The scale of the illegal wildlife trade is enormous and threatens many animal and plant species. Around the world, international ports need more resources to screen shipping containers for smuggled wildlife. According to new research, help could arrive soon—in the form of trained rats. A proof-of-principle study shows that African giant pouched rats can successfully learn to detect the scents of pangolin scales, elephant ivory, and other illegal wildlife products.

Learn more at my Animal Minds blog: African Rats Detect Scent and Combat Wildlife Trafficking.

A new study shows that dogs trained with soundboard buttons can understand specific words and respond appropriately. It’s the first step in a large, ongoing investigation into interspecies communication.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Pet Sounds: Investigating Dogs’ Use of Soundboard Buttons.

Recent work suggests that female song was the norm for the ancestors of modern songbirds. And many female birds still sing today: It is estimated that female song occurs in about two-thirds of all songbird species. Despite the increased documentation of female birdsong in recent years, questions remain about its function. Male songbirds use song most often to attract mates and defend territories. Why do females sing?

A new study of seagull families shows that baby bird embryos eavesdrop on conversations between their parents from inside the egg. What’s more, researchers found that what the embryos overhear during this small window has long-lasting biological and behavioral effects.

Read more at my Animal Minds blog: Bird Embryos Eavesdrop on Their Parents.

To protect freshwater crocodiles from deadly invasive cane toads, scientists at Macquarie University collaborated with Bunuba Indigenous rangers and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) in Western Australia. The team came up with a strategy that proved successful: They taught wild crocodiles to associate cane toads with a bout of food poisoning.

Read about the project at my Animal Minds blog: A Surprising Way to Fight Invasive Species.