo is one of the largest species of flamingo, it can be up to 5 feet tall due to its long neck and legs. Their beautiful, coral pink feathers are a result of their diet, which includes small shrimp, mollusks, and other invertebrates along with algae and plant material which the flamingos filter from the water with comblike structures in their beak.  However, flamingos can also be red or orange in color!

The American flamingo is one of six species around the world. It can be found in Florida, along most areas of the coast, however, a majority of flamingo sightings occur in the Everglades, Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. The American flamingo can also be found in Mexico, South America, and the Caribbean.

The American flamingo is listed as “least concern” on the IUCN Red list, with its population healthy and increasing, however its wetland habitat including salt lagoons and alkaline lakes, continues to face threats from development and pollution. American flamingos were nearly wiped out in Florida in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Today they are still rare and slowly reappearing, and some scientists have suggested they should be considered for protection because their return is so recent and their populations are very fragile.

American flamingos in the U.S. are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Protection under the MBTA means it is illegal to kill, capture, or harm them; possess them, their feathers, nests, or eggs; or sell or trade them without a federal permit.

Experience the flamingo in marvelous 3D anamorphic display on LG’s Times Square billboard in New York City. And read the press release to learn how NWF and LG Electronics celebrated Earth Day 2026, with a focus on recovering wildlife and reconnecting with nature!

Kids’ Corner

• Read: Pink in the Wild
• Read: A Flamingo named Bob
• Get Crafty: Make thumbprint flamingos
• Play a Game: Kahoot: Flamingo Fun
• Watch: Flamingo Dance

Get Outside for a Green Hour®

• Wetlands are wonderful
• Backyard Gifts for Birds 
• Amazing Bird Dads
• Let’s go birding

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:

What are Manatees?

The coastal waters of Florida are the permanent home of the Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, a year-round resident. These “gentle giants” are primarily found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries and coastal bays where they can easily access their primary food source, seagrass. Adult manatees are typically 9-10 feet long from snout to tail and weigh around 1,000 pounds; however, some may grow over 13 feet long and weigh more than 3,500 pounds.

Manatees have finely wrinkled, leathery-looking, thick skin that continuously flakes off. Algae often grows on the backs and tails of manatees, making them appear green or brown. Often called “sea cows,” manatees are aquatic herbivores that spend about eight hours a day grazing seagrass and other water plants. Much like its relative, the elephant, the manatee uses its prehensile upper lip to collect food items, while its flippers, which house jointed “finger” bones like a human’s, allow it to swim, grasp objects, and feed with ease.

As of early 2026, Florida manatees remain officially classified as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act, despite facing several threats. While their population rebounded in 2017, they have since faced an unprecedented mortality crisis from starvation due to habitat loss, pollution and cold stress.

Threats to Manatees

Manatees face several serious threats, many of them tied to human activity. Watercraft collisions remain the most common cause of human‑related manatee deaths, as these slow‑moving animals often swim near the surface and are vulnerable to both blunt impacts from boat hulls and sharp injuries from propellers. Their natural curiosity also puts them at risk of entanglement in discarded plastic, fishing lines and trap ropes, which can cut into their skin, restrict movement or lead to drowning.

At the same time, manatees are losing access to the seagrass beds they depend on for food. Rapid coastal development and nutrient pollution from runoff and septic leaks fuel algal blooms that block sunlight and kill off these vital plants, leaving many manatees struggling to find enough to eat.

Manatees are also highly sensitive to cold water; when temperatures drop below 68°F, they can suffer from cold stress, a condition that weakens their immune system and is especially dangerous for younger animals. Together, these threats create a difficult environment for manatees and highlight the importance of protecting both the species and their fragile habitats.

Conservation Efforts

To address these challenges, conservationists, government agencies, and the public are working together to protect this species and their environment. Present conservation strategies for Florida manatees utilize a diversified, multi-faceted framework.

