“Mangy mutt” may sound playful, but mange is a serious, contagious skin disease caused by direct contact with mites. It leads to hair loss, scabs, and severe discomfort in mammals like dogs, coyotes, and squirrels. Mange weakens animals, making them lethargic, depressed and susceptible to infections. It’s diagnosed via skin scraping examination and can be treated with medication, though severe cases may be fatal. Mites can also affect humans, causing scabies, which is treatab

Both beavers and muskrats are semi aquatic rodents that live in lodges with brown fur and long tails making them hard to tell apart in the water. They are not closely related but have evolved to have many shared behaviors and traits. The main differences between them are their size and tail shapes. Beavers are considerably larger and longer than muskrats and have flat, wide tails while a muskrat has a long, skinny tail covered in black hairs. Also, only beavers build dams whi

You can hear a woodpecker’s tattooing, or tapping, echo throughout the whole forest, especially from late winter through early spring. Woodpeckers will use more than just trees as their stage to make the most noise. The main reasons for tattooing include attracting mates, claiming territory (aggressive drumming), and to communicate with their partners. Woodpeckers peck away at trees for food and can find where insects are hiding based on sound.

tailed deer stay warm in winter with thick fur and hollow guard hairs that trap warm air, like a natural blanket. They also stay dry with oils that repel moisture. Other animals, like birds, otters and beavers, use similar methods. These adaptations inspire winter gear like puffy coats and new wetsuit designs. To stay safe outside in winter, wear layers and stay dry Just like the animals do!

Snakes prepare for winter by finding a hibernaculum - a cozy spot that stays above freezing. Being cold-blooded, they can’t generate body heat, so they stop eating and try to find a warm enough spot – often underground below the frost line - to survive the cold. Sometimes, many snakes share one space, creating a "mating ball" in spring. You can build a backyard hibernaculum to support snakes and other wildlife!

Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes—much longer than humans. Beavers are naturally adapted for their aquatic lifestyle. They slow their heart rate, redirect blood to vital organs, and have high levels of myoglobin, a protein that supplies oxygen for aquatic mammals to use while under water. This lets them stay submerged longer. Though impressive, elephant seals can hold their breath for much longer, staying underwater for up to two hours.

Snakes are unique in shedding their skin all at once in a process called ecdysis. They do this because their skin doesn’t grow with them, so it becomes too tight or worn out. Shedding also helps remove parasites. Younger snakes shed more often while adults shed a few times a year. Before shedding, their skin may appear dull and their eyes cloudy. They start the process by rubbing against rough surfaces. The shed skin can reveal scale patterns and even the snake’s species.

Insects from the order Orthoptera, such as crickets, katydids, and grasshoppers, rub two body parts together to produce sound in a process called stridulation. Insects communicate through song to attract mates, to give directions, to claim territories, or to signal danger. Hairs located on their bodies can pick up sounds and help determine where they are coming from. Some insects use vibrations felt in their leg joints to hear. Others have tympanal organs that process vibrati