Could there be a new culprit behind climate change? Leafcutter ants can cause the kind of spikes in nitrous oxide levels usually found in wastewater treatment tanks or dairy cow manure lagoons. Source: New York Post
Police officers freak out on video after squirrel gets into Illinois station (via myfox8.com)
MCHENRY, Ill. An uninvited guest caused a commotion at an Illinois police department last Saturday. “In 2019 we’re upping our training game,” the McHenry Police Department posted to Facebook on Jan. 1. “This video is a test of our officer’s ability to handle disorderly subjects who come in to the police department.” Source: myfox8.com
Mice Problem at Elementary School Raises Parents Concerns on Safety (via WOWK)
A few parents first came to 13 News regarding a rodent problem at Point Harmony Elementary School. The problem has been going on for the last few days but those frustrated parents said the school never contacted them to inform them until later this afternoon. Source: WOWK
City of South Bend to propose rental housing inspections (via South Bend Tribune)
Rental units will have to pass safety and health inspections before tenants can move in, under a newly proposed rental inspection program in South Bend. Source: South Bend Tribune
Invasive Asian longhorned tick could spread to Alabama, researchers say (via al.com)
Researchers have identified areas of the country where a new tick species could spread. Source: al.com
ID Care: What you need to know about the Zika virus (via MY CENTRAL JERSEY)
Zika is a type of virus that can cause infection in the body. Source: MY CENTRAL JERSEY
Fighting human disease with birth control … for mosquitoes (via ScienceDaily)
A newly discovered protein that is crucial for egg production in mosquitoes opens a possibility for ‘mosquito birth control.’ The approach might offer a way to reduce mosquito populations in areas of human disease transmission without harming beneficial insects such as honey bees. Source: ScienceDaily
Termite-gut microbes extract clean energy from coal (via r20.rs6.net)
Termites generally don’t elicit a whole lot of love. But surprisingly, this wood-eating insect may hold the key to transforming coal—a big polluting chunk of the global energy supply—into cleaner energy for the world, according to University of Delaware researchers. Source: r20.rs6.net
Squirrel spins out of control while attempting to steal bird food (via WCVB)
The poor thing probably had a headache after this trip. Source: WCVB
Rats invade classrooms at elementary school, upsetting parents (via WSBTV)
On Wednesday, Craig Lucie saw at least a half-dozen work trucks coming and going to try to deal with the issue. Source: WSBTV
