Articles for category: Animal Behavior

Why One Texas Town Declared War on Buzzards (and Lost)

Why One Texas Town Declared War on Buzzards (and Lost)

Annette Uy

It’s a battle you wouldn’t expect in the heart of Texas. Imagine waking up each morning to the ominous sight of hundreds—sometimes thousands—of black vultures circling overhead, their shadows sweeping across your backyard, their talons gripping rooftops and water towers. In one small Texas town, this haunting vision became a daily reality. What started as ...

Rats Laugh When Tickled—and They Prefer It

Rats Laugh When Tickled—and They Prefer It

Annette Uy

Imagine a world where laughter isn’t just the domain of humans—it fills the quiet corners of laboratory cages, echoing in the ultrasonic frequencies of tiny creatures that scurry unnoticed beneath our feet. The idea is almost unbelievable: rats, those misunderstood survivors of cities and forests, don’t just respond when tickled—they actually laugh. Even more astonishing, ...

11 Amazing Ways Animals Communicate Without Speaking

11 Amazing Ways Animals Communicate Without Speaking

Kristina

You probably think of communication as something that happens with words, texts, or maybe a well-timed eye roll. But out in the animal world, entire conversations unfold every second without a single syllable being spoken. If you could tune into all those silent signals, you’d see arguments, love stories, warnings, and even deception happening right ...

A skunk. Photo by Jack Bumer, via Pexels.

Arizona’s Rabies Spike: Protecting Pets and Wildlife

April Joy Jovita

Arizona is experiencing a concerning rise in rabies cases among wildlife, prompting officials to issue warnings to pet owners and the public. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and the Department of Health Services have reported a significant increase in rabies incidents, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations and preventive measures to safeguard both pets ...

Atlantic salmon

Drug Pollution and Salmon Migration: Behavioral Changes in the Wild

April Joy Jovita

Pharmaceutical pollution is an emerging global issue, with over 900 active substances detected in waterways worldwide. Recent studies reveal that even trace amounts of drugs, such as the sedative clobazam, can significantly alter the behavior and migration patterns of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). These findings highlight the far-reaching consequences of human activity on aquatic ecosystems. ...

10 Small Dog Breeds That Are Fussy Eaters

10 Small Dog Breeds That Are Fussy Eaters

Andrew Alpin

If your tiny companion turns their nose up at mealtime like a food critic judging a subpar restaurant, you’re not alone. Plenty of small dog owners wrestle with the frustration of trying to convince their picky pup that dinner is, in fact, worth eating. Sometimes it feels like you’re running a gourmet kitchen service rather ...