Pseudacrisregillapaciictrefrog

Wildlife Spotlight takes a deep dive into individual species or groups of living things you’ll encounter outdoors. Here you’ll find cool facts about exciting wildlife, from wildflowers and grasshoppers to tigers, mushrooms, and whale sharks, and all that falls between.

 

Do you have a species or group you’d love to learn more about? Let me know on the contact page!

Xmas Beetles Cover (1)

Christmas beetles: Facts and basic info

While December is often a time of chilly temperatures and dormant nature in the Northern hemisphere, it can be the heat of summer down under. In Australia, the years-end holidays are a much more exciting time for naturalists, with insects and migratory birds on the scene. While insects in Europe, Asia, and North America are hidden away from the cold, …

1

What are mushrooms? Fungi facts & basic info

Nature lovers or not, people everywhere can point out a mushroom when they see them. Whether they’re on the forest floor or on a pizza, these distinctive structures are easy to recognize. Folks on my nature walks are quick to call them out as we come across them, but have a lot of questions once we get to chatting. Although …

1

12 wild facts about hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are among the most requested topics from readers, with questions like how do I make my own hummingbird nectar? and How do I attract hummingbirds to my yard?. All of that interest is no surprise! These fiery, energetic, and often colorful birds are always an exciting sight during outdoor excursions, and its about time they got more love from …

1

13 wild owl facts

While I get frequent requests for bird posts, one group of birds has recently been the top. Owls are a fascinating and in some ways mysterious group of raptors that has captured peoples’ cultural imagination for millennia. It’s about time we covered these neat animals on Gulo in Nature! So in this Wildlife Spotlight post, let’s learn some fascinating owl …

4

6 incredible carnivorous plants

Nature is filled with “exceptions to the rule”. Whenever we think we know something about the natural world, we are confronted with oddballs that break the mold. Carnivorous plants do precisely that. Although you may be familiar with the Venus fly-trap made famous by the musical Little Shop of Horrors, there are plenty of other examples of insect-munching plants around …

15

13 wild facts about wolverines

Some animals have a reputation that precedes them. Wolverines are absolutely one of those. Because of their small numbers and reclusive nature, very few people have been lucky enough to see one. Beyond that, stories about their “bad attitudes” and incredible feats have captured peoples’ imaginations. Of course, I’m no exception—the Gulo in Nature blog is named after them! In …

1

9 facts about cardinals

Often a symbol of winter cheer, cardinals have become famous for their brilliant, bright-red plumage and showy bills. These birds are a common sight in backyards of Eastern North America and are often a welcome visitor at birdfeeders. If you’ve got cardinals in your own neighborhood, or simply want to know more about them, then you’re in luck. In this …

1

The 15 weirdest animals in Australia

Earth is home to some bizarre creatures, there’s no question about that. But did you know that Australia has some of the weirdest? Australia broke off from other continents nearly 100 million years ago, and during that long isolation some truly strange animals showed up on the scene. In fact, nearly 70% of Australia’s mammals and more than 90% of …