Key Points Domestic dogs belong to the family Canidae and have an evolutionary history as carnivores.Many human foods can have negative health consequences for dogs.Some foods, however, can make a… Read More
By Jesse Elop 6 days ago
Jesse Elop
Jesse Elop is passionate about wildlife and loves learning about animal biology and conservation. His favorite animals- besides his pup, Rosie- are zebras, mandrills, and bonobos. Jesse's background in biology and anthropology have supplied him with many fun facts that might just pop up in some of his articles!
Key Points Dogs were first domesticated between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.Humans breed dogs for many different purposes including hunting, protection, and herding.The Shiba Inu was a basal breed first… Read More
By Jesse Elop 6 days ago
Key Points: There are many different mating systems and social systems in the animal kingdom.Monogamy is when one male mates with one female in a breeding season.There are benefits and… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 week ago
Key Points What is an endangered species?VocabularyClassificationWhat are the 5 major vertebrate classes?MammalsAmphibiansReptiles and BirdsFishWhat are some endangered animals that we can help save?Polar Bears (Mammal)Green Sea Turtle (Reptile)Mountain Yellow-Legged… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 week ago
Key Points: Domestic dogs are descendants of wolvesChow Chows are a very early dog breedTheir early jobs include being guard dogs and sled dogsToday, Chow Chows are popular companions What… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 week ago
Key Points Animals that help humans DogsMercy DogsSeeing Eye DogsPolice dogsBirdsFalconry with EaglesCanaries in MinesHorsesWar HorsesAgriculture, Livestock, and TransportationMarine Mammals: Dolphins and Sea LionsThe U.S Navy Marine Mammal Program Humans… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 week ago
Key Points: Why can’t dogs can’t eat ketchup?High sodium contentArtificial sweetenersToxic flavoringsHow much ketchup is safe for a dog to eat?Toxic quantitiesIf your dog consumes ketchup: a step-by-step guide First… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 weeks ago
When someone sees a mastiff, their first thought is likely something to do with the dog’s immense size! These giants of the pet world were certainly not bred to be… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 month ago
When your dog sits at the foot of your dinner table begging for food with big, loving eyes, it is hard to resist giving them a little something off your… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 month ago
Everyone loves giving their good girl or good boy treats and dogs obviously enjoy it, too! But what is safe to give dogs as a treat if typical dog treats… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 month ago
Have you ever wondered what sweet treats you can give your pet? There are plenty of foods off the table or from the pantry that are perfectly safe for your… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 month ago
Interactions between animals can be extremely cool to see when they’re caught on camera. That is certainly the case here! In this video, a badger decides to take on a… Read More
By Jesse Elop 2 months ago
Can you remember when you heard thunder for the first time? Most people pay little mind when they hear a clap of thunder in the distance. For some, a loud… Read More
By Jesse Elop 2 months ago
In incredible footage captured in the following video, an extremely brave and knowledgeable climber fights off a vicious bear attack. It appears that despite the bear’s aggression, the climber escapes… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Did you know there are around 25,000 black bears in the state of Washington? If you go on a hike in the right area, you might just get to behold… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Key Points Dogs were the first animal domesticated by humans 20,000-40,000 years ago.Jack Russell terriers were recognized as a breed in the 1850s.Jack Russell terriers were first bred to be… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Key Points Dogs were domesticated between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.The Irish Wolfhound is a large breed of dog originating in the late 19th century.The Irish Wolfhound was bred as… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Pollination is one of the most fundamental processes to all life on earth. Every living thing relies on it; plants must pollinate to reproduce, and animals rely on plants for… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
When you swim in a lake or an ocean you may expect to see some fish swimming with you. If you were diving deep in the water, you probably wouldn’t… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Approximately 31.9 million households in the United States have a pet cat! In fact, one in four American homes have at least one. Cats are very smart and lovable animals… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Guinea pigs are household favorite pets in many countries, including the United States! In other countries, such as Peru and Bolivia, they may be a common snack. If you decide… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Key Points: Some of the first dog breeds, the closest descendants from wolves, include the dingo, Basenji, Tibetan Mastiff, and indigenous Chinese breeds.Purebred dogs are often inbred which increases the… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
On the perfect spring day, you might find yourself walking through a meadow of wildflowers or crouching in the dirt to sow the first seeds in your garden. While you’re… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
You may not even notice how many insects you see each day. They’re inescapable and everyone on Earth has interacted with them. Insects are incredibly diverse and come in all… Read More
By Jesse Elop 3 months ago
