Author: OMN AI

A New Approach to Supporting Wildlife Birdlife has wasted no time returning to Mooragh Lake in Ramsey after the lake was partially drained as part of an environmental trial. The project, led by Ramsey Town Commissioners in partnership with the Manx Wildlife Trust, is exploring whether allowing water levels to rise and fall naturally with the seasons can create better conditions for wildlife. Shallow Waters Create Feeding Havens According to the Manx Wildlife Trust, the lower water levels have transformed parts of the lake into shallow pools and muddy margins. These conditions are ideal for many bird species, providing easy…

Researchers have discovered a bat-borne virus, Pteropine orthoreovirus (PRV), in stored throat swabs and virus cultures from five patients in Bangladesh. The individuals were initially suspected of Nipah virus infection but tested negative. This finding adds PRV to the growing list of animal-to-human viruses in the country and suggests doctors should consider it when evaluating illnesses resembling Nipah. The study appears in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. All five patients had recently consumed raw date palm sap, a sweet liquid harvested in winter and often visited by bats. This sap already serves as a major pathway for Nipah virus transmission.…

Volunteers and the public are racing to contain a suspected bird flu outbreak among swans in the Thames Valley.Since October, Animal and Plant Health Agency recorded 324 confirmed cases, with numbers rising in early 2026.Charity Swan Support reported dozens more dead swans in Berkshire, raising fears of wider spread.Many birds showed severe symptoms, prompting strong suspicion of H5N1 bird flu.Volunteers removed carcasses to limit transmission while awaiting test confirmation from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.Authorities urged the public not to touch sick or dead birds and to wash hands thoroughly.

Frigid Rescue in Lincoln A beaver was rescued in Lincoln, Nebraska, after being discovered nearly frozen outside Mum’s Liquor store. Temperatures had dropped to two degrees below zero, and ice crystals were visible in the animal’s fur, leaving it immobile and disoriented. Lincoln Animal Control quickly transported the beaver to Nebraska Wildlife Rehab in Omaha, where it is being warmed and monitored before being released back into a suitable waterway. Winter Challenges for Semi-Aquatic Mammals Beavers are well-adapted to cold weather, but extreme conditions, like a polar vortex, can push them into urban areas. Frozen waterways prevent them from accessing…

Devendra worked as a farmer in India and still remembers the moment of the bite. A snake sank its fangs into his leg while he picked mulberry leaves. He went to a hospital four days later when the pain became unbearable. The delay cost him his leg, he says in a short film by the Global Snakebite Taskforce. The initiative works to reduce deaths and injuries from snakebites. Devendra survived, but many others do not. The federal government reports around 50,000 snakebite deaths each year. That figure represents roughly half of global deaths. Other estimates suggest even higher numbers. Between…

Updated government data shows that the U.S. economy continued to expand in the third quarter. The GDP growth figures highlight increases in consumer spending, exports, investment, and personal income. Consumer spending remains a major driver of economic growth. Americans are spending steadily on goods and services, reflecting confidence in their financial stability and supporting businesses across multiple sectors. Exports also contributed to the GDP expansion. Strong global demand for U.S. products helped boost trade, benefiting industries from manufacturing to technology. Analysts note that export growth strengthens the economy and supports job creation. Business investment continues to play a key role…

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Raven Ridge Wildlife Center is urging residents to keep an eye out for bats that may be struggling as winter temperatures remain harsh. Surge in Bats Needing Help The center said it has seen a noticeable increase in bats being brought in during recent cold weather. Bats normally hibernate through the winter, but extreme conditions or disruptions can force them out of shelter, leaving them weak and vulnerable. Wildlife officials stress that if someone comes across a bat during the winter months, it should not be put back outside. Exposure to freezing temperatures can quickly become…

Cuan Wildlife Rescue called for better deer protection after admitting 94 animals in 2025.Most injuries came from car collisions and poorly maintained wire fences.The rescue reported hotspots around Telford, Bridgnorth, and Church Stretton.Many trapped deer required euthanasia after becoming tangled in barbed wire.British Deer Society urged landowners to maintain fencing and remove wildlife hazards.

Once feared as a symbol of bad luck, India’s endangered hargila stork now has devoted protectors. Thanks to local women, its population is slowly rebounding. Witnessing Devastation on the Brahmaputra On a sweltering January afternoon in 2007, biologist Purnima Devi Barman arrived in Dadara village along Assam’s Brahmaputra River. Surrounding her were emerald wetlands and tropical forests, yet all she saw was destruction. Villagers had cut down a towering kadamba tree, scattering leaves, twigs, and nesting material across the ground. Among the debris lay dead greater adjutant storks, some of Assam’s most distinctive and endangered birds. A few chicks survived,…

Weeks of rain soaked the fields, shrinking walks and filling boots with cold water.Still, spring hints appear along the stream lined with alder trees.Their bare branches glow with maroon mist from dangling purple catkins.These catkins formed last summer and now stretch open with warming days.Soon they will burst with yellow pollen, feeding early queen bees.Alders bloom before most trees, even before their round leaves appear.Their spent cones cling beside new catkins, rattling softly in the wind.These hardy trees thrive in wet, poor soil and enrich damaged landscapes.Alders even strengthen when wet, supporting cities, clogs, and history.