Land Mammals, features and articles | Educational Science

Nov 15, 2023

Here's what happens when cats get too fat (it involves acidic poop)

Feline obesity is a growing problem, with roughly 60% of cats in the United States classified as being overweight or obese, according to the 2022 State of U.S. Pet Obesity Report. And, just like in humans, packing on additional pounds can often lead to a host of different health problems...

Dec 1, 2023

Cats' dazzling eye colors may come from 1 unusual ancestor

The evolution of eye color in cats has been mapped for the first time, and researchers found that one unusual ancestor is responsible for the feline family's dazzling variety of peepers — from yellow-eyed tigers to blue-eyed snow leopards. In the new study, scientists identified different eye colors in living...

Dec 9, 2023

Clouded leopard: The cat with saber-like teeth that can walk upside down in trees

Name: Clouded leopard, also known as the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) Where it lives: Southeast Asia What it eats: Mammals, including ungulates, primates and rodents Why it's awesome: Unlike lions and cheetahs in Africa, which stalk or race across the open plains in pursuit of prey, clouded leopards have...

Dec 22, 2023

Some cats spontaneously start playing fetch and we have no idea why

Growing up, James Serpell had a cat named Mungo with a penchant for pencils. If a pencil or pen was on the floor, the cat would bring them to us, he says. Then Mungo would sit and wait, hoping for a toss. If you picked up the pencil and threw...

Jan 7, 2024

Why do cats throw up so much?

If you had a human roommate who regularly vomited on the carpet, you'd probably be concerned for their health. Yet many cat owners see their pet's puke as a fact of life. So why do cats throw up so much? And is it normal? It's never really normal for a...

Jan 10, 2024

Do cats really hate us?

Cat owners may enjoy doting on their feline companions, but is this love reciprocated — or do cats actually dislike us? Unlike dogs which love us unconditionally, cats are often accused of using us to fulfill their needs and wouldn't care if we lived or died. But is this aloof...

Jan 11, 2024

Adorable but deadly little wildcat may be inbreeding at 'alarming' rates, study finds

A tiny but deadly species of cat appears to be inbreeding at an alarming rate, putting the threatened feline at a heightened risk of a rare, deadly disease, scientists have discovered. Black-footed cats (Felis nigripes) are the smallest species of felid in Africa, standing at just 8 inches (20 centimeters)...

Feb 15, 2024

Fishing cats seen feasting on chicks at the tops of 26-foot-tall trees in Bangladesh

For the first time, scientists have spotted South Asian fishing cats climbing tall trees to raid bird nests — displaying a rare and highly unusual behavior. The researchers made the unexpected discovery using motion cameras set up in tree canopies in northeast Bangladesh, which captured 19 instances of nocturnal predation...

Feb 24, 2024

Why do cats have bald spots in front of their ears?

Cats are known for their fastidious grooming; their soft, thick coats seem to require their constant attention. But around the ears, their fur is much sparser. So why don't some cats have much fur there? And is it normal for cats to be a little bald around the ears? According...

Jul 26, 2023

Black bear caught napping in a bald eagle's giant nest on Alaska military base

A black bear has been caught napping in an unlikely spot: the nest of a bald eagle. Researchers came across the sleeping bear while surveying eagle nests on a military base in Alaska. Black bears (Ursus americanus) are known to occasionally take advantage of eagles' architectural work — and these...

Aug 23, 2023

'Polar bear capital of the world' soon to be overrun with record number of bears due to shifting sea ice

The world's unofficial polar bear capital, could see a record number of the white-furred visitors this year. Residents of Churchill, Canada, have already spotted an unusually high number of the bears in and around town, likely because of low sea ice. Around 900 people live in the Manitoba town. But...

Aug 31, 2023

Hungry bears invade and overrun abandoned city in Canada after wildfire evacuations

A Canadian city that was recently evacuated due to the threat of wildfires has been overrun by bears that swooped in to feed on the trash left behind when people abandoned their homes. On Aug. 16, Yellowknife in Canada's Northwest Territories was evacuated as wildfires blazed through much of the...

Sep 5, 2023

Grizzly bear filmed brutally mauling black bear in rare footage

A grizzly bear mauling the lifeless body of a black bear on a roadside in Canada was captured on video last week. The rare footage reveals what happens when the two predators collide. Videos showing the encounter were posted to Facebook on Aug. 30 by Susan Griffith from Dawson Creek...

Nov 8, 2023

Bear linked to multiple attacks in Japan found dead alongside its final victim

The body of a missing student in Japan has been found alongside the corpse of a bear that likely killed him. The bear is linked to a string of other attacks in the area and follows a trend of increased bear attacks in the country this year. On Nov. 2,...

Dec 6, 2023

Half-asleep bears are wandering around Siberia because it's too hot to hibernate

Bears in Siberia are wandering around half-asleep following abnormally high temperatures this fall, according to the Department for the Protection of Wildlife of the Amur Region. The bears are ready to hibernate, having accumulated the fat reserves needed to sleep through the winter, but warm temperatures in November have kept...