New Jersey’s annual black bear hunting season has begun, sparking debate over the state’s wildlife management practices. Officials say the hunt is necessary to control the rising bear population, which has led to increased human-bear encounters. However, Conservation groups argue that hunting is not the solution to the issue. The first phase of the hunting […]
Wild Cam: Jaguar Predation on Livestock Limited in NE Mexico
Adrián Caballero and his colleagues released tracking dogs late one February morning in the hilly jungle terrain of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and from there, the chase was on. “Machete en mano,” they sometimes ran along thin game trails, sometimes sliced their way through thick foliage, following the sound of the dogs’ barking as best […]
Shooters to target feral cats in NSW national parks amid boom in population
A five-person team of expert shooters will soon target feral cats in New South Wales national parks as the state steps up efforts to control the pest animals. The intensive ground operation is being deployed in response to increased cat numbers, according to National Parks and Wildlife Service deputy secretary, Atticus Fleming. “Intensive, well-targeted ground […]
High-Rise Buildings in Chicago Threaten Birds
Each year, thousands of migratory birds face significant risks as they pass through urban areas like Chicago. The city’s tall buildings and illuminated structures, especially at night, create hazardous conditions for birds traveling along major migratory paths. These birds, often confused by artificial lighting, crash into windows and structures, leading to injury or death. Organizations […]
VOTE for the Best Photo of the Month October 2024
Welcome to the “Best Photo of the Month” competition showcasing and celebrating the biodiversity of Planet Earth. Voting is easy and lots of fun. By popular request the number of images to be selected has been increased to six. First click an image and the slideshow will start automatically. Select the SIX images you like best […]
Drier Winter Habitat Impacts Songbirds’ Ability To Survive Migration
A new study from researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI) shows environmental conditions in migratory birds’ winter homes carry over to affect their ability to survive spring migration and the breeding season. While scientists have long known that the quality of winter, or non-breeding, habitat influences migratory birds’ migration timing […]
Scientists map the genome of Australian ‘punk’ fish that prefers to walk instead of swim
They’re Australia’s own underwater punks in leopard print. Spotted handfish are an endangered species of fish that prefer to “walk” instead of swim, thanks to their unusual pectoral and pelvic fins; have a fluffy dorsal fin on their head that looks almost like a mohawk; and live in the waters off south-east Tasmania. Now CSIRO […]
Petition: Tell the International Whaling Commission to Reconsider Approving Whale Sanctuary
Whale advocates’ hopes were dashed at the recent International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Lima, Peru, where a critical vote to establish a whale sanctuary was blocked. The proposed South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary would have made the South Atlantic permanently off limits to whaling, and has been considered at almost every IWC meeting since 1999. […]