Should I Let A Possum Live Under My House?

As homeowners, we sometimes get critters under our houses, sheds, porches, or decks. At times, wildlife like possums tend to set up camps where they find food and safety. You might wake up one day to your trash scattered and little paw prints in the dirt surrounding the trash cans.

You may even find, to your surprise, the possums themselves stuck in the trash. So what happens when a possum takes residency under your home or other places in your yard? You might be wondering if they are safe to coexist with or if you need to take some steps to remove them.

Do possums play dead?

When you find a possum under your house or shed, you may presume that it is unconscious or still. However, it’s far from that. The Wildlife Hotline states that the only thing a possum will ever do as a defense is to play dead.

This aids them as prey in the wild. When they play dead they are not unconscious and they have not fainted. They are alive, fully aware that they are playing dead as their defense.

Why do possums live under houses and sheds?

Possums live under your house because they have found a food source. This food source is from your scraps and garbage! Trash and other food scraps attract all possums and other critters as well.

The trash smells sweet and lures the possums to your door. Every household has constant trash and food scraps. So, when a possum chooses to live under your house or shed, it’s because it is constantly being fed by your leftovers.

Are possums harmful to people?

According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, possums do carry infectious diseases that can infect humans and even cats. However, they can be more of a nuisance than they are harmful. They may damage your garden, dig holes under your home, and even get into fights with your dogs.

If they become too much of a burden, it’s best to find a way to safely remove or rehome them.

How do I safely remove them?

If … Read the rest of the story.

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Do Deer Eat Their Antlers?

Deer are majestic creatures that people have long been interested in observing and trying to figure out what they are all about. We know for certain that their antlers come off of them at some point, but people always wonder how that happens and why. There is even a rumor that the deer eat their own antlers and that is why they disappear from their body.

As it turns out, the rumor about eating their own antlers is something that we should explore more in-depth.

What Are Deer Antlers?

You may see deer antlers hanging up high in the living room of some hunter somewhere and admire them. They are hard to look away from once you notice them. They are certainly beautiful to look at, but you might also wonder what they really are and why they deserve the attention that they receive.

The truth is that deer antlers are actually an extension of the deer’s skull. They are made from bone, cartilage, skin, tissue, and blood cells. Essentially, they are just an extension of the deer’s body.

Facts About Deer Antlers

It is vital to know that antlers are not horns. They have some similar characteristics in the fact that they are found on top of the head of an animal, but they are certainly not horns. It is easy to see how someone could get those two ideas confused, but it is important to recognize the difference.

They don’t serve the purpose of being used for combat as some animals use their horns, but they may serve as a defensive deterrent in some specialized cases. The point is, deer antlers are more about attracting a mate than they are about any kind of utilitarian purpose beyond that. Thus, deer antlers are very pretty to look at.

They have to be in order to be as appealing as they are to a potential mate.

Do Deer Antlers Have Value To Humans?

Yes, deer antlers can be very valuable to humans who want to look them over. They are used not only for scientific purposes (though that … Read the rest of the story.

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What are the Oldest Forests in America?

Imagine standing next to one of the tallest and oldest species still alive today–and taller than the tallest dinosaur ever recorded.

The Sitka Spruce are some of the oldest trees in America and they reach towards the sky at an impressive 180 feet, about the height of a 17 story building. There are places in America with trees that have existed for centuries.

You can visit several states across the US to experience them today.

Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Tongass is the largest forest in the nation and some of the trees that are home here are thought to be more than 800 years old. Some of the rarest creatures live in the Tongass, including the Grizzly Bear and the Archipelago Wolf. It’s also home to the largest population of Bald Eagles in America.

The Tongass covers about 17 million acres and some of the trees which inhabit the area have trunks that measure, in diameter, more than 12 feet! The main types of trees found in the Tongass include Sitka Spruce, Red and Yellow Cedar, and Western Hemlock.

Porcupine Mountains, Michigan

Sugar Maple, American Basswood, and Yellow Birch are the most common types of old trees you can find in the Porcupine Mountains. The Porcupine Mountains are home to one of America’s oldest old growth forests. Old growth forests are otherwise called virgin forests, forests that have not ever been disturbed by logging.

The area is abundant in many species of trees and wildlife, including gray wolves, coyotes, red foxes, mink, bobcats, black bears, and white-tailed deer. The Porcupine Mountains state park dates back to 1945 and was established as a protective order for the old growth trees that grow there, mostly the maple hemlock species.

Rock Creek Wilderness, Oregon

The wilderness of Rock Creek is mostly dense rainforest and home to many Big Leaf Maple trees and Red Alder Trees. However, you can find Douglas Firs in this part of Oregon, which are some of the oldest in the area. Nearer to the ocean, you can find older Sitka Spruce as well.

According to Scientific American, “protecting remaining … Read the rest of the story.

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The Noises Raccoons Make and What They Mean

You might be wondering why raccoons make all those different noises. Well, there are a few reasons. The most common noise that raccoons make is called screaming.

This is because it’s mating season, and the females are trying to find males in their territory. Males will also scream when fighting other males over territory or food. Other sounds that raccoons make include chattering, hissing, growling, and purring.

Raccoons are generally nocturnal creatures, so you’re more likely to hear them at night. However, if you do encounter a raccoon during the day, it’s probably because they’re looking for food. Raccoons are very adaptable creatures and can live in a wide range of habitats, from forests to urban areas.

In fact, raccoons are one of the few animals that have actually thrived in urban environments.

What Noises Do Raccoons Make?

Raccoons are known to make a variety of noises, including hisses, grunts, growls, and barks. These noises can vary depending on the situation, but they typically indicate that the raccoon is either feeling threatened or is trying to intimidate something. Hisses and growls are usually reserved for when a raccoon feels threatened, while grunts and barks are more commonly used as warning signals.

In some cases, raccoons may also make chattering or purring noises when they’re happy or content.

Why do Raccoons Make These Noises?

Raccoons are relatively quiet animals, but they do make a variety of sounds. The noises they make can be divided into a few different categories, including vocalizations, screams, growls, and clicks. Each type of noise serves a different purpose, whether it’s to communicate with other raccoons or to warn off predators.

If you hear a raccoon making any of the following noises, it’s best to stay away and give the animal some space. Raccoons can be aggressive, especially if they feel threatened, and they may also carry diseases that can be harmful to humans.

1. Hisses

Raccoons hiss when they feel threatened or startled. It’s a way to warn off whatever has caught their attention.

2. Growls and Snarls

Growls and snarls are usually reserved … Read the rest of the story.

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Moose vs Elk vs Deer

You can tell the difference between a moose, elk, or deer mainly by their size and their antlers. These aren’t the only differences. Hopefully, by the time we are done exploring, you will be able to tell them apart with confidence.

The first thing we need to emphasize is that while all moose and all elk are deer, not all deer are moose or elk. Let’s get started!

The Similarities

All three of these animals belong to a class of animals called Cervids. You can think of these three as cousins. They are all cud-chewing plant-eaters. All three have hooves and the males of each species grow antlers throughout the spring and summer that they shed in the fall.

The antlers tend to grow larger every year until the animal has reached its prime. All three animals have a four-chambered stomach. This allows them to be able to store food when it is plentiful and then go somewhere safe to finish their meal.

