The American alligator is native to the swamps, streams, rivers, and lakes of the southeastern United States. These ancient animals aren’t usually aggressive, but they’re powerful apex predators, and their… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
Gabrielle is a freelance writer with a focus on animals, nature and travel. A Pacific Northwest native, she now resides in the high desert beneath towering ponderosa pines with her beloved dog by her side. She often writes with a coyote call or owl hoot backdrop and is visited by the local deer, squirrels, robins and crows. A committee of turkey vultures convenes nightly in the trees where she resides. Here, the flock and their ancestors have roosted for over 100 years. Her devotion to the natural world has led her to the lifelong study of plants, fungi, wildlife and the interactions between them all.
The American alligator is native to the swamps, streams, rivers, and lakes of the southeastern United States. These ancient animals aren’t usually aggressive, but they’re powerful apex predators, and their… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
Flounders find their place along the salty seafloor, with strange bodily adaptations and a penchant for disguise. Tilapias are native to freshwater habitats of Africa, but they have exploded into… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
Vultures and eagles are raptors that hunt and feed on prey that is large relative to their body sizes. There are many distinct species of each, so in this article,… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
The raccoon is a common nocturnal mammal, well known for its dexterous paws and black facial markings that look like a mask. These masked bandits sometimes get a bad rap… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
Rare and highly elusive, both the clouded leopard and the snow leopard are solitary cats that are rarely seen. They possess striking physical features, piercing eyes, and threatening canines capable… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 4 months ago
Both venomous vipers, the rattlesnake, and the puff adder, have unique features and geographical ranges. The rattlesnake is named for the distinctive-sounding rattle at the end of its tail, used… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 5 months ago
Vipers are named for their tendency to give birth to live young. They're a venomous family of snakes that live scattered throughout most of the world. Armed with hollow fangs… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 5 months ago
Garter snakes are named for their resemblance to the garter belt, a narrow band of fabric used to hold up stockings on the leg. Copperheads get their common name from… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Known to be highly secretive and very solitary creatures, there is one time of year that bobcats are on the prowl, seeking company. During mating season, male bobcats begin to… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Native to North America and widespread throughout the continent, hawks are sharp-eyed birds of prey with a distinctive scream. That iconic call of the bald eagle in movies is actually… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Originally bred to assist shepherds with herding and protecting sheep and other livestock, the German Shepherd is an exceptionally intelligent working dog breed. They excel as guardians in positions of… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Copperheads and kingsnakes are very similar in their mode of feeding. They are carnivorous. Also, in terms of appearance, Mole kingsnakes and copperheads have reddish-brown scales. However, there are a… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Texas rat snakes and copperheads are native to North America and share some traits in common. As ectotherms, they rely on the surrounding environment to regulate their body temperature. They… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Sole and flounder are flatfish that share an extraordinary trait. These creatures have an asymmetry that’s unique in the animal world. They’re born like other fish, an eye on either… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 6 months ago
Vipers like the timber rattlesnakes and the eastern diamondbacks are venomous snakes with long formidable fangs. They derive their family name Viperidae from the Latin vivus, "alive" and parere, "to… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 7 months ago
The ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its tail. It represents continual rebirth and the unity of all things. Things perpetually change in a cycle of destruction… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 7 months ago
With a reputation for a friendly and gentle nature, golden retrievers are playful companions that can make an excellent addition to the family, whether male or female. While their charming… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Geese are known for their loud honk-like calls and a characteristic v-shaped flight pattern. They are highly susceptible to the process of imprinting in which newly hatched goslings will accept… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Tarantulas are a group of large and hairy spiders with over 1,000 species identified. These ambush predators live in burrows and practice the sit-and-wait method of finding a meal. Some… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Rats are highly intelligent and social creatures that thrive in stimulating environments. It’s recommended that pet rats be kept in pairs or groups. Unless you’re planning on taking on the… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Parakeets are among the most vocal birds in the parrot family and have an estimated vocabulary of up to 2,000 words. Although both male and female parakeets are expressive, one… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Cayuga ducks were introduced to the Finger Lakes region of New York state around 1840. While they were once the most common commercial roaster, they're now common as ornamental and… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Ducks are called drakes when they are male and females are referred to as hens. If raising backyard ducks, an ideal flock makeup might be three hens on their own,… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
