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Wild Animals/Questions Answered by Expert Dana Krempels, Ph.D.

SubjectDate Asked
animals in creeks2/2/2012
  Q: what animals do you think come to these creeks at night to eat. Is coyotes, foxes, raccoons in your ...
  A: Almost any species of animal that you have locally is likely to come to an inviting little creek ...
animals in creeks2/2/2012
  Q: what animals do you think come to these creeks at night to eat. Is coyotes, foxes, raccoons in your ...
  A: Any of those species might forage at a creek like the one pictured. It depends on what species of ...
An old lady's tooth.1/12/2012
  Q: I hope you can help me alleviate some curiosity. My Mother-in-Law gave me a tooth from a friend's ...
  A: Well, it's an unrooted tooth, so likely from an herbivore. But it also looks like a canine tooth, ...
squirrel's jaw broken?1/1/2012
  Q: I think this squirrel has a broken jaw, she's playing but won't eat. She fell out of the tree. ...
  A: If this is a wild squirrel, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator for instructions on how to try ...
Hippos12/23/2011
  Q: Where Can I Buy A Hippo & Where Can I Get One . ? Or Even Is It Aloud ? Would It Survive .?
  A: Owning a hippopotamus is restricted to those with proper licenses, and this would certainly not be ...
wolves southwest alaska12/21/2011
  Q: What are some primary prey animals of wolves in southwest Alaska? -Thanks, Dana
  A: This sounds a bit like a homework question, so I can't answer it completely for you. But I can ...
natural selection12/13/2011
  Q: Is there any real-life examples of competition, where one species has a definite advantage over ...
  A: There are plenty of examples of two species competing for similar resources. If there is ecological ...
Feces on walls11/28/2011
  Q: I bought a house and have spotted several groupings of what appears to be feces - usually in a ...
  A: It's hard to identify this without seeing it, but it certainly could be the leavings of large ...
Jaguars11/27/2011
  Q: In the wild, animals are often abandoned by their parents if they are albinos or have strange ...
  A: I don't know of any information suggesting that melanistic offspring are shunned the way albinos ...
goose11/22/2011
  Q: There are geese around a pond where I live. Some of those geese are white and there is a concern ...
  A: You might want to check the internet for a bird rescue group in your area. This is a white goose, ...
Jaguars. URGENT!11/17/2011
  Q: How does jaguar's whiskers help them survive in their enviroment? I do know that whiskers are like ...
  A: There is nothing really different about the rainforest, in terms of how the whiskers help a jaguar ...
misunderstanding of behavioral question10/5/2011
  Q: I had asked the following"Would you be able to help me find out as many behavioral differences as ...
  A: Dana Here's one that might be cute: Arctic foxes are known to be playful, and one "game" they have ...
education in wildlife and as future employment issues.10/4/2011
  Q: i am a student of environmental science studies,doing my education degree from India... I am ...
  A: If you do not have the resources to attend a university in the United States, I really cannot help ...
How to touch a squirrel9/23/2011
  Q: Me and a friend recently created a list of things we want to do before we die. The first item we ...
  A: I would not recommend this, as squirrels can be quite aggressive and will bite if provoked. Some ...
Will mother come back and get her young'ins?9/15/2011
  Q: I had a mallard duck lay eggs next to my pool. They hatched, they are now about 2 1/2 months old. ...
  A: This is odd. Yours is among several AllExperts questions that I answered previously, but it's ...
misunderstanding of behavioral question9/13/2011
  Q: I had asked the following"Would you be able to help me find out as many behavioral differences as ...
  A: Ah, okay! Well, the differences are probably too long to list in a single email. So if you could ...
mammal seen9/7/2011
  Q: I live along the shore of Lake Michigan, I saw along my fence line an animal which looked to me like ...
  A: It sounds as if you might have seen a mink, a marten, or perhaps a fisher. You can find lists of ...
squirrel bite9/5/2011
  Q: where I live. I was driving through the neighborhood and saw it in the middle of the street having ...
  A: Wow. That's what you get for being kind and trying to help the poor, injured squirrel! :( She was ...
Deserted Robin fledging? Please help!!!8/6/2011
  Q: I so hope you can help me!!!! I am very worried about a young robin as it appears to be deserted. ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in answering. I have been in the wilds of Idaho without internet, and have only ...
Hyena hindlegs8/5/2011
  Q: I was watching an animal show on tv the other day, and a question popped up in my mind. Why are a ...
  A: Hyena hind legs *are* weird, aren't they? I don't know if anyone has hypothesized about why hyenas ...
Cottontail rabbits6/26/2011
  Q: A cottontail rabbit has nested in the front yard among daylilies leaves. I saw mama rabbit only ...
  A: That's why I can't stand it when people let their cats run free. They take such a heavy toll on ...
panther rehabilitation6/25/2011
  Q: please send me panther rehab guidelines on feeding procedures, do these include feeding live ...
  A: It is absolutely NOT necessary to rehabilitate a panther, bobcat, or any other wild cat by feeding ...
Injured swallow6/24/2011
  Q: I was working at the barn when I saw a swallow hit a rafter and fall to the ground.  Upon ...
  A: Quoting directly from my introductory page that you read before you asked this"If you have found an ...
baby robin6/24/2011
  Q: Good morning! Last night while I was walking I came upon a baby robin in the middle of the street. ...
  A: The bird's best chance of being raised safely without imprinting on humans is for you to get him/her ...
Poop on grass, is it a bird? what type?6/20/2011
  Q: Every early morning I wake up lately, I see this poop or something in my lawn, on my mulch, and on ...
  A: This looks like a species of slime mold, which is related to fungi. It's not poop. It's a colonial ...
adult raccoon attacked a baby raccoon6/11/2011
  Q: My daughter witness an adult raccoon dislodge a 8 week old raccoon out of the pecan tree and then ...
  A: How awful. What a sweet, heroic dog to risk her own safety to rescue the baby! The adult raccoon ...
Need help identifying a tooth/claw6/8/2011
  Q: I found this....item a long time ago when I used to live by a lake. We lived in Sebastian County ...
  A: Nick Thank YOU for sending the cool photo! I learned something, too. I had no idea that grass ...
baby robins in nest6/5/2011
  Q: there is a nest of baby robins in a nest that was built in the bow thruster of a power boat in a ...
  A: You can try, but this might not work. Try by moving the nest a few inches each day, and see if the ...
Need help identifying a tooth/claw6/5/2011
  Q: I found this....item a long time ago when I used to live by a lake. We lived in Sebastian County ...
  A: FOLLOWUP: Hi, Nick Not even our fish biologist working on coral reef fish in the Bahamas guessed ...
abandoned nest?6/3/2011
  Q: There is a ducks nest in my yard we discovered a few days ago and we saw the mother duck sitting on ...
  A: If the eggs have not been incubated for three days, but were being incubated before, then they are ...
found lost mallard duckling5/31/2011
  Q: on memorial day a lost duckling was found wandering in our yard i looked for its parents and saw ...
  A: A mother mallard with a brood of babies will not often accept a strange baby. They do recognize ...
Cowbird egg in a nest5/11/2011
  Q: So my Aunt has a nest in Mitchell, SD and she has all the same colored eggs then one spotted tealish ...
  A: Cowbirds are nest parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, then leave and let the ...
Nest destroyed by dog5/11/2011
  Q: We have a Robins nest that built on our steps the only ones we use so there is no way getting around ...
  A: These robins sound as if they won't contributing much to the gene pool, given their maladaptive ...
orphaned baby owl5/11/2011
  Q: Alerted by my dog, I just found a young owl sitting on my front porch. I walked up to it, and it ...
  A: My instructions have a link to a wildlife rehabilitator locator site: ...
GI stasis/ mucoid enteritis5/9/2011
  Q: I pose a question re my rabbit dougal, she is an english spot lop ear (please see attaced picture, ...
  A: If your bunny does have "Cowpoop Syndrome," then supportive care is about all you can provide. ...
Unidentified animal5/4/2011
  Q: My wife and I took this photograph while on our honeymoon in California last June. We've tried to ...
  A: There are five species of Pocket Gopher in California, and this looks to be one of them. You can ...
A mountain lion?2/9/2011
  Q: I live in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and we have a fenced yard that is about 6 feet tall. In the summer, I ...
  A: Judging from recent sightings, it's not out of the question that there was a mountain lion in your ...
Platypus as a pet2/8/2011
  Q: I was wondering if you could buy a platypus,I am really wanting one and we would get a good ...
  A: I think you've written before with this question, and the answer I gave before is still the same: ...
animals say2/7/2011
  Q: My question is very simple. What do animals like dogs, lions, elephants, deers and monkeys say to ...
  A: Species other than humans certainly communicate both with members of their own species and with ...
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel2/5/2011
  Q: How common are these animals in Bay St. Louis Mississippi? I saw one for the first time and did not ...
  A: Wow. It does look like one! I really can't explain this, unless it's just one of the many color ...
ID scat1/22/2011
  Q: I've been taking my biology students out for observations and we've found several scat samples that ...
  A: Without seeing and examining them in person, I can't be absolutely sure. But these look like the ...
animal screams1/21/2011
  Q: I live off west neck rd. In virginia beach Va. Last night about 1am there was this scream that came ...
  A: Without hearing it, I cannot positively identify the animal that screamed. But bobcats can scream ...
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel1/21/2011
  Q: How common are these animals in Bay St. Louis Mississippi? I saw one for the first time and did not ...
  A: As far as I know, Big Cypress Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger avicennia) are found only in Florida. ...
Releasing cottontail rabbit.1/17/2011
  Q: I have a 6 month old cottontail rabbit, and she's becoming too much to handle. I want to release her ...
  A: Yes, it is possible. If you found her close to your back yard, that would be a safe place. Be sure ...
some sort of cat around northeast texas1/5/2011
  Q: This may sound a little crazy but i promise it is 100% true. I was walking my dog today i looked ...
  A: Except for the color, you have pretty much described a mountain lion/cougar (Felis concolor). Like ...
Unknown animal skull12/27/2010
  Q: Found this skull while walking around on some family property in Needville, Texas. Not sure what it ...
  A: It's very difficult to tell from just one view. I would have to see the skull directly from the ...
Unidentifable Weseal/mink/ferret?12/22/2010
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I have seen this strange but beautiful mammal that I can not seem to identify? I ...
  A: There are no native mammals that fit this description, unless you are seeing a weasel that is ...
identifying poop-probably a bird12/22/2010
  Q: I found some interesting poop that I cannot identify. There was a small pile of about 20-30 ...
  A: This certainly doesn't sound like a typical bird poop, nor lizard or snake, which would be another ...
Weak Squirrel12/21/2010
  Q: since past few days my Female Squirrel sits very quitely in one place , she hardly eats ...
  A: I think you must get your squirrel to a veterinarian as soon as possible. If the squirrel is ...
caring for a baby owl12/18/2010
  Q: how do you care for a wild baby owl?what do you feed it
  A: Raising a wild baby owl is challenging, and it is absolutely *vital* that the baby bird not imprint ...
deer injured12/17/2010
  Q: I am a hunter who takes great pride in making a humane kill, this in turns leads me into taking very ...
  A: I am glad that you are one of those good hunters who is careful not to cause suffering. You have ...
green heads??? What kind of duck?12/13/2010
  Q: I found 4 lost ducklings and are busy raising them but i dont know what kinds are they. Please help ...
  A: You can find an illustrated list of the ducks in your area here: ...
wild animals patch marks12/10/2010
  Q: i was wondering if you know of, have seen, or know if it is possible for any type of wild cat ...
  A: The striped "tabby" pattern of the European wildcat is variable, and under both genetic control and ...
evolution of mountain goats12/3/2010
  Q: When did mountain goats evolve? I need a rough estimate as to how long this animal (or a relative ...
  A: Well, there are several species of what one might call "mountain goats," but I hope the following ...
backyard birds12/2/2010
  Q: I have begun feeding the birds at our central Iowa urban home and we were starting to see a variety ...
  A: Are the birds that were visiting your feeder migratory species? If so, they might simply have ...
Wild mice12/1/2010
  Q: Can a mother of wild mice that have rabies pass that on to her babies? And how ong does mice life ...
  A: Since the rabies virus is passed via contact with bodily fluids, it is likely that a female mouse ...
Rodent/bird trapped in furnace.10/24/2010
  Q: I have a furnace in my home. We have had a wild bird fall into it from the opening in the roof ...
  A: If you have a small pet carrier, you can open the door to the furnace and let the animal escape into ...
Mallard Duck10/23/2010
  Q: I live in Northern California by SF Bay. There are several "ponds" in our neighborhood that are ...
  A: Some ducks raised in captivity become overweight, and unable to support their weight in flight. And ...
injured chipmunk10/21/2010
  Q: Hey Dana, My brother found one of our cats trying to kill a chipmunk, the chipmunk is still ...
  A: Use this list: http://wildliferehabber.com/modules/xoopsmembers/ to find a wildlife rehabilitator ...
How to Distinguish Male & Female Raccoons10/18/2010
  Q: I asked this question of another expert who said they couldn't help. I'm not sure if the person ...
  A: I'm not an expert at sexing raccoons. But given the position of the pre-puce you see in the ...
guidance: Career in Wildlife Conservation10/15/2010
  Q: after doing 4 years degree in bioligy ( enviromental sciences conservation ) can i get a good job ...
  A: It depends on the job. You will likely get a higher paying job with a Master's degree. But there ...
Vaccinations for Raccoons10/14/2010
  Q: I have found, that most Vets will Not treat a Raccoon.(house-call) They could give, sell to the ...
  A: It is possible that the raccoons in your neighborhood may already have some immunity to the rabies ...
Zoos, Ecosystems10/8/2010
  Q: My 9th grade Coordinated Science class got in an argument today about whether a zoo is considered an ...
  A: If you mean that a zoo is the same as the natural habitat from where the animals were taken, then I ...
lost cat: will he find home?10/4/2010
  Q: After having a cat for almost 5 yrs-- it disappeared --it is indoor-outdoor cat. No clue! can a cat ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your kitty. But I have heard of cats being injured or lost for weeks or ...
mystery rodent9/27/2010
  Q: I found a mystery rodent in my cement cellar. He had Very thick plush Dark grey fur like a mole or ...
  A: There are some rat species that fit this description, such as the Busy-tailed Woodrat (Neotoma ...
Identify rodent9/24/2010
  Q: I live in Northern Virginia in a suburb of DC close to wooded areas. We have deer, snakes, etc. ...
  A: This sounds like a juvenile field mouse of some species. A picture would help. I hope he wasn't ...
A career in animal care?9/23/2010
  Q: i'm not entirly sure what i want to be when i get into collage. i know i want to do something with ...
  A: You don't mention how old you are, but that would help me know what preparations you still need to ...
nesting Ducks9/19/2010
  Q: Will ducks build a nest, lay a clutch and sit on them if the eggs are not fertile? Or do they know ...
  A: They probably don't consciously know if the eggs are fertile or not. And I've known of mother ducks ...
eagle with red on shoulders9/19/2010
  Q: I took a jet boat tour on the Rogue river in Southern Oregon on September 17 2010. I saw a bald ...
  A: The red you see is a patagial marker used by researchers and others who monitor wildlife movements ...
Pregnant spuirrel behavior9/19/2010
  Q: We live in a Pacific Northwest second-growth forest with wetlands. One of the grey squirrels living ...
  A: Without seeing her, its' hard for me to say what level of "unsteadiness" might be explained by her ...
stray cats and the opposum9/19/2010
  Q: I have been feeding these 3 stray cats which I have had fixed and given their rabies shot and they ...
  A: Opossums are generally benign and unaggressive unless cornered. They don't harbor the rabies virus ...
grizzly bear9/16/2010
  Q: Dana Grizzly bears have a large shoulder hump and seems to be a more compact, robust animal than ...
  A: When it comes to evolution, the bottom line is: if it works and gives an advantage, it will ...
Polar bears and Penguins.9/14/2010
  Q: If polar bears lived in the south pole, would they eliminate the penguins? And could that be why ...
  A: It's impossible to say whether polar bears would wipe out penguins if they were introduced to the ...
Racoon/Skunk9/13/2010
  Q: We live in Southern California close to the beach and have raccoons and skunks in our neighborhood ...
  A: Most species of ectoparasite are pretty host specific. A few can be transmitted to humans, and if ...
Predators to wild ducklings9/8/2010
  Q: We live on a small lake in Northeast Texas with an occasional blue heron, a few wild domestic geese, ...
  A: Neither a raccoon nor a fox will be much deterred by a six foot, chain link fence. We had to top ...
raccoons9/7/2010
  Q: We have raccoons who visit us every night and yes we feed them. This has been going on for approx. ...
  A: Raccoons do squabble loudly. They might just be having arguments without really much physical ...
Predators to wild ducklings9/5/2010
  Q: We live on a small lake in Northeast Texas with an occasional blue heron, a few wild domestic geese, ...
  A: I am sorry for the loss of your ducks. There are so many possible culprits that it might be hard to ...
bat house9/2/2010
  Q: Someone at work was nice enough to build a bat box for me. We have hesitated to put it up for ...
  A: You are very kind to want to put up a bat house. It certainly can't hurt to *try* to put up the ...
i got a bite from a wild mink9/1/2010
  Q: what should i do
  A: Please contact your primary care physician immediately. I do not know if rabies is endemic in your ...
wild ducks8/31/2010
  Q: I found a clutch of duck eggs this morning- no sign of mama, and one egg broken. I came back and ...
  A: FOLLOWUP: Dear Pat, If it's any consolation, it is very unlikely that these eggs were viable once ...
wild ducks8/31/2010
  Q: I found a clutch of duck eggs this morning- no sign of mama, and one egg broken. I came back and ...
  A: It's possible that there is a duck gradually laying a clutch of eggs, and she will not begin ...
WHITETAILED DEER8/28/2010
  Q: HOW MUCH WATER DEOS A WHITETAILED DEER NEED TO CONSUME A DAY. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF DEER IN THE WILD, ...
  A: Just about any mammal requires approximately 90-100ml of water per kg of body weight per day. Some ...
feeding baby squirrels8/27/2010
  Q: we have a baby squirrel that is about three weeks old. we found it in a pavilion with flies and ants ...
  A: The best thing you can do is get this little guy to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator ASAP. If you ...
baby raccoon8/26/2010
  Q: i have 2 baby raccoons both eating well but i think one of them is not going to the bathroom i have ...
  A: At their age, they should be urinating and defecating on their own. If they are both eating, that's ...
Frog ID?8/25/2010
  Q: I have had a family of toads living amongst my flowers. Today I found a new visitor--this appears to ...
  A: This is most likely a juvenile Southern Leopard Frog (Rana sphenocephala). It is very common in ...
Mystery Bird8/24/2010
  Q: I found a question you answered a couple of years ago regarding a bird-sighting at El Capitan ...
  A: Wow, that *is* wild. I think you might get some real answers if you contact your local Department ...
eastern grey squirrels that have sores8/24/2010
  Q: Can you answer this question I have about 20 outside squirrels and a majority of them have come up ...
  A: Without seeing the lesions in person, I can't tell for sure. But these could be warbles, cysts ...
squirrels8/21/2010
  Q: we have a hickory tree full of nuts still in the casing, the squirrels are chewing the green casing ...
  A: The squirrels' first directive is to get *fat* for the winter, since they will spend it hibernating. ...
Burrowing Animal8/19/2010
  Q: Our pastor said he had heard of an animal that would only be forced so far into its hole and would ...
  A: Followup: If you are certain such an animal exists, then why did you ask me? Yes, there are white ...
Cat vs Fox?8/18/2010
  Q: I live in St George UT. I am accustomed to riding my recumbent trike at the very early hours (3:00 ...
  A: Followup: Hi, Don I wonder if another possibility is an escaped pet genet or civet. You can see ...
Feeding Robins once worm season is over8/18/2010
  Q: I have had a baby robin for 3 weeks going on 4. when i found her, she was bald and her eyes were not ...
  A: You can probably feed her crickets and worms bought online. There are many places that will sell ...
Animal eating/destroying garage8/16/2010
  Q: Two nights ago we saw the paper on the drywall near each side of the bottom of the garage door ...
  A: This sounds like the work of a pretty powerful animal, and I have to wonder if you have ...
Fear of Humans8/13/2010
  Q: I was wondering if there is a scientific basis for "Fear of Humans" in wildlife. I first started ...
  A: This is a complex question about a complex phenomenon. But if you consider the behavior of many ...
Identify Dropping8/8/2010
  Q: I've noticed an unusual (to me) dropping in my driveway and again a few days later in my garage. ...
  A: Hard to tell for sure from the picture, but this certainly could be a snake scat. Different species ...
Fur loss on nape of rabbit's neck8/6/2010
  Q: she doesn't have fur on the nape of the neck and you can see her skin without fur,i don't know what ...
  A: For all the possible causes of this problem, please see: www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html If ...
droppings of some kind8/4/2010
  Q: Every morning in the summer months there are about 50 to 100 small droppings (of some kind) under ...
  A: Wow! Great detective work! :) Now that I re-read your description of the size of the pellets, I ...
Pika but not?!?8/4/2010
  Q: 7500 ft elevation in Sierra Nevada range in a dry storage area we spotted a what we thought was a ...
  A: This sounds more like a marmot than anything. Without a picture, I can't tell for sure. But here ...
Trapping a Fisher8/2/2010
  Q: I live in the country just north east of toronto on 20 acres with a creek. I have just lost a cat, ...
  A: I am sorry for your loss. Fishers have a large territory, and it's not really unusual for them to ...
droppings of some kind8/1/2010
  Q: Every morning in the summer months there are about 50 to 100 small droppings (of some kind) under ...
  A: While I can't be absolutely sure without seeing the poop, it sounds like the leavings of a deer or ...
Did a coyote kill my cat?7/21/2010
  Q: I live in the North Vancouver area of BC, Canada. A few days ago we spotted a coyote running along ...
  A: I am sorry about the tragic loss of your friend. Yes, this could be the work of a coyote. If the ...
fisher or other small mammal7/18/2010
  Q: I spotted a small light brown mammal during the day in my yard in Bedford NH. It was about the size ...
  A: All mustelids (members of the weasel family, including fishers) are strict carnivores, and are not ...
Wolves in England ?7/17/2010
  Q: It was in a field that is next to my house, it ran along the tree line and then disappeared into the ...
  A: Although there are some conservation groups working to try and reintroduce wolves to the British ...
Duck and ducklings7/17/2010
  Q: We have a miniature silver appleyard duck who hatched 8 ducklings about 18 days ago and we are ...
  A: Sorry for the delay. Our middle school ecology outreach program kept me insanely busy for the past ...
squirrels7/16/2010
  Q: I live in North Texas, and I was doing some repairs on my older home when I stumbled across two baby ...
  A: You are very kind to let the babies grow up before you fix that hole. :) Baby squirrels will ...
Newly hatched ducklings7/15/2010
  Q: Our family had 2 ducks, a male and a female for the past 2-3 years. The female duck layed 6 eggs, ...
  A: Sorry for the delay; I have just finished an excruciatingly busy middle school ecology outreach ...
Is this a least weasel?7/15/2010
  Q: Here's what I think is a rather strange animal encounter I had Tuesday of last week. I was on ...
  A: Wow, that is a true wildlife nugget! And yes, that looks like a least weasel with his mouse prey. ...
Grey squirrel with skin disease7/14/2010
  Q: Approximately 2 weeks ago we found a tuft of what seemed to be squirrel fur in our back lawn, and ...
  A: Without seeing the squirrel, I really cannot make a diagnosis. Even if I could, there are many ...
Deer vomit?7/14/2010
  Q: We a problem almost identical to that of Eva in Ontario. We have noticed piles of a ropey, yellowish ...
  A: I seem to be getting a lot of questions about this weird yellow stuff, and finally someone sent me a ...
What is it7/12/2010
  Q: I'm looking for an answer for my friend who lives in south west India she says "These animals have ...
  A: These look like Palm Civets. There are several different species of palm civets, but this looks ...
GREAT APES IN NORTH AMERICA7/10/2010
  Q: HEY DANA, I HAVE JUST WATCHED A TV SHOW THAT HAD TAKEN THE TIME TO ENHANACE THE NOW FAMOUS PATTERSEN ...
  A: It's great to see that the folks in the Great White North haven't lost their classic sense of humor. ...
Mother Rabbit has disappeared7/9/2010
  Q: Do crows eat full-grown rabbits? We have had a rabbit living near our home for the last four years ...
  A: It's possible that mama is still around. If the babies are not wandering from their nest, searching ...
eggs7/8/2010
  Q: we have found 4 eggs in our yard that are not farm or grocery store eggs but about the same size. ...
  A: I can't see them to be sure, but these sound like duck eggs. Turtle eggs are very round. If these ...
Wild Robin doesn't end up road kill7/7/2010
  Q: What if you do not know where the nest is, and the baby you found is in your front yard and the only ...
  A: Wow! You seem to have come up with the perfect solution! If the parents are feeding the baby while ...
Birds7/6/2010
  Q: I am hoping to figure out what could have killed one of our ring necked doves. We live in Chester ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your doves. Sadly, I have heard of similar stories with other animals ...
unknown identity7/5/2010
  Q: I live in Tennessee, near Kentucky Lake. It was August, 2008 - about midday - when my house dog was ...
  A: Well, I can't make a positive I.D. without seeing the animals, of course. But from your ...
peacock reproduction7/5/2010
  Q: how peacock reproduction please full story
  A: Peacocks reproduce the same basic way that any member of the Family Phasianidae (Pheasant) family ...
Mystery Animal7/3/2010
  Q: I am attaching a picture of this critter in hopes you can identify it. It looks very similar to a ...
  A: You don't say where you are, which would help. But this looks like an Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus ...
My rabbit7/1/2010
  Q: My "old pet rabbit" lived outside in a cage. (Yes, she was domestic for 7 months, picking up wild ...
  A: Wild rabbits usually already have a burrow in which they live. But your resourceful bunny didn't do ...
yellow feces?6/30/2010
  Q: I have a very small backyard and have been finding large amounts of yellow feces. One area had ...
  A: The slime molds are absolutely harmless, and will not affect you in any way. There is really no ...
House Finch6/29/2010
  Q: We had a nest of house finches under our porch. It had 4 eggs which hatched on Friday and I noticed ...
  A: The finches would not relocate their nest. Sadly, it is more likely that a predator got to the ...
yellow feces?6/28/2010
  Q: I have a very small backyard and have been finding large amounts of yellow feces. One area had ...
  A: What you are describing sounds more like a slime mold than a pile of feces, especially if it's ...
small mammal ID6/26/2010
  Q: Good Day! I've got a mini bird sanctuary, of sorts, going on, and I recently saw a small brown ...
  A: Without seeing the little visitor, I can't be sure of its identity. But it sounds like you might ...
Gray Squirrel6/24/2010
  Q: My squirrel has developed a case of diarrhea. What may have caused this as I have not changed his ...
  A: There are many possible reasons--from intestinal parasites to infection to toxic insult--for a ...
i found a strange bone6/23/2010
  Q: i found a bone under my old barn. it has 4 fingers and a thumb! can help! still some skin too! i ...
  A: This looks like it could be the partially mummified forearm of a raccoon. Best not to handle such ...
Muscovy ducklings orphaned6/22/2010
  Q: Muscovy Mom was killed by a dog and her chicks (10) hatched the same day. I can't find any rehab ...
  A: You are very kind to want to care for the orphans. You can find very helpful information on raising ...
Gray foxes???6/21/2010
  Q: I live in Santa Rosa California. I rent a home on roughly 3 1/2 acres of land; located in the city ...
  A: Grey foxes are native to your area. They could be responsible for the loss of the chickens, but so ...
Robin Egg Invaders6/19/2010
  Q: For two years in a row we have had robins build a nest and lay eggs in a pine tree. This tree is ...
  A: You are kind to want to protect the baby birds. But this will be challenging if the nest site is ...
Doe at my bird feeder6/18/2010
  Q: I'm an expert in another area. Today (about 6:30PM in Ulster County NY) I saw an adult doe at the ...
  A: Sorry for the crazy Father's Day weekend delay! I tried to answer on Friday, but my server was ...
care for baby jack rabbit6/15/2010
  Q: Me and my dad are feeding my neighbor's dogs until he gets back. When we went to feed, the mother ...
  A: Please DO NOT try to raise this baby yourself. Baby jackrabbits are incredibly delicate and ...
Care of a Young Robin6/13/2010
  Q: Can a robin that is a fledgeling survive solely on fishing worms? Is water necessary? Is mite and ...
  A: "Can a robin that is a fledgling survive solely on fishing worms?" Probably, but this is not likely ...
Animal droppings6/13/2010
  Q: I live in coastal RI, and have often had skunks wander through the yard. Recently, I've noticed ...
  A: It sounds more like rabbits or deer from your description. And if the droppings are really 1cm in ...
Baby Duck6/10/2010
  Q: Yesterday I found a baby duck sitting in the road. My dad almost ran it over with the car. It ...
  A: I can't tell without seeing the duck whether he's wild or a dumped domestic that someone abandoned ...
Baby robins6/10/2010
  Q: Do robins move their babies after they have been hatched? We have a nest in our back yard, next to ...
  A: Sadly, the parent birds did not move the newly hatched chicks. They just don't do that. It's more ...
survival of orphaned newborn6/9/2010
  Q: birds nest in ligustrum tree/topiary, morning saw the mom bird fly to nest to find no eggs in it. we ...
  A: I am sorry about the interrupted incubation of the nest, especially since the babies were so close ...
Frantic Rabbit Mom6/9/2010
  Q: My mom was cutting the lawn when she found a rabbit nest with 4 baby bunnies in it. A couple days ...
  A: Anyone who doesn't believe that rabbits have emotions has not witnessed anything like the sad scene ...
Robin's fallen nest/all eggs destroyed ..6/9/2010
  Q: Today a Robin's nest fell to the ground and all of the eggs were destroyed .. the nest was up too ...
  A: You are very kind to be concerned. But the mother robin will not re-use the nest once it is ...
i found a baby dove6/8/2010
  Q: I found a baby dove on somebody's yard on Sunday. it was defiantly a baby dove with 'pin' feathers. ...
  A: The best advice I can give you is this: Please get the baby dove to a licensed wildlife ...
Birds Nest or Something Else?6/8/2010
  Q: I found a nest on my property, it looked like a scrape nest, made of grass mostly, and was on the ...
  A: Without seeing the "scrape" it's hard for me to know for sure what this might be. It could be an ...
wildlife rehabilitation6/7/2010
  Q: i have ignorantly but successfully rescued many different wild animals, birds (currently have 2 ...
  A: I think it's wonderful that you're making this official! :) A good place to start is right here: ...
muscovy duck6/7/2010
  Q: A mama duck layed 11 eggs at our house - only five hatched. With three of the unhatched eggs, the ...
  A: In some cases, a baby duck is simply not strong enough to break through its shell and get free. ...
unidentified animal in danger?6/6/2010
  Q: I have had many sightings (mostly in the time range of 1am - 3am)over the past several years of a ...
  A: I don't think any Australian marsupials have invaded your area, but their native relative is ...
Young Robin Sitting Away from Nest6/5/2010
  Q: I have about 4 baby robins sitting in a nest in my front yard. Every morning when i wait for the bus ...
  A: The babies are close to fledging, and because the one baby is out of the nest, the others will ...
Dog has unknown larvae in fecal sample6/3/2010
  Q: Can squirrels give dogs any kind of illness ??? - [rabies with-standing.] My husband loves to feed ...
  A: Squirrels generally don't share parasites with dogs unless the dog actually *eats* a squirrel. But ...
Do cheetahs ever attack humans?6/3/2010
  Q: Can cheetahs and arabian leopards interbreed? is there any record(s) of a successful attemept in ...
  A: Tariq Apparently cheetahs are very skittish and there has never been a documented attack of a wild ...
injured baby bunny found6/3/2010
  Q: i just found a baby bunny who has some of his fur ripped off on the side.i assume it was attacked by ...
  A: If the baby is still alive, then the most important thing is to disinfect and close the wound, since ...
newborn robin6/2/2010
  Q: I found a newborn robin that seems to have fallen from the nest during a storm. I found the nest & ...
  A: Parent birds will remove sickly or dying babies from the nest, and if this one ended up out of the ...
Birds of Prey6/1/2010
  Q: Do birds of prey (hawks, falcons, eagles...) really carry off small pets or is this just an urban ...
  A: It's not an urban legend. It actually happens with small pets, and I know people who have suffered ...
Wild new born rabbits5/31/2010
  Q: I watched a adult rabbit dig the hole and the next day it was covered up with grass and fur. I ...
  A: Mother rabbits always stay as far away from the nest as possible unless they are actively feeding, ...
Would a fox hurt a cat?5/29/2010
  Q: Last night I heard this terrible noise! I looked outside and saw 2 fox. I wasnt sure if they were ...
  A: I have actually witnessed a fox chasing a cat all-out, and have no doubt that it could catch and ...
baby robins out of nest5/26/2010
  Q: I had a situation this weekend with some baby robins and I'm hoping they are okay, but I'd love to ...
  A: The babies might not have been able to fly, but the still are quite proficient at hopping and ...
Robin's Nest5/26/2010
  Q: The past few days have been very windy and this morning I found a tree in a small forest that had ...
  A: You are very kind to want to help the mother bird. But in a case like this, there is really nothing ...
Baby sloth as a pet.5/26/2010
  Q: Is this legal? Where could I get a baby sloth?
  A: Different areas vary in their laws regarding keeping wildlife (exotic or native) as pets. You need ...
baby robins out of nest5/24/2010
  Q: I had a situation this weekend with some baby robins and I'm hoping they are okay, but I'd love to ...
