We don’t often think of birds as dangerous, says Dominic Couzens. That’s a mistake, because to their prey species they are, of course, completely deadly. Perhaps surprisingly, a few species can also be a peril to humans, and back in prehistoric times there were probably more. Here we will look both at the birds that […]
Tag: Hedgehogs
“It can run across water at speeds of 5 feet per second. That’s pretty nippy…” 9 weirdest reptiles in the world, including a devil with two heads
Reptiles are a diverse group of animals, and some of them have truly bizarre and fascinating characteristics – here are a few of the weirdest reptiles on the planet. Weirdest reptiles in the world Green basilisk A lizard that can run on water? Meet the Green basilisk – also known as the ‘Jesus Christ lizard’ […]
Petition: Help Protect Hedgehogs From Harm and Habitat Loss
In Germany, robot lawnmowers have become more common, often turning on in the evening to trim yards without human supervision. But this futuristic practice also means there aren’t any people to make sure the lawnmowers’ sharp blades don’t hurt innocent wildlife. And in fact, hedgehogs are emerging as a primary victim of these machines. Hedgehogs […]
German mayors call for night-time ban on robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs
German mayors have called for a nationwide ban on night-time use of robot lawnmowers to protect hedgehogs and other small nocturnal animals from being killed or maimed in the dark. Recent studies have highlighted the threat lawnmower blades pose to wildlife active between dusk and dawn, prompting growing calls for regulation. Hedgehogs also tend to […]
An invasive guava is muscling out Madagascar’s forests — and lemurs are helping
Madagascar is renowned for its lemurs, which are threatened due to hunting and deforestation. Restoring native forests to ensure their survival is critical, but once damaged, forests in Madagascar are vulnerable to takeover by invasive guava trees — whose seeds the lemurs themselves are helping to spread. When the delicious strawberry guavas (Psidium cattleyanum) are […]
“Their real super-power is their ability to shoot blood from their eyes.” The 23 weirdest, strangest animals on the planet – including the striped pyjama squid
With over 8.7 million species of animals in the world, it’s perhaps no surprise that evolution has produced some particularly peculiar-looking ones. Ugly as some of them may be, these so-called weird animals often become some of the most loved and well know (especially in the age of the internet meme – looking at you blobfish!). There will […]
Ultrasound repellers could keep hedgehogs off roads, scientists hope
Hedgehogs have been discovered to hear high-frequency ultrasound, raising hopes that they could be deterred from dangerous roads with ultrasound repellers. Vehicles are estimated to kill up to one in three hedgehogs, a big factor in the much-loved mammal’s drastic decline across Europe over recent decades. Researchers at the University of Oxford collaborated with colleagues in Denmark to test […]
Garden ponds provide vital habitats – and a revival is under way in Britain
Afew years ago I created a little pond in my back garden. It’s barely bigger than a paving slab, but since the pond has been in place we have had a garden teeming with frogs, hedgehogs have taken up residence and bird life has abounded. Not only do humble ponds like this give nature a […]