Wider View Index
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Wildlife in Your Neighborhood
This article shows how much is happening around us, even when we don’t see it directly. Tracks, burrows, and other small signs reveal a constant flow of life through even the most ordinary places. It’s an invitation to look more closely at the ground beneath our feet and begin to recognize what has always been there.
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When Mere Survival Isn’t Enough
This article asks a simple but important question: Is survival enough? Using wolves, grizzly bears and bison, it shows how species can persist in small numbers while their ecological roles—and their place in the landscape—remain diminished. It’s a reminder that recovery is not just about keeping something alive, but about restoring what it does.
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Longleaf Pine and the Role of Fire
This article traces the longleaf pine forest from its origins under Native stewardship, through its near destruction, to its gradual return. It shows how fire—once suppressed as a threat—turns out to be central to the life of the system itself. It’s a clear example of what happens when we misunderstand a place, and what becomes possible when we begin to understand it again.
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Florida’s Ancient Plants at Risk
Plants that evolved over millions of years in Florida’s unique habitats may be more distinct—and more at risk—than scientists previously understood. New research shows that some of these rare species are misclassified or lack legal protection, leaving them vulnerable as their habitats disappear.
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Restoring Habitat on Working Lands
Restoring native habitat on working lands—farms, ranches, and managed forests—may be one of the most effective ways to slow species loss while still supporting food production and livelihoods. Research suggests that dedicating even a modest portion of these landscapes to native vegetation can improve biodiversity, water quality, soil health, and resilience to climate impacts. Protecting nature will require moving beyond parks and reserves to integrate habitat into the places where people live and work.
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Birding By Ear
Learning to identify birds by their songs opens a new way of experiencing the natural world, turning listening into a skill as recognizable as music. With a few simple techniques and attention to patterns, anyone can begin to recognize common bird calls and understand why birds sing. Over time, this practice deepens both birdwatching and one’s connection to place.
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Nature’s Best Hope
Brian Allen reviews Doug Tallamy’s Nature’s Best Hope, highlighting the idea of a “Homegrown National Park” and the powerful role homeowners can play in restoring habitat for birds, insects, and native ecosystems.
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Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary
Gary Siegrist recounts the evolution of management at the Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary, describing how invasive-species control, prescribed burns, and restoration efforts have revitalized native habitats and brought back a remarkable diversity of birds.
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Should We Play God?
Human activity has reshaped ecosystems and removed many of the natural forces that once kept them in balance. Because of this, choosing not to act is no longer a neutral position. Managing invasive species may seem like “playing God,” but it may also be a necessary response to ecological conditions humans have already created.
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Artifical Light Problems
Artificial light is usually treated as a simple convenience—something that helps people see after dark. But light is also a biological signal. From moths and bats to birds and humans, artificial light at night can disrupt behavior, reproduction, and circadian rhythms. Looking at experiments with red streetlights in Denmark, this essay explores how lighting design affects living systems and why treating light as infrastructure may be one of the most practical ways to reduce ecological harm.
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Creating a Wildlife Sanctuary in Your Own Backyard
We need a culture change on how we promote native plantings—and we know changing culture can be an uphill battle. Nevertheless, the logic of not killing the wildlife we want to protect is overwhelming. We need to up our game to both promote native plants and protect wildlife.