Environment

California Carr Fire Leaves Many Unsure About Their Future

7:28pm August 01, 2018

by Liam Moriarty

People who escaped the Carr fire near Redding, Calif., are living with uncertainty. Some know they lost their homes, others know their homes are standing but don't know when they can go back.

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A new report finds that 2017 was one of the hottest years ever recorded. Here, a man dives into the sea in Istanbul in July 2017 during a heat wave that caused record temperatures in much of Turkey.

2017 Was One Of The Hottest Years On Record

5:30pm August 01, 2018

by Laurel Wamsley

Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a record high. Global sea level was the highest on record, too. NOAA's State of the Climate report points to the urgency of addressing climate change.

High-speed tracking dogs have been a game-changer in the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa. Their success depends on their ability to work as a team, which means they sleep and eat in the pack-sized enclosures shown above.

To Combat Rhino Poaching, Dogs Are Giving South African Park Rangers A Crucial Assist

10:59am August 01, 2018

by David Fuchs

Anti-poaching rangers have sophisticated resources at their command. But one of the most effective is strikingly low-tech. "Since we use dogs, the guys can't hide from us anymore," says a trainer.

Wildfires More Common in Western U.S.

8:20pm July 31, 2018

by Kirk Siegler

A century's worth of fire suppression in forests, drought and heat from climate change, and the "suburbanization" of the woods mean that fires like the Carr Fire in Redding, Calif., are the new norm.

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The mother orca, known as J-35, pushes her dead calf to the surface last week off the coast of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The infant orca died shortly after its birth, but its mother has been observed carrying it with her in the days afterward.

After Calf's Death, Orca Mother Carries It For Days In 'Tragic Tour Of Grief'

6:13pm July 31, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

What began as a moment of joy ended in tragedy when the infant died last week. Since then its mother has refused to let go, holding her child tightly in what experts call a moving expression of grief.

A female orca that appears to be grieving has been carrying her dead calf in the water, keeping it afloat since the baby died more than a week ago.

Grieving Mother Orca Carries Dead Calf For More Than A Week, Over Hundreds Of Miles

4:23pm July 31, 2018

by Samantha Raphelson

The calf was the first to be born in the endangered pod of Pacific Northwest killer whales in three years.

Environment

Governor Asks Feds To Maintain Endangered Wolf Protection

2:01pm July 31, 2018

by Alex Derosier, Associated Press

North Carolina's governor is urging federal authorities not to reduce protections for endangered red wolves that can only be found in the state.

Bubble tea, or boba, features large tapioca balls at the bottom meant to be sucked up through a plastic straw. Vendors say paper straws don't always work as well, and they're more expensive.

San Francisco Is Poised To Ban Plastic Straws. That's Got Bubble Tea Shops Worried

7:05pm July 30, 2018

by Michelle Wiley

Over 200 city shops sell the drink, also known as boba tea, which features large tapioca balls meant to be sucked through a straw. Boba shops say paper straws are much pricier and don't work as well.

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California Allocates $3 Billion For New Water Storage Projects

5:54pm July 30, 2018

by Lauren Sommer

California is putting almost $3 billion toward new water storage projects to help preserve its crops during droughts. Some say that money should go to dams and reservoirs, but others want a less environmentally problematic approach.

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Deadly Carr Wildfire Testing Resources Of Local Officials In Northern California

5:54pm July 30, 2018

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with Kristen Schreder, mayor of Redding, Calif., for the latest on the deadly Carr wildfire raging through Northern California.

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