Although it is classed as part of the big Canidae (or canid) family – which includes wolves, coyotes and dogs – the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is related to cats…

The star-nose condylure (Condylura cristata) is a remarkable little creature which evolved in the wetland habitats of North America. Its characteristic nasal appendage and its anatomical and behavioural adaptations allow…

We humans are fascinated by the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), with its majestic presence and its identification as a symbol. In fact, the United States has made it its national…

Equipped with a lo-o-o-o-ng abdomen and impressive mandibles, the dragonfly looks like it could easily sting or bite us. In Québec, it is sometimes called a “crève-yeux” – an eye-puncturer!…

When you see a motionless owl looking straight behind itself, you might think that it could turn its head completely around. So…can it? No animal, including the owl, can swivel…

The media sometimes report shark attacks on swimmers, divers or surfers. The injuries suffered by the victims are often spectacular and sometimes fatal. That feeds our fears of these predators…

You have good reason to be wary of the wasps and hornets whose smooth stinger can be used several times without becoming detached from the creature’s abdomen. Bees, however, are…

Motionless in the tall grasses, a great blue heron (Ardea herodias) gazes fixedly at the surface of the water, patiently awaiting a prey. With a rapid movement, it spears the…

Every good fisher recognizes a brook trout (Salvelinus fortinalis), also known as the eastern speckled trout. This sport fish is the most widely distributed geographically in Quebec and probably the…

Beneath its cuddly exterior, the domestic cat is a formidable predator. Ten thousand years of domestication have not changed its hunting capabilities, and its impact on populations of birds and…