Whit Gibbons, Herpetologist and Author
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
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