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Tree-climbing grey fox: desert canid rewrites arboreal norms
1 day ago•Source: BBC Wildlife Magazine
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1.75 min•8 days ago
Florida Bald Eagle Builds World’s Heaviest Nest, Weighing Over Two Tons
A pair of bald eagles in Florida built the largest known bird nest on record, spanning about 2.9 meters across, 6 meters deep and weighing more than 2 tonnes; these massive aeries are constructed high in trees near water, reinforced each breeding season, and can be used for decades by successive generations.
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Snæfellsnes Braces for Massive Solar Eclipse Crowds
icelandmonitor.mbl.is•11 days ago
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Farewell to Jackie: Beloved livestream bald eagle dies at 14
The Washington Post•14 days ago
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Beloved California Bald Eagle Jackie Dies After Prolonged Care
Jackie, the famous California bald eagle beloved by viewers of the Big Bear Valley nest cam, died after weeks of intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center from anaemia and weight loss following an attack by other eagles; her mate Shadow and thousands of online followers mourn the loss of the wildlife star.
Brazil’s Snake Island: A venomous, off-limits haven for researchers
Ilha da Queimada Grande off Brazil hosts thousands of golden lancehead vipers on 43 hectares, making it one of the world’s deadliest wildlife sites. Access is restricted to scientists and the military; bites to humans are rare because the venom targets birds. The species is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, with an estimated 2,000–4,000 snakes, and illegal pet trade contributes to its decline, with snakes selling for up to $30,000.
Rare Sunfish Spotted Surfacing Just Feet From a Sussex Charter Boat
A Brighton skipper aboard the Yellowfin filmed two sunfish—large, pancake-shaped giants—seen just five feet from his boat in the shipping lanes off Sussex. Birds circled to pick parasites, while the sunfish flopped at the surface, offering a rare glimpse of unexpected marine life in UK waters and a reminder of the sea’s surprises.
Blink-and-Go: The World’s Fastest Predator Bites
The article surveys the fastest animal bites, highlighting vipers (terciopelo) striking at about 3.5 m/s to subdue prey, the hairy frogfish delivering a suction-like bite that opens its mouth up to 12 times its size in 1/6000 of a second, and the dracula ant whose jaws snap shut at roughly 320 km/h in ~20 microseconds; these examples illustrate extreme bite mechanisms among snakes, fish, and insects, with occasional comparisons to faster movers like cheetahs and peregrine falcons.
Honey locust thorns: ancient armor with modern bite
The honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos) bears massive thorns up to 20 cm long that likely evolved to deter Pleistocene megafauna; while these spikes can cause painful puncture wounds and infections, the tree is valued for its dense timber and is invasive in places like Australia, though reports of human injuries remain rare.
Australia’s 13 Weirdest Animals and the Surprising Tricks They Use to Survive
A roundup of 13 of Australia’s most bizarre creatures—from the bum-breathing Fitzroy River turtle and the venomous platypus to Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, sea angels, and deep-sea oddities like the dumbo octopus and blobfish—each with remarkable adaptations that highlight the country’s extraordinary biodiversity and, in several cases, conservation concerns.
Cocoon to Wing: A 10-Month Watch Delivers a Polyphemus Moth
A Portland gardener discovers a neon-green polyphemus moth caterpillar in her yard, watches it form a cocoon in a planter, and after a ten-month wait the moth emerges—a female with a six-inch wingspan—before flying away.
Aerial ambush: about 20 snakes pluck fish from a stream in rare footage
Footage shows around 20 snakes lined along a stream ledge and catching fish midair, a rare and striking display of aerial ambush predation.
Rhino Charges: Short Bursts at Top Speed and How to Evade
Rhinos are massive but surprisingly fast over short distances: white rhinos top about 40 mph, black rhinos 35 mph, and Sumatran rhinos around 25 mph, though they tire after a few hundred meters. For people facing a charge, the practical advice is to avoid the encounter, use a solid obstacle to block the animal’s view, or, if unblocked, run in a zig-zag since rhinos struggle to pivot quickly; sometimes a calm, stationary stance can deter a bluffing charge. In short, outrunning a rhino isn’t realistic, but quick thinking and distance can improve your odds.
Glacier National Park records first fatal bear attack since 1998
A hiker in Glacier National Park, Montana, is believed killed after a bear encounter, likely the park's first fatal bear attack since 1998; the body was found near the Mount Brown trail as investigators assess ongoing bear activity in the area.