National Wildlife Magazine
The front cover of National Wildlife's Winter issue containing text and an image of a gray treefrog with an ant crawling over its head.

National Wildlife Magazine

Spring 2026 Issue

  • NWF Staff
  • National Wildlife
  • Mar 26, 2026

In this issue: habitat gardening galore! A backyard pond and a queen-bumble-bee haven provide landscaping inspiration; Baltimore urban farms lure pollinators for the community’s benefit; new policies and rebates encourage planting native. Plus, the latest on conservation-reliant wildlife and challenges to federal protected waters. Photo by Steven David Johnson.

Read the Issue
Subcribe to National Wildlife Magazine
Subcribe to National Wildlife Magazine

Featured Stories

A magazine article spread containing text and an image of a lemon cuckoo bumble bee gyne feeding on anise hyssop.

Habitat Fit for a Queen Bumble Bee

How one Wisconsin couple turned their yard into a haven for vulnerable queen bumble bees
An image of a great horned owl.

Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest Winners

See winners from the Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest
A magazine article spread containing text and images of Nihoa and yellow-foot ‘opihi.

Testing the Waters in Marine Protected Areas

Amid environmental rollbacks on overfishing, wind energy, deep-sea mining, Tribal collaboration and more, National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments weather turbulent times
An image of a trio of Coquerel's sifaka in trees.

Can Lemurs Help Us Avoid ‘Inflammaging’?

What lemurs might teach us about chronic inflammation; plus, honey bees hog pollen, algal blooms may induce dolphin dementia and more wildlife news
A magazine article spread containing text and three images taken at Baltimore farms with pollinator gardens.

Spreading the Joy: Pollinator Gardens Feed Baltimore Ecosystem

Planting pollinator gardens on Baltimore urban farms nourishes humans, insects and the entire food web
An image of a monarch butterfly with a radio transmitter being released on a common milkweed flower.

Is Captive Rearing Hurting Monarchs?

Experts say captive rearing—or raising monarchs indoors—poses risks to the butterflies, from disease to decreased fitness

A magazine article spread containing text and an image of Maggie's pond.

Building a Backyard Pond

A daughter’s school project becomes a group effort, with a backyard pond bringing biodiversity—and a family—together
An image of an aerial sculpture installation, Butterfly Rest Stop, by Janet Echelman.

Janet Echelman's Monarch Rest Stop Is Worth a Visit

Echelman’s artwork ‘Butterfly Rest Stop,’ installed 65 feet above a North Texas plaza, fuels monarch migration and human imagination
A magazine article spread containing text and an image of two black-footed ferret kits.

Is ‘Conservation Reliance’ a Life Sentence for Wildlife?

A growing number of imperiled species labeled conservation reliant depend indefinitely on labor-intensive and expensive human intervention to survive
An illustration of soil testing.

For a Wildlife-Friendly Garden, Test Soil First

A simple soil test will tell you what lies underground and what types of plants will grow best in your garden

An image of native plants at Monarch Waystation and Pollinator Garden.

NWF News: Get Your Native Plant Rebates!

Find rebates on native plants where you live; plus, Sacred Grounds grows in Detroit and what’s new with the Association of Northwest Steelheaders
An image of Jim Holley releasing a bucket of frogs at the edge of Forest Park.

Why Did the Northern Red-Legged Frog Cross the Road?

To get to breeding habitat, with the help of two successful—and very different—wildlife crossing projects in Portland, Oregon
An image of two black-footed ferret kits.

Is ‘Conservation Reliance’ a Life Sentence for Wildlife?

  • By Stephenie Livingston
  • Conservation
  • March 26, 2026

A growing number of imperiled species labeled conservation reliant depend indefinitely on labor-inte...

Read More
An image of Nihoa, part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

Testing the Waters in Marine Protected Areas

  • By Kate Gonzales
  • Conservation
  • March 26, 2026

Amid environmental rollbacks on overfishing, wind energy, deep-sea mining, Tribal collaboration and ...

