Something Wild
Science & Ideas
About
Something Wild has been exploring the wonder of the landscape that surrounds us in New Hampshire for over 25 years!From the many birds that call our state home, to the trees around New Hampshire that have been granted "Big Tree" status, to stone walls that punctuate the state, we explain the behavior and science behind what we see and hear (and might take for granted) in our backyards.Something Wild is hosted by Dave Anderson and Grace McCulloch, and is produced by Jessica Hunt. This program is made by New Hampshire Public Radio, in partnership with the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and the New Hampshire Audubon.
Episodes
- Help rescue raptors from rodenticides
Efforts to control rodents are unintentionally killing the animals we want and need in our ecosystem, the ones who are providing natural pest control.
- Micro-exploring the SuperSanctuary
The Something Wild team goes "micro-exploring" at the SuperSanctuary in Hancock, a new approach to getting outdoors and discovering nature.
- Going woodcocking (and making memories)
Observing the annual aerial courtship display of the American woodcock helps make indelible family memories in this classic episode.
- Create the right environment for bluebirds
Bluebirds are beautiful and particular; the right nest box will help encourage them to raise a family in your yard.
- NH's misunderstood marsupial
Since opossums have become common in New Hampshire, it’s time to learn to appreciate these marsupials.
- What natural wonders have you observed this winter?
Something Wild listeners have questions about snow fleas and rime ice.
- Snow falling on conifers
The winter woods may appear to be uniformly deep snow, but there are smaller microclimates within the forest.
- NH weasels star as Winter Olympic mascots
The short-tailed weasel, or stoat, is native to New Hampshire and, while adorable, is a fierce predator.
- When ice rewrites the wild
Ice changes the landscape, and that’s especially true on beaver ponds.
- Signs of hope in a winter landscape
It may not seem like it, but the days are slowly lengthening, and there are other glimmers in the winter landscape.
- Why are we seeing moths in winter?
A listener asks why she is seeing moths flitting about at the coldest time of year.
- Succession is nature's unfolding
Succession is a natural process, even at Something Wild, as Chris Martin retires and we meet a new host.
- Listers, extreme birdwatching and the "Big Year"
Gino Ellison spent a year trying to see as many birds as possible, and has advice for how you can create your own Big Year.
- Up close with NH's tiniest -and cutest - owl
As part of Project Owlnet, the Something Wild team observed northern saw-whet owls being banded to learn more about their migration.
- Not just nuts - ‘soft mast’ also fuels the forest
Acorns and other nuts get all the attention in a mast year, but berries and fruits are also mast crops, and equally important for wildlife and forest ecosystems.
- Saving kestrels one nest box at a time
The American Kestrel, a tiny, colorful raptor, is declining in the state, and the Harris Center for Conservation Education is installing nest boxes in hopes of bolstering local kestrel populations.
- 'How to Love a Forest' with Ethan Tapper
Ethan Tapper, forester and author of "How to Love a Forest," says the actions we must take to protect forest ecosystems are often counterintuitive, uncomfortable and even bittersweet.
- Admiring the stature of the sycamore
A visit to a magnificent urban tree, the sycamore, to admire its unique characteristics and ecological role.
- Something Wild: How to co-exist with wasps and hornets
They all sting, but you can figure out the differences in three common wasps by looking at their nests and how they overwinter.
- Something Wild: Forest magic and fairy houses are not just for kids
Chris and Dave make some fairy houses and discover how important imagination is in connecting kids, and adults, with nature.
- Something Wild: Why we’re seeing more fireflies this summer
Here’s why the third wettest spring on record in New Hampshire has made for a firefly renaissance this summer.
- Something Wild: Appreciate the American beech
It’s time to appreciate the iconic American beech tree; it comprises nearly 40% of our northern forests, and the species could be decimated by beech leaf disease.
- Something Wild: What NH’s 'drowned forest' reveals about the past - and future
Some relatively new discoveries, and new technologies, tell a remarkable story about New Hampshire’s ancient coastline and its rapidly-changing future.
- Something Wild: Banding peregrine chicks in Manchester
For 25 years, Something Wild host Chris Martin, a raptor biologist, has been banding peregrine falcon chicks as part of an effort to re-establish the population.
- Something Wild: Rescuing NH's wild turtles
Turtles are at high risk when seeking out nesting grounds, because they may have to cross roads. New Hampshire Turtle Rescue is the only facility in the state that rescues and rehabilitates injured turtles to return them to the wild.
- Something Wild: Celebrate the swarms of black flies!
Take solace in the fact that annoying black flies are a harbinger of clean water and abundant wildlife.
