Whit Gibbons, Herpetologist and Author
HORSESHOE CRABS LOOK FIERCE BUT ARE HARMLESS Two animal mysteries associated with coastlines intrigue me. Who ate the first raw oyster? Who picked up the first horseshoe crab? The first person who pried open what looks like a rough gray … Continued
SOMETIMES PREY FOLLOW A PREDATOR A publication by Steven G. Platt and Thomas R. Rainwater in the scientific journal Southeastern Naturalist discusses an intriguing predator-prey relationship between turtles and fish. Their observation has broad application by making a connection with … Continued
WILL ASTROECOLOGY BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS? If you keep up with where the next SpaceX or Blue Origin rocket is headed, you are probably familiar with NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test, a project to determine if a rocket launched from … Continued
WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT SHREWS AND MOLES IN OUR YARDS? Q. I have been unsuccessful in getting a satisfactory answer about how destructive shrews and moles might be to my lawn and garden. What should I do about them? … Continued
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