Posts from 2024
Can an owl swallow a mouse alive?
Question: I've read that barred owls swallow their prey whole. Does that mean alive, kicking and screaming, or is the prey killed in some way first? (Gruesome question, but I like to get my facts straight when writing.) Thank you so much for your help! PamAnswer: No...
Things that look like caterpillars
Kathy first wrote to Ask a Naturalist® with remarkably generous concern for a bryozoan colony that had been marooned by the lowering water level in a reservoir. She was correctly worried that it would dry out and the colony would die. I often receive questions about...
Clever nest-building frogs
I was doing one of my favorite things this morning, watching a BBC David Attenborough-narrated nature show. They come out with new ones all the time, and photography is just incredible, no one narrates nature better than he does, and I always learn something new. This...
Whose ragged feather is this?
Question: Can you please identify this feather? It’s a bit ragged and was outside in the rain and weather for quite a few months after I found it because I hung it on my fence. It was found in my yard on the property where I live near Arroyo Grande, CA. The length is...
History of the World Video
This video by Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, a German organization dedicated to science education. This animated video’s goal is to show all of earth’s history in 60 minutes. It’s a bit monotonous, but that’s partly what makes it interesting. What the video...
Posts from 2021
What is this tree with Wings?
Hi, I originally saw a sapling in a park in Philadelphia, PA and the rectangular 3 dimensional outgrowths of bark were very unusual. Then I saw a full grown tree in Burlington NC and found these seed pods in the area, although I’m not sure they are from the same tree....
Posts from 2020
Freshwater Jellyfish
Thanks to Glenn and his quick-netted collecting crew of Parker, Avery, Christian, Gabe, and Isaiah, for this brief video of freshwater jellyfish they found in Bucks Pond, Harwich, MA in early September. These creatures, native to China, typically exist as tiny polyps...
Posts from 2019
Will robins reuse this nest?
Does a robin use the same nest over again? I have a nest in the corner of my carport and have had three clutches this year. The second not being successful. Somehow the nest fell and splattered the eggs on the concrete below. I...
The fir needle moved …
I was on a hike near Whistler in south western British Columbia, where I was about to brush what I thought was a fir needle. It was slowly moving across my hand. Is this a type of stick insect or assassin bug? I did notice a possible straight proboscis (about one...
Preschoolers: “What do we call this crazy swimming creature?”
My preschool class, 4 & 5 year olds, and I were watching this video about creatures living under the sea in Hawaii. At about 56 seconds, there is a yellow creature floating around and we don’t know what it is. Can you help us? Mary Warning: Viewers might want to...
It’s not poison sumac, but don’t eat the leaves!
Is this poison sumac? Or something else! It's a medium-size tree. We are in North Carolina near Winston-Salem. Thank you, Nancy To follow this topic, click here.
Watch a salamander form …
This is such a cool video. It’s called Becoming, and it’s by Jan van Ijken. If you have six minutes to watch something amazing, you’ll see a timelapse video of a salamander egg (alpine newt – Ichthyosaura alpestris) turning into hatchling tadpole. If you only have two...
Who laid this large stinky egg?
This egg was found in my cousins yard and we have no idea what it is or where it came from. There wasn’t a nest that we could find. This photo is of my cousin's husband holding it and he’s not a small guy. The egg was a good bit...
Who is this goose’s mate?
Hello - we have one Pilgrim goose that appears to be nesting. The only other geese that are around are Canada geese. We also have mallards and one Pekin duck. Could any of them fertilize her eggs? Thank you - Lori (East-central Pennsylvania) To follow this topic,...
Posts from 2018
- Crushed ice jelly on the ground
- What is the gold sheen on the water?
- Bright yellow mold – Or is it dog vomit?
- Tiny orange bugs in the garden pond …
- Who dropped this banded feather?
- How will the ducklings get down?
- What are these tiny eggplants?
- Odd creature in the pool skimmer – is it a frog or a toad?
- The bird poop that flew away …
- Swimming Pool Cover Tadpoles
- Snapping Turtle in clear water
- What are these white, disc-like objects?
- Should I be afraid of a goose?
- Is this a Giant Spider, or Something Else?
- Mt. Lassen tiny frog
- A New Way to Follow Ask a Naturalist®…
- Mini blue jellyfish all over the beach?
- Ping Pong Balls in Shallow Water
- Mysterious Hole in the Ground
Posts from 2017
- Minute orange water bugs
- Saving tadpoles
- Northern cardinal feeding another bird
- Stung while in river
- Black spikes on beach
- Dove chicks – remove or leave?
- Why Did a Badger Fill in my Post Holes?
- Thank you for Helping Me to Answer More Questions …
Posts from 2016
- Who made this nest?
- Do dragonflies mean safe drinking water?
- What are these bubbles all over the lake?
- What is this long, skinny insect?
- Osprey struggling to get off the water
- Why did these coyotes attack?
Posts from 2015
- Can animals evolve to be shape-shifters?
- What is this strange object floating in our lake?
- How fast do the tiny toads grow?
- What to do about this window dove nest?
- What are these jelly blobs on my car?
- Move the tadpoles?
- Are these orange ants or spiders?
- Move a bird nest?
- What is this small jelly blob on a beach in Maine?
- What is this burr sticking to my shirt?
- Review of Tracks & Sign of Insects
Posts from 2014
- Ducky questions
- What is this string of bright green eggs? – Part 3
- What is this string of bright green eggs? – Part 2
- What is this string of bright green eggs? – Part 1
- Is this a dragon paw?
- What is chasing these birds?
- What are these clear jelly blobs on the beach?
- A hummingbird with an open heart surgery scar?
