Humpbacks Whales Leap Off Endangered Species List

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Apr 22, 2015

The majestic humpback whales have something else to sing about.

Thanks to the banning of commercial whaling nearly 50 years ago and vigorous conservation efforts, most of the world’s humpback populations have returned from the brink. On Monday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries (NOAA) suggested removing those groups from the Endangered Species List.

NOAA scientists divide the species into 14 distinct and independent populations around the globe. Ten of these, including clans off the coasts of Hawaii, Alaska and Baja, California are recommended for de-listing.

Zero Poaching of Rhinos and Tigers in Nepal Last Year

“The return of the iconic humpback whale is an Endangered Species Act success story,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries in a press release.

Hunted for their oil and meat during the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of humpback whales declined drastically. It became one of the first animals listed as endangered by the U.S. federal government in 1973.

Conservation efforts eventually paid off: careful monitoring, educating vessels on safe boating, reducing casualties due to fishing gear–all helped ensure safer waters for the whale. Even if de-listed, the humpback will remain under the protection of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

How You Can Help Protect Endangered Frogs

Humpbacks now join a stellar list of other species protected, then removed, from the endangered list, including gray whales, bald eagles, brown pelicans, peregrine falcons, and wood storks, among many others.

(WATCH a report hailing the whale news via KGTV) – Photo credit: NOAA

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Once a Desert, Ethiopia Turns Wasteland Into Fertile Farms

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Terry Turner

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Apr 22, 2015

The Ethiopian desert, full of drought and famine just a generation ago, is turning green with crops. Thousands of villagers are taking up ancient tools to transform the desert into a terraced landscape that acts like a giant irrigation engine to drive the growth of thriving vegetable farms.

The terraces trap the desert’s rare rainfall, forcing it to soak into the ground slowly instead of running off the land carrying away topsoil in flash floods. Portions of Ethiopia’s Tigray province have also banned free range grazing livestock which used to devour plants needed to kept soil in place. Eucalyptus and acacia trees have made a comeback, their strong roots reinforcing the soil.

Even the deep ravines cut by past flash floods have been repurposed to put water back into the sandy soil. Villagers have built dams along the length of the ravines, forcing water to flow more slowly and collect in large pools.

“We’ve built 85 of these check-dams so far,” Aba Hawi, community leader in one of the province’s villages, told the BBC. “These mini-reservoirs fill up during the rains and are fed by groundwater in times of drought. Now, every farmer has a well.”

And they don’t have to dig those wells nearly as deep to reach water. A decade ago, a farmer would have had to dig 50 feet down to hit water, but today it’s only about 10 feet.

A forthcoming film, Tigray Rising, documents the amount of progress in converting wasteland to farmland. The World Resources Institute estimates more than 600,000 acres of desert have been reclaimed in Ethiopia’s Tigray province, with farms turning out three crops each year of potatoes, corn and other produce. The country has a goal of reclaiming more than 37 million acres by 2030.

(WATCH the documentary trailer below or READ the full story at BBC)

Dutch Man Cleans Up Entire River Bank On His Daily Commute to Work

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Terry Turner

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Apr 22, 2015

Tired of having the beautiful river view along his route to work spoiled by mounting trash on the bank, a Dutch man decided to start picking up litter during his daily commute.

“It took me about 30 minutes to fill one garbage bag with trash, but one bag doesn’t make a dent in a place as polluted as this,” Tommy Kleyn said of the stretch of river in Rotterdam, Netherlands. “I vowed to fill one bag of trash each day as I passed this spot.”

Klein photographed his progress, mapped it on a Facebook Page. He was able to clear a short stretch of the river bank by himself in six days and, soon, people on the nearby bike path were joining him and his friends to collect a total of 22 bags of litter.

“The idea is to motivate people to fill one garbage bag with litter each year,” he posted to Imgur. “It only takes 30 minutes, it really makes a difference and you will be amazed about how good you feel afterwards.”

After reading his posts about cleaning up the river bank, people in Skagen, Denmark, picked up more than a ton of plastic waste from their beach. And back along the riverbank, Kleyn got an unexpected reward — a Eurasian Coot started nesting in the stretch of the river he cleaned.

His story, pictures and quotes are on the photo-share site, Imgur.

