Wildlife

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

Latest in Wildlife

A kākāpō chick. The birds are are large flightless parrots from New Zealand who are masters of camouflage and known for a booming call.

Environment

A flightless parrot is returning to mainland New Zealand after a 40-year absence A flightless parrot is returning to mainland New Zealand after a 40-year absence

By Laura Baisas

deep sea bubbles

Environment

The key to bringing deep sea samples up to the coast? An underwater freezer. The key to bringing deep sea samples up to the coast? An underwater freezer.

By Annie Roth / Hakai Magazine

American actor Richard Dreyfuss (left) (as marine biologist Hooper) and British author and actor Robert Shaw (as shark fisherman Quint) look off the stern of Quint's fishing boat the 'Orca' at the terrifying approach of the mechanical giant shark dubbed 'Bruce' in a scene from the film 'Jaws' directed by Steven Spielberg, 1975.

Environment

Why the creators of ‘Jaws’ regretted making sharks the monsters Why the creators of ‘Jaws’ regretted making sharks the monsters

By Laura Baisas

A saber tooth cat fossil is displayed during a press preview of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on June 4, 2019.

Environment

Paleontologists discover two new sabertooth cat species Paleontologists discover two new sabertooth cat species

By Laura Baisas

Environment

No guts left behind: Iceland’s quest to repurpose fish waste No guts left behind: Iceland’s quest to repurpose fish waste

By Lela Nargi/Hakai Magazine

Illustration showing Repenomamus robustus as it attacks Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis moments before a volcanic debris flow buries them both about 125 million years ago.

Environment

This badger-like mammal may have died while trying to eat a dinosaur This badger-like mammal may have died while trying to eat a dinosaur

By Laura Baisas

Pair of bluefin tuna strung up on a fishing crane on the coast of Spain

Environment

Who caught the first bluefin tuna? Who caught the first bluefin tuna?

By Karen Pinchin

A green sea turtle swims in the ocean.

Environment

Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years Hungry green sea turtles have eaten in the same seagrass meadows for about 3,000 years

By Laura Baisas

Bull elk in the wilderness

Environment

Like whales and bats, elk have regional dialects Like whales and bats, elk have regional dialects

By Kylie Mohr / High Country News

An artist’s illustration of Alligator munensis, which is skimming the water with its eye out and surrounded by lush green trees. The large tooth sockets towards the back of its mouth suggest this extinct gator could crush shells and may have snacked on hard-shelled prey like snails.

Environment

Extinct snub-nosed gator had big teeth for crushing snails Extinct snub-nosed gator had big teeth for crushing snails

By Laura Baisas

Ocean waves crashing.

Environment

How climate change is pushing oxygen out of the world’s oceans How climate change is pushing oxygen out of the world’s oceans

By Carla Delgado

A dire wolf reconstruction on exhibit at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum.

Environment

Mighty saber-toothed cats and dire wolves probably had achy joints Mighty saber-toothed cats and dire wolves probably had achy joints

By Laura Baisas

Group of Chinook salmon.

Environment

Beer’s pungent scent could help salmon find their way home Beer’s pungent scent could help salmon find their way home

By Ben Goldfarb/Hakai Magazine

A large group of shells on a beach. Organisms with hard, durable parts, like shells, are more likely to be preserved as fossils than organisms composed entirely of soft tissue.

Environment

The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology The fossil record holds clues about modern-day marine ecology

By Laura Baisas

Oldest tunicate on record from the Cambrian explosion, illustrated on the ocean floor

Environment

A 500-million-year-old sea squirt is the evolutionary clue we need to understand our humble beginnings A 500-million-year-old sea squirt is the evolutionary clue we need to understand our humble beginnings

By Maddi Langweil

best solar birdbaths

Environment

The best solar birdbaths of 2024 The best solar birdbaths of 2024

By Stacey L. Nash

Two male male rhesus macaques sit on the ground, one with his head down towards the other

Science

Same-sex mounting in male macaques can help them reproduce more successfully Same-sex mounting in male macaques can help them reproduce more successfully

By Laura Baisas

The giant Douglas firs in British Columbia forests are examples of so-called mother trees

Environment

Are ‘mother trees’ real? Are ‘mother trees’ real?

Jars of animal and plant specimen.

Science

Why preserving museum specimens is so vital for science Why preserving museum specimens is so vital for science

By Darren Incorvaia/Undark

A four-legged spider mite sits on a plant.

