Articles by Ethan Shaw

Can Poison Oak Leave Scars?

Published Aug,14 2017 | By Ethan Shaw

As poison ivy creeps up in the central and eastern U.S., poison oak is the bane of many an outdoor traveler or worker on the West Coast. Extremely common in some places, poison oak also comes in a diversity of growth forms, and its foliage easily blends in with brushy surroundings.

Calcium Carbonate and Seashells

Published Sep,02 2011 | By Ethan Shaw

The ornate shells of marine organisms like mollusks are remarkable on any number of levels, not least in the intricate coloration they often exhibit.

Ethan Shaw is a writer and naturalist living in Oregon. He has written extensively on outdoor recreation, ecology and earth science for outlets such as Backpacker Magazine, the Bureau of Land Management and Atlas Obscura. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Science in wildlife ecology and a graduate certificate in geographic information systems from the University of Wisconsin.