7-yo Star Wars Fan Asks George Lucas If Jedis Can Marry, Gets Great Answer

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Kristy Cooper

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Apr 22, 2015

A seven-year-old super fan of the Star Wars saga was concerned about the “no marriage” rule for Jedis, so he sent a letter to George Lucas and asked if it could be changed.

MORE: Boy Who Emptied Piggy Bank For Vandalized Mosque Gets Big Surprise

Colin Gilpatric wrote to the legendary creator and was surprised to get a thoughtful reply from his studio Lucasfilm:

“It sounds like the Force is strong with you, and you are showing great wisdom by asking your question. To be a Jedi is to truly know the value of friendship, of compassion, and of loyalty, and these are values important in a marriage. The Sith think inward, only of themselves. When you find someone that you can connect to in a selfless way, then you are on the path of the light, and the dark side will not take hold of you. With this goodness in your heart, you can be married.

We enclosed a few gifts that we hope you enjoy. Thank you again for writing to us. May the Force Be With You!”

The boy loved the Star Wars swag, but got more excited when he got his answer. “I can get married!” he exclaimed. “George Lucas is so nice!”

MORE: Teen Volunteer Wins $70,000 SUV in Charity Raffle, Then Stuns Crowd

His mother, Peggy, shot a cute video of Colin opening the package.

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For Earth Day, Thousands of Condoms “Protect” Endangered Species

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Good News Network

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Apr 22, 2015

Is it too ironic that endangered species would be united snugly with the cause of preventing unwanted pregnancies? Not for the Center for Biological Diversity, which every year highlights the link between population growth and species extinction by giving away tens of thousands of condoms decorated with endangered animals and quirky slogans.

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Across the country today, 500 volunteers will give away 50,000 free Endangered Species Condoms at Earth Day events and on campuses across the country, and in venues from tea shops to tattoo parlors.
“Nothing sparks a conversation like handing someone a condom, especially when it comes with a slogan like ‘Before it gets hotter…remember the sea otter,’” said Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center.

More than a half million Endangered Species Condoms have been distributed since 2009 at events like Earth Day and World Population Day, and on Valentines Day.

Since the first Earth Day in 1970, global population has nearly doubled, while wildlife populations have plummeted. The Center’s campaign promotes universal access to family planning, contraception and reproductive healthcare, education and empowerment for women and girls.

Sadly, you can’t buy ’em anywhere–you’ll just have to get lucky.

Long Separated Brother and Sister Are Reunited… After Matching on Tinder!

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Apr 22, 2015

After being separated during their parents’ divorce 16 years ago, and failed attempts at searching for his sister online, Erik de Vries swiped right on Josephine Egbert.

They flirted their way through several quick conversations using the dating app Tinder—until they realized they were being reunited for a reason.

“The first time I swiped her profile I had absolutely no idea,” de Vries told Mic. “In our next conversation, I started to get some clues and figured she might actually be my sister.

He asked her to share about her past, and when they met up in a cafe in Tilberg, they knew it was a “match.”

We’re not quite sure how neither of them caught wind of the physical resemblance right away, but through the happy ‘mistake,’ Josephine was additionally reunited with her other brother, Maarten, Erik’s twin, who said, “It’s too crazy for words.”

They are planning more visits between Holland and Belgium to rekindle family ties.

(READ more in News Australia)

[Correction: An earlier version featured a photo that was misidentified by European media, the actual subject of which has laughed, and called his photo’s usage ‘Twinder-gate.’]

Military Dad Photobombs Son’s School Picture (WATCH)

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McKinley Corbley

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Apr 21, 2015

Best. Photobomb. Ever.

When Joshua Bass posed for his third-grade school picture, he thought it would be just another yearbook photo– little did he know that a very special someone was sneaking into the shot behind him.

After Joshua said “cheese,” the photographer gave him a chance to see the photo–which showed his prankster dad in the background. After a few seconds of confusion over his father’s apparition on the camera’s screen, the photographer remarked with a chuckle that the boy should turn around.

Army Corporeal James Bass had made the school his first stop after returning from being stationed overseas in Kuwait for a little less than a year.

Check out the video above, to see how Father’s Day came early for this little cutie.

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Color Us Thrilled: Kraft Mac-and-Cheese Nixes Artificial Dyes

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Terry Turner

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Apr 21, 2015

A staple of childhood meals is about to get a new look as Kraft Macaroni & Cheese in the U.S. will no longer be made with artificial preservatives or synthetic colors. Reacting to mounting consumer pressure for more natural food choices, Kraft says the artificial ingredients will be gone starting in January. But the company says the familiar taste of their mac-and-cheese will stay the same.