  A: Many baby birds--especially if they are part of a large clutch that gets too big for the nest--will ...
robin's eggs5/22/2010
  Q: I found three robins eggs but don't know how to keep the eggs warm. how do I keep them warm? ...
  A: DO NOT touch the eggs if they are still in the nest! The mother bird will lay all the eggs she has ...
Studying Big Cats5/19/2010
  Q: i am 19 someone who is very fascinated about big cats but unfortunately i have been studying ...
  A: Well, you certainly need to get out of accounting. Please see: ...
Female mallard5/18/2010
  Q: In my city we have a nice loop with ducks and geese that everyone goes and sees all the time. Well ...
  A: The other males were trying to mate with her, and it's lucky her mate showed up to help her protect ...
Providing natural home for frogs?5/17/2010
  Q: this might be a weird question. I moved into a neighborhood, and the very first thing I noticed is ...
  A: Sounds like you might have a population of Bufo sp. (Toads) living in your yard. If that's the ...
Coyote???5/17/2010
  Q: This animal was in my yard yesterday. I love in Louisville, KY and back up to the EP "Tom" Sawyer ...
  A: Susan I believe there's a function on this web site that allows you to attach .jpg images. When ...
Baby Bunny died for no reason...........5/16/2010
  Q: I live up by Red Rock Canyon NV. We have tons of SOUTHWESTERN COTTONTAIL RABBITS, everywhere, We ...
  A: Wild animals instinctively hide signs of illness until they are so ill that they are ready to die. ...
Baby Bunny died for no reason...........5/13/2010
  Q: I live up by Red Rock Canyon NV. We have tons of SOUTHWESTERN COTTONTAIL RABBITS, everywhere, We ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your friend. Sadly, there is absolutely no way to confidently ...
baby bunny5/12/2010
  Q: My cat brought a baby bunny into our house. I made her drop it and wrapped it in a towel. It is ...
  A: Please go here for emergency instructions: ...
Unable to fly -Sparrow5/11/2010
  Q: I found an adult Sparrow in my yard today. The poor think cannot keep its head straight. It has no ...
  A: Please go here immediately: http://wildliferehabber.com/modules/xoopsmembers/ to find a licensed ...
Baby Robins5/10/2010
  Q: my question is regarding robins - they built a nest outside of my backdoor (high traffic area) and ...
  A: The dead baby may have died or been very ill, and that's why the parent birds may have dumped it out ...
Squirrel5/10/2010
  Q: I raised a baby squirrel and released him. We live in a neighborhood on the edge of the woods but he ...
  A: If he's your pet, then you are just as legally responsible for any damage he does as if he were a ...
Reindeer5/9/2010
  Q: I apologize because my question is so funny -It was appeared on the cover of mathematics book image ...
  A: Well, since it's a cartoon, it doesn't really look like *either* a donkey or a reindeer. It looks ...
Egg-stealing bird5/7/2010
  Q: Some house finches have nested on my front porch for the past few years and we very much enjoy ...
  A: Once the thieving bird knows the location of the nest, it's nearly impossible to deter it. I can't ...
Robin egg5/5/2010
  Q: Is it Legal to have a Robin(Song Bird)egg in your home and raise it?
  A: No, and it is nearly impossible for a layman to successfully raise a songbird. If you are sure the ...
cecotropes5/4/2010
  Q: I am a permitted wildlife rehabber in Texas. I have 9 infant cottentails eyes closed. I have had 5 9 ...
  A: Mary This is the toughest thing of all, because we really don't know the composition of cottontail ...
cecotropes5/2/2010
  Q: I am a permitted wildlife rehabber in Texas. I have 9 infant cottentails eyes closed. I have had 5 9 ...
  A: In my experience, it's not absolutely necessary for the babies to eat the cecotropes if you simply ...
injured chipmunk5/2/2010
  Q: My dog caught an adult poor chipmunk today. I am so sad. I got him to let it go but the animals ...
  A: If he is very seriously injured, the best thing to do would be gently get him into a box with a warm ...
Question about deep-sea anglerfish4/7/2010
  Q: Can deep sea anglerfish -- you know, the freaky ones with the lure -- be kept as pets? I don't ...
  A: Sorry for the delay. I had meant to put my self on "vacation" on Allexperts, but got the dates ...
wild babies-bunnies4/6/2010
  Q: One is really bad! I brought dog inside came back and somehow the 2 were put back in nest! I went to ...
  A: Don't feed the babies. You did the right thing by putting them back in the nest. The mother will ...
bunnies & dried flower petals3/3/2010
  Q: Just wondering if dried red rose petals and dried lavender flowers are safe for bunnies to eat?
  A: If the flower petals have not been treated with anything (e.g., aromatic oils, preservatives, etc.), ...
Prey species not acting sick.3/3/2010
  Q: how are you going? My name is Christina and I live in Australia. I was wondering why when a wild ...
  A: Birds are especially challenging to the person trying to see if they're sick. Sometimes they will ...
Magpies, Crows3/2/2010
  Q: Greetings, There MUST be a scent/odour/smell that Magpies and Crows HATE and I want to know what it ...
  A: Like almost all birds, crows and ravens have a very poor sense of smell. They are visually-oriented ...
Prey species not acting sick.3/2/2010
  Q: how are you going? My name is Christina and I live in Australia. I was wondering why when a wild ...
  A: Many prey species don't show signs of illness until they are very ill--nearly dead. And by that ...
rat attack2/2/2010
  Q: I live in Tewks,Ma. witch is in the Merrimac Valley, notheastern Ma. I was curious what type of ...
  A: It's impossible to know for sure what type of predator did this. But cats often start eating prey ...
Career with Wild Animals1/31/2010
  Q: I am interested in a career working with wild animals, but I'm not sure what kind of careers are ...
  A: Sorry for the delay. This is a very broad subject, and there are probably hundreds of different ...
strange looking cat?1/31/2010
  Q: We live in Lake George, NY. Saw a tawney feline (no spots or patches, just one color)) cross our ...
  A: This could well be a domestic or feral housecat that has very pale striping, or none at all. Many ...
Animal Rights1/31/2010
  Q: Good day! This Abdul Taiting. A Mass Communication student from Far Eastern University, Philippines. ...
  A: A really common way that students are getting "experts" to do their homework these days is to claim ...
Is This Dropping a Rat, a Squirrel or something else?1/30/2010
  Q: I found these 2 droppings today after removing 2 in the same location 2 days ago. They are outside ...
  A: How big is the print? If it's about the size of a quarter in diameter, my guess would be squirrel. ...
Is This Dropping a Rat, a Squirrel or something else?1/29/2010
  Q: I found these 2 droppings today after removing 2 in the same location 2 days ago. They are outside ...
  A: Well, there definitely appears to be plant matter (looks like a seed with a bit of fruit still ...
Is This Dropping a Rat, a Squirrel or something else?1/28/2010
  Q: I found these 2 droppings today after removing 2 in the same location 2 days ago. They are outside ...
  A: If this is a rat or squirrel dropping, it's not normal. They should be cylindrical and dry. You ...
strange animal1/27/2010
  Q: I live in the country on a paved road with 6 house on this mile in Allegan Michigan. Thursday I ...
  A: It's impossible for me to know without seeing it. But a cougar is generally not dark brown, it ...
Florida Panther roadkill?1/25/2010
  Q: Today I was driving with my sister along U S Highway 41 - near Ft. Myers, FL. We noticed a dead ...
  A: If it had a long tail, then it wasn't a bobcat. Juvenile mountain lions/Florida panthers are ...
Wolf Research1/23/2010
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I am very interested in studying wolves in the wild. Currently, I am enrolled at ...
  A: A good person to contact would be Dr. David Mech at the University of Minnesota. His web site is ...
Identify unknown mammal1/22/2010
  Q: At 1 am I awoke to a screaming/screeching sound. My dogs had a small mammal cornered under our ...
  A: Minks are not usually that big, but things can look a lot bigger at a distance than they really are. ...
Very odd creature, no one knows!1/21/2010
  Q: I'm really hoping you can help me with this! I've asked everyone from school teachers to friends ...
  A: Wolverines should *not* be occurring in your area. But that's almost what your description sounds ...
Identify unknown mammal1/20/2010
  Q: At 1 am I awoke to a screaming/screeching sound. My dogs had a small mammal cornered under our ...
  A: I have tried to figure out what type of creature this might have been, and the only thing that even ...
Endangered dolphins1/19/2010
  Q: How does dolphins get endangered?
  A: Humans have hunted dolphins for food, but they also become entangled in nets humans use to catch ...
ring tailed cat1/19/2010
  Q: OK, the Wildlife and Fisheries guy thinks I'm a bit batty but... I live in Slidell, Louisiana, on ...
  A: Ring-tailed Cats usually don't occur farther west than Texas. But I suppose it's possible that ...
Animal identification1/18/2010
  Q: Today we saw in our property a most unusual four-legged animal.We are located in Flat Rock, NC, in ...
  A: Dennis, Okay, I just re-read the description, and I can take another stab. Might it have been a ...
Animal identification1/17/2010
  Q: Today we saw in our property a most unusual four-legged animal.We are located in Flat Rock, NC, in ...
  A: It's much harder for me to ID an animal without a picture. But could this have been a river otter? ...
Coyote picture1/17/2010
  Q: I have a co-worker that says I am wrong for calling this animal a coyote and insists it is a fox ...
  A: You are correct. This is a young coyote with VERY big feet that he'll eventually grow to fit! :) ...
grey foxes1/15/2010
  Q: I have been feeding grey foxes for the last 10 or so years. I have never kept records or track of ...
  A: Grey foxes are omnivores, but they eat primarily meat. In the cold weather, they may not be as ...
grey foxes1/15/2010
  Q: I have been feeding grey foxes for the last 10 or so years. I have never kept records or track of ...
  A: If the vixen is pregnant, she would probably be *more* likely to come for food. I can't imagine why ...
Instinct1/14/2010
  Q: Do evolutionary biologists know at what point a behavior becomes part of a genetic code and is ...
  A: Some animal behaviors are learned, some are instinctive, and some are a combination of both. Which ...
Wildlife Careers?1/12/2010
  Q: This is not neccisarily within your question insructions, but I thought as an Evolutionary Biologist ...
  A: There's no such thing as an "unhealthy" love of nature. :) I think you might be well-suited to a ...
Frogs and my jack russell1/11/2010
  Q: This may be a stupid question but I'll give it a go. I have a long haired jack russell called ...
  A: Without seeing the animal, I can't really identify it. But I can assure you that it was not a frog, ...
Jaguars & Cougars1/10/2010
  Q: Hey Dana im back asking my favorite Expert another big cat question lol Well to the point I've been ...
  A: I personally know one of the people (heck, we're friends on Facebook who actually *know* each other) ...
Siberian Tigers1/9/2010
  Q: I'm doing a school project on Siberian tigers, and I need to interview someone over the age of 21. ...
  A: 1. What is your point of view on how Siberian tigers are being illegally hunted and poached these ...
Jaguars & Cougars1/9/2010
  Q: Hey Dana im back asking my favorite Expert another big cat question lol Well to the point I've been ...
  A: Oscar, More than hunting has contributed to the decline of jaguars in North America. Habitat ...
Red wolf or Coyote?1/9/2010
  Q: This picture was taken from a trail camera in southeastern Kentucky. I cannot tell if this is a ...
  A: This looks like a coyote with thick, winter fur, though there's a remote chance it could be a "red ...
Wild Animals - pet serval cat in CT1/8/2010
  Q: Are servals legal to have as pets in Connecticut? Do you need to have a permit?
  A: You can find a pretty terse statement about the legality of owning *any* wild felid (cat) in the ...
Scat1/7/2010
  Q: We have found a mysteriously large pile of pelleted scat in our back yard in Arlington, VA. (5 ...
  A: The pellets are a wee bit small for a deer, but it's not impossible that they came from a small ...
Alabama mammal1/5/2010
  Q: I grew up in Alabama and I have spent a large portion of my life in the woods, so I am familiar with ...
  A: I can't be sure without seeing it, but you might have seen a muskrat: ...
wolf biology1/1/2010
  Q: What classes would i need to take in high school to help me become a wolf biologist?
  A: A Bachelor of Science in biology will prepare you well for a career as a wildlife biologist, and you ...
something is living under my deck1/1/2010
  Q: i live in the midwest and have noticed a small hole (about 3" round) in my back yard. I think that ...
  A: A hole that size could be inhabited by anything from a rat to a chipmunk to a weasel. Hard to tell ...
sugar bears/sugar gliders12/29/2009
  Q: Are sugar bears a good/gentle pets for children under 10 years old? Are the consider rodents? What ...
  A: Sugar gliders are marsupials: they are more closely related to kangaroos than to mice, despite ...
Raccoon12/29/2009
  Q: I live on the Pascagoula River which has recently flooded. It is starting to go back down but it ...
  A: Well, I hope your cats are all vaccinated against rabies, as raccoons can carry this deadly virus ...
Nutrant ? Nutria.12/28/2009
  Q: What is the animal that lives in Southern Alabama called that looks like a big rat. I have heard ...
  A: You're probably thinking of the Nutria, a large rodent that was introduced here from South America ...
black panther sighting in Central La12/28/2009
  Q: More of a statement. I wish to tell people that Black Panthers do exist in central Louisiana. Last ...
  A: A black "panther" is actually a melanistic (black-pigmented) mutant form of a wild cat. The typical ...
Orphan squirrel12/28/2009
  Q: Yesterday we found squirrel which doesn't look hurt (no bleeding, any cuts, nothing hurt, nothing ...
  A: But his best chance of survival is to be taken to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, whom you can ...
wolves12/23/2009
  Q: Why is Wolves mean? Is it because they are trying to protect their own like we are at trying to our ...
  A: Wolves are not mean. They can be aggressive when they feel threatened, but they will almost always ...
Field mouse12/22/2009
  Q: My mum caught a baby field mouse before my cat ate it. We put it in a box with some peanuts and some ...
  A: At this time of year, a baby mouse released into the wild is not likely to survive. If there is a ...
My Pursuit12/22/2009
  Q: I understand Zoology is not in Demand, is a competitive field, and costs lots of money in animal ...
  A: I never had anyone tell me that it was too competitive to become a biologist or zoologist. I think ...
Skunk like animal12/21/2009
  Q: I was at my mountain cabin near Hot Springs Virginia. At night, an animal investigates the exterior ...
  A: What you saw may have been a fisher, sometimes called a fisher cat. You can a picture and ...
Tiger Variation12/20/2009
  Q: . With the exception of the Sumatran tiger which has been split off from the main Tiger populations ...
  A: Well, it sure sounds to me as if you know enough to discuss this with just about anyone! :) I ...
rodent in the house12/20/2009
  Q: I have just moved into a renovated cottage in Little Britain,ON. I saw what looked to be mouse ...
  A: You'd be surprised what a hungry mouse can get into! But yes, it could be a larger rodent. And ...
Tiger Variation12/19/2009
  Q: . With the exception of the Sumatran tiger which has been split off from the main Tiger populations ...
  A: Well, "useless" is in the eye of the beholder. This is a complicated question, and no two ...
Tiger Variation12/19/2009
  Q: . With the exception of the Sumatran tiger which has been split off from the main Tiger populations ...
  A: Genetically speaking, a "hybrid" is any offspring of parents that are genetically different for a ...
Squirrels Hind Legs Dislocated? Help please!12/16/2009
  Q: My grandma lives in Idaho and has wanted a baby squirrel to raise on her own for a while. Her ...
  A: If this was a recent injury, then she could well have dislocated or broken something, and prompt ...
Squirrels Hind Legs Dislocated? Help please!12/16/2009
  Q: My grandma lives in Idaho and has wanted a baby squirrel to raise on her own for a while. Her ...
  A: The only way to know if the legs have some sort of skeletal problem is to get radiographs done by an ...
my baby squirrel12/15/2009
  Q: I believe he has malocclution.{cleft with a hole}, He is having many different complications because ...
  A: If you cannot get him to a vet, then at least try to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator: ...
cat?12/12/2009
  Q: I live in NW Arkansas by Beaver Lake. Twice I have seen on my hillside at a distance a cat I ...
  A: Your description fits that of a bobcat. You can see pictures here for comparison: ...
Thinking this is a Fisher Cat12/10/2009
  Q: This picture was taken 2 weeks ago in a rural area in Armstrong County, Western Pennsylvania about ...
  A: When I first examined the picture, I momentarily entertained the idea that it was a mustelid because ...
suburban Norway rats12/9/2009
  Q: I live in New York on Long Island in Nassau County. I have a house in a typical residential area and ...
  A: Just because you're not seeing the rats doesn't mean they've moved on. Rats are everywhere in ...
What kind of cat is this?12/9/2009
  Q: This picture was taken 2 weeks ago in a rural area in Armstrong County, Western Pennsylvania about ...
  A: I'm standing here proctoring a final exam, and the picture had me stumped, too. But I got the two ...
Wild Animal Question12/8/2009
  Q: I'm doing research on African Antelope or more specifically Impalas. I'm trying to figure out if ...
  A: Impalas have vision that's pretty typical of all ungulates. They don't have a fovea (the pinpoint ...
black snake under my house12/7/2009
  Q: Not sure if you know much about snakes but you looked like the best bet... Last year I saw a large ...
  A: You don't say where you live, and this makes it much harder for me to identify the snake. If it was ...
Question about rodents/hantavirus12/6/2009
  Q: I live in North East Texas. I walked into a garage yesterday that stays open and was looking in a ...
  A: Hanta virus is very resistant to environmental extremes, so when you dispose of the box, it would be ...
Trouble?12/3/2009
  Q: While I was washing dishes last night I thought I saw a white cat out the window, but it was no cat. ...
  A: The best way to deal with this is to get a live trap and remove the opossum humanely. You'll first ...
Northern NY bears12/2/2009
  Q: Do you know of, or have any photos of, wounds inflicted by bears? There is a photo of a horse with ...
  A: I coulnd't find any pictures of bear bites on a horse, but here's a resource you might find useful: ...
Black panthers in MS?12/2/2009
  Q: do we have black panthers in the state of meridian ms.?
  A: A black "panther" is nothing more than a melanistic (i.e. black-pigmented) leopard or jaguar. ...
Bear Attack11/20/2009
  Q: Two hikers are walking in the woods and encounter an angry bear..if the two hikers began fighting ...
  A: To know that, we'd have to get into the head of the bear. But I suspect that the bear might just ...
pengiun behaviour11/18/2009
  Q: I recently read an article which stated that penguins engage in prostitution. There was no ...
  A: I suppose the author was trying to be cute. But in *many* species of animals, a female will require ...
Pine martens as pets?11/18/2009
  Q: would a pine martin be a good pet to have and can you tell me how I can buy a pine martin
  A: A pine marten is a wild mustelid, related to weasels, wolverines, and fishers. As such, they are ...
Sexing Raccoons11/16/2009
  Q: How do you tell the difference between male and female coons? One more question if you don't mind. ...
  A: Raccoons don't show obvious sexual dimorphism (physical differences between the sexes), though males ...
health of my squirrels11/14/2009
  Q: Recently my male tree squirrel has been having a problem with his genitals.His penis is swollen up ...
  A: This is not a question about a wild animal, but about a pet. I am not a squirrel expert, but I can ...
Outside cats/wild animals11/13/2009
  Q: How can I feed outside cats without feeding the wild animals? Raccoons, Possum %26 Skunks. Thank ...
  A: There is no good way to exclude other scavengers if you are feeding feral cats. If the cats are ...
Releasing an orphaned field mouse11/12/2009
  Q: My husband found a baby field mouse in his parking lot at work yesterday. It is fully furred, eyes ...
  A: The baby will have a much better chance of survival if he's released in the spring. Unless you can ...
wolves11/11/2009
  Q: I live in Newbury Massachusetts and we have been seeing a wolf in our yard. I was wondering how ...
  A: The Timber Wolf (Canis lupus) is believed to be extinct in your state, though there has been a ...
What can I feed Orphaned Stripy Indian Squirrels?11/11/2009
  Q: I found two Orphaned Stripy Indian Squirrels in my garden, they are not more than 15days old i guess ...
  A: The care of this species should not be significantly different from that of other squirrel species. ...
Squirrels Gnawing on Aluminum11/10/2009
  Q: Actually, squirrels gnawing on aluminum is quite widespread. I am a Assistant Steward for a land ...
  A: Squirrels do like to chew, but it's as much a mystery to me as to you why they'd want to gnaw on ...
Praying Mantis11/10/2009
  Q: Krempels, We are working on a science research project about animals in our 5th grade class. We ...
  A: The female praying mantis sometimes stays in the vicinity of her deposited eggs and may protect them ...
Poaching Alternative11/10/2009
  Q: Do you think that perhaps if animals that are poached for goods were farmed and bread the way cattle ...
  A: That's an interesting idea. But most of the animals that are commonly hunted illegally (poached) ...
Peking Duck - Abandoned at our school11/8/2009
  Q: Good Evening: I am not sure if this is the type of questions that you answer. I did not really ...
  A: You are so kind to be concerned with this poor duck's welfare. But I'll be honest with you: a ...
Peking Duck - Abandoned at our school11/8/2009
  Q: Good Evening: I am not sure if this is the type of questions that you answer. I did not really ...
  A: I'm sorry about the death of the duck. Sadly, this is often the fate of a domestic animal dumped ...
How to get into a field...11/3/2009
  Q: I don't know if you can help me but I ran by this website by chance trying to find information on ...
  A: There are so many fields in which one can work with animals that they'd be impossible to list here. ...
Owning a Serval in Colorado11/2/2009
  Q: I have been trying to find information of any laws or regulations that permit or restrict the ...
  A: Try this site: http://wildlife.state.co.us/wildlifespecies/livingwithwildlife/pets/exoticpets.htm ...
what type of feline was this?11/2/2009
  Q: I saw this feline the other day and I don’t know what it was. I live in Oregon, kind of in the ...
  A: If this cat had a long tail and was not a released/escaped exotic big cat, then the only likely ...
Wild cat11/2/2009
  Q: I am 50 years old and yesterday had the pleasure of seeing my first cat in the wild. We we turned on ...
  A: If it was very large, solid tawny color and had a long tail, then it was a cougar. If it had tufted ...
Penguin egg incubation11/1/2009
  Q: i am doing a project on penguins, and am trying to figure out why male penguins incubate the eggs as ...
  A: A great many bird species have males that contribute to parental care, if not in incubating the ...
wild animal droppings10/31/2009
  Q: Krempels I live in Southern California almost in the wilderness of Tujunga mountains. The big fire ...
  A: Unless you have neighbors who have goats that got loose, my guess would still be deer who have been ...
wild animal droppings10/31/2009
  Q: Krempels I live in Southern California almost in the wilderness of Tujunga mountains. The big fire ...
  A: You described the poops as looking like peanuts (do you mean shelled or unshelled?), so I imagined ...
wild animal droppings10/31/2009
  Q: Krempels I live in Southern California almost in the wilderness of Tujunga mountains. The big fire ...
  A: Do you have jackrabbits in your area? They are common in some areas of the foothills of SoCal, but ...
platypus10/30/2009
  Q: My friend says that she is adopting a platypus. Is that possible? My friend and i live in the us ...
  A: I would be very, very surprised if your friend were actually going to be able to adopt a platypus. ...
Baylisascaris in raccoon feces10/28/2009
  Q: We live by 120 acres of preserve and have several raccoons on the property. I have several times ...
  A: I would try to get a sample of the raccoon stool to a veterinarian who can send it to a lab for ...
wild mouse10/28/2009
  Q: My neighbors brought me a baby mouse their cats had caught. Unsure whether it was injured I put it ...
  A: How calm is the little mouse? If she's very wild and nervous, it would be best to feed and raise ...
Can cheetahs and leopards interbreed?10/28/2009
  Q: Can cheetahs and arabian leopards interbreed? is there any record(s) of a successful attemept in ...
  A: I was able to locate an article, published in 1963, that shows the karyotypes of nine species of ...
Can cheetahs and leopards interbreed?10/28/2009
  Q: Can cheetahs and arabian leopards interbreed? is there any record(s) of a successful attemept in ...
  A: No, the two species (Acionyx jubatus, the cheetah and Panthera pardus, the leopard) are quite ...
what is this?10/27/2009
  Q: i caught this on trail cam 9:40 PM dark can you help me with this? in lower left corner not a great ...
  A: It's not a fisher. Fishers are larger, dark brown and have a very lush coat and furry tail. You ...
what is this?10/25/2009
  Q: i caught this on trail cam 9:40 PM dark can you help me with this? in lower left corner not a great ...
  A: It's pretty hard to tell because of the size and darkness, but this looks like an opossum, judging ...
squirrels10/25/2009
  Q: I saw a squirrel carrying what appeared to be a dead rat, running across my front yard and up a ...
  A: Sometimes even a squirrel who's full of nuts will take advantage of a protein meal. So I wouldn't ...
animals that eat apples from the tree....10/24/2009
  Q: I had a full pear tree become bare over-night, and then three Asian pear trees missing much fruit. ...
  A: If the trees were not too tall, then a small herd of deer might be capable of doing that. Any ...
raccoons10/24/2009
  Q: are raccoons dangerous in a suburban residential area, i.e. rabies, biting, danger to pets, etc.
  A: Raccoons are highly intelligent, curious, and can be aggressive if they lose their fear of humans. ...
Fungal infection vs. ear cranker10/24/2009
  Q: Dana, my bunny has ear cranker, and I recently got a fungal infection. Could it be I got it from my ...
  A: Vitamin E will not cure the ear canker, as it is caused by parasitic mites. The condition will get ...
squirrels10/24/2009
  Q: I saw a squirrel carrying what appeared to be a dead rat, running across my front yard and up a ...
  A: Squirrels are adorable, but they are also omnivorous rodents who are opportunistic scavengers and ...
unidentified small animal10/22/2009
  Q: I found a small,(about the size of a chipmunk)dead animal in my yard. it is grey with a white belly ...
  A: The animal that most closely fits the description that's found in your area is the Southern Flying ...
what would be killing my cats?10/22/2009
  Q: I live in Southeastern Oregon. I have several outdoor cats that live very close to the house. ...
  A: Debbie, It might not be the mystery animal emptying the trap, if it's a Havahart-type live trap. ...
Dog seriously injured by attack of some kind10/22/2009
  Q: My sister's dog was let out last night at dark and came back with a skull fracture, internal ...
  A: I am sorry for these horrific tragedies. Yes, they could be related. You don't say how big the dog ...
giant pandas reintroduction10/21/2009
  Q: why are giant pandas are not yet reintroduce back into the wild?
  A: There are still giant pandas in wild areas, but because there are so few suitable habitats left, ...
Eastern grey squirrel: unexplained death10/21/2009
  Q: I found a baby squirrel in August 2009 and found him dead in his cage this morning. I hand fed him ...
  A: I am very sorry for the loss of your little friend, especially after you worked so hard to save him. ...
Fennec Fox10/20/2009
  Q: I currently live in Texas, and will be here for some time. However, at some point in our lives, my ...
  A: The laws about keeping certain species of exotics are quite strict in California. I am not an ...
fisher not coyote!10/20/2009
  Q: I had found animal dung in the corn crib and am wondering if this is Fisher Dung
  A: It's possible, though I can't really see the size accurately. But here are some pictures of ...
Squirrels10/20/2009
  Q: I have a friend who was unlucky enough to have a squirrel get into her home and run around for a ...
  A: Your friend probably is going a bit overboard. But if steam-cleaning the carpet is the only thing ...
legality of owning wild animals10/20/2009
  Q: Is it legal to trade animals such as cheetahs, lions and tigers as domestic pets?
  A: It is legal in many countries, but specific laws vary tremendously by country and region. It's a sad ...
Black Snake in the Bed!10/20/2009
  Q: My sister woke up with what we think was a young black snake in the bed with her. By the time she ...
  A: Snakes are independent once they leave the nest or egg, and the mother of this snake is probably ...
Snapping Turtle Nesting Site Threatened10/19/2009
  Q: At home I am having a little trouble with the wild snapping turtles. Right next to my house is an ...
  A: Really the only thing you can do is try to lure the turtles to a safer area by creating a suitable ...
fastest animal10/17/2009
  Q: Which animal would be the fastest out of these three, giraffe, ostrich and wolf?
  A: All three species are pretty close, maxing out around 40mph. From what I've found, giraffe's can ...
Are wild squirrels safe to eat?10/16/2009
  Q: I have just cleaned or tried to clean my first squirrel. I wasn't doing so well, but then my dad ...
  A: Without seeing the parasite, I cannot positively identify it. If the worm came from the intestines, ...
pet platypus10/16/2009
  Q: Could you buy a platypus if you had a sanctuary for unique animals?
  A: There are few, if any platypuses anywhere outside of Australia and New Zealand, largely because they ...
Unidentified Maryland Critter10/15/2009
  Q: My wife saw a mammal she couldn't identify at 3 PM in the wooded back yard of our Annapolis home ...
  A: The only cat that fits that description is a bobcat, except for the long tail. I wonder if it's ...
short tail: what's the advantage?10/15/2009
  Q: Some animals like bobcats have short tails. What would the advantage be to having short, bobbed ...
  A: Evolution works in mysterious ways. To answer your question most simply, note that any trait an ...
unknown "big hand rat-like" creature10/15/2009
  Q: Sir: I live in east Texas. My cat killed and ate a rat-like creature with big hands, long skinny ...
  A: From your descrition, it sounds as if the cat killed a baby opossum. But without seeing it, I can't ...
Abcess on a squirrel? Antibiotics?10/15/2009
  Q: A female brown, 4 month old, living outside, keeps coming around my moms home. First she was a bit ...
  A: The bactrim and metacam should be safe, and those sound like good ideas until you can get her to a ...
duck won't leave nest10/13/2009
  Q: there is a duck that was sitting on a nest for over three months-we knew the eggs were not ...
  A: Wow, that is pretty unusual. She has not left the nest *at all?* Even after all the eggs were ...
Tiger Lips10/12/2009
  Q: I am a Kindy Teacher and one of our children asked us:"do tigers have lips" We know that cats dont ...
  A: Cats DO have lips. And that includes tigers. Not sure who told you that cats lack lips, but that ...
Temperate rainforest10/12/2009
  Q: Would you be able to tell me what animals occupy the temperate rainforest?
  A: The list of species inhabiting temperate rainforest was once HUGE. But no longer, because of ...
grey squirrels10/10/2009
  Q: I live in the UK and was in London this morning in a residential area and first of all heard a ...
  A: Squirrels will often squawk and scold if they see what they consider a threatening animal such as a ...
baby owl10/10/2009
  Q: We live in Wyoming. We have been having a lot of snow the last 2-3 days. My husband found what we ...
  A: Wow, you're in a tight spot. When I was a child, my father found a fallen Great Horned Owl in the ...
Second fastest animal?10/10/2009
  Q: What's the second fastest animal???????????
  A: If you're counting only land mammals, then it's said that the Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana). ...
Mystery animal sprayed my dog10/8/2009
  Q: I live in the Tehachapi Mountains in Southern California. However, we live in the city of Tehachapi. ...
  A: The only animal capable of that intense, nauseating type of smell is a skunk, and they do smell ...
poaching.10/7/2009
  Q: I am doing this thing for science and I have to interview someone about poaching animals. 1. Do you ...
  A: Well, I'll assume this is an interview, and not just me answering your homework questions. :) 1. ...
Animal attack on dog10/6/2009
  Q: My boyfriend let his 25-30 lb. dog outside in his fenced back yard about 3:30 am a few days ago. ...
  A: I am sorry for the tragic, horrible loss of your dog. Either a coyote or a cougar could kill a ...
baby squirrel10/5/2009
  Q: Sorry if this is one of the questions you don't like answering- in school there were two baby ...
  A: Baby squirrels, when first left by their mother, can seem very tame and dumb, coming close to humans ...
my grey squirrel10/5/2009
  Q: i am utterly taken with a baby sqirrel that i rehabbed. Please tell me it is legal to keep a grey ...
  A: Most states have laws about keeping wildlife as pets, and the New Jersey rules can be found here: ...
Spotting of large cat10/4/2009
  Q: I live in woods of coastal North Carolina with a Cypress Pond on the property. Today around 16:00 ...
  A: While mountain lions (Felis concolor) were historically present in your area, they have been hunted ...
identifying a wild "dog"10/2/2009
  Q: After walking my daughter to the school bus this morning, my son and I entered our driveway and ...
  A: If this was not a feral domestic dog, then the only possibilities are fox, coyote or wolf. And the ...
fisher, not coyote!10/2/2009
  Q: this is definitely the animal. Your so right about this, I was glad to solve this. Thanks for your ...
  A: Cool! I'm glad we solved the mystery! If you have small pets, don't leave them out between dusk ...
Are pigs and bears related?10/1/2009
  Q: are bears and pigs related?
  A: While both bears and pigs are mammals, they are only distantly related within Mammalia. Bears are ...
Brown Bears10/1/2009
  Q: I always thought of the Alaskan Coastal Brown Bear as the one true Brown Bear. I have been to Kodiak ...
  A: At present, many different subspecies exist in the species Ursus arctos, though some of them (e.g., ...
Cougar sighting in Indiana9/29/2009
  Q: a friend sent me a pic from a camera set up for wildlife in Allen county and it appears to be a ...
  A: Yes, it's possible. Cougar (Felis concolor) sightings are becoming more common in many areas of the ...
injured wild rabbit9/29/2009
  Q: how do i nurse it back to health? They are a pleasure to watch in my yard and I'd like to keep them ...
  A: Tracy, If the little rabbit has puncture wounds, and if they are from a cat, it would be wise to ...
squirrel9/29/2009
  Q: i feed squirrels in my yard they all have been getting along until today i heard one of them crying ...
