The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

Dennis Meyer, left, smiles July 23 as Finlee gives a kiss to Diane Meyer at a park in Madison, N.J. Their visit was part of a program from the St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center that lets volunteers take dogs out on day trips for a few hours to give them a break from the stress of being in a shelter.

Shelter dogs go day-tripping with volunteers

August 9, 2024, 6:02am Life

The place where Finlee lives is nice enough: It’s clean, they feed and care for him well and there are always people to pet and scratch him. Read story

Portrait of a mountain lion in a Colorado pine meadow.

‘Staggering disease’ found in Colorado mountain lion

August 9, 2024, 6:01am Life

A wild animal was found struggling to stand and walk in a Colorado yard last summer — and biologists now know why, according to a new study. Read story

Yup Chuan the male Panda eats bamboo in front of the media at the San Diego Zoo prior to the opening of the new exhibit Panda Ridge, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in San Diego.

What’s black and white and fuzzy all over? It’s 2 giant pandas, debuting at San Diego Zoo

August 8, 2024, 3:07pm Life

California’s governor flew in for the young bears’ debut. Throngs of media gathered inside the zoo, while the city of San Diego warned of traffic jams ahead of the much-anticipated event Thursday. Read story

The topside of a female Photuris versicolor firefly is observed in a specimen bag at Cedar Bog Nature Preserve on Friday, July 5, 2024, in Urbana, Ohio. This firefly was released back into its habitat.

Summer fireflies threatening to dim

August 6, 2024, 6:00am Pets & Wildlife

DELAWARE SEASHORE STATE PARK, Del. — On a muggy July evening, Delaware state biologist Jason Davis is doing what kids have done for ages: Trying to catch a firefly. It’s nowhere near as easy as the summer evenings of his own childhood, with only a few in this large wetland… Read story

Yellow 2291 was tranquilized in Chatsworth, Calif., in May after a long trek down to Malibu, Calif., and relocated to Angeles National Forest by California wildlife officials.

Wandering bear makes way for crossings

August 6, 2024, 6:00am Pets & Wildlife

A bear taking the scenic route around Southern California may help researchers learn how wild animals cross freeways to get from one habitat to the next — and how they might be kept out of your backyard. Read story

Senate swoops in, centuries late, to name bald eagle national bird

August 5, 2024, 8:17am Pets & Wildlife

In the rush toward recess last week, the Senate moved to correct an oversight that many Americans might not even be aware of when lawmakers passed a bill to designate the bald eagle as the national bird. Read story

This gravely injured humpback whale was photographed in southern Rosario Striat on July 23. Its injury was probably caused by entanglement, most likely in fishing gear.

This humpback lost its tail — but swims on in Salish Sea

August 5, 2024, 6:04am Latest News

The first time she saw it, she wasn’t even sure what she was seeing. When she understood it was a humpback whale swimming without a tail, she still couldn’t believe it. Read story

A sea bird dives down to look at fish off of Wolf Island, Ecuador in the Galapagos on Monday, June 10, 2024.

The Galapagos Islands and many of their unique creatures are at risk from warming waters

August 5, 2024, 6:00am Life

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, Ecuador (AP) — Warm morning light reflects from the remains of a natural rock arch near Darwin Island, one of the most remote islands in the Galapagos. In clear, deep blue water, thousands of creatures — fish, hammerhead sharks, marine iguanas — move in search of food. Read story