Environment

A tart cherry orchard in Michigan. Warmer days in early spring and erratic spring weather have hurt yields in recent years. Still, cherry growers are reluctant discuss the role of climate change.

Michigan's Tart Cherry Orchards Struggle To Cope With Erratic Spring Weather

4:31pm April 07, 2017

by Peter Payette

An unpredictable spring this year unnerved tart cherry growers in Michigan, because these cherry trees are especially vulnerable to extreme weather shifts made more likely by climate change.

James E. Hansen at TED2012 in Long Beach, CA.

James Hansen: What Makes A Scientist Take A Stand?

8:59am April 07, 2017

by NPR/TED Staff

When James Hansen spoke up about climate change in the 1980s, he risked the loss of his job and reputation. But, he says, it was worth it — because he could not be silent about something so important.

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A screenshot of the Bureau of Land Management's home page displays a photo of a "large coal seam at the Peabody North Antelope Rochelle Mine in Wyoming."

BLM Replaces Mountain Landscape Photo With Coal Seam On Home Page

8:37pm April 06, 2017

by Kirk Siegler

Critics were not kind to the Bureau of Land Management on social media. The agency says it plans to rotate photos showing various uses for federally managed lands.

Unsold cars, used and new, are unloaded from tractor-trailers into a parking lot south of Madrid. It's one of the biggest sales areas for used cars and scrap metal near the Spanish capital. Vendors say they're anticipating difficulty selling diesel cars,

In Madrid, A Plan To Fight Pollution By Shifting Away From Diesel-Run Cars

5:14pm April 06, 2017

by Lauren Frayer

Half of all cars in Europe run on diesel, compared to 3 percent in the U.S. But Madrid has vowed to ban diesel vehicles by 2025, to cut air pollution. Paris and Athens have made similar pledges.

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Camera trap image of an American badger burying a calf carcass by itself in Utah's Grassy Mountains, January 2016.

VIDEO: Badger Burying A Cow Surprises Scientists

5:26pm April 04, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The researchers say it's the first time an American badger has been documented burying an animal larger than itself. It worked for five days and nights to accomplish the unexpected feat.

A white-throated round-eared bat (Tonatia silvicola) catches — and munches — a katydid on Barro Colorado Island in Panama. Katydids are "the potato chips of the rain forest," scientists say.

Sound Matters: Sex And Death In The Rain Forest

5:18pm April 04, 2017

Scientists eavesdropping in trees have decoded a high stakes game of hide and seek. Katydids rely on ultrasound to find mates and listen for bats, which use ultrasound to find the bugs, and eat them.

A great gray looks up after plunging into the snow, while hunting north of Two Harbors, Minn. The great gray is one of the world's largest species of owl.

Some Wildlife Photographers Use Bait, But Is It Worth The Shot?

12:14pm April 03, 2017

by Dan Kraker

Photos of an owl swooping in with wings wide, eyes glowing and talons outstretched might not really be because of chance. Photographers using mice to lure the owls have caused a fierce debate.

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China Poised To Fill Leadership Void On Climate Policy – With Economic Incentives

6:03pm April 02, 2017

by Michel Martin

Trump signed an executive order this week that will begin to roll back some of Obama's signature climate change policies. Georgetown University's Varum Sivaram explains what that could mean for China.

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Every spring Yellowstone opens about 50 miles of its main thoroughfares to bikes only.

Before Cars Come In, Bikes Accompany Bison In Yellowstone

7:46am April 02, 2017

by Eric Whitney

Yellowstone National Park is often overwhelmed by cars. But right now, only bicycles are allowed on some popular park roads. But bikers have to be ready to dodge bears, wolves and other wildlife.

The Call-In: Answering Your Questions About Trump And Climate Change

7:46am April 02, 2017

by Nathan Rott

President Trump has signed an executive order rolling back a number of climate change initiatives. This week, we answer listener questions about the Trump administration's environmental policies.