Animals

A photographer captures life in America’s last remaining old-growth forests
From salamanders and salmon to bears and mountain lions, David Herasimtschuk’s images illustrate not only the beauty of the forests and their creatures but the symbiotic relationships that are vital to the forests’ health and the planet’s welfare.
 Wildlife stranded from severe weather are turning up in storm debris
The Minnesota Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is seeing an uptick in the number of injured or stranded animals being dropped off during the aftermath of severe weather, especially for baby squirrels and migratory songbirds. 
A newly mapped underwater mountain could be home to 20 new species
Researchers who led the 28-day expedition along the nearly 2-mile tall seamount hope the discoveries made will inform future policies safeguarding the understudied, high-seas region.
Minnesota State Fair hosts another llama-alpaca costume contest for the ages
The Minnesota State Fair’s Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum was bursting with applause and chuckles as a herd of llamas and alpacas strutted their stuff alongside their 4-H student handlers Wednesday at the annual costume contest that saw a hungry caterpillar, plenty of wigs and lots of repurposed pants.
High heat could be dangerous for fairgoers — and animals
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with MPR meteorologist Sven Sundgaard about the heat. And she checked in with State Fair Veterinarian Scott Lang from Waseca Veterinary Clinic.
Sphen, partner in a same-sex penguin couple, dies — and a colony sings
When Magic saw Sphen’s body, “he immediately started singing,” and other penguins joined in, Renee Howell, the aquarium’s penguin keeper, told Australia’s ABC broadcaster.
Bird flu restrictions cause heartache for 4-H kids unable to show off livestock at fairs across U.S.
States have tightened restrictions on dairy cows following the bird flu outbreak that has spread to millions of poultry flocks nationwide and nearly 200 dairy herds across 13 U.S. states since March.