Leave no trace: National park debunks ‘myth’ that tossing banana peels, apple cores is OK

Tossing banana peels, apple cores and other “natural” foods on the ground while in nature can have lasting impacts and sometimes deadly consequences for animals, wildlife officials warned this week.

Endangered sea turtle shot in neck with 3-foot spear off Florida coast

A $5,000 reward is being offered to help find the person who shot an endangered green sea turtle in the neck with a spear off the coast of Florida. 

Spider populations become more aggressive after hurricanes, study finds

Hurricanes not only bring devastating weather and leave destruction in their wake — the storms also bring higher numbers of aggressive spiders, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.

Denmark buys last 4 circus elephants to let them retire

Denmark is spending 11 million kroner ($1.6 million) to buy the country's last four circus elephants to give them a proper retirement as the government moves to ban wild animals in circuses.

Australia lowers Great Barrier Reef outlook from 'poor' to 'very poor'

The government agency that manages Australia's Great Barrier Reef has downgraded its outlook for the corals' condition from "poor" to "very poor" due to warming oceans.

Fireflies light up in unison at Grandfather Mountain, NC State scientist finds

A new species of firefly has been discovered at Grandfather Mountain, and they do something very different from others: They light up the sky by flashing in unison. 

Florida hunters capture 2 17-foot, 9-inch Burmese pythons on the same day

Florida wildlife officials say hunters have captured two huge Burmese pythons as part of the state's program to remove the invasive snakes.

Watch: Massive tarpon bites the hand that feeds him in Florida

Anyone lucky enough to visit the Florida Keys might know what feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada, Florida is all about.

Trump administration overhauls endangered species protections in what critics call major rollback

The Trump administration is finalizing major changes Monday to the way it enforces the landmark Endangered Species Act, a move it says will reduce regulatory burden but critics charge will drive more creatures to extinction.

Posing with octopus on face sends Washington woman to hospital

A Washington woman, hoping an octopus on the face would make for a prize-winning photo, instead wound up with something she never expected: a faceful of pain and a trip to the hospital.

Snake inside pump surprises customer getting gas

We have all been warned to check for signs of skimmer devices at gas station pumps, but a Kansas woman was faced with a 'threat' of a different kind at the pump this week.

Electrofishing stuns hundreds of carp in mind-boggling video

In a mind-blowing video, Kentucky wildlife workers use electrofishing to show a huge explosion of invasive Asian carp in Lake Barkley.