While nature might seem competitive, mature pine forests offer a lesson in coexistence — a natural phenomenon known as crown shyness.
North Carolina, Naturally: Spanish Moss
Tendrils of Spanish moss may evoke Southern Gothic allure, but in their habitats, the epiphyte shares a symbiotic relationship with its fellow flora and fauna.
North Carolina, Naturally: Fossils
Join Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice as she travels to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to explore how the region’s rocks and coastline reveal secrets about the ancient lives of prehistoric creatures.
North Carolina, Naturally: Nests
Birds find utility in the most unassuming bits around them — from moss and lichen to snake skin — using these pieces to construct intricate nests. Join Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice as she speaks with Frank Harmon about nature’s very own architects.
North Carolina, Naturally: Mistletoe
Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice explores how North Carolina’s “tree thief” nourishes a surprising community of wildlife, from cedar waxwings to great purple hairstreaks, during the winter months.
North Carolina, Naturally: Black Bears
From the pocosins to the hollows, black bears shape wild spaces with persistence, silence, and strength. Learn more about these quiet giants with Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice as she travels to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences to meet with the Head of Mammalogy Mike Cove.
North Carolina, Naturally: Bats
Entomologist Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice travels to Asheville to learn about the endangered gray bats species as the local population recovers after Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina, Naturally: Painted Buntings
Often spotted in the Southeast’s coastal environments, male painted buntings — with their characteristic rainbow plumage — are one of the most colorful birds in the country. Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice takes a closer look at these iridescent creatures who migrate to coastal North Carolina each year.
North Carolina, Naturally: The Fall Line
From Roanoke Rapids to Raven Rock, a natural divide across North Carolina has long-guided water, wildlife, and people. Join Dr. Eleanor Spicer Rice as she explores the town of Weldon, where the cascades from the Roanoke River signify the geological shift where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain.
