Conservation
On December 28, 1973, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was signed into law. We’ll soon be celebrating the 50th anniversary of this landmark conservation legislation, which has saved hundreds of animals that once wavered on the brink of extinction.
Nature & Wildlife
With the presidential election coming up next week, I can’t help but think about the future of our world—mostly the next four years—and what it will look like. There are so many things that I would change, as I’m sure you would, too. So, what would my priorities be if I ruled the world?
Conservation
While some might say that the true travel genre of books includes those “that record the experiences of an author touring a place,” I find it worthwhile to add another component into my description of that category: environmentalism.
Nature & Wildlife
Much like us, other animals have “languages” that they use in order to communicate with members of their own species. For example, prairie dogs have developed different “words” to describe various predators—barks, squeals and squeaks that contain different numbers of rhythmic chirps and frequency modulations to distinguish which one is currently after them.
Videos
When someone says he or she wants to “talk turkey” with you, it usually means that you’re in for a frank, straightforward and serious discussion. But if you’re with Joe Hutto, he literally means speaking the language of the birds.
Videos
One of the largest birds in North America, a golden eagle is an expert hunter. It can dive on prey from tremendous heights and has been clocked flying close to 200 miles per hour. Golden eagles primarily hunt ground squirrels, jackrabbits, marmots and prairie dogs.
Conservation
Wildlife Services, part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, set off a firestorm of criticism recently when it released data showing that in 2013 the agency killed more than 4 million animals—2 million of which, according to the Center for Biological Diversity—were from native species.
Nature & Wildlife
For much of recorded human history, whenever coyotes and humans have come in contact, it is the coyotes that lose—big-time. But unlike many species that have succumbed to extinction under a similar scenario, somehow these wild canids have managed to survive and even thrive.
Videos
Which animal has the most complex communication system? You may have guessed whales or wolves. Researchers, however, now think that prairie dogs just might have the most sophisticated language of all nonhuman animals. Watch the video below, as prairie dogs sound the alarm call for “Coyote!” through their town.
Nature & Wildlife
Tucked away for centuries in a remote corner of northeastern India, a rare language lives. According to reports from the National Geographic Society, the language, called “Koro,” has just been “discovered” by researchers from the society’s Enduring Voices Project.
