Longtime NHPR Series Celebrates 20 Years’ of Exploring New Hampshire’s Wild Places
Visits to mountains and seashore, educated banter with biologists, and interesting encounters with wildlife are some of the many memories associated with New Hampshire Public Radio’s long-running radio series Something Wild.
The program first aired on NHPR in March 1998. Each week, a 2-4 minute radio feature reminds listeners to ‘stop, take a look around, and treasure’ the natural resources and wildlife of the Granite State. Within New Hampshire, there are more than 100 individual eco-systems, including alpine zones, granite peaks, riverbeds, oxbows, bird habitats, and intertidal zones. The Something Wild team is committed to exploring these many ‘wild neighborhoods’, striving for a balance of education and entertainment with stories and issues that both interest and inform readers.
“A key principle is to always talk to biologists conducting research on the front lines,” said Andrew Parrella, senior producer and writer for the program. “Another common thread found throughout Something Wild’s reporting are the changes going on in the natural environment: how migration habits are changing for some species, how food chains are evolving, and how forests rejuvenate.”
The program is a partnership comprising three of the state’s most respected institutions: The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, New Hampshire Audubon, and NHPR. For each edition of Something Wild, the hosts make scientific concepts approachable and fun. The program is helmed by two veteran biologists with exceptional knowledge of the state, its habits, and its wildlife:
- Dave Anderson is the Director of Education for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, with nearly 30 years’ service at the Society.
- Senior Biologist Chris Martin specializes in birds of prey and raptors at New Hampshire Audubon, where he has worked for nearly 30 years.
Something Wild is committed to contributing to the body of knowledge around wildlife and nature in NH by working with the state’s scientific community. Guests and interviews on the program have included biologists from NH Fish and Game, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, universities throughout New Hampshire and New England, and volunteers in trail maintenance. Field reporting has included visits to the West End Farm Trail in Concord, the White Mountain National Forest, the Isles of Shoals, and Rattlesnake Cliff in Rumney.
“Public media is about public service, and NHPR’s long-running commitment to Something Wild demonstrates that commitment,” said Betsy Gardella, President & CEO of New Hampshire Public Radio. “We at NHPR take such pride in our long-running partnership with NH Audubon and the Society for the Protection of NH Forests to produce this program. We all feel fortunate to live in such a stunningly beautiful state; Something Wild helps illuminate the natural beauty of New Hampshire, and with such a dedicated and knowledgeable team helming the production.”
TUNE IN:
- NHPR’s daily call-in talk show, The Exchange, will feature the 20th anniversary of Something Wild during its Monday, March 12 broadcast – from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., repeating that evening from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Something Wild airs twice every Friday on NHPR during Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Listeners can also stream the show in podcast form, or see web stories online at NHPR.org. Updates about the program appear on the social media sites of all three participating organizations.
FAVORITE MEMORIES:
Dave Anderson, Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:
“It’s always gratifying when SW listeners share their enthusiasm for the show. Our goal always is to connect listeners with natural resource professionals, biologists, botanists, naturalists and the habitats and species they study. In NH, we share a passion for learning about Nature while having some fun.”
Chris Martin, New Hampshire Audubon:
“I still get misty-eyed every time I hear the joyful shrieks of children racing in the fading light to a hiding spot to watch displaying American woodcocks with Dave Anderson. This is an authentic childhood outdoor experience that every parent should enjoy with their kids, and we got it on tape and put it on the air. Still my all-time most favorite Something Wild episode.”
Andrew Parrella, New Hampshire Public Radio
“The field stories are always my favorite. Going for a hike with Chris or Dave is never a simple matter. A 30-minute hike usually turns into a two-hour seminar on the geekier points of environmental biology with two of the biggest geeks I know!”
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About NHPR
Since 1981, NHPR has shaped the media landscape in the Granite State and beyond. Our mission is “Expanding minds, sparking connections, building stronger communities.” NHPR is broadcast from 14 different sites, making it by far New Hampshire’s largest (and only) statewide radio news service. Every week, NHPR is the choice of more than 190,000 listeners as a primary source of in-depth and intelligent news coverage, with thousands more viewing NHPR.org and NHPR social media sites. Each day, New Hampshire Public Radio delivers several hours of local news reported by its award-winning news team. Locally-produced programs include The Exchange, Word of Mouth, The Folk Show, Outside/In, Civics 101, and numerous podcasts. NHPR is the exclusive outlet for NPR News in the Granite State and broadcasts national weekly programs such as The Moth Radio Hour, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, and This American Life.
