Wildlife

There are those moments when you think: maybe I’m no smarter than a trash panda. This is one of them.

On these expert-led trips, you’ll spot the National Park System’s wildest residents, from mysterious wolves to fat bears. Pro tip: the bioluminescent fireflies are pretty cool, too.

Born on an island off the coast of Virginia, home to a wild herd that inspired the classic children’s novel ‘Misty of Chincoteague,’ this gentle, blue-eyed gelding enjoyed an adventurous life with a family in New Mexico. After his death, a mother and daughter went on a mission: to lay him to rest amid the sand and the waves.

It’s like sustainable tourism 2.0—with a focus on leaving destinations better than we found them.

‘Prey,’ ‘Fall,’ and ‘Beast’ are all in theaters or streaming now—we break down which ones are worth your time

We’ve collected tales about curious mountain lions, amorous warthogs, hardworking beavers, and more from our adventures in the wild

Western Rewilding Network calls for replacing livestock grazing on public lands with protected habitat for two of the most controversial wild species

Jordan Peele's latest film explores how Hollywood has tokenized non-white people and commodified landscapes and wildlife, nowhere more than in westerns. Can the genre reclaim those marginalized stories and all their complexity?

Those iconic bulbous boulders, lucid skies, and namesake trees are mere backdrops to a Californian desert playground filled with jaw-dropping vistas, dynamic hiking trails, and that famous grippy rock. Here’s everything you need to know to explore it.

A bloody conflict between the Himalayan ‘ghost cats’ and Nepali shepherds is only partially to blame—and raises questions about their future

The A-list actor is the voice of the new National Geographic documentary ’America the Beautiful,’ and we loved every minute

Thanks to a lot of hard work, skill, luck, and love, these amazing animals emerged safely from the flames and disruption

This portable, packable device will repel mosquitoes no matter where you take it

Rattlesnakes bite 150,000 pets each year in the U.S. These innovative rattlesnake training courses could save you and your canine companion.

The beloved annual gathering is in person again in Telluride, Colorado, and screening some of the most exciting adventure films of the year

This Central American destination is the adventure traveler’s dream, from its jungle-covered peaks to a coastline dotted with more than 450 islands stretching across the world’s second-largest barrier reef. It’s also delightfully accessible (English is the official language and the dollar a main currency), culturally diverse, and home to historically significant Maya sites, creating a particular dynamism that's unique to the region

Freezing to death. Heatstroke. The excruciatingly painful sting of a box jellyfish, which can kill a person in under a minute. After writing the classic 1997 story “Frozen Alive,” Peter Stark became an expert on what it feels like to die in the wild. We asked him why people are so interested in reading about it—and about his own close calls.

When travel resumed in early 2021, Americans in droves headed south of the border, with most opting for popular tourist meccas. But why follow the masses when you can explore wild corners of the country few others visit? We rounded up 18 ways to do just that—and to support local economies while you’re at it.

The Twitter famous saurologist and cofounder of Black AF in STEM is helping to build a more inclusive scientific community—and spotting some very sneaky lizards along the way

While getting his PhD in English, Logan Scherer developed an intense friendship with a male grad student that lasted for years, through his friend’s engagement and marriage to a woman. Scherer struggled to make sense of it, until he lost himself in a group of spinster nature writers from the late 19th century who eschewed marriage to live alone or with other women during a time when the language of queerness didn’t exist.

Yes, things are very bad, but there are some glimmers of hope for making meaningful progress

By portraying predators as villains, we are influencing how our children perceive the natural world

Chasing this upland game bird is as hard as it is rewarding

Some of our favorite recent releases explore the life of Jacques Cousteau, a nonbinary climber’s journey to embrace their identity, and the search for the world’s loneliest whale

Tim Zimmermann’s feature about a 12,000-pound orca that killed a SeaWorld trainer changed the future of marine parks, was developed into a powerful 2013 documentary, and turned the author into a vegan

A group of biologists are trying to protect a threatened herd in the iconic Wyoming range, but their plan includes closing recreational areas that many aren‘t happy about losing

The acclaimed author’s latest release is the October pick for the Outside Book Club. We spoke with him about the book, climate anxiety, and the father-son relationship

As it turns out, the national parks just aren’t that great for some visitors (though we definitely disagree)

I’m really sorry it happened and really glad I survived. Notes on the flabbergasting climax of an Alaska road trip that changed my life.

A recent ruling on an Endangered Species Act case may set a precedent for incorporating climate models into species protection

The state of the steelhead in the Columbia and Snake River watersheds is dire. A Pacific Northwest steelhead angler grapples with how best to honor the people, places, and resources that she loves. 

On an expedition to track lemurs in Madagascar, wildlife ecologist Rae Wynn-Grant found her confidence and her voice

Our favorite wildlife competition crowned an aging winner this year, and reminded us that for the chubby bears we love, the stakes will always be high

Intrepid author Mary Roach shares tales of thieving bears, murderous possums, and mugging monkeys from her new book, ‘Fuzz’

Lyme-carrying ticks are a bigger threat than ever. A promising new antibody treatment looks to stop infection—even after a tick bite.

To live in the small town of Haines, Alaska, is to live with bears, with roughly one brown bear for every nine human residents. Last winter, a local snowboarder woke a hibernating brown bear in the backcountry and was severely injured, furthering tensions between food-stressed bears and anxious local residents. But in most encounters, it’s the bear that ends up dead, prompting the question of what it means to coexist.

