This Menacing Insect Has Been Eliminated from U.S. Soil

Illegally Owned Spider Monkey Escapes Owner and Loiters Around Texas Neighborhood

A spider monkey was caught running around a San Antonio suburb in a diaper. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found the monkey climbing fences and jumping from roof to roof. The monkey belonged to an owner outside the area, to whom the officers returned the primate.

However, owning a spider monkey in Texas is against state legislation, causing concern among neighbors. “People will do what they’re gonna do to get an animal that’s not legal here,” said neighborhood resident Margarita Iubio. “It was just a sad thing to see him running around loose and kind of scared.” Other neighbors described the situation as “concerning” and worried for themselves and the monkey’s safety. Officials issued the proper citations for the illegal ownership of a spider monkey, holding the owners responsible.

Bird Flu Cause for State of Emergency in California

An avian influenza outbreak among California cattle has resulted in a state of emergency declaration. Officials detected bird flu in dairy cows at more than 600 farms across California. Animals that contract bird flu experience severe stress and risk contaminating the remainder of the herd. Dairy farms keep cattle in cramped, often inhumane, conditions, which increase the rate of disease spread among individuals. Additionally, bird flu can spread to humans, resulting in many symptoms, including death. While no Californian has yet contracted bird flu through person-to-person contact, officials remain wary of the disease’s spread, especially post-COVID-19. Find out more about bird flu and its effect on human health here.

Murder Hornet Officially Eliminated from the United States

According to the Washington Department of Agriculture, the murder hornet has officially been eradicated from U.S. soil. Also known as the northern giant hornet, the murder hornet is aggressive and frequently destroys beehives. Its sting is incredibly painful and dangerous to humans. First spotted in the United States in 2019, the murder hornet had become invasive, threatening native species, pollinators, and agriculture.

The Washington Agriculture Department worked diligently to eradicate hornets’ nests from the state. The hard work paid off, as a northern giant hornet has not appeared in three years, marking its official departure from the U.S. The department continues to take precautions, setting up murder hornet traps for future use in 2025. Find out more about murder hornets and the dangers they pose here.