Other Animals

New York City is taking a new approach to control its rat population. On Thursday, the City Council voted to implement a pilot program that will use birth control to reduce the number of rats in a specific area of the city. This initiative will begin 180 days after the bill’s passage and is set

WASHINGTON (October 11, 2024) — On the eve of World Migratory Bird Day, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced legislation that would support a program to conserve birds that live in and migrate through urban areas. The Urban Bird Treaty Act would authorize $1 million each year for a program that is currently being administered by

An unfortunate incident occurred at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park in Nigeria, where a 35-year-old lion handler, Babaji Daule, was killed by a lion during an unsanctioned feeding session. According to park officials, Daule had agreed to take a group of visitors into the lion enclosure after hours despite the park being closed

As fall advances toward winter here in the northern hemisphere, we say a fond farewell to most of the birds we have enjoyed watching in our backyards, local parks, tree-lined streets and no-mow patches scattered across the landscape. We’ll have to wait, in some cases, eight or nine months for them to return. At the

An 81-year-old man from Montana has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for his role in creating hybrid sheep for trophy hunting. Arthur “Jack” Schubarth of Vaughn, Montana, was found guilty of using tissue and testicles from Marco Polo sheep hunted in Central Asia and the United States to breed hybrid animals on

For myself and other Virginians, Ospreys represent one of our strongest ties to the natural world.  The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States and third-largest on Earth, is home to the largest breeding population of Ospreys on the planet, estimated at 10,000 – 12,000 pairs. Every year, we have a Virginia Osprey Festival

An incident involving a seal pup on a beach in Victoria has prompted an investigation by local Conservation authorities. The juvenile sub-Antarctic fur seal was discovered critically injured on Lake Bunga Beach, located near Lakes Entrance, on September 17. Sadly, the seal was euthanized shortly after being found due to the severity of its injuries.

When 10-year-old Samuel Henderson decided to share his bird calls at a school talent show this past May, he wasn’t nervous at all. In fact, in his mind, he was playing to a much larger audience than his school auditorium. “I’ve always wanted to share my bird calls with the world,” Henderson says. “I pretended

New research reveals that rising temperatures pose a serious threat to sloths, particularly those living in high-altitude environments. These slow-moving mammals, known for their sluggish metabolism and limited ability to regulate body temperature, may struggle to survive as the planet warms. A study led by Rebecca Cliffe, a sloth expert with over 15 years of

The Audubon on Campus program brings together passionate individuals who are dedicated to birds and wildlife conservation. Faculty advisors like Dr. Andy Tuholski and Daniel Koenemann exemplify this commitment. As advisors, Tuholski and Koenemann have both strived to show their students that working in conservation has no limits and make sure the young leaders identify their

image courtesy Instituto Araras Azul I recently returned from Brazil, an incredible country, and the largest and most populous in South America. It is widely diverse and multicultural, and home to an enormous number of parrot species. Unfortunately, much of South America is experiencing high fire rates, especially Brazil. I personally saw fires along the

Nibi, a rescue beaver, may get to stay with the people who have cared for her after a Massachusetts judge granted an emergency injunction on Tuesday, temporarily preventing her removal from Newhouse Wildlife Rescue. MassWildlife officials had planned to take Nibi from the Chelmsford-based rescue at 9:30 AM, but a restraining order issued by Associate

Project Protho, Audubon South Carolina’s community science project at the Beidler Forest Audubon Center & Sanctuary, has worked for over a decade studying the Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea. This sunny ball of feathers and energy that sings a “sweet-sweet-sweet” song from the heart of shady Four Holes Swamp has kept many secrets about its life during the other

One of the world’s rarest penguins has been crowned New Zealand’s bird of the year, in an unusually sedate year for the competition, free from the foreign interference and voting scandals of previous events. The endangered yellow-eyed penguin, or hoiho, is the largest of New Zealand’s mainland penguin species and is distinctive for the pale

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to birds everywhere. There’s no question that we must do everything we can to reverse climate change and ensure a sustainable future for birds, people, and the planet. This is why the National Audubon Society was sure to have a presence at Climate Week NYC, one of

