Naturalists Notebook
Saving the Ruffed Grouse, Appalachia’s Woodland Drummer
The ruffed grouse is a woodland bird that lives in young, regenerative forests in Appalachia and is considered one of the most commonly hunted birds for sport. The ruffed grouse has black or dark brown feathers on their neck, which they can raise into a distinctive collar — the ruff that gives them their name.
Read MoreHome on the Range … in Appalachia?
In Letcher County, Kentucky, the Appalachian Rekindling Project, an Indigenous, women-led organization, is seeking to reintroduce bison to the region on 63 acres of a reclaimed mountaintop removal coal mine.
Read MoreSpotting Fall Warblers at Seven Islands State Birding Park
![“The hooded warbler is what I call my spark bird, which is [the bird that] gets you into birding,” Fox says. “You see a bird, and it gets you wondering what it is, and then suddenly you discover there's this whole world of birds that you didn't know about.” Photo by Kelly Fox](https://appvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/HoodedWarbler-1024x682.jpg)
Birding enthusiasts may be able to spot these 36 New World warbler species at Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak, Tennessee, this fall migration season.
Read MoreA Call to Protect the Hellbender, Appalachia’s Largest Salamander
The Eastern hellbender is eligible to receive federal protection under the Endangered Species Act. In December 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the hellbender as endangered.
Read MoreEndangered species listing could help save Eastern hellbenders in Appalachian streams
On Dec. 12, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposal to classify the Eastern hellbender, the largest aquatic salamander in North America, as endangered.
Read MoreWhy Appalachia’s Spotted Skunk is so Rare
The eastern spotted skunk was not always as rare as it is today. Find out what researcher Emily Thorne has learned about this master of malodor.
Read MoreEndangered Tiny Tarantula Faces Habitat Loss
An endangered, tiny tarantula living in moss in the Appalachian Mountains is losing more of its habitat.
Read More10 New Spider Species Discovered in Appalachia
Researchers have discovered 10 new spider species that have adapted to the subterranean habitat of Appalachian caves.
Read MoreBewitched Botany
Discover the sinister beauty of four toxic plants that call the mystical Appalachian Mountains home: pokeweed, dolls’ eyes, climbing nightshade and jimsonweed.
Read MoreChasing the Light of Bioluminescence
Something enchanting lives in Appalachia’s forests. From green glows to bright sparks, bioluminescent lights glow in the summer nights.
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