• Habitat Protection: The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Runoff to Resilience pilot project creates a system that networks stormwater ponds with automated controls that respond instantly to rainfall, runoff and upstream water flow to improve water quality. This project is a foundational step toward achieving this future vision.
• Manatee Zones: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has designated manatee protection zones to safeguard manatees. These zones are crucial for preventing human interference and protecting the habitats of manatees.
• Research: For over 30 years, the Manatee Conservation Research Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has been involved in a host of research efforts involving manatee behavioral ecology, abundance and distribution and population demographics, as well as habitat studies.
• Rescue and Rehabilitation: The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership and Manatees – Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park are partners who focus efforts on manatee rescue, rehabilitation, release and monitoring, encouraging awareness with public education and opportunities for active participation.
• Education and Outreach: Save the Manatee Club’s mission is to protect manatees and their aquatic habitat for today and for future generations. A few of their educational and outreach efforts include sending press releases to media outlets, distributing awareness materials and offering virtual education programs to schools and materials for educators.

How You Can Help Manatees

• Obey Speed Zones: Follow all posted speed and access restrictions. Slowing down gives both you and the manatee more time to react.
• Designate a Spotter: Have a passenger keep a lookout for “manatee footprints” (circular swirls on the surface) or snouts breaking the water.
• Wear Polarized Sunglasses: These cut through glare to help you see manatees just below the surface.
• Avoid Seagrass Beds: Stay in deep water channels. Propellers can scar seagrass, destroying the manatees’ primary food source.
• Passive Observation: If you encounter a manatee, keep a respectful distance. Never chase, touch or block their path.
• Never Feed or Water Manatees: It is illegal to provide food or fresh water for wild manatees. This habituates them to humans and attracts them to dangerous areas like marinas.
• Reduce Pollution: Avoid using synthetic fertilizers, which can fuel harmful algal blooms that kill seagrass.
• Clean Up Debris: Properly dispose of fishing lines and trash. Participate in waterway cleanups to prevent manatees from becoming entangled or ingesting litter.
• Support Conservation Groups: Organizations like Save the Manatee Club and the National Wildlife Federation lead research, rescue, and habitat restoration efforts.
• Contact Officials: Advocate for policies that protect natural springs and seagrass habitats, such as the restoration of the Great Florida Riverway.
• Purchase Specialty Plates: If you are a Florida resident, you can purchase a “Save the Manatee” license plate to fund the state conservation programs.

Statewide & Emergency Contacts

If you see an injured, distressed, or dead manatee, use these official hotlines: Florida (FWC): Call 1-888-404-3922 and Alabama/Mississippi (Dauphin Island Sea Lab): Call 1-866-493-5803

Seeing Florida’s manatees during their winter migration was at the top of my bucket list, and a few years ago, I traveled with my partner to see them in Blue Spring State Park. It was a day I will always remember! I will have the opportunity to work with the Panhandle Manatee Program to help them increase educational outreach on April 18 at the Earth Day Pensacola Festival.

The 2026 theme for the event is “Planet vs. Plastics”, and there will be eco-focused vendors, information booths and a children’s area. Manatees are a treasured symbol of Florida, and these unique marine animals rely on our protection to survive. For more information on how you can help, visit any of the linked websites in this article.

Emily Jordan is Escambia County’s Sea Turtle and Manatee Intern, representing the National Wildlife Federation. She is an undergraduate student of the University of West Florida, where she is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in environmental science and environmental management. She is dedicated to the long-term stewardship of Florida’s local ecosystems and plans to focus her professional efforts on the conservation and recovery of regional wildlife.

How does this work? We’ll be picking four species to represent each region—north, south, east, and west—with a total of 16 species. Then, after seeding each region, they’ll be going head-to-head in our bracket. The only difference between March Madness and Critter Craziness is that you will be deciding our ultimate winner. 

Prepare for The Big Prance, Critter Chaos, and Final Fur! Follow our social media channels, and vote on our 24-hour LinkedIn and Instagram polls to join in on all the Critter Craziness.