  A: Squirrels, like just about any other vertebrate species (including humans), fight. The fighting can ...
platypus as a pet?9/28/2009
  Q: why can we not buy or keep a duck bill platypus... i really want one badly. if you know why we cant ...
  A: A duck-billed platypus is a wild animal that is not able to be tamed, and they would not make good ...
wild animal on property9/28/2009
  Q: I live on a farm w/orchards, meadows, woodlands and approximately w/over 200 acreas in huntington, ...
  A: It sounds as if you might have seen a coyote. You can find a full description here: ...
Extinct Creatures9/25/2009
  Q: which animal or creature is the most closest to becoming perminently extinct, at present ???? ...
  A: There are *many* species very close to extinction, and we probably don't even know the identities of ...
Cougar9/24/2009
  Q: Could a cougar drag a deer up a tree? If notwhat kind of animal could. The animal has only been ...
  A: A cougar is definitely the most likely culprit for something like this, if cougars are known to be ...
Bobcat urine: what does it smell like?9/23/2009
  Q: What does their spray smell like? Every night a strong urine/BO odor wafts in my window. There was a ...
  A: Followup: Dear Toni, I'm glad your daughter was better able to help you, but an accurate diagnosis ...
Measurement Questions9/23/2009
  Q: I am an 8th grade student and one of our assignments is to ask a real scientist five questions about ...
  A: Well, my answers might be a little unusual because my training is in evolutionary and organismal ...
What is this rodent's species?9/22/2009
  Q: My family lives in northern Idaho and had been hearing quite a bit of noise (mainly at night) in the ...
  A: The animal you caught appears to be a Bushy-tailed Woodrat (Neotomes cinerea), (another type of pack ...
possible head trauma9/22/2009
  Q: I've got a gray squirrel baby approx. age 5 weeks of age. When i received him he was slightely ...
  A: Without diagnostic tests, there's really no way to know whether his neurological signs are being ...
Hawk ID9/21/2009
  Q: This hawk just caught a goldfinch from my feeder. I know it's an immature hawk, but what kind? It's ...
  A: It's often very hard to tell these two species apart, especially as juveniles. They do have some ...
Platypus9/21/2009
  Q: What do you call more than one platypus? Platypus's, Platypi, Platypeople or Playpieces? I am ...
  A: Since the name derives from the Greek "platy", meaning "flat" and "pus", meaning "foot", you have ...
Need name of fish with this behaviour for writing piece9/21/2009
  Q: I saw on a documentary once a type of fish in a river which either before or after mating, swarm in ...
  A: Yes, you're probably thinking of the salmon. These big relatives of the trout live most of their ...
raising an orphaned baby squirrel9/21/2009
  Q: What can I do to controll fleas on the little fellow? He is approx. 5weeks old.
  A: We usually use Revolution (selamectin) on our rescues (rabbits, not squirrels, but Revolution should ...
animal sighting9/20/2009
  Q: I was walking this morning and this animal crossed the street in front of me in a weedy area. It ...
  A: It sounds as if you saw a fisher (Martes pennanti), or possibly an otter, if you live near water. ...
Pandas9/20/2009
  Q: I am doing a report on giant pandas. I need to know some other charecteristics about them. I am ...
  A: I'm not going to do your homework project for you, but I can tell you where to go to get the ...
wildlife release9/20/2009
  Q: what steps need to be taken to reverse the behavior of an imprinted squirrel for release.
  A: Rehabilitating a squirrel who is very habituated to humans can be a huge challenge, and very ...
Wild Bat Safety9/19/2009
  Q: My girl and I watched a wild bat circling our back yard for about an hour(feeding)last night and ...
  A: There is almost no chance that a healthy bat will attack a human, and if a bat is out foraging for ...
BITE FORCE9/18/2009
  Q: What is the formula for bite force
  A: There is no simple formula for determining bite force, and in fact this is something that's very ...
squirrel cannibalism?9/17/2009
  Q: I was amazed and confused to see a squirrel dragging another squirrel across a path and then up a ...
  A: Unless this was a mother squirrel carrying her dead infant, I can't think of any nice reasons that a ...
Animal I saw today9/16/2009
  Q: Today I saw a black ferret-like animal in Newton, MA. It didn't really look like a fox squirrel or a ...
  A: You might have seen a fisher: ...
proper antibiotic for adult squirrel9/16/2009
  Q: First off, I know it is not okay to keep a wild animal as a pet and that was not my intention! I ...
  A: The bad news is that you are probably not going to be able to safely administer an antibiotic or ...
Why do rats have naked tails?9/15/2009
  Q: Why don't rats and mice have hair on their tails? ANSWER: Dear Jascha, We can only look at the ...
  A: Ground squirrels are more closely related to arboreal squirrels than they are to rats, so it's to be ...
Short tailed shrews9/15/2009
  Q: How do I get short tailed shrews out of my house? I have tried traps with peanut butter and cheese ...
  A: Shrews are insectivores, so they may actually be doing you a favor by taking up residence and eating ...
What would kill / eat a parrot? Rat? Weasel?9/15/2009
  Q: Hello and thank you in advance for your time and help with this problem. I am a small hobby bird ...
  A: I'm sorry about the gruesome loss of your birds. :( I don't know how small the bars are in your ...
SquirrelHenge9/14/2009
  Q: For a couple of years I have found rocks on my front porch - normally lined up...A couple of months ...
  A: I've never heard of anything like this, either. Very odd and funny! Try to get a video of this, ...
squirrels9/13/2009
  Q: I once found a baby squirrel that crawled upon my friends leg. when we rang an animal rescue line ...
  A: No, it's not true. This might have been the rehabbers way of getting you to leave the baby alone ...
Young squirrels9/13/2009
  Q: My mother found a young squirrel that looked fairly weak on the floor, whilst two other squirrels of ...
  A: Mother squirrels do leave their babies alone in the nest while they forage for food, but they do ...
Why do rats have naked tails?9/13/2009
  Q: Why don't rats and mice have hair on their tails?
  A: We can only look at the present day rat and try to figure out why this trait might have evolved, ...
disease in domestic animals9/12/2009
  Q: Are domestic animals more susceptible to disease than wild animals? Recently, I read an article ...
  A: There are two possible reasons that domestic rabbits are more susceptible to the myxomatosis virus ...
Deer/fawns9/12/2009
  Q: On a recent bike ride, I came across what looked to be an adult female and 4 fawn... any kind of ...
  A: It's possible that the doe was traveling with another doe who had multiple babies, and all were just ...
tiger behaviour: attacking domestic cattle9/12/2009
  Q: iam a senior forest officer in madhya pradesh state of India,managig a 4500sq km of forest.recently ...
  A: While some will claim that wild animals never kill for the sport of it, there is evidence that ...
squirrels with tumors9/12/2009
  Q: I work in a state park and have recently observed that some of our squirrels look "sickly". They ...
  A: There are many possibilities here. But without a better description of the "tumors," I can't be all ...
unidentified animal under shed9/12/2009
  Q: I live in NC. I've noticed a small animal running into a burrow under my shed. It looks like a ...
  A: The only animal that fits that description that occurs in your area would be a gray squirrel, and it ...
identify a backyard chipmunk9/11/2009
  Q: We have in our backyard in SE Michigan an animal which I assume is a chipmunk but it has no stripes. ...
  A: The only squirrel/chipmunk like rodent in your area that fits this description is the Southern ...
rabbit losing fur9/11/2009
  Q: why is my rabbits hair falling off from one spot? its been healthy and playful but since last week ...
  A: Please see: www.bio.miami.edu/hare/furloss.html for an overview of the causes of abnormal fur ...
baby field mice9/11/2009
  Q: I found a baby field mouse and i was wondering, Can baby field mice stay in a plastic fish bowl,Or ...
  A: If the baby has fur and can move around, you should release him where you found him so he can be ...
I'm worried about my turtle9/9/2009
  Q: A box turtle was given to me and I noticed that the shell on his belly was soft and has a gap right ...
  A: If this is an adult turtle, it could be that his shell is cracked, and yes, he does need veterinary ...
injured chipmunk9/8/2009
  Q: My mom recently found one on our porch that was playing dead because there were four cats around our ...
  A: This is why it's a good idea to keep your cats indoors. This way they are safe from disease and ...
squirrels9/8/2009
  Q: We have a squirrel that jumps onto the screen door and has made several holes whereby it comes into ...
  A: There's almost nothing that will discourage a tenacious squirrel, once he's decided he likes to ...
strange animal with red eyes in back yard9/7/2009
  Q: Just curious. Last night I let my dogs out before we went to bed. My dogs had jumped on the fence ...
  A: Without more description, there's no way I can identify this animal. It's likely that the red was ...
Wild animal sighting9/6/2009
  Q: Last week I was walking my dogs along the Connecticut river in Coos Co., NH. One of the dogs chased ...
  A: Without more description, it's not possible for me to make a positive I.D. But you can see pictures ...
Gorillas and chest beating: does it stimulate the thymus?9/4/2009
  Q: Is there more to a gorilla's chest beating than the visual display? I think I read somewhere that ...
  A: I don't think that the general scientific consensus, which holds that the reason gorillas beat their ...
sighting of some kind of wild cat in Naples Fl.9/3/2009
  Q: Just wanted to know what kind of wild cat this is. I saw it on the golf course in the early eveing. ...
  A: Judging from the size of the inflorescences of the Ixora bush behind the cat, this animal is not ...
Gorillas and chest beating: does it stimulate the thymus?9/2/2009
  Q: Is there more to a gorilla's chest beating than the visual display? I think I read somewhere that ...
  A: I am not aware of any scientific study demonstrating that a gorilla's chest beating stimulates the ...
Praying mantis as a pet9/2/2009
  Q: Is there a law in North Carolina regarding keeping Preying Mantids as pets?
  A: Praying mantises are considered beneficial insects, as they prey upon agricultural pests. I don't ...
bluebird nest7/24/2009
  Q: I have two bluebird nests in my yard. There has been a lot of activity with both until recently. I ...
  A: Bluebird eggs are blue, so it might be that the first few tries the parent birds made were ...
Raccoon Behavior7/24/2009
  Q: At my father's house in the woods, a Pest Control company puts out traps during certain times of the ...
  A: I hope at least that the poor raccoon was finally released! It was unconscionable for that Pest ...
Bears, pigs, and dogs...7/23/2009
  Q: I've always heard that Bears were more closely related to pigs, everything I've ever heard or read ...
  A: I hope you won't be too disappointed, but your friend is correct. Both bears and dogs are members ...
What predator might have killed these chickens?7/23/2009
  Q: i have some chickens in my back yard and recently found a chicken with its wings torn off... and ...
  A: A number of different predators might do this, such as a raccoon, opossum, or skunk. A fox is less ...
behavior of mother bird7/23/2009
  Q: I love the opportunity to ask this question in this forum - thanks! We have a fern on our front ...
  A: A sick or dead baby bird might have been pushed out of the nest by the mother. This instinctive ...
A mallard duckling attack7/22/2009
  Q: is surrounded by homes, and is home to a variety of wildlife. Last week, I was observing a mallard ...
  A: It always amazes me when people don't believe "animals" (by which they mean non-human animals) have ...
Deer / Rabies7/22/2009
  Q: last night i came in contact with three deers near my code box to get into my gate. as soon as i ...
  A: The chances that the deer were rabid are very small, and the chance that you might contract rabies ...
a strange behavior7/22/2009
  Q: I live in Northern lower half of Michigan in farm country. For the second time in about 2 weeks, ...
  A: The animal sounds as if he's curious and interested in your "answering" his call. No way to know ...
chipmunk fell down the dryer vent7/22/2009
  Q: We had a chipmunk fall down the dryer vent. It was there all day I think. When we got home from work ...
  A: If the chipmunk was there for only a day, he may have been simply exhausted from trying to escape. ...
Unknown animal (to us)7/21/2009
  Q: I took this photo on July 20, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. cdt in a hay field in northern Illinois. My first ...
  A: It is indeed a coyote wearing his/her thinner summer coat. That might be why he didn't look like ...
duck can't walk...keeps stumbling and falling over7/21/2009
  Q: we have a duck , approx 2 months old , who cant walk well at all . it seems to stumbl and fall over ...
  A: This isn't really a wild animal question so much as a veterinary question about a pet duck. I'm not ...
bunnie nest in garden7/20/2009
  Q: Yesterday I found a litter of bunnies in my garden. They have fur and their eyes are open. I did not ...
  A: A few strands of grass will not likely deter the mother, and the less disturbance to the nest, the ...
wild animal in back yard7/20/2009
  Q: I live in northeast Oklahoma. We live on a fairly large property with pond and creek and lots of ...
  A: Well, that's not much information to go on, but what you describe sounds as if it could be a badger. ...
Identify wild animal7/19/2009
  Q: I live 10 miles South of Boston, I spotted an unusual animal in my backyard and have no idea what it ...
  A: There are no native mammals around you that fit that description. I wonder if perhaps you saw a ...
hyena?7/19/2009
  Q: We saw a strange animal about the size of a medium dog in our yard this morning around 9 AM. We live ...
  A: This poor creature is a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) with a severe case of mange. Poor little guy. If ...
Skunks7/19/2009
  Q: I have seen skunks lately during the day. I thought they are nocturnal?
  A: Skunks are generally nocturnal, but they can be crepuscular--active at dawn and dusk--as well. It's ...
red robins7/18/2009
  Q: I have a nest of 3 baby birds the have a nest in our hanging plant and it looks like the mother or ...
  A: If the parents are trying to push the babies out of the nest, then they may be getting ready to ...
Encounters with animals in the wild.7/18/2009
  Q: Recently I was walking in a wooded area and met with a family of 4 deer. After a few moments the ...
  A: What a wonderful experience! It's not very common, but it's also not unheard of for humans to be ...
Scat identification7/17/2009
  Q: I live in Northern Idaho. In the 1 acre pasture next to my house I am finding scat unlike any I have ...
  A: Yes, I've seen these, too. My instinct tells me they're ungulate scat, but it would be better to ...
moles in garden7/16/2009
  Q: we seem to have suddenly got moles digging up our garden could you tell me how to get rid of them ...
  A: You can find some excellent information on mole control here: ...
mallard duck eggs7/14/2009
  Q: I recently found a mallard hen sitting on a nest with 7 eggs. After being away for a few days, I ...
  A: Normal incubation time for a mallard duck is about 28-30 days, and without knowing how long she was ...
Why would squirrels stop feeding?7/13/2009
  Q: My husband and I enjoy watching the birds and squirrels in our yard daily. We have several types of ...
  A: You don't say how many squirrels were coming to your feeder before, so I don't know how drastic the ...
Scat identification7/12/2009
  Q: I live in Northern Idaho. In the 1 acre pasture next to my house I am finding scat unlike any I have ...
  A: Do the scats look like this? ...
Baby House Wren7/11/2009
  Q: I found a baby house wren on a sidewalk about 3 days ago. I brought it home because no other birds ...
  A: I hope the baby is still alive, but as my instruction page clearly says, if you have found orphaned ...
wildcat7/10/2009
  Q: I live in Venice, Florida on a preserve. Last April, I saw a large cat (just a little smaller than ...
  A: Well, since bobcats don't have long tails, and Florida panthers don't generally have tufted ears, ...
squirrels with ratty tails7/10/2009
  Q: I have fed birds and squirrels for over 20 years in my yard in Northern Kentucky and this year I ...
  A: I don't think any common toxins that could come from a house being torn down would likely cause ...
Saved Mole7/10/2009
  Q: I have read a few of the mole questions and answers, but I am wondering if you are trying to ...
  A: Moles don't make good pets. They have a very high metabolism, and are nervous and easily stressed. ...
squirrels with ratty tails7/9/2009
  Q: I have fed birds and squirrels for over 20 years in my yard in Northern Kentucky and this year I ...
  A: Mammal fur quality can tell something about the animal's health as well as about environmental ...
Identify wild animal7/9/2009
  Q: I live 10 miles South of Boston, I spotted an unusual animal in my backyard and have no idea what it ...
  A: Opossums *do* have a snouty, long nose, and the description you give sounds like opossum to me. You ...
re: your answer about tin cans7/9/2009
  Q: Our neighbor has been finding cans from her recycle bin pulled out and torn apart by some kind of ...
  A: If the cans were really ripped up, it would have to be an animal with really good jaw strength and ...
Squirrel tail isn't bushy7/9/2009
  Q: There is a grey squirrel that has been coming by my bird feeder and I noticed that his/her tail ...
  A: The condition of a mammal's coat can be an indication of overall health. A squirrel with a shabby ...
tin cans7/9/2009
  Q: Our neighbor has been finding cans from her recycle bin pulled out and torn apart by some kind of ...
  A: If the tin cans have any sort of food residue, then almost anything might be attracted. It could be ...
Possums7/8/2009
  Q: Do possums come out during the day because we had one in our yard around noon time & was not sure if ...
  A: Opossum usually sleep during the day. But if they are disturbed by another animal or a human, they ...
Animal Tracks7/7/2009
  Q: I was wondering if you could possibly help me identify some animal tracks. We live in southern ...
  A: Did a bit of searching, but the closest match I could find is a striped skunk: ...
abandoned baby field mice7/7/2009
  Q: i want to feed them through a syringe, i know i should have to pick them up, on their back, while ...
  A: If the babies are very nervous, this might be difficult. But raising orphaned field mice is not ...
fire bellied toad strange behavior7/2/2009
  Q: I recently bought two toads from the local pet shop and one has being strangely grabbing on to the ...
  A: If the grabber is holding on to the grabee just above the tops of the thighs, he might be a male ...
mystery eggs7/1/2009
  Q: I live in Ohio and found some perfectly round eggs. We had a large mound of dirt we intended to ...
  A: You don't say how big they are, but if they are about the size of a ping pong ball, and if you are ...
Pet Raccoon7/1/2009
  Q: We have a baby raccoon and I was wondering if it is illegal to keep it as a pet. I live in North ...
  A: North Carolina has no statewide laws governing the possession of exotic wildlife as pets, and leaves ...
Another snouted animal in Massachusetss7/1/2009
  Q: I am asking this question only because I saw two similar questions that asked about a 15-20 pound ...
  A: The only thing that sounds even remotely similar (but is rarely that big; they usually don't exceed ...
baby robins disappeared from nest6/11/2009
  Q: we have a robins nest in our front shrub. On Sunday we saw three babies in there, feathered but ...
  A: It's more likely that the bird was a predator, and that he removed the baby birds. I can't quite ...
baby duck6/11/2009
  Q: at first i only watched but it started to a road so i got it and put it back into the lake . then ...
  A: The baby probably got separated from his mother, and was not being accepted by strangers. So you ...
Cougar in New Hampshire?6/10/2009
  Q: My husband saw a tan/light brown large cat coming down the mountainous hill behind our house. We ...
  A: There's a lot of controversy surrounding the claims that cougars are being sighted in New England, ...
How to catch a fox6/10/2009
  Q: I have a fox that is killing my chickens It has killed 20 so for. how can i make him move on down ...
  A: As you probably know, foxes are extremely smart, and they know how to avoid a trap or anything ...
nestless birds after a storm6/9/2009
  Q: We had a terrible storm yesterday that blew our robins nest, and the 3 youngins' onto the grass in ...
  A: This is a tough one. If the parent birds are aware that the nest fell, they may not come back to it ...
mystery animal on our property6/9/2009
  Q: At just after dusk, my daughter spotted a raccoon-like animal, coming from our barn, which then ran ...
  A: You don't say where you are, geographically, but if you're in the southern United States you ...
Indian squirrels6/9/2009
  Q: Please could you tell me in what catagory do Indian squirrels fall into? How long do these sleep ...
  A: What do you mean by "category?" Do you mean what phylogenetic classifications? If that is what you ...
unusual opossum behavior6/9/2009
  Q: In our urban garden we often see an oppossum drinking from birdbath and hanging out in out garden ...
  A: While we might not often witness instances of territorial aggression between species, that doesn't ...
Mallard Ducklings6/9/2009
  Q: A female mallard duck has laid her eggs under our azelea bush. She sits on the eggs during the day ...
  A: The male ducks are not likely to harm the eggs, and once they hatch the mother will protect the ...
Bird nest: eggs disappeared.6/3/2009
  Q: We had a bird nest in a rose bush. Nest had three blue speckled eggs. Just checked yesterday (did ...
  A: Blue, speckled eggs are produced by several kinds of birds, but a really common one would be a ...
Robin nest on my balcony: will the eggs hatch?6/3/2009
  Q: We have a robing that has made a nest above my back door but under the balcony. She has been ...
  A: A mother bird shouldn't be away from her eggs for more than about 30 minutes once she's started ...
unknown baby animals6/3/2009
  Q: In a shallow hole in the ground at the base of a tree here in Al,there are 3 gray,hairless ...
  A: I can't tell for sure without seeing them, but it sounds like little cottontail babies. I hope the ...
"Cold blooded" versus "Warm blooded" animals6/3/2009
  Q: hey,my name is maritza and i'm eleven. I was wondering do you know the diffrence incold blooded ...
  A: The terms "cold blooded" and "warm blooded" are not really informative, biologically. There are ...
Animal Identification Assistance6/2/2009
  Q: We live in a rural area outside of Anderson, SC. Anderson is located in western piedmont of South ...
  A: This looks like a grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). They can get to be quite tall at the ...
mallard ducks6/2/2009
  Q: we have a male and female pair she has had babbies that are now 4 /5 weeks old and everytime we try ...
  A: Keep the male separate from the babies, because he could possibly kill them. Some males just have ...
Animal or redneck tracks?6/2/2009
  Q: We woke up with this footprint and lines in the dust on the back van window. We also had a nose ...
  A: Look like human finger tracks to me. Note the five fingers in line, and the single, opposable thumb ...
Found baby rabbit6/1/2009
  Q: I just found a baby rabbit in my backyard. As I came out into the yard, I saw a full sized rabbit ...
  A: Look for a nest in the back yard. If the baby can't move around on his own, he may have somehow ...
Hamster Enclosure5/31/2009
  Q: Im doing a project designing a few animal enclosures, one of them being a SYRIAN hamsters. What sort ...
  A: Wild hamsters are nocturnal, and they come out to forage only at night. Their main activity other ...
odd behavior of grey squirrel5/31/2009
  Q: I noticed some strange behavior by a grey squirrel . I have a large Live Oak tree in my yard and ...
  A: Just how hard was he slamming it? This sounds like a young squirrel at play (the flipping), but ...
Tortoises in New England??5/31/2009
  Q: We live in Northern Coastal Massachusetts and I have lived in Massachusetts all of my live but have ...
  A: I can't really see the identification marks very well from the picture, but from what I *can* see, ...
mallard duck eggs5/31/2009
  Q: Once the duck starts pecking through the shell how long does it take for the duck to hatch
  A: It usually takes only a few hours once hatching has started. If it takes longer, the baby may need ...
Squirrel bites5/30/2009
  Q: A few weeks ago before going to work in the morning a lost baby squirrel made his way to my porch. ...
  A: Under the circumstances, I have to agree with the people urging you to have the little squirrel ...
Robins egg.5/29/2009
  Q: I found a robins egg in the back yard. I wrote a really long o another expert but right when I ...
  A: I have no experience hatching songbird eggs, and everything I've read says it's nearly impossible. ...
Duck eggs5/29/2009
  Q: I have 2 fertilized duck eggs, I don't know how old they are though. One of the eggs hatched 4 days ...
  A: I'm not really an expert on raising poultry (this isn't a wild animal question), but I do know that ...
Pekin Duck Behaviors5/29/2009
  Q: I have a female Pekin who has hatched 10 of her 15 eggs into healthy, strong ducklings. Her mate ...
  A: There's really no telling what the mother duck will do. But her instinct is to keep her babies ...
Snapping Turtle5/28/2009
  Q: I found a turtle on the side of the road yesterday that had just been hit. She looks mentally alert, ...
  A: You can give her the best chance of recovery by bringing her to your closest wildlife rehabilitator ...
Duck eggs5/27/2009
  Q: I have 2 fertilized duck eggs, I don't know how old they are though. One of the eggs hatched 4 days ...
  A: If you crack open the egg, then there's no putting it back together. But note that if the egg is ...
baby robins in nest5/27/2009
  Q: I've noticed the mother bird leaving the nest every time I went out there or was near it, so I tried ...
  A: Good that the babies are okay, after all. :) Removing the nest will make it a bit less likely that ...
Why are crows black?5/27/2009
  Q: You seem to be very knowledgable with animals. I had a question which nobody I've asked could ...
  A: Well, I can't say I *know* the answer. But as an evolutionary biologist, I can probably make some ...
What animals are dangerous to my rabbits?5/27/2009
  Q: I am thirteen and raise and breed rabbits. I am some what of an expert on rabbits ha ha. what ...
  A: If you raise rabbits outdoors, then there are many predators that could put your bunnies at risk. ...
wild mouse?5/26/2009
  Q: I live in the north western part of NY state. We just bought some land way out in the hills. I put ...
  A: Aw, how cute! It sounds as if you are being visited by the very handsome Southern Flying Squirrel, ...
are wallaroos and koalas illegal in the united states, california?5/26/2009
  Q: well i wanted to go to kangaroo island this winter and i was wondering if I got one as a pet if it ...
  A: To find out the regulations regarding exotic pets in California, it's best to contact the ...
pet ducks5/26/2009
  Q: I have 2 ducks my kids got for Easter a few years back. one male and one female. She laid over 50 ...
  A: This is more of a pet duck question than a wild duck question, and I'm not a duck farming expert. ...
baby robins abandoned?5/26/2009
  Q: i had a robin lay 4 eggs on my front porch door wreath. I have been observing. finally 4 babies. a ...
  A: The parent birds are probably still feeding the babies if they are still alive, so keep a close ...
looks like a chipmunk or a ferret5/26/2009
  Q: I live in north east ohio, an area of woodland and farmland, during the last few days (its late may ...
  A: Without seeing it myself (or in a photo), I can't know for sure. But your description sounds like a ...
Panther Prides5/25/2009
  Q: Do Panthers live in prides like Lions? I work in a school district and want to name a program for ...
  A: A "panther" is actually not a species. It is a melanistic (i.e., unusually darkly pigmented) big ...
A rodent we cannot identify5/25/2009
  Q: I live on the central coast of California, about 5 miles from the coast. We have found different ...
  A: The most likely ID of your little mystery rodents is a Kangaroo Rat. You can see pictures here: ...
Arctic Wolves and Polar Bears5/25/2009
  Q: if so i would like to know how they coexist with each other
  A: You can find a range map for the Arctic Wolf here: ...
squirrel chewing aluminum furniture, more5/24/2009
  Q: I noticed an earlier question from another NC resident. We have squirrels doing the same thing (I've ...
  A: I still have to say that this is really weird behavior, and I have no idea why they do it. Aluminum ...
baby robins in nest5/24/2009
  Q: I've noticed the mother bird leaving the nest every time I went out there or was near it, so I tried ...
  A: There is nothing you can do to save the baby bird. Once a parent bird has abandoned the nest, it ...
the fox; rehab and release5/24/2009
  Q: i do apologize if i am asking the wrong person. I need help with finding out why and how things ...
  A: I'm not an expert on rehabilitating foxes. But I do know that if a kind-hearted rescuer doesn't ...
Small black mammal5/23/2009
  Q: On a country road in coastal North Carolina below Wilmington I saw what I first thought was a couple ...
  A: There are lots of rodents that have short tails. Might these have been voles? Here's a list of ...
found 8 baby jack rabbits5/23/2009
  Q: I found in a burrow in the middle of my garden, 8 baby jack rabbits. I wish I could of left them ...
  A: Please see: www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf It's really a shame that you could not tell the ...
Nesting grackles are dive bombing!5/22/2009
  Q: For the first time we have grackels nesting in our fir tree. We can hear the chirps of babies in ...
  A: There's really no way to prevent that dive bombing except to stay away from the nest for a couple of ...
Fox-like animal5/22/2009
  Q: I saw this animal in Silver Spring MD. It looks like a fox, but the ears seemed a bit smaller, the ...
  A: You say the animal looked healthy, but it sounds as if it might be a fox or even a coyote with a ...
Identify type of animal5/22/2009
  Q: My friend and I saw an animal yesterday on a golf course in Linden, MI. It was rather long in body, ...
  A: It sounds like a coyote. These are found throughout the U.S., and are becoming more common in ...
Alabama wildlife: Fox or Coyote?5/21/2009
  Q: i have seen a dog like animal in my back yard its gray in color and is real bushy i was wondering ...
  A: You don't say how big this animal is, but the description could be either a gray fox (Urocyon ...
Bobcat/domestic cat hybrid kittens5/20/2009
  Q: My mom and I are taking care of a black mamma cat fairly small and a outdoor cat, for some friends ...
  A: Although there have been reports of hybridization between domestic cats (Cattus cattus) and bobcats ...
duck nest with some missing eggs5/20/2009
  Q: I live in an urban environment--but a wild duck nested in the flower bed by my front door. She is ...
  A: If you're in an urban area, then the most likely culprit would be an opossum or a raccoon. If it ...
baby robins found dead5/20/2009
  Q: we (my husband) and i had a robin's nest on our privacy fence. the babies finally hatched and the ...
  A: How sad. I'm sorry for this very awful outcome. The only thing I can imagine happening is that some ...
a sick mourning dove5/20/2009
  Q: Ok so my golden retriever found this morning dove the other day and as you may know goldens have ...
  A: This is a very sick bird, and helping him is beyond your capacity right now. You need to get him to ...
Baby Robins5/19/2009
  Q: P.S. I am feeding them(one who is eating)bread and milk but really, really small proportions.
  A: You must NEVER disturb a wild bird's nest. Not only is it illegal in all states, but trying to feed ...
Luna Moth5/19/2009
  Q: I am teacher and would like to keep eggs from my luna moths for the next school year. Do their eggs ...
  A: Boy, this one's pretty much out of my league, as I'm not an entomologist. But I would guess that ...
robin eggs5/19/2009
  Q: we have a robin's nest in our backyard and yesterday a neighboor boy was in the backyard and i came ...
  A: If the mother bird had not yet started brooding the eggs, then there's a good chance she may even ...
baby ducks wilted foot5/19/2009
  Q: I wonder if there is a hope for our baby duck. Today his little foot looks like a wilted leaf..the ...
  A: Please get the little duck to a good avian vet, whom you can find in your local yellow pages. I ...
Mother duck5/18/2009
  Q: We live near a small lake in which Canadian Geese and Mallard Ducks inhabit. We've noticed this ...
  A: Something must have happened to the mother, because these ducklings are nowhere big enough for her ...
Robins5/18/2009
  Q: I have a robin's nest outside my window in a pine tree and 4 eggs have hatched. When I looked in ...
  A: Egg shell color can vary depending on the mother's state of health, and it's not likely to reflect ...
orphine squrrel dies after having him 4-5 months5/17/2009
  Q: im just wondering how my rocky (squirrel)died......how we got him was he came crawling out of a tree ...
  A: I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. Unfortunately, as you may have seen from my other ...
Mystery killer5/17/2009
  Q: Last night something got into our chicken coop, killing and partially eating one Brahma hen and ...
  A: I think a more likely culprit would be a raccoon. These big carnivores are plenty strong enough to ...
Need to identify animal5/17/2009
  Q: We live 40 miles north of Atlanta. Recently we have been seeing these dark liquidy deposits around ...
  A: This doesn't look like normal fecal matter. It looks more like runny stool, which could have been ...
black panther5/16/2009
  Q: I live on 18 acres have geese,ducks, chickens,etc. Animals have been missing. So we got a humane ...
  A: You don't say where you are, geographically, or I might be better able to help you. But I'll try to ...
Duck nesting5/16/2009
  Q: We have had a duck nesting in a flower bed next to our house. There were 14 eggs in the nest-we ...
  A: Normal incubation of duck eggs takes about 28-30 days, so it's highly unlikely that the eggs ...
Injured chipmunk??5/16/2009
  Q: There is a injured chipmunk in my garage that is unable to leave. There is no visible injury that I ...
  A: It would not be wise for you to handle the little guy without heavy protection (thick leather ...
Fight between 10 wolves and a Grizzly Bear5/15/2009
  Q: I know you don't like answering these kind of questions but it's very important, I've been arguing ...
  A: You misread my instructions. It's not that I don't "like" to answer questions like this. It's that ...
Ducks in my pool5/15/2009
  Q: Good afternoon. For the past 4 weeks a male and female duck have been landing on the cover of my ...
  A: I'm not an expert on duck husbandry, so can't really tell you whether corn is safe for the babies. ...
Mallard duck nesting5/15/2009
  Q: A duck laid 16 eggs in my back garden which is quite near to a small pond which they frequent. This ...
  A: Most likely, someone found the nest and raided it. There are some predators that will eat an entire ...
Newborn Deer5/14/2009
  Q: On 13 May 2009, some co-workers witnessed a deer giving birth to her baby. The people went outside ...
  A: Sadly, what's done is done. The people should not have disturbed the mother deer, and once she had ...
I haved moved a robins nest without knowing5/14/2009
  Q: during the process of getting my daughters bikes down from the pole barn shead rafters, I have ...
  A: It's unfortunate that the nest was moved, but it was an accident, and these things happen. You ...
Duck eggs5/14/2009
  Q: We have noticed that recently there have been ducks swimming in our pool. Yesterday we found an ...
  A: The egg is not likely to be viable if it spent any amount of time in a chlorinated pool. Not only ...
Nesolagus netscheri5/14/2009
  Q: I am a college student studying in singapore and taking an A level subject of Project Work this ...
  A: This lagomorph species is critically endangered, and, as you probably already know, exists (if it is ...
polar bears5/13/2009
  Q: I'm doing a project on polar bears. I'm wondering if an artificial habitat for the polar bears is ...
  A: There are already many zoos that house polar bears pretty successfully. The problem, of course, is ...
animal introduction5/13/2009
  Q: were there any cases where animal introduction to other countries worked?
  A: I'm not aware of many "good" introductions of exotic species to places where they didn't evolve. ...
polar bears5/13/2009
  Q: is it possible for polar bears to survive in Antarctica? what about with human's help?
  A: It is possible that polar bears could survive in Antarctica, but remember that global warming is ...
Injured duck5/13/2009
  Q: I live in an apartment complex with a few lakes and there are a lot of ducks and geese. I have two ...
  A: If this is a wild native duck (i.e., a Mallard, and not an exotic Muscovy or Pekin duck), then your ...
Mallard Ducklings5/12/2009
  Q: Saturday evening I was driving home and saw that a bunch of little kids were kicking around a baby ...
  A: You are very kind to have rescued the baby duck. Sadly, there is absolutely no way to know why he ...
duck eggs left unattended5/12/2009
  Q: I have a nest of 10 duck eggs that the mother duck has seemed to abandon. I'm afraid something ...
  A: A duck will usually lay one egg a day until she has a full clutch, and only then will she begin to ...
mother rabbit behavior5/11/2009
  Q: First of all let me say how lucky we are to observe this wild rabbit's behavior and see her new born ...
  A: The wild rabbit in your yard, if it's truly a wild rabbit native to the U.S., is a cottontail ...
Pekin Duck Eggs5/11/2009
  Q: I would like to see some pictures of duck eggs especially the Pekin Duck. I've tried a few sites ...
  A: You can find all the pictures and information you need here: ...
Reason who Parent eat their new born5/11/2009
  Q: I understand that there is a kind of animal that is able to know if their young will grow up to be ...
  A: I don't know of any species that are documented to be able to tell if their offspring are "faulty" ...
fostering baby birds, i think thy're Robins5/11/2009
  Q: Will a mother bird of a different species, that is taking care of her own baby birds take in a ...
  A: Don't put the orphan in another bird's nest. This will potentially threaten the life and health of ...
Red panda5/10/2009
  Q: What to day are people or programs are doing to preserve the red pandas and what laws are being held ...
  A: This sounds like a homework question or project, and I'm not going to do that work for you. But you ...
baby wren eggs5/10/2009
  Q: A wren built a nest between the tin roof and the insulation inside our cabin.The tin gets extremely ...
  A: If it's already been 15 days and the mother is still incubating the eggs, then things are okay. If ...
baby birds5/10/2009
  Q: ok so we have had a nest in the newspaper part of our mailbox for about a year now and this is the ...
  A: You can remove the dead baby and bury it, but don't disturb the nest any more than you already have. ...
Black cat seen in Michigan5/9/2009
  Q: At the end of April last year I was returning home from picking Morel mushrooms in the woods along ...
  A: The largest cat that you'd expect to see in Michigan would be a bobcat. Although the cougar and lynx ...
baby blue jay5/9/2009
  Q: We found a baby blue jay and raised it for at least a month until it could fly. and now we think we ...
  A: The parents are long gone by now. Until the baby is fully fledged, he cannot be released. But the ...
Bunnies5/9/2009
  Q: HELP!!! I saved a baby bunny about 2 inches long from being hit by a car!!!! I let it sleep on a ...
  A: Hoo boy. If this is a wild cottontail, it could be anywhere. They are true escape artists, and can ...
Robin's Nest5/9/2009
  Q: A Robin has built a nest in the top tier of a 6 foot plant stand. My concern is that there is not ...
  A: Parent birds don't always make what we consider wise choices when it comes to nest sites. This one ...
Mallard Ducks5/9/2009
  Q: A female duck has laid her eggs(8) in a wooden planter that rests on the top 6" railing of a wooden ...
  A: This wasn't very good planning on the mama duck's part. But baby ducks are *very* light and bouncy, ...
Robin egg5/8/2009
  Q: I have had a robin egg for a week and i found it on the fence while my mom was mowing. there is a ...
  A: The egg you have is probably not viable. If there are no other eggs in the nest on your swingset, ...
robins hatching/parenting behaviors5/8/2009
  Q: I had a robin's nest in a tall bush next to my deck. I watched the changes regularly being careful ...
  A: Five days is not long enough for the babies to have fledged and left the nest, and the parent birds ...
Reason who Parent eat their new born5/7/2009
  Q: I understand that there is a kind of animal that is able to know if their young will grow up to be ...
  A: Yes, it appears to be true that some animals can sense when a member of a litter is genetically ...
found bunny5/7/2009
  Q: Kremples, I am 13 years old and i found a bunny outside in our barn. We think it is a house ...
  A: Please share this web site with your parents: www.rabbit.org Rabbits are fantastic companions, and ...
Baby Hawk?5/6/2009
  Q: What type of bird is this? It was found in the middle of a desert in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was ...
  A: It's definitely not a baby hawk (i.e., bird of prey hawk, such as Buteo, Accipiter, etc.). Very ...
concerned about sick baby duck5/6/2009
  Q: i have to baby mallards and one of them is active very much. the other is calm slow and seems ...
  A: The baby duck may be ill, and in need of veterinary care. Check your local yellow pages for a ...
White pekin duck eggs5/6/2009
  Q: I am incubating white pekin duck eggs, the eggs have been in the incubator for 28 days. A couple of ...
  A: Normal eggs don't turn black, so I suspect these may not be viable, and are rotten. Incubation ...
Robin/chicks /eggs5/5/2009
  Q: all seemed well until i found one of the chicks laying on the drive so i kept it warm and waited for ...
  A: Without having necropsy information on the dead babies, it's not possible to know for sure if they ...
strange critter seen in CT shore area?5/5/2009
  Q: About 1/2 mile from marsh and LI Sound, in suburban area of CT, I saw a small animal cross road ...
  A: Without seeing it, I can only make a guess. But what you describe sounds like an opossum, and ...
Afraid of this animal5/5/2009
  Q: Yesterday I came home and I saw a hole in my yard. The hole was approximately. 6-8 centimeters and a ...
  A: If the animal was striped and living in a self-dug burrow, it wasn't a rat. It is far more likely ...
Wild animal kills but doesn't eat birds5/5/2009
  Q: My mother lives in Ventura County in Southern California. Last night an animal pushed through wire ...
  A: Any number of suburban predators might be responsible for this, and there's no way to know without ...
why are swell shark are gowing to be extinct5/4/2009
  Q: i whont to know why swellsharks are gowing extinct and why they are rare please reply
  A: Currently, the Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) is officially listed as a "species of least ...
Raccoon biting her tail5/4/2009
  Q: My pet raccoon is a year old. She has starting biting the end of her tail until it bleeds. She has ...
  A: Herbal medicines are not going to hurt, but they obviously are not helping. I think it's time to ...
Newborn Robins5/3/2009
  Q: Yesterday 4 beautiful little Robins took their first breath in a nest under our awning. I have been ...
  A: Yes, the parents may be gone for long periods of time as they forage for insects to feed their ...
robin's nest5/3/2009
  Q: I had a robin try to build a nest on floodlights attached to our screened in deck. I deterred that ...
  A: Oddly enough, it's actually illegal to tamper with the nest of a songbird or any migratory bird, ...
Out door birds5/3/2009
  Q: I have a birds nest right out side my living room window so my daughter and I always watch it. But I ...
  A: Very few species of birds have any sense of smell at all, so if you make the nest more secure while ...
large wild cat?5/3/2009
  Q: I live in Austin, Texas on the outskirts of the city, in wooded area beside Lake Austin. I was ...
  A: There are several large cats native to Texas, but few of them would be likely to inhabit suburban ...
baby raccoons with diarrhea5/3/2009
  Q: I am a volunteer wildlife rescue rehab and have been doing so for about 6 years. I have a bay that ...
  A: I'm not an expert at raising baby raccoons, but I can tell you that diarrhea in a baby is serious, ...
pollination5/2/2009
  Q: Do some animals pollinate? If so, can you name two or three? Only interested in animals found in ...
  A: If by "animals" you mean mammals, then mammalian pollinators are very uncommon in the United States. ...
Abandoned Baby Robin5/2/2009
  Q: I found a baby robin (North America) that has been on the ground for more than 2 hours with no sight ...
  A: Ordinarily, a baby bird on the ground is being tended by its parents. It's possible that they were ...
PUMA,PANTHER ?4/17/2009
  Q: DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, ABOUT ONE MILE FROM NUSE RIVER IN WAYNE CO N.C. A LARGE CAT THE SIZE ...
  A: Yes, a cougar will often drag a deer carcass up into a tree and cache it there to protect it from ...
Baby Armadillo4/17/2009
  Q: Do baby armadillos have to be stimulated to use the bathroom?
  A: I've never raised an armadillo, so don't know for sure. But if in doubt, go ahead and stimulate. ...
Foxes in Chicago4/17/2009
  Q: Over the past two weeks my wife and I have both seen a fox in our neighborhood on more than three ...
  A: As we humans destroy more and more wild habitat, certain species are taking up residence alongside ...
Bobcats4/17/2009
  Q: I live in Florida on 5 acres and have recently seen a Bobcat. My concern is will the Bobcat jump a 6 ...
  A: If a bobcat wants to get to a potential prey item, a six foot fence is not much of a barrier. Your ...
PUMA,PANTHER ?4/17/2009
  Q: DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING, ABOUT ONE MILE FROM NUSE RIVER IN WAYNE CO N.C. A LARGE CAT THE SIZE ...
  A: This does sound like a mountain lion (Felis concolor) sighting. If it had a long tail, it's not ...
Wild mouse4/7/2009
  Q: My cat had a mouse in her mouth and a retrieved it from her. The mouse doesn't seem to have any ...
  A: If the mouse is still so stressed that it's not moving and has its eyes closed, then try placing it ...
baby rabbit4/7/2009
  Q: I have a baby rabbit that just opened its eyes and he started to get really puffy and in a ball i ...
  A: If this is a wild rabbit, he should be returned to his nest immediately, if possible. Please see: ...
Identity strange animal on my property4/7/2009
  Q: about a year ago my husband and I bought a home in North East Ohio region. The property has a pond. ...
  A: This sounds like a muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). He's harmless, and a normal, native denizen of ...
Canada Goose4/7/2009
  Q: A Canada Gosling showed up in our yard last spring. It was too small to take care of itself so we ...
  A: These days, sexing birds is as simple as getting a blood sample, which is where the DNA is ...
Injured rabbit4/6/2009
  Q: Our outdoor cat has injured a rabbit (near full size/not a small youngster). I found the cat and ...
  A: In a case like this, the internet isn't the best place to seek advice; it's better to get the ...
new born raccoon4/6/2009
  Q: My cat, who is very small, a scrawny 7 lbs, brought us what we're pretty sure is a baby raccoon ...
  A: The baby's best chance is to be turned over to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator *now*, rather than ...
Injured duck4/6/2009
  Q: I have a duck that is limping and I just recently noticed that since I couldn't get close enough ...
  A: I wish I could magically wave a wand and make her better, but if you are truly concerned about her ...
wild animals in rolla,mo.3/4/2009
  Q: I was trying to find out what kind of wild animals are in Rolla Mo. We just moved here not to long ...
  A: I hope your dogs are okay. But if you just recently moved to the new place and let the dogs out ...
health risks from skunk spray3/3/2009
  Q: The school where my children attend, was sprayed by a skunk either in the furnace, or into the ...
  A: While there are no known *lasting* health effects from skunk spray, I certainly would not want to be ...
raccoon vs. dog: former friends are now fighting3/3/2009
  Q: i raised a raccoon and he is 2 years old in april.he grew up and always plays with my 7 year old ...
  A: Your raccoon is not only now sexually mature, but he is full of spring hormones, and he seems to now ...
wild rabbit behavior3/3/2009
  Q: Coming home this evening, there was a wild rabbit sitting in the middle of the road. It didn't move ...
  A: The behavior you describe is very unusual for a rabbit. Since you don't have custody of the rabbit, ...
Animal tracks by the stream3/2/2009
  Q: Dana-Great resume' and thanks for your efforts. Do not know where to start but this seemed like a ...
  A: It's hard to get a good, clear print of a snow print, but you can get a reasonable photograph if the ...
animal captivity3/1/2009
  Q: Some people think animals should not be pets because it is cruel. What do you think?
  A: As long as a non-human animal is well fed, given very comfortable, enriched surroundings, gets ...
animal captivity3/1/2009
  Q: What do you think about animals in Sea World?
  A: Personally, I don't think that animals as intelligent as dolphins, porpoises and whales should be ...
injured whitetail doe3/1/2009
  Q: This is a l0 year old doe, that was orphaned and I bottle fed her and released her back into the ...
  A: I appreciate your dilemma. Ace promazine is a very powerful sedative, and I don't think I'd resort ...
Raccoon killed a squirrel2/18/2009
  Q: I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't hear and see it for myself. I heard a horrible screechy ...
  A: Raccoons are opportunistic predators, and if they can corner and capture small mammals and birds, ...
taxonomy2/17/2009
  Q: Could you briefly break down what taxonomy is and its subgroups for me please?
  A: Taxonomy is the science of describing and naming living organisms, and nesting them into a hierarchy ...
What kind of cat2/17/2009
  Q: I got this picture in July of 2008 in the hills of north central Tennessee. Can you help me identify ...
  A: Dang. I still can't see the tail, which would give us the answer. If it was long, I'd say this ...
What kind of cat2/17/2009
  Q: I got this picture in the mountains of north Central Tennessee on my tree cam in July of 2008 it is ...
  A: Apparently, there have been rumors of cougar (mountain lion) sightings in TN, and an animal that is ...
identify burrowing and pooping animal in children's yard2/16/2009
  Q: I live near Raleigh, NC in a neighborhood which used to be a field. Recently, we have noticed what ...
  A: The mole tunnels could well be from moles or gophers (the latter is more likely). But I doubt that ...
Strange animal noise2/15/2009
  Q: This is the 3rd time i have heard this noise. All times i have been at home during the night, and ...
  A: From 'way over here in Miami, FL I can only make a guess. Might it be a Kokaburra? Check out the ...
caring for baby jackrabbit(it cant stand up)2/14/2009
  Q: Dana, Last night my cat brought up a baby jack rabbit. She dropped it when the dog ran up to her & ...
  A: It doesn't sound good for the poor baby. It sounds as if the cat really injured him very badly, and ...
animal sighting2/14/2009
  Q: My husband saw a strange animal in a heavily wooded section of road in New Bern, NC. It was about ...
  A: My guess would be that your husband saw a coyote in its winter fur, which is very thick. Some ...
Sugar Gliders evolution and common ancestors2/13/2009
  Q: school project, if you could give me some of it adaptions and the common ancestors that would be ...
  A: Sugar Gliders are marsupials, which means they share a common ancestor with animals such as ...
what in the world did we see?2/13/2009
  Q: My husband and I were driving to the train station around 5:45 AM this morning (so it was still very ...
  A: This might surprise you, but it sounds as if you might have seen a very young squirrel. They do have ...
Dead duck2/12/2009
  Q: Ok, on Sunday our outcast rooster came up missing. No signs of anything but a couple feathers. Which ...
  A: I'm sorry about the loss of your duck. The signs left by the predator suggest it could have been ...
Black mambas2/12/2009
  Q: I would like to find out if the black mamba and green mamba are related in any way or if the Black ...
  A: The black and green mamba are very closely related to each other, and are classified in the same ...
Hybrid mammals2/11/2009
  Q: Why can't different types of mammals impregnate each other? Is it at all possible for a Human to ...
  A: A species is defined as a group of similar organisms that can breed together to produce fertile, ...
Rodent Identification in NYC2/11/2009
  Q: I saw what I believe to be a rodent tonight while I was walking my dog. It was very large, about the ...
  A: The rat-like creature you saw was a Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) , the only marsupial ...
green hornets2/10/2009
  Q: are green hornets poisonous because we found my neighbors cat dead with a green hornet in its mouth ...
  A: The venom from any stinging wasp, bee or ant is toxic, but usually not deadly. I don't know what ...
Fisher sighting in MD2/3/2009
  Q: I saw an unusual looking animal dart across the road in Westminster, MD. After looking at some ...
  A: Fishers (Martes pennanti) have been recorded in Maryland, and their range seems to be increasing in ...
job2/3/2009
  Q: i would like to know more about your job. i want to study animals but i want to interact and help ...
  A: If you would like to work with animals, then a good starting place is to volunteer with a ...
mother rabbit2/2/2009
  Q: We had a rabbit's nest in our front flower bed. I've enjoyed watching the mother come and go. ...
  A: How sad. Mama rabbit will grieve for a few days, and her mammary glands will be sore because she ...
Cat tracks2/2/2009
  Q: My wife and I was hiking in Silver River State Park, Florida and we saw very large cat tracks along ...
  A: Historically, Felis concolor (the mountain lion, of which the Florida Panther is a subspecies, Felis ...
flying squirrels2/1/2009
  Q: We have an antique wood house in Connecticut. We have flying squirrels in the walls that have also ...
  A: If you seal them in, then their fate is exactly what you said, which is not an option. The ...
Question about coyotes1/26/2009
  Q: I live in downtown Vancouver BC and I have a question regarding coyotes. There is a rumor going on ...
  A: I hate to say it, but it's not at all unlikely that you have an urban coyote living in the park. ...
Panacur as an EC prevention in domestic rabbits1/26/2009
  Q: What are your views about using Panacur as a preventive medicine against EC. I've used it after EC ...
  A: It's a good question. I wish I had a good answer. Since no one really knows how effective Panacur ...
wild mice1/26/2009
  Q: i hand raise 5 wild mice about 2 months ago. there are 2 males and 3 females. my mom hates the fact ...
  A: Where did you find the mice? They will do best if you release them where you found the nest. If ...
unidentified animal1/26/2009
  Q: I was coming up our driveway and there was an animal walking back and forth across the drive. My ...
  A: The only thing that even remotely fits the description you give is an opossum. They can vary in ...
raccoon care1/21/2009
  Q: I saw your webpage about raccoon care and I have a question. I'm writing a novel about 19th ...
  A: Back in those days, people would usually use cow's milk. But a much better and healthier alternative ...
How soon can baby rabbits eat solids?1/20/2009
  Q: how soon can you feed babies solid foods
  A: All the information you need for the babies can be found here: ...
duck eggs: are they edible?1/20/2009
  Q: I had bought a pekin duck back in June for my daughter as a pet. The weather has been bellow zero ...
  A: (Sorry for the delay. We had some family crises over the weekend, but they are now resolved, and ...
Mysterious droppings!1/20/2009
  Q: I've noticed black droppings around my house. I thought it was a mouse. I purchased a glue trapped. ...
  A: The animal that left the droppings might not have been the same that got caught on the trap. But if ...
strange looking animal poop1/18/2009
  Q: I live in Chattanooga TN. I went out my front door today and by my steeps there as some poop shaped ...
  A: Without seeing the poop, it's nearly impossible for me to identify it. However, if there was a ...
Antlers & Horns1/16/2009
  Q: What are the differences, if any, between antlers & horns? Also, are there other kinds of these ...
  A: Though the composition of antlers is similar to that of bone, antlers are *not* true bone, and not ...
Can't find the word1/16/2009
  Q: There's a word used to describe baby animals that I can't find anywhere. It means something like ...
  A: I don't know any such word that sounds like "schewby," but I think the word you're looking for is ...
Komodo Dragons1/14/2009
  Q: I am a second grader. could you please answer these questions? How ...
  A: In answer to your questions about Komodo Dragons: 1. How long does it take to die from one bite? ...
mystery land animal1/14/2009
  Q: I live in Oswego il. We have a lot of open land and there are a lot of hunters out here. One early ...
  A: It's hard to guess from the description, but if you say this was the size of a raccoon, could it ...
Panther1/14/2009
  Q: I live in Fayetteville NC. In 2000 I first heard a hiss growl. It was cold, snow on the ground and ...
  A: The mountain lion (Felis concolor) is found statewide in North Carolina, though it is listed as ...
duck mating and nesting1/13/2009
  Q: I have a female buff duck, a female swedish blue, and a Mr. and Mrs. Mallard. They're all nearing 1 ...
  A: Mr. Mallard will likely mate with as many females as accept him. If the females start brooding ...
Monkeys1/13/2009
  Q: I was given a "20 questions" game for Christmas whereby you answer "yes", "no", "sometimes" or ...
  A: Like many things in biology, terminology can be confusing when you use common names instead of the ...
opossum relocation1/13/2009
  Q: Is it true that oppossums cannot be relocated? The school I work for is setting traps for them ...
  A: You have got to be kidding me. This is supposed to be a *rescue* group? You have several options ...
Skull found1/12/2009
  Q: my dogs found a skull in our woods that we thought was interesting and was wondering what it was. On ...
  A: You don't say where you are, geographically, which makes it nearly impossible for me to confidently ...
What animal has this kind of droppings1/12/2009
  Q: My backyard always has alot of animals, like voles, rabbits and other rodents. The only thing they ...
  A: This could be from a raccoon, or possibly a very large opossum. If you're not sure, then do not ...
opossum relocation1/11/2009
  Q: Is it true that oppossums cannot be relocated? The school I work for is setting traps for them ...
  A: I've never heard that opossums cannot be relocated for any reason that's attributable to the ...
wild rabbit hit by car1/11/2009
  Q: I found a wild rabbit (full grown) still alive after being hit by a car. the legs all seem ok. his ...
  A: It is impossible for me to know how the bunny will do without seeing him, and sometimes these things ...
why might wolves appear more confident around people1/11/2009
  Q: I am doing a home study course on wolves and have a question that I could do with some help with ...
  A: There are many possible reasons that wolves might be less shy in one region than another, and I'll ...
Wild rabbits1/10/2009
  Q: Two rabbits were feeding in my driveway before dawn today. I had thrown sunflower seeds, cracked ...
  A: You're very kind to provide for the wild rabbits. You can get hay at most good feed stores, and if ...
Wild rabbits1/10/2009
  Q: Two rabbits were feeding in my driveway before dawn today. I had thrown sunflower seeds, cracked ...
  A: None of those starchy foods are particularly good for a rabbit, which is a strict herbivore. I'd ...
Wild Guinea Pigs1/8/2009
  Q: Could you tell me what a guinea pig's natural habitat is like, in terms of size, resources and ...
  A: The wild ancestors of domestic guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) (and wild cavy species of today) were ...
how?1/8/2009
  Q: how do u get all these answers, oh and by the way, that question the other guy asked was the same ...
  A: I get the answers largely from my own experience with animals, and from over 30 years as a ...
Sick squirrel1/7/2009
  Q: My father found a baby squirrel 6 years ago, believing that the its mother was hit by a car he took ...
  A: For something this serious (possibly an infected tooth root that has contributed to a respiratory ...
The cruelty of hunting1/6/2009
  Q: I recently saw some hunting show on tv where rich white americans go to africa and basically murder ...
  A: I share your disgust with the practice of shooting wild animals as they just go on about their daily ...
What is it?1/6/2009
  Q: Last night one of my cats was watching some mice eat some birdseed that I leave out for the birds. ...
  A: Squirrels and chipmunks are diurnal, so it's very doubtful that this was either of those. Your ...
Animal identification1/5/2009
  Q: I live in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana on about 300 acres. I have noticed an animal that is a ...
  A: I was originally thinking a mink or a fisher, but neither one would typically have a white-tipped ...
Praying Mantis1/5/2009
  Q: I found a pregnant Praying Manis in my backyard in September or October and it was already getting ...
  A: The sponge and water was a good idea, and that will keep them comfortable for now. I have my doubts ...
Animal identification1/4/2009
  Q: I live in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana on about 300 acres. I have noticed an animal that is a ...
  A: Hard to guess without seeing a picture, but is it possible you have a woodchuck in your ...
mystery mouse1/4/2009
  Q: my son found a mouse in our house that my cat was trying to catch,it is about two inches ...
  A: It's not a good idea to keep the mouse in captivity. Not only are wild mice very nervous and likely ...
Baby Field mice1/3/2009
  Q: I found a nest of baby field mice at work and two adults - I had no way to take them home right away ...
  A: While it's not all that likely that the babies you've found carry it, the main risk from wild ...
Coyote scat1/2/2009
  Q: How do I stop coyotes from leaving scat on my deck and around my driveway
  A: If you can't fence the area to exclude the animals, then you might try one of these coyote-repellent ...
how do you not suffer with the animals?1/2/2009
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I deeply respect your obvious love towards non-human animals and expertise. I know ...
  A: And thank you for sharing the good news about Little Big Ears. I know there are probably lots of ...
Animals & Shiny Objects12/31/2008
  Q: What animals are attracted to shiny objects?
  A: Many different types of animals are attracted to shiny objects. Primates (including humans!) love ...
Golden Lion Tamarins12/30/2008
  Q: What adaptations do golden lion tamarins have to protect themselves?
  A: All tamarins are pretty vulnerable animals, being very small and lacking any good weapons such as ...
Buried animal poop12/30/2008
  Q: In the last two weeks I have found a few places in my back yard where an animal has pooped 2-3 ...
  A: Few animals cover their feces, and though you say this isn't a cat's poop, I wonder if you might ...
jaguar/mountain lion hybrid12/30/2008
  Q: Is a jaguar/mountain lion (or cougar if you prefer) hybrid possible? If so, would such a phenomenon ...
  A: It is very unlikely that a cougar/mountain lion would mate with a jaguar in the wild. Their ranges ...
opossum12/29/2008
  Q: We have a very young opossum living in our car port. He comes out daily to feed on bird seed that ...
  A: A very young or very HUNGRY opossum will be active during the daylight at dawn and dusk, but usually ...
how do you not suffer with the animals?12/29/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I deeply respect your obvious love towards non-human animals and expertise. I know ...
  A: Your family and all the people who work with you are lucky to have such an empathic, sensitive, ...
camel behavior12/29/2008
  Q: Krempels, Several years ago I spent some time in Tunisia. I was in a village amongst a group of ...
  A: Camels do chew their cud. What you may have seen was the camel bringing up a ball of cud (this is ...
What kind of cat is this12/27/2008
  Q: I got this picture with a tree cam. in JULY 2008 in Tennessee. Its not focused very will, but please ...
  A: Since only the animal's back is visible, I can't be 100% sure, but this looks to be a cougar ...
Oppossum in our yard12/26/2008
  Q: We're in Ventura, California by the beach, and tonight (Christmas) when I came home around 6:30 (it ...
  A: In answer to your questions: 1. Don't feed her. This will only encourage her to stay close by, ...
Shrew?12/24/2008
  Q: My cat got this little guy in our back room. I live in Missouri. He's certainly not a mouse, ...
  A: That's a shrew, all right. But you're right: the coloration is very unusual. This appears to be a ...
Southern Flying Squirrel12/23/2008
  Q: I have a pet flying squirrel, have had it for two years. Darling and very tame. I just got another ...
  A: While it's not likely that your little squirrel was exposed to rabies, it's not a bad idea to ...
animal sighted12/22/2008
  Q: My children and I spotted an animal in the woods by our house. It resembles a large Ferret or Mink ...
  A: If it's a fisher, then there are probably strict hunting regulations regarding shooting and ...
Ferrets in the wild12/21/2008
  Q: Is it true that healthy working ferrets cannot survive in the wild, and if so why not?
  A: Like most domesticated animals turned loose, a domesticated ferret will have a hard time adjusting ...
My mourning dove is sick I think?12/21/2008
  Q: My morning dove keeps breathing heavy and opens his mouth sometimes when he breaths. I don't know ...
  A: The appropriate antibiotic to use will depend on what bacteria are causing the infection. If your ...
deer covered with leafs12/20/2008
  Q: a friend shot a deer on the evening of 12/19/08 in north east Arkansas. He shot it just before dark ...
  A: A coyote is far less likely to cover a kill with leaves when it finishes its meal. My guess--given ...
My mourning dove is sick I think?12/20/2008
  Q: My morning dove keeps breathing heavy and opens his mouth sometimes when he breaths. I don't know ...
  A: Never give antibiotics to a bird (or any animal) without consulting a veterinarian. There are many ...
Scat Identification12/20/2008
  Q: Apologies if this is not in your expertise but I've run out of credible friends to ask and none of ...
  A: You don't say where you are, but this scat could be from a coyote (deer hair is suspicious), or even ...
sex life of lion12/18/2008
  Q: how many time a loin sex in day (normally) ,,, 200 or 300
  A: When a female lion is in heat, she may mate as often as 4-5 times an hour. Add this up over the ...
Strange little animal...12/18/2008
  Q: I live in Westland, MI and I keep seeing this weird looking animal in my backyard. To give you a ...
  A: If you live near a body of water, then muskrat is definitely a possibility. They are rounder than ...
squirrels12/17/2008
  Q: A squirrel was getting into the attic, through a hole in the fascia. I took the fascia board down to ...
  A: In a case like this, your guess is as good as mine. But from your description of the sequence of ...
Mystery animal in New Jersey12/17/2008
  Q: Krempels, We live in Little Falls, NJ. Although it's a population-dense town 15 miles from NYC, our ...
  A: The animal in the photograph looks like a goat. But if you have other pictures to share in which it ...
Strange little animal...12/17/2008
  Q: I live in Westland, MI and I keep seeing this weird looking animal in my backyard. To give you a ...
  A: Could this be a mink or a weasel? Did you do a Google search for images of them? This sounds like ...
evolution12/17/2008
  Q: I recently sent an e-mail to you but I've been having problems with my e-mail and didn't receive ...
  A: I finally found my response to your previous email, and it shows that it was read. But in case you ...
Wild animals naturally afraid of humans.12/17/2008
  Q: Why does animals so afraid of us?
  A: Most wild animals show a natural fear of humans because natural selection has made them that way. ...
Ducks12/15/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels, A group of us were discussing animal attacks on humans the other evening and were ...
  A: I'm sure that ducks have "attacked" humans plenty of times. They can get pretty aggressive when ...
Animal inside vent12/15/2008
  Q: We have recently purchased a house and we noticed that one of the bathroom vents had a wider than ...
  A: Followup: Hi, Claudia Oops! If this is a chipmunk, then that changes things a bit. Chippies are ...
animal sighted12/14/2008
  Q: My children and I spotted an animal in the woods by our house. It resembles a large Ferret or Mink ...
  A: Minks are found in your area, but if you say this was a *large* "mink," then I'd worry it might be a ...
Golden Lion Tamarins12/13/2008
  Q: I'm doing a science project on the endangered species, Golden Lion Tamarins. I have almost all of ...
  A: The lifespan of a Golden Lion Tamarin is about the same as that of other tamarin species: ...
Strange Looking Animal12/11/2008
  Q: I took a picture of a very strange looking animal in my side yard. This was in October and I live in ...
  A: It's sickly, all right. The poor thing is a mange-covered coyote or dog (I can't tell from the ...
Mystery Mammal12/11/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I have video of a mammal in our back yard (we have woods and a creek running through ...
  A: Whether I can view the video will depend on its format, but you can try sending it to me at ...
rodent12/10/2008
  Q: I found that a bag of never opened fire ant killer had been chewed open in my garage. I also found ...
  A: The complete information on the toxicities of the active ingredients in Amdro can be found here: ...
id animal poop12/9/2008
  Q: In the last month we have noticed what appears to be poop from a wild animal when walking our dog. ...
  A: Without seeing the poop in its natural context, it's hard for me to identify it. But it sounds more ...
Wild rabbit food12/9/2008
  Q: We have regular visits from several wild rabbits in our East Ottawa (Orleans)community. Although ...
  A: The tasty, healthy treats for a wild rabbit will pretty much be similar to those you'd give a ...
rodent12/8/2008
  Q: I found that a bag of never opened fire ant killer had been chewed open in my garage. I also found ...
  A: The rodent might have been a rat that had lost its tail, but without seeing it, I can't really tell ...
worm in bird12/6/2008
  Q: I was cleaning a ruffled grouse that i shot today and it had what appered to be a heartworm beside ...
  A: Many wild animals harbor parasites, and if what you saw resembled a heartworm, it's possible that it ...
effects of skunk oil12/6/2008
  Q: My dog has for the second time in one year got sprayed by a skunk. This time it was worse i think ...
  A: Skunk oil/spray contains irritants, but they will not permanently blind a dog. I can't see the ...
praying mantises12/5/2008
  Q: i have a praying mantis and i have been feeding it for like 3 to 4 months and it was really fat and ...
  A: You can see pictures of praying mantis egg cases here: ...
about baby owl care12/3/2008
  Q: how to care and feed an baby owl
  A: Sorry for the delay in answering. Your email caught me at the cusp of final exams, and I got buried ...
Evolutionary history of birds and reptiles12/2/2008
  Q: I am currently doing coursework on evoltionary history and finding it near impossible to get ...
  A: Well, first off, there is no such thing as the "bird family" and the "reptile family." Both birds ...
army ants vs killer bees11/16/2008
  Q: ! If an army ant swarm attacks a killer bee hive, will the bees be able to defeat them and defend ...
  A: This would be a very ferocious battle, and the winner would depend on which hive was bigger. I ...
wildlife11/2/2008
  Q: I know you don't like sound questions but believe you may be answer my 2 part question.Last night I ...
  A: If you can't afford to have your kitty spayed, then you certainly won't be able to spend the money ...
Social nature of jaguar11/2/2008
  Q: Are jaguars social animals? Can you tell me about their general social habits and interactions? ...
  A: Jaguars are solitary hunters who will defend their territories against any other encroaching jaguar, ...
wildlife11/1/2008
  Q: I know you don't like sound questions but believe you may be answer my 2 part question.Last night I ...
  A: While I can't identify the animal that made the screaming sound, I can direct you to these sites, ...
