You are probably familiar with deer that have antlers, like the white-tailed deer or mule deer. Hunters may brag about getting a 10-point buck, but what does that really mean?… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 3 days ago
Cindy Rasmussen
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I'm a Wildlife Conservation Author and Journalist, raising awareness about conservation by teaching others about the amazing animals we share the planet with. I graduated from the University of Minnesota-Morris with a degree in Elementary Education and I am a former teacher. When I am not writing I love going to my kids' soccer games, watching movies, taking on DIY projects and running with our giant Labradoodle "Tango".
Monitor lizards are a genus of large lizards found in Africa, Southern Asia, and Australia. There are 80 recognized species of monitor lizards, including the Komodo dragon, Asian water monitor,… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 4 weeks ago
The wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a mammal that lives in colder regions. A wolverine looks similar to a small bear with dark brown fur and long claws, weighing between 20… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 1 month ago
Humans are the only mammals that have hair on their heads but very little hair on the rest of their bodies. Three reasons humans have hair may be to protect… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 5 months ago
Elephant babies are BIG babies! The average elephant baby is 200lbs at birth and 3 feet tall, growing to be 6-13 feet tall depending on what type of elephant they… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 5 months ago
If you've seen cartoon elephants before, you've likely noticed the stereotype that elephants fear mice. Given that they're the largest land mammal on earth, it does seem unbelievable for elephants… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 5 months ago
Picture the scene: A thirsty wild hog steps out from the cover and protection of the woods to the swamp's shore. It begins to lap up the water when, from… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 7 months ago
Louisiana has the largest alligator population in the world. There are more than 2 million alligators in the wild and another 1 million that live on alligator farms. Florida has… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 7 months ago
When you think of snakes, you may be most concerned about whether the snake is venomous or not. Rattlesnakes in the United States are very venomous; the Black Mamba is… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 7 months ago
When you think about alligators, the states of Florida and Louisiana may come to mind. But what about elsewhere? Are there alligators in North Carolina? Yes, there are. The state… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 7 months ago
Joro spiders and golden silk orb-weavers look very similar. They are both large yellow and black spiders with long legs. Both can weave large intricate golden webs, and both are… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
When it comes to our pets we want them to stay around as long as possible. So when you are choosing a dog, how do you know how long your… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
A marketing stunt for the Discovery Channel backfired when they created a video and false news report of a bull shark swimming in Lake Ontario. It was in fact a… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
Key Points: Florida has a diverse ecosystem and many unique species of animals. Out of all the snake species of Florida, only six are venomous. There are many species of… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
Key Points: 7,000-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year in the United States, but only an average of 5 are fatal. Of the 6 most venomous snakes in… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
There are no snakes in Alaska, but California makes up for it! Of the 46 different kinds of snakes in California, nine of them are dangerously poisonous (venomous). What kind… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
Shepherd dogs are known by several names; sheepdogs, cattle dogs, and herding dogs. The American Kennel Club used to include all herding dogs in the Working Dog group, but in… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 8 months ago
Some dogs have a distinct pattern, like the Dalmatian, which has white with black spots. Others are all white, like the Maltese. Some dogs are tri-colored, meaning they have fur… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
If you were playing the original Trivial Pursuit game, the answer to “How many types of elephants are there?” would be two. But in 2000, scientists were able to analyze… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
Crocodiles are sometimes called "living fossils," looking much the same as they did millions of years ago. The first crocodiles were from the Triassic period about 240 million years ago.… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
Alligators are common in Florida lakes and on some golf courses. American crocodiles, on the other hand, are quite rare. There is an estimated 1.3-1.5 million alligators in Florida, but… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
An average living room is 16ft x 20ft, so if you were relaxing on your couch and saw a snake sprawled along the length of your wall, it might possibly… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
Quick Answer: No, crocodiles are not dinosaurs. Crocodiles evolved from reptiles that existed before dinosaurs. Both crocodiles and dinosaurs came from the crown group Archosaurs, which were reptiles that included… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 9 months ago
An 11-foot alligator caused a traffic jam just northeast of Orlando on April 27, 2022. Cars backed up as the alligator made its way across State Road 417. The Seminole… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