Environment

Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed Before spider mites mate, one of them gets their skin removed

By Laura Baisas

hiking in the mountains

Environment

Human noises make animals in the woods nervous Human noises make animals in the woods nervous

By Christine Peterson/High Country News

Crotalus helleri snake

Environment

Stressed rattlesnakes just need a little help from their friends Stressed rattlesnakes just need a little help from their friends

By Laura Baisas

Octopuses brooding near hydrothermal vents deep under water. The 19-day Octopus Odyssey expedition located a site of low temperature (7oC) hydrothermal venting with brooding octopus on an unnamed outcrop that was explored for the very first time on this trip.

Environment

New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas New species of inkless octopus may have been found in Costa Rica’s deep seas

By Laura Baisas

wall of taxidermy animals and skeletons

Environment

Humans are dangerous predators because we love collecting weird animals Humans are dangerous predators because we love collecting weird animals

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

falcon perches on handler's glove, jersey shore attractions in background

Environment

The birds of summer patrolling Ocean City’s boardwalk The birds of summer patrolling Ocean City’s boardwalk

By Laura Baisas, Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet

Common bottlenose dolphins swimming in Coffee Bay in South Africa.

Environment

Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives Drones are following dolphins to spy on their complex social lives

By Laura Baisas

A greater honeyguide feeding on beeswax with an open mouth in Niassa Special Reserve in Mozambique.

Environment

Badgers and birds may be teaming up to steal honey Badgers and birds may be teaming up to steal honey

By Laura Baisas

A green adult L. heckscheri frog sits amid some rocks and fungus.

Environment

Check out some of the weirdest warty frogs in North America Check out some of the weirdest warty frogs in North America

By Popular Science Team

A spider monkey stands on a tree branch with a baby monkey on her back.

Science

The ancestor of all placental mammals survived the dino-killing asteroid The ancestor of all placental mammals survived the dino-killing asteroid

By Laura Baisas

An orangutan sits in the forest and looks forward with its hands under its chin.

Environment

Orangutans can make two sounds at the same time Orangutans can make two sounds at the same time

By Laura Baisas

An artist's illustration of a megalogon, which went extinct 3.6 million years ago and are believed to have grown to lengths of 50 feet.

Science

Megalodons were likely warm-blooded, despite being stone-cold killers Megalodons were likely warm-blooded, despite being stone-cold killers

By Laura Baisas

Animals and AI help scientists study pandemics

Environment

Animals and AI help scientists study pandemics Animals and AI help scientists study pandemics

By Bethany Brookshire/Undark

This pangolin-inspired robot can curl up into a healing ball

Technology

This pangolin-inspired robot can curl up into a healing ball This pangolin-inspired robot can curl up into a healing ball

An artist’s reconstruction of Olympicetus thalassodon pursuing a school of fishes alongside plotopterid birds (background) somewhere in the eastern North Pacific Ocean.

Environment

This dolphin ancestor looked like a cross between Flipper and Moby Dick This dolphin ancestor looked like a cross between Flipper and Moby Dick

By Laura Baisas

A cockscomb pearl mussel.

Science

The secret to better folding phones might hinge on mussels The secret to better folding phones might hinge on mussels

A school of grunts and horse-eye jack fish swim above a reef in Hol Chan Marine Reserve near Ambergris Cay, Belize.

Environment

Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities Fish are thriving near marine protected areas—and so are coastal communities

By Laura Baisas

A Northern Hawk Owl looks directly into the camera as it perches at the tip of a frost-covered tree. Dark pine cones on the bare branches stand out against a white background, mirroring the pattern of the owl’s dark breast feathers.

Environment

Owls, puffins, and even city pigeons glam it up in winning bird photos Owls, puffins, and even city pigeons glam it up in winning bird photos

By Maddi Langweil

Bumblebee pollinator over red and orange flowers

Environment

Microscopic worms use electricity to ride bumblebees like EVs Microscopic worms use electricity to ride bumblebees like EVs

By Laura Baisas

Line of rocks letting water leak through to represent a different approach to water management during drought

Environment

‘Slow water’ could transform the Southwest, one little rock wall at a time ‘Slow water’ could transform the Southwest, one little rock wall at a time

Deer and other animals in wildfire smoke during California Dixie fire in 2021

Environment

Clouds of wildfire smoke are toxic to humans and animals alike Clouds of wildfire smoke are toxic to humans and animals alike

By Carla Delgado

The sustainable secret to raising tastier crabs

Environment

The sustainable secret to raising tastier crabs The sustainable secret to raising tastier crabs

By Sofia Quaglia/Hakai Magazine

A glow-worm on a leaf.

