What's Your Nature?

Become a Nature Up North explorer to share your encounters with wild things and wild places in New York's North Country. Post your wildlife sightings, landscape shots, photos from your outings, and even your organization's events!

Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights

Hiking Tips and Tricks

Sunset Hike at Coney Mountain (Encounter: Kelsey Mattison)
By Aurora Hager on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Hello fellow adventurers! The North Country and the Adirondack region is full of hiking opportunities and mountainous beauty. You're certain to find beautiful and unique views on shorter hikes such as Mount Arab or Azure, mid-level mountains like Ampersand and Scarface, and all the way up to the most difficult, like Iroquois or Allen. Before jumping right into these hikes, it is important to note…

The Invisible Songbird Serial Killer

Black-throated blue warbler eating a berry
By Langley C Sieve on
Blog: Just Our Nature
We have officially reached the season many of us living in the North Country spend all year looking forward to: fall! This is the time of year that we all start to watch a variety of red, orange, and yellow leaves fly from tree branches and chevron after chevron of Canada geese flap their way south. The geese, honking from up above, call attention to themselves, piquing our interest and forcing…
Tennessee warbler Baltimore oriel sitting on a bird feeder

Ask a Fairy: The Fairies Are Back!

Brown wooden fairy house in woods with poster nailed to tree behind it
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a Fairy
We are SO excited to share that the fairies are back! As the leaves begin changing color and the air starts to cool, Thimble and Blossom will be making the long trip south for the winter. Through all of their woodland travels they’ve become great naturalists, talking with toads, playing with opossums, and singing with cicadas. Now, they’re here to answer any questions you may have! September 7th…
Brown bark covered fairy house hanging in tree with poster below it White paper-birch covered fairy house resting against log with poster nailed to log next to it

Happy Animals

A photo taken through thin forest brush of a white-tailed buck, with early growth antlers
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Describing happiness attracts animals:  Apparently, we can have a whale of a time, be as pleased as a pig in a peach orchard, or feel as happy as a pup with two tails, a monkey with a peanut machine, and a clam at high tide. Given all this, it’s natural to wonder if non-human animals can feel happy. Many biologists caution against ascribing human-like emotions to animals. This is a hilarious…

Share your opinions about renewable energy and biodiversity in the North Country

Renewable Energy and Wildlife Conservation survey poster - complete the survey for a chance to win $50!
By Kayla Edmunds on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Our names are Cole Weigartz and Kayla Edmunds, and we are undergraduate students enrolled in the Conservation Biology class at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. We are working under the direction of Dr. Erika Barthelmess, a faculty member at St. Lawrence University. We are conducting research for a case study on the trade-off between green energy infrastructure and wildlife conservation in…

Share your opinions about outdoor recreation in the North Country

Drawing with words "recreation in the Algonquin to Adirondack Corridor"
By Erika Barthelmess on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Our names are Aliya Brown, Ryan Heuss and Kendrew Van Gorder, and we are undergraduate students at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. We are working under the direction of Dr. Erika Barthelmess, a faculty member at St. Lawrence University. We are conducting research as part of a case study project for our Conservation Biology class. Our case study is focused on the A2A trail, a proposed…

North Country Voices: Elyssa Twedt

Elyssa Twedt
By Valeria Maldonado Ortiz on
Blog: North Country Voices
Elyssa Twedt is an Assistant Professor in the Psychology Department where she teaches Introduction to Psychology, Research Methods, Sensation and Perception, and a seminar on Cognitive Science. She has spent the majority of her life in the south including Florida, Tennessee, and most recently, Virginia, so moving to the North Country in 2015 was a big change. Elyssa gave us some insight on her…

February Frolic - Snow Sculpting!

North Country explorer and a small snowperson
By Kayla Edmunds on
Blog: Just Our Nature
One of my favorite snowy day activities is building snow sculptures, whether that be the classic snow family or something a bit more outside of the box. And with all this fresh snow from our most recent winter storm, now is the perfect time! Matthew Morris, of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, has taken the snow sculpting game up a notch. See his most recent sculpture, a rendition of the Tower of Pisa,…
Igloo at St. Lawrence University A snow family in front of the Arts Annex at St. Lawrence University

February Frolic - Who’s Frolicking With You?

Mice tracks in snow
By Kayla Edmunds on
Blog: Just Our Nature
  If you’ve been getting outside and frolicking this February, you may have noticed some signs left in the snow that you aren’t alone! This gallery features some tracks found by other North Country explorers, as well as resources to help you identify what you're frolicking with! And remember, no matter what you spot, be sure to share it with us via our Encounters page (https://www.natureupnorth.…
Porcupine "snow tube" Deer and squirrel tracks in snow Rabbit tracks in snow Deer tracks in snow Otter slide tracks in snow Mink tracks in snow

February Frolic: Get Outside With Nature Up North 

Piece of ice on Kip Trail
By Valeria Maldonado Ortiz on
Blog: Just Our Nature
Are you tired of being inside? Don’t let the cold weather get you down, get up and get outside with Nature Up North! Here are some activities you can do outside while in the North Country. Make sure to always layer up and stay warm!    Snowy Hike  You can’t go wrong with a hike during the cold winter months. Make sure to layer up and stay hydrated as you explore the winter wonders of the North…
Snowmans Whiteface skiing Trees in winter