Mark Brunson

Winter is a season when most of us spend more of our time indoors. But wild animals don’t have that option. Not only must they find ways to keep warm all winter, but they have to work harder to find food.

What we call “nature” can flourish almost anywhere, including the places where people dominate.

We hear a lot these days how people spend too much time with their electronic devices. But for me, as someone who has always loved natural spaces, I’m finding that a screen can actually enhance my time outdoors.

For many of us who love the outdoors, the first half of March is a least favorite time of year. But if we close our eyes and listen, nature still can brighten the dingy days.

When we’re out enjoying Utah’s backcountry in wintertime, we should always resist the temptation to have a close encounter of the wild kind.

I’d like to tell you a crime story. But is it still a crime story if it’s about the natural world? I’ll tell it and then let you decide for yourself.

The orchid family has nearly 28,000 species worldwide, many of those are rare. The one we’re looking for, called Ute Ladies’-tresses, is on the federal Threatened Species list, which gives it legal protection from human impacts until it’s no longer at risk of disappearing.