Wildlife

The latest on the fascinating flora and fauna of our planet.

Latest in Wildlife

A horde of horseshoe crabs mates on the beach

Environment

7 animal mating rituals that make horseshoe crab orgies look tame 7 animal mating rituals that make horseshoe crab orgies look tame

A recreation of Yorkicystis haefneri, a historic creature

Environment

This strange 500-million-year-old sea urchin relative lost its skeleton This strange 500-million-year-old sea urchin relative lost its skeleton

By Samuel Zamora / The Conversation

A jackdaw, a Eurasian bird that launches into the sky in flocks of hundreds.

Environment

Demo-crow-cy: Jackdaws leave the roost by voting Demo-crow-cy: Jackdaws leave the roost by voting

A photo of a humpback whale and her calf.

Environment

Boat noise is driving humpback whale moms into deep, dangerous water Boat noise is driving humpback whale moms into deep, dangerous water

By Marina Wang / Hakai Magazine

a small brown salamander on a log

Environment

Skydiving salamanders have mastered falling with style Skydiving salamanders have mastered falling with style

By Kate Baggaley

a large mass of jumping worms in a bucket is compared to a person's hand size

Environment

The jumping worm invasion may be less worrisome than it sounds The jumping worm invasion may be less worrisome than it sounds

Moose in Main are in danger.

Environment

Climate change-emboldened ticks are killing off moose in Maine Climate change-emboldened ticks are killing off moose in Maine

By Paul Richards / Field & Stream

remora fish attached to swimming manta ray

Environment

This amphibious drone hitchhikes like a suckerfish This amphibious drone hitchhikes like a suckerfish

By Charlotte Hu

A photo of a salmon hybrid.

Environment

This wild salmon hybrid is raising concerns in Canada This wild salmon hybrid is raising concerns in Canada

By Kris Millgate/Field & Stream

Two adults and a child in a rowboat on a calm lake at sunset. The man at the bow is paddling, the man at the back is holding a fishing rod, and the child is sitting between them.

Environment

A casual angler’s guide to taking kids fishing for the first time A casual angler’s guide to taking kids fishing for the first time

By Jean Levasseur

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven

Environment

The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven The Iron Curtain’s border zone has grown into a wild, ecological haven

By Sarah Baxter

Small brown-black migratory bat help in a person's hand with head facing camera

Environment

This itty bitty bat flew across two continents at record speed This itty bitty bat flew across two continents at record speed

A turtle crossing a road.

DIY

What to do if you find a turtle in the road What to do if you find a turtle in the road

By Natalie Wallington

People standing on a bridge at sunset while bats fly over.

Environment

Climate change could introduce humans to thousands of new viruses Climate change could introduce humans to thousands of new viruses

By Philip Kiefer

Caribbean flamingo chick tucked into the pink feathers on the back of its parent

Environment

Before they grow into splendor, flamingos are just awkward floofs Before they grow into splendor, flamingos are just awkward floofs

By Claudio Contreras Koob and Martha A. Salazar

robotic buoy floating in ocean

Technology

Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission Whale-monitoring robots are oceanic eavesdroppers with a mission

By Charlotte Hu

A photo of perch on a fish smoker being smoked.

Environment

Everything you need to smoke fish Everything you need to smoke fish

By Jack Hennessy / Field & Stream

two spiders entangled together mating

Environment

These male spiders fling into the air to escape post-coital cannibalism These male spiders fling into the air to escape post-coital cannibalism

By Lauren J. Young

Two crows attacking a feeding bald eagle along the water

Environment

Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance Crows and ravens flexed smarts and strength for world dominance

fluorescent view of an archerfish's skeleton and anatomy

Environment

An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish An archerfish family tree is the best shot yet at the evolution of sniper fish

On the left, multicolor eggs form a circle. On the right, a cuckoo finch is with two host chicks.

