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Dam it: Thousands of beavers are waddling north to the Arctic as the tundra heats up, a result of global warming. The portly animals might be cute to watch, but there are concerns about the impact beaver dams are having on water quality, the numbers of fish downstream of the dams, and access for boaters. It’s unknown exactly how many beavers have settled in northern and western Alaska, but estimates range from 50,000 to 100,000, the Guardian reports.
Shot by hunters: Twenty of Yellowstone National Park’s renowned gray wolves were killed by hunters in recent months after roaming out of the park. The killings—the most in more than 25 years—“are a significant setback for the species’ long-term viability and for wolf research,” officials tell the Associated Press. About 94 wolves remain in Yellowstone.
A healer for the unhoused: Across the nation, 10 percent to 25 percent of the people experiencing homelessness keep pets. Veterinarian Kwame Stewart walks the streets of Los Angeles, medical bag in hand, providing free care to pets in need. “These people are struggling but still very generous,” Stewart tells Smithsonian magazine.
It’s a 10! The year’s first snowfall has wreaked havoc in Washington, D.C., but some animals are enjoying the white stuff. At the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 16-month-old panda cub Xiao Qi Ji galloped across the snow before falling into a somersault. Check out his athletic abilities on the zoo’s Instagram account.
Using DNA to track down ‘hidden’ animals: There’s a new weapon to detect rare, invasive, or other elusive animals. Two research groups report that tiny fragments of DNA in the air can be used to identify the presence of different species, an approach that could be particularly useful in places such as caves and burrows, Smithsonian reports.
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