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Maryland: Two people bitten by beavers in less than two weeks at Maryland park force partial closure after both animals test positive for rabies | World News

At Cunningham Falls State Park, two people experienced beaver bites that resulted in positive rabies tests for both animals involved. Consequently, park authorities have restricted access to water areas to ensure public safety. Ongoing surveillance is focused on assessing the rabies situation, and restrictions will persist until health officials confirm that the park is safe…

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US mosquito numbers have crashed during a historic drought, but scientists say fewer mosquitoes can still mean a higher risk of West Nile virus | World News

Representative Image of dry environmental conditions affecting mosquito numbers and public health (AI-generated image) Mosquitoes have all but vanished from parts of the United States this summer, and residents in states like Minnesota say they cannot remember a season this quiet. A historic drought sweeping through the West and Midwest has cut mosquito populations by…

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Boston: In the 1990s, Boston sent nearly a quarter of the Big Dig’s 16 million cubic yards of soil to a burning former dump island and helped turn it into a park

Areas once linked to the old city dump were transformed with trees, shrubs and grasses. (Boston preservationa alliance photo) When Boston began work on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project, better known as the Big Dig, in 1991, it was taking on one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the city’s history. The project was planned to…

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Quote of the day by Melinda French Gates: “When something’s uncomfortable, it means you’re actually…” – a lesson on stepping outside your comfort zone | World News

Quote of the day by Melinda French Gates Growth rarely feels comfortable while it is actually happening. Learning something new, taking on more responsibility, or simply stepping into an unfamiliar situation tends to bring real uncertainty along with it. Melinda French Gates put a name to that discomfort directly. “When something’s uncomfortable, it means you’re…

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New Jersey: 8-foot Burmese python found under a New Jersey family’s shed with a swollen belly, X-ray reveals its shocking last meal | World News

A large Burmese python was discovered hiding beneath a New Jersey family’s shed. Animal control officers carefully removed the reptile after dismantling part of the structure. An X-ray revealed the snake’s swollen belly contained a recently swallowed opossum. Officials suspect the exotic pet was abandoned by its previous owner. The SPCA warns against releasing such…

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Fernald: In 1989, Ohio’s Fernald uranium plant stopped production; a $4.4 billion cleanup transformed the 1,050-acre site into wetlands, prairie and forest

Before and after photo of the Fernald Site cleanup For nearly four decades, a site in Ohio was part of the United States’ nuclear weapons production programme. Today, the same land has been turned into the Fernald Preserve, with wetlands, prairies, forests, walking trails and a Visitors Center that tells the story of its past.According…

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Hoboken: In 2023, Hoboken opened a 5.4-acre park on a former industrial site; its playgrounds and lawns can hold up to 2 million gallons of stormwater

City of Hoboken opens New Jersey’s largest resiliency park In 2023, Hoboken opened a 5.4-acre park on a former industrial site. Its playgrounds and lawns can hold up to 2 million gallons of stormwater. Located at 12th and Madison Streets, ResilienCity Park is New Jersey’s largest resiliency park. It has turned a once-blighted site into…

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Florida: In the 1960s, Florida drained land for a giant subdivision; in 2026, restoration finished after removing 260 miles of roads and plugging 48 miles of canals across 55,000 acres

Restoration work at Picayune Strand is helping restore wetlands across 55,000 acres in Southwest Florida. A major restoration project in Southwest Florida has been completed after years of work to bring the natural flow of water back to 55,000 acres of wetlands.According to officials, the Picayune Strand Restoration Project covers area between Alligator Alley and…

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In the 1990s, New York chose wetlands over conventional storm sewers on Staten Island; the Bluebelt strategy saved taxpayers $80 million in infrastructure costs

New York City The City of New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Wetlands Strategy In the 1990s, New York chose wetlands over conventional storm sewers on Staten Island; the Bluebelt strategy saved taxpayers $80 million in infrastructure costs. Instead of laying miles of underground concrete pipes, the city preserved and restored natural streams, ponds, and…

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