Although you probably think of Chicago when you think of Illinois, hearing that the Prairie State has more farmland and prairies than cities may surprise you. But it’s true! According… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 weeks ago
Gail Baker Nelson
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Gail’s love for a very misunderstood group of animals, reptiles, led her to write about and draw them. She loves the natural world and it’s endless inspiration for her work. She is a freelance writer and illustrator, and her latest book, “Pebble Skins and Fast Walkers: What’s In a Name?” Is due out in early 2023.
Slithering snakes may send chills down your spine, but most of the 4,000+ snake species worldwide are nonvenomous. These legless hunters can get into places that other predators can’t—making them… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 weeks ago
Love 'em or hate 'em, snakes live on every continent except Antarctica. Without them, rats would rule the world because these legless predators are largely responsible for the world's rodent… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 1 month ago
Connecticut is famous for many things — the fall leaves, Yale University, and it was one of the original 13 colonies that signed the U.S. Constitution. However, it is not… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Creepy, crawly, slithering snakes! Legless though they are, that just means they can get into places we can’t to go after rodents. After all, who wants mice in the walls?… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Geologists classify rocks and gems into a variety of categories depending on how and where they formed. If you love rocks and gemstones, these sedimentary rocks, crystals, metamorphic rocks, and… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Of the thousands of rocks and gems worldwide, some are classified as igneous rocks. To understand what they are, the easiest thing to think of is that they were born… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Florida's climate is excellent for reptiles of all kinds. Officially, Florida has 46 native snake species with six venomous danger noodles. However, at least four non-native snakes have taken advantage… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Key Points Igneous rocks are formed by the heat of the Earth.They're either intrusive or extrusive.These rocks are usually made up of several types of rocks. What is an Igneous… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Saddlebrooke, Arizona, is a small town not far north of Tucson. It's in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Natural Area, and many of the homes' backyards look out towards… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
In the state known for the Kentucky Derby, Mammoth Cave National Park, and bluegrass music, you’ll find a vast array of wildlife — and a surprising number of snake species.… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 2 months ago
Arkansas, also known as the Natural State, has 52 state parks, five national parks, and three national forests. It's known for its wildlife, and the wilderness is still prevalent through… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
Alabama, like most other southern states, has its share of snakes. The climate is excellent for them, with relatively short winters and warm summers. Yet, snakes aren't the main attraction… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
The crimson-crested woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucos) is native to South America. Woodpeckers are familiar sights on most continents – the sound they make as they peck holes into trees and their… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
Over 50 snake species inhabit California, but only a few are dangerous to people. The Golden State’s 155,779 square miles of land and almost 8,000 square miles of water area… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
Louisiana may be famous for Mardi Gras, Cajun food, and the bayous where alligators lurk, but there are forests and rolling plains that you can also explore. Throughout the “Pelican… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
In a state known for hot temperatures, you might be surprised how cold it can get in the Texas panhandle. While “Snowmageddon” of 2021 sent most Texans scrambling for blankets… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
Box turtles are popular pets, but what are they like in the wild? As it happens, there are over twenty species of ”box turtle.” These diverse reptiles are present in… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 3 months ago
This songbird’s sweet sounds might be the first thing many people hear on a summer morning. Catching a glimpse of the unmistakable bright red plumage means that you might have… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Colorado’s stunning mountain vistas and activities make it a paradise for outdoorsy types. After exploring its many sights, you can finish a day of action with a soak in one… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
In a state that many people associate with tornadoes, the dust bowl, and a certain movie, the diversity of wildlife in Kansas may surprise you. For example, the "Sunflower State"… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
For such a small state, New Jersey has a lot going for it. After all, the first organized baseball happened here in 1846. In addition, it's home to Liberty State… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Oregon boasts stunning hiking trails with rocky coastlines and gorgeous canyons, 11,000-foot Mount Hood, nearly 2,000-foot deep Crater Lake, and many more natural wonders. The waterfalls alone are worth mentioning… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Key Points: Rattlesnakes, like all reptiles, are ectothermic and can’t maintain their body temperature without external help.Some rattlesnakes brumate with others in the same den for generations.Other snakes, like kingsnakes… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Meet a Few Puppies Who Need a Home in Fort Worth There’s no time like now to add a new family member! Fort Worth’s shelters are overflowing with wonderful pets… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Bring Home a Furry Family Member for Christmas We love our furry friends, and so many great dogs are just waiting for their forever home! We've rounded up 6 adorable… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
