The Asian hornet, or Vespa velutina, is an invasive species in western Europe that is also known by the name “Asian predatory wasp.” It is a close relative to the Asian giant hornet, or murder hornet, that was first spotted in the U.S. in 2019. Both species have raised immediate concerns for honeybee populations. Now, […]
Elephants and rhinos at increased risk of poaching due to Trump funding cuts, groups say
Environmentalists have urged the Trump administration to reverse its decision to cut off funding for key conservation work aimed at saving iconic at-risk species, including anti-poaching patrols for vulnerable rhinos and elephants. International conservation grants administered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have been frozen by Trump, throwing conservation non-profits around the world […]
Researchers Reveal Surprising Findings From Bird Droppings on Crops
Farmers and consumers alike have long worried that any trace of bird droppings on lettuce spells disaster for our salads. New research suggests that fear might be overblown. Tiny spots from small birds, it turns out, aren’t as hazardous as many believed, offering a bit of relief to growers who want to keep wildlife around […]
Wild swimmers are safer in lakes and rivers where beavers live, thanks to their pollution blocking dams, study finds
Wild swimmers are safer in lakes, rivers, and ponds inhabited by beavers, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Stirling in Scotland have uncovered that beaver dams drastically improve the water quality of British eco-systems. Their work, detailed in the Science of the Total Environment journal, monitored how rodent populations affect pollution […]
UK bumblebee numbers fell to lowest on record in 2024, shows data
Figures show 2024 was the worst year for bumblebees in the UK since records began. Bumblebee numbers declined by almost a quarter compared with the 2010-2023 average, according to data from the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. The researchers said the drop was probably due to the cold and wet conditions in the UK last spring. According […]
Beaver releases into wild to be allowed in England for first time in centuries
The release of beavers into English waterways is to be allowed for the first time in centuries, the Guardian can reveal. The environment secretary, Steve Reed, is to announce that nature groups will be able to get a licence for the release. The first releases could happen this autumn. Until about 20 years ago, the […]
California couple confided about stuffed mountain lion to fellow fliers, authorities say. They were in for a shock
They were just passengers aboard an airplane, flying over California and having a chat. The couple was relating their adventures in hunting to the pair of fliers in the row ahead of them. Things apparently got cozy, and they confided that they had hunted a mountain lion. In fact, they said, a close relative was […]
Emotional Officials Watch 17 Endangered Mountain Bongos Arrive in Kenya for Reintroduction
The struggle to keep one of the world’s largest and rarest antelope species alive has taken a massive step forward in Kenya. 17 mountain bongos have been flown to Kenya from the Rare Species Conservation Center in Florida for eventual reintroduction into their natural habitat. A subspecies of bongo, the largest of the forest-dwelling antelope, […]