wildlife

Exclusive | California’s top shark tracker has a message for swimmers as great whites multiply: ‘They’re only there for one reason’

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Exclusive | California’s top shark tracker has a message for swimmers as great whites multiply: ‘They’re only there for one reason’

A surge in shark sightings has terrified Southern California beach-goers this summer, but a legendary shark tracker says swimmers can breathe easy. The idea that local beaches are suddenly infested with bloodthirsty man-eating great whites is total “garbage,” according to veteran shark tracer Keith Poe, who has logged more than 33 years tracking one of … Read more

Exclusive | Are rabid beavers on a rampage in New York? Experts weigh in

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Exclusive | Are rabid beavers on a rampage in New York? Experts weigh in

Jaws? More like Gnaws. Rabid beavers are terrorizing Tri-State vacation hotspots this summer, biting several people across NY and NJ, and sparking fears of an outbreak among locals. Indeed, New York’s state animal appears to be chomping more than just wood of late. Recently, two swimmers were attacked by one of the rabid rodents on … Read more

Pizza for pythons: Florida restaurant owner gives away free pies in exchange for dead snakes

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Pizza for pythons: Florida restaurant owner gives away free pies in exchange for dead snakes

Snakes on a plain? A Florida pizzeria owner is redefining the term “exotic pet trade” by accepting captured Burmese pythons as payment for a pie. “I’m the first place in the world to accept python as currency,” Dustin Crum, owner of Wildman’s Pizza, Pasta and Python in Everglades City, told NBC News of his bizarre … Read more

Deadly ‘fox tapeworm’ linked to lethal disease detected in West Coast wildlife

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Deadly ‘fox tapeworm’ linked to lethal disease detected in West Coast wildlife

A parasitic tapeworm known as Echinococcus multilocularis — often called the “fox tapeworm” — has been detected for the first time in West Coast wildlife.  University of Washington researchers discovered the tapeworm, which can cause a rare but potentially deadly disease in humans, in 37 out of 100 coyotes sampled near Puget Sound in Washington State. The findings … Read more

Popular household remedy for keeping skunks away dismissed as myth by wildlife expert

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Popular household remedy for keeping skunks away dismissed as myth by wildlife expert

Irish Spring soap, known for its fresh scent, is often recommended online — in blog posts, social media exchanges and elsewhere — as a way to repel skunks. Yet wildlife experts say the popular household hack is more a myth than a proven solution. Some homeowners claim the soap’s strong scent can help discourage skunks from lingering … Read more

Bizarre reason for thunderous rumble in Hudson River revealed by scientists in eerie video

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Bizarre reason for thunderous rumble in Hudson River revealed by scientists in eerie video

Sturgeons’ booty calls apparently have a bass beat. Scientists have discovered that the huge, Volkswagen-sized fish have been making thunderous, rumbling sounds while getting it on in the Hudson River, per a raunchy study published in the journal Endangered Species Research. “It’s almost that you feel it more than you hear it,” study co-author Maija Niemistö, … Read more

Horrifying video shows plague of parasite-ridden mosquitoes swarming as tourists take cover in their cars

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Horrifying video shows plague of parasite-ridden mosquitoes swarming as tourists take cover in their cars

It was cloudy with a chance of skeet-balls. Tourists in Russia had to hide in their vehicles as a biblical swarm of mosquitoes blackened the skies, as seen in bloodcurdling footage. The visitors had traveled to Lake Shchuchye in the Buryatia region for a scenic getaway, Jam Press reported. The swarms forced motorists to sequester … Read more

Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study

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Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study

Research now shows that mosquitoes may bite the hand that feeds them Deet — at least in time. The commonly used chemical — which is the gold standard ingredient approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act as a mosquito repellent — has recently been shown to potentially attract the pesky insects, as they’ve … Read more

‘Just that weird’: Suckerfish observed swimming in manta rays’ rear ends, could impede pooping, sex

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‘Just that weird’: Suckerfish observed swimming in manta rays’ rear ends, could impede pooping, sex

They’re sticking it where the sun-ray don’t shine. While remoras are known to be rather clingy, some are getting too close for comfort by diving into manta rays’ backsides, per a scientific probe in the journal Ecology and Evolution. “These fish are heading up right into some manta ray rear-ends,” lead author Emily Yeager, a … Read more

Bizarre, new fish species discovered — adorably dubbed ‘Snuffleupagus’ for hairy, orange appearance

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Bizarre, new fish species discovered — adorably dubbed ‘Snuffleupagus’ for hairy, orange appearance

One fish, two fish, red fish — Mr. Snuffleupagus fish? A new species of ghost pipefish resembling the beloved star “Sesame Street” character — now officially named Solenostomus snuffleupagus — has recently been discovered by research scientists, with the show creators supporting the fish’s matching moniker. The fish, whose identifying characteristics include a lengthy snout … Read more

