Wildlife

Mushrooms don’t typically grow on living flesh. That’s why scientists were so astonished to find a mushroom growing out of the side of a frog similar to the one seen in the image at the top of the page. Lohit Y.T., a river and wetlands specialist with World Wildlife Fund-India, and a group of friends made the discovery.Lohit says that the group of five was searching for amphibians and reptiles in the foothills of the Western Ghats in India when they realized that a tiny mushroom was growing from the side of one…

The global outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) presents a critical challenge, threatening swine populations, food security, and socio-ecological systems, particularly in vulnerable communities. Urgent action and a shift in global priorities are essential to address the underrecognized impacts of ASF on global health and conservation. Credit: Graham UsherAfrican Swine Fever is causing widespread devastation in the forests and communities of Borneo.A virulent and highly infectious virus is rapidly spreading among domestic…

An elephant, Loxodonta africana, throws dirt into the air in the tall grass of the savanna. Credit: Jeffrey T. KerbyA new meta-analysis across six continents establishes that large wild herbivores affect ecosystems in numerous important ways, from soils to vegetation to smaller animals, and promote ecosystem variability.For millions of years, a variety of large herbivores, or megafauna, influenced terrestrial ecosystems. Among many others, these included elephants in Europe, giant wombats in Australia, and ground sloths…

We can never get enough of beautiful wildlife/animal photos; therefore, today, we are sharing the winners and some of the nominees of 2023 selected by the Fine Art Photography Awards.In this selection, you will get to see shots that were submitted to the professional category. Photographers have shared their work either as a series of two or more images or as singles. If you'd like to see the full series of the winners and nominees below, make sure to visit the FAPA page for more.This post also serves as a reminder that…

Male phenotypes in the ruff. (Left) Independent ruff males interacting at a lek. (Right) A Satellite ruff male with pale ornamental feathers at a lek. Credit: Photos courtesy of Tom Schandy.In the colorful world of avian courtship, the ruff (Calidris pugnax) is in a league of its own. These medium-sized sandpipers breed in the marshes and wet meadows throughout Eurasia. The males are particularly noted for their unique approaches to courtship, which range from flamboyant territorial displays to cunning mimicry.These…

Chad Dupuis has worked for Alberta Parks since 2017. He says living and working in the forest had let him become complacent about the wildlife who make the woods their home. (Submitted by Chad Dupuis)This First Person column is by Chad Dupuis who lives in Slave Lake, Alta. For more information about CBC's First Person stories, please see the FAQ.The day had been hot with the sun beating down. It was Sunday, our busiest day of the week at Carson Pegasus Provincial Park, the Alberta park where I'd worked as the maintenance…

Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a method to protect plants from herbivorous mammals by using artificial odors that mimic the smell of plants these animals avoid. This strategy, proven to reduce the likelihood of plant consumption by 20 times, offers a humane and cost-effective alternative to traditional protective measures, with potential applications in conservation and agriculture worldwide. Credit: SciTechDaily.comA novel approach by the University of Sydney utilizes artificial scents to deter…

A potential newborn great white shark has been spotted, marking a rare and significant discovery in shark science. This observation could provide key insights into the birthing habits and conservation of these endangered species. Newborn great white, filmed off the California coast near Santa Barbara. Credit: Carlos Gauna/The Malibu ArtistFootage could potentially resolve a long-standing mystery in shark science.Great white sharks, known as the world’s largest predatory fish and notorious for the highest number of deadly…

Cicadas are somewhat bothersome creatures. They spend 13 to 17 years (depending on the brood) in the ground, eating away at the sugar found in the roots of trees. Then, after those years have passed, they emerge, grow wings, and make a ton of noise as they repopulate for a few weeks. The 2024 cicada broods are expected to emerge in spring, and this map can give you a good idea of where to expect these broods to show up.Cicadas are mostly found on the eastern coast of the United States, though they can stretch as…

Some say that children and animals are the most difficult subjects to take pictures of (unless they’re sleeping, of course). That’s arguably true for many reasons, a couple of which are that they often just can’t stand still and don’t respond well to the photographer asking them to do so.Today, we have prepared a list of beaaaautiful pictures of one of the two—animals, as shared on the ‘Crap wildlife photography’ Facebook group. Covering all sorts of scenarios, from the wild beings unable to stand still for a moment, to…