Natural World

Fort Rock: a Place of Wonder and Music

There's a story about an old cowpoke from Fort Rock who, having breathed his last, found himself at the gates of Heaven.

By Jim Anderson Sep 19, 2018

Fort Rock Natural Area William Sullivan Reub Long E.R. Jackman Phil Brogan Hunter Noack

At last! A long-nosed snake!

My longtime pal and devoted champion of Oregon's amphibians and reptiles recently sent me an email and photo, declaring: "LONG-NOSED SNAKE CONFIRMED IN THE OWYHEE!"

By Jim Anderson Sep 12, 2018

Alison Davis Rabosky Camp Hancock Oregon Natural Desert Association Carl Kauffeld

Possum Alert!

A hilarious tale of finding possums... well, everywhere

Back during the Great Depression, many people who wanted to work for a salary had a very tough time.

By Jim Anderson Sep 5, 2018

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Virginia Opossum

Bouyed Up by Volunteers

An innocent-looking buoy with an important mission: tracking water in and under the high Cascades

For those of us who have been looking at the Three Sisters and what's left of the year-round snow on the slopes, it's pretty scary.

By Jim Anderson Aug 29, 2018

Three Sisters Wilderness Larry Chitwood Nate Dachtler OSU Franke Conte Camp Sherman High Lakes Aquatic Alliance Foundation Fondriest Foundation Sisters Ranger District U.S. Forest Service Suttle Lake Dave Huni

Natural World

A Cleanup at Arnold Ice Cave

This month, Arnold Ice Cave—located about 12 miles down China Hat Road from Bend—was the site of a whole bunch of good people helping to remove the old, defunct stairway in the cave.

By Jim Anderson Aug 22, 2018

Phil Coyner Oregon High Desert Grotto Eddy Cartaya Brooks-Scanlon Mill USFS

Natural World

Monarch butterflies make really good neighbors

If you're tuned in, you know our western monarch butterfly—the only butterfly in North America that migrates to keep from freezing its butt off—is in a heap of trouble.

By Jim Anderson Aug 15, 2018

Amanda Egertson Tom Landis Coyote Trails School of Nature Bear Creek Watershed Bend Seed Extractory Paul Edgertson Sue Edgerton

The Nature of Our Planet Earth

Jim Anderson shares some of his favorite photos from his years as a naturalist, educator and all-around critter-loving life

In this week's Natural World, columnist Jim Anderson shares some of his favorite photos from his years as a naturalist, educator and all-around critter-loving life.

By Jim Anderson Jul 25, 2018

Aphids Black Widow Spider Wolf Spider Robber Fly Jumping Spider Crab Spider Mite

A Thorny Devil Kind of Guy

Remembering Brad Smith of Paulina Springs Books

Brad Smith of Paulina Springs Books went out among the stars on May 20 of this year.

By Jim Anderson Jul 18, 2018

Brad Smith Paulina Springs Books Loon Lake Jim Ashby Dick Sandvik Diane Campbell Sue Tank Bunny Thompson

Butterflies, Butterflies and More Butterflies

You've seen them on the front of your car this week. Here's what they are

Yes, good people, those are butterflies you see smashing into the front of your car as you drive over the highway from Sisters to Redmond or Bend, and especially in the Cascade foothills.

By Jim Anderson Jul 11, 2018

California tortoise shell butterfly Tumalo Falls

Natural World

The beetle with headlights

It was a young and eager naturalist in Sierra Vista, Ariz., Leonard Taylor, who brought this bioluminescent click beetle into my life, on a night I'll never forget.

By Jim Anderson Jul 5, 2018

Charles Darwin HMS Beagle hummingbirds