The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

This handout photo released by the Smithsonian's National Zoo shows a new 6-week old, still-unnamed, baby boy panda, born Aug. 21, 2020 at the zoo.

It’s a boy! National Zoo reveals baby panda gender

October 5, 2020, 8:50am Life

The National Zoo has confirmed that their 6-week old baby panda is a boy. Read story

A grey seal swims in Casco Bay, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, off Portland, Maine. Seals, especially grey seals, are being blamed for attracting sharks and for stealing from commercial fishermen. Critics say the increased seal population will hurt the economy and scare off tourists. (AP Photo/Robert F.

Conservation success or pests? Seals spark passionate debate

October 5, 2020, 7:50am Life

Nick Muto has fished up and down the New England coast and there is nothing that gets his blood boiling more than the sight of a seal. Read story

An owl is caught in some decorative Halloween cobwebs outside of a residence in Mill Valley, Calif.

Halloween decorations can be scary trick for wildlife

October 3, 2020, 6:05am Life

Fake cobwebs and some other spooky, outdoor Halloween decorations meant as harmless fun can do real damage to wildlife. Read story

Post-wildfire, animals such as these alpacas sheltering at a boarding site in Spring Valley, Calif., during the Valley fire, need extra care and attention.

Animals’ health care a post-wildfire priority

October 2, 2020, 6:02am Life

While the Valley fire that destroyed dozens of homes and took the lives of many animals in Alpine and Jamul this month may be but a memory for many, damage from that and other wildfires has lasting impact. Read story

Researchers attach cameras to Pacific Northwest orcas, revealing a marvelous underwater world

September 27, 2020, 2:20pm Northwest

For nearly a month the team has been at sea, marveling at the prowess of southern and northern resident killer whales as they follow the orcas’ foraging rounds, using a drone and stick-on cameras to record the daily lives of orcas, even underwater. Read story

In this undated photo issued by the PDSA, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, Cambodian landmine detection rat, Magawa is photographed wearing his PDSA Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, in Siem, Cambodia. A British animal charity has on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, for the first time awarded its top civilian honor to a rat, recognizing the rodent for his "lifesaving bravery and devotion" in searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia.

Giant rat wins animal hero award for sniffing out landmines

September 25, 2020, 8:38am Life

A rat has for the first time won a British charity’s top civilian award for animal bravery, receiving the honor for searching out unexploded landmines in Cambodia. Read story

Families are treated to performances along with the chance to interact with the animals at a petting zoo operated by circus woman Jenny Walker of Wimauma, Fla.

Florida circus family retools to survive pandemic

September 25, 2020, 6:00am Life

Jenny Walker has always been a circus performer. She is an acrobat and animal trainer. She has traveled the country dozens of times and belongs to a family that has run circuses for five generations. Read story

Keep your dog on a leash to prevent interactions that may result in wildlife being maimed or killed.

6 reasons to keep your dog leashed on trail

September 25, 2020, 6:00am Life

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Hiking trail leash laws seem to be some of the most obviously ignored rules in the outdoors. While Fido might seem to enjoy leaping through the wild without a restraint, this poses a number of risks to your pet, the environment, and other people on the… Read story

Tahlequah, the mother orca J35, clings to her calf in an eighth day of mourning as she swam in Swanson Channel, British Columbia on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Tahlequah recently gave birth a male calf.

It’s a boy: Tahlequah’s baby orca is frolicking, healthy

September 24, 2020, 12:30pm Life

Tahlequah’s new calf is a male, the Center for Whale Research has confirmed. Read story

Sniffer dogs named K'ssi, left and Miina react with trainer Susanna Paavilainen at the Helsinki airport in Vantaa, Finland, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020. Four corona sniffer dogs are trained to detect the Covid-19 virus from the arriving passengers samples at the airport.

Finland deploys coronavirus-sniffing dogs at main airport

September 23, 2020, 8:39am Nation & World

Finland has deployed coronavirus-sniffing dogs at the Nordic country’s main international airport in a four-month trial of an alternative testing method that could become a cost-friendly and quick way to identify infected travelers. Read story