Animals

The notion that every dog or cat should be neutered at 6 months isn't based on evidence, says veterinarian Brennen McKenzie, author of The SkeptVet blog. It depends on the breed and other factors. Talk to your vet, he advises, about pros, cons and timing.

Pets Deserve Evidence-Based Medicine, Too, Says The SkeptVet

7:37am September 03, 2017

by Ingfei Chen

Veterinarian Brennen McKenzie writes The SkeptVet, a blog that pushes for evidence-based medicine instead of relying on tradition, anecdotes or pseudoscience in the treatment of cats and dogs.

National

Talkin' Birds: Urban Birding

8:04am September 02, 2017

You can see terns on Governors Island in New York City. Ray Brown, host of Talkin' Birds, espouses the joys of urban birding with NPR's Scott Simon.

Andrew White helps a neighbor — and a dog — get to safety after their street was flooded by Hurricane Harvey.

A Bipartisan Bill Helped Save Pets From Harvey, And Maybe Their Humans Too

6:59am September 02, 2017

by Scott Simon

In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, many people who lost their homes to flooding were able to save their pets. NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the importance of those relationships.

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) workers tending larvae on brood comb. The larvae that will grow up to be workers have a plant-based diet of a mix of honey and pollen.

The Divisive Diet of Honeybees: Why Some Will Never Be Royals

3:51pm September 01, 2017

by Courtney Columbus

That stings! A new study suggests that fragments of plant genetic material in the pollen-rich diets of worker bee larvae ensures that they never grow up to be queens.

Mike, the LSU Tigers mascot, is an 11-month old Siberian-Bengal mix.

The LSU Tigers' New Tiger Makes His Debut

10:20am September 01, 2017

by Ashley Westerman

Louisiana State University's live tiger mascot is an institution. Recently, the school got a new tiger — just in time for football season.

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An orange clownfish, Amphiprion percula, lives in symbiosis with a host anemone on the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral Reef Fish Are More Resilient Than We Thought, Study Finds

5:42pm August 31, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

Ocean acidification can cause reckless behavior in coral reef fish. But researchers say that coral reef environments have large chemical variations daily, which can offer recovery time for fish.

Locals have been tweeting photos of fire ant colonies drifting aimlessly in the floodwaters of Hurricane Harvey.

What To Do When Facing A Floating Ball Of Fire Ants

5:29pm August 31, 2017

by Merrit Kennedy

"Avoid, avoid, avoid," one fire ant expert says. The ants, common in areas flooded by Harvey, can't be submerged underwater. But if you have a bottle of soapy water, you might be able to drown them.

Volunteers unload one of 35 dogs flown from Texas shelters to Seattle in Hurricane Harvey's aftermath. The dogs arriving in Seattle were already in Texas shelters when Harvey hit and are being transferred so animals displaced by the flooding can be cared

From Hawk To Horse: Animal Rescues During Hurricane Harvey

12:48pm August 31, 2017

by Barbara J. King

A storm of this magnitude affects many animals. Uplifting videos show people rescuing all kinds of animals from Hurricane Harvey's floodwaters, says anthropologist Barbara J. King.

Tiny turtles are cute, but they can spread salmonella and make children very sick.

Why The Toxin Trouble With Tiny Turtles Continues

3:45pm August 30, 2017

by April Fulton

The government is warning people not to handle tiny turtles because of the risk of contracting salmonella. The problem is, it has been warning us for 40 years and we're still getting sick.

Sick cows led to the invention of Warfarin.

How Moldy Hay And Sick Cows Led To A Lifesaving Drug

7:06pm August 29, 2017

by Joe Palca

The blood thinner warfarin, which prevents blood clots, owes its existence to some cows who got very sick after eating spoiled hay — and to a chemist who spent years trying to figure out why.

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