Celebrating World Orangutan Day on August 19
Newsroom: Do cows have consistent traits across different environments?
Have you ever met someone with a really strong trait? For instance, a friend of mine is extremely active–always jogging here and there, to and fro. I went on vacation with her, and although she was a bit more relaxed than usual, she was still relatively much more active than most other people on vacation…
Field Frame Friday: Jaguars fish with their tails?!
Jaguars in the pantanal area of Brazil are renowned for being excellent hunters. While caiman and capybaras are the most common meal choice, jaguars have been known to wade in shallow waters and use their tail as bait to lure fish and capture other aquatic creatures. Check out a video of jaguars swimming and hunting…
Sunday Sketch: Fluffy Fox, Endangered in the Sierra
The Sierra Nevada red fox has been listed as endangered since 2021, and as of 2023, it may disappear from the Yosemite area without conservation efforts. These foxes are well-adapted to cold, high-elevation environments thanks to their thick coats. Like other red foxes, they have a white-tipped tail. For red foxes, mating occurs in winter,…
Field Frame: Sandpiper stripes
The unique combination of color bands on this Spotted Sandpiper’s leg indicate his identity and allow researchers to track his whereabouts and behavior by observing him in the natural environment. This male (called “RS-OM” for red, silver, orange, mauve) was captured in 2022 as part of a research study investigating Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) parental and mating…
Creature Feature: Northern Rubber Boa
What comes to mind when you hear the word, “boa?” Perhaps you are envisioning a three-meter-long snake in the Amazon Rainforest – a formidable predator that eats sweet little monkeys and hapless possums. You wouldn’t be alone on this train of thought. Indeed, even Charles Darwin’s co-discoverer of natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace, had an…
Sunday Sketch: Beneficial Bats
Mexican free-tailed bats are impressive aerial hunters—capable of flying up to 60 miles per hour on average! They feed on moths and other flying insects, playing a key role in natural pest control. Art by Allen Butler-Struben, Instagram & Twitter @BLIRTT. Fact by Nicole Rodrigues, Twitter @n3rodrigues [Edited by Nicole Rodrigues] Reference: Bat Conservation International….
Field Frame Friday: What to do when you find a baby bird
Earlier this week, I stumbled upon a small surprise in the middle of a busy downtown walkway: a baby bird, alone looking up at me, smaller than the palm of my hand. I wasn’t sure what to do at first, so I did what any cautious animal lover might do, stood nearby to protect it…
Field Frame Friday: Lizard push-ups
If you’ve lived in California for a long enough time and paid close enough attention to our local western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) scuttling about nearly everywhere, you have probably seen one doing his lizard push-ups, as pictured above. This behavior tends to be most common in the breeding season (spring and summer) because it…
Science and Culture: Father Figures with Fur and Feathers
Fatherhood in the animal kingdom often escapes the spotlight. Biology textbooks and evolutionary theories emphasize maternal care as the default, while male animals were frequently cast as disengaged, uninvolved, or expendable. However, a closer look at the science tells a much richer story where animal dads are anything but background characters. From penguins that brave…
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