Public News Service

On most farms, pregnant sows are confined to a small

Report: Restaurants allow abuse, disease risk at MD animal farms

Many food producers have made progress since 2008 toward ending the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs, according to a new report from animal-…

A tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit the Lyme bacteria. (Adobe Stock)

Increasing Cases of Lyme Disease in Dogs Highlighted During April

April is Prevent Lyme disease in Dogs Month, and animal health experts are getting the word out about tick borne diseases in pets. Over the past two …

In a lawsuit, the city of Baltimore says it believes Monsanto has caused

Baltimore Sues Monsanto, Others for Polluting City Waterways

BALTIMORE - The city of Baltimore is suing agrochemical giant Monsanto and two other companies, claiming they were "completely aware" that the …

The VA has allowed research on animals in order, it says, to improve the health of humans and animals. (skeeze/Pixabay)<br />

Animal Rights Group: Review of V.A. Dog Research Long Overdue

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Research on dogs by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is officially under review to determine whether the dogs are being …

Maryland joins California and more than 250 localities across the nation with laws to stop the sale of dogs and cats from puppy-mill breeders in pet stores. (Pixabay)

New MD Animal-Rights Law to Curb "Puppy-Mill" Sales

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Despite pushback from some pet-store owners, Gov. Larry Hogan has signed a bill banning retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats …

Patterson Park Audubon Center has recognized Teressa Carter's garden in Baltimore as Bird-Friendly Home Habitat. (Erin Reed/Patterson Park Audubon)<br />

National Audubon Society Launches ‘Plants for Birds’ Campaign

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Spring is just a few days away, and the National Audubon Society is promoting plant growth that will help animals that roam …

Products such as BirdTape are inexpensive ways to prevent collisions into home windows. (abcbirds.org)

Bill Would Make Federal Buildings "Bird Friendly"

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Millions of birds die every year because they can't tell reflections from reality, which means they smash full speed into …

Research has shown the same pesticides that are wiping out bees are impacting hummingbirds as well. (foe.org)

Birds and Bees Responsible for 1 of Every 3 Bites of Food

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As we enjoy the late-summer crops produced in this country and around the world, advocates are hoping everyone will take time …

Many chickens that are sold at the local feed store come from large factory farms. (cdc.gov)

Hand-Washing Crucial in Homes with Backyard Chickens

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Nearly 1,000 people across the country have become ill this year from salmonella connected to backyard flocks of chickens, ducks and …

Target, Costco and Whole Foods scored the best on a new report card on organic produce and bee-friendly policies. (Virginia Carter)

Scorecard: Retailers Not Offering Enough Organic Food

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Bees and other pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we eat, but 40 percent of all pollinating …

Honeybee colonies in the United States declined dramatically last year, and advocates say that's not sustainable for agriculture in the U.S. (USDA)

Report: Bees Continue to Decline in U.S.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - U.S. beekeepers have reported losing nearly 44 percent of their colonies over the last year, according to an annual report just out…

The birth of two baby bald eagles at the National Arboretum has sparked interest in America's national bird, and they can be spotted around the Chesapeake Bay. (Veronica Carter)

Time to See the Eagles Soar

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - All eyes on are the nation's capital, and not just to keep watch on lawmakers. There's a pair of newly-hatched baby bald eagles at …

Oysters are only at 1 percent of historic levels in the Chesapeake Bay. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Disease-Resistant Oyster May Be Key to Chesapeake Bay Recovery

BALTIMORE – Marine police are cracking down on illegal oyster harvesting in the Chesapeake Bay, but catching someone in action isn't easy…

The snowshoe hare hasn't been seen in Maryland since the 1980s, and a new report says its habitat continues to shrink as a result of the changing climate. (Defenders of Wildlife)

Punxsutawney Phil, Small Mammals at Risk from Climate Change

BALTIMORE - Groundhog Day predictions have never been a hundred percent accurate, but for a growing number of small mammals, a changing climate is …

Maryland has seen dramatic drops in bee numbers. (PANNA)

Saving the Bees in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Maryland has been losing its bee population. In 2012, 60 percent of the state's bees died off. Many Beekeepers and scientists …

108 wildlife species, a quarter of them birds, are considered rare, threatened or endangered in Maryland and have been added to the action plan. (Badger Rose)

Maryland Called Leader in Wildlife Conservation

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Climate change, residential and commercial development, and pollution are listed as threats to wildlife in Maryland in a new 10-year …

The EPA erred in allowing a bee-killing pesticide, sulfoxaflor, on the market, according to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Credit: Deborah C. Smith.

Federal Court Not Sweet on Bee-Killing Pesticide

WASHINGTON - A pesticide that kills bees should not have been cleared for agricultural use by the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a …

Hilton Worldwide says it will begin to eliminate the use of cages for egg-laying hens and gestation crates for breeding pigs from its global supply chain. Credit: gellinger/Pixabay.com.

Hilton Hotels Go "Cage-Free"

BALTIMORE - Hilton Worldwide, one of the largest resort and hotel chains in the world, has announced it will eliminate the use of cages for egg-…

PHOTO: Today is the last chance for public comments regarding

Last Day for Public Comments to “Free Lolita”

BALTIMORE – Lolita is a captive whale at the Miami Seaquarium who has been performing tricks for 43 years – and she could get a shot at re…

Holiday food and decor can be dangerous for pets. Photo courtesy of the HSUS.

