Cara Byington is a science writer for The Nature Conservancy covering the work of Conservancy scientists and partners. A misplaced Floridian living in Maryland, she is especially fond of any story assignment involving boats and islands, and when not working, can be found hiking, kayaking or traveling with her family and friends. Best mammals + herps + birds (so far) in 2024…..eastern indigo snakes!
Cara Cannon Byington
Science Writer
Featured Stories from Cara
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Quick and Dirty (Really Dirty) Guide to Bison: Keystone Species Edition
The ways bison graze, poop and wallow touch on everything about the ecology of a prairie. But well, it can be a little messy.
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There’s a Cicada in My Ear
File this Under: Adventures in Cicadas and the Anatomy of a Human Ear, or Hearing Loss is a Small Price to Pay for Taxonomic Certainty
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Nature Journal Confidential
You don’t have to be a good artist or writer to reap the many rewards of keeping a nature journal. You just have to be curious.
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Day of the (Turtle) Dogs
Meet the turtle dogs -- they track and retrieve turtles. For science!
All Stories from Cara
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Caught on Camera: the Long-Nosed Chilean Shrew Opossum
Camera traps in the Valdivian Coastal Reserve document an increase in sites where one of Chile's least-known marsupials is known to live.
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Meet the Mysterious Long-Nosed Chilean Shrew Opossum
Spoiler alert: it's not a shrew. It's a relict marsupial, and has lived in the forests of Chile's Valdivian Coast for millennia.
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How Trees Can Help Fight Rising Heat in Arid Cities
New science shows increasing greening programs in arid cities could reduce air temperatures near people’s homes by an average of 0.5˚C.
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Small but Mighty: Pacific Island Atolls are Globally Important Sites for Tropical Seabirds
Global conservation efforts largely overlook the important contributions of atolls to the protection, restoration, and survival of tropical seabirds.
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Mapping the World’s Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems Reveals Protection Gaps
A first-of-its-kind global map shows 53% of groundwater-dependent ecosystems are in areas of known groundwater depletion, and likely at risk.
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Want to Suppress Coral Disease? Bring Back Sea Cucumbers
By feeding on microbial pathogens in marine sediment, the weird and wonderful sea cucumber can enhance reef resilience by suppressing coral diseases.
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7 Strange Species from the Ocean’s Depths
Eye-eating worms, crabs that look like a yeti, and eels that help fish hunt.
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Freshwater Migratory Fish are in Trouble All Over the World
The Living Planet Index reports a staggering 81% average decline in global freshwater migratory fish populations since 1970.
