Wildlife Q&A

Pink-footed geese grazing on farmlands © David Tipling / Lonely Planet Images / Getty

Do wintering pink-footed geese cause problems for farmers?

Otters are thriving across Scotland, with a population of about 8,000 individuals. A high proportion live on the coast © James Warwick / Getty

Why are coastal otters more visible than river otters?

Shrikes (here a red-backed shrike) are the thorn in the side of many small mammals © Prisma Bildagentur / Getty

How did shrikes learn to impale their prey?

Excessive lighting could distract glow-worms from finding mates © Wolfgang Kaehler/Getty

Insects & Invertebrates

Do street lights interfere with glow-worms?

Being very big is a great way to avoid becoming a target for predators © Getty

Why did dinosaurs get so big?

Snail slime has provided inspiration for medical researchers © Loop Images / Getty

Insects & Invertebrates

What is snail slime?

Golden eagles have numerous dwellings to insure against disturbance or damage © Sylvain Cordier / Getty

Why do golden eagles vary their nesting sites?

Researchers have been studying the behaviour of archerfish © Warren Photographic

Do fish suffer from stage fright?

Masked frog (Litoria personata) Kakadu National Park (World Heritage Area), Northern Territory, Australia
Masked frog © Auscape / Getty

Are any animals unable to hear their own calls?

The three -toed sloth is active during the day and only eats leaves from trees and lianas. They move to a new tree often enough to balance their diet, or about once every 1. 5 days.
Sloths (here the three-toed) are hunted by big cats such as pumas and jaguars, and birds of prey © Danita Delimont / Getty

Why are sloths so slow?

Sea turtle © Rich Carey / iStock

How do sea turtles find their way home?

Hollyhock (Alcea rosea) © Andia / UIG / Getty

Why do flowers point up or down?

Swallowtail butterfly feeding on thistles in Norfolk © David Martin / Getty

Insects & Invertebrates

Why are swallowtails so restricted in the UK?

Ukari monkeys use their red faces as signs of physiological health © Marc Deville / Getty

Is it just humans that blush?