What's Wild: A Half Century of Wisdom from the Woods and Rivers of New England

"...as a Wildlife Biologist working with NH native species… Eric’s expertise was unmatched." - Colonel Kevin Jordan, Chief of Law Enforcement, NH Fish and Game Department

As the state’s first bear biologist in the 1970s, Eric Orff began a half century career as a “forest ranger who works with animals,” his stated dream job as a 7-year-old. A respected wildlife biologist, with more than thirty-one years at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and another fifteen years with the National Wildlife Federation, he still publishes a video blog called “What’s Wild in New Hampshire” that regularly receives hundreds of thousands of views each week.

Known for his educational programs and political action—If Only Moose Could Vote—Eric has been a literal voice in the wilderness, declaring the threat of climate change to be real, based on what he has seen in the woods. Sharing his knowledge of the changing climate even when his audience didn’t want to believe it.

His trademark humor and kind heart, coupled with a solid scientific foundation make him someone people like to listen to when they want to know what’s happening in the woods, rivers, and fields of New England. Wildlife is now more abundant across the region than since colonial times, thanks to Eric and people like him.

From stories of rehabbing bats in the laundry room, to riding a whitetail buck who didn’t quite cooperate with a tagging effort, Eric’s stories will make you laugh, and help you connect with the wild nature that lives within us all.

Table of Contents

HI-HO WHITETAIL… AWAY​
I STOPPED A FISH KILL TODAY!​
NEW HAMPSHIRE SSSSNAKE SSSSTORIES​
THE TALE OF THE MYSTERIOUS DUCK BOXES​
THE DAY THE SUNCOOK RIVER FLOWED UPSTREAM DURING THE GREAT MOTHER'S DAY FLOOD OF 2006!​
“HELLO, THERE IS A MOOSE IN MY SWIMMING POOL”​
AND SUDDENLY IT’S MAY!​
MY TREE STAND, MY CASTLE​
THE SLIPPERY SLIMY SCARY AMERICAN EEL!​
ME AND THREE BEARS UP A TREE​
MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE? A WALTZ WITH FIRE​
DIVING INTO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD​
WHAT IS A HUNTER?​
HENRY… JUST HENRY​
WITH A CLUCK-CLUCK HERE, AND A GOBBLE-GOBBLE THERE​
NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSERVATION LEGENDS​
CATCHING THE SPIRIT OF THE NATIVE BROOK TROUT​
THE LONG JOURNEY TO THE OPENING DAY OF TROUT SEASON​
IVORY FLOATS​
WEIRD WOODS HAPPENINGS​
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S “RODNEY DANGERFIELD” ANIMAL: THE FISHER​
HOW MUCH WOOD CAN A WOOD CHUCK CHUCK???​
NEW HAMPSHIRE'S MID-WINTER COASTAL WATERFOWL SURVEY TAKES FLIGHT​
I'VE GOT FRIENDS IN LOW PLACES​
HOW OLD IS OLD IN ANIMALS?​
FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE: A CENTURY OF SUCCESSES!​
SOWING THE SEEDS OF CONSERVATION THAT WILL LAST A HUNDRED YEARS​
FISH CLIMBING NEW HAMPSHIRE'S LADDERS OF SUCCESS​
FISHERMEN CATCH TONS OF TASTY TREATS ON NEW HAMPSHIRE'S TIDAL WATERS​
WHAT'S UP WITH THE CLAMS DOWN ON NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SEACOAST?​
GLOBAL WARMING THREATENS NEW HAMPSHIRE HUNTING AND FISHING​
IF ONLY MOOSE COULD VOTE​104
DOWNWIND AND DIRTY: LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF A COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT STACK​
CLEAN WATER AND AIR IS A MUST FOR OUR FISH AND WILDLIFE​
DO BEARS HOOT? BEAR MYTHS AND MEDICINE​
GO TAKE A HIKE… AT NIGHT​
NEW HAMPSHIRE STRIPERS ARE FOR THE BIRDS!​
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?​
NEW HAMPSHIRE WILDLIFE FLOURISHING​
22 MILLION JUVENILE RIVER HERRING SEEKING THE SEA​
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S THREATENED AND ENDANGERED WILDLIFE REBOUNDING FROM THE MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA​
HEAVENLY HABITAT​
SILENT WOODS​
BEAR-PAW GREENWAYS: WOODLAND TRACTS FOR TRACKS​
IT'S DUCK SEASON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE​
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE​
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED BIRDS MAKING A COMEBACK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!​
THE EYE IN THE NORTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE SKY​
RX-DEER: TAKING THE PULSE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S DEER HERD​
WILD GOOSE TAILS​
JUST DUCKY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE​
2022 WAS A BANNER YEAR FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE HUNTERS​
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AUTHOR ERIC ORFF has wanted to be a Forest Ranger ever since he can remember. As a Certified Wildlife Biologist, he spent over thirty-one years with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and another fifteen years with the National Wildlife Federation as a Field Biologist and Consultant. A strong voice for conservation, Eric has spent decades as a popular writer, speaker and now social media personality. His trademark humor and kind heart, coupled with a solid scientific foundation, make him someone people like to listen to when they want to know what’s happening in the woods, rivers, and fields of New England.

Visit the author's website at www.nhfishandwildlife.com