Maybe you can fool Mother Nature

What's the difference between barbed wire wrapped around a pipe and a prickly pear cactus? Biologists are hoping that when it comes to the endangered cactus wren, not much. With much of its natural habitat destroyed by recent wildfires, scientists want to see whether the sharp angles and jagged edges of the cactus copies can act as stand-ins for the real thing.

Mike Anton's story about the plight of the cactus wren is here. For a good look at the little bird, check out the video.

--Veronique de Turenne

Video: Don Kelsen  Los Angeles Times