Animals news

• Doctors’ best friends: dogs will help sniff out bacteria for cystic fibrosis sufferers

  22-03-2025 16:15
  
  Imperial College project could lead to less invasive testing and combat increase in antibiotic resistanceJodie is a canine with special ­powers, scientists have discovered. The golden labrador can smell and ­identify ­particular bacteria and could soon play a key role in helping researchers develop a programme in which dogs could sniff out individuals infected with dangerous microbes.The project, recently launched by scientists at Imperial College London, could be vital in the battle
  
  Read more

• Young country diary: Here are the latest newts reports! | Bea

  22-03-2025 12:00
  
  South London: Ever since they left our pond last autumn I’ve dedicated my life to amphibians. Now I’m waiting for them to come backI’m sitting at the edge of the little pond in my garden, which is starting to show spring flowers, and there are buds appearing on our pear tree. I’m staring at the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of one of my newts.I didn’t always know all about newts. One day I was having a walk in the countryside when I came across a giant log.
  
  Read more

• Young country diary: A spiky surprise for the whole family | Robin

  22-03-2025 12:00
  
  Shropshire Hills: My dad accidentally picked up a hibernating hedgehog, and it (Gnasher) ended up living in our house for a couple of daysWe were tidying up the garden where we grow vegetables. Mum suddenly whispered, “Robin, come ’ere!” I went over and found her and Dad crouching over a hedgehog. It had been hibernating in some leaves and Dad had accidentally picked it up. He handed me a pair of thick gloves so that I could hold it, although I was scared to start with. It
  
  Read more

• Falconer ‘extremely close’ to catching hawk attacking Hertfordshire villagers

  22-03-2025 00:31
  
  Bird of prey’s violent reign in Flamstead could soon come to an end, according to parish council It stole two woolly hats from the head of a 91-year-old pensioner. It clawed a jogger’s scalp and left him reeling. It is said to swoop in from behind without making a sound, has a penchant for tall men’s heads and – so far – has evaded capture.But the violent reign of the Flamstead hawk, which has made men in the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead afraid to go out witho
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• ‘They’re smart now’: Australian fishers are on tenterhooks over shark encounters. Should swimmers be worried?

  22-03-2025 00:00
  
  Increasing run-ins between anglers and the ocean’s apex predators reflects a growing unease among beachgoers. But is widespread fear justified?Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastMoreton Bay charter boat deckhand Bryce Daly is starting to feel unsafe swimming the waters he’s grown up fishing.“You’ve always got a shark in the back of your mind,” the 32-year-old Jimboomba man says. Continue reading...
  
  Read more

Follow @newsloc_animals on Twitter!