VOTING BEGINS MARCH 23!

2026 Critter Craziness: Bracket Schedule and Dates

Savory Sixteen: March 23rd – March 26th (8 matchups | 4 days)

• Monday, March 23rd: North 
• Tuesday, March 24th: East
• Wednesday, March 25th: South
• Thursday, March 26th: West

Elite Ate: March 30th – March 31st (4 matchups | 2 days)

• Monday, March 30th: North/East
• Tuesday, March 31st: South/West

Final Fur: April 1st (2 matchups | 1 day)

• Wednesday, April 1st: North/East vs South/West

Chompionship: April 3rd (1 matchup | 1 day) 

• Friday, April 3rd: Final

Regional Matchups

North Region

• 1st Seed: Sea otter 
• 2nd Seed: Canada Lynx 
• 3rd Seed: Grey Wolf
• 4th Seed: Common Loon

East Region

• 1st Seed: Raccoon
• 2nd Seed: Porcupine 
• 3rd Seed: Ruby-throated Hummingbird 
• 4th Seed: Eastern Hellbender

South Region

• 1st Seed: Manatee 
• 2nd Seed: Monarch butterfly
• 3rd Seed: Bobcat
• 4th Seed: Loggerhead Sea Turtle

West Region

• 1st Seed: Grizzly bear 
• 2nd Seed: Mountain lion 
• 3rd Seed: Mountain goat 
• 4th Seed: Great-horned owl

Additional Information

• Vote: LinkedIn | Instagram Story 
• Learn more: NWF Wildlife Guide 
• Donate: Adopt An Animal

Mammals (black bears, red foxes, and raccoons)

While it’s clear there is a mammal whose spring activity gets the most recognition from us humans, there are a few other species that deserve some love, too. To start, black bears emerge from hibernation and leave their dens as the weather warms. However, females typically stay longer when they have cubs, who need more time to grow bigger before leaving the den. 

Another species that emerges from its den in spring is the highly intelligent red fox. Ironically, they typically improve abandoned groundhog burrows while raising their young. Whether or not that makes them qualified shadow prophets, it shows that maybe renting can be better than owning in the face of unpredictable weather (and shadows).

And then there are the so-called trash pandas, masked marauders, AKA raccoons. They tend to become most active around mid-March as well, because this is the prime breeding season for them. They are typically solitary, but after gestating young over the winter period, they need to feed their new young.

For many species, including bears, foxes, raccoons (and yes, even groundhogs), life begins in spring. So this March, listen to Phil’s predictions if you wish. But no matter what the weather might be, know that many mammals are still rousing from the winter to face the day!

Birds of a feather migrate together (sandhill cranes, American woodcocks, and more!)

For many states in the northern part of the country or on migration routes, the return of familiar birds is often the first sign of spring. Over 350 species of birds cross the country on their spring migration. You might take a gander at robins reappearing to pick at the dirt for their breakfast, Canada geese flying overhead on their way to their summer breeding grounds, or the morning calls of songbirds like warblers, finches, and wrens resuming their songs among the treetops. In springtime, bird is the word!

One incredible spring sighting is the northward migration of sandhill cranes through Nebraska. After hunkering down for winter in southern states like Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, about one million sandhill cranes and some endangered whooping cranes flock together along Nebraska’s Platte River from mid-February to April as a stopover on their journey north towards Canada. During the day, they disperse amongst nearby corn fields and meadows to eat, then return to the shallow waters of the Platte River overnight. You know spring is in full swing when you spot soaring sandhill cranes.

Another bird with a dazzling—if difficult to spot—spring performance is the American woodcock. These odd little forest birds are relatives of sandpipers and are known for their funky strut, which helps them find worms in the soil. They have endearingly earned the nicknames timberdoodle, Labrador twister, night partridge, and bog sucker.

When spring comes around, male woodcocks return to the edge of forests to perform their “sky dance” at dusk. They let out a call, then fly high into the sky and circle, the air whistling over their wings. Then, they make their way back down to the ground and begin the process again, until finding their spring fling!

