Whit Gibbons, Herpetologist and Author
WHAT DID THE FOX SAY? I went into the backyard last week when the predawn sky was not yet silver. I knew the croaky, barking, screamlike sound was neither bird, squirrel nor frog. I listened intently and heard a twig … Continued
SHOULD WE FEED WILD ANIMALS? I receive versions of the following questions every spring and summer as people begin to have more interactions with our native wildlife. Q. Is it environmentally acceptable to feed wild animals? I know people who feed … Continued
SOME ECOLOGICAL QUESTIONS GO UNANSWERED Q. You reply to a lot of biology questions, sometimes citing scientific publications that have the answer. Have you run across any animal mysteries that do not have a surefire explanation? A. Absolutely. In fact, we … Continued
SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK UNUSUAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SNAKES I have answered questions about snakes for decades. During the last two, with the advent of camera phones, I enjoy being able to identify snakes people encounter. Equally enjoyable is educating folks about … Continued
ARE COATIMUNDIS MOVING NORTH? Q. I have heard that some kinds of wild animals in North America are moving north out of their native range because of global warming. Are there examples of animals traveling northward? A. Quick answer: yes, armadillos … Continued
WHAT ARE THOSE METAL CONES BELOW DUCK BOXES? Q. What kind of ducks lay eggs in the boxes I see on trees and poles around lakes and reservoirs? And what is the purpose of the large silver-colored cones installed between … Continued
HOW HIGH CAN AN ALLIGATOR JUMP? Some animals keep the human spirit alive by spurring our curiosity. The American alligator is a superstar in this role, as shown by these questions I have received. Q. We have moved to a community … Continued
WHO ARE OUR BIGGEST BIRDS? Q. I am pretty sure that ostriches are the biggest birds in the world. But what is the biggest bird in North America? A. The first step is to define “big.” Andrew Lydeard, program coordinator … Continued
WHY DO SOME LIZARDS CHANGE COLORS? One of the most commonly seen lizards in the southern states is the green anole, also known as the North American green anole or Carolina anole. (Its scientific name is Anolis carolinensis.) Although more … Continued
COWBIRDS ARE NEST PARASITES Q. Do brown-headed cowbirds pick the nest of another bird to lay eggs in based on which kind of bird raised them as a nestling? In other words, if a cowbird is raised as a chick … Continued