2-minute read
Octopuses, dolphins, and whales. Oh, my!
It’s fair to say that wall-to-wall, bumper-to-bumper modern-day Manhattan would never be mistaken for a wild kingdom. Although the city island that is notoriously short on elbow room once had enough roaming room to accommodate the same number of animal species that occupy the 3,741 square miles of Yellowstone National Park, Gothamites now think of nature with a capital “N” as just about anywhere but here.
While we don’t have the spare acreage to recreate a wilderness area on Wall Street or a savanna in Central Park, there’s still enough space offshore for some of the planet’s most charismatic creatures. Just 100 miles southeast of the Statue of Liberty, extending out 350 miles, is one of the largest deep-sea canyons in the world.
Rivaling the scale of the Grand Canyon, everyone’s favorite massive gorge, and 10,500 feet below sea level at its deepest point, the Hudson Canyon is home to hundreds of species of magnificent marine animals—octopuses, squid, sharks, corals, endangered sea turtles, whales, and dolphins to name a precious few. An ecological hotspot a boat ride away from the most densely populated urban area in the United States—who knew?
Now, thanks to the efforts of the good people at the Wildlife Conservation Society and planet-appreciating citizens across the country, the 10,000-year-old canyon is in the final stages of NOAA designation as a National Marine Sanctuary. At a time when both humans and wildlife struggle to adapt to rapid environmental change, the sanctuary designation will create another much needed permanent haven for marine animals that also supports the livelihoods of local communities.
There are currently 15 National Marine Sanctuaries in the NOAA network dedicated to conserving unique and valuable marine ecosystems as well as economic, cultural, and historical resources. You can read all about them and find out how to help here.
ICYMI Nature News
Your Ant Allotment
Scientists have finished tallying the number of ants on Earth—ant, ant—ant, ant, ant—and the estimated number is… 20 quadrillion. That’s 2.5 million ants for every person on the planet. Whoa, we are seriously outnumbered. Sleep with one eye open.
Sneezing Sponges
Did you know that sea sponges can sneeze? Did you even know that sea sponges have the equivalent of a nose—or should we say noses? Well, they can, and they do. Behold a sneezing sponge. Gesundheit!
Spiders Go Electric
Researchers have finally discovered the secret to long-distance spider travel. It seems that our multi-legged friends can harness the energy of Earth’s electric field to get where they need to go without the benefit of wings or charging stations.
Avian Art, Awe, and Action
The Audubon has invited artists to reimagine the artwork of John James Audubon in their own unique style. You can awe-scroll the aviary here.
Walk the Walk for Wildlife
Would you like to make a commitment to conservation that’s also good for your health? Throughout October, you can contribute to the protection of the world’s amazing animals and wild places by joining the World Wildlife Fund Species Step Challenge. Take on either 5,000 or 10,000 steps a day to help secure a future for people, wildlife, and the planet. Sign up to walk the walk with WWF here.
Road Trip Reminder
It’s officially autumn—the time of year when many of our national parks reach peak splendor. If you’re tempted to hit the highway for a dose of leaf peeping, it just so happens that Saturday, September 24, every park in the U.S. is free. Check this list for a beauty spot near you and go, go, go!
Happy trails!
