The sable (Martes zibellina) is a small, agile carnivore in the marten family, native to the dense boreal forests of Russia, Mongolia, China, and parts of Eastern Europe. It has a slender body, short legs, a bushy tail, and a luxurious, soft coat that ranges in color from light brown to nearly black, often with a lighter patch on the throat. Sables are solitary and primarily crepuscular or nocturnal, hunting small mammals, birds, insects, and occasionally foraging for berries and carrion. Prized for their fur for centuries, they were heavily hunted but are now managed through regulated trapping. The species is currently listed as Least Concern, with stable populations in protected areas.
My First Reaction Was Disbelief – Spotted Hyena Seen in Egypt for First Time in 5,000 Years [Discover Wildlife – January 22, 2025]
What’s This Story About: A spotted hyena was spotted—and killed—in southeastern Egypt, marking the species’ first confirmed presence there in 5,000 years. Found 500km north of its expected range, this unexpected sighting has scientists scrambling to understand what it was doing so far from home.
Why This Story: This incident raises serious questions about shifting habitats, climate pressures, and fragmented ecosystems. That a lone hyena wandered into unfamiliar terrain—and was immediately killed for acting like a predator—says more about human intolerance than natural behavior.
The Indigenous Range of the Tiger (Panthera tigris) [Diversity and Distribution, a Journal of Conservation Biogeography – January 18, 2025]
A new wolf pack, irate ranchers, and the astonishing comeback of California’s most celebrated predator [San Francisco Chronicle – October 13, 2024]
What’s This Story About: A newly formed wolf pack has been spotted in Northern California, marking a major milestone in the species’ return to the region. While conservationists are celebrating the comeback, local ranchers are voicing concern over livestock safety and increased tension with wildlife.
Why This Story: It’s challenging to call the wolf’s return to northeastern California a government conspiracy when the critters came back on their own.
More accurately and appropriately, you can call their return a great example of natural rewilding. Wolves belong in California us much as we humans do, both species are native to the area.