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Think Otter Poop Is Gross? It’s Actually the Key to Saving Chesapeake Bay’s Apex Predator
Biologists and ecologists have long wished to gather high-quality data on exactly what the animals they study are eating, but…
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These Solitary Geckos Were Caught Defending Each Other on Camera
Geckos are known as solitary creatures, but according to some scientists, these little guys look out for one another. As…
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What Happens When You Poke Sleeping Black Shield Hornets?
Many people are terrified of hornets, and for good reason—their potent, painful stings are extremely unpleasant and provide ample reason…
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This Mandarin Duck Looks Like It Was Painted by Hand
What do Wilson’s bird-of-paradise, the red-necked tanager, and the keel-billed toucan all have in common? They are all beautifully colored…
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Can 15 Calves Save the North Atlantic Right Whale Population?
North Atlantic right whales are at a breaking point. Because of this, 2026 is a “make-or-break” year for the whales.…
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First Look: Smithsonian National Zoo’s Newest Arrivals
For the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute (NZCBI), Christmas came early in 2025. Zookeepers were delighted to welcome…
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From Ground Nest to Sky Giant: The Albatross Growth Curve
Albatrosses are some of the largest birds in the world. While they might be smaller in height and size than…
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Will These Vulnerable Wildlife Species Survive 2026?
Every year, scientists around the world continue to discover new plants, animals, and mammals in the far corners of our…
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The Best Children’s Books to Help Kids Cope With the Loss of a Pet
Many of us have experienced the loss of a pet. It’s a feeling that words can hardly capture—horrendous, often surprisingly…
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This Texas Cave Has Been Home to Bats for More Than 10,000 Years
Every evening, millions of bats swarm out of a single cave in Texas, making it one of the most stunning…
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From Pest to Pride: How the Coyote Became South Dakota’s State Animal
An animal once considered a pest with a bounty on its head managed to become the official state animal of…
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The Andes’ Living Cloud: How the Chinchilla’s “Super Fur” Redefines Survival
Cute and cuddly, the chinchilla is an adorable resident of the Andes Mountains, which it calls home. A member of…
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The Smartest Animals on Earth Will Amaze You
Which animals on earth are the most intelligent? Watch this video to discover the smartest animals on the planet. You…
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California’s Urban Wilds: What’s Driving Snakes and Chameleons to Conquer New Ground?
California’s diverse climate and sprawling urban areas have made the western state an unexpected hotspot for non-native reptiles. A growing…
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Elephants Are Worshipped as Gods—But Their Sacred Status Doesn’t Always Protect Them
The elephant is an important part of many religions. Elephants play a central role in Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions…
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Why Ravens Were Once Thought to Possess Hidden Knowledge
“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil!—prophet still, if bird or devil!—Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,Desolate…
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Why Your Dog’s Nose Was Once the Key to Its Identity
Humans, for decades, have used our own fingerprints as a biometric for identification purposes. Whether it’s for police investigations or…
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Why Some Lizards Grow Two Tails—And What It Reveals About Regeneration
Lizards have amazing regeneration abilities. When in danger, they may purposefully lose their tail, only for it to regrow later.…
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Antifreeze in Their Veins: How Spiders Outlast Winter’s Deep Freeze
Cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions are bad news for most animals, including spiders. But these creatures aren’t entirely helpless…
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No Snakes in Alaska? The Myth That Nature Proves True
Are There Snakes in Alaska? The short answer is no. Alaska does not have any native snakes, nor does it…
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Entangled and Isolated: How Dams and Nets Corner Endangered Dolphins
There are around 40 species of dolphins alive today. They are found all over the world and live in both freshwater…
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This Cute Songbird Survives Winter by Eating Other Animals’ Brains
The great tit (Parus major) is the picture-perfect garden bird. With its colorful feathers and melodic, two-note whistle, it is…
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The Pebble Ritual: Inside the Secret Cultural World of British Columbia’s Killer Whales
Recently, people have spotted killer whales engaging in some unique behavior. They are rubbing their bellies along the rocks that…
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Even Brainless Jellyfish Sleep—and It May Explain Why You Need Rest Too
Sleep is one of life’s most universal behaviors. Despite its ubiquity, it’s also one of the most mysterious. Humans spend…
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Why You Can Hunt Unlimited Rabbits in One State—and Almost None in Another
