Spot a squirrel? Scots asked to log red and grey sightings this week
The eighth Great Scottish Squirrel Survey runs from 5 to 11 October, and anyone can take part, from back gardens to city parks
🐾 Dogs & Animals
Rescue stories, unlikely friendships, and the animals that make us smile.
The German Shepherd, the Baby Boar, and the Science of Why Dogs Befriend Everyone
A viral video of an unlikely walking companion has melted the internet — and it turns out there's a genuine reason dogs are this generous with their friendships
Hero hound: Fillmore's frantic barks rouse Tustin family from garage blaze
A three-year-old German shorthaired pointer who almost never makes a peep at night refused to be ignored at 4.20am — and his owners say he saved their home and their lives
Eight puppies, one miracle: the rescue stories powering Pawsitive Restorations
From a mother dog who needed emergency surgery to deliver her litter, to a puppy who came back from the brink of euthanasia, the charity is quietly rewriting endings for dogs who had run out of time
Good boy, Fillmore: the German shorthaired pointer who barked his family awake and out of a burning house
When flames took hold of the Dalis family's garage at 4.20am, it was their three-year-old gundog who refused to let them sleep through it
The sheep who coaxed a grieving baby elephant back to life
How Albert and Themba became inseparable at a South African sanctuary — and what their bond tells us about animals in distress
Butters the 'special boy' finds his forever home after 500 days in kennels
After more than 500 days at the Scottish SPCA's Lanarkshire centre, a big-hearted rescue dog — and one very squeaky fish — have landed on their feet
The giraffe and the zebra: an unlikely friendship that has the internet in bits
At a Georgia theme park, a 2,500lb giraffe called Bakari and a small zebra called Kurtsie have chosen each other — and scientists say it tells us something quietly remarkable about how animals bond
From twelve hours hiding in a shelter to inseparable: the sheep who saved an elephant
At South Africa's Shamwari sanctuary, Albert the sheep and Themba the orphaned elephant built one of the animal kingdom's most improbable friendships — and quietly rewrote what we think we know about grief, comfort and companionship.
From Stray to Hero: Rescue Dog Rusty Saves His New Family From a Kitchen Fire
Weeks after being plucked from a storm-battered shelter, a timid stray named Rusty repaid his adopters in the most remarkable way
Wiley the rescue dog wakes mum and daughter '30 seconds' before fire engulfs RV
A barking rescue dog gave a Florida mother and daughter the narrowest of escapes — and a community is now rallying behind them
Two days in her new home, Layla Lou saved the family who saved her
A shelter dog who waited two years for adoption repaid her new owners within 48 hours — by waking them to a house full of smoke
Monarchs, Tigers, and Wildcats: Conservation Wins That Prove Nature Fights Back
A 64% surge in monarch butterflies, a tiger cub's epic journey, and Scottish wildcats defying extinction — proof that when we protect nature, nature bounces back.
Rescue Dog Hailed as 'True Hero' After Saving Kentucky Family from House Fire
Family members credit their adopted dog with alerting them to a blaze at their Eastview home — and she's not the only rescue pup making headlines
Viral TikTok Helps Overlooked Shelter Dog Find Forever Home
After weeks of being passed over at New York City adoption events, a calm, vest-wearing dog named Marge finally found her family — thanks to one video and 74,000 strangers who refused to give up on her.
Swimming Upstream: Coho Salmon Return to California Rivers After 30-Year Absence
Record-breaking numbers of endangered coho are thriving thanks to habitat restoration — and Scotland's salmon fighters are taking notes
From Stray to Hero: Rescue Dog Saves Family from House Fire Weeks After Adoption
Rusty the shelter dog repaid his new family's kindness by alerting them to a kitchen blaze while two smoke detectors failed
'She Saved My Life': 13-Year-Old Rescue Dog Leads Police to Injured Owner
Gita, a loyal rescue dog, refused to budge from the middle of a Washington state road until a sheriff's deputy followed her to her fallen owner's cabin
How an Orphaned Elephant and a Sheep Found Comfort in Each Other
At South Africa's Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, a grieving baby elephant and an unlikely woolly companion proved that comfort knows no species
'She Was Dying': The Rescue Dog Who Defied the Odds and Stole Hearts Online
A terrified dog dumped in a parking lot was given a death sentence by vets — but one couple refused to give up
Six Days a Year: Inside the Sanctuary Giving Rescued Meerkats, Parrots and Skunks a Second Chance
Hopefield Animal Sanctuary chose ethics over exhibition — and now its exotic residents can only meet the public six days a year
Bakari and Kurtsie: The Giraffe and Zebra Friendship Melting Hearts Worldwide
At a Georgia theme park, a 2,500-pound giraffe and a plucky zebra have become inseparable — and scientists say their bond reveals something profound about animal minds
Britain's Earliest Spring in Living Memory: Butterflies and Birds Running Weeks Ahead of Schedule
Citizen science data reveals record-smashing seasonal activity across the UK — and Scotland's woodlands are stirring early too
Against the Odds: Endangered Cockatoo Chick Hatches in Artificial Nest After Years of Patient Science