Gray squirrel eating aluminum10/30/2008
  Q: Krempels, I am disturbed to see a gray squirrel knawing on my aluminum patio furniture. It has ...
  A: That's pretty weird behavior. I'd think it's pretty idiosyncratic, probably unique to that ...
Uninvited house guest: mystery poops10/30/2008
  Q: While cleaning out my basement, I came across a couple of piles of small animal droppings in the ...
  A: Oh, that does change things. I doubt a bat would travel down to the basement unless there was easy ...
Uninvited house guest: mystery poops10/29/2008
  Q: While cleaning out my basement, I came across a couple of piles of small animal droppings in the ...
  A: The size and location of these scats suggests that you have or had a bat (perhaps a Little Brown ...
SMALL GARDEN ANIMAL10/29/2008
  Q: We have been puzzled by this small, never seen til yesterday animal,that has "visited" our winter ...
  A: It sounds as if you have an adorable little Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridianus) ...
squirrel bite10/29/2008
  Q: i have a squirrel that we rescued as a baby and iv recently let it go out side. he stays around my ...
  A: It is not very likely that the little guy would transmit rabies to you. To be exposed, he'd have to ...
Ligers10/28/2008
  Q: Would it be possible at all...To release these cross bread animals into the wild ever? or would it ...
  A: No one raising ligers would be willing (or legally allowed) to release them into the wild to ...
primate intelligence.....10/28/2008
  Q: i am a junior in highschool and my focus for my upcoming term paper is on the Intelligence of ...
  A: Yes, that's a bit of a broad topic. How about narrowing it down to something like: 1. tool use in ...
wild cats in Arkansas, US10/27/2008
  Q: How might I find out what type of wild cats can be found in Arkansas? We do a lot of camping and ...
  A: The only wild cats you'd be likely to see would be bobcats, and they are quite secretive. Mountain ...
Striped Narrow-headed soft shelled turtles10/25/2008
  Q: I was wondering how long striped narrow-headed soft shelled turtles live for? I could not find any ...
  A: I can't find this information anywhere for Chitra chitra, either. But my guess would be that this ...
animals10/25/2008
  Q: i know big cats aren't native to the United Kingdom but I have heard that cats such as pumas lynx's ...
  A: If there *are* any big cats in the UK, then it is because they have escaped from captivity or been ...
Oppossums10/24/2008
  Q: I've always heard my whole life that opossums were blind during the day. (Hence, them freezing up ...
  A: Opossums have retinas in which the photoreceptors are mostly rods, which are very sensitive to ...
Furry animal with long snout in New England?10/24/2008
  Q: I saw something crossing a highway off ramp at 10PM. I couldn't really see it that well, but it ...
  A: Without seeing it, and from your description, it's very hard to guess what this might have been. ...
what did I see?10/23/2008
  Q: I live in Roanoke, Va. The other night this animal came to eat out of the cat food dish I leave for ...
  A: The description you give fits that of a fox or coyote ravaged by mange, and possibly bloated with a ...
Coyote Skeleton10/22/2008
  Q: My son is doing a project at school. He needs to know how many bones there are in the skeleton of a ...
  A: A coyote has essentially the same skeletal construction as a dog or a wolf, so you should be able to ...
Sick Little Squirrel10/21/2008
  Q: We have a pet squirrel that is approx. 3-4 mos old. In the last week and a half she has been ...
  A: She might have a respiratory infection, but the scabs on either side of her nose could also be due ...
Mysterious Animal Scat10/21/2008
  Q: I am a Biology student a Lock Haven University and the other week i went fishing in a remote area of ...
  A: The only thing that comes to mind would be a raccoon who had perhaps stumbled upon a wealth of ...
Evolution of Birds10/20/2008
  Q: I am an avid amateur naturalist, but have a particular interest in bird evolution, especially ...
  A: While I'm familiar with the hypothesis that modern birds underwent a relatively explosive ...
wild atlantic salmon (surrounding the Great Lakes)10/20/2008
  Q: my name is Ike and I live 2 hrs east of Toronto Ontario Canada. My question is "Can you eat wild ...
  A: The dying salmon aren't dangerous to eat, but they're not going to be very tasty. Suffering the ...
Cougar in Michigan10/19/2008
  Q: I was bow hunting last night (in Iron Co. Michigan in the Upper Peninsula) for whitetail and had a ...
  A: The description you give sounds very much like a young mountain lion/cougar. There's no other large ...
camels10/19/2008
  Q: i am just wondering wether you can actually contract syphilis from a camels spit
  A: I think this is some sort of urban legend going around. I cannot find *any* information on zoonotic ...
coyote calls10/19/2008
  Q: We live in a very rural area of East Texas. We have many coyotes in the area and like to listen to ...
  A: Aren't we humans *amazing*? We are probably the only species that listens to the vocalizations and ...
unknown cat species in our back yard10/17/2008
  Q: we just moved to kure beach, nc, and our back yard is the government-owned 20 acre + or - ...
  A: Is there a specific characteristic that makes you think it was not a bobcat? Because that's pretty ...
injured wild baby rabbit10/17/2008
  Q: i found a baby wild rabbit and it has lost some of its furr and i dont know what to do..? can you ...
  A: Here are instructions for caring for a wild rabbit: www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf if you ...
small furry brown animal with a long tail10/16/2008
  Q: We live on farm in southeast Texas. We have seen a small furry animal, from behind it looks like a ...
  A: The animal is not likely to be a chinchilla, which is not native to Texas. You don't say how big it ...
duck10/16/2008
  Q: i found a mallard duck the other day,its a young one but im not sure how young...he had a broken ...
  A: Since the duck is a native migratory bird, his best chance at recovery would be to be given to a ...
Animal Feces Concerns10/16/2008
  Q: I have recently bought an old house (1860) that I will restore. There is an odor and evidence of ...
  A: If you choose to clean up the feces yourself, be sure to wear very secure respiratory protection, ...
Hawks in the Wild10/15/2008
  Q: I live in Eastern Ohio on 5 acres....We have a Hawk that flies in often....I would like to study him ...
  A: Hawks eat only meat, and will generally not feed on carrion that you might wish to leave out. ...
Cat attacks by foxes10/13/2008
  Q: My cat has been missing for a week and I have foxes in my neighborhood. My neighbor found a cats ...
  A: A fox will usually carry its prey away, but not always. We have grey foxes in our area, and a ...
Assisting an Injured Wild Rabbit and Rabies10/13/2008
  Q: I live in Southern Ontario. A couple a weeks ago I was directed to a young wild rabbit who had ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of the little cottontail. I think you did the kind and right thing by ...
opossum10/12/2008
  Q: i found an opossum and it hurt its front left leg. i want to help. would it help if i gave it a ...
  A: Never give over the counter (or any other) medication to a species other than the one for which it's ...
found what i think is a mole10/12/2008
  Q: well my freind found what i thought was a baby mouse...but know i think it's a mole. it's small grey ...
  A: You can see pictures of moles here to compare with the critter you have: ...
I found an injured chipmunk10/11/2008
  Q: I found an injured chipmunk in my back-yard yesterday it had a fast heart/breathrate than it whent ...
  A: It's good that he's eating. The thing I worry about is that if his back is broken he might not be ...
I found an injured chipmunk10/11/2008
  Q: I found an injured chipmunk in my back-yard yesterday it had a fast heart/breathrate than it whent ...
  A: If this little guy can be saved, his best chance is probably with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. ...
what is it?10/10/2008
  Q: I live in Loomis, South Dakota, it is out in the country and since moving out here I've seen ...
  A: The description fits that of a mink, which is found throughout your state. You can see pictures ...
Animal pellets?10/10/2008
  Q: I found these pellets in my squirrels' food dishes this morning. I've seen then on a couple other ...
  A: These are much too small to have been left by a raccoon. They are most likely left by another ...
Can a baby raccoon have Tylenol?10/10/2008
  Q: can you give a baby raccoon baby tylenol and if so how much would you give a five week old ...
  A: Never give any medication, over-the-counter or otherwise, to a non-human animal. Each species ...
non reproducing females 210/9/2008
  Q: 'Are there any animal groups out there where some of the females do not reproduce such as the ...
  A: A quick followup to your question about kinship. The term "altruism" has a specific biological ...
large rodent i see along highways in md10/8/2008
  Q: i see large solitary rodents along Maryland byways they are about the size of a beaver i thought ...
  A: You got it! They are woodchucks. Woodchucks (in the East) and marmots (in the West) seem to really ...
baby mouse10/6/2008
  Q: i have a baby mouse, has fur but it's eyes are closed...feeding evap. milk rat pellets (from a ...
  A: You can find all the necessary information for raising the baby mouse here: ...
non reproducing females10/6/2008
  Q: My friend who could not have children and adopted two boys, is now, at age fifty, beginning to feel ...
  A: When all is said and done, reproduction is a completely selfish enterprise, and has little to do ...
Wild Animal Sound - Eerie10/6/2008
  Q: I live in Pekin Indiana 30 minutes north of Louisville Kentucky on 12 acres surrounded on 3 sides by ...
  A: If the cry sounded feline, then it could be a bobcat. The only other large cat that has a ...
Unidentified Bone10/6/2008
  Q: My dog, Scout, found this bone on the shoreline in Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, however we have had ...
  A: This is a thoracic vertebra, all right. It has a relatively large dorsal spine, suggesting large ...
black panthers10/5/2008
  Q: we live back in the hills, you could say. I have herd of 3 different people who have claimed to have ...
  A: The animal you describe may be a melanistic cougar/mountain lion (Felis concolor), a species still ...
raccoons10/4/2008
  Q: , I am a wildlife rehabber in Santa Barbara Ca. I have raised 2 baby raccoons for 3 months, and ...
  A: I'm sorry I'm not an expert on raccoon veterinary medicine. The illness you describe could be ...
mystery animal10/1/2008
  Q: I am cleaning out my basement closet and freaking out over the animal droppings that I'm ...
  A: It almost sounds like deer droppings! But you're not very likely to have deer in your basement ...
Possums9/30/2008
  Q: We have a possum living under our back yard fenced in deck. We have 3 dogs and 3 cats. I do not ...
  A: The opossum will not harm your pets unless they threaten it. If that happens, then an opossum can ...
how wolves attack humans9/30/2008
  Q: How do wolves attack us humans?
  A: The answer is simple: They don't. Wolves are relatively shy animals, and there have been no ...
Polar Bears and Brown Bears9/30/2008
  Q: Are polar bears same has brown bears because i saw this on national geographic about brown bears ...
  A: Although both Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) and Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) are descended from a ...
RELEASING A BABY MOUSE9/29/2008
  Q: My husband brought home a baby mouse. Its eyes and ears weren't open yet. I fed him bread soaked ...
  A: Wow, this is a tough one. I didn't realize you had cats, and that could certainly put your little ...
oppossums9/29/2008
  Q: I have an opossum living in a partial porch under my deck. He has smartly chosen a cozy spot on the ...
  A: Your opossum guest is not only sleeping in your deck, she's leaving her poops in your yard, too. ...
RELEASING A BABY MOUSE9/28/2008
  Q: My husband brought home a baby mouse. Its eyes and ears weren't open yet. I fed him bread soaked ...
  A: Wow, this is a tough one! What kind of mouse it he, and is there a "healthy" population of his ...
rare animals in NH9/28/2008
  Q: Early one morning last week I went out to the car and there was a large black cat going through the ...
  A: It's possible that you saw a very darkly pigmented or even melanistic bobcat--or possibly just a ...
Luna moth pupation9/27/2008
  Q: I found a lunar caterpillar/moth and put it in a jar till my little ones got home from school to ...
  A: If environmental conditions have not induced diapause (which slows metamorphosis and metabolism), ...
Unidentified animal skin9/27/2008
  Q: This a skin that has been in my family many years. Purchased in Liberia, but not necessarily ...
  A: It's the skin of some species of ungulate (hoofed mammal), but it has been artificially striped with ...
mysterious hole9/26/2008
  Q: My yard consists of short gass and some sand. I live in ampa, Fl. I went otside nd saw a small ...
  A: Hard to say who might have dug the hole without knowing more about the surrounding area. If you're ...
crocodiles9/26/2008
  Q: how do we weigh a crocodile ?is there any table from which we can find the body weight from body ...
  A: You can find a comprehensive database on crocodilians here: ...
blood droplets in our barn?9/26/2008
  Q: we frequently find drops of a red liquid in our barn almost always on top of the metal lid to the ...
  A: Rodents in estrus do not bleed as primates and some other animals do, so I don't think the liquid ...
Wild Animals9/26/2008
  Q: I asked this question to another expert and waited three days for the response...and received ...
  A: Do you mean more milk in one "go" than a cow? Or over the entire period of lactation? If the ...
Help to identify the animal9/24/2008
  Q: Please tell me what kind of animal this might be?
  A: Dan I'd love to see other pictures of the pretty cat if you get them. Thanks for sharing! :) Dana ...
Animal burrows9/23/2008
  Q: I live in south central Pennsylvania, and I have noticed three holes, 2 inch in diameter, at ...
  A: Unless you're worried about the aesthetics of the lawn, I don't think you have anything to be ...
owl in garage9/19/2008
  Q: After the recent hurricane in Houston, TX, my daughter noticed she has small owl in her garage. She ...
  A: If you try to chase the owl out during the day, he won't leave. Owls are completely nocturnal, and ...
adult chipmunk problem9/18/2008
  Q: I kind of have a problem. My dog brought home an adult male chipmunk. i think it is blind in its one ...
  A: If the little guy is injured, he should be seen by a good exotics vet (use the Yellow Pages to find ...
bobcat9/17/2008
  Q: I sent you a question a day or two ago with a picture attached of what may be a bobcat on our ...
  A: I'm sorry I didn't get the email you sent at my regular address. May have ended up in the spam ...
White animal getting 10 lb turkeys9/17/2008
  Q: I live in Mid Coast Maine, near several rivers and streams. I have something in my yard big enough ...
  A: Yes, a coyote would certainly be capable of carrying off a large bird like that. A fox might have a ...
What animal is this? (picture included)9/17/2008
  Q: I am from southwestern Ohio. We recently had a dramatic change in temperature (from the mid 80's ...
  A: It is indeed a very young infant squirrel, and it will need constant care if it is to survive. You ...
zebra9/17/2008
  Q: If a Zebra was raised from a colt with mules & horses could the zebra be domesticated and taught to ...
  A: It will depend on the personality of the individual zebra, but some zebras *have* been domesticated ...
White animal getting 10 lb turkeys9/16/2008
  Q: I live in Mid Coast Maine, near several rivers and streams. I have something in my yard big enough ...
  A: There is no wild animal in your area that's consistent with the description, unless you have an ...
Baby wild mole9/15/2008
  Q: My daughter rescued a baby mole that lost it's family in a recent rain storm in Michigan. My ...
  A: The baby's best chance for survival is to return him to the nest, if there is any chance of locating ...
HELP! Orphaned Baby Blue Jay9/15/2008
  Q: My brother and I just had the leftovers of Hurricane Ike. During the storm, there was a nest with 4 ...
  A: You can find instructions for feeding the baby and giving it proper care here: ...
Fox hanging around our house9/15/2008
  Q: Can you give me some info on the type of fox that lives in upper Hunterdon County near ...
  A: If your Hunterdon County is in New Jersey, you could have either red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) or grey ...
Deer behavior9/15/2008
  Q: I am aware that mother deer will leave their offspring waiting in one spot while they go out and ...
  A: How does mama get her baby to stay where she puts him? Good question! I've never observed this ...
fox in South Jersey9/14/2008
  Q: I live in a well developed area adjacent to a park. Around noon today, my husband and I spotted a ...
  A: Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) both have stable populations in ...
Praying Mantises9/14/2008
  Q: Where might I find a praying mantis at?
  A: If you would like to buy praying mantises as pets or as garden pest control, there are many ...
Plants in Massachusetts9/11/2008
  Q: I am stuck doing a report on Massachusetts and i have to find out what plants grow in this state?
  A: Jeez, don't jump all over the place in your enthusiasm! ;) Well, I can't write the report, but I ...
baby squirrel9/11/2008
  Q: I found a baby squirrel that i guess fell out of its nest 2 weeks ago friday, it just opened its ...
  A: My specialty is rabbits, not squirrels. But the web site here will give you all the right and best ...
scat?9/10/2008
  Q: [IMG]http://i344.photobucket.com/albums/p334/bwes1/bill/042.jpg[/IMG] found this on edge of swamp in ...
  A: I'm not a scat expert, but it does look as if there's fur in the poop. My best guesses would be: ...
Luna moth caterpillar9/10/2008
  Q: what do lunar moth catapillars eat and do they need water separate? I found one and want to keep it ...
  A: You can read all about the natural history of the Luna Moth, including a list of its host plants ...
domestic ducks9/8/2008
  Q: I got 5 domestic ducks in March '08. Pekin, Swedish Blue (2), Kayuka, and Crested White. They have ...
  A: If the ducks are just now reaching puberty, and if they have not mated, then they'll just dump their ...
eagle with red spots on wings9/8/2008
  Q: We were waterskiing at El Capitan Resevoir in El Cajon CA and saw what looked to be a golden eagle ...
  A: Wow, that's very strange. A juvenile golden eagle has a white tail with a broad black band on the ...
Squirrels9/8/2008
  Q: My step mom found a squirrel that a cat got a hold of and it leg was broken. She picked it up and ...
  A: (Sorry for the delay. We had some sick bunnies, and I got behind on my email!) The best thing to ...
Elephants Trunks And Tails9/7/2008
  Q: When an elephant in a circus walk single file, it wraps its trunk around the tail of the elephant in ...
  A: Elephants are extremely intelligent, social animals and they enjoy physical contact with their ...
A sick squirrel?9/6/2008
  Q: i am 12 years old and i have a grey squirrel who resides in our neighbor hood.Over these past few ...
  A: You are so kind to care about this little squirrel. Since I can't see her or examine her, I can ...
baby rabbit9/6/2008
  Q: my 3 weeks old baby rabbits are old fine except one but in the last 3 weeks we have lost 2 as they ...
  A: Are these wild cottontails? I ask because the category in which you've asked this question is "Wild ...
wild mice9/4/2008
  Q: We've been watching a mouse that runs from the bushes to a hole under a big wooden swing. It is ...
  A: There is no native rodent that fits the description you give here. My best guess is that this is ...
Black cat sighting9/4/2008
  Q: As I was taking out the trash at my Georgia residence on 8/31/08 I noticed a large black cat near a ...
  A: Hmm. That's pretty unusual. A large cat that size calls to mind a young cougar, since you say the ...
rabbits9/3/2008
  Q: Is it normal for a mother rabbit to step constantly on her babies ANSWER: Followup: Hi, Chloe, A ...
  A: I cannot answer that question without knowing more about the guinea pig. Do know that some rabbits ...
Owl attack!9/3/2008
  Q: Krempels -- I hope you can help me with a weird problem. There's an arboretum in Seattle that's my ...
  A: My guess would be that the owl has a nest right under where your running path is, and when you run ...
rabbits9/3/2008
  Q: Is it normal for a mother rabbit to step constantly on her babies
  A: Followup: Hi, Chloe, A rabbit of any size should have a hutch *no smaller* than three feet square, ...
Rat cannibalism?9/2/2008
  Q: but please don't think i am sick. I AM NOT ASKING ABOUT CANNIBALISM FOR FUN. ok its just... i just ...
  A: Wow, that's pretty horrific. Were the rats previously friendly with each other? It's pretty ...
Animal burrowed next to foundation9/1/2008
  Q: I reside in a suburb approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. Recently, while mowing the lawn I ...
  A: The spot you cite as the location of the hole is typical of a chipmunk burrow, but if there's a dirt ...
Wild Dog? Jackal?9/1/2008
  Q: I just saw the most peculiar animal trot down my street - my brother saw it before. It stood about ...
  A: I've been getting several emails from people who have seen animals with this description. You don't ...
Baby Bunnies9/1/2008
  Q: I have had a nest of wild baby bunnies in my front yard for about three weeks, with the mother ...
  A: When the babies are old enough to wander from the nest, there may occasionally be a straggler or two ...
what is it ?9/1/2008
  Q: My wife seen a small-thin-ferret type animal near our woods last night.It had a small head,beady ...
  A: The only ferret native to the U.S. is the Black-footed ferret, which lives in prairie habitats in ...
Wild Baby Bunny8/31/2008
  Q: My husband ran over a nest of bunnies with the lawn mower. Two bunnies were killed by the mower but ...
  A: I am sorry about this terrible accident. It happens all the time in the summer, as cottontail nests ...
wild rabbits8/31/2008
  Q: Do you know and can you please tell me if a mother rabbit will re-use her nest. I have one and do ...
  A: It is very unlikely that the mama will re-use the nest once her babies have permanently left it. ...
Pandas8/31/2008
  Q: With the birth yesterday of our new panda cub here in Atlanta, I have a couple of questions. 1. I ...
  A: Pandas are generally not aggressive unless they feel cornered or threatened. If they do, then you'd ...
squirrels and dogs8/31/2008
  Q: Yesterday our Jack Russell and Pom, in a matter of minutes found a mom squirrel and babes in our ...
  A: Whether your dog will now have a "taste for blood" is yet to be seen. But in general, one ...
wild animal beheaded my cat8/30/2008
  Q: I live in New England. A wild animal killed my cat and did not eat it. The head was completely ...
  A: I am so sorry about this horrible tragedy. None of the ideas I have here are going to sound very ...
Weak Squirrel8/29/2008
  Q: I have a baby squirrel which I believe to be about 3-4 weeks old. He has been doing ok for about a ...
  A: There could be any number of reasons why the squirrel is weak and not thriving. He could be getting ...
sloths8/28/2008
  Q: i was asking if you could answer me this question about sloths. My question is: I know that sloths ...
  A: Although sloths are usually slow-moving, they can move pretty fast when they are threatened. I've ...
Question about dolphins8/28/2008
  Q: can you please answer both of this questions? 1. How fast can dolphins swim? 2. Why are dolphins so ...
  A: Dolphins can swim at a speed of 20-40 mph (about 25 nautical miles per hour). As to why they are so ...
marmoset and tamarin flower eating8/28/2008
  Q: I am working on a project for Twycross zoo in the UK and the marmoset keeper has asked me to find ...
  A: I don't know which flowers are preferred by marmosets and tamarins in the wild, but I do know ...
Snakes on a RAIN...forest!8/28/2008
  Q: I'm 11 year old boy. I'm moving where snakes could live. I've been hearing that snakes could eat ...
  A: The Amazon rainforest does have large snakes such as Boa constrictors and Anacondas. These snakes ...
Mammals8/28/2008
  Q: What mammal does not have a jaw bone or teeth, but can still eat?
  A: Mammals are all Gnathostomes--Chordate animals that have jawed mouths. And like all members of ...
burrowing animal in eastern Pennsylvania8/27/2008
  Q: We found a hole slightly narrower than a 2 liter soda bottle, and about 5 gallons of gravel, dug ...
  A: This sounds more like the work of a groundhog than anything else. But an opossum might have taken ...
man-eating snakes8/27/2008
  Q: I'm 11 year old boy. I'm moving where snakes could live. I've been hearing that snakes could eat ...
  A: Where exactly are you moving that the snakes are so large? It would take a very large python or ...
Something is eating trees in my backyard8/26/2008
  Q: I saw an answer to another person's question you posted and I really really hope you can help me. ...
  A: I just found this in the question pool where another expert had placed it, so sorry for the delay. ...
Unknow feces/animal8/26/2008
  Q: My darling little Shih Tzu's made a big discovery today in our fenced yard in Broken Arrow,OK. They ...
  A: Without more description, it would really be impossible for me to identify this scat with any ...
kittens and chickens decapitated8/26/2008
  Q: In the past we have had grown chickens found dead on our farm in rural Nebraska due to decapitation. ...
  A: I am so sorry about the grisly loss of your chickens and kittens. There are several different ...
Wild Muscovy duck nest/eggs8/26/2008
  Q: Krempels. I have a bunch of wild muscovey ducks in and around my backyard/lake. One of them built ...
  A: If she's that far past the "due" date for hatching, I doubt the eggs are viable. It's very possible ...
Toad on BBQ Grill8/25/2008
  Q: I emailed you last week about the little toad who likes to hang out on the shelf of my BBQ grill. ...
  A: Phil I don't think I received the pictures. The address is dana@miami.edu Maybe it got caught in ...
unknown animal8/25/2008
  Q: I live in Newbury,MA along the marsh as well as woods. There is a new and unfamiliar animal ...
  A: If you can somehow snap a fairly clear picture of it, I will be better able to identify it. Badgers ...
fallen baby squirrel8/25/2008
  Q: i found a baby squirrel outside my house, it looks like it might have fallen out of a tree. the mom ...
  A: You are kind to help the baby. I hope he will be all right, and that the fall from the tree didn't ...
unidenified cat8/25/2008
  Q: I live about 45 miles north of Savannah Ga. I was riding my motorcycle this morning. After about 10 ...
  A: The only two wild felines native to your area are the cougar (uncommon) and the bobcat (common). A ...
Eastern Fox Squirrel8/24/2008
  Q: For the second time in living here (Eastern NC) 2 years, we seen this squirrel (see pic) with the ...
  A: Yep, looks like an Eastern Fox Squirrel. Not all individuals are that color. In the northeast, ...
re-adapting to the wild8/23/2008
  Q: I've seen many nature programs dealing with rescues of baby orphaned predators, such as big cats and ...
  A: It's a lot easier to catch a small bird or mouse than it is to kill a large, dangerous prey item ...
baby raccoons8/22/2008
  Q: I have 2 baby raccons that i have had for about 2 weeks now their eyes just opened so im asuming ...
  A: It will be hard to find a vet to spay/neuter the raccoons until you get the possession permit, so be ...
small mammal feces in Connecticut driveway8/22/2008
  Q: Yesterday we found a dropping 2" by 1/2' in diameter in the middle of our western Connecticut ...
  A: The poop you describe could have been from any of several different animals, including a raccoon ...
Sudden wild cottontail death- black feet?8/22/2008
  Q: Dana, I found this site by googling my question, and came upon a similar question someone else had ...
  A: As with any death, including that of a human, there is no way to establish cause of death without a ...
animal poop8/21/2008
  Q: an animal has been pooping on our deck for a few months. we live in mid michigan. the poop looks ...
  A: Swanson, Without seeing the poop, it's hard for me to know for sure. But if you're saying the ...
wild animal8/21/2008
  Q: I have 3 animals living under my shed. They have noses like pigs and grey and brown. I live in ...
  A: They could be badgers, but from the information you've given me I can't know for sure. To see ...
Carcass identification8/20/2008
  Q: While stopped at a gas station in central Missouri, I found the head of a dead animal. The head was ...
  A: Without seeing the skull myself, I can only make a guess. But from your description, this could be ...
Toad8/20/2008
  Q: Krempels, I have a question about what I belive to be a toad. A couple of weeks ago, I lifted the ...
  A: How cute! :) I'm sort of guessing (without seeing) that what you have in your grill is probably ...
Bunnies in the rain?8/19/2008
  Q: We found a sweet little nest in our backyard. The babies are cute and seem happy and active. ...
  A: I'm not sure about the bin, since I can't see it. But if you're protecting the babies just from ...
Sudden death wild baby bunnies--rabies?8/18/2008
  Q: I recently took in and cared for two wild baby bunnies. I know, I know, I should have left them ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in answering. I was off line due to Tropical Storm Fay, but we're back on now. ...
baby squirrel8/18/2008
  Q: my dad found a baby squirrel yesterday afternnoon while gardening. we have been trying to care for ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in answering. We were off line due to Tropical Storm Fay, but are back up now. ...
baby robin8/16/2008
  Q: My cat found a baby bird today and I put it outside to see if it would fly away. When me and my ...
  A: DO NOT feed milk to a baby bird! Birds are not mammals, and milk is very dangerous to give. If the ...
8-10in burrow under tree in FL8/16/2008
  Q: ..today we found a very large burrow hole in our yard today. It is located in the roots of a very ...
  A: Oh, yeah! An armadillo is a possibility, too. Good call by that other person. You could ...
largest cat/lion ever8/16/2008
  Q: after watching 10,000 years BC i was wondering if it is possible for a cat to have ever lived to be ...
  A: The largest extinct big cat of which I'm aware is the American Lion. You can get an overview here, ...
My Wild Rabbit Visitor8/16/2008
  Q: You recently gave me some advice about how to accommodate the young wild rabbit taking up residence ...
  A: I doubt that the rats would be a threat to your bunny pal. But it may depend on what species of rat ...
Strange Sounds8/15/2008
  Q: I recently moved into a heavily wooded rural area of Connecticut and went to take the dogs out at ...
  A: I don't know of any mammals native to your area that would make such sounds. However, I suppose ...
polar bears and grizzly bears8/14/2008
  Q: would a grizzly bear kill a polar bear or a polar bear kill a grizzly bear
  A: Large predators like grizzly bears and polar bears tend to avoid each other if they inhabit the same ...
8-10in burrow under tree in FL8/14/2008
  Q: ..today we found a very large burrow hole in our yard today. It is located in the roots of a very ...
  A: The only creature in your area that's likely to make such a burrow is a gopher tortoise. If that's ...
POULTRY PREDATORS8/12/2008
  Q: I found one of our 10 week old chickens dead inside the chicken yard (enclosed yard).All that was ...
  A: Is the chicken enclosure roofed? If not, then this sounds to me like the work of a hawk or other ...
Young Wild Rabbit8/11/2008
  Q: I have a young rabbit that has taken up residence between a large rosemary bush on my side of my ...
  A: I see no reason not to make your yard more attractive to wildlife, including the wild rabbits. We ...
identify and care of baby rodent8/10/2008
  Q: I found a baby rodent while playing outside...it has been abandoned by its mother. It seems to have ...
  A: You are very kind to try to help this little guy. I hope he will be fine in your care. It does ...
mysterious death of sheep8/10/2008
  Q: We recently found that one of our sheep had been killed by a wild animal. A 60 pound sheep was ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your sheep. The location of the kill bite (neck) suggests that this ...
baby bunnies8/10/2008
  Q: for the past few weeks, I have been overseeing a nest in my garden--covering them with clippings and ...
  A: You are very kind to be protecting and helping the bunnies. :) Don't worry. The other siblings ...
Identifying a Creature8/10/2008
  Q: I live in Northeast Ohio, and we have a swamp/pond that we are draining in our back yard. A furry ...
  A: Without seeing the beastie or at least getting a slightly more detailed description, I'm not really ...
Various Questions8/9/2008
  Q: First of all, I came across a dumb "Rumble in the Jungle" contest in a recent science-related ...
  A: Well, as I hinted in my description, I don't answer these questions, not only because they are often ...
Mystery animal boring holes under concrete8/9/2008
  Q: This week, a new creature decided my sidewalk and driveway were wonderful places to bore tunnels. ...
  A: Hmm. Are there any crabs in the lake? This sounds like the work of crabs, but I don't know if you ...
Bobcat or Cougar attacks8/9/2008
  Q: We rise miniature horses. Our babies weight about 8 to 15 lbs. at birth. Very small. My biggest ...
  A: I'm so sorry about the horrible loss of your little horse. The footprints you found are too small ...
Jackrabbit, fawn or ?8/9/2008
  Q: I live in rural Nova Scotia. A couple of weeks ago I was pulling in my driveway, and saw some ...
  A: Is there a way you could send a picture of it to me at dana@miami.edu ? A newborn fawn can be very ...
Food selection8/8/2008
  Q: While feeding chipmunks (I know, I know. Bad idea but I can't help myself when camping), I noticed ...
  A: I've seen this, too. Not just chipmunks and squirrels, but bluejays will examine peanuts or ...
Grey Squirrel Large knot in jaw8/8/2008
  Q: I have a Male Grey Squirrel He is about 3 years old, He recently (2 months ago or so) developed a ...
  A: I'm not an expert when it comes to squirrel veterinary medicine, but I *am* a rabbit expert, and ...
evolution8/7/2008
  Q: ) since you are an expert of evolution i would like to ask you what do you think about god and why ...
  A: Kristjan, you are cool. :) Believe it or not, there are more people than you know who think the ...
squirrles eating habits!8/7/2008
  Q: I live in the high desert of sothern CA. Today I was suprised to see a common squirrle eating a ...
  A: Most people aren't aware that squirrels can be aggressive predators. I've never seen one actually ...
Survival8/6/2008
  Q: First off, I saw your disclaimer about answering animal fighting questions, and while at first ...
  A: Of the three options you've given me, I'd choose the leopard for the simple reason that it's the ...
panther siightings8/6/2008
  Q: Im studing black panther sightings in the U.S. do you think its possible for back panthers to be ...
  A: A "panther" is the term usually reserved for a melanistic leopard or cougar, but since mountain ...
Badgers8/6/2008
  Q: Are there Badgers in Northeast Georgia? I saw something that looked like one on my way home one ...
  A: The range of the North American Badger does not extend to your area, so I'm not sure what it is you ...
lowland gorillas8/5/2008
  Q: It would seem to me that gorllas and other large primates would be at constant risk of envenomation ...
  A: In my own travels as a herpetology graduate student in the rainforests of Costa Rica, I can tell you ...
evolution8/5/2008
  Q: ) since you are an expert of evolution i would like to ask you what do you think about god and why ...
  A: I completely agree with you that it's wrong for humans to think that they are by some universal ...
Birds and squrrrels8/5/2008
  Q: I love feeding the wild birds and some squirrels we have allot of them where i live...but, what ...
  A: Many people enjoy providing the wild birds and squirrels with a feeder they can enjoy. As long as ...
