Nearby a municipal landfill in Oregon, several witnesses discovered the bodies of eight incapacitated bald eagles. Flightless and convulsing, these animals appeared near death and were retrieved by National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory staff. One eagle was confirmed dead, while the others were moved for supportive care. What was the cause of this loss […]
Veterinary forensics: Sending criminals to the pound Read More »
Across the barren landscape of Antarctica, a team of scientists spent the months of December 2013 through February 2014 collecting bird poop from seabird nesting regions. After carefully preserving these samples and sections of muscle tissue from seabird carcasses, these researchers transported their data collection to Griffith University in Australia for analysis. Why pick up
Pollutant poop: How the south polar skua brings toxic chemicals to Antarctica Read More »
From cow-print phone cases and jackets to “drink milk” posters to paintings illustrating herd-speckled landscapes, dairy cows are among people’s favorite creatures. Affection toward these docile animals is clear, but what do their lives really look like? It’s not all scenic red barns and grazing. Dairy cows go through several major life transitions, and cattle
Moo-ving about: The transitional lives of dairy cows Read More »
What sets a group of monkeys on a mission to a new place? What compels large schools of fish to change direction from a predator? How do flocks of geese decide to land in the Fens or pick away at the grass on Centennial? On the individual level, researchers have explored decision-making capabilities, and studies
Herd harmony: Technology to study animal group behavior Read More »
Of all species living in marine environments on Earth, the relatively inconspicuous starfish may appear to live a simple existence on the seafloor. However, these organisms demonstrate striking abilities to perceive their environment, one of many characteristics that has led to their success as a species. This success is evident in their diversity — there
Sensing the sea: Researching the adaptations of starfish Read More »
Is time travel only possible in science fiction? Are humans capable of journeying to the past and into the future? Time travel may not be a concept exclusive to “Back to the Future.” According to scientists across several disciplines, time travel has a multitude of definitions. In fact, humans engage in several forms. Firstly, all
Mental time travel: A universally human experience Read More »
Dolphins are generally regarded as one of the most intelligent species of mammals, even demonstrating the ability to learn and follow verbal cues and gestures from human trainers while in captivity. In the wild, dolphins use sound signals to navigate, hunt, and communicate with other creatures, including individuals of their own species and of other
Whistles underwater: How humans are changing dolphin communication Read More »
Think back to the last time you gave a presentation; were you nervous? Did you lose your appetite for the day? When it was time to present, did your stomach somersault? When considering physical responses to stressful situations, there is a clear connection between behavior and the gut. In anxiety-stimulating situations, the body can respond
A Gut Feeling: The bacteria in your gut may be controlling your behaviors Read More »
Animals have long provided assistance to humans in times of great need. Countless heroic animals have saved human lives — dogs can undergo training to track missing persons, detect an oncoming seizure, or alert humans to mines underground. During the COVID-19 pandemic, animals continue to impact human lives (beyond interrupting Zoom calls). As knowledge about