Is This an Asian Giant Hornet?
11 May 2018 Asian giant hornets are real, and large, insects — but a viral photograph purporting to show one actually features a movable insect model.
Critter Country
Did a Spider in a Tampon Result in a Disturbing Medical Emergency?
10 May 2018 A fictional horror story about a spider, a tampon, and a trip to the emergency room was mistaken as a genuine confessional by some readers.
Is the Shoebill Stork a Real Animal?
7 May 2018 Images and videos of the shoebill stork, a large African bird, are often met with skepticism.
Were Love Bugs Created by a Genetic Experiment Gone Wrong?
5 May 2018 These overly amorous critters are native to Central America, not the result of a genetic experiment gone wrong at the University of Florida.
Did a Man Receive a $153,000 Hospital Bill After a Failed Selfie With a Rattlesnake?
27 April 2018 Venomous rattlesnake bites can be notoriously expensive to treat, thanks mainly to high drug costs and arcane insurance-hospital negotiations.
Camels Crossing the Sea?
27 April 2018 A video showing a group of camels swimming through ocean waters doesn't show what it claims — but what it describes is real.
Is This a Velvet Cowkiller Ant?
26 April 2018 The red velvet ant, or cowkiller ant, is a wingless wasp with an extremely painful sting.
Does a Photograph Show a Real Giant Manta Ray?
23 April 2018 A photograph showing a giant manta ray caught in 1933 features the work of a taxidermist.
Is Tilapia a Boneless, Skinless ‘Mutant’ Fish that Is Unsafe to Eat?
12 April 2018 An evidence-free Internet meme says that tilapia, one of the most popular freshwater fish consumed in the United States, is "killing our families."
Did a Sperm Whale Die After Swallowing 64 Pounds of Plastic Debris?
12 April 2018 A photograph of an art installation is frequently attached to genuine reports about a dead whale's washing ashore with trash and debris in its stomach.
Did President Donald Trump Appoint the Man Who Killed Cecil the Lion to a Wildlife Conservation Council?
21 March 2018 Vague headlines and a tenuous connection led to rumors that American dentist and trophy hunter Walter Palmer was named to a newly-formed wildlife conservation council.
Does Blue Buffalo Dog Food Contain Toxic Levels of Lead?
19 March 2018 One man in California alleged he independently found lead in Blue Buffalo dog food, a claim that led to rumors about recalls and widespread harm.
