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galateainthewild.bsky.social
Galatea H
@galateainthewild.bsky.social
360 followers 190 following 84 posts
She/Her | BSc Animal Behaviour (Hons)

🌍 Climate and nature nerd, science communicator, editor, podcaster 🦔

Hi there Bluesky! 🦋 Let's make waves. 🌊

All opinions are my own, and subject to change as science evolves and I grow 🌱

📸: Phillip Formby | WTML
Posts Replies Media Videos
galateainthewild.bsky.social
ID guide for these globetrotting rodents! 🌍🦫 (Coypu are invasive in Europe and North America)

I've seen so many coypu photos used in beaver articles recently. If you're a science communicator or a journalist, take a moment to familiarise yourself with the differences. - It may be handy!

#SciComm
beavertrust.bsky.social Beaver Trust @beavertrust.bsky.social · 18d
Do you know the difference between a beaver and a coypu? They may look similar, but they’re from opposite sides of the world. Often, photos of coypu are misidentified as beavers in the media. Once you know the difference, see if you can spot them. [1/3]

#mammals #wildlife #beavers
Beaver or coypu? How to tell the difference. Image of a young beaver swimming, and a coypu in the grass As beavers return to mainland Britain, they’re becoming more popular in the media. This is great news, however, they’re often confused with coypu, and inaccurate images can quickly spread misinformation. It’s not just scientists that need to be able to identify beavers. Anyone can mistakenly share inaccurate images. Even AI can get confused, with many AI generated “beaver” images on social media featuring coypu features. A mock up of a newspaper with an image of a Coypu under the headline "Beavers return to Britain!" sits in the corner of the page. A red stamp that says "Not a beaver" has been stamped on the cover. A list of people who could mistakenly share inaccurate images is at the bottom: Journalists, Authors, Science communicators, General public, Photographers, Content creators, Artists, Scientists, Film-makers A selection of photos of coypu, on grass and near water. All of these coypu had been mislabelled as beavers on stock photo sites. Beaver Beavers are the second largest rodent in the world. They have wide, flat, paddle-shaped tails and live in wetland habitats. They build dams and lodges, and are strictly herbivorous, eating plant matter, including bast - a woody material. A photo of a beaver facing left, surrounded by reeds, sniffing the air
January 26, 2026 at 3:50 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
I loved putting this together for @beavertrust.bsky.social!

A fantastic insight into the hard work of the Restoration Team behind the scenes.

Please give it a watch if you can 🦫🌱

#beavers #rewilding #restoration #nature
beavertrust.bsky.social Beaver Trust @beavertrust.bsky.social · 29d
Spend a minute with our beaver family!
Our specialist holding facility at Five Sisters Zoo helps us manage beavers in Britain. It has been a temporary home to many beavers, acting as a stopover when relocating between release sites across Scotland, England and Wales. [1/4]
January 15, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Reposted by Galatea H
beavertrust.bsky.social
Another beaver family returns to the Cairngorms 🦫🌲
Last Friday, our team was delighted to release another beaver family at Wildland's site in the Cairngorms National Park. The beaver family had been under specialist care at our holding facility at Five Sisters Zoo. [1/4]
December 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Donate today to double your impact!
🪙➡️🪙🪙
Donations are match funded for one week only 🦫
beavertrust.bsky.social Beaver Trust @beavertrust.bsky.social · Dec 2
Beavers are already reshaping our rivers, changing landscapes and helping wildlife to return. With your help, we can go further.

Say yes to bringing beavers back. Say yes to restoring landscapes.

Donations are doubled for one week only 👇
https://donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05WS000006TKRJYA4
December 2, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Galatea H
derbyswildlife.bsky.social
Wonderful to be joined by the Beaver Trust at Willington Wetlands 🦫

We were delighted to share how beavers have transformed our site over the last four years - creating a dynamic wetland habitat and boosting key species like the bittern!

