Rose Houk
Earth Notes writerRose Houk is a Flagstaff-based writer and editor, specializing in natural history and environmental topics. Rose was a founding contributor of KNAU's Earth Notes and has written nearly 200 scripts for the series. She is also the author of many publications about national park and monuments, along with audio productions.
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A common species, Gambel oak covers nine million acres across the West. -
An abiding question among geologists is when was the Grand Canyon carved? When did the Colorado River assume its present course and become the master sculptor of the canyon? -
The spiral pattern in a sunflower’s seeds isn’t random. It follows a mathematical sequence that appears throughout the natural world. -
Magpies have earned a bad rap as the bully in the birdyard — some even call them the birds everyone loves to hate. But the often-misunderstood magpie may deserve a little more credit than they get. -
Prairie dogs, squirrels and even the family dog exhibit a behavior called “splooting" to help regulate body temperature. -
A wildlife bridge on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff could help guide elk, deer and other wildlife navigate the highway and cut down on collisions with cars and trucks. -
Route 66 is known for roadside history, but the landscape also holds older signs of passage and human movement. -
On a walk through the woods, you might see a strange-looking growth up in the branches of a tree. It’s called a witches’ broom. -
Biochar, made from burned plant material, is giving new life to waste — and helping fight climate change in the process. -
The American pika is a small mammal that inhabits the highest elevations in the western mountains. Members of the rabbit family, pikas are approximately 7 inches long, characterized by outsized ears, short legs and a chunky, furry body.
