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WILDLIFE BIOLOGY
In 1950, Australia used a virus as a biological weapon against millions of rabbits; scientists just decoded how they fought back, using DNA from a rabbit that once belonged to Charles DarwinAustralia's 1950 introduction of the myxoma virus to control rabbits backfired as evolution intervened. Scientists, analyzing rabbit DNA ac...- American scientists and ranchers are racing to stop a flesh-eating fly after 15 animal cases turned up in Texas and New Mexico, and the battle could take more than a yearFlesh-eating maggots, the New World screwworm, have reappeared in Texas and New Mexico, infecting livestock and at least one dog. Driven by...
- In 1995, 14 wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone to heal a damaged ecosystem; decades later, researchers are challenging one of the most celebrated predator stories in American ecologyYellowstone's wolf reintroduction success story faces a scientific challenge. New analysis suggests the dramatic impact on willow growth wa...
- Scientists just reviewed more than 400 cat studies and found that outdoor-roaming pets had three to five times the odds of carrying germs that can infect people, turning a common habit into a quiet public health riskA groundbreaking study reveals that outdoor-roaming pet cats carry infectious diseases at rates similar to feral cats, posing risks to huma...
- Pet pythons escaped into Florida in the 1970s, spread for decades through the Everglades, then a hurricane carried them south, and now the Key Largo woodrat may disappearEndangered rodents in Key Largo face a crisis. Invasive Burmese pythons, spreading after Hurricane Irma, are decimating Key Largo woodrat p...
- In 1988, cargo ships accidentally brought zebra mussels to the US in their ballast water, and they devastated the Great Lakes, but a 2026 study finds that after 20 years in Kansas lakes, they barely changed the fish or the waterA new study reveals that zebra mussel invasions in Kansas reservoirs over two decades have had minimal impact on water quality and fish pop...
- In 1960, Spain planted an invasive tree thinking it was a great idea, and now it's hammering local birdlife because the ecosystem can't keep upNew research from Spain reveals a stark difference in birdlife between native forests and eucalyptus plantations. While species numbers rem...
- In the 1950s, Swiss farmers intensified and mechanized their fields; nine decades of records now reveal an unexpected divide: butterflies are still struggling, while forest beetles have fully bounced backButterflies and beetles are disappearing at an alarming rate. A Swiss study reveals significant butterfly losses since 1930, linked to farm...
- 18 koalas moved to Kangaroo Island in the 1920s; a century on, 27,000 descendants are stripping eucalyptus bare and risk mass starvationKoalas are overpopulating in South Australia's Mount Lofty Ranges. This boom threatens eucalyptus forests, their food source. Scientists pr...
- Crashes with kangaroos and other wildlife are rising across Australia, and a 21% spike in claims reveals exactly when and where you're most at riskAnimal collisions on Australian regional roads are a growing crisis, with claims rising 21% in 2025. Kangaroos and wallabies are the primar...
- The koalas everyone gave up on are making a genetic comebackA new study on koalas is changing conservation science. Populations previously believed to be genetically doomed are now showing recovery. ...
- Over 1,500 bat species carry thousands of deadly viruses but rarely get sick, and scientists are only just beginning to understand whyBats possess a unique, preactivated innate immune defense that stops viruses from fully replicating, even after cell entry. This remarkable...
- In 1979, Japan released 30 mongooses onto Amami Oshima to kill venomous snakes, and it took 45 years to fix what happened nextJapan's ambitious plan to control venomous snakes on Amami Ōshima with Indian mongooses in 1979 backfired spectacularly. The introduced pre...
- Parrots masturbate too: New study finds it's natural for both males and females and more common in parent-raised birdsA new study reveals that masturbation in birds is a natural and widespread behavior, challenging the long-held belief that it's solely a si...
- Supriya Sahu IAS is fascinated by this rare Nilgris plant: Even in harsh summer, its unique leaves can trap and store water to surviveIAS officer Supriya Sahu has brought attention to Hedyotis verticillaris, a rare plant found in the high-altitude grasslands of the Nilgiri...
- In 1918, rats escaped from a shipwreck onto a remote island, and more than a century later, scientists discovered an unexpected consequenceA major rodent eradication on Lord Howe Island has revealed a surprising recovery of its insect life. For over a century, rats and mice dev...
- Why the Black Mamba’s speed became one of Africa’s most feared wildlife storiesThe Black Mamba's fearsome image is built on its remarkable speed and active daytime hunting. Unlike many snakes that rely on surprise, thi...
- Northern water snake size explained: Why this harmless snake can look massiveNorthern water snakes are common in eastern North America. These snakes are harmless and not venomous. Many people mistake them for dangero...
- The Bushmaster Is the Longest Venomous Snake in the Americas: But Scientists Are Careful About What That Actually MeansThe bushmaster, a formidable pit viper, weaves through the lush undergrowth of South and Central American rainforests. Not only does its im...
- The ‘silent subletter’: Why your rabbit burrow might have a hidden winter riskWinter rabbit burrows are more than just shelters. They become ideal havens for mites and other parasites. These underground homes trap moi...
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