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.

Learn More / Page 20

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?

By Jesslyn Shields, Nicole Antonio & Sascha Bos

It turns out that bobcats do just fine if not actively hunted by humans.

By Jesslyn Shields

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.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Advertisement

The wars between mink species and humans quietly rage worldwide.

By Jesslyn Shields

Though ol' Wile E. never did catch the Road Runner, coyotes are some of the most ingenious and adaptable animals on the planet.

By Tara Yarlagadda

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.

By Jesslyn Shields

Advertisement

Groundhogs don't actually make great weathermen, but they are pretty cool in every other respect.

By Jesslyn Shields

Kinkajous, or honey bears, are generally docile creatures, but they definitely don't mix well with humans.

By Jesslyn Shields

Black soldier fly larvae will eat almost anything and they taste pretty good themselves, too.

By Jesslyn Shields

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.

By Tara Yarlagadda

Advertisement

They're swimming in water all day so how could they ever get thirsty? The answer might surprise you.

By Nathan Chandler

These adorable marsupials look as sweet as their name. But what, exactly, are sugar gliders?

By Jamie Allen

Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world and, believe it or not, some can live for up to 30 years.

By Jesslyn Shields & Talon Homer

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.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Advertisement

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.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky & Talon Homer

Rumors of giant squid have terrified sailors for centuries, but new technology is now helping to bring these mysterious creatures up toward the light.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Those red butts on baboons do serve a purpose, sort of, but it's probably not quite what you think.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Advertisement

Orphaned Bornean orangutans need all the help they can get - the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation steps in to teach them the art of survival.

By Jesslyn Shields

It's the job of the huge grizzly bears at Montana's Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center to test the everything from coolers and trash cans to food storage containers.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Most jellyfish are more bothersome than threatening, but the box jellyfish is so poisonous you might not make it out of the water alive.

By John Perritano & Mack Hayden

Clearing land with goats rather than machinery is eco-friendly, effective and adorable.

By Jesslyn Shields

Advertisement

Fisher cats aren't actually cats, but cat-sized members of the weasel family, and their favorite snack is - yikes - the porcupine.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

These nasty pests are developing cross-resistance to multiple classes of insecticides.

By Kristen Hall-Geisler