The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

The Oregon Zoo is recruiting volunteers to seek out one of the Columbia River Gorge’s cutest residents this summer: the American pika.

State wants public’s help in tracking pikas

July 5, 2024, 7:45am Life

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking the public’s help in tracking pikas — the small, hamster-like mammals related to rabbits. Read story

Dogs wait to exit Veterans Barrington Park in April 1 in Brentwood, Calif.

How to recognize pet-adoption red flags, scams

July 5, 2024, 6:16am Life

Local animal shelters have plenty of dogs waiting for new homes, but if you choose to adopt from a private rescue group, it helps to do some homework first. Read story

A bear wanders back into the forest near homes in Nederland, Colorado, in 2020. (Helen H.

Colorado man shoots charging bear

July 5, 2024, 6:14am Life

A man recently killed a bear in a Colorado mountain town while fearing for his life. Here’s what Colorado Parks and Wildlife had to say about whether or not that killing was justified. Read story

Puppies play with enrichment items at the San Diego Humane Society on June 20 in San Diego, Calif.

Middle school class learns about accessibility design, creates products for ailing pets

July 5, 2024, 6:14am Life

A braille-inscribed video game controller for a blind student. A splint for a cat or dog with an injured leg. An acorn that can be filled with seeds for a bird to reach with a broken beak. Read story

A capybara at the Cape May County Zoo eats bamboo leaves for a midday treat.

Young capybara arrives at Fla. zoo

July 5, 2024, 6:13am Life

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A female capybara has arrived at a Florida zoo as part of a breeding program to bolster the population of the large South American rodents. Read story

A white-tailed ptarmigan moulting into winter plumage.

Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan listed as threatened by climate change

July 3, 2024, 8:22am Northwest

The Mount Rainier white-tailed ptarmigan — found atop the Cascades from Canada to southern Washington — is officially listed as a threatened species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday. Read story

This bank of lights on the east side of the ilani hotel has been adding light pollution to the sky near the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, endangering migratory birds. After complaints from neighbors, ilani management has promised to dim the lights overnight.

ilani hotel’s bright lights a bad path for birds flying to Clark County bird sanctuaries

July 2, 2024, 6:08am Business

As the crow flies, it’s 2 miles between sister bird sanctuaries in Clark County: the 314-acre La Center Bottoms and the 5,200-acre Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. Read story

Officers kill 3 coyotes at San Francisco Botanical Garden after attack on 5-year-old girl

July 1, 2024, 5:22pm Life

Wildlife officers shot and killed three coyotes at the San Francisco Botanical Garden over the weekend after a coyote attacked a 5-year-old girl, authorities said Monday. Read story

James Pelletier holds his dog, Lilly, at his Seattle home on June 30, 2023. Pelletier has tried new methods to help Lilly get through the stress of July Fourth fireworks, including placing sound-dulling foam over a basement window and playing loud recorded synthesizer sounds in an attempt to drown out the fireworks sounds.

Dealing with dogs’ Fourth of July dread

July 1, 2024, 4:45pm Life

Rori Chang will be spending Fourth of July watching action movies from the comfort of her Glendale, Ariz., home, perhaps something from Marvel or a John Wick flick. But it’s not for her. It’s for her golden retriever, Ava. Read story