Animals

Large goldfish, released by pet owners into bodies of water, are contributing to poor water quality in some lakes and ponds in Minnesota.

Oversize Goldfish Are Taking Over One Minnesota Lake, Causing Issues For Local Fish

6:26pm July 13, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

Burnsville, Minn., officials have urged residents and owners of pet goldfish not to dispose of them in local lakes, warning that doing so causes major environmental impacts.

Dark, dank and secluded, the Gomantong Cave is a four-star hotel for bats.

Science

The Best Of Bats: Favorite Pieces From The NPR Archive

2:34pm July 12, 2021

We are marking 50 years of NPR with a look back at stories from the archive. For this collection, we take a look at our best stories on bats.

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Manatees crowd together near the warm-water outflows from Florida Power & Light's plant in Riviera Beach, Fla., on Feb. 5. More manatees have died already in 2021 than in any other year in Florida's recorded history, primarily from starvation due to the l

Florida Breaks Annual Manatee Death Record In First 6 Months Of 2021

8:35am July 12, 2021

by The Associated Press

More than 840 manatee deaths were recorded between Jan. 1 and July 2, according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Cat Who Survived The Florida Condo Collapse Is Reunited With His Family

6:07am July 12, 2021

There was some good news amid the search for the dead in Surfside. A cat named Binx, who had lived on the ninth floor of the collapsed building, was found alive and was returned to his family.

A female Lymantria dispar moth lays her eggs on the trunk of a tree in Connecticut in 2008. In July 2021, the Entomological Society of America announced it was dropping the common name of this destructive insect that is also an slur against a group of peo

Insect Experts Will Change The Name Of The 'Gypsy Moth' And 'Gypsy Ant'

12:05pm July 10, 2021

by James Doubek

The Entomological Society of America says the common names for the two insects include a pejorative for Roma people. It's part of a wider effort to replace names that are inappropriate or offensive.

A Giant panda enjoys bamboo at the Beijing Zoo during the first day of the public display on June 5, 2008 in Beijing, China.

Finally Some Good News! China Says Giant Pandas Are No Longer Endangered

4:12pm July 09, 2021

by Sharon Pruitt-Young

The announcement comes five years after the International Union for Conservation of Nature officially removed giant pandas from its endangered list.

Giant Digital Cat Captivates Japan Via Billboard

7:15am July 09, 2021

The 3D cat doesn't advertise anything. It just does cat things-- like nap or lick its paws. The company running the billboard says they hope the cat will brighten up the city.

Some Swarms Of Fireflies Will Synchronize Their Flashes. Here's How

6:26pm July 08, 2021

Scientists investigated the phenomenon of fireflies flashing in sync — and found that the insects may coordinate their strobing by watching others in the group.

Fox & I: An Uncommon Friendship, by Catherine Raven

Books
Arts

Friendship Between A Woman And A Fox Leads To Transformation In 'Fox & I'

8:02am July 08, 2021

by Barbara J. King

The very antithesis of a fox-taming tale, Catherine Raven's memoir shows us that we are surrounded by wild animals who make thoughtful decisions and experience joys and sorrows on their own terms.

Zoo Staff Finds Treats Help With The Vaccination Of Animals

7:38am July 07, 2021

The Oakland Zoo inoculated tigers, bears and ferrets against the coronavirus with an experimental vaccine from veterinary pharmaceutical company Zoetis. It is donating 11,000 doses to dozens of zoos.