Animals

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.
Warm weather forces park officials to suspend Isle Royale wolf count for first time in decades
The National Park Service suspended the count Tuesday out of concerns that warm weather has left the ice surrounding the island unsafe for the ski-planes the researchers use in their surveys. Regional temperatures have been above freezing for the last week.
Zebras, camels and flames, oh my! Circus animals rescued after truck catches fire on Indiana highway
A truck hauling zebras and camels for a series of weekend circus performances caught fire on a northeastern Indiana highway, prompting a police rescue of the animals.
Gunflint Mail Run called off due to warm weather
Organizers of the annual Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race in Cook County announced Monday they have canceled this winter’s event. The race originally was set to take place in early January, then was postponed until Feb. 10.
China promises pandas for the U.S. on the 45th anniversary of the two nations' ties
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the United States and China must insist on peaceful coexistence and promised that giant pandas would return to the U.S. — specifically California — by year end.