They bring the food back up from the “storage” section and eat it. Now let’s take a look at the differences.

Moose vs Elk vs Deer –Telling Them Apart

You can get an idea of which animal you are about to meet before you even see one. Both the deer and the moose have heart-shaped footprints with rounded edges, while the elk has a print that is shaped more tooth-shaped, with pointed ends. Because the moose is so much bigger than the deer, its prints will be larger and sink deeper into the ground as it walks.

In addition, you will normally find several sets of prints if it is deer and only one if you are about to find a moose.

General Appearance

Deer are the smallest of these three. They stand about four feet tall at their shoulders and are often tan. Some species, like the white-tailed deer, have bright white on their tails.

They normally range from 100 to 300 pounds. They have the longest tails of the three species. The snout is long and narrow with a rounded nose.

Moose are the … Read the rest of the story.

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10 Different Types of Lizards You Should Know

Lizards are some of the most fascinating and diverse creatures on Earth. They come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and even live in a range of habitats from deserts to rainforests. But many people don’t know about these amazing animals because they think lizards are just small snakes or slow-moving slugs that only exist in hot climates.

In reality, there are over 4500 species of lizards worldwide, and they come in a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes. Some can even change color to hide from predators by matching their surroundings! Here are ten of the most interesting and coolest types of lizards you should know about:

1. Gila Monster

The Gila Monster is a large, venomous lizard that is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Gila monsters are able to grow up to around 2 feet (24 inches) long! They have a very slow metabolism which allows them to go long periods of time without food, and they primarily eat small mammals and birds.

Where it lives:

Southwestern US and Mexico

What it eats / how often it eats:

Small mammals and birds / Once every 2-3 weeks

How it gets food:

According to the Sandiego Zoo, Gila monsters use their long, forked tongues to sense the scent of prey. When they find an animal, they ambush it and bite down hard, injecting their venom into the prey. The Gila monster then releases its grip, and the prey usually dies within an hour due to the paralysis caused by the venom.

How long it lives:

20-30 years

Sleep behavior:

Gila monsters are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. During the day, they find a cool, dark place to hide from the heat and sun.

Types of homes it has:

Gila monsters live in a variety of habitats, including deserts, foothills, and woodlands. They prefer areas with lots of rocks and crevices where they can hide from predators and the heat.

Nomadic vs. territorial:

Gila monsters are not very nomadic, meaning they generally stay in the same area for their entire lives. They are, however, territorial … Read the rest of the story.

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What Are the Oldest Forests in the UK?

Old trees are fascinating because they have seen history unfold. All the ancient trees have been through more than any person alive today, considering the UK’s oldest forests are home to trees that are thousands of years old. But that isn’t the only reason why old trees are so special.

The oldest trees are better from an environmental standpoint. But first, I want to know where in the UK long-living trees have successfully adapted and thrived.

Where Can I Find Old Woodlands in the UK?

Some of the longest living trees are found in forested regions all over the UK.

The New Forest of Hampshire

William the Conqueror once claimed The New Forest and granted only himself and his aristocratic circle privileges to its access, in 1079. William the Conqueror and his men were allowed to hunt wild boar and deer in the forest. The forest now covers 219 square miles and is the backdrop for many smaller villages and wide open pastures.

Throughout May, bluebells bloom and giant sequoias cover the surroundings. Walking through, I might be intimidated by the enormous leaves and trees like something from an entirely different time.

Glen Affric Forest of Scotland

Glen Affric is a magnificent forest with 30 miles of old pinewoods and thick brush. The woodlands are surrounded by snowy mountains. It’s an incredible place to go for a hike as the area has scenic walking trails that include waterfalls and canyons.

Glen Affric has its share of wildlife that calls it home, including otters, red squirrels, and golden eagles.

Sherwood Forest in Nottingham

I’m sure the story of Robin Hood, who took from the rich and gave to the poor, is well known. He is thought to have roamed and lived in the old Sherwood forest of Nottingham. Besides imagining what life was like during the days of Robin Hood and his merry men, I can visit Sherwood forest today and experience the calm of over 1,000 giant old oak trees.

The biggest oak in Britain is thought to be around 1,100 years old. Chestnut trees are mixed in with other … Read the rest of the story.

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Can Wolverines Climb Trees?

When we hear the word wolverine, we may automatically think of the famous X-men character. However, a wolverine is actually a weasel-like mammal that is found in remote areas of the Northern Hemisphere, such as North America, Europe, and Asia. Wolverines are known for their strength and ferocity and are even known to take down prey that is much larger than they are.

So, can these powerful animals climb trees?

Can Wolverines Climb Trees?

The answer is yes – wolverines are excellent climbers. They often climb trees in search of food or to escape predators. Wolverines have sharp claws that help them climb, and they also have long bodies and short legs that make it easier for them to maneuver around obstacles.

While wolverines typically live on the ground, they are very capable of climbing trees when they need to. Wolverines are powerful and fearless animals, and their ability to climb trees is just one of the things that make them so fascinating. If you ever have the chance to see a wolverine in the wild, you’ll likely be impressed by its climbing skills!

How High Can Wolverines Climb?

While wolverines are good climbers, they are not known for climbing to great heights. Most of the time, wolverines will only climb relatively short trees – around 10-15 feet tall. There have been reports of wolverines climbing taller trees, but this is not common.

Why Do Wolverines Climb Trees?

Wolverines typically climb trees to access food, such as birds’ nests or fruits and berries. They will also climb trees to escape predators or to get a better view of their surroundings. Overall, wolverines are good climbers but they don’t typically climb to great heights.

Do Wolverines Live in Trees?

No, wolverines do not live in trees. They are terrestrial animals, meaning they live on the ground. Wolverines typically build dens in the ground, which provide them with shelter and protection from the elements.

While wolverines don’t live in trees, they will climb them for a particular purpose such as food and safety.

What Type of Trees Do Wolverines Climb?

Wolverines will … Read the rest of the story.

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What Animals Bark Like a Dog but Are Not a Dog?

Domestic canines usually bark most of all creatures. However, many animals besides dogs bark, according to Katherine Lord of the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Coyotes

Coyotes sound the most like a dog of all other creatures. That makes sense when you think about the genius and species name. In English, Canis latrans translates as “dog barking.”

Sometimes, they also receive recognition as “song dogs.” Coyotes growl, snort, bark, howl, whine, yodel and sing, all of which a dog may do. They often congregate in groups and sometimes produce wider ranges of vocals than a domestic dog.

Wild Dogs/Wolves

Wild dogs or wolves might howl and whine. However, they don’t typically communicate using barking repetitions like a domestic dog usually does unless experiencing a territorial threat or while in attack. Other sources suggest that wolves don’t usually feel the need to bark because they don’t often feel threatened.

This may surprise you, considering their similarities in appearance with the animals we typically have in our homes as pets. However, much research points to the domestication of dogs changing the way they express themselves, including the need to bark to gain a human caretaker’s attention instead of hiding for protection.

Deer

Sometimes, deer bark in short bursts. Other times, they make slower, more sustained sounds, or the vocals might resemble a bleating goat. In any case, they often sound like a small dog shrieking when scared.

Squirrels

Some squirrel sounds resemble bird screeches. However, they also produce fast, staccato sound beats that sound like dog barks when they spot a predator.  They don’t bark that often, however.

