Contributor

Dakotah Blanton

Content Writer · Marine Biology · 10+ years Gulf fishing

Dakotah is a Florida-based outdoorsman and writer specializing in wildlife and outdoor activities.

He holds a Marine Biology degree from the University of West Florida and has spent more than a decade fishing the Gulf of Mexico.

Follows Outforia's editorial standards

46 stories published

Stories by Dakotah Blanton

A gray shark with its head and dorsal fin above the surface of murky brown water beside a muddy, debris-lined bank

Wildlife

Sharks In Lake Michigan: True Story or Urban Myth?

Lake Michigan shark legend mostly urban myth; no documented sharks live there; bull sharks could physically reach but water too cold.

A songbird with a gray back, orange breast and yellow bill perched on a budding branch in spring

Wildlife

Are Birds Mammals? Why Feathers and Eggs Set Birds Apart

Birds aren't mammals despite being warm-blooded. Birds lay eggs, have feathers, and beaks; mammals give birth and nurse young with milk.

A long-legged centipede with a striped body and trailing antennae crawls across a damp, mossy log

Wildlife

Are Centipedes Poisonous? Discover the Truth About These Creepy Crawlers

All centipedes are venomous but not poisonous. Their venom isn't lethal to humans; bites are painful but comparable to bee stings.

A brown hairy spider with banded legs crouched among dry fallen leaves and bright green moss

Wildlife

How Long Do Spiders Live? Unraveling the Mystery of Spider Lifespans

Spider lifespans range from under a year to nearly twenty years, with males living shorter lives than females due to mating-related deaths.

A tangled cluster of red, black and cream striped garter snakes coiled together on a gray rock among grass

Wildlife

How Do Snakes Mate? An Exploration of Their Unique Reproductive Methods

Snakes mate via mating balls or one-on-one; 70 percent lay eggs while 30 percent give live birth, some without needing a male.

Wildlife

How Strong is a Gorilla? Discover the Astounding Power of Our Primate Cousins

Gorillas can lift 10 times their body weight with 4 times stronger muscle mass and 3 times thicker bones.

A slender gray shark with visible gill slits swimming above a kelp-covered rocky seafloor in clear blue water

Wildlife

Are Sharks Mammals or Fish? Debunking the Misconception

Sharks are fish, not mammals; they breathe via gills, have cartilage skeletons, and lack mammary glands despite some giving live birth.

An African elephant walks beside a small calf at a waterhole, with antelope grazing on the dry plain behind

Wildlife

How Long Do Elephants Live & How Humans Factor In

Asian elephants live around 45 years in the wild while African elephants reach 60 to 70 years, though captive elephants have shorter lifespans.

Green snake with white-speckled coils wrapped around a mossy branch, tongue flicking out against blurred foliage

Wildlife

Slithering Secrets: Do Snakes Really Have Bones?

Snakes are vertebrates with 300+ bones including flexible ribs and unique multi-part skulls enabling them to swallow prey larger than their heads.

A small brown bat hangs upside down from the underside of a tree limb in a green summer forest

Wildlife

Are Bats Blind? Discover the Fascinating World of Bat Senses

Bats have excellent eyesight and use echolocation to find prey up to 3 miles away, emit sounds up to 140 decibels, and navigate using Earth's magnetic fields.

Gray wolf standing alert on snow in a conifer forest, its thick pale coat lit by low winter sunlight

Wildlife

How Big Are Wolves? Meet the World’s Largest Canine

Grey wolves, Earth's largest canines, weigh 40-175 pounds and measure 4-6.56 feet long; they live in packs led by alpha pairs.

A corn snake with orange and red blotches lies coiled on the leaf litter of a forest floor

Wildlife

The Corn Snake: A Comprehensive Look at These Misunderstood Helpers

Corn snakes are harmless rodent-eating constrictors native to North America, often mistaken for venomous copperheads but excellent for pest control.

A large python with a brown and black diamond pattern coiled on a leaf-covered rainforest floor

Wildlife

The Reticulated Python: Exploring the Life and Behavior of This Giant Serpent

The reticulated python is the world's longest snake, reaching up to 28 feet in length, with a pattern that blends perfectly into the rainforest floor.

A spotted trout with a pink side stripe swimming over a gravel streambed in clear, shallow water

Wildlife

50 of The Most Interesting Types of Fish: Pictures and Facts

Fifty fascinating fish species inhabit freshwater and saltwater environments worldwide, each with unique hunting behaviors, sizes, and adaptations.

An orange and black mottled lobster rests on a pebbly seabed among red and brown seaweed

Wildlife

How Long Do Lobsters Live: Immortal or Just Long-Lived?

