The Columbian

Pets & Wildlife

Ahpun strolls around her cage Sept. 5, 2012, at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska. A federal appeals court says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service followed the law when it designated more than 187,000 square miles as critical habitat for threatened polar bears.

Court upholds polar bear habitat

February 29, 2016, 7:04pm Nation & World

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service followed the law when it designated more than 187,000 square miles -- an area larger than California -- as critical habitat for threatened polar bears in Alaska marine waters and its northern coast, an appeals court ruled Monday. Read story

Fleur de Lys Healy, 85, visits the Orange County Animal Shelter at least once a week, every week, to look for her missing cat.

Lost cat drives woman to help other felines

February 26, 2016, 5:59am Life

Once and sometimes twice a week, 85-year-old Fleur de Lys Healy searches the Orange County animal shelter for her lost cat. Read story

Dogs have adapted to handle our ill tempers

February 26, 2016, 5:14am Life

Man's best friend has a clear strategy for dealing with angry owners -- look away. Read story

Donor accuses Columbia Humane Society of misusing money

February 25, 2016, 11:14am Northwest

A donor to the Columbia Human Society has filed a lawsuit against the nonprofit after he earmarked a donation for an onsite spay and neuter clinic that was never built. Read story

Atlantic puffins congregate near their burrows Aug. 1, 2014, on Eastern Egg Rock, a small island off the coast of Maine. Scientists say they have cracked the code about where Maine's beloved, colorful Atlantic puffins go in the winter.

Scientists may have solved puffin mystery

February 25, 2016, 10:25am Life

Researchers say they've found an answer to the long-standing question of where Maine's Atlantic puffins spend the winter: far off New Jersey and New York. Read story

In this Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 photo, Sean McDonough leaves Macaroni Grill in South Portland, Maine, after eating lunch with his service dog Bruno at his side. McDonough suffered brain injuries in a car crash in 2008 and depends on Bruno to keep him calm in public settings. When McDonough is stressed, Bruno will lean against him. ?Businesses are so fed up with the fakes that those of us with legitimate service dogs are being scrutinized and discriminated against,? McDonough said.

Fake service animals focus of effort

February 24, 2016, 6:02am Health

AUGUSTA, Maine -- People who falsely pass off their pets as service animals -- think of the woman in Wisconsin last year who claimed the right bring her kangaroo into McDonald's -- have frustrated people with legitimate needs to such an extent that legislators in several states are considering laws… Read story

California condors reach key survival milestone in the wild

February 23, 2016, 12:47pm Nation & World

A captive breeding program that once included every living California condor has passed a key milestone in helping North America's largest bird return to the wild. Read story

A golden retriever looks over the half door entrance of the grooming room at Happy Paws in Washington. Golden retrievers are the third most popular purebred dog according to the latest American Kennel Club rankings.

Labrador retrievers still America’s top dog

February 23, 2016, 6:01am Life

Labrador retrievers still reign supreme after a quarter-century as America's most prevalent purebred dog. But French bulldogs are riding their je ne sais quoi toward new heights, and some lesser-known breeds are climbing the popularity ladder, according to American Kennel Club rankings released Monday. Here's a look at how breeds… Read story