EcoSense for Living

Kentucky’s Bernheim Forest & Arboretum was created from one man’s desire to preserve the land that gave him opportunity. The vision now includes art that draws visitors from around the globe. Many conserved places, like Bernheim, face encroaching development and pollution. One wildlife corridor is at risk due to eminent domain. And a Bernheim naturalist tells why we should take wild night walks.

As the number of wild horses grows, so does the controversy around them. We untangle the issues at the Wind River Wild Horse Sanctuary in Wyoming. Then, at Savannah College of Art & Design, we explore how the natural world influences design in surprising and helpful ways. Finally, visitors hope to see the rare “spirit bear,” in the Great Bear Rainforest in northwest Canada.

Wolverines are rarely seen, living deep within high, snowy mountains. We visit Zoo Montana to see a wolverine kit born in captivity. In the northwest, the Nez Perce tribe shows us how the fate of salmon is intertwined and connected to all living things. Lastly, Yellowstone Ski Resort uses recycled wastewater to make snow—how their technology could extend the life of creeks and rivers in the west.

“Beavers are having a moment!” As the world struggles with fire and droughts, we’re beginning to appreciate the wetland-producing work of beavers. Author Ben Goldfarb, tells how beavers influenced American history. In Montana, “Beaver Believers” install technology so beavers and humans can co-exist. Finally, we visit the Flint River in Georgia to see the value of letting a river run its course.