These were the top animal stories on NPR in 2023, including a snake on the plane

This year, animals made their marks with encounters that ranged from sad to creepy to cute.

These were the most popular animal stories on NPR's site in 2023.

A baby bison was euthanized

In May, a baby bison from Yellowstone National Park after a visitor touched it. The calf became separated from its herd as it was crossing the Lamar River. A visitor pushed the calf from the river bank onto the roadway, the National Park Service said. The park rangers tried several times to reintegrate the calf with the herd, but it was rejected. After some backlash, NPS said "national parks preserve natural processes." Clifford Walters, a Hawaii resident, was charged