Kristen Holder
Author for A-Z Animals

Lakes are usually associated with recreation and relaxation and they’re defined as land-locked bodies of water. But some have creepy stories around them that may deter you from visiting. Whether… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Fretting about sharks is natural if you’re planning on hitting any of Florida’s waterways. They’re apex predators with powerful jaws yet less than 10 people per year die from a… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Some of the ticks in Colorado aren’t a threat to humans, but ticks that carry diseases in any part of the ecosystem are still important. How they affect wildlife, domesticated… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

When flies are buzzing around your home, it’s easy to wonder what they’re doing and how they do it. These pontifications can turn into the most basic and hilarious of… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Ticks are not a common occurrence in Alaska, though during the summer months, they can be a real nuisance. While not all 8 of the ticks in Alaska prefer humans… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

38 different kinds of snakes live in South Carolina, but only six of them are venomous. The cottonmouth is arguably the most famous black snake in North America. It’s on… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Almost all ticks go through four stages during their lives, including six of the ticks in Florida. They start as eggs, hatch into larvae, turn into nymphs, and finally become… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

The desert is often mistaken as a place with minimal life, but the Sonoran Desert that swaths much of Arizona is home to many arachnids including ticks. The northern part… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: Since most snakes do not pose a threat, they should not be feared or killed, especially since many are protected by law. Some black snakes have other colors… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Lake Powell is located in Northern Arizona and Utah. It was created by the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, and it is the second-largest reservoir in the United… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Worrying about ticks is not a seasonal occurrence in Georgia like it is in other states as the mild and moist climate is perfect for year-round tick productivity. The ticks… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Bees are responsible for the diversity of plant life around us. Despite this, their numbers are declining. As such, they’ve been receiving more media attention than usual, and you’ve undoubtedly… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

The Atacama Desert holds the #2 spot for the driest place on earth, second only to Antarctica. It is the driest true desert, and it is accessible to travelers and… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points Most of the snakes in Pennsylvania do not pose any real danger to humans. Some of the snakes listed here make great pets, though you should seek snakes… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

It’s northeast of Sacramento in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Key Points: The Oroville Dam is the tallest dam in the United States at a towering 770 feet. It… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Ticks can be found on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Their populations have been exploding worldwide due to factors like climate change. Because areas are warming and staying warmer longer,… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

When discussing waterways, it’s confusing when the terms river and bayou are thrown around to describe similar bodies of water. What’s the difference between a river vs a bayou? If… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

The famous Grand Canyon is one of the wonders of the world because of its enormous size and depth. It is a mile deep, 18 miles wide, and over 270… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points Rough green snakes are their striking green color so that they blend into their natural environment. Garter snakes usually are 2-3 feet long, though the longest garter snake… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Majestic is a word that comes to mind when we think of whales because of their immense size and grace in the water. They’re one of the last large mammals… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Once part of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan is now home to an atomic lake created during the USSR’s reign. This lake is in the northeastern part of the country. Kazakhstan… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Rivers are a geological artery for life because they provide a channel for precious freshwater through land. Only a dozen or so rivers are responsible for 90% of the plastic… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: Butler's garter snakes have a preference for leeches and worms in their diet and they do not have as much dietary variety as other types of garter snakes.… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Ticks are the number one cause of insect-induced disease in Arkansas, but not all ticks carry diseases. What makes ticks a vector for diseases is that in their early stages,… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Spiders are not something that people look forward to seeing in their homes. While some people are so fascinated with spiders that they keep them as pets, most of us… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: London's Thames River was declared biologically dead in the 1960s due to pollution in the water. Efforts to remove toxic waste were successful and it is now home… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: One of the more common black snake species found in Virginia is harmless. This species is the black rat snake. Only the streams and swamps in Virginia's extreme… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: Lake Tahoe is the clearest lake in the United States and also North America’s largest alpine lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains.Crater Lake is the deepest lake in… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Rivers are unique and vital waterways that offer various activities for the outdoor enthusiast. They’re also vital ecosystems and waterways that significantly contribute to human infrastructure and development. Hydroelectric power… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

A lake and a lagoon are both free-standing bodies of water, right? Not exactly. Their location and the way they get water from their water sources in a lake vs… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Socotra is a small Yemeni island chain off the coast of the Horn of Africa in the Indian Ocean between Somalia and Yemen. Socotra’s landscape has been called alien, and… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

The black snakes on this list are often confused with each other, such as the black racer with the black rat snake. One of the snakes on this list is… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

It can cost just under a million to over one hundred million dollars to purchase one of the most expensive islands in the world. The price on these lots does… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

When we think of color-changing animals, the first thing that comes to mind is lizards. However, there are at least two snakes out there that change color to blend in.… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points Different species of sharks have different methods for producing offspring, but no matter how they come into this world, newborn sharks are born independent. Rays, chimeras, skates, and… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Alabama is divided into 4 geologic regions: the Limestone Valleys, the Coastal Plain, the Piedmont Plateau, and the Appalachian Mountains. Some ticks in Alabama live in all these regions, while… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

There are 19 countries around the world with no rivers in them. Most of the larger ones are in the Middle East, but a few are found in other locations… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

There are around 350 known species of sharks in the world and most of them aren’t dangerous. However, Hawaii is the 4th most dangerous place in the world for shark… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Whereas biting isn't all snakes' first line of defense, any snake will lash out for reasons that are common among serpents. Some snakes don’t bite people…usually. It’s important to snake… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Water is what defines channels, and rivers flow in some of those channels. As rain lands on the earth and pools enough to run, it begins moving. This movement, over… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: Eight species of the Alabama blacksnake can be found within the state. Many harmless black snakes are killed each year out of misidentification as cottonmouths, venomous, semi-aquatic black… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Most people imagine a parched desert with a saltwater lake in it, but saltwater lakes can be found in any region and climate. The world’s oceans have a salinity content… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Anything that eats and drinks must produce waste. Since ants eat, they must pass something. So, do ants poop? Yes, ants poop. They have an excretory system that allows them… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Rivers are a popular fixture on our landscape, but did you know that rivers only cover a tenth of the earth’s land? Did you know that an estuary needs a… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points: What sets king cobras apart from other snakes in mental capability is their ability to hunt in a variety of different ways using situation-specific tactics, rather than be… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

The lucky rabbit’s foot has a strange but true history. In 1584, people carried a rabbit’s foot to spare themselves from arthritis and cramping. Nobody is sure why this was… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Cobras are famous for being highly venomous, but they’re more than just deadly. They’re elapid snakes which means their fangs stay erect instead of folding up into the roof of… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

Key Points All snake enclosures must have a lid that’s secured on them. Freshwater needs to be provided daily as drinking water and for most snakes to soak in when… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago

When it comes to coachwhip snakes, you’ll hear a lot of talk about western or eastern coachwhips. This leaves one to wonder what exactly are the differences when it comes… Read More

By Kristen Holder 2 years ago