- Something Wild: Home Tweet Home, a bird nest quiz
How well do you know the nests of our feathered friends?
- Something Wild: Big-toothed and trembling; some respect for poplars Player 2025-04-17 12:13
Cottonwoods, along with related big-toothed and trembling aspens, are poplars, some of New England’s fastest-growing tree pioneers.
- Something Wild: NH’s other foliage season
Have you noticed the bright colors in the twigs and stems of early spring? It's subtle, but the wash of color on hillsides shows that some trees are getting a jump-start on photosynthesis.
- Something Wild: Before the syrup comes the sap
In addition to weather, the soil in which maple trees grow makes a difference in how much maple syrup can be produced and even how it tastes.
- Something Wild: The fragile balance of deer and coyotes in winter
The health of the forest ecosystem depends on a balance of life and death.
- Something Wild: Why are blue jays eating paint off my house?
Blue jays are common around the U.S. but not always popular at bird feeders.
- Something Wild: Meet NH's most elusive bird
The elusive yet bold spruce grouse is a little-known N.H. inhabitant that relies on forests that are specifically adapted to colder temperatures.
- Something Wild: Do you have turkeys at your feeder?
Turkeys depend on backyard bird feeders in winter, so it's a good place to start counting flocks to figure out how many wild turkeys are wandering the state.
- Something Wild: Signs of hope in a winter landscape
It may not seem like it, but the days are slowly lengthening, and there are other bright spots in a cold and windy landscape.
- Something Wild: Signs of hope in a winter landscape
It may not seem like it, but the days are slowly lengthening, and there are other bright spots in a cold and windy landscape.
- Something Wild: The fir wave phenomenon in NH's White Mountains
The weather in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has, over millennia, created forests that are specifically suited to extreme weather conditions.
- Something Wild: The fir wave phenomenon in NH's White Mountains
The weather in New Hampshire’s White Mountains has, over millennia, created forests that are specifically suited to extreme weather conditions.
- Something Wild: Cold snap? Just ask the rhododendron!
A phenomenon called "thermonasty" causes rhododendron leaves to curl up when it’s really cold, allowing this broad-leaved evergreen to thrive in damp soil and freezing temperatures.
- Something Wild: What's it like inside a beaver lodge?
We see beaver dams in waterways all over the state, but what's going on under all the sticks and mud of a beaver lodge?
- Something Wild: ‘How to Love a Forest’ with Ethan Tapper
Dave Anderson talks with Ethan Tapper, forester and author of "How to Love a Forest," who says the actions we must take to protect forest ecosystems are often counterintuitive, uncomfortable and even bittersweet.
- Something Wild: Tracking the odyssey of bird migration
We talk with Scott Weidensaul, author and renowned bird migration researcher, about the explosion of tracking technology leading to what he calls "the golden age of ornithology."
- Something Wild: Something Wild: Exploring the Great Bay Discovery Center Boardwalk
Something Wild visits an accessible boardwalk over a salt marsh in our series celebrating access for all to our state's natural beauty.
- Something Wild: Exploring the Manchester Cedar Swamp All Persons Trail
We visit the unique ecosystem of the Manchester Cedar Swamp Preserve in our series celebrating access for all to our state's natural beauty.
- Something Wild: Exploring NH Audubon’s All Persons Trail and pollinator garden
We’re kicking off a series exploring thoughtfully designed hiking trails that allow people of varying ability to access our state's natural beauty.
- Something Wild: Conditions are right for spectacular foliage
Dave Anderson goes out on a limb and says conditions are right for New Hampshire to enjoy the most colorful fall foliage seen in a decade.
- Something Wild: Reflecting on the watery zen of a frog pond
Something Wild is all about connecting with nature, especially in your own yard. This summer, Something Wild co-host Dave Anderson spent some time sitting by the frog pond he created, tapping into the watery vibe.
- Something Wild: What NH’s “drowned forest” reveals about the past - and future
Some relatively new discoveries, and new technologies, tell a remarkable story about New Hampshire’s ancient coastline and its rapidly-changing future.
- Something Wild: Sy & Fire Chief, the 42-lb snapping turtle
NH naturalist and author Sy Montgomery introduces us to Fire Chief, a 42-lb. snapping turtle. She and illustrator Matt Patterson worked together to help Fire Chief regain the ability to walk after being hit by a car. This is the third epis…
- Something Wild: Sy & the orphan hummingbirds
N.H. naturalist and author Sy Montgomery had the rare experience of helping to raise two orphaned baby hummingbirds. We get a peek into the complex endeavor, and the strength Sy finds in these tiny birds, in our second episode in the serie…