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Wildlife Crossings Planned Near Joshua Tree National Park to Reduce Animal Fatalities

Wildlife Crossings Planned Near Joshua Tree National Park to Reduce Animal Fatalities

Wildlife researchers have initiated surveys along State Route 62 to gather data on bighorn sheep, which will inform the design and planning of two new wildlife crossings near Joshua Tree National Park. This effort is part of a broader study examining the movement and genetic exchange of bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and bobcats across the highway at the Morongo and Yucca grades, situated between Morongo Valley and Yucca Valley. Researchers will collect animal droppings for DNA analysis, with specially trained detection dogs and their handlers joining the survey to scout for scat. The DNA analysis aims to identify individual animals, understand genetic exchange, and establish a baseline for wildlife activity before the crossings are constructed. The first phase of this planning and design work is funded by the Mojave Desert Land Trust through Caltrans mitigation funds and is expected to continue through April 2027. The ultimate goal is to minimize wildlife deaths and collisions on the highway, where hundre...

Palm Springs Desert Sun

See why this Palm Springs therapist moonlights as a content creator

See why this Palm Springs therapist moonlights as a content creator

This Palm Springs creator spotlights local gems and drag performers in the desert. See why she's one of the Coachella Valley's Top Content Creators.

Trine University Student Gains Ecological Field Experience at Idaho National Laboratory

Trine University Student Gains Ecological Field Experience at Idaho National Laboratory

Claire Schmaltz, a Trine University student, spent her summer as an ecological crew member with Battelle Energy Alliance at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Schmaltz, who is studying environmental science and biology, applied her academic knowledge to practical field experience. Her primary project involved monitoring sage-grouse habitat across the INL site, where she collected vegetation data from 75 plots, measuring plant cover, height, density, and species composition. She also identified over 100 plant species across approximately 890 square miles of sagebrush steppe. The internship provided her with a clearer understanding of environmental careers and strengthened the connection between her studies and future goals.

Nat Geo Kicks Off New Multi-Year Doc Franchise With ‘Africa Earth’s Wild Home’

Nat Geo Kicks Off New Multi-Year Doc Franchise With ‘Africa Earth’s Wild Home’

Unlike most conglomerate-owned media companies, National Geographic is still pouring money into documentaries. Their latest docuseries “Africa Earth’s Wild Home” is a seven-parter that took four years to make and employed over 50 people. It’s the first series in a multi-year franchise that will document the planet, one continent at a time. Nat Geo partnered […]

Chilean Island Sees Return of Rare Seabirds Following Invasive Rabbit Eradication

Chilean Island Sees Return of Rare Seabirds Following Invasive Rabbit Eradication

Chañaral Island in Chile, which was certified free of invasive rabbits in late 2017, has recently observed the natural nesting of rare Peruvian diving petrels. Seven years after the successful eradication program, four active natural nests were found on the island in early 2024. These nests included two with chicks and one with a fledgling, marking a significant ecological recovery. The island had previously lost approximately 100,000 breeding pairs of these seabirds due to the presence of foxes and rabbits. The conservation efforts also involved a social attraction project initiated in September 2019, utilizing two solar speakers and artificial burrows to encourage the birds' return. This initiative builds upon earlier efforts, such as the rabbit removal program on Choros from 2013.

New Research Reveals Singing Lemurs Use Soprano-Like Vocal Technique for Long-Distance Communication

New Research Reveals Singing Lemurs Use Soprano-Like Vocal Technique for Long-Distance Communication

New research indicates that indris, a species of singing lemur found in Madagascar, employ a vocal technique similar to that of opera singers to project their songs over long distances. Scientists analyzed 83 video recordings of 19 wild indris in Madagascar's Maromizaha forest and Mitsinjo reserve, tracking facial landmarks and synchronizing them with audio. The study, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, found a robust correlation between the lemurs opening their mouths wider and producing higher-pitched notes. This adjustment, known as formant tuning, changes the shape of their vocal tract, allowing frequencies to resonate more effectively and boosting the power and reach of their voices. This adaptation is crucial for communication in dense forest environments where visual contact is limited. Indris are the only lemur species known for singing, and their songs are described as haunting, structured duets.

Lion Kids Camp Alumni Return as Conservation Leaders in Kenya

Lion Kids Camp Alumni Return as Conservation Leaders in Kenya

Ewaso Lions has successfully brought back 155 alumni to its Lion Kids Camp (LKC) in Samburu, Kenya, as part of an ambitious goal to reunite 500 former participants in 2026. These alumni, who first attended the camp as children, are now teenagers, young adults, and working conservation professionals. The reunion camps, held across four sessions by August 2026, allowed participants to reconnect with the landscape, engage in wildlife safaris and lion sightings, and play the Conservation Game. Many of these individuals had not returned to the camp since 2014, with some having been away for over a decade. The initiative aims to reinforce the conservation values instilled during their initial camp experiences and celebrate their journey into conservation leadership roles.

Why Is This Bright Red Aquarium Fish Becoming Vulnerable in the Wild?

Why Is This Bright Red Aquarium Fish Becoming Vulnerable in the Wild?

The cherry barb, scientifically known as *Rohanella titteya*, is a tropical freshwater fish that has become a favorite among aquarium hobbyists due...

Forester Amelia Napper Advocates for Active Forest Management to Restore Wildlife Habitats

Forester Amelia Napper Advocates for Active Forest Management to Restore Wildlife Habitats

Forester Amelia Napper, associated with the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS), is challenging the conventional belief that forests are best left untouched. Through her work, Napper advocates for active stewardship, including canopy openings, young forest creation, and carefully planned treatments, as essential for maintaining healthy wildlife habitats and resilient forests. This approach is highlighted in a new Land Ethic in Action story by the Aldo Leopold Foundation. Napper's efforts aim to educate landowners and community members on the necessity of intervention, particularly given the decline in habitat for species like ruffed grouse and American woodcock due to historical fire suppression and reduced timber harvests. RGS & AWS partners with agencies and landowners on targeted forest management, including timber sales for the U.S. Forest Service, with surplus funds reinvested into habitat work such as prescribed fire, invasive plant removal, and road-stream crossing improv...

Palm Springs Desert Sun

Can Indio finally get the Bell back? Follow live scoring of Friday's games

Can Indio finally get the Bell back? Follow live scoring of Friday's games

Rivalry games between Indio and Coachella Valley as well as Yucca Valley and Twentynine Palms highlight Friday's seven-game slate

Detroit Free Press

A native fish not seen in the Lower Rouge River in a century is back

A native fish not seen in the Lower Rouge River in a century is back

DNR, local conservation groups hailing the Greenside darter's return to the Lower Rouge as a positive result from years of cleanup and restoration.

Palm Springs Desert Sun

The 5 most important things that happened in Week 6 of high school football

The 5 most important things that happened in Week 6 of high school football

Yucca Valley made a loud statement, Desert Mirage made history and Desert Hot Springs keeps rolling