Have you ever seen a fox in a tree?

Gray foxes are the only fox species that can climb trees. They climb up to 50 ft and jump from branch to branch. Like all foxes they are omnivores, they eat just about everything. They play an important role in the environment by controlling rodent populations.  Although they are not considered endangered, gray foxes’ habitatsContinueContinue reading “Have you ever seen a fox in a tree?”

Ringtails

An adorable and curious ring-tailed cat in a barn in Arizona. Despite their name, ring-tailed cats are not related to cats. They are part of the racoon (procyonidae) family.  Ringtails are the state mammal of Arizona.

The Great Egret

Egrets are members of the heron family. They stand motionless in the water waiting for their prey to come near, then they strike quickly and swallow their prey whole. Today egrets are known as one of the great conservation success stories. During the late 1800s, their population was nearly wiped out due to plume huntingContinueContinue reading “The Great Egret”

Elk

Elk in Estes Park, Colorado. Elk also know by their Shawnee name Wapiti, meaning “white rump” are one of the largest members of the deer family. Although they weigh in at around 700 lbs, Elk are surprisingly fast. They can run up to 45 mph and have a vertical jump of 8 ft.

The Massive Martial Eagle

The martial eagle is the largest and most powerful eagle in Africa. It has a wingspan of 6 ft 4 in (2.6 meters). It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.  They are shot on sight and poisoned by farmers because they are seen as a threat to livestock. Although the eagles doContinueContinue reading “The Massive Martial Eagle”

The Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana

A black spiny-tailed iguana basking in the mexican sun. These are the world’s fastest lizards, with a max speed of 34.6 km/h or 21.7mph. As more of their natural habitat is destroyed, the iguana populations continue to decline. Although black spiny-tailed iguanas are not considered endangered, there are several other iguana species that are endangered. Such asContinueContinue reading “The Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana”

Walking with Elephants

On my recent trip to South Africa, I was lucky enough to walk alongside elephants. It was an amazing experience, that I highly recommend. Although wild elephants can be dangerous weighing up to six tons, these elephants were gentle giants. The Location The walk was at The Indalu Game Reserve on the Garden Route. TheContinueContinue reading “Walking with Elephants”