- Can caterpillars fly?
- Can I swim with beavers?
- What is this Costa Rican moth/butterfly?
- What are these jelly dots under rocks?
- Who made mysterious rectangular tree holes?
- Why does the snow melt in circles around trees?
- Why won’t my dog watch TV?
- Amazing video of pond life, including bryozoans
- Bryozoans or salamander eggs?
- Why are these vultures taunting alligators?
- Why are mallard drakes so aggressive?
- Is this an Ibis?
Posts from 2013
- Soldier beetle or boxelder bug?
- Lions meet a remote control car
- Egg sacs under a dock?
- Is a banana a fruit or an herb?
- What are these white spots on my larch tree?
- Cope’s Tree Frog or Gray Tree Frog?
- Will Robins and Cardinals Share a Nest?
- Whatever You Do, Don’t Run
- How do all the frogs know I’m coming?
- A Common Loon or a 13 year old boy?
- The Great (as in Large) Poop Question
- What’s this bug with a flat abdomen?
- Please like AskaNaturalist on Facebook!
- What is this green seed pod?
- What are these purple shoots?
- Why do frogs and toads eat their shed skin?
- Vote for your favorite animal
- Pigeons: Flying Poop and Damaged Feet?
- Cooper’s Hawk or Sharp-shinned – Episodes 2, 3, & 4 (Was it murder?)
- What is this black and orange insect?
- What is this green jelly slime in my garden?
- What is this strange goose?
Posts from 2012
- Donut blob that stumped the experts …
- Badger or Fox? Who Made This Hole?
- Who is this green frog and beetle?
- Spiders, spiders, spiders!
- What is this Dr. Seuss flower?
- What made these swirls in the sand?
- What are these green jelly blobs?
- What drilled a hole in our monarch butterfly chrysalis?
- White campion flower
- What is this orange backed spider?
- What is this Texas wildflower?
- How to save these tadpoles?
- Large eggs on the dock and in the water?
- Why are these mallard males beating up this female?
- Who laid these eggs?
- What is this mud creature?
- Is this spider venomous?
- What are these yellow flowers?
- Are There Ducks in Antarctica?
- Oops – a Draft Post Slipped Through
Posts from 2011
- What is this spider – and how to identify a brown recluse?
- Can I move these monarch caterpillars?
- What time of year can I see monarchs in Mexico?
- What kind of frog is this and what are the red bumps?
- When prey becomes predator
- What’s with these crazy centipedes?
- Jelly-like blob under the dock – part two
- What is that popping noise in the lily pads?
- Amazing Video of Pollinators
- Is eating dead birds normal for a squirrel or chipmunk?
- What is this Trinity Alps wildflower?
- Can I move a monarch butterfly chrysalis?
- What are these butterflies doing?
- What is this Martha’s Vineyard spider?
- What is this eel-like ribbon fish?
- What are these tiny toads?
- Where did all these jellyfish come from?
- Did the Goslings Grow Up That Fast?
- Is a Fisher Making This Noise?
- Where can I find tadpoles?
- What is this black, yellow, and white bird?
- First Missing Goslings, Now Missing Parents?
- What Made the Frogs Go Quiet?
- New Method of Subscribing to AskaNaturalist.com
- What are These Worms Doing?
- What is this Other Toad/Frog Call?
- What is this Strange Root?
- Why Do the Seals Swim Upside Down?
- What is a Burrowing Crayfish?
- Who Would Win: Lion or Moose?
- Who Splashed Out of My Pond?
- Who is Eating the Goslings?
- What is this Adirondack wildflower?
- Who Made These Tracks of Mud?
- What Are They Picking At?
- Why it’s harder to keep a small bird warm
- Why are these birds not-of-a-feather flocking together?
- What is causing this vinegar smell?
- Who made this nest?
- Birds Bathing in Winter?
- Tiny Catfish Fry Heart
Posts from 2010
- Are there really more bedbugs?
- Is a Daddy Long Legs a Spider?
- Which Cells Are Never Replaced?
- What is this Fluorescent Green Beetle?
- How Do Electric Eels Generate Electricity?
- What are these caterpillars doing?
- What is this wildflower?
- How does the ocean deal with garbage?
- Why do fall webworms prefer trees with compound leaves?
- What is this spider on the ceiling?
- What is horseshoe crab blood used for?
- What’s the Difference Between Fur and Hair?
- Is it Safe to Swim with Freshwater Jellyfish?
- Why are These Yellow Jackets Dying in My Garage?
- What is this Jelly-like Blob Under My Dock?
- Who is Making This Chirp and Splash?
- Do Octopuses Have Venom?
- What is this Oily Sheen on the Marsh?
- What are these Mosquitoes?
- What is this Eel-Like Fish From India?
- Cooper’s Hawk or Sharp-Shinned?
- Do We Replace Our Cells Every 7 or 10 years?
- Do Toads Eat Worms?
- Is Indian Pipe Rare?
- What is this bird with a long white tail?
- An encounter With Beavers
- What are these tiny oily beads in Lake Huron?
- What is This Eel-like Fish?
- Caddisfly Home Decorating
- Are Sharks Immune to Disease and Cancer?
- Are Muskrats Used to Make Perfume?
- How do you identify Poison Sumac?
- Lanolin and Sheep’s Wool Allergies
- Word of the Day: Thigmotaxis
- Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home
- Are Coyotes Always in Packs?
- Why is a Robin Hovering Around a Cardinal’s Nest?
- Burrowing Crayfish
- Why Don’t Ducks’ Feet Freeze?
- Are Snakes Useful?
- Where Does Trash End Up?
- Spider Mites
- Welcome to Ask a Naturalist.com
