Flora & Fauna: Beagle Brigade searches for contraband; mushroom feeds 'family of four;' a big year for oysters

Graphic by Ali Aas, Ambrook Research

When sleuthing for illegal agricultural goods, sometimes the human nose can't do the job. That's when canines find the contraband. "A group of dogs, nicknamed the Beagle Brigade, spend their shifts stationed at airports, border crossings, and international mail and cargo facilities, searching for packed-away items that could harbor foreign animal diseases and potentially invasive pests — to the detriment of the American agriculture industry," reports Shea Swensen of Ambrook Research. "The program may get a permanent stamp of authorization, meaning reliable funding through Congress, thanks to the Beagle Brigade Act of 2023."

Frontal view of a fruit fly.
(Wikipedia photo)

Besides mosquitos, what's the most relentlessly annoying insect? The answer is Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly. Becky Krystal of The Washington Post reports, "Fruit flies can get in your house the same way any other insect can, through doors or windows especially, says Zachary DeVries, assistant professor at the University of Kentucky's Department of Entomology. . . . Fruit flies 'don't need a whole lot' to flourish, according to DeVries. A single potato, for example, can support 500 fruit flies, if not more, he says." Find out how to get rid of these black-bellied, red-eyed pests here.

Pallid bats have expressive faces.
(Photo by M. Andrus via Pinterest)

California is a big state with so much diversity it's hard to celebrate all the good things. But the state has decided to award "statehood" designation to its impeccably cute pallid bat, reports Soumya Karlamangla of The New York Times. "According to the bill signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, bats, in general, provide $1 billion worth of pest control to California agriculture and reduce wildfire risks by eating bark beetles and wood borers that weaken trees."

California honors also went to the "golden chanterelle as a distinct fungal species that is endemic in the state," Karlamangla adds. "The mushrooms are a mesmerizing gold color, flute-shaped and large enough to 'feed a family of four with leftovers,' according to the Bay Area Mycological Society."

Chanterelles can make a hearty
meal. (Wikipedia photo)

Over the past decade, wildlife has had it tough, but if you're a Chesapeake Bay oyster, you're having an outstanding year. "The annual Fall Oyster Survey showed a 'remarkable number' of juvenile oysters," reports Joe Heim of The Washington Post. "And found them widely distributed through many regions of the Chesapeake, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced Tuesday. It found 86.8 spat, or juvenile oysters, per bushel, nearly four times the 39-year median. That marks the fourth consecutive year the survey showed results exceeding the median number."

A tufted titmouse looks for food.
(Photo by J. Bulmer, Unsplash)

Feel like the world is near collapse, or maybe it's just you? Feed some birds. Cute, delightful, kooky and beautiful, birds lift the human spirit. Corrie Evanoff writes, "Whether you try hanging a hummingbird feeder outside your apartment window or setting out a birdbath in a spot of your yard sheltered from predators, you'll be on the road to securing a better future for your feathered visitors — and yes, reaping the mental health benefits of the meditative hobby."