Author: chXout Team

Project Dakota Flyer, an operation set up by the Fish and Wildlife Service in the US, has been investigating the illegal selling of eagles and other protected birds in South Dakota. Eagle parts such as wings, head, feet and feathers are often illegally sold on the black market. This commercialisation of protected birds for the economic gain of illegal traders goes against the safeguarding of species such as the bald eagle and the golden eagle. Bald eagles were removed from the Endangered Species act in 2007 after intense population management resulted in a flourishing increase in the bird of preys population. This increase was due to the banning of the pesticide DDT which contaminated the birds prey, resulting in a great decline in population. Both the golden eagle and the bald eagle are protected by federal laws in the US to help prohibit the possession, use and sale of eagle feathers and parts that have been illegally obtained through means...

When you initially think of a species under threat, often your first thought would be to blame predation, poaching or habitat destruction. You don’t often think of inanimate objects as being a threat to wildlife. So then, why are bats often found dead or injured near buildings with smooth surfaces - a recent study published in the journal ‘Science’ has found the answer. Bats use echolocation to navigate around their environment and forage for food. They emit a call and listen to the resulting echo from nearby objects, thus allowing them to locate and/or avoid objects in their flight path. In modern architecture a lot of smooth, vertical surfaces such as mirrors and windows are affecting bats’ abilities to avoid collisions. The study found that of the 21 bats investigated, 19 collided into a vertical metal plate while none collided with horizontal objects. It appears that vertical surfaces, in the way they reflect an ‘echo’ trick the bats into thinking...

The hen harrier, a beloved resident of Scotland’s heathland, is reported to be at high risk of becoming extinct. Although figures in 2015 showed the greatest reported breeding success rate of the raptor, with 6 successful nests and 18 newly hatched chicks, the suspicious disappearance of 5 males resulted in nesting failures. According to the latest annual survey there has been a decline of 88 pairs (13%) over the last 6 years, despite suitable habitat environments for 300 breeding pairs. This alarming decline is attributed to the destruction of habitats, cold and wet weather conditions and illegal killings. Unfortunately, the hen harrier is a natural predator of the red grouse which causes conflict with the interests of gamekeepers and farmers. High numbers of hen harriers in moorlands owned by private landowners are associated with decreased red grouse density and therefore increased shootings in the interests of commercial estates. Despite being protected under both UK and National Law, it is often surmised...