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
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...
Weirdest sea creatures - meet 15 strange ocean animals, including one that looks a bit like 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
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
Weirdest birds: meet 14 strange and weird wonders of the avian world
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
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
Why are so many insects iridescent?
Ben Hoare takes a look at why so many insects possess spectacular iridescent colours
Ospreys' migration: a guide to when, where and how long these magnificent birds travel for
We reveal the secrets of the osprey's migration
Frog breeding behaviour: How frogs mate and produce spawn
Early spring is a busy time in the pond as it's time for frogs to find a mate and breed
Do birds pee?
When it comes to excretions, birds do a two-for-one deal
How David Attenborough has championed climate change
For over 15 years, Sir David has been at the forefront of efforts to move the dial on climate change and during the last decade his warnings have became even bleaker.
Do birds hibernate?
Are there any birds that can hibernate? Ben Hoare takes a look
Lichens: what they are and how to identify the different types
Naturalist and presenter Brett Westwood shares his top tips for identifying lichen in this illustrated guide.
What is a dioecious plant?
Discover the rather special reproductive strategy of dioecious plants.
Venomous vs poisonous: what's the difference?
We explore the differences between venomous and poisonous
British wildlife in September
Enjoy summer's swan song with our guide to what different species are up to at this time of year.