A lot of people in the South use the word “buzzard” to describe our native vultures, especially the turkey vulture, but this is actually the result of a long-lasting mistake! “Buzzard” doesn’t mean vulture. Instead, it’s a British name used for any of dozens of species of hawk. As the name might suggest, the mostContinue reading “Why People Call Vultures Buzzards”
Category Archives: General Info
Why Are Skunks Called Polecats?
Have you heard this Southern colloquialism? Although it’s not very common anymore, some people in the Southeast (especially older folks) will refer to this animal as a “polecat.” My grandmother always used the term not just for skunks, but anyone and anything that she found malodorous! So where does this term come from? In reality,Continue reading “Why Are Skunks Called Polecats?”
Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing
Snapping turtles, like all aquatic turtles outside the tropics, have to hibernate underwater every winter. They don’t have gills and can’t rise to the surface while asleep for a full season, and may even be completely locked under a thick layer of ice. So how do they breathe? Through their butts! If you want toContinue reading “Aquatic Turtles and Butt Breathing”
Groundhogs: Underground Architects!
Groundhogs are incredible! We only see the entrances and exits to their burrows, so it’s hard to imagine the complex homes they build underground. A groundhog’s burrow averages about twenty feet in width and five to six feet in depth, but there are records of burrows as large as 66 feet wide. Amazing! A groundhogContinue reading “Groundhogs: Underground Architects!”
Poisoning a Raccoon is Cruel and Messy
Rodent poison should never be used, especially on an animal that isn’t a rat or mouse. No matter which poison you choose, the animal is going to suffer from an incredibly painful and brutal death. But if you don’t care about the animals, remember that poisoning a large animal like a raccoon won’t be goodContinue reading “Poisoning a Raccoon is Cruel and Messy”
Vultures are Related to Storks
Our native wild animals are so amazing! Vultures may seem, at first glance, to be the cousins of buzzards, hawks, eagles, owls and falcons. In the very least, you’d expect our vultures to be related to vultures from Africa, Europe, and Asia…. but they’re not! Believe it or not, native vultures in the Americas areContinue reading “Vultures are Related to Storks”
Reptiles Feel Pain, Even If They Don’t Show It
Unless someone is a total sicko, they’ll almost always rush to the vet as soon as they can if they find an injured puppy. Our brains are full of specialized cells, called mirror neurons, that create empathy when we see an animal that expresses pain the way we do. So if a puppy is crying,Continue reading “Reptiles Feel Pain, Even If They Don’t Show It”
Do all skunks carry rabies?
It’s a common misconception that all skunks carry rabies. This myth probably had its start during a rabies outbreak in the 1800s that started in skunks and spread to dogs and trappers who got bitten while killing them. We’ve come a long way since then, both in the prevention of rabies and in our understandingContinue reading “Do all skunks carry rabies?”
The Endangered Dusky Gopher Frog
People get excited about the idea of saving endangered species, but all too often, the most sensitive and critically endangered animals go unnoticed. The small, nondescript dusky gopher frog, for example, just doesn’t get the same attention as large, charismatic animals like tigers and elephants. While they may not be particularly eye-catching, these little frogsContinue reading “The Endangered Dusky Gopher Frog”
Why You Shouldn’t Feed Deer in Winter
Want to help wild deer survive the harsh winter? Don’t feed them! During fall, a deer’s digestive system slowly changes to have a perfect combination of microbes and enzymes to digest its winter diet, which is mostly low-calorie woody vegetation. This amazing adaptation enables deer to survive long, lean winters with very little fresh food.Continue reading “Why You Shouldn’t Feed Deer in Winter”
