Latest news with #Yahoo News
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Incredible Australian footage reveals new predator killing city rats
Incredible footage has captured the moment a 1kg native Australian predator attacked a 200g invasive black rat. The aggressor in the video is a rakali, a semi-aquatic native rodent species that's learned how to attack other feral species, including carp and poisonous cane toads. Jenna Bytheway, a senior researcher at Sydney University, led an investigation into the footage, telling Yahoo News she is excited to see the rakali is showing clear signs of actually hunting the smaller rodent as prey. 'Rakali tend to be ambush predators when they're hunting on land or at the water's edge," she said. "In the video, you see it sitting and waiting, and then ambushing. And that suggests it may have been a predatory attack.' There's little chance that a fixed trail camera would have caught an attack like this unless it was happening regularly. And while it's not known if the rakali caught the black rat, a simple attack could impact the abundance of the pests. 'Given the size and aggressive nature of the rakali compared to the black rat, the impacts and the effects of fear can also reduce the number of rats in an area and change how they behave,' Bytheway said. Could rakali help fight $390 billion invasive species problem? The interaction was captured on the banks of Sydney Harbour in 2011 and then archived. But the researchers decided it was time to release the footage now because rakali are facing mounting threats, including the rapid spread of rat lungworm through Queensland and NSW, which originated in southeast Asia and is carried by introduced rats and snails. Habitat destruction, pollution, and poisoning from common household baits commonly sold at hardware stores and supermarkets are also killing off this important species. Despite being found in populated areas along Australia's east coast, very little is known about rakali. And more research would be required to determine how widespread their impact is on invasive species. CSIRO research indicates invasive species have cost Australia more than $390 billion in the last 60 years to 2021. Rats alone continue to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to the agriculture sector every year. But using second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides to tackle them is killing off the nation's wildlife, including owls and eagles. And scientists are increasingly looking towards natural methods of control, like attracting owls to paddocks to eat rats. Incredible discovery at market after common fish purchase Wild photo shows hidden danger in mud Calls for action as road safety project remains incomplete after five years Bytheway is hopeful that one day, rakali could play a role too. But before that, funding would be required to confirm that what happened in the video wasn't a unique occurrence. 'If we can conserve rakali as a native species, not only will they be performing a vital role in the environment, they might be reducing the impacts of invasive species like black rats, cane toads and invasive fish. It's a win-win for everyone,' Bytheway said. The research has been published in the journal Australian Mammalogy and featured in The Conversation. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Late night encounter in suburban car park highlights issue that 'should concern everyone'
A late-night encounter in a suburban car park with an invasive predator has exposed a growing problem, which one Aussie warns should be a concern to "everyone". Western Sydney resident Gabriel was taking a stroll after dark when he came across an incredibly brazen fox. While the sighting itself is a common occurrence in urban spaces, what surprised the wildlife enthusiast was just how tame the invasive predator appeared to be. "I went for a walk, and when I was in the car park of Valentine Park, I saw this fox," Gabriel told Yahoo News of the encounter in Glenwood earlier this week. "I thought it would have seen me and run away, but it let me get really close, and even came sniffing for food. It was really tame, I believe, because it's in a suburb, it's become accustomed to humans." Prolific fox populations affect major cities across the country, with urban areas like Sydney, Melbourne and Perth hosting some of the highest populations in the country due to their availability of food, water and shelter. There are an estimated 1.7 million foxes in Australia, according to the Australian National University. "Foxes are one of the worst invasive species that we have here for many reasons," said Gabriel. "They adapt very well to almost everywhere, eat most food, they're smart and cunning, and they've made their home in the Sydney suburbs. "It should be a concern to everyone," he said. Reason foxes are a big problem in Australia Reacting to the footage, fox population management specialist Gillian Basnett told Yahoo that it's likely this one has been "fed by people before". "It is definitely not a good idea to feed foxes, both because they are a declared pest and have significant impacts on wildlife and pets and cause a nuisance, but also because if they become used to being fed and less scared of people, the risk of attack increases," she said. "It might be that they are more visible at the moment because they are searching out mates and den sites at this time of year," she explained. Growing populations of foxes have a major impact on wildlife, and are contributing to the speeding up of native animal loss in our cities, along with human activity. There have been several sightings in cities in recent months, with one Melbourne fox affectionately named 'Frédérique', by locals. Another fox was photographed standing in the middle of a busy Perth intersection in the middle of the day, not long after local authorities revealed the predators had killed 300 turtles in an ecologically significant set of wetlands over the span of a year. Basnet explained that managing foxes in urban areas is difficult due to the lack of access to management tools in heavily populated areas. "What we do know is that if we can remove/reduce the available food then we can reduce their numbers," she said. "There is a lot of food available in cities from rubbish, pet food, fruit, compost, discarded food and tips." 