Hacker News with Generative AI: Wildlife

The Hole Story: How Woodpeckers Make Homes for the Rest of the Forest (allaboutbirds.org)
Woodpecker nest holes are valuable pieces of real estate that may be used by hundreds of other species over many years. Researchers are using the concept of "nest webs" to understand how this valuable resource passes from one owner to the next.
Wildlife, Ecology, Research, Birds
4 points by hn_acker 5 days ago | 0 comments
'Don't call it zombie deer disease': infections spread across the US and globe (theguardian.com)
The contagious, fatal illness in deer, elk and moose must be taken seriously, say experts as it takes hold in the US and reaches other countries. While it has not infected humans yet, the risk is growing
Wildlife, Diseases, Public Health, Science, Environmental Issues
9 points by mindracer 13 days ago | 2 comments
When Oregon blew up a whale with 20 cases of dynamite (2024) (katu.com)
Tuesday, November 12 denotes a remarkable day in Oregon history: 54 years since a dead whale was infamously blown up on a Florence beach, showering bystanders and cars with whale bits - and capturing the hearts and minds of the public.
History, Oregon, Wildlife, Accidents
83 points by gscott 15 days ago | 65 comments
Cougar cubs found in Michigan for first time in more than a century (mlive.com)
Michigan wildlife biologists confirmed a pair of endangered cougar cubs were spotted and photographed last week in the far reaches of the western Upper Peninsula.
Wildlife, Endangered Species, Michigan, Cougars
6 points by geox 18 days ago | 1 comments
Butterfly population in US shrinking by 22% over last 20 years, study shows (theguardian.com)
Butterflies may be among the most beloved of all creatures, routinely deified in art and verse, but they are in alarming decline in the United States with populations plummeting by a fifth in just the past two decades, according to the most comprehensive study yet of their fortunes.
Environmental Science, Wildlife, Entomology, Climate Change, Conservation
6 points by PaulHoule 19 days ago | 0 comments
Plastic pollution leaves seabirds with brain damage similar to Alzheimer's (theguardian.com)
Ingesting plastic is leaving seabird chicks with brain damage “akin to Alzheimer’s disease”, according to a new study – adding to growing evidence of the devastating impact of plastic pollution on marine wildlife.
Environmentalism, Science, Wildlife, Pollution, Health
6 points by pseudolus 20 days ago | 0 comments
US butterflies 'all in trouble' as their numbers rapidly decline, report finds (usatoday.com)
Over the past 20 years the U.S. butterfly population has declined 22%, a dramatic loss that has scientists concerned.
Environment, Science, Wildlife, Conservation, Entomology
7 points by rmason 26 days ago | 1 comments
Bird study finds larger volumes of toxic PFAS chemicals than previously reported (phys.org)
Researchers studying birds and the food they eat are now finding much larger volumes of the toxic PFAS chemicals than before.
Environmental Science, Chemistry, Wildlife, Pollution, PFAS
6 points by PaulHoule 27 days ago | 0 comments
Canada goose fights off bald eagle in rare, symbolism-laden battle on ice (theguardian.com)
Photographer captures 20-minute clash between birds emblematic of Canada and US amid high trade tensions
Wildlife, Photography, Canada, United States, Symbolism
12 points by saadatq 27 days ago | 2 comments
After 120 years, Yellowstone bison are a single breeding population (phys.org)
Researchers from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have discovered that bison in Yellowstone National Park—the only group of American bison that has continually existed as wildlife in the United States—now consist of a single large, interbreeding population derived from multiple historic bison herds.
Biology, Conservation, Wildlife
114 points by bikenaga 28 days ago | 63 comments
Farallon Islands live (and controllable) webcam (calacademy.org)
Explore the fabled Farallones via the islands' only webcam.
Webcams, Wildlife, California, Nature, Technology
19 points by kaycebasques 29 days ago | 16 comments
Drone captures narwhals using their tusks to explore, forage and play (phys.org)
The Arctic's iconic narwhal, renowned for its long, spiral tusk, is one of nature's most fascinating creatures. Yet, few have witnessed how these elusive animals use their tusks in the wild.
Animals, Arctic, Nature, Wildlife, Science
86 points by dnetesn 33 days ago | 17 comments
Captain 'lost for words' after witnessing a super pod of more than 2k dolphins (cbc.ca)
Tour boat workers spotted a super pod of more than 2,000 northern right whale dolphins in Monterey Bay, Calif.
Marine Life, Animals, California, Wildlife
47 points by petethomas 34 days ago | 11 comments
Bald eagles are thriving again after near extinction (newsweek.com)
The bald eagle, once teetering on the brink of extinction, has made a significant comeback in the United States.
Wildlife, Conservation, Environment, Endangered Species
292 points by geox 37 days ago | 200 comments
Penguins Help to Map Antarctica's Growing Mercury Threat (scientificamerican.com)
When Philip Sontag first visited Antarctica as a Ph.D. student, he brought back an unusual souvenir: a huge bag of penguin feathers.
