Free Republic

It’s raining reptiles! Iguanas left virtually paralyzed by Florida’s recent unseasonable cold snap are dropping like flies from trees, leaving people to scoop them up by the armload. When temperatures plummet, the cold-blooded creatures become immobile, and in Florida, where upwards of 1 million iguanas are estimated to typically laze in the treetops, that means torrents of reptiles falling. “They’re like little bags of ice,” said Jessica Kilgore of the “nuisance animal removal service” Iguana Solutions as she hefted a 10-pound iguana in her arms. Usually, Floridians are prohibited from handling the iguanas themselves, but this winter, the situation is...

The Peninsula Open Space Trust has purchased 2,284 acres of Sargent Ranch near the southern border of Santa Clara County along Highway 101, marking the largest land deal in the 49-year-old nonprofit’s history. The $23 million acquisition is the latest of three properties the trust has secured in its overarching goal to permanently conserve the entire 6,500-acre ranch that was once slated for commercial development as a quarry. It’s also one of the largest pieces of undeveloped private property in the South Bay. “POST and our partners are on our way to achieving a long-sought milestone,” president Gordon Clark wrote...

After decades of mystery surrounding its existence, a rare animal once believed to be extinct has been confirmed on remote trail cameras in northern California, offering a thrilling sign of wildlife resilience. Scientists say the coastal marten — a small carnivorous mammal that nearly vanished from the state — was captured in recent footage and DNA samples collected via hair snares, validating that wild populations still persist in the region. The discovery has brought renewed hope for the species and underlines the value of modern conservation tools. Once targeted nearly to extinction during the 20th-century fur trade, coastal martens were...

After two hundred or so articles mostly focused on wildlife for the Tico Times, I’ve written about most of the more well-known species that are walking, swimming, and flying around in Costa Rica. Every time I pick a species to write about, I get to go through my video archives and pick out the very best clips to accompany the article. That’s all fine and good, but what happens when I record a particularly awesome video of an animal that I’ve already written about? I shared some interesting facts about Costa Rica’s pumas back in 2023. To go along with...

California drivers and Republican legislators are furious over a Democrat-led proposal that could see motorists taxed for each mile they drive. With the state staring down a budget deficit in the billions and more Californians switching to electric vehicles, Democratic lawmakers are searching for new ways to shore up declining gas tax revenue. Californians pay the second-highest gas price in the nation behind only Hawaii. In January, the average price was $4.23 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association. On Thursday, state legislators advanced Democrat Lori Wilson’s bill, AB 1421, which would direct the California Transportation Commission and the...

“Some people say the only way you really train for a thru-hike is you get out there and do it,” hiker, Slow Burn. Late in the summer of 2025, Santa Cruz County’s native son, Jared Perry, had accomplished something only 700 people in the world had done. Jared had completed thru-hiking three of America’s most noteworthy and notorious trails, and by doing so, received the Triple Crown award. The Triple Crown is the Heisman Trophy of thru-hikers, and the Stanley Cup of trail blazers. It means you walked, from start to finish, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), the Continental Divide...

On Super Bowl Sunday, millions of people watching the big game will see a Budweiser commercial that portrays an adorable friendship between a bald eagle and a horse as they grow up together on a scenic farm. The beer ad, soundtracked by Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird," celebrates Budweiser's 150th anniversary by pairing the brand's Clydesdale mascot with a national symbol for America's 250th birthday. The commercial builds up to a stunning shot of the eagle spreading its wings while perched atop the horse's back — briefly resembling a pegasus — before the bird breaks into flight. "You crying?" a farmer...

Text-FormatDiscussions MonthlyLong Lead30-& 90-Day Hawaiian More Outlooks FMA 2026 MAM 2026 AMJ 2026 MJJ 2026 JJA 2026 JAS 2026 ASO 2026 SON 2026 OND 2026 NDJ 2026 - 27 DJF 2026 - 27 JFM 2027 FMA 2027 0.5mn Feb 2026 Climatological Values (1991-2020) for FMA Tools Used (see Discussion for explanation)Tools Discussion (updated as new tools are implemented) Canonical Correlation AnalysisEnsemble Canonical Correlation AnalysisOptimal Climate NormalsClimate Forecast SystemScreening Multiple Linear Regression ToolProbability of Exceedence

Every well digger knows his ass from his elbow and his ass from a hole in the ground, because their job requires them to use a shovel and a bucket to dig down deep into the earth to create a well.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment. Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms back and forth over his head. “It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what...