When they do, it may sound like a more “airy” sound of a dog bark.

Capybara

The capybara makes one bark at a time much like a dog does. This rodent has a husky vocal quality, such as what you might hear in large dogs. They usually bark to survive, as they do move about in dangerous surroundings on land, in the air or in the water.

However, they also sometimes bark just when excited.

Baboons

Baboon is a type of monkey, but … Read the rest of the story.

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Do Porcupines Hibernate? Why? How Long? Where?

Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum Linnaeus), also known as the North American, Canadian, or common porcupine, do not hibernate. During the winter, they wander away from their den and feed on tree bark. Porcupines climb trees by grasping the bark with their hind legs and propping themselves on branches with their tails.

When they finish eating, they back themselves down the tree. The strange thing is that they often fall and break bones. But, unlike you and me, porcupine bone fractures heal quickly.

Did you know that a porcupine has up to 30,000 sharp quills covering its body and tail? I used to think porcupines throw their quills, but they actually release them if an animal touches the quills. Find out more about porcupines, their habits, and their habitat.

Do Porcupines Hibernate in the Winter?

Porcupines don’t hibernate. They forage for food in the winter, eating the bark from trees. Their quills help insulate them from the cold. They also gather plants that live near water, but they don’t like to swim.

You can tell if a porcupine has been around because you’ll see bark, sticks, and scat under trees and in the snow where porcupines forage. You won’t catch sight of them during the day since they’re active at night.

What Do Porcupines Look Like?

Porcupines are unique, slow-moving rodents. Here are some of their unusual features:

Small head and ears

Heavy body

Thick, muscular tail

Orange, red incisors

Large feet with long curved claws

Brownish black upperpart with yellow guard hairs

Yellow, barbed quills or spines with black tips

Bare on the bottom of the feet

Walk with a swaying gait

How Do Porcupines Protect Themselves from Predators?

Many young porcupines fall prey to predators. These predators include foxes, fisher cats, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, weasels, and great horned owls, among others. Porcupines aren’t aggressive but they protect themselves by releasing their needle-sharp quills if a predator touches them.

Their quills are hollow and barbed. When threatened, the porcupine lifts up its quills and detaches them into the predator’s skin. Then, the porcupine drives the quills … Read the rest of the story.

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Do Porcupines Live Together? If so how many?

Tell Me About the Porcupine

Porcupines are large rodents covered with over thirty thousand prickly quills. The stiff quills cover their bodies everywhere except their soft fur-covered stomachs. The fur is brown, yellow to black.

They are the second-largest rodent globally, second to the capybara, which is almost double their weight. The average porcupine weighs only about 20 pounds, and their length is about twenty-five to thirty-six inches full-grown. Though the African crested porcupine, the largest porcupine species, however, can be as large as sixty-six pounds and has quills that can be a foot long and as thick as a straw.

The porcupine’s feet have four toes on the front and five toes on the back. Each toe has large curved claws that help the porcupine climb trees, dig holes for dens and get the food they like to eat. Porcupines are herbivores that love to eat leaves, twigs, bark, and green plants, and their claws help them do this.

The pad of their foot is relatively soft and hairless. The porcupine has an interesting tail called a prehensile tail, which is like a third arm and can wrap around a tree branch, allowing them to be stable climbers. They tend to be nocturnal, but you can occasionally find them wandering around during the daytime.

They also tend to be solitary animals, which changes during childbirth and in the cold winter months.

Are there a lot of different species of Porcupines?

Around the globe, there are 28 different species of porcupines, and some of them live very differently than the other species. The species are further divided into two families of porcupines. The Old-World porcupines of the family Hystricidae and New World porcupines of the family Erethizontidae.

These families behave very differently from each other. The Old-World porcupine tends to be a land or terrestrial animal, spending its days foraging on the ground. They are some of the largest porcupines.

The African Crested Porcupine and the Cape porcupine are both parts of the family of the Old-World Porcupines, and both tend to live in a family group. They also … Read the rest of the story.

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Why do Porcupines Smell so Bad?

What Are Porcupines?

Porcupines are considered rodents. They have brown, yellow fur and stiff quills covering their bodies everywhere except their soft fur-covered stomachs. They are the second-largest rodent in North America, second to the American Beaver, which is almost double their weight.

The average American porcupine weighs only about 20 pounds, and their length is about twenty-five to thirty-six inches full-grown. A male porcupine is bigger than a female. They have a prehensile tail which is like a third arm and can wrap around a tree branch, allowing them to be stable climbers.

They tend to be nocturnal, but you can occasionally find them wandering around during the daytime or early evening. The porcupine’s feet have four toes on the front and five toes on the back. Each toe has large curved claws that help the porcupine climb trees and get the food they like to eat.

Porcupines are herbivores that love to eat leaves, twigs, bark, and green plants, and their claws help them do this. The pad of their foot is relatively soft and hairless. Another interesting characteristic of the porcupine is the ability of their feet to help them swim, and they are excellent swimmers.

Between the buoyancy of their quills and their feet doggy paddling, they glide through the water with ease. The porcupine’s eyesight is poor, but its keen hearing and an acute sense of smell help the porcupine overcome its sight.

The Mechanisms of Defense of a Porcupine

The porcupine has a lot of predators, which is pretty surprising since they have some rather unique mechanisms of defense. Some predators are cougars, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, lynxes, bears, wolves, and great horned howls. Scientists have found quills in all the animals as the porcupine attempts to protect itself from them.

The predator will attempt to attack the porcupine by biting at its unprotected face or biting at its belly side, which has no quills and is very soft. In addition to the porcupine’s soft body parts and poor eyesight, they are also slow-moving – they max out at about two miles per hour. … Read the rest of the story.

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Which Birds Have Webbed Feet?

Penguins, geese, ducks, albatrosses, coots, avocets, and flamingos are a few examples of birds that have webbed feet. Did you know that there are over 400 bird species with webbed feet? Webbing between the toes is a feature of swimming among certain birds.

The webbed feet help the bird to be more effective in the water. Additionally, diving birds also use it to propel themselves through the water. I’ve always been impressed by gosling’s ability to swim as early as two weeks after birth.

But, until I learned about their webbed feet, I was always perplexed about how they could swim at such a young age. Let’s look at the different webbed feet and birds with web-feet features.

Webbed Foot Explained?

The webbed foot in birds is an anatomic structure comprising the skin that connects the digits of a bird. This structure allows the bird to swim and helps them walk in unstable surfaces such as muddy or swampy places. You can find this anatomical structure of webbed feet in many species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds.

It’s primarily found in birds that depend on swimming for a significant part of their lives. Most birds that have webbed feet live near water. You may also find webbed feet in amphibians and mammals such as frogs and American beavers.

The Types of Webbed Feet

The fusion of all or some toes forms webbed feet in birds via thin sheets of skin. This can be classified based on the extent of webbing and the type of toes involved.

Here are the different categories of webbed feet in birds.

Palmate: A large membrane connects the anterior toes at full length in palmate feet. The front toe, known as hallux, is entirely separate from the other three toes, forming a hind toe. Palmate feet are standard in birds like ducks, geese, gulls, and swans.

Totipalmate Feet: A broad, thin membrane binds all four toes in these feet that are flat and resemble paddle-like structures. You can find the totipalmate feet in penguins, grebes, pelicans, and cormorants.