Farmers want to breed ‘uglier’ cows after hordes of influencers inundate farms to take snaps with cattle: ‘My cows don’t get any peace’

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Farmers want to breed ‘uglier’ cows after hordes of influencers inundate farms to take snaps with cattle: ‘My cows don’t get any peace’

He’s hoping they “steer” clear of his beautiful bovines. A fed-up UK farmer has pledged to breed uglier cows to curb the relentless tide of influencers lining up to snap selfies and generally harass his handsome Highland Cattle. “The intention is to make them less photogenic,” Alex Birch, from Derbyshire, told the BBC of his … Read more

Wild drone video shows SoCal surfers paddling inches away from great white sharks

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Wild drone video shows SoCal surfers paddling inches away from great white sharks

Experts have been warning that shark sightings on the Southern California coast are getting more frequent, and insane footage of them swimming inches away from surfers illustrates that danger. In what seems to be drone footage posted April 15, an individual on a purple board with a paddle in hand is riding a small wave … Read more

Poisonous, stinging Portuguese man o’ war are rapidly invading beaches: ‘Extremely painful’

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Poisonous, stinging Portuguese man o’ war are rapidly invading beaches: ‘Extremely painful’

The Portuguese man o’ war has been making its presence known on beaches from Texas to Florida, as reported by Fox Weather. The small but dangerous sea creature — which is known for its long tentacles and polyps that extend up to 100 feet, according to AL.com, and can deliver a painful sting even weeks … Read more

Tourist hotspot beset by Biblical plague of locusts in dramatic video

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Tourist hotspot beset by Biblical plague of locusts in dramatic video

It was a pestilence of biblical proportions. Officials in Spain’s Canary Islands are sounding alarm bells after an epic swarm of locusts descended upon the popular vacation destination, as seen in dramatic footage circulating on social media. Over the past few days, the scenic islands of Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura have been beset … Read more

Beware of the world’s shark attack hotspots — including one US destination topping the ranks

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Beware of the world’s shark attack hotspots — including one US destination topping the ranks

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into US waters. A recent survey by tide forecasting site Tideschart found that the Home Of The Brave leads the world when it comes to shark attacks, boasting nearly twice as many as runner-up Australia — and over four times as many as third-place holder … Read more

Raccoons are evolving to be as cute and cuddly as pets — and they want inside your homes

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Raccoons are evolving to be as cute and cuddly as pets — and they want inside your homes

The days of trash-talking raccoons may be coming to an end. A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology found that city-dwelling raccoons are showing early signs of domestication — and becoming increasingly adorable to humans. “I wanted to know if living in a city environment would kickstart domestication processes in animals that … Read more

Adorable AI wildlife videos are everywhere — and they’re putting humans and animals in danger: study

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Adorable AI wildlife videos are everywhere — and they’re putting humans and animals in danger: study

It’s the AI-nimal Kingdom. The internet is becoming inundated with AI-generated wildlife clips, from bizarre interspecies playdates to animal trampoline sessions. While they might be adorable, these highly convincing faux animal videos are posing a danger to conservation efforts, per a study published in the journal Conservation Biology. “They reflect characteristics, behaviors, habitats, or relationships … Read more

Is your car a poop magnet? Birds prefer using these models as bathrooms, study reveals

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Is your car a poop magnet? Birds prefer using these models as bathrooms, study reveals

Is it a poop de ville? Humans aren’t the only ones with brand loyalty when it comes to automobiles. A recent study found that our fine-feathered friends prefer certain types and colors of vehicles for pooping — with brown vehicles and Ram trucks topping the list of favorite on-the-fly toilets. “Car owners often debate whether … Read more

Chad cuts ties with wildlife charity linked to Prince Harry over ‘disrespectful attitude’

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Chad cuts ties with wildlife charity linked to Prince Harry over ‘disrespectful attitude’

Chad said it has withdrawn a mandate held by a non-profit conservation group associated with Prince Harry to manage its wildlife reserves, accusing the leading charity of not doing enough to stop poaching. African Parks showed “a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government,” Environment Minister Hassan Bakhit Djamous said in a statement. He also said … Read more

Pet goldfish are ruining lakes after heartless owners dumped them there — but a local zoo has a grisly solution

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Pet goldfish are ruining lakes after heartless owners dumped them there — but a local zoo has a grisly solution

Zookeepers have proposed a real “grizzly” solution to controlling giant invasive goldfish. For years, pet goldfish released into US waterways have been wreaking havoc by ballooning to gargantuan sizes and outcompeting native species. Enterprising Minnesota zoo officials have devised an unorthodox way to help with the scourge — feeding the shiny fin-terlopers to hungry zoo … Read more