Calls from the Wild podcast

Calls from the Wild podcast, adapted from our Signal Species story series, has dropped and is available on the NPR app.

A “signal” or “indicator” species is an organism that can tell us about changes occurring in an ecosystem.

More frequent bear encounters. Armadillos moving farther north than their typical southwestern environments. Invasive vines like kudzu growing at accelerated rates. Bat populations dwindling due to white nose syndrome.

These are examples of species sending us signals about our changing world and climate — but are we paying attention?

And if we are, is there a way to contribute to scientific findings? And what does noticing nature do for our wellbeing?

The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom and our partner stations in Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia explored these questions through this NPR podcast, Calls from the Wild. Three episodes. This podcast also features award-winning author and former New York Times columnist Margaret Renkl.

You can help contribute to science and have fun doing it by joining our project on iNaturalist. Just download the free iNaturalist app and start taking photos of the things around you. People on iNaturalist will corroborate the image and boom – you have made science out of your nature outing.

Join our iNaturalist project today and contribute your nature sightings from Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia.