Natural Inquirer

Did you know that termites play an important part in the carbon cycle or that most of our earthworms here in the U.S. are nonnative? Oftentimes these small invertebrates get overlooked, but they can have an outsized impact on ecosystem.

Read more about these important invertebrates on our educator blog and order FREE copies of our monographs for your classroom!

🔥🌲 Let’s talk defensible space

Defensible space is the buffer between your home and surrounding vegetation or materials that could ignite during a wildfire. Creating and maintaining this space is one of the most effective ways to help protect your home during wildfire season.

When vegetation and other combustible items are too close, they increase the risk of fire spreading to your structure. Proper spacing and maintenance can significantly reduce that risk.

Defensible space is divided into three zones:
- Zone 0 (0–5 ft): Ember-Resistant Zone
- Zone 1 (5–30 ft): Lean, Clean, and Green
- Zone 2 (30–100 ft): Reduced Fuel Zone

Maintaining defensible space is a critical step in wildfire preparedness and helps improve safety for both residents and firefighters.

A new Earth Week coloring page just landed in Kids Corner. 🖍️🌿

Head to our Kids Corner at BatterySafetyNow.org/kids-corner to download it and discover more activities that help kids learn about battery safety.

Happy Earth Day! From Woodsy Owl, the NWRA, and everyone working to protect the places we live. 🌎💚