“We weren’t ready to change the product until we were confident that Kraft Macaroni & Cheese tastes like Kraft Macaroni & Cheese,” the company said in a statement.

Kraft said it’s been thinking about making the changes for some time based on customers’ concerns. In 2013, Good News Network reported on Kraft’s decision to remove food dyes from its kids-specific cartoon-shaped mac-and-cheese products, after 350,000 people signed a petition started by food blogger Vani Hari. Hari has kept up the pressure and declared victory after Kraft’s announcement yesterday.

“The thousands of letters I have received from parents whose children have benefited from the removal of artificial food dyes are ringing in my ear this morning,” she posted. “We finally did it.”

Kraft’s statement said parents are increasingly focused on better nutrition and simpler ingredients, but the company promises the new recipe will not change the flavor of the popular American comfort food.

“We’ve been working tirelessly to find the right recipe that our fans will love,” said Triona Schmelter, Vice President of Marketing.

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography (CC)

Kermit Lives: New Frog Species Looks Just Like Him

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Good News Network

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Apr 21, 2015

Which came first, the Muppett, or Diane’s Bare-Hearted Glass Frog?

The eerie similarities between Jim Henson’s Kermit the Frog and a new species discovered in Costa Rica could be just coincidence, but we like to imagine a more familial link.

Seriously, though, the similarity in the eyes is uncanny.

Brian Kubicki, founder of the Costa Rican Amphibian Research Center (CRARC), discovered the new species in the jungle, and named the frog after his mother, rather than the most popular green puppet of all time.

What’s really cool is the fact that the skin on his stomach is transparent, giving us all the opportunity to take a good look at his internal organs–feel free to verify that it’s not just someone’s hand up there.

Hyalinobatrachium dianae has been documented online, including a special mention of his horizontally-shaped pupil and its resemblance to a certain someone.

(WATCH a video below from the Telegraph) – Story tip from Heather Ferreira / Photo credit: CRARC

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Winner of Boat Hands Over Keys to Less Fortunate Fisherman

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Terry Turner

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Apr 21, 2015

Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but give a man a new bass boat you’ve just won, and everyone will give you a standing ovation.

Fred McMahon became the ultimate good Samaritan at a fishing competition in Jasper, Texas right after he won a tricked-out Triton bass boat in a drawing at the event’s finale.

Like most of the other fishermen in the Big Bass Splash tournament, McMahon had fished from a boat in Lake Sam Rayburn. But he’d learned that one man, Albert Jenkins, had competed all three days in the tournament fishing from the dock because he had no boat. McMahon decided to turn the keys over to his fellow fisherman, on the spot.

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“I thought I would never do this,” McMahon wrote in a Facebook post after giving the boat to Jenkins. “I feel blessed.”

The announcement brought people to their feet cheering.

“Fred McMahon, you truly are an inspiration to others and an angel in my eyes,” Nicole Sealy of Sealy Outdoors, the tournament’s creator, wrote on the Big Bass Facebook page the next day. “Thank you for making Dreams Come True! Congratulations Mr. Albert Jenkins and hope you enjoy your new boat.”

(SEE pics of the giveaway moment from KJAS News) – Photo credit: Fred McMahon’s Facebook Page

This Bicycle With Roll Cage Could Save Your Life in Collisions With Cars

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Terry Turner

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Apr 21, 2015

In a collision between a 40-ton semi and a bicycle, it’s pretty obvious who’s going to come out on top. But a new bike promises to let its riders walk away from a crash like that. The stand-out feature on the Babel Bike is something inventor Crispin Sinclair calls the “safety cell” — a roll-cage built around a safety seat complete with seat belts.

“The safety cell is physically large enough so as not to get under the front or side of large vehicles, so the Babel Bike (and rider) will be pushed away by the bus or truck, not crushed by it,” Sinclair says in a promotional video for the bike.

Sinclair and his team of designers have piled on other safety features for the bike including built-in lights that come on as soon as you start peddling, turn signals, brake lights, foot protectors, mirrors and a horn as loud as a car’s. Sinclair believes that if people have a bike that can protect them from collisions with cars, trucks and buses, more people will switch to bikes for the commute to work. But it won’t come cheaply. The Babel Bike costs around $3,000 — $4,400 for one with an electric-assist motor.