A palm cockatoo chick — the first ever to hatch in a human-made hollow — offers hope for cavity-nesting birds worldwide, including Scotland's own kestrels and barn owls
From the Brink to the Bush: New Zealand's 250th Kiwi Release Marks a Triumph of People Power
Wellington's Capital Kiwi Project reaches a historic milestone — built on community grit, indigenous wisdom, and 4,600 traps
The Special Boy Who Waited 500 Days: Scotland's Most Patient Rescue Dog Finally Has a Forever Home
After more than 500 days in kennels, the dog once known as Fury has a new name, a new family, and a squeaky fish toy he refuses to put down
Giant Otter and 39 Other Migratory Species Win Historic Cross-Border Protection at UN Summit
From the rivers of the Amazon to the skies above the Arctic, 40 vulnerable species gain new international safeguards under the Convention on Migratory Species
'A Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery': Animals Thought Extinct for 6,000 Years Have Been Found Alive in the Wild
Two marsupial species known only from ancient fossils have been confirmed living in the rainforests of New Guinea — rewriting what science thought it knew about extinction
Scotland's Red Squirrel Revolution: How Volunteers Are Protecting Britain's Last Great Stronghold
Scotland is home to 80% of the UK's remaining red squirrels — and an army of citizen conservationists is helping them stage a quiet comeback
Hundreds of Elephants Are Coming Home to Virunga — and the Mountain Gorillas Just Had Twins
After decades of conflict, Africa's oldest national park is witnessing an extraordinary wildlife comeback — and the rangers who made it possible are finally seeing their sacrifices rewarded
Britain's Most Mysterious Night Bird Doubles Its Population in Remarkable Comeback
Targeted heathland restoration is bringing the elusive, bark-camouflaged nightjar back from the brink — and Scotland is joining the celebration
Scotland Holds Its Breath: The First Osprey of Spring Has Returned — and You Can Watch It Live
NC0 is back at Loch of the Lowes after thousands of miles from West Africa — and the webcam is rolling
Joy on Four Hooves: The Therapy Ponies Bringing Comfort and Smiles to Care Home Residents
Miniature ponies Haggis and Pip are visiting care homes across the west of Scotland — and the results are wonderful
Four Paws, One Prescription: The Therapy Dogs Bringing Comfort to Scotland's Hospitals and Care Homes
From cancer wards to dementia units, trained therapy dogs are visiting patients across NHS Scotland — and the science says the wagging tails are doing real, measurable good
Meet Colin: The 16-Year-Old Terrier Who Found a Forever Home in Just 26 Days
Dogs Trust Glasgow's first adoption of 2026 is a senior terrier crossbreed rescued from Northern Ireland — proof that older dogs still have plenty of love to give
Scotland's £65 Million Nature Mission Is Working — And the Newts, Whales, and Woodlands Are the Proof
From a Highland newt's miraculous comeback to whale-saving innovations off the Scottish coast, the Nature Restoration Fund is delivering real results — and now the law is catching up
Back From the Brink: Scotland's Wildcats Are Roaming the Cairngorms — And Scientists Are Daring to Hope
Three years after the first captive-bred wildcats were released into the Scottish Highlands, GPS tracking and camera traps reveal a population that is not just surviving — but breeding
The Rottweiler Who Thinks She's a Duck Mum, and Other Cross-Species Bonds Melting Hearts Worldwide
From a rescue dog who quacks at her adopted ducklings to a cheetah cub raised by a Labrador, these unlikely animal friendships are backed by real science — and they're exactly what the world needs right now
The Crow Who Fed a Kitten, the Dog Who Calmed a Cheetah: The Science Behind Unlikely Animal Friendships
From zoo conservation programmes to an Ayrshire wildlife rescue, interspecies bonds are more than viral fluff — science suggests they reveal something profound about how social attachment really works
Back from the Brink: The Remarkable Conservation Wins Giving Nature — and Us — Real Hope
From 22 California condors to 600, from silent Yellowstone valleys to wolf song — the comeback stories that prove we can get it right
Meet Asha: The Staffie Who Won Crufts' Most Heartwarming Award — and Logan's Heart Too
An eight-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier and a seventeen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy share a bond that 37,000 voters recognised as something truly special
Scotland Could Be the Best Place in the World for an Animal to Live — Here's What It Would Take
The Scottish SPCA's bold election manifesto sets out a vision of a kinder nation — and Scotland is already closer than you might think
Seven Dogs Chew Their Way to Freedom: The Viral Story of a Pack That Refused to Give Up
A Corgi-led band of brothers trekked 10.5 miles home after escaping meat trade thieves in China — and 230 million viewers watched them do it
From a 700-Pound Hiking Pig to a Rottweiler Raising Ducklings — The Science Behind Cross-Species Bonds
Behind the viral videos lies real science: oxytocin, imprinting, and what animal friendships reveal about the nature of empathy
Oxford Scientists Discover Hedgehog Superpower That Could Save Thousands From Roads
University researchers find Britain's beloved hedgehogs can hear ultrasound, paving the way for humane deterrents to prevent road deaths
Peregrine Falcons Choose Glasgow's City Chambers Spire as Their New Home
Meet Bonnie and Clyde — the fastest residents George Square has ever seen, and they've already laid their first egg.
