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Suburban backyards are food sources and shelter for wildlife

Media Mentions

Jan 19, 2021

Pandemic ‘taking a significant psychological toll on students’ NC State researcher says in study

WRAL Tech Wire
Research has shown many college students faced significant mental health challenges going into the COVID-19 pandemic, and experts say the pandemic has added new stressors. 

Dec 16, 2020

Which Christmas tree is best for the environment? Real vs. fake trees

Inverse
As Earth edges ever closer to climate calamity, the holiday season presents a new opportunity to take action and make a greener, cleaner choice when it comes to the center piece of many households: the Christmas tree. 

Dec 11, 2020

Shopping online this holiday season? Recycle those cardboard boxes, expert says

Waste360
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge, a growing number of consumers across the country are shopping online this holiday season – a trend that could have severe environmental consequences if packaging materials aren’t properly disposed of. 

Nov 30, 2020

Pandemic or not, fresh-cut fir trees help make the season special

WCHL
North Carolina is the native home to Fraser fir. A combination of ideal elevation, soil and climate in the western part of the state helps the tree thrive. “Even if you have a bad Fraser fir for a Christmas tree, it’s still likely better than the next best Christmas tree,” said Justin Whitehill, a researcher for NC State's Christmas Tree Genetics program. 

Nov 24, 2020

Wildlife is right in your backyard—literally

The Wildlife Society
Some wildlife in North Carolina is more abundant in suburban backyards than in nearby forests, and some of these yards even display more species richness. 

Nov 24, 2020

Coastal harm from invading saltwater ‘happening right now’

Associated Press News
The landward movement of seawater threatens drinking water supplies, coastal farming and coastal ecosystems. Rising seas, more frequent storms, higher tides, drought and the pressure of pumping for drinking water are combining to accelerate the salt invasion. 

Nov 18, 2020

Noise and light pollution hinder bird reproduction, study finds

Futurity
New research shows a link between increases in noise and light pollution and the timing of when songbirds nest, the number of eggs they lay, and other factors important to their reproduction. 

Nov 16, 2020

Stores reinstate buying limits on some items as COVID cases escalate

Moms.com
As COVID-19 cases continue to escalate, some stores are starting to reinstate buying limits on certain items. The concern about over-buying or “panic buying” is leading certain stores to limit the number of units of “essential goods.” This means things like hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper and disinfecting wipes. 

Nov 13, 2020

Preserving cultural and historic treasures in a changing climate may mean transforming them

The Washington Post
Saving cultural and historic sites from climate change will require a new approach to heritage preservation that includes transformation. Now is the time to think creatively, with input from people whose heritages are represented in these places, to discover new pathways to protecting them. 

Nov 10, 2020

Suburban backyards are food sources and shelter for wildlife

Nature World News
To see wildlife in the Triangle, all you sometimes need is to look in your backyard. Researchers recently published a new study that shows why wild animals frequent suburban places. This is because people feed them, whether deliberately or accidentally, and inadvertently provide shelter to some degree.