Humans can have extreme reactions when they come across insects - from delight at the sight of a Monarch butterfly to disgust at a scurrying cockroach. But did you know… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 weeks ago
Heather Hall is a writer at A-Z Animals, where her primary focus is on plants and animals. Heather has been writing and editing since 2012 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture.
As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, Heather enjoys hiking, gardening, and trail running through the mountains with her dogs.
Humans can have extreme reactions when they come across insects - from delight at the sight of a Monarch butterfly to disgust at a scurrying cockroach. But did you know… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 weeks ago
Bed bugs are tiny and easy to confuse with other insects. Bed bugs aren't known to directly spread disease, but that doesn't mean that they aren't a public risk. These… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 weeks ago
Most birds of prey are fast, large, and have sharp beaks and talons or all of the above. The wild birds on this list live in North America and have… Read More
By Heather Hall 4 weeks ago
If you see small black bugs around the house, especially in your bed, you may assume their bed bugs. Bed bugs, of course, are horrid little insects that hide behind… Read More
By Heather Hall 4 weeks ago
The average human lifespan is just under 80 years, but some animals live much longer. Greenland sharks, bowhead whales, koi, and red sea urchins, may all live hundreds of years.… Read More
By Heather Hall 1 month ago
Dogs are remarkable animals for their genetic flexibility; they can be selected for almost any kind of body size, fur color, and personality trait one desires. Depending on what kind… Read More
By Heather Hall 1 month ago
Raccoons are medium-sized mammals that belong to the Procyonidae family. They are native to North America. These creatures have distinctive physical features such as black masks around their eyes, bushy… Read More
By Heather Hall 1 month ago
Fish are abundant on the planet. We have over 34,300 species of fish! 71 percent of the earth's surface is covered in water, and oceans make up 96.5 percent of… Read More
By Heather Hall 1 month ago
In their day, woolly mammoths roamed the eponymous "mammoth steppe" — today's northern Asia, Europe, and Canada — and stuck to a vegetarian diet. Most lists of extinct animals only include picks… Read More
By Heather Hall 1 month ago
Flesh-eating beetles were made famous in the movie The Mummy, where scarab beetles eat humans alive. Fortunately, the real flesh-eating beetles are known as dermestids only feast on dead people,… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
When considering a type of dog breed classified as a terrier, it helps to look at the origin of the word. Terrier is French for “burrow,” and these are dogs… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
How many times have you considered adopting a Labrador, only to remain perplexed about which one is the right one for you? Even though this animal is generally categorized as… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
Cats are among the smartest, most beloved animals in the world. Studies show they stimulate a substance called oxytocin in us, a neurochemical linked to love. (Dogs do the same.)… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
A cod fish is a species of marine fish that belongs to the Gadidae family. Humans have consumed cod meat since prehistoric times, and today it is one of the… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
The relationship between humans and domesticated dogs dates back at least 25,000 years, but the first definitive evidence of canines selectively bred for guard dog tasks can be found roughly… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
Minks and ferrets are two adorable, somewhat similar members of the weasel family Mustelidae, which includes polecats, minks, stoats, martens, badgers, and wolverines. But while minks are of the genera… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
Key Points: The biggest difference between crickets and grasshoppers is size, with grasshoppers being the larger of the two. Grasshoppers are active during the day. Crickets are active during the… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
Beetles are the most common type of insect. There are many different types of beetles, all the way from the hardy dung beetle to the pesky weevil to the cute… Read More
By Heather Hall 2 months ago
Beetles are some of the most diverse animals in the world. There are more than 400,000 recognized species, most of which live out in the wild, never even bothering humans.… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
The axolotl is a species of salamander native to Mexico. The word axolotl is pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl. It belongs to the group of amphibians which includes newts, frogs, and toads. Axolotls are… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
At some point 20,000 to 40,000 years ago, dogs and wolves diverged. Since Earth is about 4.5 billion years old, in the evolutionary grand scheme of things, 40,000 is a… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
Grey cats are like shadows that appear in the daytime. Their mysterious color, usually coupled with yellow eyes, is unusually elegant. Grey can be found in common, mixed-breed cats and… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
The tabby cat is an incredible and friendly pet to own! Cat enthusiasts all over the globe agree that they make the ultimate perfect family addition to any family home.… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
