Instagram story viewer> @naturenps> Posts

Explore Nature

@naturenps

101.2K

followers

278

following

Explore science and nature in the National Park Service and beyond.

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Download All

Protecting nature doesn’t have to start in a park, it can start at home!

Plant natives, remove invasives, and never release pets into the wild. Small choices in our own communities can help restore balance across entire ecosystems.

🏡Follow the link in our bio to get started or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/CAH-invasive

#NISAW #StopTheSpread by @naturenps

251

2

7 months ago

Aquatic invaders can hitch a ride on boats and gear. 🚤 🎣

This National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW), pledge to protect rivers, lakes, and the life they support by remembering three simple steps every time you’re on the water:

🚿 Clean

💧 Drain

🧽 Dry

Follow the link in our bio to learn how or visit ➡️go.nps.gov/idkt_cdd

#NISAW #CleanDrainDry
📸 NPS / Jacob W. Frank Two park rangers cleaning a boat on a trailer in a parking lot surrounded by trees and vehicles. by @naturenps

75

1

7 months ago

Across the country, people and parks are working together to restore habitats and protect native species from invasive threats. 🌱

From reviving wetlands to bringing back native plants, early detection and community science are making a difference, and you can help!

Follow the link in our bio or visit the link to:
🌟Explore success stories ➡️ go.nps.gov/jkjb92
👀Become a Wild Spotter ➡️ wildspotter.org

#NISAW #WildSpotter
📸 NPS Man in an orange vest and cap closely examines plants in a dense green forest undergrowth. by @naturenps

105

0

8 months ago

Prevention is the most effective and least expensive way to stop the spread invasive of species. Simple steps taken before, during, and after your adventure can make a big difference! You can:

🥾 Clean your boots

🔥 Don’t move firewood

🚤 Clean, drain, and dry your boats

🎣 Don’t dump your bait

Follow the link in our bio to find more prevention tips or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/preventinvasives

#NISAW #PlayCleanGo #DontMoveFirewood #StopTheSpread #CleanDrainDry

📸 An NPS employee cleans their boots before hiking a trail using a Play Clean Go boot brushing station. NPS / J. Chase A woman in national park service uniform uses a boot brushing station by @naturenps

75

0

8 months ago

It’s National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW)!

Invasive species can disrupt the balance of ecosystems in parks and in the places we live, work and explore. This week, join us in learning simple ways to help stop the spread and protect native plants, wildlife, and the landscapes we all depend on.

Follow the link in our bio to learn more or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/NISAW
#NISAW #StopTheSpread

📸 Volunteers remove invasive plants in Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia. NPS Photo by @naturenps

48

0

8 months ago

What birds are sharing your winter skies? 🐦

The Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb 13–16) invites people everywhere to watch birds and share what they see, helping researchers understand and protect bird populations worldwide.

Join the count, it only takes 15 minutes! More info➡️ birdcount.org

📸 NPS
#GBBC #Birds #Birding Two hikers in winter gear study a map while overlooking snow-covered red rock formations in a canyon landscape. by @naturenps

96

0

8 months ago

Follow the footprints back in time! 🐾

The 2026 National Fossil Day artwork is here! It invites us to step back in time, imagining an Ice Age wetland where mammoths, giant ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, and other animals once roamed. The scene is inspired by discoveries at @WhiteSandsNPS, where ancient animal tracks appear alongside some of the oldest human footprints in North America.

You won’t see people in the artwork, but their presence is there, written in the ground. It’s a reminder that parks protect stories stretching back tens of thousands of years, and that by following the footprints, we can explore the deep connections between landscapes, wildlife, and people.

Celebrate National Fossil Day with us on October 14, 2026!
Follow the link in our bio to discover more. Or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/NFD2026

#NationalFossilDay #Fossils Illustration of prehistoric animals including bears, camels, and mammoths near a water source. Footprints are visible on the ground near the bottom of the artwork. Text reads: "National Fossil Day, Discovery, science, prehistoric life, October 14, 2026" by @naturenps

331

3

8 months ago

What’s happening here?
Intertidal monitoring in Alaska comes with all the essentials: rain gear, buckets, measuring tapes, a clipboard, and a long-lens camera, just in case! NPS scientists were busy recording the organisms that live between the tides when some very furry “assistants” showed up to investigate.

Why? Tracking these communities year after year reveals how Alaska’s shoreline ecosystems are changing. That information helps scientists understand what may be causing those changes and what they could mean for the health of the coastlines people visit, depend on, and cherish.

It’s careful, detailed work… even when a bear decides a sample bucket is the most interesting thing on the beach.

Sharing your office with wildlife means staying bear-aware, pausing fieldwork to observe from a safe distance, and hoping your equipment survives a cub’s curiosity test!

#FieldworkInFocus #ParkScience
📸NPS / Jim Pfeiffenberger Brown bear with its head inside an orange bucket labeled on a muddy shore. by @naturenps

225

2

9 months ago

Did you know water has a hidden journey beneath our feet?

Much of the rain and snow that falls in parks doesn’t flow straight to rivers. It slips into the ground, traveling through soil and rock before resurfacing as springs, streams, and the water people and wildlife rely on.

Scientists can use tiny clues called “stable isotopes” to trace where water comes from and how it moves underground. This uncovers connections that help protect ecosystems and the communities tied to them. Every drop links landscapes, habitats, and lives in ways we can’t always see.

Follow the link in our bio to discover how scientists follow water’s path from sky to soil to spring. Or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/idkt_isotopes Three researchers conducting fieldwork in a rocky, green area with scientific equipment and tablets. by @naturenps

172

2

9 months ago

What’s happening here? 🦋
NPS scientists are tracking how monarch caterpillars use tiny pockets of shade to stay cool. By testing caterpillars on different milkweed species in sun and shade, they are learning which conditions help young monarchs survive and grow in arid conditions.

Why? Hot weather is pushing monarchs past their limits. Understanding these microhabitats helps managers create better monarch-friendly restoration plans.

Sometimes science means looking for solutions in small places, like a single patch of shade.

#FieldworkInFocus #ParkScience Bright orange monarch butterfly with black and white spotted wings resting on an open palm against a green grass background. by @naturenps

167

1

9 months ago

New year, new adventures? ❄️🌲

Winter can be one of the most magical times to explore nature — it just takes a little extra planning.

Whether you’re mapping out your first hike of the year or looking for a fresh way to enjoy the season, we have some winter tips to help you get outside safely and joyfully. Follow the link in our bio or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/IDKTWinter

What’s first on your list to explore in 2026?

📸 NPS / Jacob W. Frank Four cross-country skiers traverse a snowy trail beside a partially frozen river in a dense pine forest during winter. by @naturenps

126

1

9 months ago

Happy National Bird Day! 🐦

From morning songs to breathtaking migrations, birds bring life, music, and movement to our days. And you can help protect them right where you live!

From making windows safer and reducing light pollution to creating bird-friendly habitat in your yard or neighborhood, small actions make a big difference for our feathered friends.

Follow the link in our bio to learn simple ways to support birds at home and beyond. Or visit ➡️ go.nps.gov/CAH-birds

#ConservationAtHome #NationalBirdDay
📸 Bald Eagle in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. NPS / Kara Lewandowski Bald eagle perched on a weathered wooden post with snow-capped mountains and dense forest in the background. by @naturenps

379

0

9 months ago