Depending on where you stand, there’s something about nature that’s cute, stubborn, destructive, or dangerous. When it comes to porcupines, they embody nature. Their adorable faces and non-aggressive demeanor are welcoming, but the 30,000 quills on a porcupine’s back say, “not too close.” Quills are the thorn-like structures on a porcupine’s body. Sometimes, they’re referred …
There is only one type of wolverine, although the creature lives in many parts of the world. The scientific name for them is gula and they are related to the weasel family and wolverines are the only living member of this genus or species. They are short, stocky animals, 25-30 inches long and have shaggy hair and …
Badgers live all around the world and have a reputation as tough animals that will fight to the death. The Honey Badger, especially, is known to fight much larger animals and often wins those fights. Badgers have their own lore around the world in addition to a reputation for toughness. In North America, coyotes sometimes …
The geckos may have been popularized by an advertisement on TV, but they are cute little animals. It’s easy to see why someone might want one of their own. They are lizards and have a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and habitats. They are reptiles, so they prefer warm weather, and live in places like …
As someone who loves birds, you might be curious if all birds can swim. After all, not having webbed feet would seem to make swimming more difficult. However, webbed feet are not the only important features that help a bird to swim. Waterproof feathers, the proper body weight, and even body proportions play an important …
My first time actually seeing a chipmunk was at Glacier National Park in Montana. They were relatively easy to find along the trails and would scamper away in most cases. However, there were some that had learned how to get their food from tourists. At trailheads, or at overlook areas, it was common to have …
Let’s say you’re out for a walk in the woods, and you come across a bear. The bear waves at you, and you’re not sure what to do. Here are some reasons why a bear might be waving at you: 1. The bear may be trying to scare you off. 2. The bear may be …
The puma, also known as the cougar or mountain lion, is one of the most widely distributed animals in the Americas. Native to both North and South America, this species is a top predator and there are no other animals that eat them. However, there are some animals that will kill pumas in order to …
For the first time in my life, I saw a beaver close to my home. There is a little pond near where I live, so I saw the beaver there. I recently read about muskrats and realized these two animals are quite similar. So, I wondered if these two animals ever lived together. Well, yes, muskrats and …
Did you know that the word hippopotamus is actually Greek for “river horse”? The question is, does this name signify any similarities between hippos and horses? For instance, are they as fast as or faster than horses? With their large bodies, it can seem like hippos are much slower than horses. The truth is, though, …
Gophers, or pocket gophers, are furry rodents that burrow through yards and fields in the Western hemisphere. They primarily live in the Midwestern and Western U.S. regions. Minnesota’s nickname is the Gopher State. However, a few species of gophers can be found in the southeastern U.S. in the states of Florida, Georgia, & Alabama. This …
A fox and a wolf are both mammals from the dog family. While they have very similar personalities, they have many differences in appearance, behavior and diet, and vocalization. A fox is commonly red and has a pointed snout with long whiskers and a bushy tail. Wolves are generally grey and have a muscular body, …
Nature is full of cycles of all kinds. All parts of nature, big and small, participate in some gradual process of change or renewal, and lake ecosystems are no exception. You may have heard of the water cycle, the rock cycle, or the nitrogen cycle, but there’s another cycle that you may not have heard …
Moose are one of the largest mammals in North America. Adult males can weigh up to 1,650 pounds and stand six to seven feet tall at the shoulders. Like other male members of the deer family, bull moose have antlers that they grow and shed each year. These antlers can grow to be up to …
Before we dive into the best closed lakes in the world, let’s get on the same page regarding what we mean by a “closed lake.” Closed lakes are defined as endorheic basins with no surface outlet. Essentially this means that a “closed lake” is a lake that does not drain into a larger body of …
Cutting antlers on deer is a process called de-antlering and is done to protect deer from injury and to sometimes aid in the process of record keeping for a deer farm. Some use deer antlers while in velvet as a medicine, but this type of cutting can injure and harm the deer. There is a …
Who would win in a fight between a wolf and a leopard? Are you curious? I know I am. I have always had a fascination with giant cats and dogs, er, wolves. After all, humans today live with miniature wolves and leopards in our homes just for sheer comfort and companionship. But, if a wolf …
There are virtually endless awe-inspiring sights to see and take in around the world. With no shortage of wonders on planet Earth, it is no surprise that more people than ever have found a passion for all things Earth and science. For those who study geology and the waters of the blue planet, you may …
There are five treeless countries, or more appropriate, countries without forests in the world, according to World Bank data. One is truly hilarious, Greenland since the name would make us easily think it is filled with lush greenery. Anyway, the other four treeless territories are Monaco, Oman, San Marino, and Qatar. So, if countries with …