High rates of inbreeding among hooded vultures in Ghana and South Africa spell trouble for their future, according to a newly published study. The study found that despite wide differences in the population size of the birds in the two countries, both face similar risks associated with low genetic diversity. It underlined the need to

Make a Difference: Become a Volunteer! Youth education volunteers inspire future stewards of our natural resources. Photo: Mike Fernandez/Audubon Volunteers play a vital role in our shared mission to preserve Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and support the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems throughout the Western Everglades.  Submit your application here!  Current volunteers should click here to access

Scientists have identified a new way for an aggressive strain of bird flu to enter Australia, via the habit of some migratory birds of harassing other birds and stealing their food and potentially their viruses. Australia is the only continent to have so far escaped a virulent H5N1 strain of avian flu – known as

Beloved by the public, bird enthusiasts, and researchers alike, finches are among our most familiar birds. Yet, they are deceptively complex, presenting some of North America’s most intricate avian life histories and identification challenges. Covering this diverse, multifaceted group in a single, accessible guide requires finesse and expertise. Enter Lillian Stokes and Matt Young. For

Amy Tan is an American writer who began her writing journey in 1986 when her first story was published. By 1989, she published a world-famous novel known to millions as “The Joy Luck Club.” The story entails three connected stories that spent a solid 40 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. By 1993,

The government of Zimbabwe has ordered a cull of 200 elephants amid an ongoing drought and food shortages in the country. The order will be the first elephant cull since 1988. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) has been tasked with the cull. Fulton Mangwanya, director general of ZimParks, said that the culling will be

A common sight across much of North America, the Killdeer is full of surprises. Though it’s considered a shorebird, the species is often found far from the beach. And despite its modest stature, slightly bigger than a robin, it has a big voice that is impossible to miss even from a distance. Up close, the

An ongoing campaign by an animal rights group is targeting the use of real bear fur in the iconic bearskin caps worn by the King’s Guards at Buckingham Palace. On Thursday, the group highlighted the rising costs of these ceremonial hats, with prices soaring by 30% in just one year. The Ministry of Defense revealed

With fall migration season in full swing, I am reminded of my big birding adventure from last year! I was invited to Audubon’s birding camp on Hog Island, Maine, where I joined the field ornithology camp as it seemed like a good chance to get a flavor for all things birds. I wasn’t sure what

The largest population of giant tortoises in the world is facing a serious threat from a new luxury hotel development on Assomption Island in the Indian Ocean. The project, funded by Qatari investors, aims to attract wealthy tourists by providing luxury yachts, private jets, and upscale accommodations in this remote area. Conservationists, however, have raised

Painted: June 2024 About the Mural: At Harbor Middle School in Red Hook, Brooklyn, students learn about environmental issues while experiencing them firsthand—from the extra heat created by the neighborhood’s lack of tree cover, to the air pollution wafting from the nearby highway. They’re also encouraged to do something about it: This mural, painted on the

A video capturing a bear’s amusing struggle to climb onto a hammock in Vail, Colorado, has entertained viewers across the internet. The clip, shared on TikTok by Courtney Vucekovich (@courtneyvucekovich), showcases the bear’s comical efforts to get comfortable, only to end in frustration as it continuously fails to balance itself on the swinging fabric. The

As we transition to fall, I am reflecting on the resilience and adaptability that define both nature and our work at Audubon. In July I found myself standing on the shoreline of Canada’s Lake Opinicon as my daughter meticulously recorded data on Tree Swallows as a summer field researcher. Watching these agile birds dart and

Recent research has unveiled a fascinating aspect of marmoset behavior: these small primates appear to use specific vocalizations to address each other, similar to how humans use names. This discovery could shed light on the evolution of language. In a study published in Science, researchers observed that marmosets use distinctive calls known as “phee-calls” to

The question Who cooks for you? doesn’t come up terribly often in natural conversation—unless you’re a birder, that is. Those familiar with the soundscapes of eastern forests or lowland swamps know the phrase has nothing to do with dinner: It’s common shorthand for the percussive hoots that emanate from the Barred Owl, one entry in a