Environment

Thanks to a matriarchal gene, this bird can trick others into caring for its eggs Thanks to a matriarchal gene, this bird can trick others into caring for its eggs

Eight brightly colored birds from a museum specimens collection laid out on their backs on white

Science

Songbirds near the equator really are hotter, color-wise Songbirds near the equator really are hotter, color-wise

By Kate Baggaley

Two mid-sized brown owls sitting on a branch in daylight with horses, rhinos, and soaring birds in the background in an illustration

Environment

Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight Meet the ancient owl that embraced daylight

By Purbita Saha

Environment

How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets How vampire bats evolved to get the most out of their bloody diets

By Kate Baggaley

a yellow wheeled robot approaches a colony of penguins in the snow

Environment

The march of the penguins has a new star: an autonomous robot The march of the penguins has a new star: an autonomous robot

By Lauren J. Young

Small brilliant colored reef fish with a pink face, yellow fins, and purple tail on a black background

Environment

This rainbow reef fish is just as magical as it looks This rainbow reef fish is just as magical as it looks

By Purbita Saha

Map of vulnerable species in the United States.

Environment

Here’s where biodiversity is disappearing the quickest in the US Here’s where biodiversity is disappearing the quickest in the US

By Sara Kiley Watson

An image of a spider web to illustrate a story about a South American species of social spiders.

Environment

These spiders go off vibes to hunt in packs These spiders go off vibes to hunt in packs

By Maggie Galloway

A galloping horse.

Environment

Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop Ancient sea creatures pioneered the gallop

By Kate Baggaley

A black bear, which people can struggle to distinguish from other bears.

Environment

Burglar bear Hank the Tank might be even tougher to catch. Here’s why. Burglar bear Hank the Tank might be even tougher to catch. Here’s why.

Northern fulmar seabird sitting on a grassy hill with small pink flowers

Environment

Can birds smell? This ornithologist is debunking a long-standing myth. Can birds smell? This ornithologist is debunking a long-standing myth.

By Danielle J. Whittaker

birds flying across the moon at night

Environment

A moon-watching robot can demystify what migrating birds do at night A moon-watching robot can demystify what migrating birds do at night

By Charlotte Hu

A black bear in the woods.

Environment

A 500-pound black bear keeps breaking into California homes. What’s next? A 500-pound black bear keeps breaking into California homes. What’s next?

a bald eagle perched on a branch

Environment

Eagles face another major threat in the US: lead poisoning Eagles face another major threat in the US: lead poisoning

By Kate Baggaley

Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators

Science

Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators Why young orphans were once used as human refrigerators

By Popular Science Team

A white polar bear standing on snow in a zoo with blue bars in the background.

Environment

Secrets from zoo polar bears could help conservation efforts in the wild Secrets from zoo polar bears could help conservation efforts in the wild

By Maggie Galloway

a gray wolf looks over its shoulder in the snow

Environment

Snowy weather could determine life or death for Wisconsin’s poached gray wolves Snowy weather could determine life or death for Wisconsin’s poached gray wolves

By Kate Baggaley

Orca whale pod in a line in the ocean while hunting

Environment

Even blue whales aren’t safe from orcas Even blue whales aren’t safe from orcas

By Purbita Saha

Red and white heart balloons released into blue sky which can become hazardous.

Environment

Do something sweet for Earth—ditch balloons this Valentine’s Day Do something sweet for Earth—ditch balloons this Valentine’s Day

By Maggie Galloway

Feathered Caudipteryx dinosaurs drinking from a sandy river among palm trees before the asteroid hit

Science

June was probably a terrible month to be a dinosaur. Here’s how we know. June was probably a terrible month to be a dinosaur. Here’s how we know.

