October in much of the U.S. brings cooler weather, vibrant fall colors and, of course, pumpkin-spiced everything. This is peak pumpkin season, with most of the American pumpkin crop harvested in October.
It turns out we have tiny architectural experts scuttling through our parks, sidewalks, and backyards — and they may have a few things to teach us about how to prevent the spread of disease. The designers in question are ants, already known for their mighty strength, thriving social lives, and mind-boggling ability to build entire […]
Your neighborhood is home to all sorts of amazing animals, from racoons, squirrels and skunks to birds, bugs and snails. Even if you don’t see them, most of these creatures are leaving evidence of their activities all around you.
Three undeveloped barrier islands off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama, are havens for a diverse array of wildlife — and after an eight-year-long, nearly $13 million project following years of storm damage, 30 acres of habitat have been restored. The Lower Perdido Islands near Perdido Pass are also hot spots for boaters, and now, […]
A reality show of sorts recently took place in the depths of Guatemala’s Maya rainforest. There, a diverse cast of characters lived out some of their lives on camera, much to their viewers’ delight. But unlike the series you might find on Bravo, the viewers in this instance were scientists — and the cast was […]
At the Bannerghatta Bear Rescue Center on the outskirts of Bengaluru in southern India, a sloth bear with a penchant for peanut butter and honey recently made history. Vasikaran first arrived at the facility in 2019 with an injured paw that had to be amputated — but now, he’s the first known sloth bear in […]
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards celebrate the beauty, intricacy, and interconnectedness of nature, and this year’s winning images are no exception. Announced Tuesday at a ceremony at the Natural History Museum, London, the 19 top shots were chosen from a record-breaking 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories. Wim van den Heever from […]
Looking for a sustainable vessel to drink your morning coffee out of and unclear on which is better, a cardboard cup or a ceramic mug? Actually, there’s a third option: one made out of a gourd. Such a cup, in addition to making for great conversation when you have guests over, has the benefit of […]
Currently listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List, Asian elephants have dwindled to a population of fewer than 40,000 — but England’s Chester Zoo just announced a major breakthrough in a world-first trial that could help boost that number. Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, or EEHV, can kill both wild and captive Asian and […]
While North America was captivated with Alaska’s Fat Bear Week (Chunk won, by the way), another playful animal competition was going down in New Zealand: The annual Bird of the Year contest, which aims to raise awareness for the country’s native bird species and the threats they face. Voting ran from Sept. 15-28, and this […]
This newly discovered mammal species may be just 4 inches long, yet it boasts immeasurable cuteness. Marmosa chachapoya, a red-furred, pointy-nosed creature from Peru’s Río Abiseo National Park, was first seen in 2018 — but scientists have only now identified it as a novel species of opossum. The critter has several distinct features: red-brown fur […]
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fattest of them all? Don’t worry, Disney princesses aren’t included in this query — the contenders seeking to be crowned the chubbiest are larger, furrier, and competing in this year’s Fat Bear Week.