In this episode, we open up the Outside/In mailbag to answer all of your burning questions: a query about the impacts of wildlife smoke on bird migration; a long-smoldering family debate over whether or not bears can hoot; and, perhaps, stamping out the fire in the gas furnace heating your home.
Question 1: What home heating system is best for the climate?
Question 2: Is wildfire smoke impacting bird migration?
Question 3: Do bears hoot?
Question 4: Are farmers practicing agroforestry in New England?
Featuring: Nate (The House Whisperer) Adams, Emily Mottram, Joe Lajewski, Olivia Sanderfoot, Anni Yang, Dave Mance III, Andy Timmins, David Telesco, Kate MacFarland, Meghan Giroux.
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Heat pump outdoor unit
Kristoferb / Creative Commons
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— Wildfire Smoke in Joshua Tree National Park
Wildfire Smoke in Joshua Tree National Park
Emily Hassell / NPS
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— california brown pelicans
California brown pelicans overwintering at Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge.
Roy W. Lowe / USFWS
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— black bear lounging
Black bear lounging
Jitze Couperus / https://bit.ly/2ZBUzQJ
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— Barred Owl
Barred Owl
Rodney Campbell / https://bit.ly/3GvSJla
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— Silvopasture_Agroforestry0405.psd
Permission granted by Richard Straight, USDA Forest Service, National Agroforestry Center SILVOPASTURE SYSTEMS. Trees can be combined with livestock and pasture. The trees can be managed for timber and other tree crops while at the same time provide shade and shelter for livestock.
Richard Straight / https://forest-atlas.fs.fed.us/benefits-agroforestry.html
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— littleleaf linden
The flowers of the littleleaf linden tree are known for their creamy fragrance, and are often dried for tea.
Dinesh Valke / Flickr
If you’ve got a question for the Outside/In[box] hotline, give us a call! We’re always looking for rabbit holes to dive down into. Leave us a voicemail at: 1-844-GO-OTTER (844-466-8837). Don’t forget to leave a number so we can call you back.