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Here at Wild Animal News we have been talking often about feral hogs and the damage they cause. What I didn’t realize is exactly how big they can get: The answer is titanic tuskers (Sus scrofa) can reach the size of a grizzly bear (Ursos arctos horribilis). An average pig weighs around 250 pounds, aContinue reading “Texans Tackle Titanic Tuskers; Feral Pigs Reach The Size Of Grizzly Bears”

Researchers in Japan have found three new species of bristle worms. They are calling them “Demon Fire” worms because the researchers believe they resemble demons from Japanese folklore. They also are luminescent which adds to their supernatural appearance. The new worms are part of a large family called Polychaetes. In general the worms are scavengersContinue reading ““Demon Fire “Worms Discovered Off Japan; So Named Because Of Their Shape And “Spooky” Glow”

I was unaware until recently of poisonous birds. In fact, their existence is still little known to much of the public. A dozen or so exist around the world and two more have recently been discovered in Papua, New Guinea. That giant island is home to many of the known poisonous bird species. The birdsContinue reading “Nature’s “Arms Race”: Scientists Discover Two New Species Of Poisonous Birds In Papua, New Guinea”

Mistaken introduction of non-native species is causing incredible damage all over the world. We recently profiled Canadian “Super Pigs,” and reported on Texas and its struggles with fire ants and feral hogs. Colombia is wrestling with introduced hippos. Much has been written about Burmese pythons in Florida. Today the problem is Asian swamp eels. NowContinue reading “Invasive Species Alert: Asian Swamp Eels In Florida May Rival Burmese Pythons In Sheer Destuctive Power”

It has always been assumed that wolves are the ancestors of domestic dogs. But now it seems that extinct Japanese wolves might have been the closest of all the 23 or so subspecies of Canis lupus to our house pets. There is disagreement about the exact number of wolf subspecies. As we have noted withContinue reading “Extinct Japanese Wolves May Be Closest Ancestor To Domestic Dogs”

Sand cats (felis margarita) are extraordinary They are one of the smallest cats, under 8 pounds, the only cat living exclusively in desert and one of the least studied (partly because of where they live.) Now tiny Moroccan sand cats have been the subject of a recent study. The results have wide implications. The studyContinue reading “Extensive Study Of Tiny Moroccan Sand Cats Reveals New Behaviors And May Sound Conservation Alarm”

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) says “Bird Flu” killed two cougars and a bobcat, but the agency does not think the disease poses a major threat to the state’s population of large felines. Bird Flu “Avian influenza” is a serious threat to birds and now it appears to be one more threatContinue reading “Officials Say Bird Flu Killed Two Cougars, But Don’t Think The Big Cat’s Population Is In Serious Danger”

It is not what it sounds, but the Corsican Cat Fox may well be the latest subspecies of wildcat to be recognized by science. Altthough the name suggests some sort or science fiction species inbreeding that is not the case. Corsican Cat – foxes are a wildcat that superficially resembles a fox. They have aContinue reading “DNA Study May Soon Identify New Wildcat Subspecies: Behold The “Corsican Cat-Fox””

“Robot Monster Wolves” may put you in mind of a 1950’s drive-in feature. But they exist and the purpose is to frten animals, not Japan, the country that gave the world Godzilla (1955) Rodan (1956) and Monster Zero (1970) has actually created Robot Monster Wolves . The wolves have been in service since 2016, TheyContinue reading “Extinction Meets Technology: Japan Rolls Out Robot “Monster Wolves” To Deter Bears And Other Wildlife While Debate About Reintroducing Real Wolves Continues”

Recently we have been writing about Sika deer and the future of tissue regeneration. Japanese Sika deer are growing in number, in part because their chief predator, Japanese wolves, have been declared extinct. But will there be a wolf reintroduction in Japan? Many animal lovers will not take “No!” for an answer. Especially when itContinue reading “Japan Wolf Reintroduction: Cryptozoology Meets Activism, Are Japanese Wolves Actually Extinct? If So Will Japan Bring Some Back?”