🚘 Predator spotted on Aussie road exposes sinister reality 🐢 Aussie council under pressure as iconic species ravaged by predator 📸 Sad story behind image of emu toes amid Australia's invasive species crisis How Aussies can help reduce fox populations Everyday Aussies can help reduce fox populations in cities by restricting access to food. Don't leave pet food outside overnight Use enclosed compost bins Keep domestic animals secure at night Remove fallen fruit around fruit trees Keep garbage bins covered Block entry points to drains Close off access to underneath buildings Use fox-proof enclosures for poultry, remember foxes dig and can climb Turn off outside lights that might attract insects Reduce weeds that provide food and shelter, such as Blackberries Record sightings in FoxScan. Deterrents need to be intermittent as they will habituate quickly. E.g. sensor spotlights rather than lights on all the time. Have gardens with lots of plants that wildlife can hide in, grasses, shrubs, rocks, logs, etc. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie snorkeller's deadly find 'cruising' in popular rock pool
A seasoned snorkeller was stunned to spot a small, deadly creature "cruising around" the rock pool he was exploring, telling Yahoo News he may likely "never see one again in my life" despite spending hours of his time under the waves. Scott Gutterson has been diving the waters off Kiama on NSW's South Coast for eight years and, despite getting up close and personal with rays, sharks, and even finding a message-in-a-bottle, he was still overjoyed to find a blue-lined octopus earlier this month. The octopus is one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean. "It was like a 50-cent-sized rock that wasn't moving... I must have got too close because it got defensive and its colour changed a lot," he told Yahoo. It was the distinctive blue lines that drew Scott's attention to the octopus, a clear warning sign from the creature not to get any closer. The blue-lined octopus, a species of the more commonly known blue-ringed octopus, carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes. However, they are usually very timid. Their bite is small and often painless, often only occurring if the creature is picked up. There have been at least three documented deaths and multiple near-fatalities from blue-ringed octopuses, according to the Australian Museum. 👀 Warning to always 'check rock pools' after little boy's deadly beach encounter 😲 Boy's innocent beach mistake with deadly blue-ringed octopus 🥲 Woman pictured 'playing with death' on beach holiday Deadly creature 'hard to spot' in Aussie waters Due to their size and timid nature, few snorkellers are lucky enough to come across blue-lined octopuses in the wild. Scott explained one of his mates has regularly snorkelled at known habitats around Kiama in search of the species, but has left without so much as a glimpse. "My friend has literally gone to places where they know blue octopuses are there, and hasn't been able to find them. They're very little creatures that are hard to spot at the best of times... That's why it was pretty cool to see," he said, explaining he revisited the rock pool twice after the octopus encounter to try to find it again, but had no luck. "It caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to see one in the rock pool that day," Scott said. He explained there was great visibility in the shallow rock pool, and his excitement caused people to gather above him, with one passerby even snapping a shot of Scott with the octopus. "To see this little guy just cruising past... it was just amazing." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Confronting moment endangered manta ray is pulled from ocean for aquarium trade
Denis Richard, who was leading a tour off Florida, told Yahoo News his group was 'totally outraged' when they saw fishermen pull the manta ray aboard. Video transcript This is the confronting moment an endangered manta ray was hauled out of the ocean, right in front of a stunned tour group. Dennis Richard, who was leading a tour group off Florida, told Yahoo News his group was totally outraged when they saw the fishermen pull the manta ray aboard. Richard said it took them over a half hour to bring the manta ray to the boat. I was yelling at them, asking if they were going to release the animal, and they said, no, we have a permit. Richard believes the manta ray was being acquired for the commercial aquarium trade and is now concerned about the animals' welfare following the stressful event. However, he says there was one upside, adding, it was enlightening for the tourists. I'm glad they could witness it, so they can do something with their outrage. They can investigate, they can talk to their friends, their representatives about an injustice that allows the capture of endangered species, especially for public display.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Yahoo
Suspected methanol poisoning survivor calls for major change after friend's death
Bethany Clarke lost her childhood best friend, Simone White, after the pair drank spirits poured for them at a hostel while holidaying in Laos in November 2024. Video transcript A survivor of a suspected methanol poisoning is urging international airports to raise public awareness over the risks of potential alcohol poisoning at popular travel destinations. Bethany Clark lost her childhood best friend Simone White after the pair drank spirits poured for them at a hostel while holidaying in Laos in November 2024. Ever since, Bethany has been campaigning to get better education out there for young Aussies. She believes posters and leaflets at international airports would go a long way in helping travellers make informed choices and ultimately would save lives. Speaking to Yahoo News, Bethany said, I can't see the harm in having messaging in the majority of international airports. I just think it would be a sensible, very cost-effective idea. People aren't reading the news, but if you're flying out of an airport, you're probably going to sit on a toilet, put posters on cubicle doors. Bethany admitted she knew little of the risks before flying to Laos, where 6 people died after drinking alcohol suspected to be contaminated with methanol. Adding, if somebody's pouring out of a bottle in a bar within a hostel setting and you've had a look at the reviews and no one has had a bad experience, I suppose you think I'm safe, and that's the trouble. She believes having airports and airlines opting to easy messaging will be a quick way to raise awareness and have a lasting impact.
