A routine barn call to remove nonvenomous black rat snakes took a wild turn when a volunteer instead stumbled upon a venomous ...

In much of the eastern United States, it’s not uncommon to spot a snake slithering through the leaves, crossing a trail, or hiding near your shed. But knowing whether that snake is venomous or ...

Invasive species cause environmental mayhem when they establish themselves in a new ecosystem. But these interlopers can also impact human health directly. Deadly diseases can jump from animals to ...

Black rats (Rattus rattus) have lived alongside humans for millennia, making homes in our dwellings, raiding our food stores, spreading diseases, and inspiring hostility, fear, and wonder. Black rats ...

In rural Madagascar, the black rat is likely transmitting the deadly hantaviruses to humans. Since the beginning, rats have always prowled around human settlements. They lurk in the shadows of our ...