Fur-ever love between animals that are just wild about each other. Barn owls, eagles, beavers and more mate for life.

Barn owls woo their mate with snacks. 
(Unsplash image)

Barn owls find a mate and fly with them for their entire lifespan. When finding their bird of a feather, males will bring a tasty treat to their mate to win them over. These birds spend extra time on this practice, according to an article by the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It might not be a bad idea to take a page out of the Barn owl's book.

Coyotes, along with many other animals, breed in the winter. Once they find their mate, they stick with them for life, never straying far. “[They work] together to hunt, den and raise their pups each year,” writes the BC SPCA.

When it comes to beavers, the whole family is involved.
(Unspash image)

Beavers mate for life and embrace fortified family units. The BC SPCA wrote that a Beaver couple will live in a den together and raise their offspring, known as kits, together. Their kits will stay with them for two years, learning the way of the world and helping to raise their younger siblings before going out on their own. These beavers sure do love their family.

Canadian geese show love through acts of service. Staying together for life, they take turns with their responsibilities. The BC SPCA wrote, “The male and female take turns with all their parenting duties, including protecting their nest, incubating the eggs, finding food, and co-parent the young goslings.” Experts in parenting, these birds will occasionally help out other families and raise their offspring together, even adopting orphans from time to time.

Bald eagles symbolize their love and strength
through their nest. (Unsplash image)

The bald eagle love story might be the most romantic. These birds can live up to 30 years in the wild and will stay with their mate as long as they both shall live. Each year the couple will fly back to the same nest, continuously building together. The BC SPCA said, “The ever-growing nest is truly the symbol of a strong partnership.”

One set of Magellanic penguins were together for 16 years. An Ocean Conservancy article, written by Marja Diaz, said it was "one of the longest recorded love affairs" between two of these penguins. Diaz wrote that penguins will impress each other with song and dance, and of course they are always dressed to impress. Magellanic penguins will also take turns protecting their eggs and hunting to provide for each other and their young.

Flora & Fauna: Joyrides for rats; feral pigs forage through Hawaii; serviceberry tree history; a unique "comeback" bird

Rats learned to love driving and would opt to take longer routes to get to their destination.
(Photo by Kelly Lambert, CC BY-ND)

People aren't the only ones who love to go for a drive. Rats do, too. "I’m a neuroscientist who taught rats to drive − their joy suggests how anticipating fun can enrich human life," writes Kelly Lambert for The Conversation. "My colleagues and I found that rats could learn to drive forward by grasping a small wire that acted like a gas pedal. Before long, they were steering with surprising precision to reach a Froot Loop treat. . . . Unexpectedly, we found that the rats had an intense motivation for their driving training, often jumping into the car and revving the 'lever engine' before their vehicle hit the road. Why was that?" Read the research here.

In the lowlands of Hawaii, things are going to pigs. Feral pigs have invaded six of the state's islands with shocking efficiency and left a path of overwhelmed ecosystems in their wake. "Their impact is profound on Kaua‘i. Its mountains are home to 255 unique native plant species and 208 native birds, including 11 found nowhere else on Earth," reports Brendan Borrell of Hakai magazine. "Their wallows breed mosquitoes that spread avian malaria, contributing to 10 of Kaua‘i’s 16 native honeycreepers [birds] going extinct. . . . Despite the damage that feral pigs are causing, you can’t just shoot them on sight . . ."

Serviceberry trees are smaller trees native to North
America. (The Spruce graphic)

Like humans, a tree species has a history. The serviceberry tree was once common in the United States, particularly in colonial New England, where its bloom cycle indicated when the soil was soft enough to begin digging graves for the many settlers who didn't make it through the winter. "Preachers then went from settlement to settlement to perform funeral services," writes Jessica Damiano of The Associated Press. "Because it’s one of the earliest spring bloomers, the serviceberry is an important food source for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. Later, its berries sustain dozens of bird species and mammals. . . .There are more than 20 species of the North American native tree, which is sadly underused." Here are four favorites.

Whether it's that hefty frozen turkey, a delectable ham or ground lamb ready to be transformed into meatballs, the holidays can be a special time to be thankful for the meat on our tables. As an act of gratefulness for farm animals, a donation to an animal charity that works to make the lives of factory animals better may be in order. "Animal Charity Evaluators, a California-based nonprofit, puts out an annual guide for recommended animal charities," report Sigal Samuel and Kenny Torrella of Vox. "ACE researches and promotes the most high-impact, effective ways to help animals." Find this year's list here.

Red-cockaded woodpeckers nest in family units.
(Adobe Stock photo)

Americans love a comeback, especially when the returning member is cute, social and unique. "The red-cockaded woodpecker, an iconic bird in southeastern forests, has recovered enough of its population to be downlisted from an endangered species to a threatened one," reports Christina Larson of The Associated Press. Will Harlan of the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, told Larson, "It’s an amazing bird that has an unusual communal nesting structure. All nests usually cluster in the same tree, and the birds stick together as a family unit.”

Hazelnut trees are poised to flourish where they once died by the thousands. "Bullied by blight, the filbert has long failed to find a home on farms in the eastern U.S.," reports Ben Seal of Ambrook Research. "All across the eastern United States, hazelnuts had been cut down by Eastern filbert blight, or EFB, an endemic disease that chokes life from a tree. . . .But now, after nearly three decades of developing a way for farmers to overcome EFB. . . . A collection of four cultivars, [was] released in 2020, that can withstand even the intense pressure on [a] New Jersey research farm, where numerous strains of the blight are present."

