Lovey-Dovey Hummers Faster Than Jet Fighters

Invading snakes blamed for drastic decline in mammal populations

(NEWSER) - The native mammals of the Florida Everglades have been all but wiped out by huge numbers of pythons and anacondas descended from released pets, a new study finds. After nearly a decade of night-time road surveys in the 1.5 million-acre national park, researchers found that raccoon and opossum sightings were down 99% from the '90s, the Washington Post reports. Bobcat sightings were down 88%, and not a single rabbit or fox was seen, dead or alive. More»

Even as US senators propose tougher sanctions

(NEWSER) - Russia is so unconcerned with the international outcry against Syria that it has reached a deal to sell Bashar al-Assad's regime three dozen Yak-130 fighter jets, a Syrian business newspaper reported today. The twin-engined jet is capable of attacking ground targets, the AP reports. Experts say the contract, which is reportedly worth $550 million, is a sign of Russia's confidence that Assad will remain in power. More»

California mayor says it already has

(NEWSER) - Crime has dropped in a California town, and residents should be thanking their fine feathered friends, says the mayor. Last year, he began piping recorded birdsong to 70 speakers on a highway. Minor crime dropped 15% from 2010 while serious crimes dropped 6%, the Wall Street Journal reports. It's no coincidence, says Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris—it's subtle psychology. "Everybody is now in a better mood, a better place," he says. "We're not seeing that impulse-control crime." More»

Just ask the dancing spider, the jawfish, and the octopus

(NEWSER) - If you're a fan of animal mimicry stories, today's just like your birthday:

• Spider dance: Biologists have discovered that a male wolf spider who sees another male doing a little spider dance to attract a mate will not only mimic the moves but try to improve upon them and outdance his rival, reports Wired . See the gallery for video of one spider watching another and getting his groove on with some serious leg-tapping.

One crossed the border from Oregon this week

(NEWSER) - A lone gray wolf is wandering around the forests of California's Siskiyou County, and that's a milestone for wildlife experts. The 2-year-old male is the first gray wolf in the state since 1924, reports the Los Angeles Times . He crossed the border from Oregon Wednesday afternoon, according to biologists tracking his movements via GPS. This particular wolf, known as OR7, may head back to Oregon eventually, but it's likely just a matter of time now before a pack establishes itself in California. More»