Animals and Wildlife

The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country’s national bird.

Two healthy perentie lizards, native to Australia, have successfully hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo for the first time in the zoo’s history.  

The northern giant hornet, which was first found in the U.S. in 2019, has not been detected in three years, officials said. It posed a threat to honey bees, other pollinators and native insects.

Scientists suspect the first complete specimen ever recorded of the world’s rarest whale died from head injuries.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to add the butterfly to the threatened species list by the end of next year following an extensive public comment period.

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? Local shelters say they’re in need of pet food donations. This video was broadcast on the NBC4 News at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.

Los Angeles-based spcaLA pleaded for food donations and financial contributions as its shelters, overcrowded with big dogs, are running out of food.

California Live correspondent and proud alum of UC Berkeley, Blanche Shaheen, shares how some peregrine falcons started nesting on the university grounds, and captured the hearts of the staff and students. Blanche shares the story of the bond between these magnificent creatures and their human community.

A 5-year-old girl has died after being attacked by several dogs at a home in Covina on Sunday. 

A young girl in Covina has died after a dog attacked her at a home. This video was broadcast on the NBC4 News at 6 a.m. on Dec. 9, 2024. 

The oldest-known wild bird in the world has laid an egg at the ripe age of 74, her first in four years. The Pacific Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service says in a Facebook post that the long-winged seabird named Wisdom has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge at the northwestern edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago and...

A 150-million-year-old Stegosaurus fossil, known as “Apex”, will be on display at the American Museum of Natural History starting Dec. 8.

She said that felt something on her foot, only to look down to see a tiger snake slithering up her leg, according to Victoria state police.

Orcas were previously seen sporting salmon on their heads in the late 1980s, but it’s not clear what the behavior means.

A mountain lion rescued from Yucca Valley is now back in the wild after receiving months of treatment and care.

Scientists and culture experts in New Zealand have begun the first-ever dissection of a spade-toothed whale, the world’s rarest whale species.

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert has announced the loss of one of its oldest leopards.

Voting for the 2nd annual First Responder Paws Therapy Dog Award is underway, and a few local furry friends are on the list.

The Beverly Hills Police Department Tuesday asked people to vote for its K-9, who is nominated for a prestigious therapy dog award.

Kirk Rumford’s beloved husky Odin was killed by a Northbridge animal control officer investigating a report of a coyote in the area.