Wildlife

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

Latest in Wildlife

A human hand holds a light brown vampire bat.

Environment

Vampire bats socially distance when they feel sick Vampire bats socially distance when they feel sick

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Technology

This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies This robotic hawk can shape-shift as it flies

A reconstruction of Ambopteryx in a glide.

Science

Dinosaurs may have evolved into birds, but early flights didn’t go so well Dinosaurs may have evolved into birds, but early flights didn’t go so well

By Kate Baggaley

An Amur tigress rubbing herself against a Manchurian fir tree

Environment

Check out the breathtaking winners of the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest Check out the breathtaking winners of the 2020 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest

By Rachael Zisk

Paleontologist Jingmai O'Connor birding with her mother in China

Science

Birds are dinosaurs, and this fossil detective has rooms full of bones to prove it Birds are dinosaurs, and this fossil detective has rooms full of bones to prove it

By Science Friday

A ruby-throated hummingbird that hit a glass window, held in someone's hand

Environment

How to help an injured bird How to help an injured bird

By Purbita Saha

a black bear standing near a tree

DIY

Simple tips for getting black bears to leave you alone Simple tips for getting black bears to leave you alone

By Alisha McDarris

Environment

We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs We can protect whales from ship strikes by translating their songs

By Kate Baggaley

Bear 128 'Grazer', with medium blonde coat and light fluffy ears standing at the edge of the water with tall grass behind her.

Environment

How scientists try to weigh some of the fattest bears on Earth How scientists try to weigh some of the fattest bears on Earth

By María Paula Rubiano A.

Environment

Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help. Whale ‘roadkill’ is on the rise off California. A new detection system could help.

A male Northern cardinal feeding a female Northern cardinal

Environment

Few people knew female birds had unique songs—until women started studying them Few people knew female birds had unique songs—until women started studying them

By Omland, Rose & Odom/The Conversation

white-crowned sparrow singing in a tree

Health

Bird songs got sexier during the COVID-19 shutdown Bird songs got sexier during the COVID-19 shutdown

Monarch butterflies

Environment

Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them. Migrating monarchs are in trouble. Here’s how we can all help them.

By D. André Green II/The Conversation

animal play graph

Environment

Animals play in all sorts of ways Animals play in all sorts of ways

By Sara Kiley Watson

acorn woodpecker

Environment

Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers

By Kate Baggaley

Environment

A day in the life of an eagle wrangler A day in the life of an eagle wrangler

By Maggie BenZvi/Coffee or Die

Science

Your car is probably full of spiders Your car is probably full of spiders

By Popular Science Team

A Blakiston's fish owl hunting for masu salmon in a river

Environment

The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl

By Jonathan Slaght

bottlenose dolphins

Environment

Manmade pollutants could be harming marine mammals more than we think Manmade pollutants could be harming marine mammals more than we think

A National Park mountain range against clear blue and lightly clouded skies overlooking a wooded forest area.

Environment

The Great American Outdoors Act proves that grassroots advocacy and democracy still work The Great American Outdoors Act proves that grassroots advocacy and democracy still work

By Robinson & Krebs/ Outdoor Life

A buck in a grassy field

Gear

How to pick the right wildlife trail camera How to pick the right wildlife trail camera

By Joe Genzel and Rich Howell/ Outdoor Life

Environment

Escaped exotic animals are changing the Texas landscape Escaped exotic animals are changing the Texas landscape

By Asher Elbein/Texas Observer

sharks in the ocean

Environment

Reef sharks around the world are in trouble Reef sharks around the world are in trouble

By Kate Baggaley

An Audubon's shearwater over water

Environment

Bird names are due for an anti-racist reckoning Bird names are due for an anti-racist reckoning

By Hannah Thomasy/Undark

The ultra-black Pacific black dragon (Idiacanthus antrostomus), the second-blackest fish studied by the research team.

Environment

These ultra-black fish camouflage with the darkness of the deep sea These ultra-black fish camouflage with the darkness of the deep sea

American hunters on horseback through the Yukon

Health

With the US-Canada border closed, wildlife tourism is hurting With the US-Canada border closed, wildlife tourism is hurting

By Joe Genzel/ Outdoor Life

A doe crossing a road in Yosemite National Park

Health

Less roadkill during the pandemic could translate to more deer down the road Less roadkill during the pandemic could translate to more deer down the road

By Joe Genzel/ Outdoor Life

A grizzly bear walking through the snow.

Environment

These survival tips might actually get you killed These survival tips might actually get you killed

By Keith McCafferty/Field & Stream

a white-throated sparrow

Environment

White-throated sparrows are ditching their classic song for a new tune White-throated sparrows are ditching their classic song for a new tune

By Kate Baggaley

Environment

Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine Hummingbirds can see colors we can’t even imagine

By Kate Baggaley

Black kids with binoculars

Environment

Black birders have never been safe or celebrated Black birders have never been safe or celebrated

By Jacqueline L. Scott/The Conversation

A male Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) perches atop a sunflower.

Environment

Migratory birds in the Eastern US are struggling to adapt to climate change Migratory birds in the Eastern US are struggling to adapt to climate change

By Kate Baggaley

New Zealands animals

Environment

New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes New Zealand’s bold rat-control campaign sees its first wave of successes

By Mara Johnson-Groh

Health

Vets, farmers, and zookeepers can help prevent the next pandemic Vets, farmers, and zookeepers can help prevent the next pandemic

By Lynne Peeples/Undark

A bull elk bugles in a field.

