Ukraine war: Russian shelling is taking a deadly toll on urban bats

Shelling may have led to the killing of 7,000 noctule bats in the city of Kharkiv alone

Eleanor Harrison, Lecturer in Ecology, Keele University • conversation
Sept. 29, 2023 ~7 min

By 'helping' wild animals, you could end their freedom or even their lives – here's why you should keep your distance

A newborn bison calf in Yellowstone National Park had to be euthanized after a visitor handled it in May 2023 – a recent example of how trying to help wild animals often harms them.

Julian Avery, Associate Research Professor of Wildlife Conservation, Penn State • conversation
June 30, 2023 ~11 min


'Clubbing a bunny to death is very effective but it sure does look bad': the inside stories of urban animal control

Here’s what determines if a problematic wild animal is saveable or cullable.

Erica von Essen, Associate Professor of Environmental Communication, Stockholm University • conversation
June 2, 2023 ~7 min

Coyotes are here to stay in North American cities – here's how to appreciate them from a distance

Urban coyotes prey on rodents and spread plant seeds. It’s OK to observe them from a distance, but then you should chase them off.

Mary Magnuson, Master's student in Environment and Resources, University of Wisconsin-Madison • conversation
Aug. 3, 2022 ~8 min

To protect wildlife from free-roaming cats, a zone defense may be more effective than trying to get every feline off the street

A new study shows that when free-ranging cats are more than a few blocks from forested areas in cities, such as parks, they’re more likely to prey on rats than on native wildlife.

Travis Gallo, Assistant Professor of Urban Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, George Mason University • conversation
April 8, 2022 ~9 min

Artificial intelligence can help highway departments find bats roosting under bridges

Bats roost under bridges and culverts across North America, so highway departments have to check for them before repairing bridges. A new AI tool makes those inspections faster and more accurate.

Tianshu Li, Research Assistant in Systems Engineering, University of Virginia • conversation
Sept. 21, 2021 ~5 min

Red kites and ravens swooped through Elizabethan London – and helped keep the city clean

Plague-wary Londoners tolerated mischievous red kites and ravens for their services to the city's sanitation.

Lee Raye, Associate Lecturer in Arts and Humanities, The Open University • conversation
Feb. 25, 2021 ~6 min

What to feed ducks – according to science

Your local ducks (and other wild birds) will thank you.

Sara Burt, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Public Health, Utrecht University • conversation
Jan. 5, 2021 ~6 min


Why autumn is such a dangerous time for hedgehog mothers – and how to help them

For every kilometre of road in Europe, you're likely to find one dead hedgehog.

Lauren Moore, PhD Candidate in Road Ecology, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
Nov. 16, 2020 ~6 min

Why allotments offer urban oases for bees and butterflies

Urban green spaces can be a rich habitat for diverse pollinators, if they're managed properly.

Matthew Pound, Senior lecturer in Physical Geography, Northumbria University, Newcastle • conversation
July 15, 2020 ~7 min

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