Bald Eagles and dairy farmers exist in a mutually beneficial relationship in parts of northwestern Washington State. According to a new study, this “win-win” relationship has been a more recent development, driven by the impact of climate change on eagles’ traditional winter diet of salmon carcasses, as well as by increased eagle abundance following decades of conservation efforts. The research is published in the journal Ecosphere. [Read more…] about Study: Climate Change Has Altered Human-Raptor Relationships
Science
How Animals Stay Warm In Winter
To survive the cold of winter, some animals take advantage of protected habitats, such as wooded areas or under a blanket of insulating snow. Ruffed grouse, for example, fly into piles of loose snow and create roosting cavities to rest in when not foraging. Mice and other small mammals remain active in tunnels under the snow. [Read more…] about How Animals Stay Warm In Winter
Whitetail Antler Sheds & Deer Health
Throughout the winter months, whitetail bucks cast off or “shed” their antlers in response to dropping testosterone levels associated with increasing daylight. Many outdoor enthusiasts search for these shed antlers as collectibles, use them to build lamps or furniture, and determine which bucks made it through the hunting season. [Read more…] about Whitetail Antler Sheds & Deer Health
NYS Department of State Partners With Universities On Climate Issues
New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez has announced the launch of the University Partnerships for Innovative Climate Solutions Initiative at the New York Department of State (DOS).
As part of this initiative, DOS is partnering with seven universities from across the State to engage graduate and undergraduate students in DOS programs and projects that focus on climate change and climate justice. [Read more…] about NYS Department of State Partners With Universities On Climate Issues
There’s More To Animal Fur Than Meets The Eye
A flash of orange streaks across the meadow – a red fox, like a starburst in the snow. Its fur shimmers in the early morning light, and I, bundled in my winter layers and still shivering cold, envy the fox’s luxurious coat. [Read more…] about There’s More To Animal Fur Than Meets The Eye
Adirondack Moose Research Project Continues
The second year of a moose research project in the Adirondack region is underway. This year, 19 moose were fitted with GPS collars as part of a multi-year project assessing moose health and population. [Read more…] about Adirondack Moose Research Project Continues
Hibernation: How It Works
Mammals and birds are endotherms, which means they generate their own body heat through relatively high metabolic rates. That high metabolism requires energy, which these animals garner from food. We typically think of endotherms as warm-blooded; however, some of them are not warm all of the time.
Most active birds and mammals maintain relatively high and stable body temperatures – often around 100 degrees. But they also lose heat to the surrounding environment, especially during the cold winter months. [Read more…] about Hibernation: How It Works
Reindeer Lichen: Fungus and Algae Living Together
One of the primary winter foods for reindeer is reindeer lichen, also known as reindeer moss. These are puffy, many-branched, pale green or grayish-white lichens up to 4½ inches tall, spongy to the touch when damp.
Multiple species of reindeer lichen cover extensive areas of ground in the Arctic tundra and Canadian boreal forest and also grow on mountain summits and at other sites throughout the Northeast. [Read more…] about Reindeer Lichen: Fungus and Algae Living Together
Meltdown: A History of Glacier Science
Formed over hundreds-even millions-of years ago, glaciers support a vast network of life. Yet, climate change is causing them to melt at an unprecedented rate. If we don’t change course, their disappearance will change the world as we know it.
This week on The Historians Podcast, environmental educator discusses her book Meltdown: Discover Earth’s Irreplaceable Glaciers And Learn What You Can Do To Save Them (Workman Publishing Co, 2022). [Read more…] about Meltdown: A History of Glacier Science
Coordination of Many Legged Locomotion
Grinning and giggling, my one-year-old son ran across the living room, only to trip over his own feet and faceplant on the carpet. Sometimes, two legs can be too many to coordinate. How, then, do invertebrates walk with six, eight, or hundreds of legs?
In some ways, walking for insects, arachnids, and myriapods (a group that includes millipedes and centipedes) isn’t that different than it is for us. [Read more…] about Coordination of Many Legged Locomotion