Environment

Bright white lights are a buzzkill for glow-worm romance Bright white lights are a buzzkill for glow-worm romance

By Laura Baisas

Australian giant skink

Science

This chunky ancient lizard was 1,000 times bigger than its modern relatives This chunky ancient lizard was 1,000 times bigger than its modern relatives

By Sara Kiley Watson

Orca whale pod off Iberian coast from the subpopulation of orcas attacking sailboats in Europe

Environment

Orcas are attacking boats. But is it revenge or trauma? Orcas are attacking boats. But is it revenge or trauma?

Two ants facing one another. Ants release a pheromone that helps other ants sense danger.

Environment

Ants brains are surprisingly good at communicating danger to others Ants brains are surprisingly good at communicating danger to others

By Laura Baisas

Young longleaf pines growing healthily in a burnt landscape

Environment

Longleaf pine forests in Alabama are making a comeback—thanks to fire Longleaf pine forests in Alabama are making a comeback—thanks to fire

By Jamie Dickman

Noisy boats can cause temporary deafness in squid

Environment

Noisy boats can cause temporary deafness in squid Noisy boats can cause temporary deafness in squid

By Emily Harwitz / Hakai Magazine

emperor penguin and chicks

Environment

Many bird species are struggling—but data can help us save them from extinction Many bird species are struggling—but data can help us save them from extinction

By Emily Sohn/Knowable Magazine

Paramecium bursaria under a microscope. All creatures whose cells house a nucleus, including Paramecium bursaria, can be traced back to a common ancestor called the Last Eukaryotic Common Ancestor (LECA).

Science

Newfound single-celled hunters may have been Earth’s first-ever predators Newfound single-celled hunters may have been Earth’s first-ever predators

By Laura Baisas

An illustration of the rhynchosaur Bentonyx from the Middle Triassic of Devon, about 245 million years ago.

Science

This ancient reptile had a deadly vegetarian diet This ancient reptile had a deadly vegetarian diet

By Laura Baisas

The California two-spot octopus (Bimaculoides) is the first octopus species to have its genome sequenced and is very helpful for studying cephalopods.

Environment

Octopuses rewrite their own RNA to survive freezing temperatures Octopuses rewrite their own RNA to survive freezing temperatures

By Laura Baisas

A monkey laying on a tree smiling.

Environment

Super semen could be one reason why primates evolved to masturbate Super semen could be one reason why primates evolved to masturbate

By Laura Baisas

A badger in a forest on a rainy day.

Environment

Air quality monitoring stations could help track and preserve threatened species Air quality monitoring stations could help track and preserve threatened species

By Laura Baisas

Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil

Environment

Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil Lionfish are now threatening ecosystems and livelihoods in Brazil

By Osmar J. Luiz/The Conversation

An elk grazing in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Environment

The role of people in preserving nature, according to America’s National Parks docuseries The role of people in preserving nature, according to America’s National Parks docuseries

By Laura Baisas

A moth with wings extended outward lands on a flower.

Environment

This massively underrated pollinator needs your help This massively underrated pollinator needs your help

By Laura Baisas

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

Science

These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct. These species were discovered in museum collections. They might already be extinct.

By Katarina Zimmer / Undark

The adult gomphothere skull (foreground, tusk capped in white plaster) was separated from the main body (background, covered in plaster) prior to its preservation.

Environment

Elephants once roamed Florida—and scientists just stumbled on a graveyard full of them Elephants once roamed Florida—and scientists just stumbled on a graveyard full of them

By Laura Baisas

A mother and baby golden snub nosed monkey. These primates live in mountainous regions of southwestern China. Longer periods of maternal care may have helped them form more complex societies.

Environment

Chilly climates may have forged stronger social bonds in some primates Chilly climates may have forged stronger social bonds in some primates

By Laura Baisas

This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks

Environment

This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks This fake beach is a magnet for tourists—and peaceful endangered sharks

By Dag Goering/Hakai Magazine

A male and a female mallard duck in some green grass by some bushes.

DIY

Don’t feed ducks bread. Here’s what to give them instead. Don’t feed ducks bread. Here’s what to give them instead.

By Natalie Wallington

Why it’s time to stop naming new species after people

Environment

Why it’s time to stop naming new species after people Why it’s time to stop naming new species after people

By Asher Elbein/Undark

A saltwater crocodile with its mouth wide open.

Environment

Snorkeler pries crocodile’s jaws off his head to survive attack Snorkeler pries crocodile’s jaws off his head to survive attack

By Laura Baisas

A sloth hangs in a tree in Costa Rica. The mammals have the slowest digestive system of any animal on Earth. It can take sloths two weeks to digest an entire meal, and they sleep about 20 hours a day to conserve energy.

Environment

Sloth schedules are surprisingly flexible Sloth schedules are surprisingly flexible

By Laura Baisas