See you later, pollinator (bees, beetles, and butterflies)

“Not the bees!” Yes—the bees! Native bees are estimated to pollinate 80% of flowering plants around the world. Did you know there are at least 4,000 bee species native to the United States? Un-bee-lievable! 

Bees get a bad rap. But very few species of bees can sting. When spring flowers bloom, many bees come out of hibernation to drink nectar, pollinating flowers along the way. Queen bees are the only bumble bees that live through the winter (by hibernating) while all workers die off. Which means one bumblebee emerging in spring is responsible for creating a whole host of pollinators in the spring! 

Some types of flowers can only be pollinated by certain bee species! Examples of bees native to the United States are: the American bumblebee, rusty-patched bumblebee, and the Mojave poppy bee.

Beetles are pollinators, too! In fact, they are some of the original pollinators—active 200 million years ago, before it was cool. Species like soldier beetles, scarabs, long-horned beetles, sap beetles, and checkered beetles all work to pollinate certain types of flowering plants. These plants will usually have fragrant flowers with cup- or bowl- like blossoms that are open during the day, and leathery, tough petals and leaves, like the magnolia. Maybe the real beetle juice is the nectar we drank along the way!

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” – Muhammad Ali

While butterflies are less efficient than bees at moving pollen, they are the beauty queens of the insect world, and they have their place. Unlike bees, butterflies can see red and have good vision but a weak sense of smell. They gravitate towards (and pollinate) brightly-colored, clustered flowers with a lot of nectar. The iconic monarch butterfly feeds on milkweed toxic to predators as a caterpillar, which makes its attackers sick and keeps them at bay. This blog brought to you by the letter B!

Amphibians (wood frogs, spotted salamanders, and toads)

Amphibians are SUPER spring coded. This is their time to mate, breed, and lay eggs that will hatch in a matter of weeks, populating forests and arid grasslands with slimy and slithering specimens. Many amphibians have antifreeze characteristics that allow them to survive the unpredictable weather transition between late winter and early spring, when temperatures can still be at or below freezing.

Some species of amphibians, like wood frogs, lay their eggs in vernal pools. Vernal pools are small, temporary ponds filled with rainwater or snowmelt that are likely to dry up by the time late spring and summer roll around. Amphibians tend to lay eggs in vernal pools because fish typically do not inhabit vernal pools, keeping vulnerable eggs safe from predatory fish that might eat them. 

Other amphibians, like the spotted salamander, aren’t so lucky. They, too, search for freshwater pools to breed in during late winter, after the ground has thawed. But while females can lay 100-300 eggs per year, around 90% of those eggs will not make it to maturation due to disease, predation, and ponds drying up. It’s a hard knock life for the spotted salamander!

With a breeding call that sounds like a brief snore, plains spadefoot toads are sleepy little springtime signifiers. Coming from their loosely packed soil burrows to mate during or after heavy rains, these toads also breed in ephemeral pools. Plains spadefoot toads have one of the fastest development rates of amphibians, laying eggs that hatch within two days.

Debido a la construcción de carreteras y otro tipo de infraestructura, el hábitat de la vida silvestre está dividido, afectando su movimiento y conectividad ecológica. Los corredores de vida silvestre, o ecoductos, como puentes con vegetación, pasos subterráneos, entre otros, son soluciones diseñadas para ayudar a los animales a moverse de un lugar a otro, escapar del peligro, apareare y mejorar su diversidad genética.

Además, reducen la fragmentación del hábitat y previenen las colisiones entre animales y vehículos, mejorando nuestra seguridad vial.

Los estudios indican que los corredores ecológicos diseñados para la fauna silvestre fortalecen la biodiversidad y mejoran la resiliencia de los ecosistemas. Mantener la conectividad de los hábitats de la fauna es una de las mejores formas de evitar la pérdida de especies.