Environment

Ten shocking survival stories that real people lived to tell Ten shocking survival stories that real people lived to tell

By Field & Stream Editors

bats flying out of an abandoned gold mine

Health

Why do so many diseases come from bats? Why do so many diseases come from bats?

By Kate Baggaley

shark birth science

Environment

Why scientists are giving ultrasounds to 10-foot-long pregnant sharks Why scientists are giving ultrasounds to 10-foot-long pregnant sharks

By Hannah Verkamp/The Conversation

Rhinos with oxpeckers on their back.

Environment

Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection Rhinos pay a painful price for oxpecker protection

By Sara Kiley Watson

elk on golf course

Health

The real reason we’re seeing more wildlife during the pandemic The real reason we’re seeing more wildlife during the pandemic

"Albino" tigers are often just captive individuals bred for specific, atypical features.

Environment

‘Tiger King’ would have been more disturbing if it had focused on the big cat trade ‘Tiger King’ would have been more disturbing if it had focused on the big cat trade

By Allison Skidmore/The Conversation

a screenshot of a video game

Science

Animal Crossing’s most elusive fish has a bizarre real-life backstory Animal Crossing’s most elusive fish has a bizarre real-life backstory

By Popular Science Team

group of people tagging a dear with a collar.

Environment

GPS collars help wildlife researchers answer important questions GPS collars help wildlife researchers answer important questions

By Kris Millgate/ Outdoor Life

Environment

Vampire bats know the true meaning of friendship—sharing slurps of blood Vampire bats know the true meaning of friendship—sharing slurps of blood

By Sara Kiley Watson

a Northern cardinal on a metal bar outside

DIY

How to start birding in any US city How to start birding in any US city

By Georgia Silvera Seamans

Environment

North American bats tend to roost among the fungus that kills them North American bats tend to roost among the fungus that kills them

By Kate Baggaley

River dam puzzle

Environment

America thrived by choking its rivers with dams. Now it’s time to undo the damage. America thrived by choking its rivers with dams. Now it’s time to undo the damage.

A ruby-throated hummingbird dips into a nectar feeder.

Environment

Expert-approved ways to feed all your favorite birds Expert-approved ways to feed all your favorite birds

By Julian Avery/The Conversation

Kea parrot with black token.

Health

Kea parrots use statistics to get what they want Kea parrots use statistics to get what they want

By Sara Kiley Watson

a seagull eating a piece of pizza on a restaurant table

Environment

Seagulls hunger for food touched by human hands Seagulls hunger for food touched by human hands

Captain Jake Hiles and 708-pound tuna that is the pending new state Virginia record.

Environment

Anglers in Virginia reeled in a 700-pound tuna, then threw a dinner party Anglers in Virginia reeled in a 700-pound tuna, then threw a dinner party

By Doug Howlett/Field & Stream

The mangrove-lined estuary on Abaco Island in the Bahamas.

Environment

Millions of people’s food supply depends on super-urinating fish Millions of people’s food supply depends on super-urinating fish

By Kate Baggaley

Sahara desert at sunset.

Environment

The Sahara used to be full of fish The Sahara used to be full of fish

By Sara Kiley Watson

cassiopea jellyfish

Environment

Upside-down jellyfish lob tiny grenades to kill prey Upside-down jellyfish lob tiny grenades to kill prey

By Kate Baggaley

two fish side by side with one poking a bone into the other, but in a sexy way

Science

This ancient bony fish was a sexual pioneer This ancient bony fish was a sexual pioneer

By Rachel Feltman

Releasing a redfish

Environment

Releasing a caught fish isn’t as simple as tossing it overboard Releasing a caught fish isn’t as simple as tossing it overboard

By Capt. Spud Woodward/Sportfishing Mag

peregrine falcon staring into camera

Environment

One of the most important laws protecting birds in the US just got gutted One of the most important laws protecting birds in the US just got gutted

jackass penguins

Environment

Jackass penguins talk like people Jackass penguins talk like people

By Kate Baggaley

Diego the giant tortoise at a captive-breeding facility

Environment

Did a high sex drive really save the giant tortoise from extinction? Did a high sex drive really save the giant tortoise from extinction?

artist rendition of jellyfish with implants

Environment

Bionic jellyfish can swim three times faster Bionic jellyfish can swim three times faster

By Kate Baggaley

For polar bears contending with climate change, it’s ‘survival of the fattest’

Environment

For polar bears contending with climate change, it’s ‘survival of the fattest’ For polar bears contending with climate change, it’s ‘survival of the fattest’

By Dan Nosowitz

How birds got their groove

Science

See how birds change their tunes to fit their surroundings See how birds change their tunes to fit their surroundings

By Marion Renault

walking shark on the seafloor

Environment

These adorable sharks have evolved to walk across the seafloor These adorable sharks have evolved to walk across the seafloor

By Kate Baggaley

arctic terns flying against clouds with person silhouetted against background

Environment

Marine parks need to move along with the animals they’re protecting Marine parks need to move along with the animals they’re protecting

Lionfish underwater

Environment

This harpoon-throwing robot is designed to hunt destructive lionfish This harpoon-throwing robot is designed to hunt destructive lionfish

By Sara Kiley Watson