Feds: Mexican gray wolves not subspecies

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Environmentalists are blasting a federal government decision not to list the Mexican gray wolf as a separate subspecies under the Endangered Species Act.

Black-tailed prairie dogs moved to new digs

A colony of black-tailed prairie dogs moved into new digs Monday as part of an Arizona Game and Fish Department program to re-establish the once-native species to its historic range.

Zoo panda cub that died had liver abnormalities

WASHINGTON — The 6-day-old giant panda cub that died at the National Zoo had liver abnormalities and fluid in its abdomen, but zoo officials said Monday that they don’t yet know the cause of death.

Bat found outside Pima County building had rabies

A bat found outside of the Pima County Juvenile Court last week has tested positive for rabies, officials said.

Tucson’s Giant George unseated as world’s tallest dog

A Great Dane from Michigan is doggone tall.

Arizona hospital reviewing woman’s $83K bill for scorpion sting

PHOENIX — A suburban Phoenix hospital that billed a woman more than $83,000 for administering two doses of scorpion antivenom says it plans to adjust the woman’s bill and review its price for the expensive specialty medication.

Snow, Tucson zoo's polar bear, found dead

Snow, Reid Park Zoo’s 17-year-old polar bear, has died.

Reports of rattlesnake bites in Arizona on rise

Reports of rattlesnake bites this month are the highest in three years, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center in Tucson says.

LA Zoo chimp habitat reopens after baby chimp killed

LOS ANGELES — The chimpanzee habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo was open for visitors Wednesday, a day after a baby chimp was killed by an adult male in front of dozens of visitors.

Arizona infant dies of whooping cough

PHOENIX — The death of a Maricopa County infant from whooping cough is prompting health officials to urge residents to make sure they’re vaccinated.

3 bites already in Tucson in early rattler season

Snake season is upon us — and the biting has begun.

Court rules against Tucson-based conservation group in wolf hunts

BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected a lawsuit from conservation groups that want to block wolf hunts that have killed more than 500 of the predators across the Northern Rockies in recent months.

Controlled burn today on Tucson's west side

A controlled burn today at the Sweetwater Wetlands is sending a plume of smoke over the city’s west side.

Tiny chameleon found in Madagascar

One of the world's tiniest lizards has been discovered by keen-eyed researchers in Madagascar.

Judge tosses PETA case seeking rights for SeaWorld orcas

SAN DIEGO — A federal judge in San Diego on Wednesday dismissed an unprecedented lawsuit seeking to grant constitutional protection against slavery to a group of orcas that perform at SeaWorld parks, saying the 13th amendment applies only to humans.

Lightning killed Mexican wolf in Arizona

A female Mexican wolf found dead in eastern Arizona was killed by a lightning strike last August during monsoon storms. That’s according to test results performed on the wolf by personnel at the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab in Oregon.