El peligro de las carreteras

Las carreteras exponen a los animales al tráfico vehicular, aumentando los riesgos de colisiones. Según la Administración Federal de Carreteras, cada año en los Estados Unidos, ocurren entre uno y dos millones de colisiones de vehículos con grandes animales, incluidos ciervos, pumas y otras especies.

El mayor número de colisiones se produce en zonas rurales, sin embargo, las ciudades no están exentas. Según un reciente análisis de la aseguradora State Farm, los 10 estados con mayor riesgo de colisiones de vehículos con animales son: Virginia Occidental, Montana, Pensilvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, Dakota del Sur, Virginia y Wyoming.

La Administración Federal de Carreteras ha identificado 21 especies amenazadas o en peligro de extinción, cuya supervivencia está riesgo debido a la mortalidad en las carreteras. Para hacer frente a la fragmentación de los hábitats es necesario crear corredores ecológicos, mediante programas que mejoran la planificación y gestión de la tierra y, además, permiten la colaboración con las tribus nativas americanas y las comunidades locales.

Un programa federal que protege la fauna y la seguridad vial

El Programa Piloto de Corredores de Vida Silvestre (WCPP, en inglés), autorizado en 2021, ha sido una herramienta fundamental para ayudar a reducir las colisiones vehiculares con la fauna silvestre.

Gracias a su financiamiento se ha lograron la construcción de 15 proyectos de corredores ecológicos y 20 proyectos centrados en la investigación, planificación, diseño y análisis de zonas que están en riesgo de una colisión vehicular con un animal. Estos proyectos han ayudado a convertir a las carreteras en lugares más seguros para los conductores y han mejorado la conectividad del hábitat de la fauna en todo el país.

La demanda de financiamiento del Programa Piloto de Corredores de Vida Silvestre ha superado con creces los 350 millones de dólares disponibles, con aproximadamente 1,134 millones de dólares de financiamiento en total.

Debido a que el programa está a punto de expirar en 2026, hay una creciente preocupación de que los solicitantes no puedan aprovechar los recursos federales y tengan que asumir los crecientes costos de implementar proyectos para mitigar las colisiones de vehículos con la fauna silvestre.

Por esa razón es fundamental que el Congreso reautorice los fondos para el Programa Piloto de Corredores de Vida Silvestre. Es necesario aumentar el financiamiento de este programa, satisfacer la demanda de los solicitantes que son elegibles y eliminar las barreras que restringen la participación de las tribus nativas americanas y su acceso a los recursos del programa.

Sin el financiamiento de este programa, corremos el riesgo de experimentar un aumento del número de colisiones de vehículos con la fauna silvestre y que la fragmentación de los hábitats sea cada vez mayor.

En 2025, un total de 26 estados presentaron 66 proyectos de ley relacionadas con corredores ecológicos de la fauna silvestre. Por ejemplo, Nuevo México aprobó una ley para crear el, Wildlife Corridors Fund, un fondo que proporcionó 50 millones de dólares en recursos dedicados al Departamento de Transporte de Nuevo México para construir ecoductos para osos, pumas, ciervos, borregos cimarrones y otros animales grandes.

El proyecto de Sandia a las Montañas Jemez, en Albuquerque, NM, contempla múltiples corredores ecológicos para conectar a la fauna con su hábitat, permitiendo una migración segura de los animales y mejorando la seguridad de los conductores.

Este proyecto ilustra la importancia de trabajar con las tribus nativas americanas, reconectando el hábitat de la fauna silvestre, adyacentes a sus tierras. Legislaciones anteriores establecieron el Plan de Acción para los Corredores de Vida Silvestre de Nuevo México, identificando puntos críticos, en algunas de las carreteras más transitadas, donde están las rutas migratorias de la fauna silvestre.

National Wildlife Federation Apoya la Conectividad Ecológica

National Wildlife Federation apoya los esfuerzos colaborativos de agencias estatales y federales, propietarios de tierras, grupos comunitarios y otras ONG para mejorar la conectividad ecológica de los hábitats de la fauna.

