nature

From carrying their young for years to feeding their babies poop, some animal moms just go above and beyond.

The stingray it on the left, and the skate is to the right.

Skates lay black, ravioli-shaped egg cases. Rays give birth to live pups.

Utah is a hotspot for some amazing hikes.

Axolotls are cute and important to the environment.

Scientists in Mexico have found that axolotls bred in captivity can survive and thrive in their native habitat—which is great news for the species.

Who would have thought a woodpecker could be so destructive.

A territorial woodpecker has broken dozens of car mirrors in a bizarre springtime rampage.

A diver is about a meter behind the coelacanth discovered at a depth of 144 meters in North Maluku, Indonesia.

Researchers in Indonesia have filmed a rare coelacanth nearly 500 feet underwater—marking the first time the fish has been recorded in its native environment.

It’s more than a poetic name: the Blue Ridge Mountains really do appear blue, thanks to the human eye and Earth’s atmosphere.

Valerie proves that dachshunds are stronger than you might think.

After escaping during a 2023 vacation, miniature dachshund Valerie survived in the wilderness alone for over a year.

There’s a new reason to visit Chattanooga.

Chattanooga has come a long way from being one of the most polluted cities in the country to the U.S.’s first National Park City.

Use this map from the University of Connecticut to check if 17-year periodical cicadas will appear in your neighborhood soon.

Plastic pollution can have devastating consequences for national parks.

Plastic waste sullies national parks. This app can help clean it up.

A Scottish wildcat, likely with some domestic house cat mixed in.

These fluffy, scaly, and feathered friends will be missed.

Planning your next adventure? These national parks are campers’ top picks for stunning views and unforgettable hikes.

‘Why, yes, I am from Long Island! How did you know?’

Can a Boston dog bahk?

Researchers witness strange sea animals, including poisonous sea pigs and hand-sized sea spiders, while sailing to the Denman Glacier.

They might seem icky, but we can‘t live without them.

Flies aren’t just decomposers—they’re also pollinators and pest predators. Researchers shows it’s time to appreciate these misunderstood insects.

The Burj Khalifa takes center stage in this skyline view of Dubai.

Some travel photos come with a hefty price tag. See which destinations top the list of the priciest and most popular places to take a picture.

The web of a Darwin’s bark spider can span 82 feet.

India‘s Thar Desert is looking a little greener than this nowadays.

Thanks to increased accessibility to water and energy, the Thar Desert is now the most populated desert on Earth.

Many gopher tortoises withstood the Category 4 hurricane and are now adapting to new land.

After Hurricane Helene devastated Florida’s coast, gopher tortoise populations unexpectedly surged in one area.

Learn what these creatures are, why they appear, and if they’re safe to touch.

Plums are only one of the fruits that the grafted tree can grow.

Artist Sam Van Aken grafted a tree that grows dozens of fruit varieties from a single trunk.

If you‘d like more than a beach vacation, Fiji is the place for you.

The island nation is inviting travelers to donate some of their vacation to support local communities and environmental efforts.

History in the Making! Critically Endangered Galapagos Tortoises Hatch at Philadelphia Zoo!

A nearly century-old Galápagos tortoise welcomed four babies recently, boosting a critically endangered population.

11 Awesome Animal Kingdom Moms

Skates vs. Rays: What‘s the Difference?

The 10 Best Hiking Trails in the U.S.

Captive-Bred Axolotls Can Survive in the Wild, Sparking Hope for the Endangered Species

Locals Shield Their Cars From Vandal Woodpecker in Rockport, Massachusetts

Scientists Capture First Footage of Ancient Coelacanth in Its Natural Habitat

Why Are the Blue Ridge Mountains Blue?

“Impossible to Catch” Dachshund Lost in the Wilderness for 529 Days Is Finally Rescued

Chattanooga, Tennessee, Is Now the First National Park City in North America

Interactive Cicada Map Shows Where You Can See (and Hear) Brood XIV This Spring

This App Lets National Park Visitors Report Trash and Plastic Pollution

8 Animals That Recently Went Extinct

Do Animals Have Regional Accents?

Sea Pigs, Sea Spiders, and More Bizarre Creatures Collected Off Antarctica

Fly Migration Is Essential to Our Ecosystem, Study Finds

The 10 Most Expensive Tourist Photo Spots

Meet the Darwin’s Bark Spider, Weaver of the World’s Largest Webs

Indian’s Thar Desert Is Getting Greener, Thanks to Human Activity

A Florida Park’s Gopher Tortoise Population Exploded Thanks to Hurricane Helene

Thousands of Blue Blobs Wash Up in California, Signaling Spring

Temple University Welcomes Tree Bred to Grow 40 Different Fruits

Fiji Is Asking Tourists to ‘Give Back’ 1 Hour of Their Vacation

97-Year-Old Galápagos Tortoise Breaks Record as First-Time Mom