en News nonadult no https://www.lpm.org/tags/appalachia-mid-south-newsroom Signal species are animals and plants whose behaviors can tell us about our changing world. Will we listen? en-us StreamGuys Recast 2026 Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom An exploration of signal species, from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Signal species are animals and plants whose behaviors can tell us about our changing world. Will we listen? false episodic Laura Ellis lellis@lpm.org https://lpm-rss.streamguys1.com/porchlight/20261008144412_267188-Calls_from_the_Wild_Square.png https://www.lpm.org/tags/appalachia-mid-south-newsroom Appalachia,nature,conservation https://feeds.lpm.org/porchlight dfb43bc0-cbf1-11f1-9e36-77424a3e96eb full 00:18:15 Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400 no We’re all familiar with the concept of endangered species, and how conservationists monitor and try to boost their shrinking populations. But when we start to see more of an animal, that’s a signal, … We’re all familiar with the concept of endangered species, and how conservationists monitor and try to boost their shrinking populations. But when we start to see more of an animal, that’s a signal, too. In this episode, we visit some black bears in the Great Smoky Mountains, where humans are encountering them more and more often. Then we hike over to Bernheim Forest in Kentucky, where a new neighbor, the nine-banded armadillo, has made a home in one of the forest’s sinkholes. 235e9700-c751-11f1-a5b8-5bf00002de97 Louisville Public Media A signal species story full 00:16:56 Wed, 14 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400 no Our series starts with Megan Jones, digital editor at WPLN in Nashville. Her passion for plants and animals started as a child making mud pies, and bloomed as a naturalist in New Mexico. She explains that a signal species is any living thing whose presence, absence, success or failure tells us something important about the ecosystem itself. Then we visit freshwater mussels in Kentucky and bats in West Virginia, and meet the conservationists who are working to help them. ]]> 72a8a910-c348-11f1-9d42-57ebe7723f9d https://feeds.lpm.org/link/24629/17498972/appalachia-mid-south-newsroom 1 trailer 00:01:00 1 Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:44:00 -0400 no Nature is often a source of comfort. For much of the year, we can count on birds chirping, butterflies hovering near flowers and squirrels scurrying up trees. But sometimes we may notice something… Nature is often a source of comfort. For much of the year, we can count on birds chirping, butterflies hovering near flowers and squirrels scurrying up trees. But sometimes we may notice something different about our wildlife neighbors. An armadillo makes its way into your backyard. A bear starts showing up at your trash can. Thick vines swallow a forested hillside in town. Or maybe you’re seeing less of a critter that once seemed abundant. These are examples of signal species. The behaviors of animals, plants and other organisms can tell us a lot about our changing world. Will we listen? Coming soon from the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Calls from the Wild will explore these signals, the effects of human activity on ecosystems and how we can all play a role in maintaining the natural beauty so many of us count on.