You’ve probably heard the term “Breeding like rabbits!” Well, that does not apply to elephants, at all. So, how long are elephants pregnant? Elephants have the longest pregnancies of all… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
“Don’t be a big baby!” Sounds like an insult, but in the case of baby elephants, it can actually be a compliment.The average (human) baby boy born in America weighs… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
You’ve probably seen the image of a cute cartoon elephant with his trunk stuck in a popcorn box full of peanuts! But if elephants were allowed at the movies would… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
The Mississippi River starts at the 1.8 square mile lake, Lake Itasca, in Minnesota. Flowing 2,350 miles south, it flows down through Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and empties into the Gulf… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
When we named elephants we gave a big clue as to where they live. The African elephant lives…in Africa. The Asian elephant? Yes, in Asia. But where in Africa and… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
Florida is home to alligators, crocodiles, gigantic invasive pythons, panthers, and some of the most shark-infested waters in the world. So it's no surprise people are curious just what are… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
Imagine stepping off the trail to take a photo of a unique wildflower when you suddenly feel a prick on your ankle. You look down to see the tail end… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
While different stereotypes go along with “cat people” vs. “dog people” (I’m sure a few just popped into your head), there are also stereotypes about cat personalities and dog personalities.… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
I love hugging my friend’s big fluffy Bernese mountain dog, but a snake? I’m not so sure. I know there are a few snakes that I would not want to… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
If you are out on a long hike or camping you're probably hoping you don’t run into any bears. For some hunters, it's the opposite and they purposely go out… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
If you come across a spider in your closet or while weeding your tomatoes you might wonder what kind of spider it is. Black widows are a well-known dangerous spider,… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
Water snakes live in lakes, rivers, and ponds and are non-venomous, but sea snakes are another story. Sea snakes live in the ocean and most are highly venomous! Sea snakes… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
In the past week, there have been more than 20 great white shark sightings off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Researchers can track sharks that have been tagged… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
Watch out for Hawaiian rattlesnakes…wait, there are no snakes in Hawaii? Nice! Well, there are no native snakes in Hawaii. And owning snakes is actually illegal in Hawaii with a… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 10 months ago
“We should get a puppy!” is how the conversation often starts, frequently from wide-eyed kids wanting a furry friend. But when choosing a dog, how do you know which breed… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 11 months ago
Rhinos and Hippopotamus (Hippos) are similar-looking creatures, and both can be aggressive. You wouldn’t want to encounter either of them in the wild! But what if they met each other… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 11 months ago
More than 70% of the planet is covered by ocean waters! According to the National Geographic Society, “More than 80 percent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored, or… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 11 months ago
Monkeys are primates, like apes, gorillas, chimpanzees, and humans! Do monkeys live as long as humans? Are monkeys the same as apes and gorillas? Since primates have few predators do… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 11 months ago
Great White sharks are the third largest shark with some getting to be 23 feet long, but are they the fastest? How does a shark that big move so fast?… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 12 months ago
Costa Rica is known for the diversity of its rainforests. While much of the attention goes towards the unique animals that can be found, like Basilisk lizards, red-eyed tree frogs… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
Every spring West Virginia comes to life with sprigs of green buds on the trees, tulips popping up and by late May/early June roses are beginning to bloom. While some… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
Cane Corsos are sturdy muscular dogs that have a no-nonsense look. While they may initially look intimidating, they are affectionate pets that are cooperative and playful. From their early history… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
Even though Washington may have a reputation for being cloudy along the coast and quite frigid in the winter, there are a variety of beautiful roses that can grow (and… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
If you want to spruce up your landscaping, expand your backyard garden, or brighten up your patio, try adding some roses. You may think that growing roses is too challenging… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
Missouri is located in the center of the U.S., with the Mighty Mississippi as its eastern border. Temperatures typically range between 26°F and 90°F so there is quite a variation.… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
Nebraska may be known as the “Cornhusker State” with its acres and acres of corn fields, but crops are not the only thing that grows well in the state. Flower… Read More
By Cindy Rasmussen 2 years ago
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