Semipalmate Feet: Only three toes out of four

… Read the rest of the story.

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Do Grizzly Bears Eat Coyotes?

Coyotes eat just about anything they come across, most of which is some form of meat. They often hunt deer, fish, crustaceans, snakes – yes, snakes. And they do that pretty smoothly by teasing the snake long enough for it to straighten out.

Once they’re uncoiled, the coyote can grab onto their head and begin to feast. Seeing that I’m not exactly a fan of snakes, I’m happy to know that there is something out there ready, willing, and able to defeat them. Coyotes are also known to eat pets and more.

With such an equal-opportunity and ravenous predator, it’s easy to wonder what – if anything – eats it. A common question is whether or not a grizzly bear will eat a coyote. The answer, in short, is yes – but it’s not usually an active pursuit.

Keep reading to learn more.

A Grizzly Diet

Grizzly bears are omnivores. In case you’ve blocked science class from your mind, an omnivore is a creature that eats both plants and animals. While this is the case with bears, most of their diets consist of plants they find as they roam.

Can you imagine being able to just roam the wilderness, munching on whatever you come across and napping whenever you choose? It sounds a bit dreamy. In any event, that’s how grizzly bears tend to live life – most of the time.

Sometimes, though, they actually decide to hunt. Maybe that’s because they haven’t come across any appetizing vegetation. Or maybe they just decide it’s time for something with a little more substance.

When they do decide to hunt, their prey can include anything from fish to elk. If they run across domestic territories, they’ll take advantage of cattle and sheep, too. And during the summer and fall, they’ll eat more to build up their fat reserves so that they can survive the winter season.

When Do Grizzlies Eat Coyotes?

Again, grizzly bears don’t actively hunt coyotes. If they’re going to hunt prey, they usually go after large animals, like moose, elk, deer, and bison. Coyotes … Read the rest of the story.

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What is the Youngest Rainforest in the World?

What is the youngest rainforest in the world?

Rainforests are the lungs of the earth. Tropical rainforests produce 40% of the Earth’s oxygen. Unfortunately, about half of the world’s tropical forests have disappeared as crops and animal farmland replace trees.

In the Amazon, the world’s oldest rainforest, illegal logging destroys 18.7 million acres of rainforest annually, or the equivalent of 27 soccer fields per minute. That’s why it’s pretty amazing that the world’s youngest rainforest…was built by humans on the top of a hotel the middle of a desert! Read on to find out more about rainforests and Rosemont Forest—the youngest member of the family.

What is a rainforest?

A rainforest is an area of tall, mostly evergreen trees that receives a high amount of rainfall. Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, some rainforests are 70 million years old! (That’s a lot of birthday candles!). These ancient forests are located on every continent except Antarctica.

They house an incredible diversity of lifeforms, many of which scientists think we haven’t even discovered yet. Each rainforest is characterized by a four-layer structure:

Emergent

Canopy

Understory

Forest Floor

Emergent

In the emergent layer, 200 foot trees reach for the sky, drawing water and sunlight in through their leaves and releasing seeds into the wind.

Canopy

The canopy layer blocks wind, rain, and sun with a thick layer of vegetation to create a humid, dark environment with plentiful sweet fruits that attract lots of animals and insects.

Understory

Full of dimly lit spaces and large, strong-smelling flowers, the understory provides a home to many endangered and familiar rainforest animals. Elephants, pythons, antelopes, and gorillas all live here, as well as camouflaged hunters like the spotted jaguar and the deadly green mamba.

Forest Floor

Leaves fall and decay on the forest floor, creating a rich environment for decomposers—termites, slugs, scorpions, worms, and fungi that break down decaying material into nutrients that feed the forest. Floor foragers like anteaters find insects and tubers in this layer, and in their turn feed predators.

Types of rainforests

Rainforests can be tropical or temperate. They differ by location … Read the rest of the story.

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Why is the Soil in the Tropical Rainforest Infertile?

If you’re like me and pretty much everyone else, the word “rainforest” tends to conjure up images of lush, green vegetation. The idea that it’s infertile can seem really insane – but it’s true. People who try to grow crops there find out pretty quickly that it’s just not going to go well.

The question is how? How can something covered in green be infertile? The answer is that the soil is lacking the nutrients necessary for things to grow.

And I know what you’re thinking: If that’s true, why do things grow there? I promise that we’ll make this make sense, but it’s going to take a breakdown of some facts, so let’s dive in.

Let’s Go Back to School

In order to really get into the nitty-gritty of why rainforests are infertile, we must start with an understanding of what is supposed to take place. To do that, we need to go back to school for a second. Or, if you prefer, you can always think back to the first Lion King movie.

It gave a pretty nice depiction of the circle of life – but I digress. Now, in a perfect world – or perfect climate – a specific series of events occurs when an animal dies. They decompose at a rate that allows their nutrients to sink into the soil and build up, making them available as plants need them.

The nutrients feed the vegetation, which the animals then eat on. Animals later die and decompose, perpetuating the cycle. Or as Mufasa stated, when lions die, they return to the ground.

Antelope feed on the grass, and then lions eat the antelope. Everything is connected. In addition to animal decomposition, when trees go to sleep, leaves fall to the ground.

Those leaves break down and feed the soil. In short, the circle of life keeps the soil fed and the plants and crops growing.

Rainforests Don’t Have a Perfect Climate

Unfortunately, tropical rainforests do not provide an environment conducive to this cycle for several reasons. We’re going to start with one of the biggest factors: … Read the rest of the story.

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Does a Lake Have to Be Landlocked?

More than 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered in water, so it’s unsurprising that we have so many different types of bodies of water. Rivers, oceans, lakes, ponds – there are many types to know. And sometimes, understanding the differences can be difficult – especially when most people can’t exactly agree on a definition.

For example, not everyone can agree on whether a lake has to be landlocked or not, but it’s a common question. The answer is simple: yes, a lake is landlocked. We’ll dive into a more thorough explanation below.

Let’s Discuss What “Landlocked” Means

The word landlocked is kind of self-explanatory. It means that something is locked in by land. When you’re talking about a country or a city, like Orlando, it means that it is completely or nearly completely enclosed by land or is away from the ocean. When referring to a body of water, it means there is no navigable or direct route to the sea.

Understanding the Definition of “Lake”

Now that you know exactly what landlocked means, let’s talk about lakes. There is often some discrepancy in the precise definition of a lake, but there is one similarity. Just about any definition you find will state that a lake is a “body of water that is surrounded by land.”

If landlocked means being surrounded by land and a lake is defined as being surrounded by land, then yes, a lake is landlocked. So why exactly can people not agree on whether lakes have to be landlocked? Well, there are a couple of different types of lakes that can make the definition confusing.

Let’s get into it in the next section.

Types of Lakes

There are actually several different types of lakes, including seepage lakes, drained lakes, spring lakes, and so on. However, for our purposes, we’re only going to focus on two categories of lakes: opened and closed.

Closed Lakes

A closed lake is exactly what it sounds like – it’s completely enclosed by land. There is no water flowing in or out. If water leaves … Read the rest of the story.

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What Animal is Similar to a Butterfly?

Butterflies are beautiful creatures that fascinate people of all ages. Even dogs are enchanted by them. On the surface, butterflies appear to be unique – and they are.

