ANIMALS

Meet the Joro Spider: The ‘Flying’ Arachnid That Could Soon Invade the Northeast

The invasive Joro spider is venomous and as big as your palm, but its taste for stink bugs means it could do more good than harm.

Watch: A Gorgeous Sea of Fireflies Synchronizes With LED Lights

These lightning bugs know how to coordinate.

Why Are Birds Attacking My Windows?

Nothing says “springtime” like the maddening, irregular percussion of a bird’s beak rapping repeatedly against your window.

Just looking at this makes your skin crawl.

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch So Much?

The telltale itch of a mosquito bite doesn’t actually come from the bite itself. It comes from something that’s a fair bit worse: literal blood-sucking.

Where 7 Dangerous, Disease-Spreading Ticks Live in the U.S.—Mapped

American dog ticks, blacklegged ticks, and Lone Star ticks can all spread devastating diseases. Here's a map of where these ticks live.

This tick probably couldn’t wait to dig into this person’s skin.

3 Simple Ways to Stay Tick-Free This Summer

There are several precautions you can take to keep ticks at bay this summer.

Andreas Pernerstorfer’s wine cellar renovations revealed a trove of at least three mammoth skeletons.

Woolly Mammoth Bones Unearthed in Austrian Wine Cellar

The three mammoth skeletons represent the first significant paleontology discovery in Austria in a century.

Frilled sharks are usually found in the deep ocean, but this one popped up in waters off Japan in 2007.

7 Deep-Sea Sharks That Will Haunt Your Dreams

The creepiest sharks are found thousands of feet beneath the sea.

Why Does My Cat Cry at Night?

There are a few reason why your cat might be meowing late at night—we asked an expert how to stop the behavior.

A Hefty History of Fat Bear Week

Take a look at the origins of Fat Bear Week, an annual celebration of the brown bears at Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Reserve.

Just because Garfield devours it doesn't mean this kitty should.

Can Cats Actually Eat Lasagna?

Garfield isn’t exactly the best litmus test when it comes to determining whether or not lasagna is safe for cats to eat.

Lewis and Clark encountered grizzly bears, coyotes, and pronghorns.

14 Animals Lewis and Clark “Discovered”

Lewis and Clark were not the first people to see animals like coyotes, elk, and pronghorn, but they did introduce them to Western science.

‘Jaws’: 10 Facts About Peter Benchley’s Bestselling Novel for Its 50th Anniversary

Editors loved Benchley’s shark thriller, which turns 50 in 2024. They had one important note, though: The first draft had too many jokes.

Alpacas vs. Llamas: What’s the Difference?

They’re both in the camel family and live in South America, but alpacas and llamas aren’t the same species.

What Are the National Animals of the United States?

The bison and bald eagle have been chosen to represent the U.S. Here's why.

This fox is obviously not actually radioactive.

When the U.S. Tried to Win World War II with Radioactive Foxes

Allied officials came up with some strange strategies to win World War II. Operation Fantasia planned to use glow-in-the-dark foxes to spook Japanese forces into defeat.

Chipmunks vs. Squirrels: What’s the Difference?

Here's some helpful information about where chipmunks and squirrels live, what they eat, what sounds they make, and how to tell them apart visually.

15 Fun Facts About Deer

White-tailed deer are the most common deer in the United States. Here are some fascinating deer facts deer.

The Real-Life Marine Biologist Who Helped Inspire ‘Jaws’

Dr. Donald “Reef” Nelson dedicated his life to studying sharks and was part of the inspiration for Matt Hooper, Richard Dreyfuss’s character from 1975's “Jaws.”

Why Is the Unicorn Scotland’s National Animal?

Scotland’s national animal is the unicorn. The reason isn’t because Scotland is a nation of unicorn lovers; rather, it’s thanks to the country’s bygone kings.

Bee Team: Bumblebees Can Cooperate To Push LEGO Bricks, According to Science

Bees demonstrate a surprising understanding of needing a helping hand to tackle obstacles.

‘T. rex’ Might Have Been as Smart as a Crocodile (But Not As Smart As We Thought)

Previously, a study suggested that the king of the dinosaurs was as intelligent as a primate. New data hints that this may not have been the case.

10 Questions About the Kentucky Derby, Answered

Put on a fancy hat, grab a mint julep, and become the best-informed person at your Derby party.

Elephants are among the smartest mammals.

7 Behaviors That Show Elephants Are Incredibly Smart

Elephants demonstrate complex behaviors that researchers have associated with empathy and mourning, pointing to the animals’ high level of intelligence.

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