Rescuers are Wearing Bear Suits To Help Orphaned Cubs Get Ready For the Wild

California wildlife experts have taken an unusual approach to raising a tiny orphaned bear cub by donning bear suits. The two-month-old male cub was found by campers in Los Padres National Forest on April 12. Wildlife officials initially tried to reunite him with his mother, leaving him overnight in the area, but she never returned. With no sign of the mother nearby, the cub was brought to the Ramona Wildlife Center two days later in a fragile state. After 30 days of care, he is now eating well, gaining weight, and showing playful behavior. "He was extremely fragile when he arrived," said Autumn Welch, Wildlife Operations Manager at San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. "But now, he’s active, eating well and gaining weight steadily.” This cub is the youngest black bear ever cared for by the organization and one of only four this young to enter rehabilitation in California over the past five years. Due to his age, he will likely remain under care for up to a year. If another orphaned cub is rescued in the state, they may be paired together—a technique used to prevent imprinting on humans and prepare them for life back in the wild. "This is a very unusual case," Welch noted. "We don’t often see bears this young without their mother. It’s an honor to care for him, but it’s also a significant commitment."

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Eurovision Unveiled: What Makes This Pop Extravaganza A Must-Watch?

As the 69th Eurovision Song Contest gears up for its grand finale in Basel, Switzerland, excitement is in the air. This Saturday, musical acts from 26 countries will light up the stage at St. Jakobshalle arena, vying for the coveted title of continental champion. Eurovision has been a beloved spectacle since 1956, often described as Europe's biggest cultural event. "It’s not just about the show and glitter," said Dean Vuletic, a Eurovision historian. "People see it as a reflection of Europe’s zeitgeist." This year, 37 countries entered the contest, but only 26 remain after public voting in the semifinals earlier this week. The host nation, Switzerland and the “Big Five” — France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K. — automatically secured spots in the final. Among this year's favorites are Sweden's KAJ with "Bara Bada Bastu," Dutch singer Claude with "C’est La Vie," Austria's JJ with "Wasted Love," and Israel's Yuval Raphael with "New Day Will Rise." The lineup also includes diverse acts like Lithuanian emo rockers Katarsis and Ukrainian prog rockers Ziferblat. While Eurovision is known for its campy Europop hits like “La, La, La,” it has also launched stars such as ABBA and Celine Dion. This year features songs in a record 20 languages. The winner will be determined by a mix of global phone votes and music-industry juries from each participating country. As results roll in on Saturday at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT), tensions will rise until one act claims victory.

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Sunny And Gizmo, Big Bear's Internet Stars, Are Ready To Take Flight!

Sunny and Gizmo, the eaglets captivating audiences worldwide, are on the brink of their first flight. At around 10 weeks old, these young bald eagles from Big Bear Valley in Southern California are preparing to fledge, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), a nonprofit that streams live footage of the birds. In recent weeks, Sunny and Gizmo have been strengthening their bond with each other and their parents, Jackie and Shadow. They've been busy building their nest and sharing meals. "Sunny and Gizmo practiced stealing fish from each other but also continued to remain civil and share their meals," FOBBV shared on Facebook. The eaglets are honing essential skills like self-feeding by "unzipping fish." The nonprofit told "Good Morning America" that Sunny and Gizmo have grown almost as large as Shadow. "We are watching how the parents and the chicks prepare for flight and life outside of the nest," said an FOBBV representative. The eaglets' curiosity is growing daily, along with their physical prowess. Their 'wingersizes'—exercises to build flying muscles—are paying off; Sunny has already hovered for about half a minute. This fledgling process will continue over the next month. Sunny and Gizmo were named following a contest that drew over 54,000 submissions after they hatched in early March. Their journey has captured hearts since Jackie and Shadow's previous eggs failed to hatch in 2023.

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'You Are My Heroes': Soccer Star Reunites With The People Who Saved His Life

Michail Antonio, the 35-year-old West Ham striker, is on a journey of recovery and reflection after a life-altering car crash nearly six months ago. The accident left him with a broken leg and a challenging path back to fitness. Now, he's up and walking, continuing his rehabilitation after his Ferrari skidded off the road in Epping Forest. Antonio recently revisited the events of that fateful day with BBC One's Morning Live. He met with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance paramedics Rob Moon and Dr. James Moloney, who were among the first responders. "I want to say thank you," Antonio expressed to them. "You saved my life, so you guys are basically my heroes." The Jamaican international was trapped in his car until the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service freed him for ambulance care. Despite having no memory of the crash, he learned from Moloney that he was speaking post-incident: "Yes, you were incredibly repetitive... but that happens when people bump their head." Antonio also connected with Trish Burton from the air ambulance's patient and family team, acknowledging how his loved ones endured more than he did during his hospital stay. Reflecting on mental health challenges exacerbated by his injury lay-off, Antonio has become an advocate for therapy. He shared insights from past counseling sessions on the High Performance Podcast in May last year. In conversation with former footballer Clarke Carlisle, who has faced similar struggles, Antonio resonated with Carlisle’s experiences of mental health stigma: "I definitely could feel what he was saying because that's what I had to experience when I was younger."