A tree-mendous freeze. Forecasters are warning that expected subzero temperatures could cause trees to explode as a brutal cold snap is expected to wallop most of the country in the coming days. Trees may split and burst across the Midwest and Northern Plains Friday and Saturday as a bitter Arctic blast from Canada sends temperatures plunging to roughly 20 degrees below zero, according to social media meteorologist Max Velocity. “EXPLODING TREES are possible in the Midwest and Northern Plains on Friday and Saturday, as temperatures are forecasted to fall 20 degrees BELOW zero!” the YouTuber, who has about 1.55 million...

President Trump trolled European leaders over Greenland by sharing an AI-generated picture of himself planting a US flag on the autonomous Danish territory — as he leaked fawning text messages from world statesmen ahead of the high-stakes Davos summit this week. The image, shared by the president early Tuesday on Truth Social, shows Trump marking his territory, followed by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It also features a sign declaring Greenland a “US territory est. 2026.” In a separate AI-generated picture shared by the defiant commander-in-chief, European leaders — including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer,...

A man and boy were critically injured, and another boy had his surfboard bitten during three separate shark attacks in Sydney, Australia in just over 24 hours, police confirmed Monday. Big picture view: A man, believed to be in his 20s, was in a critical condition Monday after being bitten by a shark at Sydney's Northern Beaches on Jan. 19. At 6.20 p.m. local time, emergency services were called to North Steyne Beach, following reports of a surfer being bitten by a shark

Lefty “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is using her powerful fundraising muscle to back a moderate, pro-gun, drill-baby-drill Democrat. “I’m reaching out to ask if you can split a $5 donation between Mary Peltola’s campaign for US Senate and our movement for progress?” the Democratic Socialist from Queens blasted out Tuesday in an email appeal. “Mary is running on a platform of systemic change — she’ll fight in the Senate to lower grocery costs and build new housing Alaskans can afford.” What the socialist rep didn’t mention to her progressive supporters is that Peltola lists her campaign priorities as “fish, family,...

Never-before-seen high-definition footage of an uncontacted Amazonian tribe has surfaced in a recent interview between an American conservationist and podcaster Lex Fridman. Author Paul Rosolie has spent two decades working in the Amazon and says the moment was one of the most profound experiences he’s ever had. “In order for any of this to make sense, I had to show you this footage … This has not been shown ever before. This is a world first,” he told Fridman.

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (WATE) — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is investigating after a bear ransacked a candy store in Gatlinburg. This is not the first time the bear has caused damage to the store, but the store is hopeful the bear will be relocated. Glades Homemade Candies shared on social media Friday that this is the fourth time the bear has caused damage at the store. Photos of the damage show a glass door the bear busted through, an overturned sheet pan rack and pans that were once full of sweets dragged outside. The store is located along East Parkway,...

Calls are growing on social media for international soccer fans to boycott the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Newsweek reached out to FIFA for comment via email. Why It Matters While there have been some World Cup boycott pushes in recent months, some over the cost of tickets, there are now renewed calls due to growing unrest, immigration fears, and the Trump administration's moves on the international stage—including President Donald Trump saying on Thursday night that the U.S. is “going to start now hitting land” and targeting drug cartels "running...

At age 80, Betty Kellenberger set a benchmark for endurance last summer, becoming the oldest woman to complete the treacherous 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail. Kellenberger, who spent 41 years teaching middle school in Carson City, Mich., said she’d dreamed of hiking the 14-state footpath — which runs from Springer Mountain in northern Georgia to Mount Katahdin in central Maine — since childhood. But, as she put it, “life got in the way,” she told The Post.

According to Palm Beach Fire Rescue, lifeguards at Ocean Reef Park saw someone operating a powered paraglider when a gust of wind caused a partial parachute collapse, which caused the man to spiral into the oceanA paraglider who fell into a Florida beach on Friday prompted a swift response by rescue crews. According to Palm Beach Fire Rescue, lifeguards at Ocean Reef Park saw someone operating a powered paraglider when a gust of wind caused a partial parachute collapse, which caused the man to spiral into the ocean. Fire rescue said the man fell from 500 feet in the air...

The mysterious “flying Pentagon” was spotted in Los Angeles, igniting a flurry of social media speculation and conspiracy theories about serious trouble ahead. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was aboard the aircraft, commonly known as the “Doomsday Plane” when it touched down at Los Angeles International Airport Thursday night. Hegseth is currently traveling on his “Arsenal of Freedom” tour, which aims to spotlight the U.S. defense industrial base and boost military recruiting, the Department of Defense confirmed to the Post. Also aboard the plane was right-wing internet personality Laura Loomer. Posting on social media, Loomer said Hegseth called enlistees at...