Read More
A collage of two images featuring sisters Sufyana and Aydina Johnson.

Sisters Who Code Build a Native Plant App

  • By Delaney McPherson
  • Next Generation
  • March 26, 2026

Sisters Sufyana, 14, and Aydina Johnson, 12, developed a Maryland native plants app touted by the st...

Read More
An image of a trio of Coquerel's sifaka in trees.

Can Lemurs Help Us Avoid ‘Inflammaging’?

  • By Laura Tangley
  • Wildlife Science
  • March 26, 2026

What lemurs might teach us about chronic inflammation; plus, honey bees hog pollen, algal blooms may...

Read More
An image of a spotted salamander.

Crossword: Dot Dot Dot

  • By Graham Meyer
  • Crossword
  • March 26, 2026

Can you spot the theme? Test your skill with our spring crossword.

Read More
An image of a Svalbard reindeer mother and calf.

New in Wildlife Science: No-Snow Winter in the Arctic

  • By Laura Tangley
  • Wildlife Science
  • December 17, 2025

Scientists encounter a springlike Arctic February; pet dogs help detect the spotted lanternfly; why ...

Read More
An image of a lemon cuckoo bumble bee gyne feeding on anise hyssop.

Habitat Fit for a Queen Bumble Bee

  • Text and photos by Anne Readel
  • Habitat Gardening
  • March 26, 2026

How one Wisconsin couple turned their yard into a haven for vulnerable queen bumble bees

Read More
A collage of images from the Baltimore Gardens article in Spring 2026 of National Wildlife magazine.

Spreading the Joy: Pollinator Gardens Feed Baltimore Ecosystem

  • By Nicole J. Caruth
  • Habitat Gardening
  • March 26, 2026

Planting pollinator gardens on Baltimore urban farms nourishes humans, insects and the entire food w...

Read More
An image of Lou Lesesne standing in his front yard that has pollinating flowers.

Legalizing the Right to Grow Native Plants

  • By Brianna Randall
  • Habitat Gardening
  • March 26, 2026

Homeowners and NWF affiliates are fighting to change restrictive local landscaping laws in favor of ...

Read More
An image of Maggie's Pond, surrounded by native plants.

Building a Backyard Pond

  • Text and photos by Steven David Johnson
  • Habitat Gardening
  • March 26, 2026

A daughter’s school project becomes a group effort, with a backyard pond bringing biodiversity—and a...

Read More
An image of an aerial sculpture installation, Butterfly Rest Stop, by Janet Echelman.

Janet Echelman’s Monarch Rest Stop Is Worth a Visit

  • By Jennifer Wehunt // Art by Janet Echelman
  • Conservation
  • March 26, 2026

Echelman’s artwork ‘Butterfly Rest Stop,’ installed 65 feet above a North Texas plaza, fuels monarch...

Read More
An image of a great horned owl.

Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest Winners

  • By Delaney McPherson
  • Habitat Gardening
  • March 30, 2026

See winners from the Garden for Wildlife Photo Contest

Read More

Explore More

Archive

Digital Edition

Subscribe

Photo Contest
Blue Heron

Sign Up for Updates

What's Trending

Monarch butterfly

Get your town or city involved!

Deadline to pledge extended: Encourage your mayor to take the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and support monarch conservation by May 1!

Learn More
Tree burning in fire

UNNATURAL DISASTERS

A new storymap connects the dots between extreme weather and climate change and illustrates the harm these disasters inflict on communities and wildlife.

Learn More
Clean Earth Challenge

Come Clean for Earth

Take the Clean Earth Challenge and help make the planet a happier, healthier place.

Learn More
Monarch butterfly on aster

Native Plant Finder

Get a list of highly impactful plants that are native to your area based on your zip code!

Check It Out

Where We Work

More than one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. We're on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive.

Learn More
Regional Centers and Affiliates

PO Box 1583, Merrifield, VA 22116-1583

800.822.9919

Ranger Rick

Join Ranger Rick

Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children's publications, products, and activities

Learn More

Follow Us

CharityLogo

National Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization