Uncategorized

BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS BETTER Q. You wrote that blue whales are the largest mammals. What are the largest and smallest animals of other groups? What ecological problems do animals confront by being extremely big or extremely small? A. Body … Continued

BEE-EATERS ARE UNUSUAL BIRDS My friend Trip Lamb’s recent photographs from Africa reinforced for me the value of vicarious ecology, which I define as enjoying someone else’s outdoor experiences. Vicarious ecology offers ways to learn about the natural world that … Continued

THE WOODS ARE FULL OF WALLS A habitat in my yard is also in your neighborhood, as well as in downtown Honolulu, Iceland and all national parks. The habitat exists worldwide, and anyone has the option of checking it out … Continued

SOMETIMES A TAIL CAN BE A WEAPON Seeing photos of cold-stunned iguanas in Miami during a winter cold spell brought back an early memory. I was a 7th-grade intern in the reptile house at Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, when … Continued

THE LIGHTNER MUSUEM IS FULL OF ECOLOGY When my sister casually said, “Look at the snake,” I glanced at the woman we were standing beside. Sure enough, a small snake was wrapped around her wrist. We knew the snake was … Continued

WHY DO HAWKS PUT UP WITH MOBBING? Q. Why don’t hawks fight back when crows mob them? They seem almost indifferent to the attacks, like one I saw yesterday. He just sat at the top of the tree as the … Continued

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