If there’s a cat in your life, you’ve probably caught yourself staring into those big, beautiful feline eyes. A cat's eyes are among its most glorious features. Read on to… Read More
By Rick Chillot 6 months ago
Rick Chillot is a freelance writer and editor who's worked in all kinds of print and digital formats, including books, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and graphic novels. He abandoned his pursuit of a biology career when nature refused to cooperate.
If there’s a cat in your life, you’ve probably caught yourself staring into those big, beautiful feline eyes. A cat's eyes are among its most glorious features. Read on to… Read More
By Rick Chillot 6 months ago
The most popular dog breeds with curly tails have one thing in common: cuteness! But a dog’s tail is more than just an ornament, whether it’s curled into a cute… Read More
By Rick Chillot 6 months ago
The 1955 animated film Lady and the Tramp features one of the most famous rom-com scenes of all time. Two characters from different worlds, thrown together by circumstance, find themselves… Read More
By Rick Chillot 6 months ago
Coyotes are wily. But if you know the smells that coyotes hate, you have a good chance of keeping these cunning creatures away from your property. Smaller than a wolf,… Read More
By Rick Chillot 8 months ago
Try to name flowers that start with V, and the first thing you come up with, probably, will be "violet." But the list also includes flowers that are violet in… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
They come from the sea, but they walk on land. Their legs span three feet; their claws can lift 44 pounds. They climb trees in search of food and have… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
The sea is a big place. And it’s home to some truly enormous animals. The giant manta ray, for example, has a wingspan of up to 29 feet. The whale… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
If you’re wondering how to get rid of a hornet’s nest, chances are it’s not just idle curiosity that’s motivating you. Maybe you’ve been noticing an unusual number of stinger-equipped… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
There are a lot of bacteria out there. As in, a lot a lot. There may be more than 5 nonillion (that's 1030) bacteria on Earth. A single milliliter of… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Tomatoes again? Lettuce and other greens, ho-hum. Zucchini, summer squash, even watermelon…so basic. If you’re a backyard gardener who’s looking to try something different and delicious, growing broccolini could become… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Is there a garden flower more cheerful and friendly than a daisy? These flowers have been favorites for so long that their name dates back to Old English, c.e. 1300:… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
It’s a scenario many cat owners will be familiar with: You’re minding your own business, having something to eat. Suddenly your feline friend turns up, sniffing the air and curious… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Sandstone and limestone are common types of rock. But their key differences include what they're composed of, how they're formed, their physical properties, how they're used, and where they're found.… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Ever been swimming in the ocean, and found yourself wondering if any sharks are close by? Are news reports of shark bites at certain beaches triggering your fin-phobia? Well, you… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Is there anything that says “summer” like fresh watermelon? This sweet, familiar, iconic fruit is a member of the cucumber family, making it a relative of squashes, gourds, pumpkins, and… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Introduction: The Panther Chameleon — A Unique and Colorful Pet Requiring Specialized Care As reptiles go, chameleons are pretty darn spectacular. These African-native lizards—about half of whom occur only in… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
To ask “Why does my cat loaf?” is to swing the bat of inquiry at one of nature’s most enigmatic pitches. Cats are mysterious creatures. The domesticated cat has been… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Someone ought to write a musical about insects in Texas. Opening number: The bugs and mites They sure do bite clap*clap*clap*clap* Deep in the heart of Texas... Thanks to its… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
In May of 2023, onlookers spotted two alligators near the St. Marys River in Auglaize County, Ohio. The Ohio Department of Agriculture tried to capture them but failed. One of… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Exploring the reproductive behavior of fish is a good way to sample the diversity and versatility of these aquatic vertebrates. The class of vertebrates that we call "fish" include over… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Aircraft that fly faster than Mach 1 need a specialized design to handle the turbulence. If you were to ask someone who was passing you by at Mach 1 how… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Oklahoma, also called the Sooner State, is a great state for wildlife. It’s home to flying squirrels, black bears, and bald eagles. American bison, the continent’s largest land mammal, roam… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Even a short list of amazing birds that start with E reveals how astonishingly adaptable and diverse these animals are. We so often see birds in our everyday lives that… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
It's not easy to define how deep the Arkansas River is. At 1,460 miles long, the Arkansas River is the 6th largest river in the United States. It’s also the… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Q: Where do eagles nest? A: Wherever they want! Okay, that’s a joke. But eagles are among the largest predatory birds on earth. So one might expect them to have… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Before we discuss the most aggressive sharks in U.S. waters, it's worth considering why every conversation about sharks seems to dwell on how to keep these fascinating fish from biting… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Real talk: even the friendliest snake in North America isn’t going to come slithering when you call its name or do figure eights around your legs like a cat (they’d… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pregnancy: Summary The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a little dog with lots of love to give. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have been favored breeds of… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Having more venomous snakes isn’t exactly something to brag about. But at the very least it makes for interesting cocktail party conversation (there’s always plenty of snake-talk at those things).… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
The snakes residing in Grand Canyon National Park shouldn’t dissuade you from visiting this 1,218,375-acre wonder. From the awe-inspiring views at the rim of the canyon to the turbulent Colorado… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
These five lakes offer the best fishing in New Hampshire. With 975 lakes and ponds inside its borders, the state of New Hampshire packs plenty of fishing opportunities into its… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
A long-lived fish, the Atlantic striped bass (Morone saxatilis) can live for up to thirty years. Provided, of course, they don’t end up on the business end of a fisherman’s… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Roses that grow in Alaska? Yes, you read that right! When you think of the state of Alaska, nicknamed “The Last Frontier,” it might seem unbelievable that roses could grow… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
Duck hunting season in Tennessee should be on any waterfowl hunter's to-do list. Thanks to its mix of wetlands, rivers, and lakes, as well as its proximity to the Mississippi… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
For many gardeners, choosing flowers to plant in May is an annual tradition. And by annual, we mean annual flowers: plants that grow during a single season, then die off… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
For residents of Florida, sinkholes can feel like an ever-present danger lurking just underfoot. The idea of a hole opening up in the ground and swallowing your car, your house,… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
If your answer to “Where does fruit come from?” is “the supermarket,” it might surprise you that a list of delicious fruits native to North America won’t include some produce… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago
So you’ve decided to adopt a dog…but which dog? If you’re preparing to become a dog owner for the first time, the number of questions you have to sort through… Read More
By Rick Chillot 2 years ago