Kathryn Koehler

1 week ago | a-z-animals.com | Kathryn Koehler

My childhood home had a modest 10-gallon fish tank in the den, and all these years later, I still find the sound of bubbling water comforting. In the intervening years, I’ve had fish tanks here and there, but it’s been a minute. However, I recently determined that it was again time to add the sound of bubbling water to my home. Because it’s been a few years, I was curious to see what innovative designs the residential aquarium market offers.

1 week ago | a-z-animals.com | Kathryn Koehler

Habitat destruction, driven by human activity, is forcing wild animals to venture into areas that they would rather avoid. Frequently spotted in suburban neighborhoods and densely populated urban enclaves, these unfortunate creatures are simply trying to find a home in a shrinking habitat. As a result, having a pet door has become an open invitation to uninvited guests.

2 weeks ago | a-z-animals.com | Kathryn Koehler

The Guam kingfisher (Todiramphus cinnamominus), last seen in the wild in 1988, is making a comeback. Thanks to years of dedication and the steadfast efforts of the Sihek Recovery Program team, Guam kingfishers have been reintroduced to the wild—not yet in Guam itself, but on Palmyra Atoll, an incorporated U.S. territory. Guam kingfishers are called “sihek” in CHamoru, the language of the Indigenous people of the Mariana Islands, which include Guam, an organized, unincorporated U.S. territory.

2 weeks ago | a-z-animals.com | Kathryn Koehler

From the collar to the kibble, you’ve purchased all of the necessary accoutrements associated with bringing a new pet into your home. Or have you? In those initial starry-eyed moments, chances are you weren’t considering their dental hygiene or how to implement routine cleaning into your pet’s schedule. But perhaps you should have. Like humans, cats and dogs benefit from proactive oral care.

2 weeks ago | a-z-animals.com | Kathryn Koehler

The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is present in 10 U.S. Southern Atlantic and Gulf Coast states*, inhabiting freshwater wetlands including marshes, lakes, ponds, rivers, and swamps. Though alligators have a reputation for being aggressive, blood-thirsty carnivores with a penchant for human flesh, it simply isn’t true. The reality is that these enormous reptiles are rather shy and would prefer to keep human interactions to a minimum.