Imagine that you’re a fisherman who likes to spend his days on the lake. You’ve seen the turnover occur a few times and have been wondering if it’s killed any fish in the area. You’ve also heard that it can have some pretty severe effects on fish populations, so you’d like to learn more about …

There are many animals that have antlers and most people don’t know this because they only think of deer when they hear the word antlers. Antlers are bones that develop and grow on the heads of male animals in certain species, such as moose, caribou, elk, and deer. In this article, we’ll break down what …

An otter is a sleek, glossy, dense furry aquatic mammal with short legs, webbed feet, and a muscular tail and looks very similar to a beaver and a muskrat; but are they the same? Do otters build dams like beavers? What’s the Difference Between Otters, Muskrats, and Beavers? The otter, the muskrat, and the beaver …

Beavers hate the sound of running water because they think that their dam could be having leaks. If they hear the sound of running water, they work for long hours to locate and repair the leak. This is why beavers go out daily to inspect the dams for leaks or defects. According to the understanding …

Gophers are well-known furry rodents who are known for spending time in yards and eating vegetation that does not belong to them. If your property is home to gopher holes or if you are simply curious about getting to know more about gophers, you might be wondering when gophers come out of their holes. Gophers …

No. All of the horns on a goat are permanent. They grow as the animal gets older, but they never lose them. Horns are made of an exceptionally hard material called keratin, also found in hair and fingernails. It will never come off once it grows out of a goat’s head, just like your fingernails …

Wolverines don’t hibernate during the winter because they’ve adaptive features to survive in extreme conditions. They find habitation out of the wind and cold during spring and winter. Wolverines’ fur is dark, thick, and oily, enabling them to withstand water and frost. Moreover, they can walk on top of the snow, so they don’t hibernate. …

Nothing makes you think about a tropical island getaway or vacation in the sun like the presence of palm trees.  I remember the enthusiasm I displayed on my first trip to the beach.  We knew our destination on the sands, and a beautiful body of water was near because the scenic route was lined with …

A brain is essential for the survival of most living creatures, including humans and other animals. However, when it comes to animals, the matter is a little bit more complicated. There are some animals that do not have brains. To most people, this is a puzzling statement, because how can such animals survive without a …

Mother Nature has provided mankind with so much wonder and curiosity for all of recorded history. It seems that we just can’t help but look around at the planet that surrounds us and be awed. One thing that brings home much of this joy and wonder are the trees that we see. Oak trees are …

Depending on the variety, redwood tree roots can extend out for more than 100 feet. California or coast redwoods, giant sequoias, and dawn redwoods are nature’s three forest giants. I’ll never forget the classic scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo where Madeleine (Kim Novak) and Scottie (Jimmy Stewart) are virtually dwarfed by the “Father of the Forest” sequoia. …

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum, Lycopersicon lycopersicum) grow up to 3 feet long depending on which root system they have. I’ve always planted tomatoes in my garden after turning about one foot or more of the soil over with a pitchfork. I know, I’m pretty old school about that. I find that the tomato taproots grow deep …

The central tap-root of a dandelion grows up to 3 feet long, but for most dandelions, it’s 6 to 12 inches. If you’re like me, you have a love-hate relationship with dandelions. You might know them as puffballs, lion’s tooth, or monk’s head. The bright, yellow blooms are harbingers of springtime, which I yearn for …

Pine trees are popular for landscaping because of their beautiful, evergreen needles and sturdy branches. Besides being attractive additions to any property, pine trees have many practical uses. For example, they can provide shade from the sun in the summer or a windbreak during the winter months. They also produce cones that make beautiful decorations. …

Blood is the fluid that carries oxygen and many nutrients around the body that are essential for the survival of humans and animals. But what some people might not know, is that not every blood is red. In fact, blood can come in different colors. Blood is made mostly of plasma, proteins, and other good …

The cactus is the king plant of the desert, or any desert environment. Cacti can be seen sprouting up in any region with an arid and hot climate. One consequence of the spread of American civilization in the West was the reclamation of large tracts of desert. But even where modern cities have been established, …

Anteaters are silly-looking mammals that fascinate anyone who looks at them. With their long snouts, slow-motion movements, and coarse and spiky hair, they’re quite interesting to watch. Anteaters live in Central and South America and get their name from their diets. Did you know that it’s possible to tell anteaters apart by their front claws? …

If you come face-to-face with a snake, you may be wondering just how many times it can bite you before it runs out of venom. For the vast majority of snakes, it’s highly unlikely that they will bite more than once. And when they do, they can decide how much venom they’ll inject into you. …