Learn more: https://pulse.ly/unzlvic6wu

#WilderDerbyshire
A group of people are standing on a grassy, marshy path surrounded by tall, sparse bushes and bare trees. One person is speaking while the others listen attentively. The sky is overcast, and a body of water is visible to the left. A group of people stand in a forest during autumn, surrounded by tall trees with yellow and brown leaves. The ground is covered with fallen leaves. One person appears to be speaking to the group. They are dressed in outdoor clothing suitable for cool weather. A group of people in outdoor clothing walk in a single file along a narrow, grassy path surrounded by dense, autumnal foliage. Tall trees with sparse leaves loom in the background under a cloudy sky. A beaver is swimming in rippling blue water, with its head and upper body visible above the surface.
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Galatea H
healrewilding.org.uk
Meet Ticket and Tailor, our Tamworth pig ecosystem engineers! 🐖🐖

They came to Heal Somerset as piglets before Christmas and we're smitten. They are brothers and never leave each other's side, always rootling around and squealing at anyone who walks by in the hope of food.
youtu.be/8jmJG_3f-HQ?...
Meet Ticket and Tailor, our ecosystem engineers!
YouTube video by Heal Rewilding
youtu.be
January 15, 2025 at 11:29 AM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 24:
Classical Music makes Dolphins Sociable!
When played classical music, dolphins spent more time swimming in synchrony, and gently touched other dolphins more frequently! These effects would last for 20 minutes after the music stopped!
Paper: tinyurl.com/22yjuzhl
#SciComm 🧪🌍 🐬
Diagram showing two bottlenose dolphins swimming together. Heading: Classical Music makes Dolphins Sociable! Playing Classical Music made dolphins more social, an effect that later up to 20 minutes after the music stopped! Arrows indicate that the dolphins swam in synchrony and gently touched other dolphins. Species: Bottlenose dolphins!
December 24, 2024 at 10:46 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 23:
Humans can learn to echolocate!

Learners, taught to echolocate in ten weeks, were able to identify the orientation of objects, navigate a virtual maze and apply the skill outside of training. Improving mobility of blind learners.

Paper: tinyurl.com/2cy92ykv
#SciComm 🧪 #SciSky
Five panel diagram: "Humans Can Learn to Echolocate! 20 sessions over 10 weeks of training: " Panel 1: Identify larger object. Diagram shows a person creating mouth clicks, and the sound bouncing off two different sized circles. Panel 2: identify object orientation. Shows sound bouncing off a tilted rectangle Panel 3: Navigate a virtual maze. Shows headphones plugged into a computer with a maze. Arrow keys Panel 4: improved over time Panel 5: improved mobility for 100% of blind learners.
December 23, 2024 at 11:35 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 22:
Rats that drive are more resilient!🐀

Rats that were trained to drive small cars had hormones in their poop that suggest they’re more emotionally resilient! Some rats would continue to drive the cars, even when there was no reward.
Paper: tinyurl.com/25vtahuz
#SciComm 🧪🌍 #SciSky
Four panel diagram. "Driving cars improves emotional resilience in rats!" Panel 1: Rats trained to drive to receive reward Panel 2: Rats from enriched habitats were better drivers Panel 3: Rats still chose to drive when reward removed (approached the car faster over time) Panel 4: Hormones in poop showed that driving made rats more emotionally resilient!
December 22, 2024 at 11:28 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 21:
Same sex and heterosexual flamingos are behaviourally the same!
Same sex flamingo pairs show the same incubation behaviours as heterosexual ones. Egg layers spends less time incubating, while partners incubate and defend the nests.
Paper: tinyurl.com/2xvws6wb
#SciComm 🌍🧪 #SciSky
Diagram: same sex flamingo pairs incubate like heterosexual pairs! Left: Male: defends and incubated Female (egg layer): incubates less Right: Female: defends and incubates Female (egg layer): incubates less
December 21, 2024 at 10:57 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 20:
Skinks may return to Christmas Island!
Blue Tailed Skinks, had a (mostly) successful trial reintroduction. 170 released into an “exclosure” became a population of >1k! Skinks were recaptured after invasive snakes breached the fence.
Paper: tinyurl.com/24yjv5d3
#SciComm 🌍🧪 #SciArt
Diagram. Heading: "Trial Reintroduction of Native Skinks (mostly) Successful!" 170 Skinks released into wild "exclosure". Arrow indicates that these are Blue Tailed Skinks in an wild enclosure that fences out invasive snakes. Location: Christmas Island. Population of 1025 after 15 months! 2 generations of juveniles recorded, Skinks were returned to captivity following a fence breach.
December 21, 2024 at 6:22 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 19:

Old Hummingbirds can learn new tricks!

Adult Costa’s Hummingbirds sing new songs after being introduced to other hummingbirds. These songs could be a combination of their existing songs, or copy the song of the loudest bird!

