A record number of hen harriers have been killed or have gone missing in suspicious circumstances over the past five years, the RSPB has said. The protected bird species is one of the rarest in the UK, known for acrobatic “skydancing” courtship displays over the uplands, such as Forest of Bowland in Lancashire and the […]
As large scavengers decline, disease risk soars, study finds
Scavengers aren’t the most charismatic of animals, but they perform a vital task: by eating carrion, they remove dead animals from our environments. Yet large-bodied scavengers are declining worldwide, increasing the risk of the spread of diseases, according to a recent study. Researchers found that 1,376 animal species have been recorded in the scientific literature […]
Southern Resident Orcas Observed Grooming Each Other With Seaweed in First Documented Tool-Making by a Marine Mammal
Orca whales have been observed biting off lengths of kelp and using the strands to massage each other — the first known evidence of marine mammals making tools. A group of killer whales off the coast of the United States and Canada were seen removing the ends of seaweed stalks, putting them between their bodies […]
Missouri Deer Hunter Illegally Shoots Tagged Mountain Lion That Traveled 800 Miles From Nebraska
A Missouri deer hunter lost his hunting rifle, $2,000, and a year’s worth of hunting privileges after illegally shooting a mountain lion from his treestand during the 2024-25 hunting season. The big cat he shot had traveled nearly 800 miles from Nebraska, wearing double ear tags that identified it as part of a research project […]
‘Forgotten’ leopards being driven to silent extinction by poaching and trade
Leopards — solitary, enigmatic, nocturnal predators with golden fur splashed with dark rosette spots — have the widest range of any big cat. They’re found in a variety of habitats — rainforests, rocky mountains, grasslands and deserts — in both warm and cold climates. Worldwide, there are eight subspecies of leopards categorized based on their […]
Why Birds Really Sing So Loudly in the Morning
Anyone who’s ever been jolted awake by a chorus of chirping knows birds are busiest at dawn. But why they choose that early hour to be so noisy has puzzled scientists for decades. A popular theory claimed that birds sing more at dawn because their songs travel better in the still, humid morning air. Turns […]
Scariest Polar Bear Attack Ever Recorded
Svalbard, Norway, a remote archipelago where the population of polar bears surpasses that of humans. It was here that a group of young explorers fell victim to a sudden and savage polar bear attack. The incident, resulting in one death and four severe injuries, stands as the worst polar bear attack ever recorded. Svalbard: A […]
Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill Erodes Oil and Gas Laws that Safeguard Wildlife and Benefit Taxpayers
Elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, burrowing owls, and more than 3,000 species of wildlife depend on lands that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. These lands provide vital habitat for wildlife to migrate, search for food, and find mates. But these lands are also working lands that serve multiple purposes. They provide endless […]