Nature Now

(Airdate: December 17, 2025) Join Jackie Canterbury as she talks with Paul Koberstein, an award-winning environmental journalist and the co-author of the book Canopy of Titans: The Life and Times of the Great North American Temperate Rainforest. Paul has explored many environmental issues through his career as a writer. Join us as we talk with Paul about the global importance of our own temperate rainforest ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest with emphasis on its’ role in storing carbon and the challenges we face.

(Airdate: December 10, 2025) Please join Nature Now this week as host Debaran Kelso speaks with wolf biologist Jim Holyan. The adventures and heart-breaks of wolf reintroductions in Idaho are the subject of his recent book: “I was a Middle-Aged Wolfman- Chasing Wolves in Idaho’s Backcountry”.

(Airdate: December 3, 2025) The stunning mountains of Western Washington draw many people who dream of reaching their summits. The views from these peaks can be breathtaking, but climbing them comes with significant challenges. Few know this better than Dave Rugh, who has spent decades climbing mountains. Join Jackie Canterbury as she talks with Dave about his experiences climbing in Washington State.

(Airdate: November 26, 2025) Nurse logs, a common site in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, blur the distinction between life and death as they support not only the next generation of trees, but also a host of other plant and animal species. Learn more about nurse logs and what the Jefferson Land Trust is doing to give a hand to these incredibly significant ecological systems. Join Nan Evans this week to talk to Carrie Clendaniel, Preserve Manager for the Land Trust, about nurse logs and fascilitating the fascilitators.

(Reprise airdate: November 19, 2025) The bad news – losses of bird and wildlife populations, extinction of species, and destruction of habitats. The good news – find hope and empowerment in your own home through the Backyard Wildlife Certification Program. Join Nature Now host Nan Evans and Cristie Lassen, co-owner of Wild Bird Unlimited in Gardiner, as they explore both the good and the bad news.

(Airdate: November 12, 2025) Nature Now takes a deep dive into the world of whale sound this week!  Please join host Debaran Kelso as we speak with humpback whale expert Dr. Fred Sharpe, whose recent research has focused on aerial whale signals, the “blows”, wheezes” and “thrums” of everyday life.

(Airdate: November 5, 2025) It’s getting cold and rainy outside. We have gotten out our winter clothes and rain boots, checked that our home’s furnace is working well, stocked up on comfort foods, and perhaps, planned a winter vacation to a warmer and sunnier place. As the seasons change, some birds migrate to warmer places. But, how do the birds that stay the winter survive? Listen as Nan Evans talks with Christie Lassen of the Wild Birds store in Gardiner as they talk about the behavioral, physical and physiological strategies used by our regional birds.

(Reprise airdate: October 22, 2025) Nature Now host Nan Evans talks with University of Washington marine biologist and research, Dr. Jason Hodin about the mysteries of the endangered Sunflower Sea Star. If we can understand these intricacies, perhaps humans can help restore the endangered Sunflower Sea Star population in the Salish Sea by learning how to raise and take care of baby sea stars.

(Airdate; October 15, 2025) What was that “pffit, pffit” sound? That small, triangular fin? A dolphin? But it doesn’t
want to play in our boat’s bow wake. Ah, it is a Harbor Porpoise, the smallest cetacean found in the Salish Sea. What do we know about them? Not very much it seems. Scientists are just learning more through direct, non-invasive observations of individuals. Join Nan Evans as she talks with Dr. Cindy Elliser of Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) and explore what they have been recently discovering and just how much more there is to learn about these secretive mammals.

(Reprise Airdate: October 8, 2025) Please join Nature Now host Debaran Kelso as we speak with Scott Brinton, co-founder and executive director of the CedarRoot School, about tracking and its importance to wildlife conservation. This is part 1 of a two-part program.