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How These 3 Endangered Animals Are Making a Comeback

Endangered Species Day, observed every third Friday in May, serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle to save our planet's most vulnerable inhabitants. With over 900 species already extinct and at least 28,500 listed as endangered or critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the urgency is palpable. Despite these daunting statistics, conservationists worldwide are making strides. In February 2025, an okapi returned to the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri Rainforest after more than a decade. The rare relative of the giraffe was rescued and relocated by rangers from the Okapi Conservation Project. "The okapi is the pride of Mambasa," said Andy Kambale Matuku, coordinator of Journalist Friends of Nature. In South Africa, efforts to protect Cape vultures have paid off. After decades on the brink, their population is stabilizing thanks to extensive conservation measures like power line retrofits and rehabilitation centers. "With a stable to increasing population at present, the Cape vulture does indeed provide hope for our conservation efforts," said André Botha from IUCN Vulture Specialist Group. Meanwhile, on Australia’s Yorke Peninsula, the brush-tailed bettong has made a remarkable comeback. Once declared extinct in this region, its status improved from critically endangered to near threatened due to local conservation projects that included creating predator-proof sanctuaries. "We are on a mission...to bring back some of these native species," said Derek Sandow from Marna Banggara initiative.

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How Nature's Power Is Helping Teens Rebuild After L.A. Fires

When Katharine Hart’s family evacuated during the Los Angeles fires in January, they never imagined their Altadena home would be lost forever. "We all thought we would be back, so we packed for the next day of school," said Hart, 18. "We didn’t think our town would be gone." To aid young fire survivors in healing, nonprofit Outward Bound Adventures is organizing camping trips for Altadena teens in the nearby mountains. The group also meets every Wednesday at John Muir High School to share their grief and experiences. “I’ve heard the youth say, ‘I feel peace when I’m here. I feel like I can be myself and not have to hide how I’m actually feeling right now,’” said Brandon Hammerli, development coordinator for Outward Bound Adventures. Their first weekend camping trip in April took five students to the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest to build kinship and connection. Activities included painting pictures of their old homes, naming emotions, and writing about identities. “One of the leads in this group led us in breathing exercises, letting out our anger, our feelings and our emotions,” Hart said. “That was really good to just have that peace and reflection.” As Altadena rebuilds, Outward Bound Adventures plans to continue monthly trips to the mountains for students. “My hope is that with this program, we can have them take that experience — the destruction but also the life — and use that to grow what’s going to be a new Altadena,” Hammerli said. For more on how Outward Bound Adventures is supporting Altadena teens' recovery journey, watch the video above.

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Her Hometown Just Honored This WNBA'er With A Name Change

Paige Bueckers' WNBA debut is not just a milestone for basketball fans but a celebration for her hometown of Hopkins, Minnesota. The town temporarily renamed itself "Paige Bueckers, Minnesota" to honor the Dallas Wings star's first game. The festivities include a ribbon-cutting ceremony and renaming streets to "Bueckers Boulevard." Local businesses are joining in with unique tributes: a brewery has crafted a beer in her name, an ice cream shop offers a special flavor, and even a sushi roll bears her name. The day will culminate with a watch party at Hopkins High School as the Wings face off against the Minnesota Lynx. "Every business I can think of has something going on where they're trying to help celebrate and it's just all about having fun," said Patrick Hanlon, mayor of Hopkins. "We're proud to name our city after her for a day." Before achieving national fame at UConn, where she won the Wooden Award and led the Huskies to victory, Bueckers was already making waves at Hopkins High School. She guided her team to the 2019 state title and earned accolades as Gatorade National Player of the Year. Beyond sports, Bueckers is celebrated for her community contributions. In high school, she initiated a food shelf for low-income residents—a testament to her ongoing commitment to local causes. "I think it's just the fact that we are a small town," Hanlon said. "People in this community know her as more than an athlete; she's one of us."