Today, elephants dominate the mammal world in size. As the largest terrestrial mammal on Earth, elephants have fascinated thousands of scientists across generations. Not only are the elephants of modern… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Have you ever heard an eerie howl in the distance late at night? Hopefully, that sound stays at a distance because it could be a wolf! There are two species… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Have you ever driven through fields and seen horses grazing? Do you ever wonder what horses you might see if you took that same route thousands of years ago? Today,… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Woodpeckers are fascinating creatures that come in many different shapes and sizes. In fact, there are approximately 240 different species of woodpecker alive today! These birds can range in size… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Snakes are incredibly interesting and diverse creatures. In fact, there are over 3,500 species around the world except in Antarctica, New Zealand, Greenland, Iceland, and Ireland. In the United States… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Turtles are beautiful creatures both on land and in the sea. Different turtles are known for being slow and graceful, others old and wise, or some angry and snappy. The… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Many people might jump if they hear a hiss and a rattle or see something slither by their feet. While snakes can be very intimidating animals, they are very interesting.… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
If you saw an aurochs and a modern cow side-by-side, would you be able to tell them apart? If you drive through farmland and pastures, is it possible you might… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Two brown bear (Ursus arctos) cubs Winnie the Pooh, Paddington Bear, and Smoky the Bear are just a couple popular bears in the media today. In the wild today, there… Read More
By Jesse Elop 4 months ago
Birds are incredibly diverse and can be found all around the world; they inhabit every continent and are arguably one of the most species rich vertebrate animal groups. From an… Read More
By Jesse Elop 5 months ago
If you are an avid farmer or gardener, you may have come across or heard about aphids. Aphids are small pests that infest crops, gardens, and other flora worldwide and… Read More
By Jesse Elop 6 months ago
Have you ever seen a gorilla make a teeth-baring facial expression and thought, “Wow! Those are some big teeth!”? As the world's largest primate, gorillas are famous in the animal… Read More
By Jesse Elop 8 months ago
Gorillas are beautiful and unique creatures. They are also incredibly large! Within this colossal animal is a very interesting and complex skull that seems to be very different from a… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Although most people could probably tell a gorilla hand and a human hand apart, humans and gorillas are close relatives that share many similarities under their fur and skin. If… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
When you are at the gym, a 20-pound dumbbell can seem pretty heavy. Now imagine 25 of those wrapped in fur running around the African wild! Silverback gorillas are huge,… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Key Points: Wild male gorillas weigh between 300 and 500 pounds on average and females weigh between 150 and 250 pounds.When male gorillas reach a certain level of maturity, generally… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Grizzly bears are an example of a keystone species. All animals and plants are important to their environment, but are some more important than others? Every ecosystem consists of complex… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Geckos are a very interesting group of lizards that are incredibly diverse. They are widespread in the wild and are also common household pets. Although a pet gecko can seem… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Gorillas are beautiful animals of enormous size! They are easy to recognize as they thump their chests with muscular arms and grin to reveal huge canine teeth. These amazing creatures… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Key Points: Grizzly bears are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. But the percentage of meat they eat, only 30%, categorizes them as hypocarnivores. Whereas, polar bears are hypercarnivores--their diet… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Ever wonder what inspired King Kong? Despite its gorilla-like appearance, inspiration for the fictional beast came from Komodo dragons studied on a 1926 expedition to Komodo Island! Komodo dragons are… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Colorful Tropical Rock lobster under water. They recognize other individual lobsters, remember past acquaintances, and have elaborate courtship rituals. Researchers say that their intelligence rivals that of octopuses—long considered to… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Have you ever had a tiny animal buzz by your head, tickle the back of your neck, or crawl out of your shoe? Well, it may have been one of… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
In North America, bigger is usually better. Both Canada and the United States are amongst the 10 largest countries in the world by area! In these big countries, there are… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
In the animal kingdom, reptiles have always been especially interesting. Clever behaviors, fascinating adaptations, and vibrant colors all make this class of animals incredibly unique. Reptiles come in a broad… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
Coyotes are highly carnivorous but will eat vegetables. Their diet mostly consists of animals ranging from insects, to rodents, to deer Coyotes are fierce predators adapted to many climates. Coyotes,… Read More
By Jesse Elop 1 year ago
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