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Conservation gets complicated when a native U.S. species is appreciated in one part of the country but despised in another. Consider, if you will, the American bullfrog. “In the Eastern US, where it’s native, its oversized impact is a good … Continued

The ecological importance of American alligators as top predators has long been established. A paper recently published in the online scientific journal Animals (MDPI) presents new information about these imposing animals. Thomas Rainwater, a research scientist at South Carolina’s Tom … Continued

Want to participate in an exciting, possibly dangerous, field trip while trekking through a jungle or exploring an underwater cave? Would you like to stand alone in the dark in a Colorado pond surrounded by thigh-deep snow waiting for frogs … Continued

 I received the following questions recently. The answers are pertinent for the season. Q. I will be visiting family in Alabama, Florida and South Carolina and like to look for snakes for fun wherever I am. How likely am I … Continued

The following may be of interest to anyone who engages in outdoor activities around southern rivers, lakes or reservoirs where alligators are known to live. Q. I belong to a water ski association. We are venturing out again for community … Continued

I have received a version of the following question from people in several states, most recently Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee.   Q. We see or hear various frogs and toads in our neighborhood almost year round. This summer, our … Continued

Q. I try to move turtles off the road so they won’t get run over. Box turtles never try to bite me. Snapping turtles always try to bite me. And they never appreciate my help. How aggressive are different kinds … Continued

When spring arrives, I get a steady flow of emails, usually with cell phone photos, about snakes someone wants identified. I recently received the following more generic question.  Q. I understand that most snakes are harmless, but I also know … Continued

Q. We found a snake (photograph attached) in our yard in Charleston, South Carolina, but have been unable to identify it from pictures in a field guide or on the web. Is it an exotic species? A. I get this … Continued

Q. I have seen photographs of alligators with herons standing on their backs. This seems like risky behavior. Why would they do that? Do they mistake it for a floating log? A. I am not aware of anyone testing the … Continued