However, don’t be fooled into thinking there are no other creatures like a butterfly. There are quite a few animals that are similar to butterflies in one way or another. Some of them might surprise you!

Dragonflies

While most of us know that butterflies go through a complete metamorphosis, from egg to caterpillar to pupa to adult, many people are surprised to learn that there is another creature that goes through a very similar process.

That creature is a dragonfly. Like butterflies, dragonflies start life as eggs. Once they hatch, they go through a larval stage, during which they grow and mature.

This stage takes anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of years, depending on the species. Once they’re ready, they enter the pupal stage. During this time, they undergo a complete transformation, emerging as adult dragonflies.

One of the most notable similarities between dragonflies and butterflies is their aerial prowess. Both creatures are excellent flyers, able to zip around in all directions with ease. They’re also both attracted to brightly-colored flowers.

Another similarity between these two creatures is that they both have compound eyes. This type of eye is made up of thousands of tiny lenses, which give the creature a nearly 360-degree field of vision.

Skippers

If you’ve ever seen a butterfly that looks more like a moth, you were probably looking at a skipper. Skippers are a type of butterfly that is closely related to moths. They share many of the same characteristics as moths.

Like moths, skippers have a furry bodies. They also have very large eyes, and their antennae are thick and club-shaped. One of the most notable differences between skippers and other types of butterflies is their wing structure.

Skippers’ wings are more like a moth’s wings, in that they are fringed with hair. Skippers are also very good flyers. They can fly quickly and make sudden turns.

This makes them difficult for … Read the rest of the story.

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Where Do Porcupines Live and Sleep? Whats Their Habitat?

The porcupine is a large rodent that has a total of 27 relatives who belong to the porcupine family. The porcupine is known as the third largest rodent that is covered in quills or spine-like defense protectors. While some find porcupines intimidating and scary, others may find this interesting rodent cute at first glance.

If you are curious about the porcupine, you may be wondering where the porcupine lives, eats, and sleeps. The porcupine lives and thrives on all continents except for Antarctica, and can be found in a variety of climates and reigns from mountains and deserts to forests and grasslands.

Where can you find a porcupine?

Currently, it is possible to find one of two types of porcupine across all continents except for one, Antarctica. Porcupines live in North and South America, India, Africa, Europe, and Australia.

What is the habitat of a porcupine?

Porcupines are extremely versatile and can thrive in a variety of environments, from grassy grasslands to dry deserts and snow-covered mountains. The porcupine can be found in various tree branches, cave dens, log holes, and even in crevices between rocks. Because the porcupine is so adaptable, it has survived in most climate types that still exist today at some point or another.

Many porcupines live in family groups of five to six additional porcupines. These family groups work together to create tunnel and burrow systems for protection and housing year-round, depending on the climate and region the porcupines reside in. Some porcupines may live in monogamous pairs, while others may prefer to work in larger groups or live on their own in solitude.

In the wintertime and during the colder months of the year, porcupines can be found huddling with their family groups and preferred mates to keep warm and for additional protection.

What do porcupines eat?

Porcupines are not carnivores, but are instead natural nocturnal herbivores. Porcupine herbivores prefer to find delicious vegetation such as leaves and various outdoor plants. They also enjoy some berries, bark, stems, and other natural sources of wood, You can also find a porcupine chewing and licking … Read the rest of the story.

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Golden Retriever vs Coyote Which Is Tougher?

You love your Golden Retriever – there’s no doubt about that. You want to take him with you on hikes and jogs and any other outdoor adventure you seek. You also want to let him run free in your yard and enjoy being a dog, right?

Chances are, though, that if you live in an area where coyotes are present, you’re probably worried that all of this might put your furry friend in danger. And you’re probably wondering whether your Golden could win a fight if a coyote approached. Who is tougher: a Golden Retriever or a coyote?

The answer: well, it’s not as simple as the question. Coyotes and Golden Retrievers grow to about the same size, but – sadly – this doesn’t exactly level the playing field. It’s possible that your dog could win, of course, because anything is possible.

However, for all the reasons listed below, it’s best to never take that chance.

Predatory Instincts

Coyotes are natural predators – that’s just who they are. They survive on these instincts, which make them naturally aggressive. Golden Retrievers do not have those same aggressive characteristics.

In fact, they’ll rarely – if ever – attack someone or something. If they do, it’s typically out of protecting themselves or their humans. So, will your Golden Retriever fight a coyote if that coyote is threatening you?

Probably so. Will they win? Probably not.

It’s not their fault, though. As coyotes are hunters, they go straight for the kill. Specifically, they’ll go straight for a bite to your Golden’s throat if that shot is open – and that’s a pretty deadly move. If, by chance, your pup does win the fight, they’ll likely be severely injured.

Daily Life

Let’s think about the difference in how coyotes and Golden Retrievers live their daily lives. Golden Retrievers are pets – except for strays, of course. Yours, however, is a pet – a member of your family.

You feed him, give him a place to sleep, take him to the vet when he’s sick, and so on. Life is pretty good.

Coyotes, on the other … Read the rest of the story.

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Can You Eat Porcupine?

Many civilizations in Canada are said to have eaten North American porcupines. Depending on the culture, it had varying degrees of prominence in the diet. As a tribute to the cultural significance of porcupines, Malecite referred to the Micmac as “porcupine Indians”. Some people still eat porcupines today.

The number of porcupines in the area has decreased over the years in several civilizations, including the Vuntut Gwitchin (Gwich’in), Aishihik, Champagne, Hopedale, and Inuit.

How Do People Eat Porcupines?

Believe it or not, porcupine meat is very versatile, meaning you can prepare it way imaginable and still enjoy it. I sound so convincing even though I haven’t tried it yet. However, my in-depth research has shown that many cultures have eaten them, boiled, stewed, roasted them, and more.

Let’s learn more about catching them, how and where they live and how to prepare porcupine meat.  Some people even eat the porcupine fetus. Research shows that porcupine meat improves skin health, delays aging, fights off the infection, and supports heart health.

Typhoid, epilepsy, and cancer are also some diseases that people believe are curable by porcupine meat or medicines. The onion-like concretions that form in porcupines’ bodies are supernatural or ghastly in appearance.

Hunting a porcupine

If there were no alternative sources of food, many northern civilizations would only kill porcupines in those scarce times. The slow and clumsy movement of a porcupine on the ground makes capture relatively simple. Porcupines were killed in a variety of ways.

In the winter, Tselona Kaska burns the porcupine out of its house before striking it with a club or stick, as did Waswanipi Cree, Mistissini Cree, Blackfoot, Tahltan, Tlingit, and Vuntut Gwitchin. When rifles became available, the Sioux, Chipewyan, Vuntut Gwitchin, and Hare (Sahtu) peoples also utilized them to defend themselves.

Snares were utilized by the Montagnais (Innu) and Micmac (Mi’kmaq), but traps and snares were employed by the Micmac (Mi’kmaq) as well Dagenais, but the Spokane utilized both snares and traps. Before the arrival of the caribou, the Chipewyan people hunted porcupines during Autumn. Porcupines were an ideal prey for Kutchin’s hunts … Read the rest of the story.

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Do Porcupines Shoot Their Quills? How Do the Quills Work?

What do Porcupines look like?

