Articles
From Sacred Relatives to ‘Nuisance Livestock’: Who Decides the Fate of Montana’s Bison?
Across Montana’s eastern plains, few sights register as strongly as a bison herd navigating open grassland. Although the grizzly bear…
Articles
Articles
Frozen Genes or Final Days? Inside the Race to Rebuild a Species
An Instagram post about the last two northern white rhinos references a scenario conservationists have warned us about for decades.…
Articles
Why Missouri’s Economy Hitched Its Fate to a Hybrid Animal That Refused to Quit
Quick Take Picture a long wagon train creaking across Missouri’s rolling hills, each wagon pulled by a pair of big-boned,…
Articles
Maine’s Moose Isn’t Just a Symbol—It’s a Warning and a Success Story
I grew up in Maine. When you’re a boy growing up in Maine, you spend a lot of time in…
Articles
Bird Flu Slams Martha’s Vineyard: Why Even Healthy Chickens Vanish Overnight
It’s officially flu season, and humans aren’t the only ones who need to take precautions to avoid getting sick. Bird…
Articles
Why Did North Dakota’s Bison Vanish—and How Did They Muscle Back?
Several years ago, I had the chance to drive around the Dakotas and was struck by the haunting beauty and…
Articles
Not Endangered, But Still at Risk: The Hidden Struggle Behind the Amur Falcon’s Flight
A rare wildlife sighting is exciting birdwatchers throughout Southern India. The elusive Amur falcon was first recorded in this region…
Articles
Think Extinction Is Rare? 2025’s Red List Shatters That Myth
In 2025, the world marked another sad milestone in the ongoing loss of biodiversity: multiple species long missing from their…
Articles
Why No Animal Represents Arkansas Better Than the White-Tailed Deer
Choosing a mammal to represent a state can be difficult. Strong reasons for selection may relate to the animal’s majesty,…
Blog
Meet the Massive Prehistoric Fish That Survived on Plankton
Long before whales dominated the oceans, Earth’s seas were home to a fish so massive it continues to challenge our…
Video
Learn the Differences Between a Wasp and a Hornet Nest
It’s a good idea to steer clear of both wasps and hornets – two aggressive insects that sting to protect…
Articles
Chlamydia Is Starving Koalas. Can a New Vaccine Save Them?
Koalas are an endangered species. This was not always the case, as the wild, adorable marsupials were once widespread across…
Video
These Friendly Wild Animals Will Warm Your Heart
Please enjoy this delightful video of some of the friendliest wild animals on the planet! These sweet creatures are so…
Articles
Why Only 30 Super Tuskers Roam Africa—And What Sets Them Apart From All Other Elephants
One of Africa’s last remaining “Super Tuskers” has passed away. Officials from the Amboseli National Park reported that Craig, a…
Articles
What It Really Takes for a K-9 to Ignore a Cat—and Everything Else
Watching a cat stroll past a line of unmoving police dogs in this viral Instagram reel can’t help but make…
Articles
Stingless Bees Outlasted Dinosaurs—But Can Legal Rights Shield Them Now?
Stingless bees are so ancient that they shared the planet with the dinosaurs. For the past 80 million years, stingless…
Articles
Ohio’s State Mammal Was Almost Wiped Out Before Making a Stunning Comeback
Ohio’s white-tailed deer might seem like an obvious state symbol, but that familiarity is exactly why it works. Few animals…
Blog
Before Great Whites Ruled, This Crocodile Crushed Everything in Its Path
Crocodiles and alligators are usually the apex predators in whatever environment they live in. Their massive jaws and armored bodies…
Blog
Crocodile Crush: Why Florida’s Top Predator Isn’t Always the One You Think
Who do you think would win a fight between a python and a crocodile in Florida? Generally, we would look…
Articles
Why Was an Endangered Whale Found on a Cargo Ship?