Nearly 100 Dogs Are Waiting for a Forever Home in Scotland — Could You Be the One?
The Scottish SPCA has dogs of all ages and personalities across its centres, and every one of them deserves a family to call their own.
Maggie the Labrador Sniffs Out a Transatlantic Mystery on Aberdeenshire Beach
A message in a bottle tossed from a Canadian ferry in 2024 washed up at St Cyrus — and it took a very good dog to find it.
Milton's Animal Home to Close After 66 Years — and a Community Is Left Counting the Cost
The Scottish SPCA will shut its Dunbartonshire rescue centre at the end of June, putting 16 jobs at risk and leaving West Dunbartonshire without a local rehoming facility.
From the Back Streets of Glasgow to the Green Carpet at Crufts — The Wee Rescue Dog Who Changed Everything
Kilmarnock's Skittles, a once-timid Jack Russell cross, went from fearful rescue to Crufts Hero Dog finalist — transforming her owner's life along the way.
From Floor to Belly-Up: How Rescue Pitbull Pumpkin Won the Internet in 24 Hours
A viral Reddit post showing a shelter dog's overnight transformation is melting hearts — and reminding adopters that love works fast.
Meet Rebel — The Ginger Cat Who Got Himself Banned from Glasgow College
A tabby with a taste for education has been barred from Glasgow Clyde College after months of wandering corridors, attending lectures, and allegedly setting off an alarm.
The Bird Who Came Back: Balthazar the Vulture Found Alive After 37 Years in the Alps
A bearded vulture released in 1988 and presumed dead has been rediscovered alive — the oldest of his kind ever recorded in the wild — crowning one of conservation's greatest comeback stories.
The Deaf Dog Nobody Wanted Is Now a School's Beloved Therapy Hero
Cole, a deaf pit bull once rejected as "broken," became the heart of a New Jersey elementary school — and the ASPCA's Dog of the Year.
Champion Bloodline, Life-Changing Purpose: The Crufts Great-Grandpup Who Became a Stroke Survivor's Best Friend
A poodle descended from the 2014 Crufts Best in Show winner is now transforming daily life for a Salford woman living with the aftermath of a stroke.
Hero Dog Gozier Refused to Walk Past a Freezing Woman — And Saved Her Life
When an Ashland dog's bark turned to a cry on a 15°F morning, her owner stopped to listen. A stranger is alive because he did.
Hedgehogs Have Secret Superhearing — And It Could Save Them From Our Cars
Oxford researchers discover hedgehogs can hear ultrasound far beyond human range, opening the door to sound-based devices that could keep them off deadly roads.
Jersey's Therapy Dogs Honoured at Crufts for Changing Lives
Two Island volunteers and their beloved dogs receive outstanding achievement awards at the world's largest dog show — but the real story is what happens when a wagging tail arrives on a hospital ward.
Koko Comes Home: Missing Texas Dog Found 1,300 Miles Away in New Jersey
Two years after vanishing from her Texas home, a small dog named Koko was reunited with her stunned family — thanks to a microchip and a police department that refused to let her spend another night without love.
The Bark That Saved a Life: How a Golden Retriever Became a CPR Hero
When Polly sensed something was wrong with her sleeping owner, her midnight bark set off a chain of events that defied the odds.
Rescued Bear Family Wakes From First Ever Natural Hibernation
One year after a harrowing rescue from filthy backyard cages in Armenia, three Syrian brown bears have hit a remarkable milestone — their first proper winter sleep.
Three Little Pigs Escape — and Lead to the Rescue of a Missing Dachshund
When three piglets broke free from an animal sanctuary, the search for them uncovered something no one expected: a lost sausage dog called Paddy.
After Nearly a Year Apart, a Louisiana Veteran is Reunited With Her Missing Service Dog
A routine call about a stray dog led Port Barre police to a microchip — and a veteran who had never stopped hoping.
Meet the Orange-Headed Rock Monitor: One of Three Stunning New Lizard Species Just Discovered in Australia
Scientists have formally described three colourful monitor lizards hiding in plain sight across the remote savannas of Far North Queensland — and one of them has a head like a sunset.
Nature's Engineers Are Back: Beavers Return to Cornwall After 400 Years
Wild beavers have been officially reintroduced to Cornish rivers for the first time in four centuries — and they're already reshaping the landscape.
Every Time Someone Walks By, Roxy Picks Up a Toy and Offers It to Them
A seven-year-old shelter dog in West Palm Beach has spent two months trying to win a family — one stuffed animal at a time.