Porcupines are herbivores that love to eat leaves, twigs, bark, and green plants. They are considered rodents with brown, yellow fur and stiff quills covering their bodies except for their soft stomachs. Weighing only about 20 pounds and their length is about twenty-five to thirty-six inches full-grown, males are bigger than females.

They have a prehensile tail which is like a third arm and can wrap around a tree branch, allowing them to be stable climbers. They are the second largest rodent in North America, with the capybara leading them in size. Porcupines tend to be nocturnal but sometimes wander around during the daytime.

Tell Me about the Quills of a Porcupine

Porcupine quills are hollow hairs made of hardened keratin that look like hollow feathers. Keratin is the same material that your fingernails are made of and the same as porcupines’ claws. They have a saw-toothed feathery barb at the end of the quill that makes it stuck in you if you should happen to get quilled.

They are the self-defense mechanism and protection of the soft furry body of the porcupine. The quills are sometimes called guard hairs because they are really just hardened hairs. The interesting part is they contain an antibiotic naturally in them.

Does this mean the porcupine protects its predators? Well, yes, sort of, but it is really to protect the porcupine if it accidentally gets poked by its own quills. Quills can vary in length, depending on the species of the porcupine.

The average quill is about two to three inches, but the African crested porcupines can have quills that are a foot long and as thick as a straw. One porcupine can have about 30,000 quills spread over its back and on the end of its tail.

Can a Porcupine Shoot its Quills?

Porcupines cannot shoot their quills, not even one inch, but I would not get close to a porcupine. If you get too close, you could instantly have dozens of quills stuck in you. If you get close enough, the eight-to-ten-inch tail will swat toward you … Read the rest of the story.

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27 Different Types of Porcupines

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 to as spines. With a porcupine, it’s a matter of ‘just look and don’t touch.’

Trust me, I learned this the hard way once I developed an interest in these animals! On the positive side, I also discovered that, contrary to popular belief, porcupines don’t shoot their quills. What happens is they get stuck and dislodge once they come into contact with human or animal flesh.

This is made possible by microscopic fish-hook-like barbs at the tip of each quill. But there is much more to this cute, ‘look but don’t touch,’ mammal. Let’s explore.

Amazing Facts About Porcupines

Porcupines are the world’s third-largest rodent after the capybara and the beaver. The quill-covered animals use their quills to defend against predators like lions, leopards, and humans. Biologically, porcupines are in the order Rodentia, but they subdivide into the Hystricidae and Erethizontidae families.

In layman’s terms, these two families are understood as Old World porcupines and New World porcupines, respectively. Old World porcupines are found in Asia, Italy, and Africa, while the New World porcupines are in North America and northern South America. Furthermore, porcupines are nocturnal, but the New World porcupines are not strictly nocturnal.

At times they come out during the day. They can also inhabit the trees and are generally smaller in size.

Different Types of Porcupines That Exist Today

There are many types of porcupines, many  being considered new world and the others  old world porcupines. Some of the new world porcupines are from a declassification of defunct taxonomic groups. Follow along as we explore all the types including their histories, habitats, diets, size, and much more..

Old World Porcupines

Old World porcupines are terrestrial rodents. They are larger and are strictly nocturnal. They primarily live in Africa, Europe, and Asia.

1. African
… Read the rest of the story.

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Types of Wolverines

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 big paws.

It can have mahogany brown fur, black and some white on its body. The species tend to vary in color and their sharp claws and large paws are used to hunting prey. Another name for the wolverine is the mountain devil or skunk bear.

Where It Lives

Wolverines live in forests, in the arctic, plains or tundra located in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are creatures that like solitude and need room to roam freely. Wolverines live in cold climates in Russia, Canada and Scandinavia too.

In the United States, it is found in Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Mountains. In Canada, it is known to live in high elevation mountains,  boreal forests, tundra, and plains.

What It Eats / How Often It Eats

They like to eat meat primarily and hunt small animals, rabbits, rodents and sometimes attack larger animals if they appear to be weak or injured. They will feed on the corpses of animals like deer, elk and caribou. This often helps them survive the winter when there is less prey around.

They are known to dig into burrows and eat hibernating animals too. They do eat plants and berries in the warmer weather. Wolverines feed on wounded or dead animals that are not a threat to them when food is scarce.

Other types of food it eats are bird eggs, insects, roots, seeds and lavaw. It eats a variety of foods.

How It Gets Food

Wolverines often hunt at night and use smell to find wounded or dead carcasses to feed on. They look for small animals that are easy to kill . Sometimes they will attack a wounded animal and in some regions attack sheep to find food.

These animals adapt to the season and are flexible … Read the rest of the story.

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10 Different Types of Badgers

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 eat badgers and vice versa, but the majority of their interactions appear neutral. They often tolerate each other and have been known to work together hunting. The badger can root out rodents, and coyotes catch them when they try to escape.

Another story that may be more legend than truth, has it that a bird leads the honey badger to where the honey is. The badger attacks and eats his fill, and the bird gets what is left.

Family Mustelidae

Subfamily Melinae:

Hog badger, Arctonyx collaris

Hog badgers live in Southeast Asia, from China to Thailand, as well as parts of the Indian subcontinent. They like grasslands, hills, and mountains, and evergreen and tropical areas. These badgers are adaptable when it comes to food, and eat what is available in their area.

They eat plants, worms, and small animals. Hog badgers have a long snout and large claws that make them adept at digging. They eat fruit and roots, and earthworms appear to be a favorite.

Hog badgers are strong predators, and defenders of themselves when needed, with big claws, strong jaws, and a reputation as having a bad temper. They have a snout like a hog and can sniff out food underground. They can dig very fast, whether looking for food or digging out a place to hide.

Badgers are nocturnal, sleeping during the day in the burrows they have dug. They tend to be solitary animals but travel in small groups at times. Badgers have lived 12 years in captivity, and it is believed that is how long they live in the wild as well.

Hog badgers can dig tunnels where they live, and they can be extensive. In some cultures, badgers are hunted for food and for sport. In Thailand and India, they … Read the rest of the story.

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7 Different Types of Geckos

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 rainforests or deserts. They range in size from just more than an inch to over a  foot long. Most of them do not move fast and are not active.

They are easy to tame and becoming more popular as pets. They live all around the world in warm areas. Geckos like to eat insects, and they do not need to eat every day, which makes them easy to care for.

Family Carphodactylidae

The Carphodactylidae family of geckos live in Australia. There are seven genera and a few dozen species in this family. These have padless feet, which allow those that have them to climb more easily.

Without pads, these geckos must use their fingers and claws to climb. There are the chameleon Carphodactylus, and others are differentiated by their tails with names like thick tail, leaf tail, and knobed tail. They are among the larger geckos at about six inches, half of which is the tail.

Geckos in this family prefer wet and warm climates, but they have been found in all areas of Australia. Many have colorful tails which separate them by species. They eat insects and may only eat every three or four days.

They can survive for as long as two weeks without food, using fat in their tails. Geckos can live 20 years in captivity, and more species are being kept as pets. Many are active during the day, in the morning and evening.

These different genera are found in different areas of Australia, except for the Nephrurus, which are throughout the country. The Undweroodisaurus is on the south coast, and the phyllurus is on the east coast. They typically lay two eggs a couple of times a year.

