Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a fascinating species found across most of the western United States and north into Alberta and British Columbia in Canada. With a distinctive striped appearance and several unique behaviors, this...
The Black Turnstone: A Charismatic Shorebird

The Black Turnstone: A Charismatic Shorebird

The black turnstone is a highly migratory species, breeding primarily in the Arctic tundra of Canada, Alaska, and northern Europe. During the winter months, it moves south to coastal areas along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf Coasts of the United States. The black...
Female Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

Female Saffron-winged Meadowhawk

The last time I passed through Montana, I stopped by some duck ponds in Anaconda at a place called Warm Springs State Wildlife Management Area and there were dragonflies and damselflies everywhere! I was familiar with some of the species, but this one olive-golden...
Spanish Dagger

Spanish Dagger

The Spanish dagger is one of those plants that brings a bit of nostalgia to me. It was a very common non-native landscaping plant in my childhood in Manatee County, Florida that always had these amazing displays of flowers in the spring at the very top of the plant....
Texas Tan Tarantula

Texas Tan Tarantula

It’s so strange that I’ve spent so much of my life traveling around the United States and have never seen a tarantula in the wild. I even owned a tarantula-breeding business for zoos and collectors in the 90’s, yet somehow finding one in the wild...