Rabbit hunting season regulations vary greatly by state and local wildlife management organizations. Daily bag limits change each year and…
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The Heaviest Parrot Can’t Fly—But Its Strangest Secret Isn’t What You Think
When you think of birds, you might imagine wings flapping silently against a blue sky. The kākāpō, however, lacks these…
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Discover the Fastest Animals on Earth
The world’s fastest animals will undoubtedly include the speedy cheetah – but there are many other fast creatures on the…
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This Massive Whale Once Fueled Massachusetts and Now Depends on It to Survive
For Massachusetts, the North Atlantic right whale represents more than a large animal moving through offshore waters. It reflects how…
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This Frozen Mammoth Changed What Scientists Thought About Ancient RNA
Ancient DNA has been pulled from a permafrost-preserved woolly mammoth found in Siberia, and scientists are thrilled. They recovered and…
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Discover the Deadliest Snake on Every Continent on Earth
Snakes have adapted to nearly every continent on Earth, thriving in a range of habitats, from steaming rainforests to arid…
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Why Opossums Reproduce in One of the Weirdest Ways in the Animal Kingdom
Two wombs, a forked penis, and giving birth through the nose. These are just a few of the bizarre stories…
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Rattlesnakes Slither Through Every State—Except These Four
Rattlesnakes are an iconic part of the American landscape, especially in the deserts of the Southwest, as well as the…
Video
Discover Five Bears Bigger Than Grizzlies
When thinking of monstrous bears, the grizzly immediately comes to mind. Grizzlies are among the largest bear species, up to…
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The Surprising Reason Mother Rabbits Leave and Hide Their Babies
Rabbits make amazing pets, but in the wild, they are intelligent and cunning animals. As mothers, they go to great…
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Ambush or Be Ambushed: How the Peacock Flounder’s Eyes Gamble with Danger
The ocean is full of creatures so vastly different from land animals. Their appearance and anatomy are unique in many…
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12-Inch Spans and Invisible Spears: The Deadly Evolution of Venezuela’s Giants
Venezuela is on the northern coast of South America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea. Its diverse geography includes the Andes…
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What Happens When a 500-Year-Old Blood Sport Collides With Modern Animal Rights?
Animal blood sports are a tradition in many different cultures and societies globally; however, their morality has been subject to…
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AI Collars and Cameras Could Catch Pet Health Crises Before You Do
The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES for short) is the place to be right now if you’re in tech, and…
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One Mountain, One Mammal: What Pushes Attenborough’s Echidna to the Edge—Again
A heartwarming rediscovery has been made on the world’s largest tropical island. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus attenboroughi) has made an…
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Meet Nature’s Greatest Builders: How Beavers Engineer Entire Ecosystems
Beavers are semi-aquatic mammals, widely renowned for their remarkable abilities in building dams and lodges made of branches, twigs, tree…
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A Giant Pumpkin Is the Perfect Treat for a Polar Bear
Deep in the rural land of Northern Ontario, you’ll find a very special place. With 24 acres of undisturbed land,…
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How Do Blind Ants Overwhelm Prey Larger Than Themselves?
As individuals, driver ants are small and relatively insignificant creatures. But as a colony, they transform into a huge and…
Video
Cobra vs Cottonmouth: Which Snake is the Deadliest?
How does the Cobra compare to the Cottonmouth? One is the largest venomous snake on the planet – both deliver…
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Crocodile vs Komodo Dragon- Which Apex Predator Would Win in a Fight?
In one corner – we have the vicious Komodo dragon, armed with toxic breath and ruthless power. In the other…
Video
Watch This Strange Snake Pretend to be a Zombie
Fans of The Walking Dead will enjoy discovering a snake behaving like the slithering dead with its strange post-hibernation zombie…
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Rams Clash for 24 Hours: The Brutal Ritual Behind Nevada’s Wild Survivor
It’s no surprise that a state as unique and fascinating as Nevada chose an equally exceptional animal as its symbol.…
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Bison Bones to Barbed Wire: What Really Replaced the Great Herds?
Nebraska never named the plains bison as its official state mammal, yet this large grazer remains central to the state’s…
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How Shark DNA Preserves Razor-Sharp Eyesight Over Hundreds of Years
The longest living vertebrate on Earth may have a thing or two to teach us about maintaining our eyesight into…
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Delisted, Hunted, Still at Risk: The Unfinished Battle Over Louisiana’s State Mammal
Louisiana prides itself on an abundance of wildlife, from alligators moving through bayous to herons lifting from marsh grass, but…
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How Cockroach Grooming Rivals Human Hygiene in the Fight for Survival
Though we know them to be dirty insects, cockroaches are actually incredible self-groomers. In fact, their grooming behavior helps keep…