Forest Society Blog - News & Features

American beech trees are a distinctive and vital part of New Hampshire’s northern hardwood forests, providing food and habitat for wildlife while adding year-round beauty to the landscape. But the spread of beech leaf disease could dramatically reshape these forests, making it more important than ever to appreciate—and protect—this remarkable tree.

Join the Forest Society on August 8 for this special anniversary event offering rare access to privately protected conservation easement properties across New Hampshire through guided and self-guided tours, landowner conversations, and opportunities to explore the landscapes conservation helps preserve.

For Canterbury resident Stephen Rasche, New Hampshire's forests and wildlife are a daily reminder that truly wild places still exist. Through a planned gift to the Forest Society, Stephen and his wife are helping ensure that the forest they love remains protected for future generations—reflecting their belief that we are not owners of the land, but its stewards during our time here.

This episode of Something Wild explores one of New Hampshire's most remarkable natural events: the annual spawning of horseshoe crabs in Great Bay. Guided by New Hampshire Fish and Game biologist Beth Heckman, the team learns how these ancient "living fossils" support coastal ecosystems, contribute to lifesaving medical research, and have survived virtually unchanged for more than 450 million years.

Conservation doesn’t stop at the edge of the woods. The Forest Society works alongside policymakers, researchers, landowners, and partners to help shape the policies and public investments that protect New Hampshire’s forests, clean water, wildlife habitat, and communities for generations to come.

Every spring, thousands of white-tailed deer fawns are born across NH, adding to one of the state’s most abundant and influential wildlife populations. While deer are a familiar and cherished part of the landscape, their growing numbers can significantly shape forest health, native plant communities, and even the spread of tick-borne diseases.

This episode looks at the hidden impacts of rodenticides on owls, hawks, foxes, and other wildlife across New Hampshire. Learn how poisons meant for rats and mice move through the food chain, why simple prevention steps matter, and what we can all do to help protect the predators sharing our neighborhoods and forests.

The Something Wild team recently joined a micro-exploring outing at Willard Pond Sanctuary led by Phil Brown and Ignacio Oreamuno. Discover how slowing down and exploring close to home can deepen our connection to the natural world.