The Polish chicken is a heritage breed known for its remarkable crest. This adornment earned this European breed the nickname tophat chicken. Once considered a prime egg layer, they are… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Sexing your goldfish can be important if you own more than one fish, which is probably best to prevent them from getting lonely. Keeping one female with multiple males can… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
When it comes to anatomy, lobsters are a fascination of the sea. The stomach of a lobster contains a gastric mill used to crush ingested food matter. Their brains are… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Popular as backyard pets and livestock and native to the American tropics, muscovy ducks are the largest duck in the world. They’re easy to distinguish from other ducks by their… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Cockatiels are a type of small parrot that are native to the dry, non-coastal regions of Australia. They are extremely common to keep as pets and are well-loved for their… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Dark-eyed juncos can be recognized by their small, round frames and characteristic hops. They hop to and fro, forward and sideways along the ground and display a flash of white… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Native to the North American West coast, Anna’s hummingbirds can now be found from Northern Mexico, through California, Oregon, and Washington, and up into British Columbia. In these areas, this… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 2 years ago
Out of the 20 snake species in West Virginia, only 5 of them are poisonous (venomous). Garter snakes are usually counted among the nonvenomous variety in this state and others.… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
The climate in Florida ranges from humid and subtropical in the north, to tropical in the southern parts of the state. This ocean cradled landscape is home to abundant wildlife… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
As one of the most geographically diverse states in the United States, Oklahoma is made up of flat grasslands, forests, marshlands and mountain ranges. The diverse landscape is home to… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Washington lies in the uppermost portion of the Pacific Northwest in the United States. The Cascade mountains run through the middle of the state, dividing it into east and west.… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Much of Kansas falls within the Great Central Plain of the United States. The western two-thirds of the state is an expanse of flatlands and gentle rolling undulations of the… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Vermont’s name is derived from the French words vert, meaning green, and mont, for mountain. The Green Mountains run along the western region from north to south. The Hudson River,… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
If you’ve ever been woken in the night to the screaming of cats outside, maybe you’re hearing a neighborhood cat duel, or maybe those felines are just feeling frisky. Cats… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Owls are found widespread across the Earth, living in all regions except for the Antarctic. They’re birds of the order Strigiformes, which includes over 200 species of owls. Almost all… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
From the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains and the expansive wilderness of Glacier National Park, the landscape of Montana is wild and diverse. Much of the state is sparsely… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
The geography of Maryland is diverse, with marsh-filled coastal plains, wetlands, and farmlands. There are mountains, ridges, forests, valleys, and streams spanning the state. Garter snakes are common throughout the… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Key Points Deer mating season occurs between September to December. Rubs and scrapes are two of the most recognizable signs of deer mating season. Different deer species exhibit different mating… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Abundant forests, lush vegetation, deserts, and flowing rivers converge in the state of Oregon. This North American state is home to a rich variety of landscapes. Garter snakes have no… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and flying squirrels make up roughly 200 species of squirrels worldwide. You can find these nut-loving rodents on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. The Indian… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Rattlesnakes are the largest venomous snakes in the United States. The anaconda is a non-venomous constrictor that suffocates by coiling its heavy body tightly around prey. And its body is… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
The mongoose is a small and sleek mammal with a reputation for bold behavior. Although adept hunters, they have horizontal pupils, similar to animals like sheep and horses, to help… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Rattlesnakes and alligators are both notorious predators. Rattlesnakes fight with formidable fangs and incredible striking power. Alligators battle with their impressively strong jaws and sharp teeth. Both catch their victim… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Ophiophagy, or “snake eating” is common in the animal world, with mammals, birds, lizards and even other snakes engaging in the dietary practice. But did you know that many species… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Rattlesnakes are notorious predators with formidable fangs and incredible striking power. They’re often hidden out of sight just before an attack, catching their victim by total surprise. Bobcats are just… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Small but mighty, chihuahuas are tiny dogs with a whole lot of personality. They're the smallest breed of dog in the world, and they tend to be fiercely territorial and… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago
Aardvarks and anteaters have a shared love of eating insects. They both accomplish their daily dining with exceptionally long snouts and very long, sticky tongues. These animals have many shared… Read More
By Gabrielle Monia 3 years ago