Paper: tinyurl.com/2cef4cf4

#SciComm 🧪🌍 #SciArt
Diagram showing two isolated humming birds on the left, singing unique songs. On the right, the two humming birds are together, singing the same, new song. Text reads: Costa's Hummingbirds can learn new songs as adults! Unique songs in isolation (song learnt as a fledgling). Copy each others songs once introduced! At 1-2 years old (mature)
December 19, 2024 at 10:47 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 18:
Herring Gulls copy human food habits!
Gulls were more likely to approach and eat food if they saw a human eating it, and would express a colour preference, mimicking the human. They’re social learners, also mimicking other gulls!
Paper: tinyurl.com/2bjltxo4

#SciComm 🧪🌍 #gulls
Two panel diagram. Heading "I'll have what he's having! Gulls mimic human food behaviour. Panel one: shows a human eating from a blue packet on the left. 5 meters away the gull has a choice of green or blue packets, it chooses blue. An arrow indicates that this is a Herring Gull. Panel Two: shows a human eating from a green packet on the left. 5 meters away the gull chooses green.
December 18, 2024 at 10:45 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 17:
Long-Finned Pilot Whales have many vocalisations!
40 distinct vocalisations have been recorded across two populations of Pilot Whales in the Mediterranean Sea. Sounds varied, and some occurred frequently – likely repetitive warning calls!
Paper: tinyurl.com/26ok58pk
#SciComm 🧪🌍 🐋
Diagram titled: Long Finned Pilot Whales have 40 Unique Vocalisations! A globe symbol has a pin in the Mediterranean Sea. "Recorded in the Mediterranean Sea" A histogram shows that some sounds appeared more frequently. "Often repetitive sounds - like warning signals!" At the bottom of the image is a Long Finned Pilot Whale smiling and emitting sound waves.
December 17, 2024 at 8:55 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 16:
Stressed Meerkats Pause Pregnancy!
When pregnant females are evicted from their clans, they can pause pregnancy for up to 13 days, reducing stress on their body and embryo. Unlike other mammals, they do this after implantation!
Paper: tinyurl.com/2bfdjncf
#SciComm 🧪🌍 #physiology
4 panel diagram. Title reads: Stressed Meerkats put Pregnancy on Pause! Panel 1: dominant female evicts pregnant subordinates Panel 2: This causes stress to the evicted females: less energy, weight loss Panel 3: Evicted female delays development of her embryo (up to 13 days) Panel 4: Forms coalition with other evicted meerkats and gives birth
December 16, 2024 at 9:11 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 15:

Urban Bees have Bigger Brains!🐝
Bee species that survive in urban habitats have bigger brains than those in natural environments. This may be due to a “cognitive buffer”: big brains are more flexible, better for changing habitats.

Paper: tinyurl.com/28tfvq5q
#SciComm 🌍🧪 #SciArt
Diagram showing larger bees living in urban environments, and smaller bees living in natural and agricultural environments. A bubble in the corner says: Theory Why: Larger brains can make more plastic ("flexible") behaviours. Better in rapidly changing environments.
December 15, 2024 at 9:36 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 14:

Mice sing in Call-and-Response!

Female Alston’s Singing Mice sing more in response to male songs. Female songs are shorter and less frequent than male songs. This may play a role in courtship or help mice to identify each other!
Paper: tinyurl.com/2a7cncsg

#SciComm 🌍🧪 #SciArt
Diagram shows a male Mouse (left) singing a long tune, and a female mouse (right) singing a shorter tune in response. Text at the bottom indicates that males sing more frequently.
December 14, 2024 at 11:21 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent SciFact 13:
Chicks can identify objects at first sight!
Chicks hatched in darkness, who imprint on an object via touch, can then identify it by sight, despite never seeing it before. Showing cross-sense recognition doesn’t rely on experience.
Paper: tinyurl.com/2843demc
#SciComm 🌍🧪 #cognition
Four panel diagram. 1. Hatched in Darkness 2. Introduced to object by touch. Imprints 3. Given choice if objects in light (barrier to prevent contact) 4. Approaches familiar object.
December 13, 2024 at 9:30 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 12:

No more turtle doves?
Turtle Doves have declined 63% in 50 years. They’re losing food and nesting sites and being hunted (legally and illegally). There are many ways to help! From scattering seed to cleaning feeders.
Visit: operationturtledove.org

#SciComm #Conservation🌍 #xmas
Graphic showing a turtle dove in the centre of a Christmas scene. Heading reads: No More Turtle Doves? Turtle doves are in decline. On the left threats are listed: herbicide use, habitat loss and intensive farming, parasites, hunting. On the right it says how to help; Clean bird feeders, plant seeding flowers, clean water, spread the word.
December 12, 2024 at 9:50 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact Day 11:

Beaver Ponds Improve Biodiversity!

