A king cobra vs. a rattlesnake in a fight? Who would win this epic, imaginary battle? We examined these fearsome predators' physical characteristics, predatory behavior, and overall lifestyles to find… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Gail Baker Nelson
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Gail Baker Nelson is a writer at A-Z Animals where she focuses on reptiles and dogs. Gail has been writing for over a decade and uses her experience training her dogs and keeping toads, lizards, and snakes in her work.
A resident of Texas, Gail loves working with her three dogs and caring for her cat, and pet ball python.
Do rattlesnakes have dens? Where do snakes go when it's too cold for these ectotherms to function normally? Finding the answer means learning a little about the animals, and where… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
The state of Washington is known for wet weather, great forests, and stunning mountain vistas. The Evergreen State is mild, giving the native plants and wildlife a great chance to… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
The Zebra Snake, also known as the Western Barred Spitting Cobra, is a venomous snake native to southern Africa, characterized by its distinctive black and white stripes. The zebra snake… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 7 months ago
Venomous bites from cone snails, scorpions, spiders, and snakes are responsible for injuries and deaths every year. Of course, some are more dangerous than others. The earliest research-driven medicine is… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 10 months ago
Blood in the urine is no joke, and if you can see it when your dog pees, it's time for a vet call. There are numerous causes, ranging from easily… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
Originating in the same region as Labrador retrievers, Newfoundlands are big lovable teddy bear dogs. Bred for work, these gentle giants have retrieved lost fishing gear, rescued people in the… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
Axolotls are perhaps one of the most difficult exotic pets to care for properly. And, of course, this was the animal my friend chose for her first exotic. This Mexican… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
As birds of prey, California condors are one of the biggest in the world, behind the Andean condor and lappet-faced vulture. They are impressive birds! Vultures get a bad rap.… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
Discovering your dog has an upset stomach is bad enough, but black poop is worse and can indicate your dog needs to see the vet. However, not everything that causes… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
So you're getting a Weimaraner! Your amazing pup has a couple of centuries of breeding specifically for hunting game animals, so early training is necessary and we have a few… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
These lovable, yet feisty dogs are in movies and homes around the world. Rat terriers, as their name suggests, were originally bred to hunt rats. These dogs are the descendants… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
According to some estimates, as many as one-third of the population suffers from a fear of snakes, known as ophidiophobia. There may even be a genetic component! However, by taking… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 11 months ago
Can you hypnotize a cobra, like snake charmers do? What's really going on when snake charmers hypnotize cobras? Are they hypnotized or just aggravated? Let's explore this ancient tradition and… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 12 months ago
Manatees are gentle, peaceful animals that have no natural predators and are mostly herbivorous. Although they’re fully aquatic, their closest relatives are elephants! There are precious few zoos and aquariums… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 12 months ago
When the Great Seal of the United States included a bald eagle, some disagreed. One founding father called it a lazy bird and said he preferred a turkey. Benjamin Franklin… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 12 months ago
For more advanced reptile keepers, chameleons are often the next challenge. Chameleons and their bizarre, unique appearance make beautiful pets, but keeping one can be difficult and often expensive! These… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 12 months ago
Alligators are apex predators — but are they smart? Do they possess any intelligence aside from formidable survival instincts? The answer may surprise you! Some crocodilians, including mugger crocodiles and… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 12 months ago
German shepherds get a lot of attention and these big, strong dogs can reach 100 pounds. A versatile breed, they were bred to herd and protect, without being overly aggressive.… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Your pet snakes need names too — if only to have something more interesting than, “my ball pythons have no names, so I just slapped a number on their enclosures.”… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Alabama’s many waterways are perfect habitats to see the bald eagles that live in the state. There is plenty of open space and lots of their preferred food — fish.… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Different venoms attack the body differently. Neurotoxic venom directly attacks the nerves and prevents the brain from receiving or sending signals to the muscles. This dangerous venom causes paralysis and… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
