Rebecca Mathews
Author for A-Z Animals

Massachusetts is not a cheap area to live. It's popular with families, students, and retired folks, which pushes up prices. However, there are some areas left with good value property.… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 2 months ago

If you like to hike, then Hawaii ought to be featured on your bucket list. These incredible islands feature stunning hikes from ancient craters to mighty peaks with epic waterfalls.… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 2 months ago

The mystery-laden Puma Punku stones lie ruined in the Bolivian jungle, 45 miles west of La Paz on a pre-Incan Tiwanaku-era archaeological site. Puma Punku means "Door of the Puma," but… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 2 months ago

Marijuana, cannabis, weed, whatever you call this psychoactive plant, its legality is a tricky subject. It’s often illegal, but some countries take a more liberal view when it comes to… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 2 months ago

Valentine’s Day comes once a year on February 14. It’s a time to show someone how much you love and appreciate them, but how to say it?  Flowers are one… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

Black bears live throughout Minnesota. Most reside in the north, but recently, their range has increased into more central regions and even urban areas. Hikers and outdoor enthusiasts here have… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

The North Pole is located in the Arctic Ocean on the Earth’s most northerly point and directly beneath the North Star, Polaris. It's a mass of moving ice and water… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

Weevils sit in the Curculionidae family. They are small beetles ranging from 0.125 to ¼ inch long. Characteristically, a long and narrow snout protrudes from a hard-shelled body. Chiefly pear-shaped… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

When a loved one chokes, it's terrifying. Often, our first reaction is to freeze or panic, but knowing what to do in advance of these scary times is essential so… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

Wolves communicate via sounds, scents, and body language. Wolf language is hugely important because wolves live in packs that cooperate and live or die based on their interactions. For example,… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

When we imagine Australia, often the first images that pop to mind are the outback, beaches, kangaroos, and Uluru, but Australia has another side. Let’s discover the Australian Alps, including… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 3 months ago

When snow and ice cover your driveway and create a slipping hazard, rock salt is a common solution; after all, it’s used by authorities to keep our roads safe, and… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Did you know over 150,000 moth species live worldwide, and 14,000 of these live in North America? Moth species range from the tiny 1.2-millimeter-long Mexican Stigmella maya to the vast… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Key PointsBombay Beach is a ghost town located on the shores of California's Salton Sea.Once a thriving resort area frequented by film stars and musicians, it is now a shell… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Clean cats love feeling well groomed, but inside their ears is a place they struggle to keep clean. Wax build-up can cause stickiness, irritation, and deafness, so helping out your… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Key PointsMale and female Akitas have subtle differences in size, with males growing slightly larger than females.Both male and female Akitas have large, broad heads, curled tails, and fluffy dense… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Originally the ultimate dual-purpose bird, the Lamona chicken is a rare breed thought extinct in the 1980s. Only a few mysterious flocks remain today, so let’s learn more about the… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

The Soviet Union, founded in 1922, originally comprised the republics of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Over time, it incorporated more countries from Asia and Europe. At its… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

One of our favorite festive plants is the poinsettia; whether you love the bright red festive species or the white, it's not Christmas without one. However, that doesn't mean our… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

A deer has an outstanding sense of smell. Adult deer have 297 million scent receptors up their nose that can detect water, fruit, flowers, and veggies from half a mile away! The… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Native black bears roam across Oregon’s wild spaces, foraging vegetation, fruits, nuts, and occasionally meat. Oregon has a controlled black bear hunting policy that runs twice a year in spring… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Just like us, dogs feel the cold so it’s important to keep them warm. Dogs show distress signs when they feel cold. Like us, they shiver and curl up to… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 4 months ago

Christmas comes once a year, but how many years does it take for your festive tree to reach its full glory? Let’s discover how long it takes to grow your… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Are you thinking you might retire in Oregon? This Pacific Northwest state has interesting scenery, epic wildlife, and thriving cities. It's a beautiful and generally safe place to retire, so… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Have you ever noticed animals working together to achieve their objective? Perhaps your cat knocked food from the counter for your dog; then the dog kept an eye out for… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Over 100,000 alligators live in South Carolina's coastal areas, lakes, swamps, and 29,898 miles of meandering rivers. South Carolina is divided by the Fall Line, a 900-mile-long natural boundary that divides the… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Bread and ducks go together like peanut butter and jelly but, in reality, should ducks eat bread? A little bit of bread won’t hurt them, but better choices exist that… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

It’s traditional to offer birds leftover bread and cakes, but these foods are not great for our feathered friends because they contain very few nutrients and too much salt and… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Wintertime Missouri is home to one of the United States' largest bald eagle populations, who migrate there to escape Canada’s, and the Great Lakes, frozen waters. Missouri is a bald… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

California’s Crystal Cove State Park is an epic 2,791-acre natural landscape in sharp contrast to neighboring urban California. This glorious park is one of the state’s few remaining undeveloped natural… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

UNESCO heritage sites are the world’s most incredible places, credited with outstanding value to humanity. Diverse places on the UNESCO world heritage list range from the Titanic site to dinosaur… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Potted, artificial, or cut Christmas trees feature in many households over the Christmas period. A tree is the focal point for decorations and where youngsters feel the magic, but how… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

A spider plant is one of the least fussy houseplants around. If you treat it right, it'll look fabulous and present lots of new little free spider plants to pot… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Box turtles live on land near water, but can box turtles swim? Let’s discover whether box turtles can survive in water and what precautions to take at home. Can Box… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

In the past, goats were traditionally kept for milk and meat, but pet goats have surged in popularity over the past few years, in no small measure due to cute… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, over 350 bird species make Kentucky their home. There’s lots to spot if you fancy some cold weather bird watching. Here… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Colorado’s Parks and Wildlife Department says there are over 3,000 moose in Colorado today, a dramatic increase from just a few wanderers in the 1970s. A hugely successful introduction program… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

Fruit is the primary mechanism whereby plants reproduce, but they’re so tasty that animals (including us!) eat many before they can sprout. Let’s discover 34 fruits that start with K,… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago

According to Mississippi's Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Parks over 400 bird species live in Mississippi year-round. Many stay overwinter, so there’s plenty of opportunity to watch our feathered friends when… Read More

By Rebecca Mathews 5 months ago