En colaboración con nuestras afiliadas, trabajamos para reconectar, restaurar, mejorar y mantener las rutas migratorias de diferentes especies como el berrendo, un mamífero que habita en el oeste de los Estados Unidos. Junto a la organización, Nature Conservancy, elaboramos un mapa interactivo para estudiar el movimiento de esta especie a lo largo del año.

En California, National Wildlife Federation lanzó la campaña #SaveLACougars para construir el cruce de vida silvestre, Wallis Annenberg, un paso elevado con vegetación para la fauna, que ayudará a los animales a cruzar un tramo de 10 carriles de la autopista 101, en Agoura Hills, a 35 millas de Los Ángeles y que estará completo a finales de 2026.

Se trata de un proyecto, público y privado, de gran alcance, con supervisión y liderazgo del Servicio de Parques Nacionales, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/MRCA, Caltrans y la National Wildlife Federation.

La construcción de este proyecto, que comenzó en abril de 2022, ha dado como resultado al corredor ecológico de la fauna más grande del mundo y el primero de su escala en una zona urbana. El objetivo es salvar una población de pumas de la extinción, proporcionando una conexión entre la pequeña y aislada población de las montañas de Santa Mónica y una población más grande y genéticamente diversa al norte. Con un hábitat nativo completamente funcional, el Wallis Annenberg Widlife Crossing, es un corredor de visa silvestre diseñado para que otras especies de la fauna silvestre también lo utilicen.

El icónico puma P-22, que realizó un viaje milagroso a través de dos grandes autopistas para encontrar un hogar y recorrió las colinas de Hollywood durante más de una década, sirvió como símbolo de la campaña #SaveLACougars.

Lamentablemente, en diciembre de 2022, P-22 fue atropellado por un coche y tuvo que ser sacrificado debido a sus heridas y otros problemas de salud. Sin embargo, su legado perdura, ya que el P-22 ayudó a concienciar en Estados Unidos y en todo el mundo sobre los peligros de las autopistas para los grandes felinos y otras especies, y los impactos devastadores en la fragmentación del hábitat para toda la fauna.

Aquí, puedes ver imágenes en tiempo real del progreso de la construcción del Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing.

Finalmente, también es importante resaltar que las tierras privadas, incluidas las granjas y ranchos, proporcionan un hábitat para la silvestre fauna. Los programas de conservación voluntarios y basados en incentivos del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA, en inglés) apoyan a estos ecosistemas.

En la Ley Agrícola de 2018, que financia y dirige los programas de USDA, se lograron avances significativos al incluir el 10% del mayor programa de conservación de tierras para prácticas que benefician a la fauna. National Wildlife Federation está trabajando para incluir la conectividad de los hábitats de la fauna y los corredores migratorios en la próxima Ley Agrícola. El borrador de la Ley Agrícola de 2026, presentada en la Cámara de Representantes, incluye estas disposiciones.

El botón de bajo te llevará a la página del Fondo de Acción de NWF, donde puedes tomar acción sobre este tema.

Puedes leer este blog en inglés aquí.

Studies indicate that maintaining the connectivity of wildlife habitats is one of the best ways to prevent species loss. Wildlife crossings help animals move around, promote genetic diversity, reduce habitat fragmentation and prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. Whether over or under roads and other infrastructure, wildlife crossings are essential to protecting biodiversity, public health, and road safety. 

The Danger of Roads 

In the United States, between one to two million vehicle collisions with large animals, including deer, mountain lions, and other species, occur each year, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The highest number of these collisions are in rural areas, however, cities are not exempt. The 10 states with the highest risk of animal-vehicle collisions are: West Virginia, Montana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mississippi, South Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming, according to a recent analysis by insurer State Farm.

The Federal Highway Administration has identified 21 threatened or endangered species in the U.S. whose continued survival is threatened by road mortality. This issue impacts a multitude of animals, large and small, from mountain lions to monarch butterflies.

