Conservation

People stand by a creek

Conservation

How a landlocked Southern state became home to one of the world’s richest beds of shark fossils

A whale swims by her baby

Conservation

Her longevity hints at a century-long lifespan most of her species will never reach

A house on fire

Land

The Beadel House, a symbol of pioneering fire ecology in the Red Hills, was consumed by the wild blaze

An illustration of mussels

Conservation

Why the region’s secret—and imperiled—freshwater ecoweapons deserve your respect

A hand holds a fistful of rice

Land

In flooded fields amid a waterfowler’s paradise, the Isbells are reimagining how to use the land—and gaining the attention of sake brewers worldwide

A man holds an alligator gar

Conservation

The prehistoric fish with a toothy grin is fueling floodplain restoration efforts on the Mississippi River

A wildflower mural on top of a city building

Arts & Culture

In homage to a forgotten Texas landscape, artist James Prosek covered 5,000 square feet of panels with depictions of native grasses and blooms

A child looks through a telescope at night

Conservation

Three inspiring ways Groveland residents got on board with starry night skies

Oyster harvesters

Conservation

The cherished Florida harvesting grounds reopened after a five-year moratorium, but the future is still murky

a grove of American chestnuts

2026 Bucket List

Decades of conservation work have brought the functionally extinct tree back to public lands

Longleaf pines

Seven Southern

Why ancient woods matter for our health and the world’s—and where to seek them out for a restorative stroll

A bald eagle flies over a river

Conservation

Captain Mike Ostrander leads river tours into one of the densest bald eagle populations in the Lower 48

A portrait of a man with a fly rod

Sporting

Honoring the Florida sportsman’s indelible legacy on and off the water

A yellow spider in a web

CONSERVATION

The long-legged, brightly colored orb weavers are growing more common across the South. Here’s what to do—and what not to do—when you cross paths with one.

Arts & Culture

A wealth of captivating literary adventures drives a pair of new books on the life and legacies of Jim Harrison and Peter Matthiessen

an illustration of quail

Sporting

Generations apart, a shared devotion rises

A male elk bugeling

Conservation

After a multi-decade restoration effort, the charismatic herbivores roam Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Virginias—and fall is the best time to spot them

a spoonbill

Seven Southern

Binoculars up! These destinations celebrate the best in birdwatching when temps (finally) dip

crocodile hatchlings

conservation

A banner year for hatchlings, thanks in large part to an unlikely ally

An illustration of a falcon

Conservation

An unlikely coalition helps the striking raptors soar again