“It will work out less than you would currently pay to commute by car, bus or train, assuming an average commute of three miles or more each way,” Sinclair says. “When you own the Babel Bike outright, your daily commutes are completely free. And you won’t need to go to the gym or for a run afterwards, as you will have built your exercise into your daily commute.”

You might even be able to do chin-ups on the roll bar.

The bike isn’t on the market yet but Sinclair and his team say they have secured contracts with factories in China and Taiwan to deliver the first bikes in May, 2016 to customers who pre-order on his Indiegogo fundraising page.

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The Most Inclusive Playground in the Country Opens – And it’s Magical

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Good News Network

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Apr 21, 2015

Where can a blind child, a child in a wheelchair, a sister with autism or brother with Down syndrome play with other families equally, and be part of their community? The Magical Bridge Playground.

In Palo Alto, the most innovative and inclusive–and expensive– playground in the country opened on Saturday. It’s a wonderland for young and old alike where there are no barriers to fun.

The idea was birthed by a mother (of course). Olenka Villareal had to drive 12 miles and pay $150 so her child with developmental disabilities could play on a swing.

It took six years of planning, but this mom raised $4 million, most of it privately, to bring the Magical Bridge Playground to life.

Some of the features include an entirely smooth surface – no sand or mulch to limit access to wheels or walkers – overly large safety swings and slides, merry-go-rounds built at ground level for wheelchairs, and lazy boy swings for parents to gently rock kids in their arms.

(WATCH the videos below or READ the story at KTVU)

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New Device Gives Early Warning of Asthma Attack in Kids

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Good News Network

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Apr 20, 2015

Matt Fischer has been an asthmatic all his life. He remembers having fun with childhood friends one minute, then suddenly being laid out on the ground trying to breathe the next. That feeling of being helpless is what he and co-founder Dan Kirk are hoping to remedy with a start-up company that provides families with control over their children’s asthma.

Their new device, called Control A+, analyzes environmental and internal risk factors in order to predict when a child is at high risk for having an asthmatic attack.

Here’s how it works: first, a representative makes a home visit to inspect the house. While the rep is there, they’ll drop off a toy-like medical device that measures lung function and a wall unit that collects indoor and outdoor environmental data.

After calculating data on the day’s environmental risk factors and the child’s lung capacity, the system sends a report to the child’s doctor, push notifications to parents, and a list of recommended activities for the child. So far, Fischer been able to identify 72 potential risk factors to consider, weather and pollen count among them.

The kit is not quite finished, and a partnership with a medical device manufacturer will be necessary to bring it to market, according to Fast Company.

Control A+ competed in the Verizon Powerful Answers Competition and were invited to be a part of the Verizon Innovation Center. This video was created as a result.

With Fins Off the Menu, A Glimmer of Hope for Sharks

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Good News Network

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Apr 20, 2015

For decades, the decline of sharks – sought for their fins and meat – has been staggering. But bans on finning and new attitudes in Asia toward eating shark fin soup are leading to optimism about the future for these iconic ocean predators.

Along with the economic boom in China and other Asian countries came the ability for millions to afford shark fin soup. As more sharks were harvested to feed that appetite, it became clear to scientists how vital these top-predators were for the entire ocean ecosystem – from algae to sea-grass, turtles to tuna.

In the last year, there’s been some good news leading conservationists to believe that the tide for struggling sharks, at last, may be turning.

Man Expertly Grabs Pelican to Save it From Almost Certain Death (WATCH)

Global fin trade is declining. The U.S., European Union, and India, along with close to 100 other nations from the Mideast to the Caribbean, have banned finning — the practice of catching sharks solely to harvest fins. Some of those countries, like New Zealand, were huge exporters.

China, Hong Kong and Malaysia have all banned the soup at government functions, five hotel chains have taken it off their menus and 26 airlines have refused to transport shark fins. On a recent survey in China 85% of respondents said they no longer ate shark fin soup. In fact, so many people have lost their appetite for shark, that the fins are as cheap as squid — essentially destroying the market for them in some parts of China.

