The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, working with Ojai Raptor Center and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, has released the results of Jackie's necropsy. The primary underlying cause of her illness and death was Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), but her case was unusual. Rather than primarily affecting her respiratory system, the virus caused a severe ulcer in her gizzard that led to ongoing internal bleeding and explained the persistent anemia her veterinary team struggled to treat. Bacteria also entered through the damaged tissue, causing sepsis. Severe inflammation and blood clots were found in her heart and major blood vessels. Although rodenticide was detected in her liver, investigators did not identify it as the primary cause of her illness or death. One reassuring finding is that there was no evidence from the nest cameras that Shadow, Sandy, or Luna were sick. Would knowing earlier that Jackie had avian influenza have saved her? Unfortunately, there is no established, reliably effective treatment for HPAI in wild eagles. An earlier diagnosis might have helped guide her care, but there's no way to know whether it would have changed the outcome. Knowing what caused Jackie's illness doesn't make losing her any easier, but it does help us understand what she was fighting. Her case may also help veterinarians recognize and treat this unusual presentation of avian influenza in other birds. Jackie may be flying Home, but she's still helping others. ❤️ Jackie's full necropsy results and medical information are available here.

Today, I learned about a really cool invertebrate that Auckland Zoo and its conservation partners have been working for 15 years to bring back from the brink of extinction. The wētāpunga. The wētāpunga is the heaviest orthopteran in the world. This insect group includes grasshoppers and crickets. These wingless gentle giants are nocturnal tree dwellers that mostly eat leaves and they help germinate, fertilize and distribute plant seeds throughout the forest. Wētāpunga were once widespread across northern New Zealand, but habitat destruction and human-introduced predators such as rats and stoats wiped them out everywhere except one island. Today, more than 11,000 wētāpunga have been released across eight predator-free islands and two fenced mainland sanctuaries. Motuora and Tiritiri Matangi islands now have officially established populations, with at least four generations born in the wild. The other release sites are still being monitored, with wētāpunga continuing to be seen and spreading beyond some of their original release areas. Their conservation status has improved from Threatened–Nationally Endangered to Threatened–Nationally Increasing. When I see people working together to restore a species we humans had a hand in wiping out, it gives me hope for the animals, for the Earth, and it gives me hope for us. Together, we can bring this world back to what I believe it was originally created for: cohabiting with every form of life. We cannot remove one of the vital pieces and expect to survive. We were created together, to live together, not one without the other. I’m including two videos because I just couldn’t choose between them. One is from eight years ago, and the other is from five years ago. They tell different stories with the same beautiful goal for the wētāpunga. The first explains the breeding program, follows a release and shows how children are being taught about conservation. The second includes another release, a beautiful ceremony surrounding the return of this special species, and additional information on the program.

This incredible designer came in second place in our decorating competition. The male bowerbird has some pretty impressive ideas for his bachelor pad, complete with a cassette of love songs featuring bird calls, impressions of other birds, and sounds from his surroundings to serenade the ladies. Each species has their own decorating style and their own ideas about what a girl wants, what a girl needs. (That song popped on my head. It might be on the cassette too. 😂) These bachelors carefully build and decorate their bowers with colorful flowers, fruits, stones, leaves, and even human-made treasures like bottle caps and plastic pieces. Some prefer everything in blue, while others enjoy a variety of colors. And they’re serious about decorating. They’ll collect dozens of similar objects, arrange them by color or size, and sometimes even steal a few treasures from the bachelor next door. Some are so clever they use their decorations to create optical illusions. Now, these aren’t family homes. They’re elaborate courtship displays, complete with decorating, dancing, and serenading. Once a female chooses her mate, she builds her own nest to raise her babies. These little designers certainly know how to make a first impression. Watch David Attenborough’s five-minute video of these incredible decorators in action, and let me know if you gleaned any tips for decorating your own bachelor pad.

The votes are in, and the Harvest Mouse has been hired to decorate our pads! So sit back in your comfy chair because this little artist has a big story to tell. There are several kinds of mice known as harvest mice around the world, but we’re heading to Scotland to meet the Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutus). These tiny architects weigh about as much as a quarter and can weave beautiful round nests using nothing but grass, their teeth and little paws. Their breeding nests are about the size of a tennis ball, while their sleeping nests are even smaller. The female splits blades of grass lengthwise with her teeth, then carefully weaves them together while they’re still attached to the growing plants. The result is a tightly woven nursery suspended among tall grasses, with a soft lining to keep her babies comfortable. They’re also the only British mammal with a prehensile tail, which acts like an extra hand, wrapping around grass stems to help them grip and balance while climbing. Although Eurasian harvest mice aren’t globally endangered, their conservation status in Great Britain is Near Threatened, with populations in Wales classified as Vulnerable and Scotland as Critical. Habitat loss, changing agricultural practices and disappearing grasslands are among their biggest challenges. Because they’re so difficult to observe, researchers often rely on abandoned nests to determine where they live. The Mammal Society’s 2026–2027 National Harvest Mouse Survey began October 1. Volunteers search for abandoned nests during autumn and winter, helping researchers learn where these tiny animals live without disturbing mothers raising their babies. In April 2026, a volunteer discovered a harvest mouse nest on Scotland’s Isle of Mull, the first recorded evidence of these little animals on any Scottish island. Whether they’ve been quietly living there for years or recently found their way to the island is still a mystery. Either way, to me, it’s another reminder of how resourceful and determined animals are to survive. As humans continue destroying their habitats, animals are often forced to adapt and find new places to call home. Maybe these little architects are rearranging the furniture and looking for new real estate to build their luxury homes.

On October 3, J31, a Southern Resident orca also known as Tsuchi, was seen carrying her deceased calf. It's heartbreaking, and sadly, this isn't the first calf she's lost. These beautiful whales are struggling, and one of their biggest challenges is the shortage of Chinook salmon, their primary food source. Four dams on the lower Snake River affect salmon traveling between the Pacific Ocean and spawning grounds in the Snake River basin. But the impact reaches far beyond those rivers. Salmon are part of an interconnected ecosystem, supporting wildlife, coastal communities, and the endangered Southern Resident orcas who travel through both U.S. and Canadian waters. Here's a simple way we can help! The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is accepting public comments on the Ninth Power Plan through October 16, 2026. This is an opportunity to encourage future energy planning that considers healthy rivers, salmon recovery, and the wildlife who depend on them. I just submitted my comment, and it was EASY! The public-comment opportunity is open to people who care about the region's energy future, including those outside the Northwest. You don't need to be a conservation expert to participate. If you are not sure what to write, here's a short example you can personalize or use as inspiration for your own comment. "I care deeply about protecting endangered wildlife, including the Southern Resident orcas and the Chinook salmon they depend on. I encourage the Council to consider salmon recovery, healthy rivers, and wildlife conservation when planning for the Northwest's future energy needs. I believe we can work toward reliable electricity while also protecting the animals who depend on these ecosystems. Thank you for considering my comments." 🐋 Submit your comment here: https://projects.nwcouncil.org/powerplan Please share this opportunity with your communities, friends, and fellow animal lovers. You don't have to save the whole world. Sometimes helping starts with something as simple as speaking up for the animals. ❤️🐋