Critter Country Archives

Is the Baya Weaver Bird the Only Animal That Dies When Its Companion Dies?

27 December 2018 - If true, this could have a catastrophic effect on some populations.

Did Researchers Discover a 512-Year-Old Shark?

11 December 2018 - Some headline writers latched onto the highest possible estimate from a 2016 study about the lifespan of Greenland sharks.

Are Pigs Unhealthy to Eat Because They Don’t Sweat?

21 October 2018 - The notion that a pig’s lack of functional sweat glands has anything to do with its risk of transmitting disease is without scientific basis.

Did a ‘New Deadly Spider’ Species Kill Several People in the U.S. in the Summer of 2018?

22 August 2018 - A viral, scare-mongering Facebook post fabricated a series of fatal spider bites and used photographs of the relatively harmless woodlouse spider.

Did a Pride of Lions Kill and Eat a Suspected Poacher in South Africa?

12 July 2018 - A travel web site got the basic facts right about the gruesome death of David Baloyi in February 2018.

Did a Python Swallow a Woman in Indonesia?

5 July 2018 - Experts have authenticated video footage showing the aftermath of a deadly snake attack in June 2018.

Are Tennis Balls Toxic to Dogs?

6 July 2018 - Medical experts said that they had never heard of dogs suffering "chemical burns" from chewing on tennis balls.

Have Rattlesnakes Been Found Inside Pool Noodles?

27 June 2018 - In June 2018, an Arizona fire department warned local residents to check their pool noodles for rattlesnakes before taking a swim.

Is the Bluegill One of the Most Dangerous Fish in North America?

26 June 2018 - According to a Facebook meme, a school of bluegills can completely dismantle a human body in less than fifteen minutes.

Did a Man Save His Friend From a Reptilian Attack with an Elbow Drop?

25 June 2018 - Footage from a video featuring a remote control crocodile (or alligator) was actually a response to a prank created for a YouTube page.

Are These Penguins Living on an Island of Plastic?

11 June 2018 - A digitally manipulated video showing a group of penguins living on a plastic island was created by a conservation group in order to raise awareness of the extent of pollution in the ocean.