Genera of this family include:

Carphodactylus, Chameleon Gecko

Nephrurus, Knob-tailed geckos

Orraya, Long

… Read the rest of the story.

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Webbed Feet: Why Are They So Important to a Bird?

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 role in whether or not a bird is adept at swimming or if swimming is a fatal activity. So, can birds without webbed feet swim? Let’s take a closer look.

Types of Birds

There are many different types of birds, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some common bird families include ducks, geese, and swans; chickens and quail; eagles, hawks, and kites; owls; parrots and macaws; penguins; and robins, finches, and sparrows.

Birds are classified into two main groups: land birds and waterbirds. Landbirds include all birds that live on or near the ground, while waterbirds live near or on the water.

Some birds, like chickens, quail, and ostrich, are considered poultry and are kept as farm animals.

Two Kinds of Bird Feet

According to Bird Nation, Most birds have four toes on each foot, and these toes are usually arranged in pairs. The first pair of toes, known as the inner toe or hallux, is typically pointing backward. The second pair of toes, called the outer toe or digits 2-4, points forward.

Many birds also have a claw at the end of each toe. The arrangement of a bird’s toes helps it to perch on branches and grip its prey. Webbed feet, on the other hand, are better suited for swimming.

Most water birds have webbed feet, which help them to paddle through the water.

The Purpose of Webbed Feet

Webbed feet are helpful for swimming because they act like paddles. The webbing between the toes helps to increase the surface area of the foot, which gives the bird more power to move through the water.

Birds that have webbed feet include:

Ducks

Geese

Swans

Penguins

How Do Birds Swim?

The swimming motion of a bird is similar to the … Read the rest of the story.

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25 Different Types of Chipmunks

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 a chipmunk come up to you and wait for you to throw them a crumb of bread or something. Some would even get aggressive. As aggressive as a five-ounce animal can at least.

There was a huge discrepancy between the healthy-looking fit ones in the wild, and the fat ones that could hardly walk through parking lots where tourists hung out. There are 25 species of Chipmunks, and three Genus: Eutamias, Tamias, and Neotamias.

Genus Eutamis

Siberian Chipmunk

The Siberian Chipmunk is the only Chipmunk that lives outside of the North American continent. It lives in central Russia, parts of China, Korea, and Japan. The Siberian Chipmunk’s diet is not very different than his North American counterpart.

They like seeds, grain, fruit, and vegetables, and will eat small birds and lizards when they get a chance. In the wild, it is believed they eat about six times a day, and they spend most of their time looking for food. Like squirrels, they will store extra food in their cheeks, and hide things like acorns to eat later.

Siberian Chipmunks get their food from foraging, always on the lookout for anything they can chew on. In captivity, Siberian Chipmunks are known to live as long as 10 years, but in the wild, their lifespan is two to five years.  Many are food for larger animals.

These animals are not nocturnal, they are active during the day and nap at various times. In winter, they do not hibernate, but will likely sleep much longer and eat less often. They may make a burrow in a log or in a bush, but some of them create underground tunnel systems.

Even when they have a system of tunnels, Siberian Chipmunks are individualistic and territorial about their own area.  The … Read the rest of the story.

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Why is a Bear Waving at Me?

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 begging for food.

3. The bear may be trying to intimidate you.

If the bear looks angry or aggressive, it’s best to stay away and not make any sudden movements. However, if you’re unsure of the bear’s state, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and slowly back away from the bear. If the bear continues to approach you, make yourself as big as possible and make loud noises in an attempt to scare it off.

You can also try throwing rocks or sticks in its direction. If all else fails, use pepper spray or a bear horn to defend yourself.

Let’s dive deeper into some of the reasons a bear might wave at you.

Reason #1: Warning

When you see a bear waving its arms at you, it’s not trying to be friendly. In fact, the bear is trying to warn you that it is dangerous and you should stay away. Bears will usually wave their arms if they are feeling threatened or if they are about to attack.

What to do in response to a bear’s warning

If a bear is waving at you from a distance, you should stay calm and slowly back away and find a safe place to hide. If the bear starts to come closer, you should make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms in the air and making noise. You can raise your pack in the air, stand on something, or link your arms with another person and stretch out.

Reason #2: Begging for Food

Bears are incredibly intelligent animals that have learned how to mimic human behavior in order to get food. This is the primary reason bears wander into campsites or approach hikers.

Bears are generally afraid of humans, … Read the rest of the story.

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What Animals Eat Pumas?

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 steal their prey, avoid being eaten, or use their body as a trophy.

Wolves

Although wolves are typically smaller than pumas, wolves are bold hunters that will sometimes attack and kill pumas to steal their prey. However, their food may also consist of fruits, berries, plants, and vegetation. Wolves tend to eat in groups called packs; they hunt in tandem to take down larger animals like deer or elk.

The prey is eaten communally after being killed. Although wolves often kill other canines such as coyotes, they do not generally attack humans unless provoked. When hunting prey as a pack, however, they have been known to attack men who wander too far into wolf territory.

Elk

Even herbivores, like elk, have been known to kill pumas. Why? To avoid being eaten. Elk can weigh up to 1,400 pounds and they may kill a puma out of fear, just as they would with any other predator.

So while it’s true that an adult puma is capable of killing an elk, it’s also true that elk are typically larger than adult pumas and can defend themselves better against predators.

Bears

When a bear finds a carcass, it may kill a puma if it threatens to steal prey that’s rightfully its own. Grizzlies and black bears are capable of stealing all kinds of prey from larger predators. They’re also strong enough to kill or injure their victims, especially in cases where they work together as a team.

While bears don’t often eat pumas on purpose, it does happen sometimes when one comes across another in a battle for food.

Other Pumas

The most commonly occurring puma predator is another puma. If you’re unfortunate enough to be a puma but somehow manage to avoid being eaten by other big … Read the rest of the story.

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Do Muskrats and Beavers Live Together?

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 beavers often live together in the same habitat. These two animals are well-suited to living in close proximity to each other because they both build their homes in or near water and they both eat aquatic plants.

Both animals often share the same ponds, lakes, and streams, and they can even be found living in the same burrows.

Why Do Muskrats and Beavers Live Together?

There are a few reasons why these two animals get along so well.

Diet

First of all, they have similar diets. Both muskrats and beavers are herbivores that eat aquatic plants. These small animals are both in the rodent family as well.

The beaver’s diet consists mostly of the bark of trees while the muskrat’s diet is made up of aquatic plants, such as cattails, water lilies, and lily pads. The muskrat does feast on some animals such as crayfish, frogs, and fish, but the vast majority of its diet consists of plants.

Habitat

Another reason why these two animals can live together is that they both need similar habitats. Both muskrats and beavers build their homes in or near water-based areas like marshes, lakes, wetlands, ponds, bogs, etc. The beaver builds a lodge out of sticks and mud, while the muskrat constructs a dome-shaped nest out of cattails and other aquatic plants.

This similarity in habitat means that they are often found living in the same areas.

How Do They Build Their Homes?

The beaver is well-known for its ability to build dams. A beaver dam can be as long as 200 feet. However, one beaver dam is so big at 2790 feet, you can see it from outer space! The beaver uses sticks and mud to build its lodge, which is a … Read the rest of the story.

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Are Hippos Faster Than Horses?

