A boa constrictor in Idaho!
Have you been lucky enough to see Idaho’s only boa constrictor? The rubber boa is smaller than the giant boa constrictor of South America and…
Tag: Reptiles
Elusive “blue-tailed” western skink
A flash of blue darted across the ground in front of me as I entered Grandma’s barn—a blue-tailed skink! Luckily, the skink paused long enough…
What is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?
Is a turtle a reptile or an amphibian since it can swim but also lives in deserts? Amphibians include salamanders, toads and frogs. Reptiles include…
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…
Garter snakes most common snake in Idaho
Unlike southern Idaho, far north Idaho is thankfully devoid of venomous snakes. Snakes living in the forested region of far north Idaho are harmless to…
How do animals beat the heat?
On sweltering 90-plus degree days we can retreat to basements or air conditioned buildings but how do animals beat the heat? Often animals gain relief…
Wandering painted turtles seeking place to lay eggs
Western painted turtles typically don’t wander far from their pond unless it is time to lay eggs. Finding two turtles on the West Side Road…
Only cartoon turtles can remove their shell
Burrowed in mud at the bottom of a pond are turtles waiting out winter. Come spring, they will be basking on logs and rocks soaking…
Elusive “blue-tailed” western skink
A flash of blue darted across the ground in front of me as I entered Grandma’s barn—a blue-tailed skink! Luckily, the skink paused long enough…
What is the difference between reptiles and amphibians?
Is a turtle a reptile or an amphibian since it can swim but also lives in deserts? Amphibians include salamanders, toads and frogs. Reptiles include…
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…
Garter snakes most common snake in Idaho
Unlike southern Idaho, far north Idaho is thankfully devoid of venomous snakes. Snakes living in the forested region of far north Idaho are harmless to…
How do animals beat the heat?
On sweltering 90-plus degree days we can retreat to basements or air conditioned buildings but how do animals beat the heat? Often animals gain relief…
Wandering painted turtles seeking place to lay eggs
Western painted turtles typically don’t wander far from their pond unless it is time to lay eggs. Finding two turtles on the West Side Road…
Only cartoon turtles can remove their shell
Burrowed in mud at the bottom of a pond are turtles waiting out winter. Come spring, they will be basking on logs and rocks soaking…