Wild Animals
Whether they crawl, fly, swim, slither, walk, run or pounce, wild animals rely on their instincts. Read about all kinds of wild animals, mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Golden Poison Dart Frog Eats Toxic Insects for Its Own Poison
Toad vs. Frog: Differences in Anatomy, Habitat and More
What's the Difference Between a Newt and Salamander?
The Most Dangerous Insect (and 13 Others to Avoid)
The Most Dangerous Wasp and 9 Other Stingers to Avoid
The Tsetse Fly, Blood Meals and African Sleeping Sickness
The World's Most Dangerous Bird and 9 Runners-up
The 3 Types of Ducks Every Birdwatcher Should Know
10 Types of Owls: From Tiny Screech-owls to Great Horned Owls
13 Most Dangerous Fish, Eels and Sharks
The Stonefish Hides in Plain Sight and Packs a Painful Sting
The Pufferfish Really Isn't Happy to See You
Why Grolar Bear Numbers Increase With Climate Change
The Most Dangerous Bear and 9 Others to Give a Wide Berth
The World's Most Dangerous Cat and 14 Other Fierce Felines
20 of the Most Dangerous Sea Creatures in the Deep Blue
8 Most Dangerous Jellyfish and 1 Stinging Imposter
Freshwater Snails: Helpful Carriers of Harmful Parasites
So, the American Alligator Can Climb Trees ... How Terrifying
Saw-scaled Viper: Opportunistic, Fast and Highly Venomous
Inland Taipan: Most Venomous Snake in the World
Learn More / Page 14
The largest eagle in the world has a claw the size of a grizzly bear's, a leg the size of a human's and a very disapproving gaze.
Manatees are so gentle and sweet they'll break your heart, but in 2021, there have been more manatee deaths than in any year in previously recorded history. Why are these gentle giants dying in such unprecedented numbers?
What sea creature looks like a spiny pincushion and is considered a delicacy to gastronomes around the world? Yep, the sea urchin.
By Jeremy Glass
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It's a battle of the buzzing insects. We're talking hornets vs. wasps. How do these two differ and which one has the worst sting?
The sting of a tarantula hawk is so painful you are advised to lie on the ground as soon as you're stung to avoid falling.
These modern rat snakes have an affinity for barns (and the rodents that live in them). But the myriad of colors makes them a reptile hobbyist's dream.
By Mark Mancini
From ancient times until today, people have been captivated by these iconic, mysterious birds. What is it about owls that makes them the enduring subject of myth and superstition?
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It turns out that bobcats do just fine if not actively hunted by humans.
These saltwater clams are the largest on the planet, and some can live as long as 100 years. And despite their, well, looks, they're pretty darn tasty.
The wars between mink species and humans quietly rage worldwide.
Though ol' Wile E. never did catch the Road Runner, coyotes are some of the most ingenious and adaptable animals on the planet.
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These impressive and intimidating animals have an illustrious past that helped them wend their way through America and settle in the heartland of the South.
By Mark Mancini
These berserker weasels are the ultimate cold weather survivors - cagey, smart and omnivorous.
Groundhogs don't actually make great weathermen, but they are pretty cool in every other respect.
Kinkajous, or honey bears, are generally docile creatures, but they definitely don't mix well with humans.
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Black soldier fly larvae will eat almost anything and they taste pretty good themselves, too.
Jackals, formidable members of the canine family, are often portrayed in traditional world folklore as wily tricksters, up to no good. They are actually brilliant survivalists.
They're swimming in water all day so how could they ever get thirsty? The answer might surprise you.
These adorable marsupials look as sweet as their name. But what, exactly, are sugar gliders?
By Jamie Allen
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Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world and, believe it or not, some can live for up to 30 years.
A Texas man caught an alligator gar estimated to be over 300 pounds in May 2022. The alligator gar is sometimes referred to as a "living fossil" and, while it may look threatening, it's harmless to anything larger than itself.
Starlings are short and thick, with dark feathers and long, pointy bills. Collectively, however, they transform into something else entirely.
By John Donovan
These colorful snakes are found all over the world and are highly venomous, so the best strategy is to avoid them.
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Rumors of giant squid have terrified sailors for centuries, but new technology is now helping to bring these mysterious creatures up toward the light.
Those red butts on baboons do serve a purpose, sort of, but it's probably not quite what you think.