By Jan Axelson
Northside News
Last July, as wildfire smoke blew in from Canada, Madison’s air became thick with haze and smelled of smoke. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Air Quality Index set a new record, peaking at over 450. (An index of 50 or below is considered good.) In the follo...
By Paul Noeldner
Friends of Urban Nature
Our favorite two birds for October and November are actually one bird with two names. The gentle cooing Rock Dove mates for life and is a worldwide cultural symbol of peace and beauty. Their official scientific name is Rock Pigeon.
Pigeons are commonly seen ...
By Beth Sluys
Northside News
The prairie being installed in the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad right-of-way along Woodward Drive is in its second year of growth and is full of flowering native plants. Within the blooms, when you walk along the edge of the site, you hear and see all manner of pollin...
You might have a federally endangered critter living in your yard
Section(s): Environment
By Alex Singer
Published: September 26, 2026
By Alex Singer
Northside News
Normally, I don’t pay close attention to the myriad and varied critters crawling and flying around my 99% native plant yard except to note a colorful butterfly or caterpillar, but when friends started boasting about the rusty patched bumble bees (Bombus affinis) in thei...
For 30 years, the Northside News has been a free, trusted source of local news for more than 13,000 Northside households and businesses. Published by the Northside Planning Council, it supports local businesses, community voices, and dozens of local writers while connecting neighbors to what matters most. We’ve already raised over $25,500 from 135+ supporters. With just $4,500 left to raise by December 31, 2025, your donation today helps keep this community resource thriving in print and online.
