Wildlife Q&A
Do slugs freeze in winter?
Some do, but slugs are surprisingly adept at surviving freezing conditions – very low temperatures do not have a particularly negative impact on overall numbers for the following year.
Why are red birds – well – red?
How do some birds get their exotic scarlet plumage?
Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches and concussion when drumming?
Drumming is a springtime sound that's unrelated to feeding or nestbuilding.
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Do dragonflies bite or sting humans and can they be dangerous?
Can dragonflies bite? Can dragonflies sting? Are dragonflies dangerous? They're all common questions - read on to find out the answers!
What's the strongest material produced by animals?
Animals can produce incredibly strong substances - so who makes the toughest?
It has 8 legs, isn't a spider and has sharp pincer claws on the front of their head – much like a scorpion – which they hunt and kill with
Although they look like spiders, harvestmen are more closely related to scorpions says Richard Jones
Why do frogs scream?
Jules Howard discusses possible reasons frogs scream
How do squirrels find their nuts?
Squirrels spend autumn stashing nuts away for winter, but how do they find them again? Sense of smell, memory and chance all play a part.
How do wading birds find food in mud?
Discover how waders use their unique bills and special sensors to detect tasty treats.
Why are sloths so slow?
Sloth scientist Becky Cliffe discusses why being slow actually contributes to a sloth's survival.
Meet the immortal animals that never die
Immortal jellyfish, and a few similar species, are said to be immortal. But how true is this claim? Dr Helen Scales explains.
Is there really no such thing as a fish?
It's a saying you might be familiar with, particularly if you listen to the popular podcast by the QI Elves, but how true is it? Is there really no such thing as a fish?
What exactly is echolocation and how does it work? The incredible adaptation that allows animals to ‘see’ and communicate in the dark
Discover how animals use echolocation to navigate, hunt, identify other species and avoid obstacles.
Just what are the point of whiskers? Why animals have whiskers and how they work
Why do animals have whiskers? And how do whiskers work? We explain
How long does a joey spend in a kangaroo's pouch? Here's your ultimate baby kangaroo guide
How long do little joeys stay in their mother's pouch? We answer all your baby kangaroo questions.
The mysteries of glow worms explained: what they are and why they glow
All you need to know about glow worms, including how and why they glow...
If the woodcock is a wader, why does it live in woods?
Mike Toms discusses this non-wading woodland wader
Why do females often live longer than males?
Female animals tend to live longer their male counterparts, but why?
How do bats navigate?
Bat expert Kate Jones explains just how bats know where to go when traveling long distances
Why do female reindeer grow antlers?
Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, but that makes them unique in the deer world. Why are reindeer different? Biologist Craig Roberts has the answers.
Pecking order meaning: what it is and why 'pecking order' is crucial for survival
What is pecking order? Mike Toms explains its meaning and the theory behind it
How do butterflies smell? And what about moths?
How can butterflies and moth find food-plants and mates by smell if they don't have a nose? Ecologist Alex Morss explains how they can sense with other parts of their body.
Why do rabbits have such long ears?
Mammal expert Steve Harris explains why rabbits have sung long ears
How do birds’ eggs form?
The development of birds' eggs is a fascinating process. Mike Toms explains what happens and how eggs form