The ocean is full of strange anomalies, many of which are still unexplained. But when those oddities literally breach the…
Video
Witness a Fisherman’s Close Call With an Angry Gator
A peaceful fishing trip turns into a nightmare when an angry gator decides to attack. Watch this heart-stopping video to…
Articles
How a 30-Minute Therapy Dog Visit Can Transform a Child’s Hospital Stay
In this heartwarming Instagram reel featuring a therapy dog hospital visit, a child’s whole face and being changes. This video…
Articles
Acorns, Attics, and Identity: What the Gray Squirrel Really Means for North Carolina
Most North Carolinians see gray squirrels every day as they race along fences, leap between oak branches, or raid backyard…
Video
These Mighty Animals Are the World’s Strongest
Speed and cunning are great qualities to possess if you are an animal that needs to escape a predator. Even…
Articles
Collapse Without a Trace: Why Ocean Life Hinges on Invisible Bacteria
Decomposition is essential to all ecosystems, both on land and in the ocean. In marine environments, decomposition and nutrient recycling…
Articles
Meet the Phantom Jellyfish That Drifts Through Total Darkness
Deep within the sea lies another world entirely. It’s a world of complete darkness, where light is absorbed thousands of…
Articles
Those Creepy Moving Holes Under This Deer’s Eyes Are Real and Useful
In this brave new world of AI in which we all live, we are constantly having to question whether what…
Video
Repel Squirrels and Chipmunks With Smells That They Hate
Chipmunks and squirrels are lovable creatures and fun to watch – but they can ruin your carefully tended landscape by…
Snake Facts
From Riverbed to Record Books: The Evolutionary Gamble Behind the World’s Largest Snake
Whether they make an appearance on the silver screen or on the news, anacondas are famously dangerous reptiles. They’re excessively…
Articles
A Second Chance at Life: Meet the Cloned Ferrets Saving Their Entire Species
One of North America’s most endangered species is getting a new lease on life thanks to technological innovations. This past…
Blog
Outgrown by Evolution: Why Saltwater Crocodiles Still Crush Their Ancient Rivals
Saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) are the largest living reptiles on Earth. They’re even bigger than the fearsome Nile crocodile and…
Articles
A Rare C-Section Orangutan Birth Brings New Hope at the Memphis Zoo
Christmas came early at the Memphis Zoo with the much-anticipated arrival of an orangutan baby, a girl named Ruhana (roo-hah-na).…
Articles
Liability Shifts in Seconds: What Dog Walking Apps Won’t Warn You About
Owning a dog is a major commitment. When life gets busy, people outsource some of their caretaking to friends or…
Articles
Surviving Fire: How a Burned Cub Reshaped New Mexico’s Wild Future
New Mexico’s official state animal is the American black bear, but the choice reflected more than the presence of a…
Blog
These Creatures Are Almost Too Weird to Exist
The natural world is full of animals that seem to defy logic, blurring the line between reality and imagination. Some…
Articles
Claws, Culture, and Coastlines: How the Blue Crab Became Maryland’s State Crustacean
Marylanders and visitors love the blue crab as a seafood delicacy, but they chose it as the state crustacean for…
Blog
The Planet’s Largest Moths Have Wingspans as Wide as Birds
Most people think of moths as small insects fluttering across porch lights, but some species greatly challenge that image. Inhabiting…
Blog
Giant Bass Battle: The Biggest Largemouth Bass Across 49 States
Largemouth bass fishing is a major part of American outdoor culture. Anglers across the country love chasing the thrill of…
Articles
The Arctic’s Snowy Owl Isn’t the Biggest—Here’s the Giant That Dwarfs It
Owls are some of the best-known birds in the world, famous for their hooting calls and their excellent eyesight. There are…
Blog
Think Anacondas Are Huge? Meet the Snake That Made Them Look Tiny
When most people think of massive snakes, the first one that comes to mind is the anaconda. Anacondas might be…
Dog Lists and Rankings
Think All Chihuahuas Are Tiny Lapdogs? Here’s What Breeders Don’t Tell You
The official AKC breed standard states that Chihuahuas should not exceed 6 pounds, standing between 5 to 8 inches. However,…
Articles
Illinois Nearly Lost Its State Animal Before a Remarkable Comeback
White-tailed deer are an integral part of Native American culture. They were also important in the daily lives of early…
Articles
Think Squirrels Are Social? This Solitary Giant Breaks Every Rule
Some see squirrels as adorable, bushy-tailed creatures that run in circles around tree trunks before they finally race up trees…
![Sampson (later renamed Mammoth)[1] was a Shire horse gelding born in 1846 and bred by Thomas Cleaver at Toddington Mills, Bedfordshire, England.](https://a-z-animals.com/media/2022/12/Sampson_horse.jpeg)
Video
Meet Sampson, the Biggest Horse on Earth
When thinking about the world’s most enormous horses, most would envision a team of majestic Clydesdales pulling a wagon. Indeed,…
Articles
From Lifeline to Icon: How Deer Shaped—and Still Shape—New Hampshire
White-capped mountains, wildflower meadows for miles, and lakeside beauty are iconic to New Hampshire. Its landscape is carved by top-of-the-world…
Articles
Wolves Are Quietly Making Wisconsin Roads Safer for Drivers
Gray wolves are currently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in most of the lower 48 states, except…
Articles
Smaller Than a Penny, This Seahorse Hides Better Than Any Chameleon—But Why?
Coral reefs are often described as some of the most colorful places on Earth, bursting with movement, contrast, and life.…
Articles
West Virginia’s State Animal Was Nearly Erased—So Why Did It Win the Vote?
For West Virginians, resilience in the face of adversity is a defining characteristic. As industry and settlers encroached on the…
Tarantula
Cloud Forest Giants vs. Trapdoor Dwarfs: Which Tarantulas Rule Central America?
Central America is the narrow land bridge, or isthmus, between North and South America. It is bordered by the Caribbean…
Video
Where Do Birds Sleep at Night?
Birds are aflutter with activity all day long so they certainly need to rest at night – but where do…