Transforming Lion Killers into ‘Lion Guardians’ in Africa

A preeminent marine biologist praised a turnaround in US fisheries management in the last decade, saying officials have basically altered their direction on shark management 180 degrees, calling new policies “among the best in the world.” Sharks are also bolstered by pledges from 205 marinas and 103 other businesses around the globe to forbid or discourage the offloading of dead sharks.

Even as sharks recover in some waters they’re getting hammered when they migrate to countries that don’t manage them, so nations and conservationists need to continue pushing for tough regulations to make sure the tide keeps turning for these crucial top-level predators.

(Source: Yale 360, March 2015, from a feature by Ted Williams) – Photo by Travel Bag Ltd (travelbag.co.uk), CC license

Touching the Mona Lisa: Now the Blind Can Enjoy Art Masterpieces Too

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Terry Turner

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Apr 20, 2015

Blind and other visually impaired people are finally getting to enjoy some of the world’s greatest paintings in a first of it’s kind exhibition. “Touching the Prado” turned six great master works into three-dimensional, textured reliefs that people can touch and feel at the Prado Museum in Madrid.

The paintings, including the Mona Lisa, were reproduced using a process it’s creators at Dureo Studios call “Didu.” It’s a relief printing technique that turns high resolution photos of the paintings into layered textures, defining faces, clothing, plants and other subjects in the paintings into something the blind can touch and feel.

“For me, Didu is another way to see, a way of connecting with the world of images,” a blind man named Ruben said in a video about the exhibit and process.

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“My fingers are my eyes,” Ruben said. “Everything I perceive with my fingers, all the information they gather, helps me to learn, to compose the image that up to now I couldn’t grasp.”

It takes 40 hours to create a Didu painting, layering special inks and chemically treating parts of the panels to create raised, 3-D textures. The final step requires matching the colors of the originals to give the reproductions the same look as the originals. Braille and audio descriptions accompany the works to guide visitors through the exhibit.

“The Prado Museum is (now) within everyone’s reach,” said Ruben.

(READ more, w/ photos, from Web Urbanist)

Fatal Crashes for Teen Drivers Down 55 Percent in the US

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Good News Network

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Apr 20, 2015

The number of drivers between the ages of 16–19 involved in fatal automobile crashes in the United States has plummeted by 55% over the ten year period, 2004-2013.

The report released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention credits several factors for cutting the number from 5,724 annually to 2,568.

The reasons cited:

– graduated driver licensing programs, which can limit teen driving at night or restrict teenage passengers
– safer vehicles
– teens waiting until they are older to drive (crash risks are highest for the youngest teen drivers)
– teens driving less overall

(Read the details from the CDC)

Photo credit: Sylvar (CC)

In Indonesia People Can Trade Trash for Free Health Care

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Terry Turner

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Apr 20, 2015

Patients in Indonesia can trade recyclable trash for doctor visits in a clever plan to get affordable medical care to people in rural villages.

Three in every five Indonesians have no health insurance and with no money to pay for doctors, they put off medical care allowing easily treated illnesses to turn into major problems. Dr. Gamal Albinsaid looked for a substitute for money– something people already had that they could trade for health care. He didn’t have to look much farther than Indonesia’s trash-strewn streets.

“There’s garbage everywhere on the ground,” he said, according to Fast Company. “So we decided to use garbage as a financial resource.” Only about half the trash produced in Indonesia is collected, which creates health problems and allows tons of valuable recyclables to go to waste.

Albinsaid created Garbage Clinical Insurance to take in trash, sell it to recyclers and use the money to pay for health care. Four pounds of plastic or 11 pounds of cardboard will sell for less than a dollar, but that’s enough to buy a basic health insurance policy that pays for two visits to a doctor a month.

CHECK Out: For Every Recycled Bottle, This Machine Dispenses Dog Food for Strays

Albinsaid has set up his own clinic and his company has helped 3,500 people buy health coverage. For his innovative service, the young doctor won a prize of €50,000 and mentoring support from Cambridge University in the 2013 Prince of Wales Young Sustainability Entrepreneur Awards.

(WATCH the video below or READ more in Fast Company)

Little Girl With No Birthday Party Guests is Surprised by 300 Strangers

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Good News Network

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Apr 20, 2015

A little girl named Mackenzie Moretter who had a tenth birthday celebration planned for Saturday, might have been plenty disappointed because nobody planned to show up to her party, and there were last-minute cancellations.

