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Iconic Harry Potter Owls
By Joanie Straub
In the magical realm of Harry Potter, book and movie fans often call his pet snowy owl Hedwig one of their favorites. Long before this beautiful owl cast a spell on the literary front, snowy owls have bewitched those who have seen them in person.
Now, many people in the United States have the opportunity to see this powerful white owl from the nor... READ MORE
Endangered whooper spotted in Kansas
By Kansas Dept. of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
The first migrating whooping crane has been spotted in late October at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, near Stafford in central Kansas.
Whooping cranes, an endangered species, are North America’s tallest bird, some reaching 5 feet in height when standing erect.
A rare and fantastic sight, this whooping crane is part of the only sustai... READ MORE
What is Alabama’s the rarest animal?
By M. Keith Hudson
Occasionally, wildlife biologists are asked, “What is the rarest animal in your state?” It might be interesting to consider candidates for Alabama’s rarest, most scarce or novel critter. Let’s identify candidates to eliminate. First, we’ll ignore elusive creatures that exist only as legend or as anecdotal evidence. Bla... READ MORE
Welcome back, Wood Storks!
By Carrie B. Johnson
While driving near her Alabama home last fall, wildlife biologist Carrie B. Johnson saw a flock of large black and white birds flying over the interstate.
At first glance, she thought she was looking at egrets, a common wading bird found throughout the state, but soon realized these were federally endangered wood storks. It was a rare but exciting... READ MORE
Frog Invasion!
By Roger Clay
Thousands of toads and frogs appearing on roadways or in backyards at this time of year may conjure other worldly scenes, but there’s no need to panic. Frogs and toads produce thousands of offspring at a time, yet only a few ever reach adulthood. A mass appearance of baby frogs or toads is completely natural. While the terms "frog" and "toad"... READ MORE
It’s a snake, not an earthworm!
By Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Brunswick, Ga., resident Lori Parker was sweeping wet leaves from her patio in April 2013 when she picked up a mat and saw a few earthworms underneath. "The one that intrigued me,” she said, “was the one moving like a snake.” A longtime gardener used to finding creatures in the dirt, Parker wanted to know what this 4-inch long cre... READ MORE