Raccoons are adorable creatures that are known for digging in the trash, but not much research has gone into how these critters navigate big cities and suburbs in which they usually live in. Lauren Stanton, a postdoctoral researcher studying animal cognition at the University of California, Berkeley, published a paper with her team in […]
Tag: journal of experimental biology
Study: Docile Raccoons are Trash Can Criminal Masterminds
Researchers have assessed the habituation, learning and cognitive flexibility of a wild population of raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Wyoming, the United States. Raccoons are medium-sized carnivores that demonstrate incredible success in novel and urban environments yet have been understudied within the fields of animal behavior and cognition. Their native range in North America is currently […]
Birds “Walk” on Water to Impress Mates
If you think dating is hard, be glad you’re not a grebe. These North American waterbirds have high standards when it comes to attracting and keeping a mate: If either a male or female grebe can’t “walk” on water, they’re out of luck. Western and Clark’s grebes engage in a maneuver called rushing during the […]
Scientists discover new whale species
Beaked whales are incredibly elusive and rare, little-known to scientists and the public alike—although some species are three times the size of an elephant. Extreme divers, beaked whales have been recorded plunging as deep as 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) for over an hour. Few of the over 20 species are well-known by researchers, but now […]
Neonicotinoid pesticides ‘damage brains of bees’
Commonly used pesticides are damaging honey bee brains, studies suggest. Scientists have found that two types of chemicals called neonicotinoids and coumaphos are interfering with the insect’s ability to learn and remember. Experiments revealed that exposure was also lowering brain activity, especially when the two pesticides were used in combination. The research is detailed in […]