Author: OMN AI

A major study using wildlife cameras in more than 400 gardens in Chester has shown hedgehogs visit over half of them after dark, with food the strongest draw. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University and Chester Zoo analysed thousands of images, finding gardens are becoming vital refuges as rural populations decline due to habitat loss, farming and roads. While leaving food increases visits, scientists stress the importance of wildlife-friendly features such as native plants, leaf litter, log piles and fence gaps to allow hedgehogs to roam, breed and hibernate. Experts from Hedgehog Helpline and Royal Holloway, University of London urge careful…

As bushfires continue to scorch large parts of Victoria, wildlife rescuers say they are being blocked from helping injured animals, sparking anger and frustration among volunteers who claim their expertise is being ignored when it is needed most. Volunteers Say They’re Being Kept Away More than 400,000 hectares have burned across the state this month, destroying hundreds of buildings and claiming the life of cattle farmer Max Hobson. While the full impact on wildlife is still unknown, Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) says it has deployed specialist teams to assess and treat injured animals. Wildlife volunteers…

Red and green light flooded Scottish skies as the Aurora Borealis lit the country overnight. People across Scotland watched bright colours sweep the darkness in dramatic motion. The display drew attention nationwide and sparked widespread excitement. Northern Lights Dazzle From Coast to Borders The aurora, often called the Northern Lights, forms swirling curtains of light across the night sky. These lights glow in shades ranging from green to pink and deep scarlet. Observers spotted the spectacle from Orkney in the far north to the Borders in the south. Solar Particles Trigger the Light Show Charged particles from the Sun strike…

Gangs of youths in South East London are taking animal cruelty to shocking extremes, using catapults to fire ice cubes and other projectiles at wildlife in Bromley and surrounding areas. A local charity warns that the assaults are “out of control,” with animals suffering broken bones, blinding injuries, and death. Brutal Attacks on Birds and Mammals Foxes, swans, starlings, parakeets, and wood pigeons are among the frequent victims. Volunteers and rescuers often spend days trying to save injured animals, sometimes using kayaks and net guns, but many are left to die from untreated injuries. Rae Gellel, Director of Greenwich Wildlife…

Scientists say the oceans may be undergoing a major ecological shift as vast seaweed blooms expand rapidly, driven by global heating and nutrient pollution from agriculture and other sources. Research led by the University of South Florida found that floating macroalgae increased by an average of 13.4% a year between 2003 and 2022, with the sharpest growth occurring after 2008. Before then, large-scale blooms were rare outside the Sargasso Sea. Using artificial intelligence to analyse 1.2 million satellite images, researchers produced the first global picture of floating seaweed. They identified dramatic growth in regions such as the tropical Atlantic and…

Koalas are among Australia’s most recognisable animals, yet their conservation status defies simple explanation. In some parts of the country, koalas are declining so rapidly they are listed as endangered. In others, their numbers have grown so large that they are stripping landscapes of food and facing mass starvation. This contradiction – often called Australia’s koala paradox – reveals how deeply human intervention has reshaped natural systems. Too many koalas, not enough trees On French Island in Victoria’s Western Port Bay, koalas have become victims of their own success. Introduced to the island in the late 19th century to protect…

Australia is facing a devastating loss of flying fox populations after an extreme heatwave in January 2026, marking one of the worst wildlife mortality events since the 2019–2020 “black summer” bushfires. Thousands of both grey-headed and black flying foxes perished across South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales. Grey-Headed Flying Foxes: Vulnerable and Under Threat The grey-headed flying fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) has been the hardest hit. Endemic to eastern Australia, these bats are the largest in the country, weighing up to 35 ounces and reaching 11 inches in length. Unlike most bats, they do not echolocate, relying on their keen…

The NCAA is expanding varsity sports opportunities for women, marking a historic move for collegiate athletics. New programs include women’s flag football, stunt, bowling, and wrestling, providing more pathways for female student-athletes. This expansion is part of the NCAA’s ongoing commitment to gender equity and athletic diversity. By recognizing emerging and high-interest sports, the organization ensures more women can compete at the national level and pursue scholarships. Women’s flag football will begin with the University of Nebraska launching a varsity team in spring 2028. The sport emphasizes speed, agility, and strategy without full-contact play, making it accessible while remaining highly…

As the Atlantic Forest shrinks, mosquitoes increasingly rely on humans for blood meals. This shift raises concern because it can speed disease spread and increase outbreak risks. Communities living near forest edges face growing exposure as habitats change. Stretching along Brazil’s coastline, the Atlantic Forest once supported extraordinary biodiversity. The ecosystem included hundreds of bird, amphibian, reptile, mammal, and fish species. Human development has already reduced the forest to about one third. As people move deeper into former wilderness, wildlife retreats and ecological balances break. Mosquitoes that once fed on many animals now increasingly target humans. A study in Frontiers…

Twin mountain gorillas have been born in Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising cautious optimism for the endangered species. The male infants were spotted on 3 January clinging to their mother, Mafuko, and are being monitored daily by rangers and veterinarians. Twin births among mountain gorilla are extremely rare and risky, with high infant mortality in the first weeks. Mafuko previously gave birth to twins in 2016, but neither survived. Rangers say she is an experienced and attentive mother, which offers encouragement despite the fragile situation. The twins were born into the Bageni family, Virunga’s…