Wild Things
The weird and wonderful in the natural world
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
- Animals
‘If you build it they will come’ fails for turtle crossings
Turtles and snakes barely used an ecopassage built to make their movements safer. Scientists blame poor fencing that failed to keep them off the roadway.
- Animals
Conservationists should make friends with hunters
A survey of outdoor enthusiasts in rural New York finds that both hunters and birdwatchers are likely to engage in conservation behaviors, such as donating money.
- Animals
Evidence of ‘yeti’ probably came from a Himalayan black bear
Last year, a genetic analysis revealed two hairs from an unknown species of bear in Asia. A new study finds that they belong to rare Himalayan black bears.
- Animals
Getting stabbed is no fun for land snails
When hermaphroditic land snails mate, they stab each other with “love darts.” But being darted comes at a price, a new study finds.
- Animals
Flowers make the menu for nearly all Galapagos birds
Almost every species of Galapagos land bird has been found feeding on the nectar and pollen of flowers. Such an expansion of diet has never before been observed.
- Animals
How a young praying mantis makes a precision leap
Videos of juvenile praying mantises flying through the air reveal how the insects manage to always make a perfect landing.
- Animals
Insects may undermine trees’ ability to store carbon
Insects eat more leaves on trees grown in carbon dioxide-rich environments than those grown without the extra CO2. That may undermine forests as carbon sinks in the future.
- Animals
Delicate spider takes down tough prey by attacking weak spots
The Loxosceles gaucho recluse spider can take down a heavily armored harvestman by attacking its weak spots, a new study reveals.
- Animals
Where an ant goes when it’s gotta go
Scientists found black garden ants defecating in certain spots inside their nests. The researchers say these spots serve as ant toilets.
- Animals
Five surprising animals that play
No one is shocked to find playful behavior in a cat, dog or other mammal. But scientists have documented play in plenty of other species, including reptiles and insects.
- Animals
Cliff swallow breeding thwarted by bird version of bedbugs
A 30-year study of cliff swallows in Nebraska finds that the birds will abandon nests, rather than have a second brood, when their homes are infested with swallow bugs.
- Animals
Fertile hermit crabs turn shy
Male hermit crabs that aren’t carrying much sperm are bolder than their more fertile brethren, a new study finds.