This Christmas, stick a few toys under the tree for your dog. We found 20 great gift ideas your pup will love, and might even give you a few minutes… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Love running alongside your dog? What if your dog could help you run faster, even uphill? If that sounds like fun, consider getting started in canicross. This dog sport can… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Since most dogs don’t have the chance to do the jobs people originally bred them to do, they need an outlet for their physical and mental energy. There are dozens… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Treibball is one of the newest dog sports and its popularity grows daily. If you're looking for something new to do with your dog, this could be just the thing.… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Although most dog sports are newer, having been developed within the last few hundred years or so, some are much older. Lure coursing is quite possibly the oldest dog sport… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Snakes are misunderstood animals — venomous snakes even more so. Some cultures revere them, while others fear and even hate them. Yet, snakes are as necessary to rodent control as… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Did your bearded dragon go on a hunger strike? It can be frightening when our beloved pets stop eating, even more so when they are small and need to eat… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Mantrailing is a dog sport where dogs track down a person for fun and is surprisingly easy to get started. It’s the civilian version of police manhunts. You can take… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
You’ve probably seen dogs jumping amazing distances into pools of water. But did you know it’s a sport? Dogs compete and earn titles through one of the various organizations that… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Alligators are part of a big, scary, awesome group of ancient animals. Of the two living alligator species, the American alligator is the largest. It's certainly the largest reptile native… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
The Dutch shepherd is a beautiful dog breed that originated in the Netherlands during the 19th century, although they were likely running around Dutch farms for much longer. Farmers needed an… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
As with all things pet-related, there is more than one way to entertain your dogs when you can’t. The pet market has exploded with hundreds of puzzle toys for dogs, cats,… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Even though the Fusarium fungus disease makes the banana’s future uncertain, bananas are grown and exported worldwide. Dozens of countries grow bananas, but a few really stand out as being… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Fall is here and the leaves are on the ground. Aside from creating big leaf piles for kids and pets to play in, what do you do with tons of… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Also called tail necrosis, tail rot is relatively common in bearded dragons. They’re active lizards that take falls, and they’re territorial and may fight with other beardies. Tail rot can… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
One of many exciting dog sports, flyball is a relay race – where the dogs are the racers! It’s easy to get started in flyball and lots of fun for… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Rally obedience is a less formal, more fun version of obedience. Competitors follow a course of predetermined stations that tell the team what they need to do. In contrast with… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and some of the biggest flying birds in North America live in the Lone Star State. Texas has everything from desert to swamp,… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
If you want a tortoise that doesn’t get too big, a red-footed tortoise may be just the pet. Adult red-footed tortoises are usually 11-16 inches long, weighing 20-30 pounds, depending… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Tips Plain-bellied water snakes are nonvenomous eastern North American natives. Often confused with cottonmouths, plain-bellied water snakes are nonvenomous and harmless. Plain-bellied water snakes do not lay eggs —… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Tips Diamondback water snakes are nonvenomous and native to the Mississippi River Basin and surrounding areas in North America and the eastern regions of Mexico. Often confused with cottonmouths,… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Points Bony growths in their skin give Komodo dragons naturally forming chain mail. When first discovered by scientists in the early 1900s, Komodo dragons had a population of about… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Points Alligators and crocodiles rely on internal nest temperature to determine the sex of their offspring. Often, the temperatures at the hot and cold extremes create more females. Crocodilians,… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
A motorcycle-riding dad from Worthing, West Sussex, England is happy to be alive after a venomous hitchhiker took a bite of his leg. Dave Craker found himself in the hospital… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Australia’s unique plant and animal life is the stuff of legends. Where else could koalas, kangaroos, and the world’s deadliest snakes evolve? The land down under has more than its… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Points Lake Cachuma is home to dozens of animal species, including snakes. The only venomous snake slithering around Lake Cachuma is the southern Pacific rattlesnake. Located along the Santa… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Points There are only two species of invasive snakes in Victoria, Australia. Boa constrictors are suspected to have breeding populations in Victoria, but they do not know whether corn… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
Key Points Buying dog agility equipment can get expensive quickly, but you can DIY dog agility equipment from a variety of items! Dogs don’t care if your agility equipment is… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 year ago
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