Yosemite has declared the start of its 2026 fire season and is urging visitors to follow campfire, smoking and parking rules as fuels dry. Park officials warn restrictions could tighten as conditions worsen.

Mentor’s council narrowly approved a $1.2M design contract to study shoreline protections at Mentor Lagoons. Officials say the design work will shape any future $40M construction ask to voters.

From the Yolo Causeway to downtown bridges, experts estimate about half a million bats stream out each night — a spectacular natural pest‑control force and a conservation challenge.

Multnomah County says Powell Butte has seen higher-than-normal tick counts this season; officials say risk is low but urge thorough checks and quick removal.

A beaver was filmed swimming near the Gansevoort Peninsula — the first confirmed beaver sighting in Hudson River Park’s estuarine sanctuary.

A viral Instagram Reel shows a Florida python remover wrestling a massive Burmese python in the Everglades as officials warn about the invasive species' toll.

Security-camera footage shows a mountain lion in a Scripps Highlands backyard; wildlife officials urge standing your ground and keeping pets indoors.

A female bear, roughly 250 pounds, was struck and killed on I‑25 at Jackson Creek Parkway in Monument. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recovered the animal Friday morning.

A mountain lion was seen in Old Town Pasadena near Del Mar and Euclid, prompting a shelter-in-place advisory and a wildlife response.

Rescuers say discarded fishing line and trap gear are tangling more bottlenose dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon, putting calves and adults at risk. Experts urge anglers to secure line and report entangled animals.

City officials and volunteers highlighted new beach access, shoreline cleanups and a City Council resolution to join the Swimmable Cities movement. The post frames river access as a civic priority.

A Diamond Bar 9-year-old had a close call when a four‑foot rattlesnake appeared at his doorstep. Neighbors captured and released the snake and the child was unharmed.

A 1.2-mile section of the Great Allegheny Passage beneath Kennywood will close for most of July while crews shore up a landslide-prone hillside. Trail managers urge checking alerts before you ride.