Baby Rabbit8/5/2008
  Q: Our neighbor has found a baby rabbit (cottontail I think) and her cat brought it to her. She is ...
  A: Since I don't know how old the baby is, it's hard for me to know if he can be safely released, or if ...
duck fight8/4/2008
  Q: There is three muscovy duck that live in my yard,well today one of the female ducks were fighting ...
  A: Muscovy ducks can be vicious fighters, and inflict serious injury on each other. It could be that ...
Lion territory8/4/2008
  Q: I have a couple questions about lions and their behavior concerning their territory. First, ...
  A: According to http://www.tigerhomes.org/animal/curriculums/lions-pc.cfm a pride's territory ranges ...
evolution8/3/2008
  Q: ) since you are an expert of evolution i would like to ask you what do you think about god and why ...
  A: I'm not sure anyone can really say why most people are so drawn to the idea that a personal god is ...
land lobster?8/2/2008
  Q: i was working on my house in barrington nh with my 4 young nephews, all if a sudden i get called to ...
  A: You did the right thing by taking the little crayfish to the creek. He was probably just moving ...
raccoon w/swollen eye8/1/2008
  Q: I have a orphaned raccoon whose eyes are not open yet. One eye is swollen and I put a warm pad on ...
  A: The baby's best chance is to get veterinary care from an exotics vet, whom you can find with your ...
wild baby birds8/1/2008
  Q: I had a mother bird build a nest in a wreath by my front door. Four baby birds hatched about two ...
  A: A mother songbird will not move her babies. Sadly, you are probably correct that a predator got to ...
Cottontail rabbit7/31/2008
  Q: My dad saved a baby cottontail rabbit from my cat's mouth. That was about two or three months ago. I ...
  A: If he's wild and eager to be outside, then you can slowly acclimate him to the outdoors by building ...
Squirrel feces7/31/2008
  Q: I understand that squirrel feces can closely resemble rat feces. Does squirrel feces also have a ...
  A: Squirrel feces generally don't have any white in them. If you see white , chalky material attached ...
mallard ducks: age of laying eggs7/30/2008
  Q: I bought land in February. had two male ducks on it. April got one female.they are doing great.when ...
  A: Since your female has been living outdoors (I'm assuming), and has been exposed to natural light ...
Identifying animal7/30/2008
  Q: This strange looking animal washed up on a beach in Montauk NY. Do you have any idea what it might ...
  A: That is one WEIRD looking creature. Without being able to poke at the head and see what parts might ...
MOLES7/30/2008
  Q: DO GOPHERS COME OUT IN THE DAY/NIGHT OR BOTH/RARELY,?? ANSWER: Dear Ron, Gophers are primarily ...
  A: Moles, too, are primarily nocturnal and almost never leave their tunnels. You can find more ...
found infant racoon7/29/2008
  Q: I have not found any wildlife rescue people yet to take her, I have had her 3 weeks, the DNR was ...
  A: It's very tricky to raise an infant mammal, as milk content varies a great deal from species to ...
big cat sightings7/28/2008
  Q: Dana Krempels, At my house there have been strange noises in my woods that sound like a big cat ...
  A: In the first response I sent you, I did mention that bobcats are the only "big" cat still found in ...
Baby wild rabit7/28/2008
  Q: I am in Ontario, Canada. About a month and a half ago I found a wild cotton tail rabbit. It was ...
  A: If the cottontail has lost its natural fear of humans (which it doesn't sound as if it had much in ...
GOPHERS7/28/2008
  Q: DO GOPHERS COME OUT IN THE DAY/NIGHT OR BOTH/RARELY,??
  A: Gophers are primarily nocturnal, so you'll almost never see them out in the daylight. They may ...
Raccoons & Squirrels7/27/2008
  Q: I have been feeding Squirrels in my back yard for sometime and have made friends with several ...
  A: Opossums, like raccoons, are opportunistic killers. If they can corner or trap a small animal, they ...
squirrels7/27/2008
  Q: I have been feeding squirrels peanuts & sunflower seeds for many months. Recently I've got raccoons ...
  A: A raccoon would eat a squirrel if it could catch one. But a healthy squirrel would be extremely ...
robin's abandon 3 young7/27/2008
  Q: Last week we had a torrential rainstorm and a robin's nest of twigs and mud landed on my front yard. ...
  A: Do you mean that the parents abandoned their babies after you put the wicker basket under their ...
Fishers7/27/2008
  Q: I have seen a fisher in my area and in the past 2 years more and more of the small rodents, ...
  A: Fishers can, indeed, be a deadly nuisance in a neighborhood. Because they are solitary, removing ...
big cat sightings7/26/2008
  Q: Dana Krempels, At my house there have been strange noises in my woods that sound like a big cat ...
  A: Oh, that's horrible. I'm so sorry about the loss of your cat. Your description makes this sound ...
Duck feet7/25/2008
  Q: What keeps a duck's feet from freezing? They have no fur and don't hibernate.
  A: Any bird that lives in freezing temperatures runs the risk of losing heat through the feet, since ...
baby robin7/25/2008
  Q: while emendating my yard i found a baby fledling robin,i beleive the storm the day before blew it ...
  A: The baby should be given over to the care of a licensed wildlife rehabilitator if he has been away ...
Animals killing other animals7/25/2008
  Q: Is man the only animal that is known to kill merely for fun ? Someone told me that man, cats and ...
  A: There have been reports of predators killing only for sport, but none have really been ...
Fishers and Ring-tailed Cats7/24/2008
  Q: Are fishers and ringtail cats the same?
  A: No, they are different species. The Fisher is Martes pennanti, a mustelid (i.e., in the same family ...
Skunk and Raccoon7/24/2008
  Q: Last night there was a skunk under our bird feeder. Our raccoon friend who visits often, was also in ...
  A: A skunk will usually spray only if he feels very threatened with bodily harm. Obviously, he saw the ...
Baby Raccoons7/24/2008
  Q: I live in Minnesota. I found two baby raccoons in my front yard this evening, which wouldn't be ...
  A: The best thing to do would be to contact a local wildlife rehabilitator, whom you can find here: ...
wild baby rabbit7/23/2008
  Q: My dog brought home a baby rabbit. He came running down the mtn behind the house. He is very scared ...
  A: Unless you know *exactly* where your dog found him, then turning him loose would probably be a death ...
reticulated python and african lion7/21/2008
  Q: Hello Dana this is not a versus question a reticulated python and a african lion who has more ...
  A: It's hard to say who is stronger, since they are so anatomically different. But a reticulated ...
what killed my feral cat7/21/2008
  Q: last week i buried one of my feral cats...she never left my yard..i found her dead in my front yard ...
  A: I'm very sorry about the horrible, violent death of the poor kitty. Even a savvy feral cat cannot ...
Unknown animal feces7/20/2008
  Q: my husband and I discovered some animal poop on our front porch. We live in North Carolina in a ...
  A: If there is a bit of white on the end of the poop, then that is very likely uric acid (which is the ...
baby raccoons7/20/2008
  Q: I recently "adopted" two baby raccoons a couple days ago when some dogs got a hold of their mother. ...
  A: Raising raccoons is not safe for anyone who isn't a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, not only ...
opossum with swollen tail7/20/2008
  Q: I have a Opossum that I raised from birth, he lives inside my house. She is 1 year old now and I ...
  A: This is certainly not normal, and needs the attention of a veterinarian who works with exotics. ...
Robins leaving nests after babies can fly7/19/2008
  Q: We have a robin's nest on our porch in an inconvenient place because droppings have made the porch ...
  A: Once the babies have fledged, they will not return to the nest. You can safely remove it, ...
Crocs Eatable?7/18/2008
  Q: I was wondering if a mammal--a lion particularly--would be able to penetrate the armor like skin of ...
  A: Crocodile skin is mostly keratin, same as any other animal hide. So given a long enough transit ...
English unidentified creature7/18/2008
  Q: i know there is a British expert however he is on holiday at the moment so im wondering if maybe you ...
  A: If this animal was basically fox-shaped, it may have been a fox with a severe infestation of mange ...
claw sharpening7/18/2008
  Q: i watch squirrels during the day. they constantly claw there way up and down trees and telephone ...
  A: As weird as it may sound, animals *do* sharpen their claws by rasping them against a hard surface. ...
black panthers7/18/2008
  Q: I was wondering if black panthers could possible roamed Jackson forest areas? 'Cause me and my ...
  A: Which Jackson? Mississipi? Wyoming? This will help me figure out what you might have seen. Black ...
Baby Robin7/17/2008
  Q: I don't know if you will beable to help me but i found a baby robin two days ago his eyes just ...
  A: It's impossible to say what caused the baby robin to die, or the mother to abandon the nest. It ...
Eating Habits of Mystery Predator7/17/2008
  Q: I live in Colorado in a rural subdivision and have found what I thing are some kind of rodent ...
  A: Any number of relatively small predators might eat the abdominal body wall and muscles, leaving the ...
catlike animal7/17/2008
  Q: I was walking in central vermont and an animal crossed my path that i can't identify. this was on ...
  A: Without seeing the animal it's hard for me to guess, since your description sounds like a...cat! ...
white tigers7/17/2008
  Q: what r the requirements to own a white tiger in the U.S.
  A: A white tiger is listed as Class One wildlife, requiring very special permits from state and federal ...
Baby Robins died...7/17/2008
  Q: We had a nest on our front porch of robins. Originally there were three babies that hatched, then ...
  A: There could be many different reasons that the babies died, and only a necropsy on their bodies ...
injured mom whitetail deer w/baby7/16/2008
  Q: I hope you can help , in our local herd of deer there is a mom with baby, mom deer has a broken ...
  A: Leg problems in ungulates (hoofed mammals) are extremely difficult to treat because of the ...
weather and animals7/16/2008
  Q: My son and I ride bikes on trail we live in state that when rains it rains! While ridding bikes we ...
  A: When it rains in the wilderness, the animals that don't want to get wet will seek shelter under the ...
female duck on nest7/16/2008
  Q: Our female duck has dissappeared. We believe she might be sitting on a nest as our male duck seems ...
  A: Duck egg incubation lasts about 28 days, and the female will not leave the nest or eat during that ...
Wild Baby Bunny7/15/2008
  Q: My son found a baby rabbit on a busy street and brought it home. The rabbit fits in the palm of his ...
  A: If this is a wild baby, then his best chance for survival is for you to get him to a licensed ...
panthers7/15/2008
  Q: what is a group of panthers called?
  A: There is no special name for a group of panthers, as these animals are solitary, and not found in ...
What animal was it?7/15/2008
  Q: I was down in pennypack park (which is in Philadelphia, PA) with my brother and my cousin, and we ...
  A: I wish I could have seen the animal to get a better idea of what it might have been. But from your ...
Wolverine or Badger7/14/2008
  Q: We saw an animal recently (I have some photos) that was either a wolverine or badger. I know badgers ...
  A: Your mystery mammal is the Hoary Marmot, <i>Marmota caligata</i>. You can read more about him here: ...
foxes7/14/2008
  Q: Josh
  A: Foxes are quite nervous, and may not make the fine pets you've heard. But for the correct ...
Baby Field Mice7/14/2008
  Q: My boyfriend killed a field mouse and just after that we found three babies. He wanted to kill them ...
  A: You can find instructions for raising baby rodents here: http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm ...
Baby Birds7/14/2008
  Q: We had a big thunder storm last night and a nest tipped over dumping the two Robin babies out. They ...
  A: If the mother bird doesn't return by dusk, she may have abandoned the nest. This is a difficult ...
alligators7/14/2008
  Q: I have the time and money to devote to get an alligator as a pet.please tell me some info on them ...
  A: An alligator is one of those pets that "sounds good at the time" but then can get far too large and ...
Salamander7/13/2008
  Q: my neighbor has a windowell thats about 2 1/2-3 feet deep and I help frogs toads and any thing else ...
  A: If the salamander is isolated from others of its species, and possibly doesn't have access to as ...
CAT7/13/2008
  Q: We're wondering about a big cat we saw at about 8:00 a.m. on July 13, on our property here in ...
  A: The most likely ID of the cat you saw was a very dark or even melanistic (i.e., black-pigmented) ...
baby moles7/13/2008
  Q: if you could give my any advice it woul be a big help thank you ANSWER: Dear Mia, The babies' best ...
  A: If you can't return them to the nest, then my advice to you will be the same as before: get the ...
newts; baby salamanders?7/12/2008
  Q: I live in the Peidmont region of Georgia by the Chatahoochee river, and I found some newts earlier ...
  A: If the newts still have their feathery gills, then they are still larvae and may not be easy to ...
mother rabbit with nine or more babies7/12/2008
  Q: I have a mother rabbit who gave birth last night. I found them this morning. She had a litter before ...
  A: The instructions you need to care for the babies and the mother can be found here: ...
bat and baby house martins7/12/2008
  Q: I have raised a pipistrelle bat many years ago, I now have another would horse milk be alright as ...
  A: You are very kind to try and rescue the wild babies. Unfortunately, I have no experience at all in ...
tigers7/12/2008
  Q: Do tigers eat their trainers if they feel hungry?
  A: Not if the trainer has any say about it. :) Tiger trainers usually have a relationship with their ...
squirrel behavior7/11/2008
  Q: To Wild Animal Expert Dana Krempels, We have been extremely frustrated with families of squirrels ...
  A: I doubt that the squirrels are actually attacking the pipes. It sounds more like a case of them ...
Jack Rabbits7/11/2008
  Q: Today i was outside and my father found some Jack Rabbits abandoned that need some help in the 98 ...
  A: You must take the babies back to *exactly* where you found them. The mother has not abandoned them. ...
Mallard Duck7/11/2008
  Q: How do I release a mallard duck into the wild? I have a female mallard duck that is about 9-weeks ...
  A: If you raised the duck from a very small baby, there's a good chance it has imprinted on you, and ...
mysterious black cat?7/11/2008
  Q: My name is Sharon and I live in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. My house has a large lagoon ...
  A: There are no native wild cats in your area that fit this description. Both bobcats and mountain ...
Baby duckline7/11/2008
  Q: My friend has found a baby duck, very young, that fell out of a tree. She searched for the mother ...
  A: If this is truly a wild duck (not feral domestic), then it may be too stressed to eat, and should be ...
A very sick mourning dove7/10/2008
  Q: I could really use some help,you see I found a mourning dove yesterday evening who is in very bad ...
  A: It sounds as if the poor bird is very close to death. I hope it wasn't rat poison, but if it is, ...
Skunk in NH7/10/2008
  Q: There is a skunk living around our house, and i have been going out back around 9 am to see the deer ...
  A: Any mammal can snore, though some individuals are more likely than others to be predisposed to ...
tiger ancestors7/9/2008
  Q: how are you? I have aDo you now about the prehistoric ancestors of the tiger? I want to know about ...
  A: You can find a very complete, peer-reviewed article on this subject here: ...
I found a newborn wild baby duck- Help!7/9/2008
  Q: I found a VERY newborn (just out of the shell)wild baby duck in a nest outside my condo. The mother ...
  A: It sounds as if this is a runty baby who needs a bit of help. I hope he will make it, but the ...
Barking Animal (not a dog)7/9/2008
  Q: We have a house on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Every morning since Spring we have been hearing ...
  A: Squirrels or chipmunks will sometimes bark to mark their territory and to "yell" at perceived ...
burrowing animal7/9/2008
  Q: I live in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Within the past couple of days we've discovered an ...
  A: Kind of mysterious. American Badgers do occur east of the Cascades in your area, but their burrows ...
panda bears7/8/2008
  Q: do the panda bears always stay in the same location or do they travel to other zoos?
  A: All pandas in all zoos around the world are owned by the government of China, and it is the ...
wild baby jack rabbit7/8/2008
  Q: My cat brought home a baby jackrabbit a couple of hours ago, it has a small scrape on it's side but ...
  A: Denise, If the baby is very small, he probably isn't on his own yet. But of greatest concern is the ...
wild ducks7/8/2008
  Q: i have had a duck coming over to my back yard for awhile she has just turned up with 7 off her young ...
  A: If these really are wild ducks, then it's best not to interfere with them or feed them. The mother ...
Wild Bunnies7/7/2008
  Q: First, thank you for your articles on helping out wild rabbits with shelter and food in winter. I ...
  A: Yes, rabbits make various types of noises. If you mean wild cottontails, then I've heard the males ...
robins7/7/2008
  Q: We have a robin who has taken up residence in our garage rafters, made a nest and is waiting for her ...
  A: Once the babies have fledged (left the nest), it will be safe for you to remove the nest. A mated ...
Found A Large Blue Crab @ The Airport7/7/2008
  Q: Hellp Dr. Kremples, I recently found a blue crab walking around the airport parking lot. I live in ...
  A: Lucky crab! :) Well, crabs can live in brackish water if they're adjusted to it. There's no way ...
wild ducks7/6/2008
  Q: I had a duck nest next to my front porch. She finally hatched the eggs and left the nest sometime ...
  A: Once a mother duck has left her nest, she will almost never return to it. She has taken her brood to ...
Baby robin7/6/2008
  Q: My family and I found a baby robin that had fallen into a bucket of oil, (car oil). So we have 3 ...
  A: Most wildlife rehabilitators use very dilute Dawn dishwashing detergent to remove oil from the ...
unknown animal7/5/2008
  Q: I live in Woodbridge, Ontario, i was walking through a forest at around 11 p.m around 2 weeks ago, ...
  A: From your description, I wonder if you might have seen a large wolverine. These are found ...
chipmunk7/4/2008
  Q: I am not sure you can help me or not but hope you can. We have a "rain barrel" that is used to catch ...
  A: The little guy might have inhaled some water, or he might just be so completely exhausted and ...
Injured baby duck7/4/2008
  Q: I found a young duck injured I think some animal bite him in his neck he was bledding but the other ...
  A: Aw, I'm sorry the little duck didn't make it. But maybe he was a little fluffy "angel" who was sent ...
animal feces7/4/2008
  Q: I would like to know what animal leaves this pile. The feces is shaped alot like a moose.It is a ...
  A: If these are relatively large pellets (about 1 cm cube?), then they were probably left by some ...
what kind of animal did I see?7/3/2008
  Q: I saw an animal that I'm not familiar with and hope you could help me define it. We saw it at night ...
  A: Ferret Badgers are native to China, so unless you saw one that had escaped from captivity, that's ...
American Black Duck7/1/2008
  Q: I had an American Black Duck with 10 eggs living on my front porch. Yesterday, all but 1 hatched ...
  A: If the egg didn't hatch along with the others, and if the mother left it in the nest, there's a very ...
Spring Peeper...Chorus frog?7/1/2008
  Q: I have found a frog in my backyard about a week ago the was approx. 1 inch long, and it WAS a ...
  A: This frog is very likely in the genus Hyla, but there are *many* different species in North America ...
duckling care6/2/2008
  Q: i inherited a duckling that hatched this afternoon and i'd like a little guidance about taking ...
  A: You can find lots of useful information on raising ducklings here: ...
how do i take care of this injured robin6/2/2008
  Q: I found this baby robin and it was very injured its eye had been attacked and its wing was injured ...
  A: As you probably know, baby birds should be raised by their parents, not humans. It is extremely ...
Wild cats in Michigan?4/30/2008
  Q: I was wonder what type of wild cat such as a mountain lion, cougar or such that might be in ...
  A: Historically, mountain lions may have ranged as far east as Michigan. But they have pretty much ...
Found an intact Robin's egg4/30/2008
  Q: I just found an intact Robin's egg on the lawn under trees whose branch tips are more than 20' high. ...
  A: If I'd found this egg, I'd think the risk of disturbing a viable nest would be just too great to ...
Wlid Dogs4/30/2008
  Q: I have three questions: Why are Raccoon Dogs only found in Asia? What do the African Wild Dogs ...
  A: 1. Raccoon dogs are found only in Asia for the same reason that any species is found only in a ...
animals sensing natural disasters4/29/2008
  Q: Do you know if animals can sense natural disasters? Have you seen or heard of any animal that have ...
  A: It's true that many non-human animals are able to sense natural disasters before they occur. When I ...
Animal poop4/29/2008
  Q: What kind of animal poop that is dark/black the length size of a ink pen top? I have found this on ...
  A: The scat you describe could be from any of the three animals you name, but it's hard to know which ...
baby robin4/29/2008
  Q: i have a baby robin egg,i found it in a destroyed nest on the ground.But when it hatches, if it ...
  A: At this time of year I get lots of letters from people who have found robin's eggs in damaged or ...
Baby Bunnies4/28/2008
  Q: I found 3 baby bunnies that were in my neighbors yard and the guy was going to throw them away if I ...
  A: If the babies have been nursing from their mother, they are already inoculated with good intestinal ...
SHARK ATTACKS4/28/2008
  Q: IF sharks are really the apex predator of the sea and if they truely have all the acute senses shark ...
  A: That's a good question. And though I'm sure there's no simple answer, I think the best might be: ...
Baby bunnies advice4/28/2008
  Q: My father found a nest next to our house today. He spoke to a neighbor and was told that in the ...
  A: Left unchecked, rabbits can reproduce at an alarming rate (as can humans). But there are ...
Baby bunnies advice4/28/2008
  Q: My father found a nest next to our house today. He spoke to a neighbor and was told that in the ...
  A: The rabbits have been there for a long time, even if you haven't seen them around. And who was ...
abandoned eggs4/28/2008
  Q: We have a nest of 12 duck eggs in our yard. The mom has been gone for several days and outside temps ...
  A: If the temperatures have been that cold and the mama has not brooded the eggs for several days, you ...
peacocks4/27/2008
  Q: is a peacocks fertilisation internal or external please answer as soon as possible Paula ANSWER: ...
  A: The short answer to your question is this: Peacocks have internal fertilization. The male and ...
peacocks4/27/2008
  Q: is a peacocks fertilisation internal or external please answer as soon as possible Paula
  A: All birds engage in internal fertilization, since the zygote must be formed before the calcareous ...
Badger and Crocodile4/27/2008
  Q: 1. I have heard that a few species of crocodile can live in the sea, is that true? 2. Can badgers ...
  A: Yes, there are several species of crocodile that can live in salt water, including the American ...
WIld goose eggs4/26/2008
  Q: Hi I've found a wild goose egg and I don't know if it will hatch in captivity and if it will what ...
  A: If you found the egg outside of a nest or by itself in a nest, it is not likely to be viable. But ...
Robins4/26/2008
  Q: I recently found this robin nest with two eggs in it under my pool deck. My dad says he wont wait ...
  A: You are sweet to be so protective of the nest. :) Watch to see if the parent birds are coming to ...
gombe chimps4/26/2008
  Q: would you happen to know if Frodo the chimpanzee in Gombe ever got back to the position of alpha ...
  A: I'm not sure if the ol' bully ever regained his status. But for all the latest information on ...
Exotic ocelot cats4/26/2008
  Q: How big do ocelot cats get? Are ocelots legal in the United states? Where in the united states are ...
  A: An ocelot is a wild animal, and I would not trust one around a dog, cat, and especially a rabbit. ...
doves trying to take robin's nest4/25/2008
  Q: Outside my window I have observed for the past week or so a robin building a nest (or it seemed like ...
  A: Well, there's not much to do but watch Nature take its course. It's not likely that there were any ...
Duck Eggs and Injuries4/25/2008
  Q: We inherited three white ducks from a rescue agency. We have a 2-acre pond, and the ducks have ...
  A: The scattered eggs are likely infertile, and won't hatch. I guess you could think of them as free ...
Something is killing rabbits in my yard4/25/2008
  Q: Can a neighbors cat be killing and eating rabbits that live in my yard? While cleaning up in my yard ...
  A: Cats are notoriously vicious killers of native wildlife, and your neighbor's cats could well be the ...
Mallard Duck Eggs4/25/2008
  Q: I found a female Mallard that built a nest in the bushes next to my front door. The way I found the ...
  A: She might have covered the eggs with leaves while she left for a bit, which is unusual. Most mother ...
Ducks4/24/2008
  Q: We live near a lake, there are two white ducks (Pekin?) and a mallard (male) that have frequented ...
  A: Wow, what a silly duck. And, as you say, what a lucky raccoon! The second male may either be ...
wild mice4/24/2008
  Q: can i but water in a bowel.for a wild mouse i trapped?will he drink from the bowel? ANSWER: Dear ...
  A: Some wild mice remain wild all their lives, and have a naturally nervous personality that doesn't ...
bear/pig relation4/23/2008
  Q: I have heard that the pig and bear are of the same species ( related) Can you tell me if this is ...
  A: Bears and pigs are not particularly closely related, and are certainly not the same species. You ...
Age of my wild bunnies4/23/2008
  Q: I found two wild bunnies yesturday when I almost ran them over with a lawn mower. I kept them ...
  A: Without seeing them I can't know for sure, but if these are cottontails, the description you give is ...
baby rabbits(wild)4/23/2008
  Q: my cat brought them in and in need helpon the care for them and what do i need to feed them
  A: Please read the instructions here immediately: www.bio.miami.edu/hare/wildbabies.pdf Since you ...
Robin Egg's4/23/2008
  Q: I'm a girl in a great wonder because I have just found three robin eggs and one was cracked so I saw ...
  A: Sorry for the delay in answering. This week was rabbit crisis week, and my email took a beating. ...
eating4/23/2008
  Q: can i but water in a bowel.for a wild mouse i trapped?will he drink from the bowel?
  A: The bowl will have to be quite shallow for the mouse to drink. But he is likely so terrified that he ...
Baby Bunnies4/22/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels: On Saturday I found 2 baby bunnies outside my apartment building dead, ripped in ...
  A: No way to know whether the mother will nest there again, but usually a mother rabbit will not return ...
Wild Baby bunny4/22/2008
  Q: First and foremost, please forgive that I have not read through prior posts...Time just won't allow ...
  A: You are so kind to care for this little one, and I hope he makes it. His best chance is to be seen ...
sizing of animalsdo to geographical location4/21/2008
  Q: my high school physics teacher gave us a bonus question to answer:If you take a large sample size of ...
  A: Your physics teacher is certainly not a moron. And because this is extra credit, I can't give you ...
Ducks4/21/2008
  Q: We live near a lake, there are two white ducks (Pekin?) and a mallard (male) that have frequented ...
  A: The term that comes to mind when I read your account is....Natural Selection. I know it sounds ...
Sloths as Pets4/21/2008
  Q: Can sloths be kept as pets? I know that they live out quite a long lifespan and have studied the ...
  A: Sloths have not been domesticated, and despite their docile appearance, they can be quite aggressive ...
Female mallard4/21/2008
  Q: A female duck was injured in the leg and back by drakes mounting her. I rang Animals in Need, who ...
  A: Male ducks can be very rough when aroused, but female ducks usually come out of the ordeal without ...
Peking Duck broken wing4/20/2008
  Q: My wife has a Peking Duck as a pet. We live in the country. Two nights ago it seems a racoon may ...
  A: I hope you can get the duck to a vet, because a broken wing can become infected, and there is ...
sharks4/20/2008
  Q: do tiger and great white get along?
  A: The two sharks would likely swim together without interacting, as long as neither one was injured ...
Unidentified hole in yard4/19/2008
  Q: My daughter found, in a treed area on their property, a large hole about 2 feet wide and 3 feet ...
  A: The only animal I can even imagine taking on a grown raccoon would be something like a coyote. A ...
Robin egg help!4/19/2008
  Q: I found a robin egg in ym backyard. I can see the nest but I cannot reach it. Leaving it alone is ...
  A: A robin mother will not begin to brood her eggs until she has laid the entire clutch. Keep an eye on ...
foxes4/19/2008
  Q: I'm a fox fan and i'v been researcing on them but i'm not so sure if it would be smart to have one ...
  A: It's possible, but not really advisable. My exotics vet has treated many "pet" foxes, and all they ...
Bunnies4/18/2008
  Q: I have a bunny my dog bit and he can't move his legs and he is bleeding.What do I do?
  A: Get the rabbit to a good rabbit vet ASAP: www.rabbit.org/vets If the bunny's back is broken, there ...
duck eggs4/18/2008
  Q: A duck has laid about a dozen eggs in inlaws bushes by the house. Is it normal to cover them with ...
  A: I've never seen a duck cover her nest with dirt, but she may roll leaves and things over them to ...
Baby Bunnies4/18/2008
  Q: Good morning. Dr. Krempels. Last night while raking, my husband found a bunny nest. Unsure what to ...
  A: A wild rabbit nest must never be touched or *especially* moved. If it was moved, please put it back ...
Family of Foxes4/17/2008
  Q: We just recently noticed that a Female Fox has given birth to SIX foxes. They are living under a ...
  A: It's hard to say whether they'll move on, but they will not likely keep the shed as a permanent ...
duck eggs4/17/2008
  Q: we have discoverd a nest of looks to be ducks eggs under our pine tree we have checked every night ...
  A: A mother duck will often lay her eggs one day at a time and not start brooding them until all are ...
droppings in my house4/16/2008
  Q: I have heard chewing under my new modular home this winter. Spring has come and the chewing has ...
  A: Even a tiny opening will be big enough for them to get through. The best way to exclude them is ...
Exotic species pet trade4/16/2008
  Q: What are your views on the impact of global importation of exotic species of animals for the pet ...
  A: On both an emotional and practical level, I am against this. Not only is travel very stressful for ...
Wild duck nesting4/15/2008
  Q: I have 3 ducks the male is a Mallard he has the beautiful markings and the curl up tail I also have ...
  A: A mother duck brooding her eggs will usually not eat, even if you offer her food (though you can ...
wild ducks4/15/2008
  Q: We have wild white ducks that have nested in our backyard. The mother has been on the nest for 2 ...
  A: Two months is a long time for incubation. Normal incubation time is about 28-30 days. I suspect ...
Hawks and robins4/15/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels, This is kind of a two part question, and they have no relation to each other. While ...
  A: Being an evolutionary biologist is fascinating, and also frustrating. The former because you see ...
wild geese4/14/2008
  Q: I have two question for you: 1) I have found several geese eggs(I think), about two weeks ago near ...
  A: It's impossible to know whether the goose egg is viable, but if it was in an abandoned nest, then ...
strange animal in SA4/14/2008
  Q: This weekend we were camping in the MAPAKELE reserve in northern transvaal in south africa. I have ...
  A: It sounds as if you may have been lucky enough to see a Springhare. You can read descriptions here: ...
is it a coyote or grey fox?4/14/2008
  Q: WE live on 2 acres in Bedminster, NJ our house right across the street from a huge condo complex. ...
  A: Both the Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) and the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) are native to your ...
Hawks and robins4/14/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels, This is kind of a two part question, and they have no relation to each other. While ...
  A: I would contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to find out about the possibility of ...
hatching mallard eggs4/13/2008
  Q: My sister and her friend went down to our creek early this morning and a mallard flew from her nest ...
  A: It's odd for a duck to be that flighty when brooding her eggs, but I guess there's variation. ...
droppings in my house4/13/2008
  Q: I have heard chewing under my new modular home this winter. Spring has come and the chewing has ...
  A: Squirrels, chipmunks, and rats all leave droppings that are cigar-shaped, usually dark brown and ...
Duck Nesting Habits4/13/2008
  Q: I found a duck nest with ten eggs in it about a week or two ago and the mother duck has been sitting ...
  A: That means that mama has taken her brood off to the pond, and they're on the way to being ducks. :) ...
Robin egg4/13/2008
  Q: I have recently found an egg and i would like to know what temperature to keep it at? thanks, Kayla
  A: It is incredibly difficult to successfully hatch songbirds and raise them, but you can find ...
Duck Nesting Habits4/13/2008
  Q: I found a duck nest with ten eggs in it about a week or two ago and the mother duck has been sitting ...
  A: It sounds as if the eggs are hatching, and the babies are staying underneath mama where it's warm ...
robin eggs4/12/2008
  Q: A tree was cut down a nest was found with 2 blue eggs I put the nest into a hanging basket and put ...
  A: You have given the eggs their best chance of survival. The parents are much more likely to return ...
Canadian Geese needs help - fishing wire wrapped around it's leg! PLEASE HELP!!!4/11/2008
  Q: This past Monday, I discovered a Canadian Geese in the parking lot of my office with a bad leg. It's ...
  A: The only thing I can think of is to ask the vet for a tablet of Valium/Diazepam, that you can use to ...
wild rabbits4/11/2008
  Q: Will Jack rabbits breed with the east coast cotton tail and swamp rabbit?
  A: No, they cannot produce fertile, viable offspring because their DNA is too different. They are ...
hatching ducklings4/10/2008
  Q: There's a duck laying on eggs in a tree at about 6 1/2 feet above the ground. I'm concerned when ...
  A: Amazingly, some duck species actually lay their eggs in trees, and when the babies hatch they hop ...
polar bear habitat and niche4/10/2008
  Q: I am constructing a study to propose to my Community Ecology class. I am very interested in ...
  A: An overview of the large fauna of Antarctica can be found here. The bears would find fish and ...
Sign of rabies or not?4/10/2008
  Q: Some one once told me that when you shine a flash light into an animals eye that has been infected ...
  A: Rabies is a form of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) caused by a virus. Any type of ...
polar bear habitat and niche4/9/2008
  Q: I am constructing a study to propose to my Community Ecology class. I am very interested in ...
  A: Antarctica has the necessary prey available. But introducing polar bears to that ecosystem would ...
Rabbits4/9/2008
  Q: my female rabbit had about 8 babies.the problem is ,the babies go outside to play.and 7 cats are out ...
  A: From your description, I'm assuming these are wild rabbits, and will answer this as if this is the ...
Question about ducks4/6/2008
  Q: Dr. Krempels- A few of our neighbors have had three adult ducks visiting every year around the same ...
  A: I wouldn't worry too much about the other male duck. Mallards often travel in social groups, and ...
