ANIMALS

There are several ways you can try to reduce your dog’s anxiety.

10 Expert Tips for Calming an Anxious Dog

We spoke to several veterinary behavior experts to learn how to keep anxious dogs calm, no matter the scenario.

“[They] forced the conqueror of conquerors ... to retreat and leave them in possession of the field.”

The Time Napoleon Was Attacked by Rabbits

History tells us that Napoleon’s most upsetting defeat came at Waterloo. But it may have actually occurred eight years earlier, after the French emperor was attacked by a relentless horde of rabbits.

The 10 Most (And 10 Least) Popular Dog Breeds in the U.S.

After 31 years, the Labrador retriever is no longer at the top of the American Kennel Club’s annual list.

Raccoon dogs are neither raccoons nor dogs, discuss.

12 Surprising Facts About Raccoon Dogs

Get to know the raccoon dog, which is neither a raccoon nor a dog.

If someone were to mention the word 'Fartulum' to you, a snail probably wouldn't be the first thing that came to mind.

11 Naughty-Sounding Scientific Names (and What They Really Mean)

Perfectly innocent Latin or Greekisms that just happen to sound like something else.

Ireland: Come for the Guinness, stay for the lack of snakes.

Why Are There No Snakes in Ireland?

Legend tells of St. Patrick using the power of his faith to drive all of Ireland’s snakes into the sea. It’s an impressive image, but there’s no way it could have happened.

Ruddy ducks in the Prairie Pothole Aviary.

Smithsonian National Zoo’s New Bird House Highlights Migratory Birds’ Incredible Journeys

The zoo presents familiar birds in a fresh, unified way—and drives home the message that people can take simple steps to protect birds’ future.

Taxidermied lions in a diorama at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

13 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Taxidermy

Think all there is to taxidermy is stuffing an animal? Think again. Since the days of William Hornaday and Carl Akeley, taxidermy has been a scientific art.

Irish has a name for grizzly bear, even if the bears don't inhabit the country.

10 Delightfully Descriptive Irish Animal Names

The Irish language is full of evocative names for aspects of the natural environment, and wildlife is no exception.

8 Expert Tricks to Help Your Cat and Dog to Get Along

Peace between cats and dogs is possible—with time, strategy, and training.

19 Odd Facts About Animal Sex

From critter-killing copulation to beautiful “bladder songs,” here are some of the strangest facts about sex in the animal kingdom.

Snow geese, sandhill cranes, and ducks make New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge their fall and winter home.

9 Astounding Facts About Bird Migration

Long-distance bird migration is one of the natural world’s most inspiring phenomena—and how we learned about it is just as fascinating.

A common raven looking pretty pleased with itself.

15 Amazing Facts About 15 Birds

Here's a flock of facts about everything avian, from brilliantly colored hummingbirds to farting thrushes.

The Wild and Totally True Story Behind 'Cocaine Bear'

In 1985, authorities in Georgia found the decomposing body of a black bear next to 40 ripped-open packages of cocaine. No substantial quantities of the drug remained. How it happened is a story for the ages.

The taxidermied body of Cocaine Bear on display at the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall.

How Cocaine Bear’s Taxidermied Body Ended Up in a Kentucky Mall

Cocaine Bear’s afterlife as a taxidermied tourist attraction is worthy of its own movie.

10 Brilliant Facts About Peacocks

With their massive tails and iridescent colors, peacocks have long fascinated their human observers—and we’re still learning their secrets.

Why Do Cats Leave Their Mouths Open After Smelling Something?

It’s called the flehmen response, a.k.a. “stinky face.”

11 Facts About the Animals of Chernobyl

Researchers thought the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was unable to support life. But a bunch of wolves, deer, wild boars, bears, and foxes disagreed.

Shark-Related Tourism Is Now Banned in Mexico’s Cage-Diving Capital

Shark-related tourist activities are now illegal in Mexico’s Isla Guadalupe Biosphere Reserve—a hotspot for great whites.

An eastern hellbender, North America's largest salamander.

Raisin' Hellbenders: How Scientists Are Saving North America's Largest Salamander

A team of dedicated scientists is raising eastern hellbenders and releasing them into rivers, helping these ample amphibians to survive.

This Polish City’s Hottest Attraction Is a Chonky Cat Named Gacek

“He chomnk.” —One Google reviewer who gave Szczecin’s famed feline five stars.

Furniture is no match for a cat’s claws.

How to Stop Your Cat From Scratching Your Furniture

You may not be able to stop your cat from scratching, but you can try to prevent them from shredding your couch to bits or gouging the door frames so badly you have to forfeit your apartment’s security deposit.

15 Facts About Owls

Owls are enigmatic birds, by turns mysterious, lovable, or spooky, depending on whom you ask. Here are some key facts about these wise guys.

A lion as depicted in a French Book of Hours, circa 1432.

Why Medieval Artists Drew Such Goofy Looking Lions

Just because lions were depicted frequently in medieval art and design doesn’t mean they were depicted well.

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