Critters

trantula wasp biting a tarantulas hind leg
July 2015 Issue

Meet the Wasps That Hunt Tarantulas

This bold predator takes on prey larger than itself.

Story by Ben Hutchins
wolf snail crawling on rocky ledge.
January/February 2015 Issue

Wolf Snail: Killer on the Prowl

The cannibalistic wolf snail lives up to its name.

Story and photos by Ben Hutchins
Texas giant redheaded centipede in the grass near Kerrville
October 2014 Issue

Giant Redheaded Centipedes Are the Stuff of Nightmares

This insect is one of Texas' most terrifying critters.

Story by Ben Hutchins
Scorpion crawling over rocks
June 2014 Issue

Texas Scorpions: Fearsome, Fascinating, Fluorescent

Taking the sting out of Texas’ much-maligned scorpions.

Story by Dale Weisman
the invasive lionfish swimming against a purple background
December 2013 Issue

Invasive Lionfish Are Spreading Fast in the Gulf

Can we eat our way out of the latest invasive problem?

Story by Melissa Gaskill
Zebra Mussels on the side of a pier beam
August/September 2013 Issue

Mussels and Fish Reveal Conditions of Rivers and Streams

For waterways, these animals are the proverbial canaries in the coal mine.

Story and photos by Larry D. Hodge
Red Wolf walking on dirt in front of a sloping hill at a Texas zoo in Victoria
December 2012 Issue

Red Wolves Had Their Last Stand in Texas

America’s ‘other wolf’ was reintroduced to the wild after a last-ditch roundup in Texas.

Story by Russell Roe
chimney built by crayfish in Houston, Texas
July 2012 Issue

Houston Crayfish Are Chimney Builders

You won’t find the recently discovered Houston burrowing crayfish in your etouffé.

Story by Michael Warriner
Long tailed weasel Larry Ditto_70K8618
December 2011 Issue

Long-Tailed Weasels Are Stealthy, Fearless Hunters

Weasels are rarely seen cousins of skunks and badgers.

Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
hognose snake curled at the top and bottom forming an "s" shape against a black background.
August 2011 Issue

Hognose Snakes Act Scary But Aren't Dangerous

Harmless eastern hognose can use a variety of tactics to scare us, including looking like a cobra.

Story by Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
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