Animals

Cougar attacks five mountain bikers on a trail in Washington state
Cougars are solitary animals rarely seen in the wild, but on Saturday, five people were attacked by one on a trail in Washington. No one died, but at least one of the cyclists was hospitalized.
Canterbury Park CEO talks horse racing as sports betting legalization goes before legislature
Legalizing sports betting is again going before Minnesota lawmakers during the 2024 legislative session. Canterbury Park CEO Randy Sampson joined Cathy Wurzer on Morning Edition to talk about the future of gambling on horse races.
Minneapolis Animal Care and Control gets boost from city funds for staff, space
Minneapolis Animal Care and Control got a funding boost this year that will help to expand the shelter's hours and hire more staff. The city-run shelter and animal control unit is getting more than $600,000 from the city — more than half of which is for hiring animal care technicians and staff.
California sea otters nearly went extinct. Now they're rescuing their coastal habitat
California sea otter populations have rebounded in recent decades. New research finds that by feasting on shore crabs, these otters are helping to protect their coastal marsh habitat against erosion.
Do your kids want a dog? Science may be on their side
Kids who have dogs get significantly more physical activity, compared to kids who don't. Researchers followed 600 children over three years, and found young girls got the biggest exercise boost.