AI is helping wolf trackers without using radio collars.
(Photo by ML, Unsplash)

New AI tracking technology is making it easier for wolves and ranchers near Yellowstone Park to coexist. "After 30 years of using traditional boots-on-the-ground observations, researchers are collecting wolf calls in hopes of honing population estimates, tracking wolves without using radio collars, and reducing conflict between the animals and ranchers," reports Devin Farmiloe of The Washington Post. "Learning more about how wolves communicate from a young age can shed light on pack dynamics that wildlife managers can use to better track and protect the species."

As dairy cows enter the U.S. food chain, many will be tested for the bird flu virus, aka, H5N1

Dairy cows will be the focus of new slaughterhouse
testing for bird flu by the USDA. (Adobe Stock photo)

The Department of Agriculture will boost its bird flu or H5N1 response to U.S. dairy and beef livestock infections by "expanding bird-flu testing of beef entering the food supply," reports Leah Douglas of Reuters. In May, the agency tested 109 beef samples from "dairy cows sent to slaughter and found bird flu virus particles in one cow's tissue sample. Older dairy cattle are often slaughtered for ground beef."

Dairy cows will be the focus of most slaughterhouse testing. "Nearly 200 herds in 13 U.S. states have contracted bird flu since March after the virus jumped from wild birds to cows, according to USDA data," Douglas explains. "Eric Deeble, deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs, said the USDA is confident with the current level of bird-flu testing conducted by the nation's dairy farmers."

Meanwhile, dairy operators and workers are at increased risk of contracting H5N1. To date, 13 poultry and dairy workers have contracted bird flu since April, and workers who might be exposed to infected animals need to wear personal protective equipment.

To further address the virus' presence across the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration is "talking with states about the plausibility of additional nationwide raw milk testing," Douglas reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "working on expanding its surveillance wastewater testing to H5 viruses in advance of the fall and winter flu season."

According to the USDA, U.S. beef and dairy products are safe to consume.

Help crashing bird populations with local reporting, which can find answers and improve awareness; here are tips

The Kirtland’s warbler is one of the rarest songbirds in North America.
(Photo by Ian Davies, Cornell University Lab, Macaulay Library)

Bird populations are struggling worldwide. In North America, a "key 2022 report found that more than half of U.S. and Canadian bird species have suffered dramatic drops in population, reports Joseph A. Davis for The Society of Environmental Journalists. "Local and regional developments make this a story for environmental journalists to explore."

Birds matter. "They pollinate plants (many of which people enjoy and/or depend on). They eat things we often wish not to have around, such as insects or carrion. Also, they may feed us," Davis writes. "They may spread disease (and often suffer from disease). And they are (no apologies for the pun) the 'canary in the coal mine' when it comes to habitat loss or toxic substances in the environment."

Along with their importance in nature, birds provide people "with joy and wonder almost everywhere we encounter them in our world. They are beautiful. They are capable of incredible feats. And their songs and calls brighten and beautify our lives," Davis adds. "Birds are awesome."

Birds are declining for many reasons, but the meta-reason is "human action," Davis writes. "As European settlers to North America cut forests, drained wetlands, plowed grasslands, built reservoirs, dug up minerals and paved much of what remained, birds have had a tougher time finding homes and food — and raising their young. . . . It's not just that. A lot of birds eat insects, and insect populations are also declining dramatically. So that may be part of the explanation. Behind that decline may be the massive agricultural use of pesticides."

Davis offers these story ideas:

• Find local birding clubs (see link below), attend meetings, talk to leaders, go on walks and ask about local species, local declines and local threats to birds.
• Are there unique habitats in your area? Species specially adapted to those habitats? Dramatic changes to those habitats?
• What birds migrate through your area? Are their food sources and resting places under threat?
• What diseases afflict what birds in your area? Those could vary from bird flu to West Nile virus. Do human activities promote the spread of disease?
• What is the role of backyard bird feeders in your ecosystem? Some call them "cat feeders." Do they help or hurt? Spread disease?
• What is the role of "outdoor" or feral cats in the decline?
• What is the role of big buildings and glass windows in the decline?
• What is going on with tree cover and wetlands in your area? Is climate change a factor?

He also offers these reporting resources:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: This institution, part of Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, has all kinds of bird-related resources.
National Audubon Society: A premier national nonprofit for conservation and policy and just birding. It has a network of local and regional affiliates.
The Great Backyard Bird Count: Join the world in connecting to birds – February 16–19, 2024.
Christmas Bird Count: A long-standing tradition in many places that can give some unscientific sense of population trends. Organized by National Audubon. Ask your local chapter about its results.
Local/regional birding and conservation groups: Start here. There are probably others not on the list.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: The federal agency most active in bird conservation. Find a refuge near you and talk to the staff. You can also reach out to managers of your state, local and private wildlife refuges.
National Wildlife Health Center: This unit of the U.S. Geological Survey is an authoritative source on bird disease.
North American Bird Conservation Initiative: The consortium of researchers, government agencies and cnservation groups that produced the 2022 report mentioned above.
Ducks Unlimited: Yes, its members do hunt ducks — but they work very hard for conservation. Check in with your local chapter and talk to them about migratory birds.
State conservation agencies: Terminology varies, but a good directory can be found here.
People who maintain local backyard bird feeders: One way to find them is to go to a hardware store where feeders and seeds are sold. Talk to customers.