Explore the Outdoors!
Here, I write about animals and their small curiosities, feeding habits, and their role in the ecosystem!
One of the most prevalent types of ground-dwelling rodents is the groundhog. It is common to find them outdoors and in places like vegetable gardens and parks, which are generally related to the soft soil where they are found. Groundhogs will be attracted to various flowers, vegetables, trees, and other plants in your yard (including…
Moles are really remarkable creatures. If you’ve ever been able to have a good look at one, you’ll find that its physical structure is really amazing. In the United States, the Eastern Mole is the most common. Star-nosed moles live on the East Coast while Shrew Moles live on the West. Both of these subspecies…
Many have wondered just how well insects do in the rain, especially when they are flying. Do they just get bombed by a raindrop and get killed or mortally injured? If not, how do they avoid harm? Insects have a variety of strategies for dealing with rain, from flying in it to taking cover. Their…
Crab mouths can handle a wide variety of food types and a wide variety of foraging strategies, from filter feeding to actively catching prey. Most crabs are also capable of feeding both on land and in the water. While the mouth parts of some crab species are slightly modified to fit their preferred food types…
Depending on the area, you might encounter different types of hornets in the US but many of these are not true hornets in a taxonomical sense. In the US you will see many large wasps referred to as common European hornets, Asian giant hornets, Yellowjackets, and Cicada killer hornets, however, the vast majority of true…
Squids are cephalopod creatures that belong to the invertebrates group just like octopuses and cuttlefish. They are known for their intelligence and camouflage skills that allow them to deceive attackers and prey. Their soft bodies make them capable of fitting into narrow and small spaces, and the only hard object in a squid’s body is…
You may even have been wondering whether it could be possible to breed lions with wolves. And in that case, what would such an animal look like? Here, I have used the newest AI image technology to try and visualize such a lion-wolf hybrid, historically called an “Enfield”, which I think gives a pretty convincing…
Given the propensity for wasps and hornets to protect their nests, even to having lookouts keeping watch for potential threats, you might be surprised that any animals would even think about attacking them. So, a variety of animals will actually eat hornets or raid their nests for larvae. This includes raccoons, skunks, birds, and even…
You probably are not aware that there may be some extra money hanging around your house. A large, bald-faced hornet nest can bring in some cash. They are sold in shops or online. A quick look on sites such as eBay will show hornet nests with asking prices ranging from $20 to $500 with an…
Hornets are carnivorous insects that feed on other insects, spiders, and sometimes small vertebrates. Hornets are predators that use their stingers to kill their prey. Hornets are carnivores and opportunistic feeders that will eat whatever insects they can find. In the wild, they mainly eat bees, wasps, and flies. Their diet changes between seasons, as…