Lobsters live exceptionally long lives, often reaching 50 to 70 years in the wild and potentially living much longer without apparent age-related decline.

Large brown snake coiled on dry red earth among golden grass, its head raised and alert in open scrubland

Wildlife

10 Most Venomous Australian Snakes in the World

Australia hosts 20 of the world's most venomous snakes; the inland taipan is the deadliest with venom potency 0.025 LD50.

Four deer: a bull elk in a misty forest, a caribou on autumn tundra, a white-tailed doe in tall grass, and a moose by a pond

Wildlife

10 Fascinating Types of Deer: ID Guide with Photos & Facts

Meet 10 fascinating deer species from moose to water deer, found on 5 continents.

A hawk with a pale chest and rusty tail perched on a leafy thorny branch against a soft green hillside

Wildlife

The 14 Species of Hawks in Texas and How You Can Spot Them

Texas is home to 14 hawk species, ranging from the common red-tailed hawk to rare zone-tailed and gray hawk species found in specialized habitats.

A green anole with its pink throat fan extended perched on a thin stem among broad green leaves

Wildlife

The 8 Species of Anoles in Florida: ID Guide with Photos

Florida hosts 8 anole species, 7 invasive; only the green anole is native. These tree-dwelling lizards display colorful dewlaps and can drop their tails when threatened.

A rainbow trout with a pink side stripe and dark spots swims above a clear stream bed of smooth stones

Wildlife

Types of Trout: All About Trout and Their Management

Discover the 12 trout species worldwide, from rainbow trout to lake trout. Learn their habitats, diets, and role in ecosystems.

Rainbow trout swimming over a pebbly bottom in clear shallow water with a conifer shoreline glowing at dusk

Destinations

5 of the Best Trout Lakes in Michigan

Michigan offers world-class trout fishing with 5 species in Great Lakes and inland lakes. Target all species on Lake Superior, Huron, Michigan, or Erie.

A largemouth bass with a dark side stripe swims over a sandy bottom with submerged aquatic plants

Wildlife

15 Florida Freshwater Fish: Photos and Facts

Florida's 1,350 miles of freshwater lakes and rivers host 15 fish species ranging from native American eels to introduced salmon, restoring collapsed ecosystems.

A pale blue-green tree frog with yellow spots sits on a large wet green leaf in a dark, humid understory

Wildlife

20 Amazing Florida Frogs and Toads: Pictures + Facts

Florida hosts 20 native and invasive frog and toad species in marshes, swamps, and lakes; one frog consumes 100 insects nightly, including mosquitoes.

A greater roadrunner with a shaggy crest and long tail strides across gravelly ground beside prickly pear cactus

Wildlife

10 Fascinating Desert Birds and Their Unique Adaptations

Ten desert bird species and the adaptations that let them survive the planet's harshest landscapes.

A golden silk orb-weaver hangs at the center of its web with long banded legs spread, against a blurred forest

Wildlife

The 20 Florida Spiders You Need to Know About (ID Guide and Pictures)

Florida hosts 20 spider species; only widow and recluse spiders pose minimal risk; spiders reduce mosquito populations, protecting homes and health.

Pygmy marmoset peering around a pale lichen-covered tree trunk, its small pink face and amber eyes turned toward the camera

Wildlife

The 7 Smallest Monkeys in the World: Pictures + Facts

Pygmy marmosets weigh 3 to 5 ounces and fit in your palm; meet the world's tiniest monkeys found in South American rainforests.

A pale-spotted lake trout swims over a cobble lakebed with fallen leaves and aquatic plants behind it

Wildlife

20 Most Important Fish in Lake Michigan: Native And Introduced

Lake Michigan nearly collapsed ecologically but now thrives with 20 restored and introduced fish species, making it a premier sportfishing destination.

A small tan mongoose perched on a dark volcanic rock, looking alert with its long tail trailing behind

Wildlife

Hawaiian Mongoose: The Story of Failed Pest-Control

Hawaiian mongooses are invasive predators introduced for pest control, now causing ecological damage to native birds, turtles, and island ecosystems.

Orange flames and glowing embers in a small campfire of charred logs ringed by rocks beside water at dusk

Camping

How Hot Is A Campfire? Wood Tips, Temperature, Color Facts

Typical campfires burn 900-1,100 degrees Fahrenheit; flame color indicates temperature from red to blue flames.

A small gray screech owl with ear tufts peering out from a hollow in a pine trunk

Wildlife

The 7 Types of Owls in Florida: Chart, Images & Facts

Florida hosts seven owl species, from the tiny screech owl to the massive great horned owl, each with unique hunting adaptations.