Beaver Ponds in Germany host more unique species, and more species of conservation concern, than nearby river and forest habitats. The ponds had particularly high numbers of bats and birds!
Paper: tinyurl.com/2b76lhqk
#SciComm #SciArt 🧪🌍🦫
Diagram showing a gradient of species abundance across habitats. It starts at forest (lowest abundance) then goes to beaver Ponds (intermediate abundance) and to rivers (highest abundance) . There are illustrations of the habitats surrounded by a variety of plant and animal species. At the beaver pond habitat, many of the species are brightly coloured, indicating their uniqueness, and some have red labels, indicating that they're of conservation concern. Text reads: Beaver Ponds host more unique species than forests and rivers. Text bubble reads: They're also a refuge for species of conservation concern!
December 11, 2024 at 11:11 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 10:

Penguins Hear Underwater!

Gentoo penguins have adapted to hear underwater sounds. Their hearing is more sensitive than other aquatic birds, and their responses vary by volume. They may also be impacted by human noise pollution.

Paper: tinyurl.com/24o2h3ga
#SciComm 🌍🧪 #SciArt 🐧
Two panel diagram. Panel one shows a Gentoo Penguin turning its head away from a speaker emitting quiet sounds. Panel two shows a penguin turning away from a speaker emitting loud sounds. Text reads: Gentoo Penguins Can Hear Underwater. Hearing is sensitive. Gradient of responses
December 10, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Reposted by Galatea H
rosemarymosco.com
Another thing I made this year. Pigeon history!
A comic called "What City Pigeons Talk About". Two city pigeons are standing on the sidewalk. One says "Hey, do you ever think about the past?" The other says "The past?" A closeup of the first pigeon. They say "Yeah - do you ever think about where we came from? Sometimes I forget that city pigeons are domestic animals." A hand reaches out to three wild pigeons. The narrator pigeon says "Humans domesticated us many millennia ago in the Middle East. We provided meat, feces used for fertilizer, and much more." There are two very fancy pigeon breeds. "Over time, people split us into hundreds of pure breeds - some quite elaborate! Kings and queens proudly kept pigeons, and colonists spread us worldwide." A closeup again of the first pigeon, who says, "But we fell out of fashion. Now we peck at the dusty concrete, our past glory all but forgotten. Do you ever think about that?"
December 10, 2024 at 3:07 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 9:

Invasive squirrels do not avoid predator scent!

Grey Squirrels (Invasive in the UK) do not avoid feeders with Pine Marten scent. Native Red Squirrels visit scented feeders less frequently, for shorter visits and are more vigilant!
Paper: tinyurl.com/23u944wq
#SciComm #SciArt 🧪🌍🐿
Two panel diagram. Left panel shows red (native) squirrel and grey (invasive) squirrel eating a peanut. Right panel shows a peanut covered with Pine Marten (Native Predator) scent. The grey squirrel is eating the peanut, the red squirrel does not. Text shows it is avoiding the feeder and behaving more vigilantly.
December 9, 2024 at 11:43 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 8:

Active Crocodiles are less sociable!

Active Estuarian Crocodiles are less social than inactive crocs, despite traveling through more territories. This may be an adaptation for avoiding costly conflict with other crocs.

Paper: tinyurl.com/2dowrkxo

#SciComm 🧪🌍 #SciArt #crocodile
A diagram of a river. One crocodile has a pathway running up and down the river, it sits alone on the top bank. Text reads: "Active Crocodiles are less social..." A second crocodile with a short pathway sits next to a third crocodile. Text reads "... than inactive Crocodiles!"
December 8, 2024 at 10:21 PM
galateainthewild.bsky.social
Advent Sci-Fact 7:

Heat Impacts Bumblebee Foraging!🐝

Bees at higher temperatures had lower metabolic rates, but made fewer, faster visits to many flowers, compared to bees at lower temperatures. Researchers believe this may be due to heat stress.
Paper: tinyurl.com/28ge2hh2
#SciComm🧪🌍 #SciArt #Bee
Two panel diagram. Title: Heat Impacts Bumblebee Foraging Top Panel: pale blue background, temperature reads "24°C/ 75°F" A Bumble bee makes two visits to small flower patches. Text Reads: More journey's, longer visits, fewer flowers, slower flights. Bottom panel: pale red background, temperature reads "32°C/90°F" A bumble bee makes a journey to a large flower patch. Text reads: Fewer journeys, shorter visits, more flowers, faster flight.
December 7, 2024 at 10:27 PM