Author Archives: ursusrising

Fire ants (Family Solenopsis) are troublesome ants in much of the United States. They have medically significant bites and stings and are a destructive invasive species. Recently, the discovery of Sicilian fire ants has the authorities of Italy worried. According to the Guardian the ants so far appear to be confined to about 12 acresContinue reading “Sicilian Fire Ants Found, Newcomers May Colonize Island With Some Bad Results”

The United States is increasingly urban and wild lands are shrinking. But wildlife still exists and some thrive. Abundant deer, for example, can be found everywhere in the country. According to A-Z Animals the national population is estimated to be up to 36 million. That is nearly as many as the number of people inContinue reading “Abundant Deer Roam The United States Despite Predators, Winter, Traffic And Hunting”

Visitors to Yellowstone National Park are treated to the chance to see one of the nation’s best and best protected bison herds. But Yellowstone bison face challenges even diligent park staff can’t save them from. These include wolves and harsh winters. But enough Yellowstone bison survive the winters to spark some debate on managing theContinue reading “Yellowstone Bison Survive Harsh Winter But Numbers Are Way Down Due To Deaths In The Cold”

Researchers have developed a more accurate estimate of the number of cougars (Puma concolor) who share California with more that 39 millions people. The new best estimate is that 4,500 cougars can be found roaming close to us. According to CapRadio the research is brand new and likely won’ be published for about a year.Continue reading “4,500 Cougars Call California Home, New, More Accurate Study Concludes”

There is little doubt that European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are a non-native (invasive) species in the United States. They have long been associated indirectly with Shakespeare “fanatics.” But are Shakespeare’s starlings the Iago of the American world? Some now cast doubt on that belief. According to History.com starlings are villains on a list that includesContinue reading “Are Shakespeare’s Starlings Invasive Villains Or Merely Misunderstood Players In An Ecological Drama?”

How to control the booming and expanding Burmese python population in Florida and the American southeast is a problem confounding scientists. Alligators versus pythons seems to be one natural hope for partial control. A new study suggests that alligators eat pythons at most life stages. According to Yahoo News a new alligators versus pythons studyContinue reading “Alligators Versus Pythons; Study Shows ‘Gators And Other Creatures Chow Down On Baby Pythons”

In 1959 a Russian scientist began experiments in domesticating foxes as an inquiry into the mechanics of domestication of animals. Today, the institute he founded continues to operate and if one qualifies they can obtain domesticated foxes for $8,000 each. Of course the idea of domesticated foxes raises many ethical and other questions. Is theContinue reading “Domesticated Foxes Offer A Peek Into The Often Ugly World Of Exotic Pets”

The Nashville Zoo has recently announced the birth of three Sumatran tigers, and biologists are excited about the new triplets. The three Sumatran tigers are exciting because Sumatran tigers(Panthera tigris sondaica) are rare and threatened. They are the last remaining tigers in the region as the tigers in Java and Bali were declared extinct. BaliContinue reading “Three Sumatran Tigers Born At Nashville Zoo, Cubs Are A Bright Spot In The Big Cat’s Future”

The endangered Spanish lynx (Lynx pardinus) are one of the most, if not the most, endangered felines on Earth. Their numbers have been rising, and they are being reintroduced to other parts of the Iberian Peninsula. The good news is that they are now considered endangered rather than critically endangered. According to Reuters five IberianContinue reading “Endangered Spanish Lynx Released In New Part Of Spain In Attempt To Expand Range”

The scope of the threat posed by invasive species is something like the forest versus the trees analogy. It is easy to focus on the specific threat and miss the broad picture. Apparently invasive species threaten Earth’s entire eco-system. According to New Scientist the threat is very large indeed. Some estimates place the number ofContinue reading “Invasive Species Threaten Wildlife, People And Crops According To New Study”