Lands & Waters: Wildlife

A Texas Research Facility Preserves Some of the Country’s Most Bizarre Endangered Species

Researchers unravel the mysteries of an aquifer-dwelling blind salamander and its aquatic neighbors

By Hailey Smalley March 11, 2025

In this story: animals

A mauve salamander with external gills, in the water, in front of some green plant matter

Should I Be Worried About Bird Flu?

H5N1 is making headlines in 2025 even though it’s been around for a surprisingly long time

By Melody Schreiber March 10, 2025

In this story: health, birds, agriculture, concentrated animal feeding operation

Against the Current

Why are Chinook salmon moving to the urban creeks of San Jose in increasing numbers?

Text and photographs by Jeremy Miller March 9, 2025

In this story: salmon, fish, wildlife, endangered species

Flaco’s Environmental Legacy

An owl's death underscores the hazards faced by wild birds, especially in an urban setting

By David Gessner February 23, 2025

In this story: endangered species, birds, urban living

Is Resurrecting an Island Worth It?

Poplar Island gets a second chance as Marylanders rebuild the eroded terrain

By Andrew Sharp February 11, 2025

In this story: ecosystems, saving wild places, birds

Birds wade in the marshy waters off Poplar Island

Your Pet’s Health Is Tied to Climate Change, Just Like Yours

Here’s what to keep an eye on, and how to be prepared

By Jill Langlois February 3, 2025

In this story: climate change, animals, health

Elk in the Sierra Nevada: An Invasion or a Recovery?

It’s more than a question of history. The elk could have big effects on the future of this iconic wilderness.

By Ian Rose January 28, 2025

In this story: wildlife, animals, ecosystems

Tule elk, Point Reyes National Seashore. | Photo by Mark Newman/Getty Images

Meet the Women Rescuing Whales in California

A Monterey nonprofit’s "whale ambulance" helps entangled whales

By Katherine Irving February 2, 2025

In this story: whales, sustainability, oceans, activism, animals

It’s Not Your Imagination: Migrating Birds Talk to Each Other

A new study proves birds communicate between and within their families

By Louise Fabiani January 23, 2025

In this story: science, birds, Gee Whiz

Flock of birds in bird formation flying above sea.

President Biden's Last Push to Cement His Conservation Legacy

New monuments, drilling restrictions, and species protections could have lasting benefits

By Ethan Freedman January 19, 2025

In this story: federal policy, oil, endangered species, monuments