A new study finds the number of butterflies has dropped 22% since 2000, a new study finds. Scientists blame insecticides, climate change and habitat loss. The first ever countrywide systematic analysis of butterfly abundance shows the total number of butterflies in the Lower 48 states has been falling on average 1.3% a year. Thursday's study shows 114 species suffering significant declines and only nine increasing. Many of the species in decline fell by 40% or more. The losses are highest in the Southwest. One entomologist who wasn't part of the study called the loss of butterflies "catastrophic and saddening."

The death of an Oregon house cat from bird flu and a pet food recall are raising questions about how people can protect their pets. Oregon health officials have traced the cat's illness to frozen cat food that contained raw turkey. Some pet owners feed their animals raw meat, but that can be dangerous, even fatal for the animals. Cooking destroys the bird flu virus and other disease-causing germs. Cats seem more susceptible than dogs to the bird flu virus. But the best advice for pet owners is to avoid feeding animals raw protein.