Mackenzie has a genetic disorder called Sotos Syndrome that causes developmental delays and makes her grow a lot faster than other kids, which has made socialization tough.

Well, Mackenzie ended up having a bigger, bolder party than if her friends would have come.

Her mother, Jenny, posted a message on Facebook asking people to come. Thanks to four friends who, in two days, organized the event, and raised money – and to Twin Cities businesses who donated – Mackenzie had a tenth birthday party that no one will forget.

Mom Who Adopted 7 Special Needs Kids Gets New Car In Best Prank Ever (WATCH)

“I’m overwhelmed with emotions, my heart has been touched by so many stories similar to mine,” Mrs. Moretter wrote on FB. “I will never be able to thank you all enough for your kindness.”

Minnesota Vikings player Charles Johnson and his family showed up, along with hundreds of strangers, someone dressed as Elsa from Frozen, and the fire department, which offered kids tours of the truck.

The Mayor of Shakopee, Brad Tabke, even proclaimed Saturday as “Mackenzie Moretter Day”– and thanked her for “reminding us how we should treat each other every day.”

“I have a hard time making friends in school, but thanks to all of you … my voice was heard,” Mackenzie told the crowd. “I love you all.”

(WATCH the video from KARE-11 News) – Photo credit: Keighla’s Fresh Face Photography, FB

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Man Creates ‘Shoes That Grow’ So Poor Kids Don’t Outgrow Them

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McKinley Corbley

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Apr 19, 2015

If you were making a list of things that someone needed to survive and succeed in the world, well-fitting shoes wouldn’t be at the top. But Kenton Lee was working with barefooted kids in Kenya and realized the importance of making this a priority.

“Wouldn’t it be great,” he pondered, “if there was a shoe that could adjust and expand — so that kids always had a pair of shoes that fit?”

Kenton Lee was working with barefooted kids in Kenya and realized the importance of well-fitting shoes. His incredible innovation? A Shoe That Grows.

Although kids may own shoes, it’s hard when living in poverty to keep up with constant growth spurts. The Shoe That Grows can now accommodate children’s ever-growing feet by expanding five sizes, making them last up to ten years.

WATCH: Woman Invents Amazing Car That Wheelchair Users Can Just Drive Away

Determined to get started, Kenton became the Founder and Executive Director of Because International, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Nampa, Idaho. The company completed the prototype for their wonder shoe in 2013, and reached out to the world for crowdfunding of their invention. After hand delivering their first shipment of 100 shoes to little ones in Nairobi, Kenya, Kenton is eager to continue production.

Thanks to these shoes, children won’t be so susceptible to soil-based diseases and infections, and they can always be ready to race wherever their legs may lead them.

Inspired to walk in Kenton’s shoes? The donate button to protect children’s feet is just a click away.

(WATCH his video below)

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New Baby Bison: First One Born in Nearly Two Centuries in Eastern US

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Good News Network

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Apr 19, 2015

The last time a bison was born in a wild habitat east of the Mississippi River was in the 1830s. This month, 95 miles west of Chicago, history was reset on a patch of restored prairie grass.

The historic birth is thrilling news for the Nature Conservancy working in Illinois since the 1980s to restore the Nachusa Grasslands. They finally reintroduced the vital last piece of the puzzle, a wild bison herd, last October.

Commenting on the bison birth, Cody Considine, a restoration ecologist at Nachusa said, “From a historical standpoint, this hasn’t happened in Illinois in about 200 years.”

After Years Apart, Watch This Mother Elephant Reunite With Her Baby

Cody says the mother and calf “looked great” but no one’s tried to get close to them. So far, they’ve only monitored the baby’s progress through binoculars–and camera lenses, with the Conservancy releasing high resolution photos last week.

“The goal is to allow the bison to be bison.” Cody explained. “Between our two bison units they have 1,500 acres of prairie to roam, and aside from the annual round up and veterinary check, they will breed, birth, and care for themselves 364 days a year.”

The newest addition, along with other baby bison expected later this spring, will further the prairie restoration work to come. Through their natural grazing behavior, they help keep grasses in check while creating a mosaic of habitats that allow a wide range of wild flowers, birds, mammals, plants, insects and amphibians to flourish

For more info, visit www.nature.org/nachusabison or watch their video here. (Photos by Charles Larry, courtesy of Nature Conservancy)

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