Robins4/6/2008
  Q: My son has a robin who keeps flying into his front door and back sliding door. This goes on all day ...
  A: I can't tell for sure from the way you've phrased the question, but do you mean that the bird is ...
Jacques Cousteau's Discovery in Lake Tahoe4/5/2008
  Q: I did not understand if this question goes best in the Zoology department or the Wild Animals, but ...
  A: The "Zoology Community" doesn't know any more about the supposed monster in Lake Tahoe than it does ...
large mammal food caching4/4/2008
  Q: We have 52 acres in the S. Willamette Valley, Oregon. We have seen lots of wildlife over the years, ...
  A: Of all the predators you name, the cougar is probably the most likely to cover his leftovers with ...
duck deterrants4/3/2008
  Q: We are trying to find a safe way to deter Muscovy ducks from walking into the nighbors' yard. Two ...
  A: You're right that 10 miles may not be far enough. Muscovy ducks (especially the females) are *very* ...
Duck Laying4/1/2008
  Q: Now I have 4 female and 2 male. Its that time of the year now for them to start laying and I just ...
  A: The egg shell is permeable to air, and if the eggs were submerged in cold water for any length of ...
Identification of animal in our cellar3/19/2008
  Q: We found animal feces in the cellar under our house. Can you help us identify it? A few months ago, ...
  A: Given your description, the most likely culprits would be (1) raccoon, (2) opossum, or (3) skunk, ...
duck deterrants3/19/2008
  Q: We are trying to find a safe way to deter Muscovy ducks from walking into the nighbors' yard. ...
  A: I'm sorry you're having this sad problem. Unfortunately, ducks have a very poor sense of smell, and ...
jack rabbit bunnies: do they make good pets?2/28/2008
  Q: I found two small baby bunnies at my work and I was wondering if it would be a good idea to keep ...
  A: Please do not remove the babies from where you found them. If you have done so, please return them ...
Sable2/28/2008
  Q: Are Sable injured in any way or killed to make Sable art brushes?
  A: I have never heard of real sable artist's brushes being "cruelty free." Because sable (a relative ...
should people be able to keep wild animals as pets2/27/2008
  Q: should people be able to keep wild animals as pets because in my opinion if they do keep the wild ...
  A: I am not a big fan of people keeping wild species as pets. They have not undergone artificial ...
Follow-Up Question: Close Encounter of Monkeys2/26/2008
  Q: Krempels, Thank you very much for your response to my original question. You response was extremely ...
  A: I don't know of any close encounter monkey adventures that would be farther north, and I doubt ...
American Badgers2/25/2008
  Q: My name is Jessica and I am doing a report on American Badgers. It is required for us to get ...
  A: Like any other member of its ecosystem, the badger is an important part of the food web and of any ...
Animal Identification2/24/2008
  Q: Sir, I live in Canton MA. We are having a snow storm, what else is knew?, I just observed an ...
  A: In the past, fishers were considered secretive and not likely to cause any danger to humans or pets. ...
Sloths in captivity - diseases & prevention2/24/2008
  Q: I am looking for information to complete an assignment for a module of my Foundation Degree in ...
  A: I am sorry that this is really outside my area of expertise. I'm not well versed in the husbandry ...
Hand rearing captive wild animals2/21/2008
  Q: i am a second year degree student and we are currently debating the rights of humans to intervene ...
  A: This is a tough question, and probably does not have one correct answer. A person's feelings about ...
Close encounter tour of monkeys or orangutans2/19/2008
  Q: Where can I go to get a close encounter tour of monkeys or orangutans? Hello! I need help finding ...
  A: You might want to consider Monkey Jungle, which is in the Redlands, just south of Miami, FL. This ...
what does squirrel poop look like?2/18/2008
  Q: under our bird feeders there are lots of pellets. I thought they looked like rabbit droppings. ...
  A: Squirrel droppings look a lot like rat droppings: oblong and dark brown. If this is what you are ...
Northern New Jersey wild animals2/17/2008
  Q: Last week I was at my girlfriends home in Rumson NJ. She has a fireplace outside we where setting ...
  A: Most wild animals will not approach a human dwelling and actually growl. There's no way to know for ...
squirrels2/15/2008
  Q: I have a squirrel who has recently developed dry patches on his back and he is constantly itching ...
  A: Your little guy might have a case of mites, and creams won't help that. He needs to be seen by a ...
Bull sharks2/12/2008
  Q: Aloha Dana, Are there Bull here is Hawaii. I live in Kauai and a friend told me he saw one. I ...
  A: Bull sharks are not generally an open-water species (they even like to swim upstream far into ...
Lions and Tigers2/12/2008
  Q: What are five differences between a lion and a tiger?
  A: The two species (Panthera tigris and Panthera leo) are very closely related, with relatively few ...
Racoons and or Oposiums2/9/2008
  Q: Some one told me that raccoons and opossums will put their noses in their butts to stay warm. That ...
  A: Many animals will curl up in a little ball with the nose under the tail (or nuzzled into the fur ...
timber wolf body language2/8/2008
  Q: WHAT DOES THESE THINGS MEAN IN TIMBER WOLF: biting a wolf on top of chin flatting ears pointing ears ...
  A: I'm not sure what you mean by "biting on top of the chin", and it's a little hard to know the ...
check this out2/8/2008
  Q: hey i am willis smith i am 13 years old and i have a house on the santee. ever since i heard about ...
  A: The animal in the video does look like a large black cat. A "panther" can be a melanistic (i.e., ...
Chipmunk or squirrel for a pet2/4/2008
  Q: Would a chip monk chew through a wooden cage? Would a squeral chew through a wooden cage?
  A: Both chipmunks and squirrels will easily chew through a wooden cage. It is also necessary to have a ...
panda bears1/19/2008
  Q: are Panda bears in the rodent family?
  A: No. The exact phylogenetic placement of pandas is still under study, with some biologists saying ...
Whitetails and rational thoughts.1/17/2008
  Q: My question is quite simple, but the answer is a little more intriguing. Me and some hunting ...
  A: Scott, Sure! Fire away! But unfortunately I'll be at a veterinary conference this weekend, and ...
hares1/17/2008
  Q: How big can they grow, how far can they junp, what is their biggest predeter, and can you tell me ...
  A: There are many different species of hares, and they vary in size from the relatively small (4 ...
apex predators1/17/2008
  Q: Is the spotted hyenas an apex predator? Do you think that the honey badger is the most aggressive ...
  A: Although hyenas are often considered scavengers, they are also quite effective predators, and are ...
working with bears1/8/2008
  Q: I'm an Irish Ph.D. student and i would love to work with bears when i finish up. Do you know of any ...
  A: There are many institutions with faculty who might be interested in a grad student working on a bear ...
Unknown Backyard Animal1/6/2008
  Q: My outdoor cat is quite the hunter, and yesterday night he brought us a little gift. We looked at it ...
  A: I can't tell easily without seeing a picture (if you have one, you can send it to dana@miami.edu), ...
Whitetails and rational thoughts.1/6/2008
  Q: My question is quite simple, but the answer is a little more intriguing. Me and some hunting ...
  A: Unfortunatly, trans-species psychology is a discipline in its infancy, although recent advances in ...
owning animals in PA1/5/2008
  Q: My daughter is interested in knowing what animals are legal to own in PA. Can you direct us to a ...
  A: Before obtaining any wildlife (I'm assuming you mean wild animals here, since domestic animals are ...
Cotton Tail Rabbit's1/2/2008
  Q: My name is Wendy Banks and i live in the state of Kentucky.. and but of course there are all kinds ...
  A: Cottontails (Sylvilagus species) and domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are completely ...
nocturnal animal1/2/2008
  Q: my dog ran outside last night after a animal (dec 31) it was long about 2ft and flat while running. ...
  A: Yes, you could have fishers in your area, especially if you're near a nature preserve. If this was ...
my squirrel1/2/2008
  Q: I'M SO SORRY if this is a stupid question, but I haven't got a clue where else I can get an answer ...
  A: You should be able to bring the pets with you, but you will probably need a veterinarian's ...
nocturnal animal1/1/2008
  Q: my dog ran outside last night after a animal (dec 31) it was long about 2ft and flat while running. ...
  A: Without knowing your general geographical area, I can't make a guess. If you're up north, it could ...
Leaping animals12/30/2007
  Q: I am putting together a "celebration" for leap day and I am having a very difficult time finding any ...
  A: What a cute idea! :) Most animals can leap, and some are really good at it. Antelopes, ...
Ursus spelaeus12/28/2007
  Q: I grew up in North Carolina before the metric system appeared in the U.S.A. Please tell me how big ...
  A: I wish I could say I was enough of an expert on this species of extinct bear to argue with the web ...
CHIPMUNKS12/28/2007
  Q: I HAVE A " PET ' CHIPMUNK IN MY BACK YARD. HOW LONG DO THEY LIVE, DO THEY HIBERNATE, HOW OFTEN DO ...
  A: You can find some excellent overviews of the natural history, reproduction, diet, etc. of chipmunks ...
Bears and Big Cats12/28/2007
  Q: I asked someone about how bears are stronger than big cats overall, he replied that the bears are ...
  A: It is really nearly impossible to answer a question such as "who is stronger, a bear or a tiger" ...
Zoo animals(Hopefully you can answer)12/27/2007
  Q: I recently went to the zoo(Singapore Zoo) and noticed something perculiar. Are zoo animals smaller ...
  A: It is possible that the zoo animals are smaller than their wild counterparts for many reasons. Diet ...
Ursus spelaeus12/26/2007
  Q: I grew up in North Carolina before the metric system appeared in the U.S.A. Please tell me how big ...
  A: The Cave Bear stood about 10 feet at the shoulder (while standing on all fours!), and is estimated ...
Orphan squirrel died12/26/2007
  Q: About three months ago I was given an orphan squirrel to take care of. It had been found running ...
  A: I am so terribly sorry about this Christmas tragedy. I hope you can take some small comfort in ...
PANTHERS12/26/2007
  Q: I would like to know if any panthers have ever been seen or reported in the state of Louisiana.
  A: As you can see from the range map here: www.nwf.org/cats/catsWest.cfm panthers (also called ...
Crocodile vision12/25/2007
  Q: Could You tell me something about crocodile vision and his eye structure, I have to write a report ...
  A: Crocodiles, like all reptiles have a retina that is populated mostly by cone photoreceptors. There ...
Why do gorillas beat their chests?12/25/2007
  Q: i want to ask you that why the gorillas always beat its chest???? ...
  A: A male gorilla beats his chest as a threat to a perceived danger (e.g., and approaching human), or ...
sick squirrel12/24/2007
  Q: Today I came home to find my pet squirrel dragging her hind legs around her cage. She can't move her ...
  A: I've never heard of a rodent with an intestinal impaction to suffer from hind limb paresis from the ...
My lepored Gecko12/24/2007
  Q: i was wonering what else i can feed my lepored gecko that he would eat and be heathly for him i ...
  A: There is excellent information on the care of Leopard Geckos here: ...
unusual rodent found in yard12/23/2007
  Q: i have no idea what this thing is. i found it in my window well and captured it in a bucket. i think ...
  A: This sounds like a baby cottontail rabbit, though it's very late in the year for these to be born. ...
Bite Force12/23/2007
  Q: Was wondering which animal that the more powerful bite force, a Hyenia or Alligator Snapping Turtle? ...
  A: Different sources vary in their measurements, and there are different species of hyenas of different ...
sick squirrel12/22/2007
  Q: Today I came home to find my pet squirrel dragging her hind legs around her cage. She can't move her ...
  A: Without seeing her, I cannot know for sure what is wrong. It is possible that she suffered a ...
black footed ferret12/19/2007
  Q: I know nothing about black footed ferrets and i want to learn about them and what some of their ...
  A: Here are some very good web sites about Black-footed ferrets and their natural history: ...
Bunny12/18/2007
  Q: My bunny has had a droop or lift depending on how you look at it on her right side of her face. My ...
  A: I'm glad your bunny is under the care of an experienced vet. An ear infection can be very painful, ...
Wild Black Panther12/18/2007
  Q: I live in Mississippi. Just recently whiling traveling some of our land, we spotted large ...
  A: It is very unlikely that there is a black panther (a melanistic leopard, jaguar, or cougar) in your ...
Mammals winter coats12/15/2007
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I have several squirrels living in my yard and I notice that they grow a "winter coat" ...
  A: There's not really a possibility of "no winter," since the days will get shorter even if the ...
Mammals winter coats12/15/2007
  Q: Dr. Krempels, I have several squirrels living in my yard and I notice that they grow a "winter coat" ...
  A: Circadian Rhythms (innate responses to seasonal changes) are internal, but they can be altered by ...
Squirrels12/14/2007
  Q: Rencently I found a squirrel in my laundry room. I really want to help him out of the house. I left ...
  A: If you leave the window open, he will likely find it and exit, especially if you put up something he ...
Raccoons12/12/2007
  Q: I have 3 babies (raccoons)I hand raised from little pinkies. @ females and a male. They are crated ...
  A: As you probably know, you'll need to get special permits to keep native species (which many people ...
Axis deer12/12/2007
  Q: Could you please tell me what Axis deer like to eat. Such as what type of plants or grasses. There ...
  A: Axis deer are native to India, so they naturally will forage on the grasses and shrubs native to ...
possums12/12/2007
  Q: ok why do they live under the porch and how can we get rid of them ? they freak me out !!!! i have a ...
  A: You know...I try to tell myself I love all animals. Even cockroaches have their beauty. But the ...
Elephants12/11/2007
  Q: How do humans benefit from elephants?
  A: If elephants were to become extinct, most humans would not be directly affected. However, elephants ...
Foods That Inhibit Calcium Absorption12/10/2007
  Q: -) I forgot to ask in addition to my question that I sent this morning...in fruits, vegetables & ...
  A: It's difficult to translate what we know about human calcium metabolism to a squirrel, since their ...
Calcium & Vitamins12/10/2007
  Q: I give Tracemin to my parakeets and was wondering if it is also okay to give it to gray squirrels? ...
  A: I am not a big fan of nutrient supplements added to water, mainly because it can change the taste of ...
What animal dug this burrow?12/8/2007
  Q: Please help me ID this animal. I live near Dallas, TX. On a warm winter day, near a dry drainage ...
  A: Hmm. Okay, maybe not a crustacean. But the fact that the clay was wet suggests that it might not ...
Seriously sad12/7/2007
  Q: Aside from people, are there other creatures on this planet that cry when they are sad? (as opposed ...
  A: This is an excellent question, and one that has been pondered by many scientists. Unfortunately, ...
bird hurts12/7/2007
  Q: we found a baby sparrow and has heeps of injuress and we are wondering how to take care of it ? ...
  A: Please go here for complete information about this: http://www.birdingguide.com/bird_rescue/ The ...
Tracemin12/7/2007
  Q: I give Tracemin to my parakeets and was wondering if it is also okay to give it to gray squirrels? ...
  A: The product is pretty much a solution of amino acids and trace minerals. It probably won't hurt, ...
badger locations12/6/2007
  Q: we would like to know if badgers live in Indiana? we recently seen what appeared to be one ,on a ...
  A: You can see a range map and description of the badger here: ...
What animal dug this burrow?12/6/2007
  Q: Please help me ID this animal. I live near Dallas, TX. On a warm winter day, near a dry drainage ...
  A: This sounds like the burrow made by some type of invertebrate. If there are small crabs living on ...
grackles12/6/2007
  Q: How can I get rid of grackles, but still encourage other birds?
  A: Grackles are generalists, and if you want to attract other birds, it will be difficult to exclude ...
Adopting a Hare12/5/2007
  Q: We are researching and plan to adopt a kitten and a house rabbit friend by the end of January. I'd ...
  A: Most of the Black-tailed Jackrabbits rescued from MIA have been released in a sanctuary in Texas. ...
pekin ducks12/5/2007
  Q: I have a Peking duck, i got him in the beginning of the summer..I live in Michigan, and as you ...
  A: If he's really unhappy outside, then don't force him to stay out for more than a half hour or so a ...
3 anmilas good fro humans12/5/2007
  Q: i have a question i do resentfully if you do answer my question.We have 3 animals in the world who ...
  A: If you are asking me what three animals do humans use to eat their products without actually killing ...
hurt wild rabbit from my yard12/3/2007
  Q: long story... we found a rabbit in the (unfenced, upstate NY cccCOLD) yard early morning one day ...
  A: If being kind-hearted and caring counts as silly, then count me in! Thank you for trying to save ...
Home invaded by Burmese Pythons12/1/2007
  Q: What products would one use to rid home of Burmese Pythons? Do to cleaning of a retention pond, my ...
  A: I have to say that this is the oddest infestation question I've yet fielded. The garbage no doubt ...
Foxes12/1/2007
  Q: Could a small, young fox kill a young child?
  A: A very young fox is not likely to show interest in a small human child. It's not likely that an ...
Small Animal Safety11/30/2007
  Q: I apologize greatly if I am asking the wrong person, but I was hoping you could answer my question ...
  A: The list of ingredients in that product is pretty much a list of amino acids (the subunits of which ...
Need Expert on Siberian Tiger Please11/29/2007
  Q: I am sorry i just sent you an e-mail and i forget my questions, i am so stupid sometimes. Here i ...
  A: 1. You can find current information on population numbers here: ...
pekin duck laying eggs11/29/2007
  Q: We have 2 pekin ducks baout 8 months old. I am not sure how to tell if they are male or female. ...
  A: If the mother duck is not sitting on her eggs and the temperatures are that low right now, then it ...
zebras11/29/2007
  Q: How do zebras survive in the wild?
  A: Your question isn't very specific, so I'll give a very general answer. Zebras survive the same way ...
poultry predators11/29/2007
  Q: I have just lost my first chicken, one of six, to a strange predator. My chickens have free range ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your chicken. There are several wild animals in your list above that ...
platypus11/28/2007
  Q: ok. i want a pet platypus. is it possible for me to keep one if i hatchet it from an egg? and i ...
  A: Although the Duck-billed Platypus is an interesting (and cute!) animal, it is not suitable as a pet. ...
Arizona Black Scorpion11/28/2007
  Q: Why is cactus vegetation important for the survival of the Arizona Black Scorpion.
  A: Cactus and other desert vegetation should be considered important for black scorpions for two main ...
coons n cats11/28/2007
  Q: my friend told me the he saw a racoon and a cat mating.can a racoon n a cat mate?
  A: I think your friend was pulling your leg. Even if the two animals *did* mate, they certainly ...
Recent death of bees11/28/2007
  Q: I am doing a Biology project on the recent death of Bees can you give any information on this topic ...
  A: The problem you're taking on is known as Colony Collapse Disorder, and there's not yet a consensus ...
Turtle with soft belly11/27/2007
  Q: My turtle is 9 and he seems to be growing out of his shell and he has recently developed a soft spot ...
  A: It sounds as if your turtle needs some help from a good exotics veterinarian. It's possible that ...
question11/27/2007
  Q: We are doing a powerpoint slide show and i need facts about why animal habitats are being destroyed ...
  A: Natural habitats are being destroyed by humans for many reasons, including: Clearing for human ...
Turtle with soft belly11/27/2007
  Q: My turtle is 9 and he seems to be growing out of his shell and he has recently developed a soft spot ...
  A: It's possible that your turtle is not getting sufficient calcium in his diet for good shell growth ...
Seagulls and rice11/26/2007
  Q: Is it true that if one were to feed Seagulls rice that they would eat it, then it would swell in ...
  A: That's an urban legend. Although rice isn't a natural component of a sea gull's diet, the grains ...
FOXES IN NEW JERSEY11/26/2007
  Q: What and where is the best way to be successful at viewing wild foxes in New Jersey.
  A: Foxes are primarily crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk) and nocturnal, so the best time to see ...
Wild foxes in Paris, France11/26/2007
  Q: Specifically have wild foxes adapted to survive in any part of Paris, France?
  A: Although urban foxes are most common in the U.K., sightings of red foxes have increased in mainland ...
fisher cats11/25/2007
  Q: Yesterday my 3 cats were in the back yard playing on the wood pile when I came out of the house & ...
  A: Unfortunately, urine isn't likely to deter the fisher, and short of carrying a can of mace with you ...
Chimpanzee11/23/2007
  Q: is there any scientific studies carried out chimpanzees with regard to their environment and ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're asking, but chimpanzees are one of the best studied great apes. Their ...
PITBULL11/23/2007
  Q: I KNOW YOU SAiD YOU WOULDNT ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WOULD WIN FIGHTS BUT THIS ISNT REALLY LIKE ...
  A: A fox will turn on a predator only if it feels as if it can not escape, or if it's cornered. If ...
killer whales11/23/2007
  Q: and could we be find them in any other ocean than the pacific ocean. thank you so much for all your ...
  A: Although this sounds like a homework question, I'll help with a clue: You can read about the Orca ...
Panthera in the santee delta?11/21/2007
  Q: I have recently placed an edited version of a video I filmed in 2002 online. ...
  A: Unfortunately, it's a still, and the head isn't visible, so it's nearly impossible to tell what this ...
Wild Animals11/20/2007
  Q: In Antarctica, what is the largest LAND animal?
  A: There are no fully terrestrial mammals or birds in Antarctica: all are at least semi-marine. But ...
deer size11/20/2007
  Q: Dana-I now live in Eastern North Carolina, retired here from Western NY.The deer here are very small ...
  A: If your climate is very warm, then there might indeed be a selective advantage to small body size ...
deer size11/19/2007
  Q: Dana-I now live in Eastern North Carolina, retired here from Western NY.The deer here are very small ...
  A: One possible explanation for your wee deer could be that they are reproductively isolated from other ...
burrowing animal in backyard11/19/2007
  Q: I recently noticed a long trail/tunnel right at the surface of my grass in my backyard. It starts in ...
  A: It sounds very much like gopher trails. They're pretty secretive, and you're not likely to see them ...
oppossums11/17/2007
  Q: We've recently had an opossum visit our back yard. We feed it cat food, which it seemed to enjoy. My ...
  A: Although opossums don't hibernate (they don't store enough energy reserves to make it through the ...
pet squirrel11/15/2007
  Q: I've had my squirrel for going on 8 yrs. A few weeks ago she stopped eating and it was obvious that ...
  A: If the vet can get pus out, it will relieve pressure and make the squirrel more comfortable. It's a ...
birds11/14/2007
  Q: im doing a presentation on birds and the risks they pose for catchimng disease. can you tell me what ...
  A: If you mean pigeons, then I believe you're thinking of Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that causes ...
pet squirrel11/14/2007
  Q: I've had my squirrel for going on 8 yrs. A few weeks ago she stopped eating and it was obvious that ...
  A: Jaw abscesses can take a long time to resolve, so a two-week course of Baytril might not do the ...
Raccoons11/14/2007
  Q: I am terrified of raccoons, I hear they are dangerous and would like to know what to do if I ever ...
  A: Raccoons that are habituated to human presence can be threatening if they are begging for food and ...
wild species11/13/2007
  Q: how we gain benefits from wild species?
  A: There are countless ways we benefit from wild species, especially when you consider plants. Plants ...
honey eating wild animals11/10/2007
  Q: Dr. Krempels, While walking in my woods this morning, I discovered an underground bee hive that had ...
  A: Wow! What a cool thing to find! A bear could have been the culprit. They're most famous for ...
Bull shark distribution11/10/2007
  Q: I would just like to know what rivers and freshwater areas bull sharks have been found in. Is there ...
  A: You can find a range distribution map for the bull shark here: ...
Squirrel behavior11/8/2007
  Q: My daddy (who I believe to be a genius) told me a long time ago that the reason squirrels bite off ...
  A: I have never heard of squirrels engaging in this type of behavior, and think this might be some sort ...
Black panthers11/8/2007
  Q: Me and my brother have been in this real big disagreement about if Black Panthers are in Virginia? ...
  A: A black panther is a melanistic (i.e., black, instead of the normal spotted coat) leopard (Panthera ...
baby praying mantis11/8/2007
  Q: I have some baby praying mantis that has hatched and I would like to know what they eat. It is to ...
  A: Praying mantises are predators, so you'll need to provide live insects. Crickets are convenient and ...
Unfamiliar animal11/7/2007
  Q: I was wondering if you could help me identify an animal that my mom and I saw about a week ago. We ...
  A: At this time of year, weasels and a few other mustelids are changing their coats from summer brown ...
Is Toad displaying normal? Or dying?11/6/2007
  Q: I came across a huge toad this AM, at first thought it had been run over, but on closer notice, a ...
  A: I did get the photo, and from what I can see, it looks like a prolapsed rectum, which is not good. ...
"Black Panthers"11/6/2007
  Q: I am 11 and I have to put together a project on black panthers. I need to know their diet, habitat ...
  A: I can't write your report for you, but I can tell you that "black panthers" are actually just ...
Is Toad displaying normal? Or dying?11/5/2007
  Q: I came across a huge toad this AM, at first thought it had been run over, but on closer notice, a ...
  A: As I said, I cannot see the toad to know what might be wrong. But believe it or not, they are so ...
Is Toad displaying normal? Or dying?11/5/2007
  Q: I came across a huge toad this AM, at first thought it had been run over, but on closer notice, a ...
  A: Without seeing the toad, I cannot tell for sure. But it sounds as if it was run over, and the red ...
Bobcat11/5/2007
  Q: My boyfriend and i were out four wheeling when our four wheeler broke down. We tried to get it ...
  A: Glad you escaped whole from your scary ordeal! You can listen to various wild animal calls here: ...
wolf range11/5/2007
  Q: where are all of the places that wolves live if you can tell me A.S.P.that would be .:GREAT:.
  A: There are range maps for various continents at the following web sites: ...
gorilla11/4/2007
  Q: IS THE GORILLA THE STRONGEST MAMMAL ON THIS PLANET?
  A: No, there are many mammals that would be considered stronger, such as the large ungulates (buffalo, ...
Hey what is a red panda?11/4/2007
  Q: can you tell me what a red panda is? Is it a cross between a red fox and a panda or a red fox,a ...
  A: Although Red Pandas may look like a cross between a fox and a panda and a raccoon, it is none of ...
raccoon - juvenile - hurt11/3/2007
  Q: Found a young coon - one ear chewed up (aside from him trying to scratch, that's taken care of). ...
  A: Please go to: http://www.doryandtheorphans.com/ for complete information on what to do to help an ...
silverback vs. wolverine10/27/2007
  Q: I know what you are going to say when i ask this,"animals don't fight each other." Well it's time ...
  A: You're right. The first thing I have to tell you is that unless animals are extremely stressed and ...
cottontail rabbits10/26/2007
  Q: What is a project or somthing that I can do to attract them to my yard and doring day light?
  A: Cottontail rabbits are indeed wonderful and fun to watch! You won't be able to get them to come ...
panthers10/14/2007
  Q: My daughter is doing a report comparing Florida and New York. My question is: Do panthers live in ...
  A: The only panthers that might still live in New York are in captivity, or possibly accidentally ...
more unusual night sounds10/13/2007
  Q: After reading another post about unusual night sounds, and after checking your suggestion it might ...
  A: Terri I wish I could tell you what the animal is. But without hearing the sound myself, there's ...
Black and brown rats breeding10/12/2007
  Q: Can black rat breed with Norwegian rat?
  A: The two species Rattus rattus (Black Rat) and Rattus norvegicus (Norway Rat) are very closely ...
Pythons10/12/2007
  Q: If a man is attacked by a python of significant size, can he fight back, and how should he fight ...
  A: If a python large enough to kill a human actually attacks a human, the only way to survive is to ...
animals10/12/2007
  Q: what is the static about how many animals moving into Neighborhoods because houses are going up in ...
  A: I'm not sure what you mean by "static," but when native animals' habitats are destroyed to make room ...
Rabbits under our house!!10/11/2007
  Q: We have an old hired-hand house and just rented it out. It has RABBITS (cotton-tail) living under ...
  A: This is a tough one, and a perennial problem for anyone who has critters hiding under the house. If ...
Squirrel I am raising10/11/2007
  Q: I have the CUTEST little squirrel that I am raising. It fell out of tree and was picked up by a dog ...
  A: and taking such good care of her. The important thing to remember is that this squirrel is now ...
Rescued baby rabbit10/10/2007
  Q: I am wondering how i can clean a baby rabbit i found. It seems to have some hard sticky stuff on its ...
  A: First try a damp, warm washcloth and see if it will come off that way. DO NOT bathe the baby, as ...
Squirrel10/9/2007
  Q: I observed the oddest thing this evening. I took my daughter to our local park in small town NY and ...
  A: It's hard not to imagine that the squirrel was playing, and they truly *are* very playful when they ...
Turkeys10/8/2007
  Q: I am doing some coursework on animals and need to find out about Turkeys. I have looked up on the ...
  A: You can find some background information on Wild Turkeys here: ...
unknown animal night sounds10/8/2007
  Q: We live in North central Maryland (USA) in a rural area. For the past three weeks or so, we have ...
  A: It sounds as if this could be the call of the Screech Owl. They make a HUGE noise for such a wee, ...
animal care for their elderly10/7/2007
  Q: I would like to know if any animals (other than humans) look after their elderly. ie does a ...
  A: q1) This is rare, but not unkown. A lot depends on the relationship of the two monkeys, with ...
unidentified predator10/6/2007
  Q: I have seen an unusual cat-like predator here in my yard in So. Texas as the first light appeared. ...
  A: I'd be very interested to see a picture. If it doesn't look like a Bobcat, then I'd wonder if ...
wild animal10/5/2007
  Q: What whild animal has a weak heart? Is there any wild animal that dies from heart attack?
  A: The main answer that comes to my mind is that rabbits and hares have what might be considered a ...
animal care for their elderly10/4/2007
  Q: I would like to know if any animals (other than humans) look after their elderly. ie does a ...
  A: Elephants definitely care for their elderly, as do a few of the higher primates. But other than ...
unidentified predator10/4/2007
  Q: I have seen an unusual cat-like predator here in my yard in So. Texas as the first light appeared. ...
  A: The animal you describe sounds like a large bobcat. Although a large adult bobcat will seldom ...
Ill Fawn10/4/2007
  Q: A fawn who frequents our back yard with its mother has appeared by itself today, looking ill. It ...
  A: It is very unlikely that whatever ailment is troubling the fawn will be contagious to your pets. ...
injured baby jackrabbit10/3/2007
  Q: I found a baby rabbit no more than a week old and i don't know for sure, but I think my retarted cat ...
  A: If the baby hare was bitten or scratched by a cat, he needs to be put on fluoroquinolone antibiotics ...
BLACK panthers10/2/2007
  Q: i am just staren to love black panthers i wont to know almost everything do you know there ...
  A: A black "panther" is the common name given to a melanistic, mutant individual leopard (Panthera ...
mallard duck (pet)10/1/2007
  Q: Our baby duck has holes in the webbing of it's feet. I don't know why it has this. It was bought at ...
  A: If the holes are not inflamed, and appear to have healed margins, then they are very likely just ...
White Mulberry leaves10/1/2007
  Q: where can u find white mulberry leaves
  A: I believe you are asking where you can get leaves of the White Mulberry Tree (Morus alba). If so, ...
extinct plants and animals10/1/2007
  Q: Why do scientists believe that most animals would become extinct if all plants died?
  A: Animals cannot sequester solar energy or fix nitrogen without plants. Only plants can make organic ...
Rabbit food10/1/2007
  Q: well I have a simple question. Does processed food such as the pellets affect the growth of a ...
  A: Commercial pellets have been formulated with the optimum growth of the rabbit in mind (often for ...
my new hamster9/30/2007
  Q: i bought an 8 dollar teddy bear hamster yesterday and she had 4 babies today what am i gonna do
  A: Well, it's time to let Nature take its course and let mama raise her brood. Start asking around ...
wild rabbit9/29/2007
  Q: i was driving home tonight 29/09/07 and saw this rabbit in the middle of the road upright and alive ...
  A: The best thing would be to bring the rabbit to a good rabbit vet, who can assess his chances of ...
baby rabbit deaths9/28/2007
  Q: I Have 2 litters of Rabbits one litter is 7 weeks old the other one is 4 weeks old they're both from ...
  A: I am very sorry about this terrible, sad loss. It is very unusual for all the babies to die at once ...
What do wild rabbits drink?9/27/2007
  Q: How and what do wild rabbits drink?
  A: Wild rabbits drink water from standing or running sources, as most other mammals do. They also lick ...
sex life of a loin9/26/2007
  Q: sir, I came to know from a friend that there is a kind of loin who has the sex only once in his ...
  A: Do you mean a "lion"? If so, I have never heard of such a thing, and think it must be a ...
house mouse9/26/2007
  Q: I found a house mouse in my garden,it was on its side i picked it up as i thought it was ...
  A: If the mouse has recovered, that's a good sign. It may be that he was captured or traumatized by a ...
New born ducklings9/26/2007
  Q: I found several new born ducklings in my backyard (I live on a lake) and my dog chased them into the ...
  A: If you don't see the mother looking around frantically for her brood, that's unusual. I wonder if ...
African Wild Dogs9/25/2007
  Q: For an assignment at college we need to find out about different types of animals. As a part of ...
  A: I can't find anything on this either, and suspect it's because (1) it's not well known and (2) ...
which animal?9/25/2007
  Q: I used to live in central Pennsylvania and upstate New York. I remember an animal that lived near ...
  A: I was all set to say "muskrat" until you got to the shiny thing bit. I've never heard of a muskrat ...
Animal Identification9/20/2007
  Q: I am from Charleston, SC. My husband & I saw a small animal dead on the side of the road & couldn't ...
  A: Without seeing the animal, I can only guess. But the most likely I.D. is a young raccoon. The only ...
ducks9/20/2007
  Q: how can the duck walk in 30 seconds without its head
  A: Many animals have reflexive neuromuscular action even after the head is removed, and removing the ...
bunnies9/18/2007
  Q: well we found a bunnie we it was shivering and my cat was near but my qustion is would it be ...
