Illinois lawmakers have approved a bill intended to broadly expand protections for wild animals by extending the state’s ban on using them in traveling shows. Governor JB Pritzker must now decide whether to sign it into law. If signed, Illinois House Bill 4255 would expand Illinois’ ban on elephants in traveling acts to also cover cougars, jaguars, lions, tigers, primates, bears, hybrids of these species, and most leopards. Amur leopards are excluded from the leopard category

The Rio Grande cooter (Pseudemys gorzugi) is a native freshwater turtle found in the Rio Grande drainage, including southeastern New Mexico, where biologists are studying its status and habitat needs. Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service This summer, biologists will return to the Black River in Eddy County to study one of New Mexico’s lesser-known native turtles. The Rio Grande cooter, one of New Mexico’s 10 native turtle species, is listed

On March 27, Sgt. Claude Smith and Officer Ethan Martin of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission rescued a bald eagle entangled in fishing line near the Haw River by the B. Everett Jordan Dam in Chatham County, North Carolina. NC Wildlife officers rescue a bald eagle entangled in fishing line on the Haw River, March 27. Photo credit: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission via Facebook A bald eagle struggles in the Haw River after be