Cyborg Wallaby Learns to Open Door With Implanted Microchip
It sounds like a B-rated science fiction movie: wallabies implanted with microchips opening their own personal pet doors when they want to come home.
Cute, Cheap, and Popular Exotic Pets Most Likely to Be Released Into the Wild
Baby iguanas, Chinese water dragons, or even ball pythons are undoubtedly cute and tempting to own as pets. But these popular reptiles don’t stay small forever. And according to new research, they are precisely the kind most likely to be released into the wild by humans.
A Warming Antarctica Could Be Primed For Invasive Species
In 2017, marine biologist Erasmo Macaya was shocked to discover bits of kelp on the remote Antarctic island of King George, hundreds of miles from its natural habitat. He knew he’d found something strange, but he wasn’t aware he’d just uncovered evidence of a journey spanning over 10,000 miles—one that could portend a…
Some Coral Reefs Need Poop, Study Finds
Bird turds can tell you a lot about an island. For instance, is it smelly or not? But also, how are the coral reefs doing?
Feral Cats Are Slaughtering Australia's Reptiles
Feral cats are an ecological scourge, wreaking havoc on wild mammal, bird, and reptile populations. That doesn’t make the impact of these rogue floof monsters on Australia’s reptile population any less astonishing, though.
Madagascar's Toxic Toad Invasion Is Worse Than We Realized
Madagascar has an invasive toad problem, and new research suggests that fears about its ecological consequences are well-deserved. Almost every predator native to the island is likely sensitive to the toads’ dangerous toxins.
France is Being Invaded By Giant Killer Worms
France is known for many of its cultural items, including exceptional cuisine, wine, and the Louvre. Soon, it may also be known for its arm-length, shovel-headed, carnivorous worms.
Invasive, Cannibalistic Tree Frogs Are Spreading Across the Gulf Coast
It is a cannibalistic, fist-sized frog covered in a noxious mucous secretion that burns your eyes. Its affinity for human structures leads it to clog drains and short-out the utility switches in which they lurk. They are spreading through the U.S. and we can’t stop them. Several message board commenters report that…
London Residents Warned That Invasive, Toxic Caterpillars Are Out in Force This Year
Don’t underestimate the humble caterpillar. While it might not look all that dangerous compared to humans mainly worried about stings and bites, many varieties are covered in toxic spines, as residents of London are being warned this weekend.
Hurricanes Bring Invasive Species, and These Maps Preview Where
Pollution isn’t the only thing the 2017 hurricane season spread far and wide. Plants and animals were sloshed around by the storms too, and some wound up far from home, setting the stage for new ecological invasions.
These Are the Worst Invasive Species in the West [Updated]
The Western Governors’ Association published its first-ever list of the 50 worst invasive species inhabiting that region of the country on Thursday, and some of the culprits may surprise you.
Florida Wildlife Officials Are Killing Invasive Iguanas by Smashing in Their Skulls
As part of a $63,000 research project to devise new and effective ways of pruning back the skyrocketing iguana population in south Florida, wildlife officials in the state have started to smash in the heads of iguanas, saying it’s a quick and “humane” form of euthanasia. Sounds dreadful—and it is—but the situation in…
Invasive Pine-Killing Wasps Are Even Worse Than They Sound
A new insect invader is spreading in eastern North America’s pine forests, and it’s causing trouble wherever its wings can carry it.
Invasive Python Parasites Are Infecting Florida’s Native Reptiles
Invasive Burmese pythons have become the ravenous, ever-multiplying scourge of South Florida. But new research suggests that the snakes have brought more than just their teeth and appetites to the Sunshine State. They’ve also brought along their own parasites, which are now infecting native snakes.
America's Ash Trees Are Being Wiped Out—Here's How You Can Help Them
America’s Ash trees are facing extinction. And the impact of their loss in our forests, cities, and backyards will not be small.
Lionfish Are Eating Fish We Didn't Even Know Existed
Lionfish have very low standards and will eat anything in sight. Although they’re originally from the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans, these vacuum cleaners have been flopping around the Atlantic for the last 25 years, probably because people dumped them from their home aquariums. They’re so stupidly hungry and…
What Scientists Found Inside This Burmese Python's Stomach Will Blow Your Mind
After performing an autopsy on a bloated Burmese python, scientists in Florida were shocked to discover the remains of three white-tailed deer.
Scientists Create Robotic Terminator To Hunt 'Darwin's Nightmare' Fish
Hordes of lionfish have been roaming the Atlantic for several decades now, and their voracious appetite—and lack of natural predators—has seriously upset the ecological balance of those waters. Now there’s a new foundation devoted to building robots to hunt them down—a Terminator for lionfish.
New Zealand Is Killing Off Its Predators
Seeking to safeguard the future of its kiwis, parrots, and hobbits, New Zealand has just made the “world first” decision to eradicate all wild predators by 2050.
This Weed Takes Out Other Plants by Attacking Their "Gut Bacteria"
You need bacteria to help you digest your food and go about your day. It turns out that plants have their own version of this. And one weed is driving out the competition by attacking the gut bacteria of other species.
