Turtles are common sights around ponds, lakes, and streams, and there are about 58 different species of turtles living in the United States today.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Aggressive European Starling
European starlings are one of many non-native bird species that can be found just about everywhere in America, and they range throughout much of Canada, too. They were introduced into the United States from Europe in the 1890s, and today there are more than 200 million starlings in North America.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Bold Hackberry Emperor Butterfly
Although many species of butterflies in North America are shy of humans and fly away if we get too close, the Hackberry Emperor butterfly often acts just the opposite. These small butterflies routinely fly in circles around a person and then boldly land right on their skin!
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Wetland-Loving White Ibis
The American white ibis is a fairly large wading bird of the southeastern United States, and especially of the Gulf Coast. As their name implies, they are mostly white in color, although the tips of their wings are black.
Branson Area Yields Giant Crappies
On a recent trip to Branson, Missouri, I wanted to do some fishing. Crappie fishing, to be exact. My friend Bill Cooper and I had scheduled a half day fishing excursion with Capt. Josh Isaacs from Branson's Full Throttle Fishing Adventures, and he recommended that we fish Bull Shoals Lake.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Stink bugs – who likes them? There are many species of stink bugs native to the United States, and the biggest problem with them is they emit a stinky odor when handled. Luckily, the populations of native species are kept in check by local natural predators.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Water-Loving Anhinga Bird
Have you ever seen an Anhinga? They are a warm weather bird, so if you live in the central or northern USA you will likely never see one around home. You will need to travel to Florida or the Gulf Coast for the best chance at seeing one.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Common Buckeye Butterfly
Fall is almost over already and winter is approaching. But not long ago some of our most beautiful butterflies were still active. These are the Buckeye butterflies.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Caribbean White-Crowned Pigeon
Almost everyone has seen a pigeon. People who live in the city often see them in parks or around buildings, while those living in the country can see them in and around barns and grain silos.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Long-Tailed Giant Ichneumon Wasp
Most people don’t like wasps, and for good reason – they can sting you! But not all wasps can sting, and even though the long-tailed giant ichneumon wasp looks pretty scary and intimidating, it is totally harmless to humans.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Coastal Laughing Gull
Some people think all seagulls are the same. A seagull is a seagull, right? Wrong. According to the book Gulls of North America by Fred Shaffer, there are actually 27 species of gulls in North America alone.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Delicious Yellowtail Snapper
There are plenty of fish in the sea. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors, too. One very handsome species of fish is the Yellowtail Snapper. These brightly colored fish are common in the western Atlantic Ocean, from North Carolina south to Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico.