Animals & Science

Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. Methane dissipates in the atmosphere more quickly than carbon dioxide, but is 20 times more effective at...

Reefs are being destroyed at an incredible rate by destructive fishing practices and general ecosystem damage. Damaged or dead reefs can lead to depleted fish stock. It can take a long time for a...

It is virtually impossible for the backyard chicken owner to tell the gender of a young chick. Commercial hatcheries have developed a method known as sex-linking that helps them determine males...

Cowbirds are found throughout most of North America. Male cowbirds have an iridescent black body and brown head; female cowbirds are gray and smaller than males. According to Stanford University,...

When you dissect a frog in the biology laboratory, the goal is to identify and recognize its external and internal parts. Usually, it helps to make a series of drawings on which you label the body...

The Giant Mekong Catfish is the largest catfish in the world. It can grow to nearly 9 feet and weigh over 600 pounds! This large catfish would feed quite a few people at a fish fry. You could...

There is no law in this country preventing you from killing your dog humanely. Sometimes, when your dog is barking for hours on end and you don't know what to do, this thought flits through your...

You bagged your deer. You have meat in the freezer and antlers to mount. Now what to do with the beautiful tawny hide? True blue hunters will utilize all of the animal they kill and there are many...

Finding holes in your lawn or garden is one of the first indications that an armadillo may be visiting. Because these unusual creatures can cause a great amount of damage to your property, you...

The best way to avoid an encounter with a crocodile is obviously to stay away from it. However, should you ever meet a croc in the wild, here are some tips on how to escape its potentially deadly...

The symptoms of a venomous snake bite can be very clear, or they can be extremely mild. Sometimes such bites are not even noticed for an hour or more. The reason is that not all snake venom...

For decades, muskrat pelts were a major industry. Not only would they form the basis of many fur hats, they also laid the foundation for many frontier economies. Nowadays, however, muskrat...

It’s an interesting dilemma. You find yourself out in the wilds of Australia, or maybe at the zoo, and you’re looking directly into the eyes of a reptile. A snake. But what kind of...

The brown recluse spider is one of the most dangerous spiders in the United States. When you are infested with these spiders, they become even more dangerous because contact with them becomes...

The king cobra is one of the most magnificent snakes on the planet, and they are well respected as being one of the most deadly as well. This snake is one that you would do well to be able to...

Just because there's no definitive evidence that lake monsters exist doesn't mean they don't. Though it's unlikely that such a large species can go undetected in an age of high-tech observation...

Although fairly common, scientists know little about the zebra bullhead shark, also called the zebra horn shark. Its distinct coloration, shape and markings make this shark difficult to confuse...

It takes a lot of time, money and dedication to raise an orphaned gray squirrel. It can also cause some heartache to release it back into the wild when it is old enough. Make room in your heart...

For hundreds of years, people have wondered why whales beach themselves. Marine scientists, who refer to the events as strandings, can explain some situations as a sick or disoriented animal. But...

Found only in the western mountains in China, there are an estimated 3,000 wild pandas living at this time. Wild pandas eat bamboo as their main diet, which is why their name means "bamboo eater."...

Everyone loves nature, but sometimes travel spreads opportunistic plants and animals that choke out native wildlife. With a few simple tips, you can increase your awareness and hopefully minimize...

If a dangerous animal enters your area, authorities may not be able to reach you quickly. You should learn how to trap the animal and hold it until help arrives.

Mounting a small skeleton teaches about the bones and how the skeleton fits together as a whole structure. Many professionals who mount skeletons took years of science in the study of the body...

The art of taxidermy means reproducing a three-dimensional image of an animal. Many people have animals stuffed for display in their homes to show off successful hunts. Fish and deer are among the...

Cow Sharks, the Hexanchidae, consist of four different species. These species are the Bluntnose Sixgill Shark, the Bigeye Sixgill Shark, the Sharpnose Sevengill Shark and the Broadnose Sevengill...

Nurse sharks aren't as easily recognizable as hammerheads or great whites, but they do have a number of characteristics making them fairly easy to identify if you know what to look for. The name's...

Hammerhead sharks are likely the easiest shark to identify due to their unusually shaped head. There are nine species of hammerheads, the largest being the great hammerhead. Most species are...

The greatest threat facing endangered polar bears is climate change. Global warming has reduced the Arctic sea ice, making it more difficult for polar bears to hunt and reproduce. Pollution and...

Rhinos are considered one of the most critically endangered species. Their important role in the ecosystem as seed dispersers makes saving them important not only for the species, but for other...

With less than 1,000 wild Bactrian camels left, the species is considered critically endangered. Although there are over 2 million domesticated camels in China and Mongolia, scientists distinguish...

Snow leopards live in rugged mountain terrain in the Himalayas and Central Asia. They face threats from hunters, loss of habitat and a decreased food supply. Researchers estimate that between...

Tigers represent one of the most endangered species in the world today. Natural threats, habitat destruction and humans threaten tigers' survival. Despite being recognized the world over for their...

People throughout the world have long told stories and tales about wild, hairy creatures. Spotting Bigfoot--if there really is a Bigfoot--can be a challenge. If sighting one were easy, there would...

A bear in a trap is a dangerous thing. The animal is very strong, and as a wild animal, is unpredictable. Great care must be taken when dealing with a trapped bear, and it is necessary to be...

The abominable snowman, or the Yeti, is an ape-like creature said to live in the Himalayas. Some argue the Yeti may be related to the North American Sasquatch. Although many people believe that...

Once found on five continents, cheetahs now face extinction due to factors such as habitat loss, loss of genetic variation and conflicts with humans. The fastest land animal, cheetahs need large...

African elephants face extinction in the wild because of poaching and habitat loss. The largest land mammal, elephants reproduce slowly compounding the problem. You can help save African elephants...

Endangered orangutans live on two islands, Sumatra and Borneo, in Asia. Some estimates suggest that orangutans could become extinct within the next decade or two. Threats to their survival include...

Manatees are large, grey aquatic mammals that are related to elephants. Although migratory, manatees concentrate in Florida waters during the winter months where they eat vegetation in estuaries....

The largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere, the California condor became extinct in the wild from 1987 to 1992. Today, release programs send small numbers of condors back into the...

Pandas are known all over the world for their familiar black and white coloring. Yet this well-loved animal faces extinction if nothing else is done to save endangered pandas. With these simple...

Commercial whaling, pollution and slow reproduction put many whale species, like the blue whale and right whale, into vulnerable positions. Although many organizations are working to save whales,...

To befriend a squirrel you'll have to be insidious. Your efforts will work if the squirrel doesn't have adverse previous experiences with humans. You have seen their unpredictable maneuvers on the...

In order to turn a deer into something edible, you’ll need to remove the intestines, stomach, rectum, bladder and a few other internal organs. Read on to learn how to gut a deer.