Tag: Urban Wildlife
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Curbing the Stink: Practical Ways to Tackle Cormorants on Toronto Islands
Understanding the problem The double-crested cormorants that roost on the Toronto Islands have become a local concern for residents, visitors, and park managers. While these birds are a natural part of wetland ecosystems, their regular roosting and feeding patterns can create two distinct challenges: a strong, persistent odor from guano and droppings, and the acidic…
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Curbing the Stink: How Toronto Islands Can Balance Cormorant Challenges
Introduction: A Growing Problem for Toronto Islands Double-crested cormorants are a familiar sight along the Great Lakes, but their increasing presence on the Toronto Islands has sparked a new kind of controversy. Their droppings are not only odiferous and unsightly; the acidic urine and droppings can bleach and damage trees, leaving shorelines and picnic areas…
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Hippos in St Lucia: Adorable Roadblocks in a South African Town
When Hippos Take Over the Road In the coastal town of St Lucia, South Africa, a day could start with sunlit shores and tranquil skies—until a herd of hippos decides to move through town. These massive, surprisingly agile semi-aquatic mammals have a habit of appearing where people least expect them, turning calm streets into slow-moving…
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Bat boxes may become deadly roosts in heat, study warns
Overview: bat boxes under heat stress Artificial roosts for bats, commonly known as bat boxes, are a favored conservation tool in urban areas where hollow trees are scarce. They offer shelter for several species and help keep native bats connected to human-dominated landscapes. However, new research published in the Journal of Experimental Biology raises a…
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Splatatouille: A Squirrel Rather Than a Rat Debunked by Science
What was once a quirky urban mystery On a damp stretch of West Roscoe Street in Chicago, a peculiar imprint in the concrete captured the public imagination. Dubbed “Splatatouille” in a light-hearted public naming contest, the footprint-like mark suggested something extraordinary had fallen onto wet pavement. The image spread across social media in 2024, prompting…
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Splatatouille: ResearchersIdentify Chicago’s Famous Memento as a Squirrel
Unraveling a Mysterious Mark on West Roscoe Street What began as a quirky urban legend—the so-called “Splatatouille” imprint—has now been given a scientific label. In a study published in Biology Letters, researchers from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, argue that the famous hole in Chicago’s sidewalk was most likely made by an eastern gray squirrel,…
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Chicago Splatatouille Squirrel: researchers reveal unlikely culprit behind famous sidewalk imprint
Unraveling a Chicago Mystery: The Splatatouille Impostor The peculiar footprint etched onto wet concrete on West Roscoe Street in Chicago captured the public imagination for decades. Known affectionately as the “Splatatouille” imprint, the mark inspired mystery, humor, and public debates about what creature could have left such a distinctive, elongated track. A recent scholarly turn,…
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Bears in Urban Areas Linked to Solar Farms: A Growing Concern
Introduction The recent surge in bear sightings in urban areas, particularly in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region, has raised alarm among residents and authorities alike. Many attribute this phenomenon to the proliferation of megasolar facilities that are encroaching on natural bear habitats. Social media platforms have become a hotbed for discussions surrounding the implications of…
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The Rising Urban Bear Encounters Linked to Mega Solar Farms
Urban Bear Encounters on the Rise In recent years, cities in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region of Japan have seen a disturbing increase in bear sightings. These encounters, often alarming residents, have raised questions about how urban development and environmental changes might be influencing wildlife behavior. The Mega Solar Farm Controversy Amidst this backdrop, social…
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Impact of Mega Solar Plants on Urban Bear Sightings
Introduction In recent months, there has been a noticeable rise in bear sightings in urban areas, particularly in Hokkaido and the Tohoku region of Japan. Many locals and environmentalists have pointed fingers at the proliferation of large-scale solar power plants, known as mega solar facilities, claiming they disrupt natural habitats and push wildlife into urban…