With all the news stories about Cicadas and how Brood X is hatched in 2021, a lot of you probably have black, buzzing swarms of bugs on the brain! If… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
When was the last time you saw a completely white cat? If you're struggling to answer, that's normal. Just like blue eyes, all-white fur is rare in cats. The genetics… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
Maine Coon cats are large domesticated cats native to North America. These gentle giants are playful, loyal, and loving to their owners. Maine Coons need lots of protein in their… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
If you saw a yellow jacket and a hornet sitting on a piece of fruit, you may assume they're the same type of insect. After all, they look similar and… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
There are many similarities and a few big differences between the caribou and the reminder. Indeed, the two are deer species of the family Cervidae and look very similar, almost… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
A tuxedo cat is a type of domestic cat with distinctive black and white markings. They are often referred to as bicolor cats or "tuxie" cats because the color pattern… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
The dachshund is a unique and beloved breed known for its long, low body and courageous personality. Originating in Germany centuries ago, this breed was originally developed for hunting badgers… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
Bald eagles used to be an endangered species but have since made a partial recovery. There are approximately 900 pairs of breeding bald eagles in Michigan. If you want to… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
The Maine Coon cat is widely known as a "gentle giant", and that's not just due to their big personalities. Maine Coons rank with Ragdolls and Siberians as one of… Read More
By Heather Hall 3 months ago
Rattlesnakes are native to the United States, but how many species does each state boast? If you have ever wondered what the rattlesnake population is by the state, here is… Read More
By Heather Hall 4 months ago
The biggest horse ever recorded was Sampson, who was from the Shire breed. He weighed an astounding 3,359 pounds and stood over 22 hands tall when he measured in 1859.… Read More
By Heather Hall 4 months ago
Introducing a new pet into the home is a big decision, especially when you want to get it so the kids to learn some responsibility and bonding. Though the most… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
For those of us who are used to domesticated dog breeds, it's hard to think of dogs as wild. But they exist, and there are even several different breeds. With… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Cats have stolen people's hearts everywhere for being independent, affectionate, playful, and adorable. Many perfect feline companions can be found at local shelters and rescues for free or very small… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
What are the tallest horses in the world? This question has been important for thousands of years. Big horses have had key roles in the history of humans, from pulling… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
How many deer live in the United States? They seem to be everywhere, but how populous are they? Let’s find out. The above map shows the deer population in the… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
A happy dog will always try to lick you. Your hands are the first licking targets. There are many reasons for this canine behavior. Understanding the reason behind this behavior… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Many animals look happy when they're in their natural habitat. They have their favorite food around, and they have their whole nest, pack, or brood with them. How do we… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Grizzly bears are large, ferocious members of the Ursus family, which are native to North America. Where do grizzly bears live? Here is your guide to the grizzly bear population… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Lint and dust are made up of tiny, lightweight particles. These particles can range from skin cells, hair strands, fabric fibers, pollen grains, insect parts, soil particles, and more. Lint… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Creatures that sleep during the day and are active at night are known as nocturnal, and they take the form of both predators and prey. That's in contrast to diurnal… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Almost all spiders are venomous, but there are few, at least in North America, that have venom powerful enough to injure a human. One of them is the brown recluse… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
The phrase "blind as a bat" is a serious misnomer, as most species of bats are believed to have eyesight as good as or even better than humans. It's an… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
Cats are some of the most effective predators in the world. The fact that so many unique species spread across the earth is the result of over a dozen migrations… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
It's said the eyes are the windows to the soul. But when we say that are we including animals? As our list of the animals with the biggest eyes in… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
You may be wondering what the largest fish in the world is and where you can find it. So what is the biggest fish in the ocean? We have considered… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago
What are the 10 fastest sea animals? As anyone who’s gone swimming knows, it’s harder to move in water than it is in air. This is because water is denser… Read More
By Heather Hall 5 months ago