Antarctica, Environmental Science, Mercury Pollution, Wildlife
10 points by Brajeshwar 42 days ago | 1 comments
Worst avian flu crisis ever recorded spreads across Antarctica (elpais.com)
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, which has caused the death of hundreds of millions of birds in the last five years around the world, is spreading across Antarctica, a pristine paradise for wildlife.
Avian Flu, Antarctica, Wildlife, Environmental Issues, Global Health
9 points by belter 44 days ago | 0 comments
The return of the buffalo is reviving portions of the ecosystem (nativesunnews.today)
“Bringing buffalo back to their ancestral homelands is essential to restoring the ecosystem.”~ Executive Director for Tanka Fund Dawn Sherman
Environment, Wildlife, Conservation
66 points by geox 51 days ago | 35 comments
Government planned it 7 years, beavers built a dam in 2 days and saved $1M (voxnews.al)
In the Czech Republic, beavers built a dam in two days, which local authorities had planned for 7 years.
Environmental Engineering, Wildlife, Government, Construction
229 points by croes 57 days ago | 129 comments
Nevada Ivanpah Solar Plant Accidentally Incinerates Up to 6k Birds a Year (2016) (sciencealert.com)
A rare and unusual type of solar power plant that concentrates sunlight in California is accidentally killing up to 6,000 birds every year, with staff reporting that the birds keep flying into its concentrated beams of sunlight, and spontaneously bursting into flames.
Solar Power, Environmental Impact, Accidents, Wildlife, Technology
36 points by walterbell 58 days ago | 57 comments
Spotted hyena found in Egypt for the first time in 5k years (phys.org)
A spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has been found in South Eastern Egypt, the first recorded instance of the creature in this region for thousands of years.
Wildlife, Egypt, Zoology
97 points by wglb 61 days ago | 54 comments
'Super pod' of 1,500 dolphins captured on video as they cavort off Cali coast (apnews.com)
A miles-long cluster of dolphins has been filmed leaping and gliding across Carmel Bay off the central coast of California, forming an unusual “super pod” of more than 1,500 of the marine creatures.
Animals, California, Marine Life, Wildlife
8 points by c420 64 days ago | 1 comments
A New Hampshire libertarian utopia was foiled by bears (2020) (vox.com)
Seriously, this happened. You should absolutely read about it.
Politics, Society, New Hampshire, Wildlife, Humor
11 points by Cyclone_ 70 days ago | 0 comments
One of four lynx captured in Scottish Highlands dies (theguardian.com)
One of the four lynx captured in the Scottish Highlands this week has died.
Wildlife, Scotland, Conservation
6 points by howard941 81 days ago | 0 comments
Bird Buddy Launches 'Wonder' Camera for Watching Insects (macrumors.com)
The creators of Bird Buddy, a camera-equipped bird feeder, today showed off two products that are designed for watching insects, flowers, birds, and other flora and fauna.
Wildlife, Technology, Photography, Birds
4 points by Tomte 85 days ago | 2 comments
Boy, 7, found alive five days after going missing in 'lion-infested' game park (news.sky.com)
A young boy has been found alive five days after going missing in a "lion-infested" game park in Zimbabwe, officials have said.
Missing Persons, Wildlife, Zimbabwe
21 points by austinallegro 87 days ago | 9 comments
Chlamydia could make koalas extinct. Can a vaccine save them in time? (bbc.com)
This hospital is ground zero of a grim chlamydia epidemic which is killing thousands of koalas and making even more sterile, pushing the national icons to the brink of extinction.
Wildlife, Conservation, Health, Australia, Extinction
6 points by peutetre 92 days ago | 0 comments
Seagulls were a factor in collapse of California's iconic Santa Cruz wharf (sfgate.com)
Weather, Wildlife, Infrastructure, California
9 points by bryan0 94 days ago | 1 comments
The bald eagle is officially America's national bird. Here's why it took so long (npr.org)
The bald eagle has been a symbol of the United States for centuries, with its iconography plastered across currency, documents, flags, stamps, government buildings, military uniforms and more.
History, National Symbols, United States, Wildlife
5 points by divbzero 97 days ago | 0 comments
Bird flu kills more than half the big cats at a Washington sanctuary (cnn.com)
Animal Health, Wildlife, Disease Outbreaks, Conservation
169 points by bikenaga 97 days ago | 58 comments
Big Cats Die from Bird Flu at a Washington Sanctuary (nytimes.com)
Twenty big cats, including a half-Bengal tiger and four cougars, died between late November and mid-December at a sanctuary in Washington State after becoming infected with bird flu, according to the facility’s director.
Animal Health, Wildlife, Bird Flu, Washington State
8 points by JumpCrisscross 98 days ago | 2 comments