Kyle Dickman had spent his life chasing adventure. But after nearly dying from a snake bite, he saw menacing risks everywhere he went.

Grizzly and black bears have killed five people in North America over the last five months. Is this cause for concern?

Despite warnings, rules, and common sense, tourists in Yellowstone keep approaching bears and bison.

Journalist Emma Marris’s new book, ‘Wild Souls,’ asks us to reconsider our relationship to the nonhuman world

Drawing parallels with the Galápagos Islands, this marine wonderland is a similarly diverse treasure found just off the Southern California coast, home to 2,000-plus species, some 150 of which can be found nowhere else

Mountaineers come to summit this Alaskan park’s namesake 20,310-foot peak, the highest in North America. Our 62 Parks columnist set out on a mountain bike to see the stunning terrain and bountiful wildlife during the 36th stop of her quest to visit every national park in the U.S.

Plan a trip to this Alaskan treasure to explore vast glaciers and to see huge whales and a diverse array of other fauna, says our 62 Parks columnist about the 35th stop on her quest to see every U.S. national park

A wild place—and an American ideal—are heading for destruction. We can stop it now.

Pet adoptions spiked during the pandemic. Now is the time to change outdoor dog culture for the benefit of people, public lands, wildlife, and the dogs themselves. 

The state just passed a law calling for 90 percent of its wolf population to be killed. It’s based on fear and lies.

This is just the kickoff to a ten-year plan to protect more land, water, and wildlife

The odds of being attacked by a shark are less than one in 11 million, which makes it nearly impossible to find people to turn to when you become that one. Enter a support group of survivors called the Bite Club—the most exclusive club nobody wants to join.

From miles of accessible trails to nearby boarding services to dog safety, these are the best (and worst) parks to visit with your best friend

Your bucket list should go beyond national parks. This decision tree will help you find lesser known locations with half the crowds.

How the team behind David Attenborough’s new Netflix series captured a fight sequence between two poison dart frogs

A recent incident involving a renowned wildlife photographer allegedly baiting foxes at Grand Teton sheds light on a larger issue

A close encounter in the far north offers powerful lessons about how Native people have chosen to live alongside a dangerous predator

Joshua Skenes ran one of the most expensive restaurants in San Francisco, with industry accolades and three Michelin stars. Still, he felt unfulfilled. Enter a top ­secret new venture where, if you’re lucky, you can have the best meal of your life for free.

Thanks to their proximity, these Airbnbs book up fast. Make your summer reservation now.

In his new book ‘A Most Remarkable Creature,’ indie musician and writer Jonathan Meiburg travels to the bottom of the planet to investigate a very strange bird of prey that puzzled Darwin himself

The bird—one often raised in captivity and released for the express purpose of being shot—is responsible for providing wildlife habitat across much of the America’s heartland

These recently translated titles are available in English for the first time

A new book by the acclaimed science journalist Michelle Nijhuis looks at human attempts to save other species from extinction, from John Muir to the World Wildlife Fund

In 1967, Marlon Brando bought a tiny atoll near Tahiti with the aim of preserving it as a tropical paradise. That effort continues, supported by a resort where Beyoncé, Obama, and other big shots chill next to a stunning private lagoon. Hampton Sides went there to meet with scientists and splash around an eco-fantasy island.

With funding from the federal government, Zion and other parks are swapping in electric shuttle buses and adding charging stations for visitors’ electric vehicles, putting the park system on the cutting edge of green technology

Last year, the American Ornithological Society accepted a proposal to rename a bird linked to a racist figure. And there's more where that came from.

Researcher Ken Balcomb has spent more than half his life studying the iconic killer whales of Washington’s San Juan Islands and raising awareness about their struggle for survival. Now he may have run out of time.

From day one, the new administration has showed itself to be in favor of protecting the wild spaces and species we love

Wildlife and endless grasslands to explore in a remote corner of North Dakota made the 27th park on our 62 Parks columnist's list a must-visit destination

The end of the Trump administration can't come soon enough for our climate and public lands. Thankfully, there are a series of actions our new president can immediately take to begin undoing the damage.

Twenty-three surprising ways to get you inspired for next year and beyond

Over the past two decades, eBird has become the go-to online platform for scientists and hobbyists alike to upload and share bird observations. But it has also transformed the process and etiquette of birding.

A University of Colorado Boulder skier tells the story of a camping trip gone awry

A guide to key ballot measures and Senate and House races that will have huge impacts on the way we address climate change

Kyle Burgess was on a trail run when he came upon a protective mama mountain lion. Using his phone, he filmed her as she escorted him away from her cubs for six terrifying minutes. He had no idea he’d just shot internet gold.

The ursine inhabitants of the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center test dozens of containers each year to see if they're worthy of bear-proof certification

Here's how to stay safe when trail running in bear country — five encounter scenarios and how to react to each.

Whether you're hunting, bird-watching, or visiting a national park, the six-ounce Kestrel Glassing Systems Monopod will drastically improve your experience

We asked our travel experts to reveal what's on their bucket lists, and their answers will surprise and inspire you. The destinations, insight, and data here will help you plan trips for months and years to come—when we hope we'll all be getting back out there.

The Ohio waterway that so famously caught on fire in 1969, inspiring the Clean Water Act, caught fire again this week