The Buzz

The dandelion is probably the most hated plant in America, but it actually is an important part of the landscape. 

Skunks are certainly the most famous stinkers in the animal kingdom, but they are far from the only ones.

Are animals poisonous or venomous? They can be one or the other, but not usually both. It all has to do with how they deliver their toxins. 

The bald eagle population in the contiguous 48 states has quadrupled since 2009, according to a new report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The dirt on dirt — what's in it, where it comes from and why you should call it soil instead.

The world of fungus is a literal kingdom, with tens of thousands of species including far more than the familiar mushrooms.

Next time you're at a local pond, resist the urge to feed the ducks and geese. They don't need our help, and we are actually making them sick.

It's not exactly a common occurrence, but birds do get drunk, especially at this time of year when the fruit they eat becomes fermented.

The next time you order a drink from a restaurant, think twice before you unwrap the straw. Americans use millions of straws a day, and many of them end up as litter, eventually making their way into ours lakes and rivers. National Skip the Straw Day, held every February, aims to change that. 

Great horned owls are one of our most beloved creatures of the night.  Here are some things you might not know about them.

Hundreds of millions of birds die every year from flying into windows. We understand why they do this, and there are things you can do at home to prevent it.

You can sleep soundly tonight knowing that there's no truth to the legend that we swallow eight spiders a year in our sleep.

A furry brown critter swimming around in the water can be any of several animals. Learn to tell the difference between two likely suspects.

Groundhogs are enjoying their annual day in the spotlight, but there's a lot more to them than just the silly notion that Punxsutawney Phil can predict when winter will end.

Our birds are disappearing at an alarming rate. Saving them may seem overwhelming, but there are many simple things you can do at home to help.