To address the fragmentation of wildlife habitats, it is necessary to create ecological corridors, through programs for improved land planning and management. These programs also promote collaborative efforts for conservation with Indigenous tribes and local communities.

A Federal Program for Connectivity and Road Safety

The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program (WCPP) authorized in 2021 has been an important tool to help reduce the impact of wildlife vehicle collisions. The WCPP provided funding for 15 wildlife crossings projects and 20 projects supporting research, planning, design and wildlife vehicle collision analysis.

These projects have helped make roadways safer for motorists and improved habitat connectivity around our country. The demand for funding from the WCPP has far exceeded the available $350,000,000 in funding with approximately $1,134,000,000 in total funding asks.

With the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program set to expire in 2026, there is a growing concern that many eligible applicants will not be able to leverage federal funding and simply won’t be able to afford the increasing costs of wildlife vehicle collision mitigation projects.

Currently, there is a large effort to reauthorize the WCPP in the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill.  It is critical to reauthorize this program, increase funding to meet the demand by eligible applicants and remove the federal cost match requirement for Tribes that has been a barrier to more robust Tribal participation. Without the WCPP, we are at risk of increased vehicle collisions and severe habitat fragmentation.

In 2025, 26 states introduced 66 pieces of legislation related to wildlife corridors, wildlife crossings, and wildlife connectivity.  For example, New Mexico passed legislation to create the Wildlife Corridors Fund and later provided $50 million in dedicated resources for the New Mexico Department of Transportation to build wildlife crossing projects for bears, cougars, deer, bighorn sheep, and other large animals.

The Sandia to the Jemez Mountains project, in Albuquerque, NM, envisions multiple crossing structures to connect wildlife habitat, allow for safe wildlife migration, and improve motorist safety.

This project illustrates the importance of working with tribal partners to reconnect wildlife habitat adjacent to tribal lands. Previous legislation established the New Mexico Wildlife Corridors Action Plan to identify hotspots where wildlife corridors intersect with some of the most heavily traveled roadways.

National Wildlife Federation Supports Wildlife Connectivity 

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) supports the collaborative efforts of state and federal agencies, landowners, community groups, and other NGOs to improve the ecological connectivity of wildlife habitats. In collaboration with its affiliates, National Wildlife Federation is working on projects to reconnect, restore, enhance, and maintain the migration routes of different species such as the pronghorn, a mammal found throughout the American west. The Nature Conservancy and the National Wildlife Federation have partnered on an interactive map to study the movement of pronghorns throughout the year.

In California, the National Wildlife Federation launched the #SaveLACougars campaign to build the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, a vegetated overpass for wildlife, which will help animals cross a 10-lane section of Highway 101. Slated for completion at the end of 2026, the project is in Agoura Hills, 35 miles from Los Angeles.

This is a public-private partnership project of significant scope, with oversight and core leadership from the National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy/MRCA, Caltrans, and the National Wildlife Federation.

Construction of this crossing, which began in April 2022, will result in the largest wildlife crossing in the world and the first of its scale in an urban area. It aims to save a population of mountain lions from extinction by providing a connection between the small and isolated population in the Santa Monica Mountains to a larger and more genetically diverse population to the north. With a fully functioning native habitat, it is also being designed for other wildlife to utilize.

The iconic mountain lion P-22, who made a miraculous journey across two major freeways to find a home, and roamed the Hollywood hills for over a decade, served as the poster-cat for the #SaveLACougars campaign.

Sadly, in December of 2022, P-22 was hit by a car and had to be euthanized due to his injuries and other health issues. Yet his legacy lives on, as P-22 helped raise awareness in the U.S. and across the world about the dangers of highways to big cats and other species, and the devastating impacts on habitat fragmentation on all wildlife.

You can see real-time footage of the progress of the construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing here.

Finally, it is also important to highlight that private lands, including working lands such as farms and ranches, also provide significant wildlife habitats. The U.S. Department of Agriculture have voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs that support these habitats.