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, that they can actually move pretty fast – in some cases, as fast as a horse. Let’s take a look at these two magnificent creatures to understand what I mean.

How Fast Can a Horse Run?

Horses are known for their racing abilities and galloping speeds, but how fast do they actually move? Trained racehorses can typically move up to 44 MPH, though some have been clocked at speeds over 50 MPH. However, they usually can’t carry on at these speeds for more than 20 or so seconds.

And remember, those are trained racehorses. Most average horses top out at around 30 MPH, especially if there is a rider on their backs. Genetics can also play a role, with some horses reaching only 14 to 20 MPH.

What About Hippos?

There’s no doubt that hippos are larger than horses. In fact, they are the second-largest land animal, with the males weighing an easy 6,000 pounds and females weighing as much as 3,000 pounds. The largest breeds of horses usually top out at 2,000 pounds, though some weigh as little as 600 pounds.

Does this weight difference cause a difference in their speeds? Surprisingly, not as much of a difference as you’d expect. Believe it or not, this heavy beast can move up to 30 MPH – right in line with some horses and even faster than others.

So, while they may or may not be able to outrun a horse, they can certainly outrun humans! While they can move fast, their weight does impact this speed in a way. They can typically only run at 30 MPH for about 30 seconds.

If you ever find yourself being chased by a hippo – can you imagine such a nightmare?! – the best precaution I’ve found … Read the rest of the story.

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When Do Gophers Sleep?

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 gopher’s color varies from gray or white to near black. The pocket gopher is so named because of its characteristic cheeks that are fur-lined and used for multiple purposes – to move nesting materials and food as needed, among others.

Gophers have poor eyesight and hearing, so they fundamentally rely on the sensory navigation provided by their whiskers to survive. The gopher’s unique environmental adaptation works – for them because much of their lives are spent in dark (or low light) living conditions. According to the New World Encyclopedia –

“Burrowing animals, pocket gophers are found in habitats with soil where they can create subterranean tunnels and that do not flood, including meadows, forests, deserts, and agricultural fields, including high-elevation habitats.”

Gophers are considered small mammals, although, in the rodent kingdom, they are considered somewhat moderately sized – 5 to 14 inches long and weigh a couple of pounds. The gopher’s flat body and powerful legs make it easy to dig and traverse the tunnels built beneath the surface that may cover upwards of 2,000 square feet. Gophers dig extensive and functional tunnel mazes where they live and store food.

They have four large incisors that never stop growing to replace worn-out teeth caused by incessant digging. The gopher’s large teeth are always visible because its lips are located behind them – preventing dirt from entering its mouth when digging.

When Do Gophers Sleep?

In general, gophers tend to be active all year, and for the most part, at any time of day. Yet, I rarely see one, even if I am lucky enough to spend a lot of time outdoors. As noted by the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum,

The fossorial (a.k.a. burrowing) gopher is a rarely seen animal … Read the rest of the story.

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Fox vs. Wolf

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, broad snout, and smaller ears. Although they are both omnivores, wolves tend to hunt larger mammals. Both species are intelligent, stubborn, and make great parents.

Have you ever confused a wolf for a fox or vice versa? Here’s the chance to learn a bit about each of the two species so that you can tell the two apart in the future and know what characteristics they share and how they differ.

Comparison Of A Fox And A Wolf

Although foxes and wolves are both parts of the dog family (Canidae), they belong to different species. Grey wolves are Canis lupus, while red foxes are Vulpes vulpes. There are only two wolf species (red and grey), but there are 37 different species of fox.

These two species have similar personalities, as they are both intelligent, stubborn, and can easily adapt to their environment. Their appearance, behavior and diet, and vocalization (to name a few) differ.

Differences Between A Fox And A Wolf

These two species may share a common ancestor, but they are more different than you would think. Foxes and wolves differ according to their size, coloration, behavior, diet, vocalization, habitat, and offspring.

Size

A wolf is much larger than a fox – an adult male wolf is bigger than most large breed domestic dogs (reaching about 2.8 feet), while an adult male fox is the size of a medium-sized dog or large cat (around 1.3 feet). Wolves can weigh up to 180 pounds, while foxes only weigh 31 pounds – that’s a huge difference! In other words, a wolf is approximately six times the size of a fox. Wolves weigh more due to their large, muscular body.

They have a broad snout and smaller, less pointed ears when compared to … Read the rest of the story.

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The Natural Cycle in Lakes Youve Never Heard Of

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 of: the lake turnover cycle.

As cycles in nature go, it’s relatively unknown—or at least I can’t remember learning about it in middle school science class when I learned about all the other cycles—but it’s just as interesting as the rest.

What Is Lake Turnover?

Twice per year, temperature changes cause the top and bottom layers of water in lakes to cycle up and down and trade places, or “turn over.” This typically begins to happen at 50° to 55° Fahrenheit, and it can only happen in lakes with enough depth for the layers of water in them to stratify into different temperature zones. In other words, shallow, small lakes are too tiny for this to happen—the kiddie pool in your backyard won’t be showing signs of lake turnover.

What Causes Lake Turnover?

Lake turnover happens twice per year: once during the changeover from winter to spring when the top layer of water heats up and mixes with the rest of the lake, and once during the change from summer to fall when the top layer cools and sinks.

This process has everything to do with the relationship between temperature and density of water, and how that relationship makes water form separate, unmixing layers. Water is generally denser the colder it is, except for ice, which is somehow less dense than liquid water (go figure) and water colder than 39° Fahrenheit (again: go figure).

At any rate, water gets denser as it approaches 39° Fahrenheit, which is the temperature where water is at its most dense. As water cools further than 39° Fahrenheit, it becomes less dense. This fact will come into play when we look at spring turnover, the stage of lake turnover that’s slightly harder to comprehend, for me anyway.

Spring
… Read the rest of the story.

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Why do Moose have Antlers?

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 five feet wide and can weigh as much as 30 pounds! Female moose don’t grow them. So why do bull moose grow giant antlers in fall only to shed them in winter? As usual, it’s all about romance!

What are Antlers?

Moose have antlers rather than horns. Like other deer antlers, they grow from bone as an extension of a moose’s skull. But these “skull extensions” are not a permanent attachment). In contrast, cattle, sheep, and goats grow horns they keep forever that are composed of keratin—the same stuff that makes fingernails and hair!

If that sounds weirdly opposite, it gets worse. antler bones grow because of a rough velvet that covers them on the outside, supplying them  with blood throughout the growing season. This velvet can produce three-quarters of an inch of new growth per day!

How do Moose Antlers Grow?

Antlers begin to grow when the seasonal shifts in sunlight cue changes in the levels of a male moose’s testosterone, according to Dr. Bronson Strickland of the Mississippi State University. Longer summer days cause the buck’s hormones to activate antler growth. Waning autumn sun ramps up testosterone in the bull’s blood, signaling a stop in antler growth.

The antler velvet that has supplied them with blood throughout the year dries up, and males rub it off on trees and saplings to mark their territory with an oily scent. This marking signals a challenge to other male moose and an invitation to females.

What are Moose Antlers For?

During September and October, it’s mating season! Male moose search for mates by marking territory, by bellowing, and by fighting with one another. In addition to rubbing off their antler velvet to leave a signature scent on trees, bulls make … Read the rest of the story.

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