Author: Rachel Maddow

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center celebrated the hatching of four state-threatened eastern box turtles.Two of the hatchlings are extremely rare twins, emerging from eggs laid by a mother recovering from a severe ear infection.Staff incubated the eggs while the mother healed, ensuring successful hatching despite her health challenges. Intensive Care Boosts Survival Odds Baby turtles face high mortality, with less than 0.1 percent surviving to adulthood.The center will keep the hatchlings through winter to help them gain weight and strengthen survival chances.The twin turtles weigh only 3 grams each and are much smaller than their siblings.Staff provide intensive care to…

In Puerto Narino, Colombia, researchers waist-deep in the Amazon River carefully trap river dolphins with mesh nets.They tighten the nets gradually as silver fish leap to escape the splashy enclosure.The team hauls each dolphin into a boat, where it thrashes before researchers carry it to the riverbank.On the sandy bank, scientists place the dolphins on mats and limit handling to 15 minutes. Careful Handling Protects Dolphins Marine biologist Fernando Trujillo shields each dolphin’s eyes with a cloth and speaks in gentle tones to calm them.He says, “Taking a dolphin out of the water is a kind of abduction,” while resting…

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension released a new fact sheet, “Wildlife Monitoring and Management for New World Screwworm,” to help Texans protect wildlife. Experts from AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department developed the science-based guide. It provides urban and rural residents with instructions to detect and report possible infestations in free-ranging wildlife. Protecting Vulnerable Wildlife “Wildlife are vital for ecosystem health,” said Marcus Blum, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist. “Over 100 mammal species in Texas face risk if screwworms return. This guide helps Texans safeguard them.” Blum noted that white-tailed deer, mule deer, black bears,…

Researchers at Hebrew University propose tracking wild animals to detect disease before outbreaks escalate. Prof. Ran Nathan and his Movement Ecology Lab team argue that biologging devices can transform disease control. The 2021/22 avian flu in Israel killed 8,000 cranes, but GPS-tagged birds revealed critical insights. Those lessons inspired scientists to build a universal framework for detecting and managing future outbreaks. Nathan emphasized that tracking wild animals in near real time now allows earlier detection and targeted intervention. He said this capability could save both human and animal lives. Biologging Framework Offers Early Warnings The framework outlines six methods to…

The North Carolina Wildlife Commission warned that distemper outbreaks in Henderson and Buncombe counties may now spread into Haywood. Residents in Haywood already reported suspected cases, but officials have not yet examined animals to confirm the disease. “Symptoms look like distemper,” said WRC District Biologist Justin McVey. “Rabies and distemper can appear very similar.” Virus Spreads Among Local Wildlife Henderson has battled the virus for weeks, and Buncombe has recorded several cases. McVey concluded it now spreads into Haywood. The disease infects many wild and domestic animals, including dogs, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, wolves, skunks, and felines. Wildlife removal workers already…

Twenty-nine agricultural, hunting, and county organizations petitioned Colorado Parks and Wildlife to halt wolf releases until next winter. They cite rising costs, livestock losses, and local unpreparedness for wolves roaming rural areas. Petition Highlights Concerns Tim Ritschard of Middle Park Stockgrowers said ranchers pay emotionally and financially when wolves kill cattle. He criticized the state for failing to manage existing wolves before adding more. The petition also includes the Gunnison County Stockgrowers, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association, Colorado Wool Growers, Holy Cross Cattlemen’s, and 12 county commissions. Requested Delay The groups ask the agency to postpone wolf releases until at least November…

Pakistan’s ongoing floods, among the country’s deadliest, have destroyed villages, submerged fields, and displaced over two million people. The catastrophe has also devastated fragile ecosystems, drowning scrub forests, rangelands, and wetlands that once sheltered diverse species. Jackals, wild boars, chinkara antelope, and jungle cats now wander into villages, searching for food and refuge. These encounters spark rising human-wildlife conflicts, leading to livestock losses and retaliatory killings of vulnerable species. Uzma Khan of WWF-Pakistan warned fragmented habitats weaken ecosystems, leaving wildlife populations more exposed to human threats. She added that displaced snakes, including pythons, entered communities; many survived rescues, but others…

Wildlife poaching costs the United States $1.4 billion annually, according to a five-year Boone and Crockett Club study. Researchers tied 27 antlered deer in West Virginia to poachers, with 12 requiring at least $2,500 each in replacement fees. The study highlights that over 95 percent of wildlife crimes go unreported or unpunished, giving poachers little deterrence. Experts Quantify Poaching Impacts Jon Gassett and Kristie Blevins measured illegal kills, lost hunting licenses, uncollected state revenues, and trophy replacement costs. They applied criminology research methods to analyze poachers’ motivations and the scale of crimes across the United States. Poaching fits on a…

Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder, has briefly overtaken Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person. His net worth rose to $393 billion, surpassing Musk’s $384 billion, according to Forbes. Oracle’s stock surged with the news, boosting Ellison’s fortune, though it fluctuated during the day. Less known to the public than Musk, Ellison holds immense influence in Silicon Valley and politics. He is famous for his extravagant lifestyle, including mega-yachts, private jets, multiple marriages, and ownership of nearly the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai. Ellison, 81, began building his fortune in the 1970s through software development. He co-founded Oracle after securing…

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center will release the first merlin successfully raised in a Virginia rehabilitation setting. This bird represents only the second documented nesting merlin in the state. Unusual Arrival and Care The merlin arrived at the center in early July after its nesting tree was cut down. Merlins rarely breed near Virginia, making this patient a unique and surprising case for the center. Chester Leonard, executive director, said the bird usually nests far north, in Canada and other northern regions. He added, “We never have merlins here. Helping this bird supports the small population reaching Virginia.” Public Release…