The North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed invasive zebra mussels in Lake Sakakawea's eastern portion after detecting larvae in routine sampling. Ben Holen, the department's aquatic nuisance species coordinator, reported two adult mussels near Highway 83 Embankment. Expanded surveys with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will delineate the infested area.
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust's Florida Keys Shark Depredation Project tracked lemon sharks during a 2026 cold spell, discovering they traveled hundreds of miles before returning to exact locations in Flamingo. The research reveals significant challenges for translocating conflict animals and demonstrates sharks' remarkable navigational capacity.
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources confirmed a live adult zebra mussel below the Westwater Recreation Area on the Colorado River in September, following earlier DNA detection. The Utah Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division and partner agencies are coordinating response efforts to prevent further spread of this aquatic invasive species threat.
TWRA biologists completed their second annual Benthic Blitz survey across 123 sites in the Upper Cumberland River Basin, discovering a robust population of the federally endangered Littlewing Pearlymussel (Pegias fabula). Led by biologists Brittany Bajo-Walker and Parker Hildreth, nearly 100 biologists from 28 partner organizations identified 74 benthic species and 14 species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks euthanized 14 black bears near Bozeman after investigators found them food-conditioned and habituated to human presence due to supplemental feeding at a residence. One cub was taken to FWP's Montana WILD facility for possible zoo placement. The agency emphasizes that state law prohibits feeding game animals and urges residents to secure attractants.
A brown pelican knocked on a NOAA building's door seeking help after becoming entangled in fishing line with a treble hook embedded in its wing and cactus spines in its foot. NOAA biologists safely removed the hook and monofilament line during a 10-minute procedure, and the bird was released unharmed. The incident highlights the dangers of improperly discarded fishing line to coastal wildlife.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is hosting free kokanee salmon viewing events at Strawberry Reservoir on September 19 and Fish Lake on September 26, where visitors can see the bright red fish during their fall spawning season. The fish are protected from September 10 to November 30.
Ten-year-old Vivi Veitch discovered freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) near Canyon Ferry Reservoir in Montana, which Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirmed. The species, native to eastern Asia, was last reported in Montana in 2009 near Great Falls and is harmless to humans.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries released 48,380 giant salvinia weevils into the Saline-Larto Complex in two separate releases as part of its integrated pest management strategy. The host-specific weevils feed on the invasive aquatic plant giant salvinia, with established populations helping suppress plant growth when combined with herbicide applications and monitoring.
Georgia DNR, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Savannah State University Dolphin Sciences Lab collaborated to rescue an entangled manatee off St. Simons Island. The adult female was freed from crab trap lines after a fishing guide reported the first documented manatee entanglement in Georgia.
FWC biologists reached a milestone by tagging the 1,000th smalltooth sawfish in Florida as part of a two-decade research effort led by Dr. Gregg Poulakis. The study, conducted in rivers including the Caloosahatchee and Peace River, aims to promote recovery of this endangered species through fin sampling and population health analysis.
Researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources discovered that lake sturgeon may live 90-427 years, far longer than the previously estimated 150 years, rivaling the Greenland shark's lifespan.
The AZGFD, U.S. Forest Service-Coconino National Forest, and Liberty Wildlife rescued a nine-week-old bald eagle that had swallowed a fish hook and monofilament line. After surgery and recovery, the eaglet was fostered into an active nest near Flagstaff. The incident highlights the importance of proper fishing line disposal to protect bald eagles and other wildlife.
Researchers from Yale University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History analyzed fossil evidence and DNA sequences to trace tuna and mackerel evolution. Their findings in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B suggest that endothermy evolved gradually over 30 million years, much later than previously thought, challenging earlier theories about rapid post-extinction adaptation.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has prohibited the importation, sale, and possession of pond slider turtles, including red-eared sliders, due to their invasive nature and threat to native species like painted turtles and endangered spotted turtles. Lead reptile and amphibian biologist Luke Groff explains that sliders outcompete native turtles and transmit diseases. Existing pet sliders acquired before July 1, 2025 may be kept.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department confirmed invasive zebra mussels in Horseshoe Lake, Richland County, after detecting veligers in plankton samples. Aquatic nuisance species coordinator Ben Holen noted follow-up sampling found additional adult mussels. Emergency rules prohibit water movement from the 275-acre lake.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources encourages drivers to slow down and report turtle sightings during nesting season from late May through July. The DNR's Wisconsin Turtle Conservation Program receives 600-1,000 annual reports to monitor turtle distribution and protect the state's 11 native turtle species from road mortality and illegal pet trade threats.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges drivers to watch for turtles crossing roads, especially near ponds and wetlands during peak nesting season in late May and June. Biologist Luke Groff emphasizes that helping turtles cross safely—while moving them in their intended direction—protects breeding females critical to population survival.
Florida's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) provides guidance on coexisting with American alligators and crocodiles, the only place in the world where both species live wild together. The article explains how to identify each species, their behaviors, and safety tips including keeping distance, securing pets, and never feeding these reptiles.
Research from William & Mary's Batten School & VIMS documents the Atlantic mangrove fiddler crab expanding northward into temperate salt marshes, reaching Beaufort, South Carolina—nearly 200 miles beyond its traditional Florida range. Rising ocean temperatures are driving this climate-induced range shift, with the species potentially reaching North Carolina within five years.