By Michael J. Benton / The Conversation

a large, dark globe-shaped fish with a striking rod on the crown of its head. the bulb at the tip of the rod glows a cobalt blue

Environment

This anglerfish has mastered a trick to light up the depths of the Pacific Ocean This anglerfish has mastered a trick to light up the depths of the Pacific Ocean

By Lauren J. Young

a brown bat in flight

Environment

The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears The secret to these bats’ hunting prowess is deep within their ears

By Kate Baggaley

Light brown tarantula with white discharge around mouth being attacked by a nematode worm on a bacteria backsplash

Environment

What do you call a tiny tarantula killer? Jeff Daniels. What do you call a tiny tarantula killer? Jeff Daniels.

By Purbita Saha

a humpback whale breaching the surface of the water with its mouth open

Environment

Baleen whales have an ‘oral plug’ to help them guzzle down food without choking Baleen whales have an ‘oral plug’ to help them guzzle down food without choking

By Kate Baggaley

Icefish nests encircled in stones on the ocean floor

Environment

Icefish build bizarre undersea nests—and that’s just the beginning Icefish build bizarre undersea nests—and that’s just the beginning

viper illustration

Science

This noxious island is so full of snakes, people can’t even visit This noxious island is so full of snakes, people can’t even visit

By Popular Science Team

Environment

Scientists discovered new shark species with chainsaw-like noses Scientists discovered new shark species with chainsaw-like noses

By Kate Baggaley

Female house sparrow and brown-headed cowbird, both potential vectors for bacteria that cause food-borne illnesses, feeding on birdseed on the ground

Environment

These bird species are most likely to contaminate our fruits and veggies These bird species are most likely to contaminate our fruits and veggies

Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa

Environment

Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa Nutrient-rich fish are thriving in a coral graveyard off the coast of Africa

By Sara Kiley Watson

a woman in a face mask and blue protective gloves holds up a black collection apparatus in the air in a densely forested environment. a sloth hangs from a tree nearby

Environment

Airborne animal DNA could help biologists track endangered species Airborne animal DNA could help biologists track endangered species

By Philip Kiefer

an illustration of a marine reptile

Science

These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast These ancient marine reptiles got very big, very fast

By Kate Baggaley

One of the best-preserved dinosaur embryos ever found.

Science

This fossilized dinosaur embryo is curled up just like a baby bird This fossilized dinosaur embryo is curled up just like a baby bird

By Kate Baggaley

More skunks can do handstands than we thought

Environment

More skunks can do handstands than we thought More skunks can do handstands than we thought

By Kate Baggaley

robot fish that mimics mosquitofish predator

Technology

Need to fight invasive fish? Just introduce a scary robot Need to fight invasive fish? Just introduce a scary robot

By Charlotte Hu

a color illustration of a brown and white bird in a lush forest

Science

This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue This 120-million-year-old bird could stick out its tongue

By Kate Baggaley

Northern pike underwater

Environment

Fish can bounce back quickly from mercury pollution Fish can bounce back quickly from mercury pollution

By Kate Baggaley

The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers

Environment

The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers The salmon of 2100 will have new habitat: the remains of melted glaciers

By Kate Baggaley

Science

Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen Fish sounds tell us about underwater reefs—but we need better tech to really listen

By Charlotte Hu

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

Environment

Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees Wildlife officials are taking radical steps to save Florida’s starving manatees

Brown and white extinct Haast's eagle with talons sunk into a furry carcass

Environment

This 30-pound eagle would take down 400-pound prey and dig through their organs This 30-pound eagle would take down 400-pound prey and dig through their organs

By Margo Milanowski

bird bot stanford

Technology

This bird-legged quadcopter can easily perch in the treetops This bird-legged quadcopter can easily perch in the treetops

By Margo Milanowski

Munu the black rhino in his enclosure

Environment

This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers This blind rhino’s infrared security system could help stop poachers

By Rachael Zisk

Greater roadrunner racing across a street in the desert

Environment

Las Vegas bird can’t remember how it ended up in Maine Las Vegas bird can’t remember how it ended up in Maine

By Margo Milanowski

Crow over a green art illustration background

Environment

Even more proof that crows are terrifyingly smart Even more proof that crows are terrifyingly smart

By Popular Science Team