  A: It is illegal in all states to keep wildlife in captivity without special permits. Please read ...
Animal droppings??9/18/2007
  Q: Ok so I've been finding some sort of animal droppings i think. They are small black shiney, round, ...
  A: These sound like herbivore droppings, but since I can't see the size, I can't tell whether they are ...
Possums & ducks9/17/2007
  Q: I have 3 grown ducks as pets and they get along just fine with our 2 cats. We also have some ...
  A: Although an opossum will attack a trapped or disabled animal, it's really unusual for them to go for ...
rabbits9/17/2007
  Q: what do most rabbits do during there spar time i have a project and as or no i am not getting good ...
  A: During the day and most of the night, rabbits cat-nap. They are most active around dawn and dusk, ...
burrows9/17/2007
  Q: I live in MN and have a very wooded yard. I recently noticed a large tunnel under the grass from ...
  A: Any number of animals could make a burrow like this. The best way to find out who's in there would ...
parakeet9/17/2007
  Q: ok well i have a lot of parakeets now we have babies and one seems to be deformed its legs well it ...
  A: I would recommend you get the little guy to a good avian vet for evaluation. The problem may simply ...
squirrel sicknesses9/16/2007
  Q: Can any squirrel diseases be transmitted to dogs? Are there any such airborne viruses?
  A: In general, pathogens are not easily transmitted between squirrels and dogs, and I know of no ...
pet rabbit9/15/2007
  Q: our pet rabbit is lovely, we are wondering why he does circles around us in the morning and night, ...
  A: If he's not neutered, then he's courting you. :) It's a sign of great love. If you're not so ...
Giardia9/14/2007
  Q: Even though these dogs were bought at a pet store, the condition that they were bred I consider to ...
  A: I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but it's certainly not unique to see this type of thing ...
Wild Baby Bunny9/11/2007
  Q: I recently found a wild baby bunny. I thought at first it might still be nursing however I call a ...
  A: Although a wild cottontail is very beautiful and cute, he is not suitable to keep in captivity. As ...
Help Baby bunnies in the yard9/10/2007
  Q: We live in the country on five acres. Our yard is very open and we mow every week. This morning we ...
  A: I have heard of many people trying to move a cottontail nest, but never heard of a successful move. ...
snake9/10/2007
  Q: we usually feed my snake every 2 weeks but now he didnt eat his rat. the rat is dead. we buy the rat ...
  A: Your snake could be rejecting the rat because it smells wrong (freezer burned? not fresh enough?). ...
Becoming a Biologist9/8/2007
  Q: I was wondering on how to become a biologist. Well, more specifically, a biologist that studies ...
  A: If you have a love of wolves, then the first step would be to find a university that offers a degree ...
Oppossums in my backyard9/7/2007
  Q: My husband and I live in town...the edge actually. We're near a lake. We've been having raccoons ...
  A: Opossums are one of the easiest urban creatures to trap, as they are (how can I say this politely? ...
Field Mouse9/7/2007
  Q: Today I went outside to smoke a cigarette and I saw a field mouse layin on my porch. It looks like ...
  A: A small mammal injured by a cat is at great risk not only of neurological damage (which may be what ...
Unknown animal in southern Michigan9/7/2007
  Q: A few evenings ago I got a quick glimpse of a strange looking animal. It had a long thin pointy ...
  A: This doesn't sound like any native animal I know that lives in your area. I have to wonder if this ...
My duck is sitting on rotten eggs9/7/2007
  Q: My muscovy Duck has been sitting on her eggs for 2 months she has been such a good mommy, but the ...
  A: If the eggs have not hatched within about 28-30 days, they are not viable, and should be thrown ...
rabbits9/4/2007
  Q: i hope you can help we have had a cottontail female for about 3 weeks now she is quite settled and ...
  A: If you really mean that you have a wild cottontail rabbit, then you can give up any plans for ...
Injured baby duck! Please answer quickly!9/4/2007
  Q: There's a small hole in the foot of my baby duck. She's limping, but she's not in severe pain. Is ...
  A: Until you can get her to a good avian vet to be checked, you can bathe the wound carefully with a ...
Terrapins9/4/2007
  Q: I've recently had two small terrapins from a friend who dos'nt want them anymore,how do you tell if ...
  A: If the terrapins are still babies, it will be very difficult to sex them. But there are some ...
cougar?9/3/2007
  Q: I live in Red Deer Alberta Canada. I recently took a camping trip into the rocky mountains west of ...
  A: Wow. That sounds like a pretty horrible experience. And as you say, it's probably impossible for ...
Rocky9/2/2007
  Q: I don't know if you will be able to answer this question but I'll go for it anyway. I found a frog ...
  A: The more space he has, the better, of course. I was just saying that 10 gallons would be *minimum* ...
Darwin's Finches of the Galapagos9/2/2007
  Q: I need some detailed information regarding the nutrients finches, specifically vampire finches, ...
  A: Feather quills are high in protein (mainly keratin), which the finches can metabolize into other ...
Rocky9/1/2007
  Q: I don't know if you will be able to answer this question but I'll go for it anyway. I found a frog ...
  A: If you live in a cold area, frogs to hibernate during the winter. He will probably be safe outside, ...
elephant behavior9/1/2007
  Q: could you list the elephants repetoire of behaviors? and if possible, any sites that might have ...
  A: Elephants are highly intelligent, and have a HUGE repertoire of behaviors too long to list here. ...
Wild rabbit babies8/31/2007
  Q: We found our yard littered with 4 dead baby rabbits (cottontails?) several days ago. Then we found ...
  A: It does sound as if something bad happened to mama, or that a predator got to the babies and did ...
which of these predators is the ultimate?8/31/2007
  Q: between an adult male Kodiak bear and an adult male Siberian tiger, which one wins in their fights.
  A: The two predators wisely avoid each other's company, and so are not very likely to ever fight in the ...
hawk8/30/2007
  Q: i have found an injured hawk along side the road, it has a broken wing, with some deep cuts on the ...
  A: It is not easy to rehabilitate a hawk, and this bird will need specialized veterinary care if it is ...
New England8/30/2007
  Q: We intend to go on a walking holiday in various areas of New England this fall, are there any ...
  A: Wherever you take your walking tour, it's wise to check with the local parks department to see what ...
dog drug home a 4-6 day old wild rabbit.8/29/2007
  Q: My dog Shadow dragged home a 4-6 day old rabbit and acted as if it were his toy. I rescued it .It ...
  A: I hope the information here will help you feed and raise the baby: ...
an injured mouse/vole8/29/2007
  Q: i caught my cat torturing a mouse today, i shooed the cat off but the mouse didn't move - though it ...
  A: If the cat punctured or scratched the mouse, then there is a good possibility the wounds will be ...
Identify animal (racoon?)8/28/2007
  Q: 3 nights ago the downstairs windows (3 ft. from ground) were open. My cat was sleeping in the sill, ...
  A: This could be any number of animals, but the fact that it was bold enough to actually try to enter ...
Hamster ASAP!8/27/2007
  Q: i was wondering how to tell the difference between a male and female hamster. also, do you know why ...
  A: Almost any two hamsters of any type who don't like each other will fight, so it's best to keep them ...
Possoms8/27/2007
  Q: Do some possoms hope like rabbits and hares? Are there certain types of possoms that have no tails? ...
  A: I'm not familiar with all the different types of marsupials in Queensland, but let's see if any of ...
abandoned twin fawns8/25/2007
  Q: I have a set of twin fawns that are living in the backyard of my home and 3 neighbors. We are all ...
  A: If the babies are still of nursing age, then it is very likely that the mother is still feeding them ...
BABY SQUIRRELS:BATHROOM8/25/2007
  Q: MY CAT KILLED THE MOTHER OF 2 YOUNG 1 MONTH OLD BAY SQUIRELLS. WE FOUND HIM BATTING ...
  A: You can find complete instructions for raising orphaned baby squirrels here: ...
Bite Strength8/24/2007
  Q: I have a question about bite strength. I do not really understand why one give a pressure instead of ...
  A: (Your English is perfectly fine! :) ) This isn't my area of expertise, but I'll give it a go. To ...
Giraffes and Vomit8/24/2007
  Q: I really appreciated all your information about giraffes and vomit, but do you know how long it ...
  A: I don't think I previously answered a question about giraffes and vomit, actually. You must have ...
Panther8/23/2007
  Q: I have seen 2 types of panthers in Thomas county georgia. A large black one in 1996 and 2 tan one in ...
  A: If you live in a rural area, it's possible that someone had a captive big cat (cougar or other ...
unknown wild animal8/23/2007
  Q: I live on long island and my roommate keeps telling me she is seeing an animal on our porch that she ...
  A: No common animal living in an urban area fits that description (50lbs and long, brown hair). But if ...
wild deer8/22/2007
  Q: I just found a newly born dear near my orchard. I have not seen the mother anywhere. How can I ...
  A: The fawn is very likely being cared for by its mother. Mother deer feed their babies only once or ...
Wild Guinea-Pigs8/22/2007
  Q: How long do wild guinea-pigs grow up to? Are guinea-pigs friendly with hamsters? Howcome when i sort ...
  A: Wild (and domestic) guinea pigs range in size from about 550 - 700 grams (16-25 ounces), with ...
Bite Strength8/22/2007
  Q: I read a wikipedia article about crocodiles that mentioned something about bite strength, saying ...
  A: Bite strength is a measure of crushing force, not of the ability to bite through things. I'm not ...
monkeys8/21/2007
  Q: how many monkeys are in the world?
  A: I'm sorry, but that question is outside my area of expertise. I'm a rabbit/hare expert, and though ...
Shark vs tiger8/20/2007
  Q: Hypothetically, what, in your expert opinion, would win. A Great White, or a Lion because Spc. ...
  A: Well, if Spc. Jones thinks a tiger would win a fight between a shark and a lion, I want some of ...
Wild Guinea-Pigs8/20/2007
  Q: How long do wild guinea-pigs grow up to? Are guinea-pigs friendly with hamsters? Howcome when i sort ...
  A: I'm not sure what you're asking with your first question. Do you mean how big do wild guinea pigs ...
injured duck8/20/2007
  Q: my pet duck has been attacked by a dog and can't stand on one of it's legs, what should i do?
  A: You should get your duck to a good exotics/avian veterinarian immediately for treatment. Check the ...
cottontail8/19/2007
  Q: dog brought 1 wk old cottontail,small nail scratch on back, now healed. approx 2 wks now. feeding ...
  A: Sounds as if he's doing well! Acidophilus isn't a normal denizen of the rabbit or cottontail ...
baby rabbit8/19/2007
  Q: found baby rabbit (appx 6" long) under steps hiding in rock. would like to send home. will it find ...
  A: If you place the baby back exactly where you found him, he will be able to find his way back to ...
Wild Bunnies8/19/2007
  Q: Yesterday I found a bunch of dry grass while cleaning the yard and under it were three baby ...
  A: It is very likely that the mother is still caring for the babies. To be sure, you can place two ...
French water mamal8/19/2007
  Q: On a visit to France in the Loire Valley last week, my daughter spotted a small mammal in the water ...
  A: My best guess as to what you saw would be a family of muskrats. These cousins to the beavers do dig ...
ASAP found a FRESH nest please HURRY8/18/2007
  Q: I found a nest with 2 eggs in it from a bush that i cut down but we didn't know the nest was there. ...
  A: It's very difficult to incubate and hatch songbirds, but this sounds like what you have. I can't ...
cottontail8/18/2007
  Q: dog brought 1 wk old cottontail,small nail scratch on back, now healed. approx 2 wks now. feeding ...
  A: Congratulations on raising the wee bunny successfully! You won't be able to find cecotropes from ...
i have question about some bunnies8/18/2007
  Q: We checked the flowers and saw a nest. Someone touched it. Will the mother still care for the ...
  A: If the nest was not disturbed in a major way, mama will return to care for her babies. But please ...
Black Panthers in Ga.8/17/2007
  Q: Some co-workers and I was talking about black panthers in Ga.And I told them that there has been ...
  A: Although there are some remaining "panthers" in Florida, they are now pretty much restricted to deep ...
Fishers8/17/2007
  Q: Asking you to take a stab as I realize these guys aren't your specialty! We have a isher in ...
  A: Wow, this is the second question about Fishers (in regard to their being dangerous to cats) I've ...
Fishercats8/16/2007
  Q: A few days ago at about 8:30pm I was with a few friends at my house getting ready to go fishing when ...
  A: If you are absolutely sure that the death of the cat was due to an attack by a fisher, then it's ...
Litter of Rabbits8/15/2007
  Q: Earlier today, I noticed that there was a litter of rabbits in a shallow burrow in my garden. Is ...
  A: The babies' best chance of survival is for the nest to be left completely alone, so mama will not ...
raccoon8/14/2007
  Q: i was wonderin if u can keep a raccooon in texas also can u help me find some cant seem to find any ...
  A: You will need a special permit from your state Department of Fish and Wildlife to keep a raccoon, ...
Injured baby rabbit8/14/2007
  Q: My dog got to a small rabbit that has been grazing in our back yard and looks like it's pretty ...
  A: The baby's best chance will be for you to get him to a good rabbit vet for treatment, if the leg can ...
Pest visiting my office and leaving gifts!!8/13/2007
  Q: I am located in the Smoky Mountains of TN adjacent to a national forest. A creek and a pond are ...
  A: Okay, that's got to be the weirdest thing I've heard for a while! :) It would be very unusual for ...
How many monkeys?8/12/2007
  Q: For an article I'm writing I'd like to calculate the length of time it would take the world's ...
  A: Wow, that's a tough one! I'm not sure anyone knows a rough figure for all the monkeys left in the ...
Bite force8/12/2007
  Q: What is the difference between a bite force quotient and a canine bite force?
  A: Bite Force Quotient (BFQ) is a measure of the biting force that can be calculated for any biting ...
sick sugar glider8/12/2007
  Q: i really need help for my sugar glider.i dont know wether she is sick or not but its really a ...
  A: Any animal who is urinating blood should be seen by a veterinarian *immediately* for treatment. ...
baby rabbits8/11/2007
  Q: today my brother was walking around i the yard. He came upon 4 baby rabbits. one was dead, another ...
  A: It sounds as if a predator found the nest and wrought havoc on the babies without even eating them. ...
snakes8/11/2007
  Q: Dad found something that looks like a young banded watersnake. He insists that its face widened like ...
  A: You can see pictures and a description of Nerodia fasciata (Banded Water Snake) here: ...
6 day old baby bunny8/11/2007
  Q: I found a wild bunny nest where the mother was dead and two siblings did not make it, but there was ...
  A: It is not easy to raise a cottontail, but I hope the instructions here will help with everything ...
wild baby rabbits8/10/2007
  Q: How do you care for wild baby rabbits? Bush hogging Papaw uncovered 3 baby rabbits, the eyes are not ...
  A: This article should help you with all the information you need to see if the mother is still around, ...
baby rabbit8/9/2007
  Q: We found a baby rabbit and it looks as though his leg is broke or very badly hurt. I fear our dog ...
  A: If this is a wild cottontail, then his best chance will be in the care of a trustworthy wildlife ...
baby rabbit8/8/2007
  Q: My friend has a rabbit that she brought from the pet shop.. She just had 8 baby rabbits, I would ...
  A: Uh oh. Well, here's some information that will help know what to do for mama and the babies: ...
injured duck8/7/2007
  Q: My 3 month old Peking duck must have been attacked by a weasal as she had two holds in her head and ...
  A: An injury this serious should not be treated at home. I hope you can find a good avian veterinarian ...
animal family groups8/7/2007
  Q: I have several questions concerning what the male and female are called in diffrent family groups: ...
  A: A male fox is called a todd, and a female is a vixen. A male lion is a lion, and the female is a ...
i need help please8/5/2007
  Q: i am looking for a perfect pet that i will love and it will love me back. my parents do not agree on ...
  A: Although sloths are very cute in pictures, they do not make good pets. They are wild, and can be ...
caring for abandoned bird eggs8/2/2007
  Q: I was worried that the nest that I discovered in my grandparent's backyard over-hang was abandoned. ...
  A: Please do NOT disturb the nest. It may be abandoned, but it is also possible that the mother Robin ...
my rabbit8/2/2007
  Q: I'm not sure if my rabbit is pregnant or not. She is constantly laying in her cage breathing ...
  A: There is no easy way to know if a rabbit is pregnant. She could be panting because of the heat if ...
Injured raccoon :(7/31/2007
  Q: I seen a raccoon with a broken leg, mind u there appears to be no bleeding. I was wondering if he ...
  A: You are very kind to be concerned about the raccoon, but under no circumstances should you attempt ...
Lemming Anatomy7/31/2007
  Q: Krempels, I've been searching the internet and contacting numerous biologists and parasitologists, ...
  A: I found an article written in 1960 about the anatomy of the intestinal tract of Microtus (a vole), ...
polar bears7/31/2007
  Q: i am doing a assighnment on antarctica i need to know why dont polar bears live in antarctica
  A: Polar bears probably *could* survive in Antarctica. But the reason they *don't* occur there is ...
Florida cat sighting7/30/2007
  Q: I've got 2 horses & luckily about 200-300 acres of riding space right across the street from the ...
  A: It sounds as if you had a close encounter with a large bobcat. Not all individuals have spotted ...
Can a frozen crab come back to life when thawed?7/30/2007
  Q: while eating some crab at the dinner table last night, my girlfriend's brother told us a story about ...
  A: Being poikilothermic ectotherms (animals whose temperature is controlled and obtained from the ...
Coyotes7/30/2007
  Q: What is it about coyotes and other wild dogs, that causes them to howl? Are they really howling ...
  A: Howling in wild canids is a form of intraspecific (i.e., within the same species) communication: ...
is it legal?7/30/2007
  Q: i live in new mexico and recently daughter found two baby squirrels she has had them for about 3 ...
  A: It is illegal for any person to keep wildlife as a pet without special permits. I would recommend ...
wild horses in Ethiopia-Kenya7/30/2007
  Q: I understand this is another cattle of sheep, not rabbits. Yet, could you help me find anything on ...
  A: Well, it sounds like a very interesting project! If there's a band of only eight horses, and not ...
Coons7/29/2007
  Q: I found a baby coon in a hole in the ground cause hunting dogs killed the mother. Very young coon ...
  A: The baby's best chance of survival is to get him to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who knows ...
duck eggs7/29/2007
  Q: I have 2 mallard ducks,one of which is now laying eggs, she has layed 1 egg every day for 10 days. ...
  A: Once the mother duck finishes laying her entire clutch (which could be for another few days), she ...
wild horses in Ethiopia-Kenya7/29/2007
  Q: I understand this is another cattle of sheep, not rabbits. Yet, could you help me find anything on ...
  A: I wish I could help you more, but I came up as dry as Jonathan on this question. (If you Google ...
Hares and "orifices"7/28/2007
  Q: I have a question relating to a weird verse from The Epistle Of Barnabus (1st century AD): "Thou ...
  A: You know...I've heard that passage, too. And for the life of me, I couldn't imagine what inspired ...
DROPPINGS7/27/2007
  Q: MY MOTHER LIVES OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND ALWAYS LEAVES HER GARAGE CRACKED OPEN FOR HER CATS, THE OTHER ...
  A: If the droppings were only about 1/2 inch long, they might well have been left by large rodents such ...
Canadian Geese7/27/2007
  Q: I found a baby Canadian goose about 2 months ago and have raised him since. However, recently he has ...
  A: It sounds as if the poor little guy injured his leg (hence, the swelling), and is favoring it at the ...
Rabbits7/27/2007
  Q: I have rabbits eating away at my garden, i don't see them that often but i do see them every now and ...
  A: Sorry, but I can't really help you with trap designs. We use only the Havahart type because they ...
baby gopher7/26/2007
  Q: I was going i nto my apt. when i seen a newborn, or really young baby gopher. All the people i ...
  A: You are very kind to try to save this baby. I've never tried to raise a gopher, but it is a rodent ...
Wild Baby Rabbits7/26/2007
  Q: Under our deck there is a nest, with 5 little rabbits. We think they are rabbits but we arent sure. ...
  A: It's not common for a mama rabbit to abandon her babies, even if they have been touched by a human. ...
Rabbits7/26/2007
  Q: I have rabbits eating away at my garden, i don't see them that often but i do see them every now and ...
  A: The only safe live trap I know of is the type made by Havahart, which you can see/buy here: ...
Baby Rabbits7/24/2007
  Q: Ok, My dad foud a single baby bunny this morning and we have it in our garage right now in a big ...
  A: I know it's a sweet little bunny that your sister would like to see. But if you really care about ...
inhalation of animal feces7/24/2007
  Q: Dana My elderly father attempted to clean out his detached garage last October. Shortly after the ...
  A: Yes, chronic exposure to mold can *definitely* cause serious and sometimes life-threatening ...
inhalation of animal feces7/24/2007
  Q: Dana My elderly father attempted to clean out his detached garage last October. Shortly after the ...
  A: My first thought when you describe your father's symptoms is Hanta virus. This virus is found in ...
bobcats/attacks7/23/2007
  Q: could you send pictures of bobcat attack wonds on horses??
  A: Sorry, but I have no such pictures. I think you will be hard-pressed to find them, since a bobcat ...
Wild baby bunny7/23/2007
  Q: hey! about a week ago my sisters friend had broughten me a wild baby bunny. it was just weaned off ...
  A: The best thing would be to get the baby to a good rabbit vet for treatment: www.rabbit.org/vets If ...
Wild Rabbits with fleas7/22/2007
  Q: How do you get the fleas off of wild rabbits? If you find a wild rabbit that is still young, should ...
  A: Wild rabbits with fleas can be treated with Revolution (selamectin) from a good rabbit vet: ...
biology7/22/2007
  Q: why crab's blood is blue
  A: Unlike vertebrates, in which the oxygen-carrying molecule (hemoglobin) makes the blood red due to ...
Wild Baby Bunnie7/20/2007
  Q: I live in Bagley, MN. My dog brought a wild baby bunnie up to the house, it is still alive and ...
  A: If the baby is fully furred and has eyes open, he may be able to be released. But if he's less than ...
Pekin Duck7/20/2007
  Q: Dana, I just bought two baby Pekin ducklings and I was curious how to tell if they are male or ...
  A: The only way to sex the babies would be via a blood sample (and karyotype) taken by a good exotics ...
Fisher cats7/19/2007
  Q: I had 15 baby chickens (about 3-4 months old) (This is my first time having baby chickens) I put ...
  A: If the pen doesn't have a top to keep predators out, it could have been any number of predators. ...
hurt female mallard7/19/2007
  Q: ..I know you don't specialize in ducks, but whatever information you can give me might just ...
  A: This duck sounds as if she's in need of veterinary attention. A good avian/exotics vet should be ...
Injured jack rabbit7/19/2007
  Q: My boy friend and I seen a police officer hit a rabbit on a bike trail this past weekend. Both of ...
  A: I would be very surprised if this were a jackrabbit, as a normal, healthy adult would struggle ...
baby bunnie7/18/2007
  Q: Mom is still nursing her babe in my front yard. What a shallow nest they have. Neighbors cat killed ...
  A: If the baby is mobile, he will be able to get out of the rain. But if he's in a low spot and not ...
Mallard Ducks7/17/2007
  Q: I had a mallard duck in the yard that had 11 babies. I led them to a lake. Two weeks ago I found ...
  A: If the mother has not been back for two weeks, she is not likely to return. Once incubation begins, ...
Incubation temp. of mallard Ducks7/17/2007
  Q: I had a mother mallard sitting on her eggs for about 20-23 days now and she was hit by a car this ...
  A: Incubation temperature for duck eggs is about 99 degrees Farenheit, and you can read full ...
baby ducks7/16/2007
  Q: I found some baby ducks. The mother is dead. And I was wondering what to do with them? Can I send ...
  A: Baby ducks can forage for themselves to some degree, but as you already have seen, they are at great ...
3 Baby Cotton tails in backyard.7/16/2007
  Q: We found 3 bay cotton tails rabbit in our yard Last Sat. after the dogs were digging up the nest. ...
  A: The only humane thing to do is keep the dogs completely away from the nest until the babies leave at ...
Wild Rabbits7/16/2007
  Q: I believe we have some rabbits living under our shed in our backyard. The neighbor has a huge ...
  A: There is no safe way to move the baby rabbits. I would just be patient for a little while. Once ...
Found / Released 2 baby jackrabbits7/13/2007
  Q: just wanted to let you know that we found 2 baby jackrabbits 24 hours ago. After a trip to Petco for ...
  A: I'm so glad you were able to get the babies back to where you found them. Mother jackrabbits, ...
the animals and mind7/13/2007
  Q: Dana! Do you know what makes that animals show such a tremendous physical tenacity? Fighting animals ...
  A: Animals, including humans, show particular behaviors because they are adaptive. This means that the ...
Baby cottontail rabbit7/13/2007
  Q: My husband found what we believe to be a baby cottontail on near construction on a very busy street. ...
  A: I think this article will help, if you decide to raise him, since he was found in such a busy area: ...
robin's egg7/10/2007
  Q: My daughter removed a robin's egg from its nest. I immediately put it back, but am afraid it will be ...
  A: Don't worry. If you put the egg right back, there's no reason to think the nest will be abandoned ...
orphaned wild rabbits7/10/2007
  Q: i found 3 baby rabbits (eyes opened this morning) and i found out on the web what to feed them. we ...
  A: This is the third time I've sent this article, which tells you exactly how to care for orphaned wild ...
orphaned wild rabbits7/9/2007
  Q: i found 3 baby rabbits (eyes opened this morning) and i found out on the web what to feed them. we ...
  A: Did you not read *my* email? Not only did I tell you that they were probably already OUT of the ...
Rabbit nest7/9/2007
  Q: I have a small fenced in area for my small dogs. My Maltese has uncovered a rabbit nest right in ...
  A: Please keep the dogs out of the area for another week or so. There's no telling why the mama put her ...
orphaned wild rabbits7/8/2007
  Q: i found 3 baby rabbits (eyes opened this morning) and i found out on the web what to feed them. we ...
  A: Please take the babies back to exactly where you found them. The mother is still caring for them, ...
Asiatic Toad Gender7/7/2007
  Q: my question is how to differentiate male asiatic toads from female asiatic toads other than the ...
  A: It would be very unlikely for an Asiatic Toad to even *try* to mate with an American Bullfrog (Rana ...
Asiatic Toad Gender7/7/2007
  Q: my question is how to differentiate male asiatic toads from female asiatic toads other than the ...
  A: I'm not personally familiar with this species, but I think I can help. For one thing, only male ...
Mystery predator. Who?7/6/2007
  Q: we have been getting some animal in the yard. our first experience was going to feed the ducks and ...
  A: A fisher and a weasel are both much smaller than a raccoon, and could not do the kind of damage you ...
neighbor who feeds wildlife7/6/2007
  Q: My landscaping and property is being lost to the large populations of squirrels and crows that my ...
  A: This must be a terribly frustrating situation! I would suggest you tell her that it is actually ...
Wisconsin Wild Rabbits7/5/2007
  Q: Do you know any rehabbers in Wisconsin? We have 3(there were 4) that the neighbor found in his ...
  A: Yes, wild rabbits are hard to raise! Thank you for trying. I hope this will help, if you can't ...
Mystery predator. Who?7/5/2007
  Q: we have been getting some animal in the yard. our first experience was going to feed the ducks and ...
  A: I am sorry about the loss of your ducks and chickens. My first thought would be raccoons, as they ...
hunted animals in Michigan7/4/2007
  Q: I'm currently piecing together several facts concerning vehicles used in the 1930s, 40s,and 1950s on ...
  A: Wow, this one isn't really in my area. But if I were to make a guess, I'd suspect that animals ...
Wolves7/3/2007
  Q: Dana, This is for a children's book. Do wolves wag their tails like dogs when they are pleased? ...
  A: According to "Arctic Wild," by Lois Crisler, wolves do wag their tails when they're happy--but not ...
Baby Bunnies7/2/2007
  Q: We noticed two rabbits in our yard acting strange. One appeared to be dying, but eventually moved. ...
  A: It's not common for a mother cottontail to move her babies, but it can happen if she decides the ...
5 week old Rabbits7/1/2007
  Q: I have just found a baby rabbit in my yard and we are going to keep it. we think he is around 5 ...
  A: Not only is it illegal to keep native wildlife captive, it is also very dangerous for the bunny. ...
baby rabbit6/30/2007
  Q: we found a baby rabbit in our backyard and kept it. I was doing fine at first but now it is like in ...
  A: It is never a good idea to take a wild rabbit into custody and captivity: the usual result is ...
abondoned chipmunk babies6/30/2007
  Q: My sister's dog attacked a nest of chipmunks and killed the mother and 4 babies. My sister managed ...
  A: Their best chance, though, is with a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who knows how to feed and care ...
chipmunks6/30/2007
  Q: I set a animal live trap for chipmunks, and if I catch one and I keep it how do I take care of one I ...
  A: Please reconsider this plan. It is illegal to capture and keep wildlife without special permits, ...
My JackRabbit6/29/2007
  Q: i have been feeding him water and baby formula the pet shop told me to feed him kitty formula?? what ...
  A: If this is truly an orphaned jackrabbit, then the best thing you can do is get him to a licensed ...
bunny rabbits6/29/2007
  Q: I am from missouri and my dog found a baby rabbit nest, eyes not open yet. Well I was in the house ...
  A: You did exactly the right thing. Putting the nest back together as closely to its original ...
RACCOONS DURING THE DAY6/27/2007
  Q: I am at work and my daughter called me and told me that there were 3 raccoons in the backyard. ...
  A: When the weather is moderate, raccoons that are highly habituated to humans will often move about ...
Juvenile Crow6/26/2007
  Q: I'm a Technician at Red Bank Vet Hospital in New Jersey in the Avian and Exotics Department. While ...
  A: I'm glad you did the brave thing and took her to where she could be properly rehabilitated and ...
dog ate baby rabbits6/26/2007
  Q: Today my dog ate to live baby rabbits. Should I be concern about him being able to pass them ...
  A: I will assume this is a serious question, and assure you that there is no reason to suspect that the ...
how do you feed baby robins6/24/2007
  Q: My friend and I found a Baby robin that two black birds chased its parents away and they haven't ...
  A: It is extremely difficult to successfully raise baby robins. I would recommend instead that you get ...
i'm not sure if i have a jack rabbit or cottontail baby6/23/2007
  Q: i'm not sure exactly how old my baby is but it kinda came to me so i am caring for it and have been ...
  A: If this is a baby cottontail, then the information here will help: ...
cat killing baby bunnies6/23/2007
  Q: Please help. We "rescued or adopted" a kitten that we found in our garage three years ago because ...
  A: You are wonderful to be responsible enough to care about the cat killing the baby rabbits. ...
baby vole6/22/2007
  Q: i would like to know how to take care of this baby vole that i found today in a saw-dust pile and i ...
  A: I am not an expert on raising orphaned baby rodents, but here is a web site where you can get the ...
Nest found6/21/2007
  Q: My family found a nest of baby rabbits under out play structure. It looks well protected and the ...
  A: Once the babies' eyes are open and their fur is grown in, they will begin to venture from the nest. ...
Rabbit nest6/20/2007
  Q: I have a rabbit that just put her nest in my yard. How can I tell if there are babies in the nest, ...
  A: Cottontails don't generally use dirt to cover their babies. You might want to have a closer look ...
Rabbit nest6/20/2007
  Q: I have a rabbit that just put her nest in my yard. How can I tell if there are babies in the nest, ...
  A: Try to avoid disturbing the nest as much as possible. The mother rabbit will not stay visible, but ...
Rabbit6/13/2007
  Q: I have rescued a small baby rabbit from a lawnmower accident. The tips of his ears were snipped ...
  A: It's hard to mistake a wild cottontail for a wild jackrabbit, though a *very* young jack has short ...
baby rabbit .... eyes still closed6/13/2007
  Q: My cat brought home a baby rabbit this morning; he dropped it on the ground and I immediately picked ...
  A: If you can find the nest, then I would swab the wound very well with povidone iodine (dilute ...
wild rabbits6/12/2007
  Q: My question is how do I know if there going to be okay and how old they are. And if i picked up one ...
  A: It's best to leave the nest strictly alone, since mama rabbit is no doubt nearby. She stays away ...
healthy baby bunnies6/12/2007
  Q: A couple feet from our fenced in deck is a nest of baby bunnies that just started to hop around this ...
  A: Once the babies have left the nest, they will probably begin to wander farther and farther afield ...
baby bunnies6/9/2007
  Q: We have a nest of baby bunnies and we want to know if we can put carrots out for them,and should it ...
  A: It's best not to feed or interfere with wild rabbits. In fact, they usually will not eat food left ...
animals on front yard6/8/2007
  Q: I have an animal burrowing in my front yard. the hole is maube8-10 " diameter. the sandy soil is ...
  A: Without knowing where you live, I cannot make an educated guess. If you live in areas where there ...
wild baby rabbit6/7/2007
  Q: I have 1 baby bunny in my backyard and my cat has just realized where he lives,what I was wondering ...
  A: The baby's chances of survival are much better if you leave him where he belongs: free. Try to ...
wild rabbits6/6/2007
  Q: recently our dog has had 2 baby rabbits in her mouth over the course of two days. We saved the ...
  A: From the description of the nest, I'm guessing you're in the U.K. or Europe. If that's the case, ...
Could this be a mountain lion?6/5/2007
  Q: I live in a condo complex in Torringon, CT. Two weeks ago my condo committee sent out a notice that ...
  A: You can view many images of a mountain lion here: ...