Wildlife

Species profiles, behaviour notes, and conservation stories from the wild. Written by field-grade writers and reviewed by biologists.

295 stories in Wildlife · Page 15 of 25

Red fox moving through a misty wetland at dawn

An electric eel's blunt head and thick body in dark, tea-colored water among submerged roots and branches

Wildlife

How Do Electric Eels Work? All About The Fish That Will Shock You

Electric eels generate up to 600 volts using 6,000 specialized muscle cells that work together to produce deadly shocks for hunting and defense.

Gray squirrel perched on a tree branch holding a nut in its paws, with blurred autumn leaves behind

Wildlife

How Long Do Squirrels Live? Longer Than You’d Think

Wild squirrels live three to fifteen years depending on species, while captive squirrels reach up to twenty-five years with protection from predators.

A female and male mallard swimming close together on still water in front of a reed bed

Wildlife

How Do Ducks Mate? It’s Weirder Than You Think

Male ducks have corkscrew-shaped penises; females have anti-corkscrew vaginas. Their complex anatomy evolved to prevent forced mating.

A small black and white woodpecker with a red patch on its head perched on a bare branch in winter woods

Wildlife

All About The 8 Types of Woodpeckers in Michigan! (ID Guide and Pictures)

Eight woodpecker species call Michigan home year-round or seasonally, including the tiny Downy found at backyard feeders and the impressive Pileated in deep woods.

A northern mockingbird perched on a leafy shrub with its beak open mid-song against a soft green background

Wildlife

30 Stunning Birds Of Florida To Watch For (Facts & Photos)

Discover 30 stunning Florida birds including the state bird mockingbird, roseate spoonbill, and osprey with detailed identification and habitat guides.

A frog with an inflated pale vocal sac calling from shallow water among dry reeds in warm light

Wildlife

14 Frogs of Michigan: ID Guide with Photos and Calls

Identify 14 frog and toad species in Michigan with ID guide, photos, and field calls for each species.

A coiled rattlesnake with diamond patterning and a raised rattle rests on pale sand beside spiky green fronds

Wildlife

6 Poisonous Snakes In Georgia | Photos, ID Guide & DoppleGangers

Georgia has 6 venomous snakes: Eastern Diamondback, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Timber Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, and Eastern Coral Snake. Three deliver life-threatening bites.

A northern flicker with a spotted breast and red nape patch clinging to a tree trunk in leafy woods

Wildlife

7 Incredible Woodpeckers in Missouri: ID Guide + Photos, Facts, and more

Seven woodpecker species live across Missouri's forests and backyards, with Northern Flicker being the loud migratory favorite and Red-headed Woodpecker the rarest.

Four scorpions: a black emperor scorpion, a tan bark scorpion on soil, a yellow deathstalker, and a pale hairy scorpion

Wildlife

The 35 Different Types Of Scorpions: Sting, Size & More

Profile 35 scorpion types including the deadliest species, from spitting thick-tail black scorpions to yellow fat-tails across global habitats.

Four long tails: a ring-tailed lemur drinking, a spider monkey on a post, a giant squirrel on a branch, and a widowbird

Wildlife

Top 21 Animals With Long Tails Across the World

21 long-tailed animals from spider monkeys with 32-inch prehensile tails to seismosaurs with 70-foot tails use them for balance, grasping, defense, communication.

A black vulture perches on a dead branch in a sunlit pine and palmetto woodland, head turned to the side

Wildlife

The 2 Types of Vultures Found in Florida (Facts and Photos)

Florida is home to 2 vulture species: the Black Vulture and Turkey Vulture, both essential scavengers that prevent disease spread from carcasses.

An American alligator rests on a muddy, grassy bank at the water's edge, its scaly back lit by low sun

Wildlife

American Alligators in Texas: All You Need To Know About

American alligators thrive in Texas across 120 counties, from Sabine River to coastal marshes, as the state's only native alligator species.