Why do fish float when dead?
From winterkill in ponds to pet goldfish in bowls, fish tend to float at the surface after they have died. Why? Most fish species have…
Tag: Animal Anatomy
Metamorphosis transforms many insects
One of the most fascinating transformations in nature is the change a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly. Small, wriggly caterpillars hide within a chrysalis…
Elusive wolverines travel impressive distances
Certain animals are elusive–lynx, bobcats and most notoriously wolverines. I’ve been lucky enough to see two wolverines in all of my hiking–way across a valley…
Larger birds visiting your feeder
Little songbirds may be the most frequent visitors to bird feeders but occasionally larger birds stop by. Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about…
Less colorful birds visiting feeders
Little brown birds. Often sparrows and finches are called little brown birds because they look similar at first glance. Their markings may not be as…
Quick guide to common birds that visit your feeder
A freshly-filled bird feeder can bring life to a backyard, deck or window. First one bird finds the feeder then entire flocks. Soon the feeder…
Animals move atop and beneath snow
Winter can bring a range of snow conditions from minimal snow to deep snow with an icy crust. Whether the snow condition is favorable or…
Animals take advantage of trails in winter
When the snow becomes deep enough, we bring out our skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles to travel around. Even with snowshoes, slogging through knee-deep powdery snow…
Some animals capable of growing new appendages
Lizards are one of the more well-known animals to regrow their tail after shedding it to evade predators. Last week, I wrote about autotomy (the…
Animals utilize self-amputation for numerous reasons
Northern alligator lizards and western blue-tailed skinks possess two unique abilities in the animal world–they can self-amputate their tail and grow it back. The process…
Owl pellets provide clues to owl’s diet
Even though most owls are nocturnal hunters and we can’t see what they hunt, we know a surprising amount of information about their diet. An…
Tiny salamander delivers big surprise to predators
What has large bulbous eyes, a blunt snout, a long fourth toe on its hind foot and is three to four inches long? A long-toed…
Metamorphosis transforms many insects
One of the most fascinating transformations in nature is the change a caterpillar undergoes to become a butterfly. Small, wriggly caterpillars hide within a chrysalis…
Elusive wolverines travel impressive distances
Certain animals are elusive–lynx, bobcats and most notoriously wolverines. I’ve been lucky enough to see two wolverines in all of my hiking–way across a valley…
Larger birds visiting your feeder
Little songbirds may be the most frequent visitors to bird feeders but occasionally larger birds stop by. Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about…
Less colorful birds visiting feeders
Little brown birds. Often sparrows and finches are called little brown birds because they look similar at first glance. Their markings may not be as…
Quick guide to common birds that visit your feeder
A freshly-filled bird feeder can bring life to a backyard, deck or window. First one bird finds the feeder then entire flocks. Soon the feeder…
Animals move atop and beneath snow
Winter can bring a range of snow conditions from minimal snow to deep snow with an icy crust. Whether the snow condition is favorable or…
Animals take advantage of trails in winter
When the snow becomes deep enough, we bring out our skis, snowshoes and snowmobiles to travel around. Even with snowshoes, slogging through knee-deep powdery snow…
Some animals capable of growing new appendages
Lizards are one of the more well-known animals to regrow their tail after shedding it to evade predators. Last week, I wrote about autotomy (the…
Animals utilize self-amputation for numerous reasons
Northern alligator lizards and western blue-tailed skinks possess two unique abilities in the animal world–they can self-amputate their tail and grow it back. The process…
Owl pellets provide clues to owl’s diet
Even though most owls are nocturnal hunters and we can’t see what they hunt, we know a surprising amount of information about their diet. An…
Tiny salamander delivers big surprise to predators
What has large bulbous eyes, a blunt snout, a long fourth toe on its hind foot and is three to four inches long? A long-toed…