Ben Hoare
Science writer and author, and editorial consultant, BBC Wildlife
Ben Hoare is a wildlife writer and editor, and proud to be an all-round ‘nature nerd’. He was features editor at BBC Wildlife magazine from 2008 to 2018, and after that its editorial consultant. Ben writes about seasonal natural-history highlights in every issue of the magazine, and also contributes longer conservation stories. His interviews of everyone’s hero Sir David Attenborough remain a career highlight. When not working for magazines, Ben writes illustrated natural-history books for children – the kind of books he adored looking at as a kid. Several have been international bestsellers, no doubt because his two daughters read and test everything first. Ben lives in rural Somerset, UK, with owls and dormice in the garden, and is a keen birder who spends as much time as possible exploring outdoors.
Recent articles by Ben Hoare
Weirdest sea creatures - meet 15 strange ocean animals, including one that's part vegetable and one that resembles a toast rack
Have you heard of the Johnson's abyssal seadevil? Read about this strange ocean animal and more in our guide to the world's weirdest sea creatures
“It can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up”
The call of a whooper swan is one of winter's most atmospheric sounds, says naturalist and author Ben Hoare.
Is it really safe to airlift rhinos by their ankles, dangling two-tonne giants in midair?
In Southern Africa, white and black rhinos are often translocated to avoid inbreeding or overpopulation of an area. Previously, rhinos were moved, fully awake, in crates or on pallets, but there were problems, including the possibility of injury to the huge herbivores. When lifted by helicopter, the crates also had a tendency to swing around dangerously. The preferred technique has often been to dart rhinos with anaesthetic from the air, then blindfold the immobilised pachyderms and airlift them in a giant sling, suspended by their ankles. After a short flight, the animals are transferred to a truck. A 2021 study
Why do badgers have stripes?
A badger's distinctive markings have long puzzled naturalists
11 best wildlife books of 2025 - Great reads that make perfect Christmas gifts for wildlife lovers
BBC Discover Wildlife Magazine expert Ben Hoare rounds up his best wildlife reads of 2025.
Are any snakes poisonous? The answer may surprise you - here's why...
there are only a few poisonous snakes in the world - although there's plenty of venomous
It has bizarre tentacles, oozes yucky black goo and stinks of death – and could be near you right now
The octopus stinkhorn, also known as devil's fingers, is a type of fungus that grows from egg-like spores
Why don’t woodpeckers get headaches and concussion when drumming?
Drumming is a springtime sound that's unrelated to feeding or nestbuilding.
Giant deep-sea beasts aren’t just the stuff of legend – here’s how they got so massive
Ever wondered why deep-sea animals are larger than those found nearer to the surface? Ben Hoare dives into theories of gigantism
From dancing dunnocks to swooping blue tits: 4 garden birds’ bizarre mating rituals revealed
In spring, male birds are busy courting females. Here are some of the signs that your garden visitors will show when trying to impress a mate.
It’s 3 metres long, shaped like a scythe and stuns prey – this is the longest tail on Earth
While you might think that the record holder for the world's largest tail could belong to a whale, that's not technically true
15 weirdest birds on the planet: meet the strangest wonders of the avian world – including one that asks humans for help and another that smells like a cow
There are plenty of contenders for the weirdest bird list from the 'stinky' hoatzin to the strange-looking secretary bird. Here are our favourite weirdest birds
Silent but deadly: Meet the animal that farts its prey to death by releasing an intoxicating cloud of gas
Can insects fart? Yes, says Ben Hoare – with occasionally deadly results
Struggling in the heat? Meet the animals that can survive the hottest temperatures on Earth – even a sweltering 149 degrees celsius
Lots of animals can handle extreme heats – although some can survive much hotter temperatures than others
How do wading birds find food in mud?
Discover how waders use their unique bills and special sensors to detect tasty treats.
Weirdest plants in the world: Discover 9 of the planet's wackiest flora
Meet some of the weirdest and oddest plants on Earth.
Meet the 10 bonkers birds that break the rules of nature
Discover the extraordinary birds that defy nature’s norms.
Can animals ask humans for help?
Can animals communicate with humans and ask them for help? You might find the answer surprising...
Mesmerising murmuration: thousands of knots captured on video at Norfolk beauty spot
A wader 'spectacular' occurs at a well-loved RSPB site in Norfolk each year – here's the resulting footage
Storm bird: this 22-second video of a barnacle goose flying in heavy rain is pure bliss
These majestic birds spend winter in south-west Scotland, commuting daily between feeding areas and roost sites.
Are there any poisonous birds?
Yes we have discovered some poisonous birds says Ben Hoare, and there could be more...
Best wildlife and nature books of 2024, chosen by experts
Wildlife expert Ben Hoare rounds up his favourite wildlife and nature books of 2024
How to grow an oak tree from an acorn
Autumn is the perfect time to try growing an oak tree, here's how
Crane flies: Why adults are too busy to eat and why their fragile limbs are a secret survival weapon
We take a look at crane flies, a gangly fly that is also known as daddy longlegs in the UK
