Bison found a haven within Yellowstone. In 1872, when President Ulysses S. Grant created the world’s first national park in the Yellowstone Valley of Montana, his goal was to protect some of the nation’s most spectacular scenery and create a safe haven for wildlife. His foresight would soon be rewarded, for hiding within Yellowstone’s spectacular […]
To European settlers traveling across America’s Great Plains in the early 1800s, the prairie wind was a constant companion: a gentle whisper echoing across the vast sea of grass that carpeted the center of the North American continent. Sometimes, however, the rumbling of thunder could be heard in the distance, though no storm clouds could […]
For many people, a backyard garden is a place to play, relax, and reflect. But for the plants and animals that live in our gardens, life is no picnic: amidst the carefully planted flowers and neatly clipped grass there lies a hidden world of hot romance, violence, and merciless competition. That world is revealed in […]
Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, is a geothermal landmark. This unique environment has a built-in heating system that melts ice floes, keeping rivers and lakes from freezing completely, even in the middle of winter. At Yellowstone, winter effectively lasts from September to April, but hot springs underneath 320-foot-deep Yellowstone Lake keep ice from covering […]
Yellowstone National Park, in northern Wyoming, is home to some of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world. Studded with bubbling mud pots, steaming hot springs, and roaring geysers, the park is visited by more than 4 million people every year. It’s also a haven for wildlife like coyotes, elk, bears, bison, and foxes. […]
Orangutans are our close relatives. It’s easy to fall under the charming spell cast by the auburn hair and quizzical expression of a playful youngster — especially when the child in question is a baby orangutan. These apes, featured in the NATURE program Orangutans: Just Hangin’ On, stir our emotions easily. Whether it’s their alert […]
Africa. Sprawled across this continent are vast savannahs, seemingly endless deserts, and impenetrable rain forests. Each region is dotted with a unique array of wild animals, from elusive leopards to the delicate, gazelle-like bongo. However, roaming throughout every African ecosystem is one constant: the elephant, which makes its home in every type of landscape. As […]
With the two finger-like points on the end of its trunk, an African elephant can pick up fruit the size of a marble — or a branch a foot thick. This elongated proboscis is an incredibly versatile tool: it provides a means for smelling, breathing, and touching, not to mention drinking and eating. Mothers caress […]
