Animals

The hyolith Haplophrentis extends the tentacles of its feeding organ (lophophore) from between its shells. The paired spines, or "helens," are propping the animal up off the ocean floor.

The Curious Case Of The Hyolith, An Ancient 'Ice Cream Cone' That's Found A Home

6:00am January 12, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

The creature, which roamed ocean floors over 500 million years ago, went years without a definitive scientific classification. Now, researchers think the oddball finally has a group to call its own.

The U.S. has designated the rusty patched bumblebee an endangered species.

National

U.S. Puts Bumblebee On The Endangered Species List For 1st Time

7:22pm January 11, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The protected designation for the rusty patched bumblebee is also the first of its kind for a bee species in the continental U.S. It has seen a dramatic decline in numbers and territory.

Science

New 'Skywalker' Ape Species Will Need Jedi Powers To Survive

6:25pm January 11, 2017

by Rebecca Hersher

Scientists named a new species of gibbon ape after Star Wars rebel character Luke Skywalker. Like similar species that live in China and Myanmar, the so-called skywalker hoolock gibbon is endangered.

Musi, an African elephant, is one of Fresno Chaffee Zoo's five elephants enrolled in the Elephant Welfare Initiative.

Fitness Trackers Aim To Improve The Health And Happiness Of Zoo Elephants

10:08am January 11, 2017

by Kerry Klein

OK, so they're not using Fitbits. But zoos across America are using software to minutely track the activity, behavior and physiology of captive elephants, and using that data to improve zoo life.

Queue Listen Now

A deer was stuck to ice for over three hours in Simsbury, Conn., on Monday. It was rescued by wildlife officials and the event was streamed via Facebook Live.

National

VIDEO: Conn. Deer Rescue Transfixes Hundreds Of Thousands Of People

7:17pm January 10, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

The scared deer splayed on the frozen river was broadcast live by multiple television channels on Monday, in some cases for more than three hours, as rescue workers tried to get it to safety.

Dungeness crabs for sale at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. California's Dungeness crab season was shut down in 2015, when record high ocean temperatures and lingering toxic algae blooms raised the domoic acid in shellfish to unsafe levels. A new stud

Warming Oceans Could Boost Dangerous Toxin In Your Shellfish Dinner

12:54pm January 10, 2017

by Clare Leschin-Hoar

A new study finds a link between warming waters and a dangerous neurotoxin that builds up in species like Dungeness crabs, clams and mussels — and can be hazardous, even fatal in people who eat them.

The Asiatic black bear is now an endangered species, after being captured in the wild and farmed for its bile.

Bears That Inspired 'Adorable' Korean Paralympic Mascot Live In Caged Captivity

12:26pm January 09, 2017

by Elise Hu

The 2018 Paralympic mascot is the Asiatic black bear, a symbol of Korean folklore. But behind the caricature, South Korea has a troubled relationship with the bears, farming them for their bile.

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An orca leaps out of the water at Shamu Stadium at SeaWorld San Diego.

National

SeaWorld Ends Its Orca Theatrics In San Diego, But Critics Aren't Convinced

4:09pm January 08, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

The One Ocean show, which has come under criticism for the treatment of its star orcas, has its finale Sunday at SeaWorld San Diego. Yet some doubt the park sincerely means to change its program.

Dead Pitches: The Curse Of The Christmas Tree Bugs

8:40am January 08, 2017

by Lulu Garcia-Navarro

Some stories don't make it past Weekend Edition's editorial meeting, but others are worth a second look. Before hitting air, producer Ollie Dearden brought his holiday horror story to an entomologist.

SeaWorld's Orca Tilikum, Subject Of 'Blackfish' Documentary, Dies

8:40am January 08, 2017

The death of SeaWorld trainer Dawn Brancheau has been the catalyst for major changes in how the theme park handles its killer whales. The whale responsible for Brancheau's death, has died in Orlando.