When non-snake people hear the word ”python,” they often think of giant snakes like reticulated pythons. While thousands of people keep these snakes, they’re less popular than the much smaller… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
Since 1961 when Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and American astronaut Alan Shepard became the first humans to leave the Earth’s atmosphere, over 600 people have followed. Yet, space agencies didn’t… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
We weren’t surprised by seeing the moose at the top of the list, but the butterfly and salamander were a surprise. Here are eight of the largest Animals In New… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
The volunteer state, known for blues music, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash, is also home to a vast array of wildlife. Its 42,000-plus square… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
South Dakota is located in the Midwestern United States and consists mostly of rolling hills and grasslands. This state is known for the Black Hills, mammoths, Mount Rushmore, and the… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 4 months ago
The state of New Mexico is home to thousands of different species, from tiny insects to gigantic bovines. We tracked down the seven biggest creatures to share with you. Some… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
The animal kingdom is full of surprises, and it seems that there's a new species discovered every day. The tactics they use to confuse predators and sneak up on prey… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Animals use all sorts of camouflage techniques to hide in plain sight. The gaboon viper is an excellent example. Its vivid pattern helps break up its body shape in the… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
If you noticed that snakes seem absent during the winter, you probably know that they're tucked into their dens until the spring. For people who fear snakes, it's nice to… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
You wouldn't expect to see a snake out basking during the winter. After all, aren't they supposed to be hiding somewhere until the weather warms up? In areas where the… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Eastern copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) are common venomous snakes found in the southern and eastern United States. They're pit vipers in the same genus as cottonmouth snakes (Agkistrodon piscivorus), but their… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Dragons are hard to draw. Learning to draw a dragon means you must become comfortable going off the beaten path because they have no real-world equivalent. Instead, there are many… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Snakes are cold-blooded and rely on the sun's heat to maintain their body temperatures and support bodily processes like digestion. As we enter fall and winter in the northern hemisphere,… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
To learn how to draw a unicorn, I decided on the more modern western concept of a magical horse with a horn. I always liked fantasy books with unicorns you… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Land animals never make the list of biggest in the world because sea creatures always win the contest. However, the Lone Star State has a few amazing creatures. We dug… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 5 months ago
Chickweed, dandelion, and mustard may seem like noxious weeds in your garden, but did you know that they — and many other "weeds" — are edible? Not only that, they… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
Many animals have several common names, a fact that causes endless amounts of confusion. Take the cottonmouth and water moccasin snake — two names, same snake. This is but one… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
Learning how to draw a wolf takes patience. Wolves are intense and possess a high level of intelligence that most dogs lack. You can see it in the way they… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
Learning how to draw animals, plants, and anything else you see may look impossible, but it's nothing more than a set of skills that you can learn. Have you ever… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
While I love kids' turkey crafts and art projects, I decided that, rather than contribute to the copious number of that type of art, I wanted to offer a more… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
Trees can be tricky. Their many leaves cast shadows and reflect highlights in ways that can catch you off guard. That said, I love drawing trees. Especially the ones with… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 6 months ago
We rarely find a snake that's died after biting off more than it can chew. Typically, when a snake discovers something is too big to swallow, it backs off and… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 7 months ago
The African savanna is home to thousands of species. African buffaloes are one of many, but they are one of the most visible. These bovine behemoths can weigh nearly 2,000… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 7 months ago
Most of us want to think the best about our animals. We want to believe that our dog is pretty intelligent and our cats (of course!) are evil geniuses bent… Read More
By Gail Baker Nelson 7 months ago
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