Whit Gibbons, Herpetologist and Author
VICARIOUS ECOLOGY HAS MUCH TO OFFER The message I received from my grandson Parker read, “Wonder how many people can say they’ve been bitten by a blue jay and an octopus in the same day?” I thought I knew the … Continued
TO WATCH ANIMALS INTERACT, VISIT A ZOO What better place to observe animal behavior than a zoo? I was recently reminded of a bizarre incident at a zoo that involved two primates. You can decide for yourself which one should … Continued
ANDREW HAS A BRIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL FUTURE Children are the future, and what they believe in and care for will determine where our nation and world go environmentally. When I used to give talks at grammar schools, I was optimistic about … Continued
TURTLES AND DOGS HAVE UNUSUAL TRAITS Turtles and dogs are fascinating creatures, so I am pleased to answer the following question about the two. Q. I recently read about a dog in Florida trained to find some kind of … Continued
MAKE YOUR 2026 RESOLUTIONS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT It’s never too late to make New Year’s resolutions and once again mine pertain directly to our personal health and well-being. I don’t mean more trips to the gym and fewer to … Continued
PARENTAL CARE VARIES WORLDWIDE Which animal makes a better parent, a bird that never feeds her young or a turtle that lays her eggs and never looks back? How about a mammalian mother who only visits her nursing babies every … Continued
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAROLINA PARAKEET? Imagine my excitement when I thought I had taken a photograph of a Carolina parakeet, an extinct bird. In the spirit of full disclosure, it was not a live bird (Hello! Extinct!) but an … Continued
WERE THE ORIGINAL MERMAIDS MANATEES? Christopher Columbus gets credit for the first written record of manatees in North America, ones he saw near the Dominican Republic in 1492. West Indian manatees, also called Florida manatees, are resident in peninsular Florida; … Continued
STATE NICKNAMES EMBRACE THE ENVIRONMENT Our dependence on the environment is so ingrained in human culture that we acknowledge connections with nature in a diversity of ways. One way we relate to the natural world of plants, animals and ecosystems … Continued
ECOLOGICAL MYSTERIES SWIRL AROUND NARWHALS As much as I applaud scientific research that reveals nature’s secrets, I feel a sense of satisfaction when some natural mysteries remain mysteries. The narwhal is my favorite example. Narwhals are a sort of marine … Continued