Smoky Signal

National Park Service
  • 5.0 (10)
  • NATURE

Smoky Signal is a show about the science behind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In season one, we explore three stories on the theme of Collections. We learn about renewing traditional plant gathering practices in the park, a natural history museum with thousands of specimens, and even the collection of something pretty stinky (in the name of science, of course). What can we learn about the Smokies—and ourselves—through these acts of collection?

Episodes

  1. 04/05/2023

    Scat-ology | Researching Elk Fecal Matter in the Smokies

    Don't step in it! Research it! In this episode, Great Smoky Mountains National Park staff teams up with the U.S. Geological Society and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville to learn more about elk abundance, recruitment, and survival since being reintroduced in the Smokies in 2001.

    24 min

  2. 03/02/2022

    Collections | Mysteries of the Museum

    From hellbenders to Smoky madtoms to rusty patched bumble bees, Antoine explores the natural history collections of the Smokies. Where do these collections come from? What can we learn from them? And how can studying decades-old specimens inform how we manage the park? Featuring: Baird Todd, Mike Aday, Arthur Stupka (archival), Paul Super, Becky Nichols, and Janie Bitner. For more information, visit go.nps.gov/smokysignal

    27 min

  3. 03/02/2022

    Collections | Gathering Sochan

    Alix explores how citizens of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians are renewing connections to their traditional homelands in the park, with the help of a certain plant species. Featuring: Tommy Cabe and Joshua Albritton. For more info, visit: go.nps.gov/smokysignal

    22 min
  • 3 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Smoky Signal is a show about the science behind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In season one, we explore three stories on the theme of Collections. We learn about renewing traditional plant gathering practices in the park, a natural history museum with thousands of specimens, and even the collection of something pretty stinky (in the name of science, of course). What can we learn about the Smokies—and ourselves—through these acts of collection?

Information

  • Creator
    National Park Service
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2023
  • Episodes
    3
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 NPS - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    Smoky Signal