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New Feathered Fossil Discovery Sheds Light on Early Bird Evolution Secrets

A remarkable fossil discovery at the Field Museum of Chicago is shedding new light on the ancient Archaeopteryx, a creature that bridges the gap between dinosaurs and birds. This pigeon-sized specimen, one of the best-preserved among 14 known fossils since 1861, offers fresh insights into its anatomy and lifestyle. Using ultraviolet light and CT scans, scientists have uncovered soft tissues in the fossil, revealing details previously hidden within rock. These findings suggest that while Archaeopteryx could fly, it likely spent much of its time on the ground and may have been adept at climbing trees. Notably, this fossil displays specialized feathers called tertials on both wings. "To generate lift, the aerodynamic surface must be continuous with the body," said Jingmai O'Connor, a paleontologist at the Field Museum. "So, in order for flight using feathered wings to evolve, dinosaurs had to fill this gap." The presence of these tertials supports theories that Archaeopteryx was indeed capable of flight. The fossil also shows soft tissue on its hands and toe pads, indicating mobility for climbing and limited flight capability. Another intriguing feature is its immobile palate—unlike modern birds—but hints at early evolutionary stages allowing beak movement independent of the braincase. This Chicago specimen includes a complete vertebral column with two tiny vertebrae at its tail tip—one more than previously thought—bringing new understanding to this ancient species. "This specimen is arguably the best Archaeopteryx ever found," O'Connor noted. Acquired by the museum last year after being held by private collectors since before 1990, it continues to reveal secrets about life 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period.

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From Desk Job To Ocean Waves: His Epic Oregon-Hawaii Sail is Captivating Social Media

Oliver Widger, a 29-year-old former tire shop manager, has captured the hearts of over a million followers on TikTok and Instagram as he sails from Oregon to Hawaii with his cat, Phoenix. Widger left behind his conventional job and cashed in his retirement savings to pursue a life at sea. "The world kind of sucks and, like, I don’t think I’m alone in how I felt with my work," Widger said via Zoom. "You can be making $150,000 a year and you still feel like you’re just making ends meet." Diagnosed four years ago with a syndrome that risked paralysis, Widger realized he was unhappy managing a tire company. Inspired by stories of others sailing from California to Hawaii, he decided to follow suit. With no plan and $10,000 in debt, he quit his job and bought a sailboat. Widger taught himself to sail through YouTube tutorials and spent months refitting his $50,000 boat on the Oregon coast. Since setting sail in April, he's been sharing videos of life at sea under the banner “Sailing with Phoenix,” showcasing everything from stunning sunsets to challenging repairs. Despite being relatively inexperienced as a sailor, Widger has taken safety precautions including carrying an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Harms of the U.S. Coast Guard emphasized the importance of such tools for anyone inspired by Widger's journey. As he nears Honolulu, Widger is ensuring Phoenix avoids Hawaii's animal quarantine requirements by arranging for a mobile vet check upon arrival. He also manages social media content creation while navigating oceanic challenges. Reflecting on his journey so far, he says, "Everything I’ve done I thought was impossible," Widger said. "Whatever your dream is, just go, just do it.

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Stowaway Cat Ushuaia's 1,200-Mile Adventure: From France to the UK and Back

A curious cat from France has captured hearts across Europe with his unexpected adventure. The black and white feline, known as Ushuaia but nicknamed Pierre by Telford veterinarians, vanished from his French home only to embark on a 1,200-mile journey that took him through Italy and across the English Channel to the UK. Pierre's escapade began when he sneaked into a haulage lorry, eventually arriving in Shropshire on April 7. His arrival puzzled staff at Southwater Veterinary Group in Telford until they discovered his microchip linked him to a French database. "It was quite a surprise to have Pierre brought into reception," said Rachel Harvey, practice manager. "Fortunately, he was microchipped and we learned he was registered to a French database." After some detective work using Google Translate, the team contacted Nicole Souillard, Pierre's relieved owner. Eager for their reunion, she arranged for her pet’s return after he completed necessary quarantine periods in both Telford and Dover. "This is the happiest ending we could have hoped for," Harvey remarked. "Pierre is safely back home in France with his family." The story underscores the importance of microchipping pets and keeping contact details current. While Pierre enjoyed plenty of attention during his stay at the vet clinic, there was "a hint of sadness among the team" when it came time for him to leave. Now back in France with tales of adventure under his collar, Pierre has settled comfortably into life at home once more.

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