Creature Feature
Recent Stories
Casey Phillips/Tennessee Aquarium
Creature Feature: Salamanders on Spring Parade
Come early spring at damp, leaf-covered spots in the Southern mountains, the salamander mating rituals can be spectacular. Read more
Creature Feature: Groundhog Day
For these pudgy prognosticators, February 2 is more like Valentine’s Day. Read more
Mussel Mania: Keepers of the Water Watch
Freshwater mussels are among the most interesting—and imperiled—critters on the planet. Read more
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Creature Feature: Showing Its Stripes
Chipmunks causing structural damage? That’s just a myth, says one national wildlife expert. Read more
Conservation Crusaders
The non-profit Conservation Fisheries Inc. raises rare indigenous fish. Read more
Protecting the Pollinators
The listing of the first bumblebee as an endangered species has experts buzzing. Read more
Soaring High
A popular North Georgia attraction is also a little-known haven for peregrine falcons. Read more
A Week to Remember
In September, bird lovers band together to watch and record spectacular migrating hawks. Read more
‘Pigs with Wings’
Wild hogs are going hog wild, with increasing numbers spotted throughout the Southeast. Read more
At Home in the Clouds
A rare species of salamander is found only in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park. Read more
January Jewels
Think you just saw a hummingbird, in this cold weather? It might not be your imagination. Read more
Oh Deer
Once nearly gone from the Blue Ridge, white-tailed deer are now overly plentiful. Or are they? Read more
Bringing Back a Living Fossil
Conservationists are reintroducing ancient lake sturgeon to southeastern rivers. Read more
Saving America's Bird
The majestic bald eagle faced survival challenges in the 1960s. Now, thanks in part to efforts at the American Eagle Foundation in the Smokies, the future is much brighter for our national bird. Read more
Raising Hell (benders)
The threatened, "Hideously ugly" salamanders become much easier to look at in the context of the deep perils to their existence. Read more
Return of the River Otters
Victims of overhunting in the 1770s and of strangely high hide prices in the Depression, the inventive otter began its mountain comeback in 1984. Read more
The Great Backyard Bird Count
Three of the top 10 bird-watching states—Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia—are in the Blue Ridge region. Read more