In the 2018 Farm Bill, which funds and directs USDA programs, significant progress was made by directing 10% of the largest working lands conservation program toward practices that benefit wildlife. NWF is working to expand these practices and include wildlife habitat connectivity and migration corridors in the next Farm Bill. The 2026 House draft Farm Bill included several of these provisions.

The button below will take you to NWF’s Action Fund page, where you can take action on this topic.

Read this blog in Spanish here.

In the spring, the Eastern and Western populations of monarchs migrate northeast and northwest, respectively, reaching the U.S. border with Canada. In autumn, both populations migrate to their wintering sites. The Eastern population migrates to the high and cold mountains of central Mexico, and the Western population migrates to the coast of California, where they spend the entire winter from November to March.

In recent decades, monarch butterflies have declined by more than 90 percent. They are threatened by climate change, excessive pesticide use, and habitat loss in their breeding, migratory and wintering grounds. Their habitats include, among others, native nectar plants and milkweed, the only food source on which monarch butterfly larvae depend to begin their life cycle.

The National Wildlife Federation makes the following six recommendations in support of monarch butterfly conservation:

1. Include the monarch butterfly as a threatened species, under the Endangered Species Act.
2. Reduce or eliminate, the use of pesticides and herbicides that directly affect butterflies and their habitats, milkweed, nectar plants, and wildlife in general.
3. Create a monarch friendly garden, planting milkweed and native nectar plants for the survival of caterpillars and monarch adults.
4. Encourage local authorities to be part of the initiative, Mayors ‘ Monarch Pledge, the National Wildlife Federation’s program that supports monarch butterfly conservation. From 2015 to date, more than 1,200 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada are part of this initiative.
5. Call on Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and the Monarch Act of 2025.
6. Participate in citizen science activities.

You can read this blog in Spanish here.

En la primavera, las poblaciones oriental y occidental de las monarcas migran hacia el noreste y noroeste respectivamente, llegando hasta la frontera de Canadá con Estados Unidos. En otoño, ambas poblaciones migran a sus sitios de invernación. La población oriental, migra a las montañas altas y frías del centro de México y la población occidental migra a la costa de California, donde pasan todo el invierno de noviembre a marzo.

En las últimas décadas, las mariposas monarca han sufrido un declive de más del 90 por ciento. Están amenazadas por el cambio climático, el uso excesivo de pesticidas y la pérdida de su hábitat en sus zonas de reproducción, migración e invernación. Sus hábitats incluyen, entre otras, a las plantas nativas que proveen néctar y al algodoncillo, del género Asclepias, la única fuente de alimento de la que dependen las larvas de la monarca para completar su ciclo de vida.

Estas son seis recomendaciones de National Wildlife Federation para ayudar a salvar a las mariposas monarca:

1. Incluir a la mariposa monarca como una especie amenazada, bajo la Ley Federal de Especies en Peligro de Extinción. 
2. Reducir, o eliminar, el uso de pesticidas y herbicidas que afectan directamente a las mariposas y sus hábitats, al algodoncillo, a las plantas que proveen néctar y a la vida silvestre en general.
3. Crear jardines silvestres, sembrando algodoncillo y plantas nativas de néctar para la supervivencia de las orugas y los adultos de la monarca. 
4. Alentar a las autoridades locales a ser parte de la iniciativa trinacional, Mi Municipio con la Monarca, (Mayors’ Monarch Pledge), el programa de National Wildlife Federation que apoya la conservación de la mariposa monarca. Desde el 2015 hasta la fecha, más de 1,200 ciudades en Estados Unidos, México y Canadá son parte de esta iniciativa.
5. Pedirle al Congreso aprobar, el proyecto de ley de recuperación de la vida silvestre de Estados Unidos, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, y el proyecto de ley de conservación y recuperación del hábitat de la mariposa monarca, Monarch Act de 2025.
6. Participar en actividades de ciencia ciudadana.

Puedes leer este blog en inglés aquí.