Author: Andrew Rogers

The rare Marsh Fritillary butterfly has enjoyed a strong year in Northern Ireland, thanks to warm weather and long-term habitat restoration by Butterfly Conservation and local farmers. The species, which relies entirely on the plant Devil’s-bit Scabious, has declined sharply over the past century as farming practices changed. But recent surveys of caterpillar nests show major increases at managed sites: one location rose from 24 to 53 nests, another from 24 to 139, and a third from five to 27. Conservation manager Rose Cremin said good weather helps in the short term, but proper land management is essential for long-term…

A new study warns that growing water scarcity in England could derail the UK’s efforts to reach net zero, as tensions rise between the government, water companies and regulators. The Environment Agency has already warned that England may face widespread drought next year. Research by Durham University, funded by water retailer Wave, found that major carbon capture and hydrogen projects—central to the UK’s decarbonisation strategy—may require more water than the country’s future supplies can provide. These technologies could add up to 860 million litres of daily water demand by 2050, potentially pushing regions such as those served by Anglian Water…

Africa’s forests have undergone a dramatic shift since 2010, moving from absorbing carbon to releasing it, according to a new scientific study. The change means all three of the world’s major rainforest regions — the Amazon, south-east Asia and now Africa — are contributing to climate breakdown rather than mitigating it. Researchers found African forests lost around 106 billion kilograms of biomass every year between 2010 and 2017, equivalent to the weight of 106 million cars. The most severe losses occurred in the tropical broadleaf forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar and parts of west Africa. Human activity…

Authorities in Maine have warned hunters not to eat wild turkeys and deer from parts of the state after high levels of PFAS “forever chemicals” were found in the animals’ meat. The advisory covers several areas north of Augusta, where soil contamination has led to dangerous chemical levels in wildlife. Officials say the substances are linked to cancer and other serious health risks. Similar “do not eat” warnings have recently been issued in other US states, including Michigan, Wisconsin and New Mexico, as PFAS contamination in wildlife becomes more widespread. Experts say the pollution could persist for decades unless the…

Almost 40,000 birds are now overwintering on Wallasea Island in Essex, a nature reserve created using millions of tonnes of soil excavated during the construction of London’s Elizabeth line. Around three million tonnes of earth were transported from London tunnel works to the island, where it was used to raise ground levels and help form wetlands. The RSPB bought Wallasea in the mid-2000s and began restoring it by breaching the sea wall in 2015, allowing tidal water to return for the first time in 400 years. Using the imported soil, the RSPB built islands, lagoons and salt marshes that now…

Almost 3,000 species of animals, plants, fungi and lichens in Wales are at serious risk of disappearing, according to a new report by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). The Species in Peril report found that 2,955 terrestrial and freshwater species are now restricted to five locations or fewer, with 1,262 confined to a single site. Since 2000, at least 11 species have already been lost in Wales, including the turtle dove and the belted beauty moth. Species at risk include well-known wildlife such as black grouse, the high brown fritillary butterfly and the natterjack toad. Threatened mammals include rare bats like…

Wildfires in the Arctic and boreal regions are increasingly becoming “zombie fires” — blazes that smoulder underground through winter and reignite in spring — causing long-term damage to forests and accelerating climate change. A major example began in May 2023 in Donnie Creek, British Columbia, after a lightning strike ignited unusually dry forest. While the flames appeared to die out during winter, the fire continued burning slowly beneath the snow in organic, carbon-rich soil. It reignited in spring 2024 and ultimately destroyed more than 600,000 hectares of forest. These fires burn deep in peat and permafrost soils, which store massive…

A hedgehog expert has warned that the condition of rescued hedgehogs this year has been the worst she has ever seen. Dru Burdon of the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group said many animals admitted were either dead on arrival or died shortly after rescue. She linked this decline to a lack of available food caused by an unusually hot, dry spring and summer, along with advice for residents to stop feeding wildlife because of an increase in rats. Burdon said climate change and habitat loss are making survival increasingly difficult for hedgehogs, as dry, hardened soil prevents them from digging for…

A person in the United States has been reported as the first known human to die from the rare H5N5 strain of bird flu, though health officials say the risk to the general public remains low. The victim was an older adult from Grays Harbor County in Washington state who had underlying health conditions. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the individual was hospitalized in early November after developing a high fever, confusion and respiratory symptoms. Health officials said the person kept a backyard flock of domestic poultry that had been exposed to wild birds, which is believed…

Millions of Mexicans are holding on to the country’s 50 peso banknote, which features the beloved axolotl, turning it into one of the most hoarded notes in recent history. First released in 2021, the note – inspired by a real axolotl named Gorda from a Mexico City museum – was named “Note of the Year” by the International Bank Notes Society. A new report from the Bank of Mexico shows that around 12.9 million people are actively holding onto the note, with roughly $150m worth currently out of circulation. Many people say they keep the note simply because they love…