A cottonmouth with its mouth wide open showing a white interior, partly hidden in marsh vegetation

Wildlife

53 Snakes in Florida: Guide to All Native & Invasive Species

Florida hosts 53 snake species; only 6 native snakes are venomous, while pythons, boas, and anacondas invaded from pet trade.

Long-legged Canada lynx and a smaller spotted bobcat standing apart on a snowy slope among evergreen trees

Wildlife

Lynx vs Bobcat: All Differences Between The Two Wild Cats

Lynx and bobcats are closely related wild cats with key differences in size, range, coat color, and habitat preferences despite sharing similar behaviors.

A flat-shelled turtle with yellow head stripes sits near a tortoise with a high domed shell on damp forest ground

Wildlife

Turtle vs Tortoise: 7 Key Differences Detailed with Images and Facts

Turtles and tortoises are scientifically distinct reptiles within the order Testudines. Learn the key differences in shells, habitats, diets, and lifespans.

A killer whale surfacing in calm water with its tall dorsal fin raised, a forested rocky shoreline behind it

Wildlife

Apex Predator List: The Top 12 Predators At The Top of the Food Chain

Twelve apex predators reign at the top of Earth's food chains, from orcas hunting blue whales to jaguars dominating rainforests with unmatched dominance and power.

Lone polar bear walking across broken sea ice in warm low sunlight, with open water channels behind it

Wildlife

All About Polar Bears in Alaska

Polar bears are Arctic apex predators adapted to hunt seals on sea ice in extreme cold. Climate change threatens Alaska's two populations with declining ice and food scarcity.

Person crouching to tie a guy line on a dark green tarp shelter propped on a pole in a summer forest

Camping

How To Make A Camping Tent From Scratch: An Emergency Shelter, or For Fun

Build a DIY camping tent using tarps, poles, rope, and stakes with four methods: two-tree A-frame, lean-to, central post, or emergency shelter.

Two spotted big cats walk side by side along a dry dirt track in warm light, one stockier than the other

Wildlife

Jaguar vs Leopard: Top 10 Differences

Jaguars and leopards are similar spotted big cats, but jaguars are heavier, have larger rosette markings, and superior bite force.

Two sea otters floating on their backs among strands of kelp, both looking toward the camera

Wildlife

10 Keystone Species Examples and the Important Role they Play in Every Ecosystem

Keystone species have outsized ecosystem impact relative to their abundance, such as predators controlling prey populations.

Gull with a black hood and grey wings walking through shallow, foamy surf on a beach

Wildlife

15 Beautiful and Strange Beach Birds of Florida (Chart & Pics)

Identify Florida's 15 shorebirds from laughing gulls to roseate spoonbills, with photos, field marks, and habitat tips for beach birders.

A large alligator resting on a muddy bank at a swamp edge, with reeds and purple pickerelweed flowers behind it

Wildlife

Largest Alligator in Florida with Facts and State Records

Florida's largest recorded alligator measured 14 feet 3 inches and weighed 654 pounds when caught in Lake Washington in 2010.

A spotted moray eel peering out from a crevice in an algae-covered coral reef, only its head visible

Wildlife

19+ Different Types of Eels: Classification, Facts, & Photos

Eels are scaleless fish with cylindrical bodies and extra pharyngeal jaws; 19 species inhabit oceans, rivers, and coral reefs worldwide.

A crocodile resting at the muddy edge of a river with its jaws wide open, showing its teeth

Wildlife

16+ Strongest Bite Force in the Animal Kingdom

Compare bite forces across 16 animals, from hippos and crocodiles to humans, with detailed PSI measurements and rankings.

A hammerhead shark swimming over a sandy seabed with sparse sea fans in clear, sunlit blue water

Wildlife

Sharks in Florida: All You Ought to Know (Pics, Facts and Chart)

Florida's 40+ shark species include hammerheads, tiger sharks, and bull sharks; most aren't threats; bites are rare despite high beach tourism.

Single macaque with tan fur and a pink face standing alert among palm fronds on a shaded forest floor

Wildlife

Wild Monkeys in Florida: All About Them and How They Got There

Four species of wild monkeys thrive in Florida, escaped from research facilities and zoos during hurricanes, creating established colonies in mangrove forests.

An alligator floats low in a calm marsh with bald cypress trees and tall grasses glowing at sunset

Destinations

11 Fantastic National Parks in Florida Perfect For Your Outdoor Experience

Explore 11 Florida national parks, from the 1.5-million-acre Everglades wetland to historic monuments and coastal preserves.

Uniformed ranger crouching with a backpack, watching an elephant and its calf walk across dry savanna

Wildlife

What is Poaching and Why is It Practiced?

Poaching is illegal hunting, trapping, or taking of game and fish from protected land; drives endangerment.