Holiday Foods and Decor Can Be Deadly for Pets

BALTIMORE - With the holiday season in full swing, there are foods, decorations and plants in the home that, while pretty and tasty for humans…

PHOTO: The Country-of-Origin Labeling law for meat is being challenged by foreign countries and some U.S. organizations. Photo credit: Monique Coppola

COOL Targeted by Foreign Countries

BALTIMORE – Country-of-Origin-Labeling, or COOL, requires labels on meat sold in the U.S. to clearly state where that meat comes from. And it …

PHOTO: The Humane Society of the United States is trying to build support for legislation to make it a crime to attend an animal fight. Photo credit: HSUS

Farm Bill Would "Fortify" MD Animal-Fighting Laws

WASHINGTON - No spectators, no fighting. That's the message from animal-welfare groups trying to make it a federal crime, punishable by jail…

PHOTO: Loud seismic air gun blasts could damage sea life and fisheries in the Atlantic. Photo credit: Natural Resources Canada.

Seismic Air Guns Off MD Coast Could Harm Sea Life & Fishing Industry

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Sea life in the Atlantic could be in for a very unpleasant surprise, according to the group Oceana. They say seismic air gun blasts…

PHOTO: Pumpkin, a 24-year-old chimpanzee at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, loves coconuts and kiddie swimming pools. APF is a chimpanzee reserve where no research is conducted.<br />Courtesy: N-I-H.<br />

Bethesda-based NIH to Retire Majority of Research Chimpanzees

BETHESDA, Md. – Hope for chimpanzees used for laboratory research came this week, when the National Institutes of Health announced the decision …

PHOTO: The Chesapeake Conservancy's Osprey Cam shows Tom and Audrey Osprey's life on the Bay. Photo Credit: The Chesapeake Conservancy

Osprey Cam Shows Chesapeake Reality TV

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - They've been called the Chesapeake's newest and most popular reality TV stars. Online viewers in 60 countries have watched the lives …

PHOTO: As Mid-Atlantic states develop wind energy, there are concerns about the protection of the critically-endangered North Atlantic right whale. Photo credit: NOAA.GOV

Wind and the Whale

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – This is a story about wind and the whale. Now that the Maryland General Assembly has approved legislation to encourage …

Photo: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources warns against approaching fawns. Photo credit: DNR

The Fawns are All Right

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – There's a deer baby boom happening in Maryland right now. This is the time of year when most fawns are born, and the …

Birds that migrate through Maryland like the Canada Warbler are on the decline. Photo credit: Boreal Songbird Initiative

Maryland's Backyard Birds at Risk

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – From their beautiful songs to their stunning colors, birds are putting on their best displays this time of year in Maryland…

Photo: Maryland will soon be first East Coast state to ban the shark fin trade. Photo credit: Oceana

Sharks Find Friends in Annapolis

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Sharks aren't the most likable sea creatures, but they have friends in Annapolis. Gov. Martin O'Malley is expected soon to sign …

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is launching a contest to name the heron on its bay plates. Graphic Courtesy: Chesapeake Bay Trust

Bay Bird Needs a Name

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - You've heard of Smokey Bear and Tony the Tiger. Now it's time to name the Bird of the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Trust is launching a …

PHOTO: Maryland Legislature at an Impasse over Pit Bull Legislation. Photo credit: HSUS Maryland

Pit Bull Bill Still Unresolved

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Time is running out for the Maryland General Assembly to resolve what's become a dogfight over dog bite liability. It's been a year …

PHOTO: Many butterflies in Maryland and throughout the Northeast are shifting their ranges north as the climate changes.

Report: Butterflies Get Choosy When it Comes to Climate Change

BALTIMORE - Critters large and small in Maryland are featured in a report released today by the National Wildlife Federation. The research examines …

PHOTO: If you buy a puppy online, is it from a reputable breeder or a puppy mill? The International Fund for Animal Welfare found 62 percent of the online ads it examined on a single day were

Report: Majority of Online Pet Sales Linked to 'Puppy Mills'

BALTIMORE - The holidays often prompt people to add a cuddly new puppy to the family. But if you're shopping online for a dog, there's a good chance …

PHOTO: Every year, hundreds of thousands of dogs and cats are diagnosed with cancer. Image by � Royalty-Free/Corbis

Cancer Goes to the Dogs - Group Asks Marylanders to "Puppy Up"

LA PLATA, Md. – Man's best friend could be man's best hope for a cancer cure. The group 2 Million Dogs is raising awareness about canine cancer…

Report: Get the Chimps Out of the Lab

BALTIMORE - The use of chimpanzees for most types of research is no longer necessary for most projects, according to a new report from the Institute …

Maryland Hay Bank: “Food Bank” for Horses

MOUNT AIRY, Md. - A new type of food bank is open in Maryland - one which focuses on four-legged needs. The Maryland Hay Bank in Mount Airy began …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 20, 2024

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MD: Animal Welfare