News
Are there wild elk lurking in South Austin?
1+ hour, 43+ min ago (1060+ words) This story was originally part of KUT's ATXplained Live on Oct. 29, 2025. Tickets for our next show on May 21 are'available here. Darren Smith left his home in Driftwood on a dark, chilly morning in 2019. He was heading to the airport to…...
Athena's surviving owlet rescued from Wildflower Center
2+ day, 15+ hour ago (463+ words) After an uncertain weekend, an owlet at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center was found alive and is being rehabilitated. It is one of two babies of the resident great horned owl Athena, who has nested at the center since…...
Definitely don't touch it': Rare blue dragons spotted on Texas coast pack a strong punch
1+ mon, 6+ day ago (365+ words) Blue dragons are washing up on the Texas coast, and researchers are warning beachgoers not to touch them. "They're magnificent looking," Tunnell said. "If you look at them, they're bright blue and they have these silver streaks on them and…...
Austin Police Department makes arrest in viral animal abuse case
2+ mon, 1+ week ago (251+ words) The Austin Police Department has arrested John Kaschak, 35, after an investigation found probable cause that he was involved in a viral video of a dog being harmed on a downtown apartment balcony. Kaschak was charged with cruelty to animals, a…...
Hundreds of pets across Austin found foster homes before the freeze
2+ mon, 3+ week ago (534+ words) More than 200 dogs and cats from Austin Pets Alive were placed in foster homes ahead of the winter freeze, making the shelter the emptiest it's been since its opening, APA staff said. Luis Sanchez, APA's head of public relations, said…...
Meet the first dog mayor of 37th Street in Austin, who pledges more fire hydrants and fetch
3+ mon, 1+ week ago (613+ words) One of Austin's newest elected officials has four paws, a snaggle tooth and a passion for playing ball. Pug-Chihuahua mix Mo Bamba won the race for mayor of 37th Street near Hyde Park. The dog was inaugurated in a ceremony last…...
This Lockhart pecan orchard is embracing bug-eating bats in place of pesticides
5+ mon, 3+ week ago (961+ words) On a clear September night along the San Marcos River in Central Texas, a handful of people in headlamps gathered around a small, noisy creature: an evening bat. Melissa Donnelly, a science specialist with the nonprofit Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation,…...
Ahead of the fireworks, you can 'name your price' to adopt animals from Austin-area shelters
9+ mon, 3+ week ago (395+ words) Animal shelters across the Austin area are teaming up to hold a "name your price" adoption special this weekend. Shelters hope to rehome 250 animals before the Fourth of July, when shelter employees say a record number of pets turn up…...
San Marcos advises hikers to take precautions after unconfirmed mountain lion sighting
11+ mon, 2+ week ago (431+ words) A Parks and Recreation worker reported a possible mountain lion near Dante's Trail last month. Sightings are rare in Central Texas, but that doesn't mean the animals aren't around. No matter how cute they look, don't try to approach the…...