Nov. 23/2022

Meet the Moose, Nature’s Long-Legged Vegetarians

naturecanada.ca

Most people don’t realize just how enormous Moose are until they see one up close & personal. Moose are the largest members of the deer family. They can weigh up to 1200 pounds & stand over 2 meters tall! Moose can be brown, reddish, greyish, or even almost black with grey or white ‘socks’ on their legs.

Newborn calves make deep grunting sounds that develop into nearly human-like wails after a few days pass. Adult Moose are very vocal during their breeding season, with females making a nasally bawling sound & males bellowing in a cough in response.

Moose Habitat & Eating Habits

Lucky for us, these giants are herbivores. Their favourite snacks are willow, aspen, & balsam fir trees. They eat mostly leaves, buds, twigs, bark, grass, & aquatic plants. In fact, the word “moose” means “eater of twigs” in Algonquin. Moose have poor eyesight, making them inefficient hunters, but have excellent senses of smell & hearing. Perfect for sniffing out the juiciest greens!

Since Moose are big with insulating fur, they need cold climates. Moose can be generally found in forested areas as well as near lakes, swamps, & ponds during the summer. These places tend to have moist conditions due to the proximity of the bodies of water. In the winter, moose live in places with snow cover.

Moose Conservation

Moose face a variety of threats in the wild, such as climate change, hunting, habitat destruction, parasites, & disease. In Canada, moose populations are endangered in mainland Nova Scotia. It’s important to protect Moose. Moose play a key role in ecosystems. Simply by grazing, they are able to change the composition of vegetation in an area. They are also significant to Indigenous Peoples, serving as a traditional source of food & clothing.

Moose Fun Facts

- Moose are great swimmers & can sustain a speed of 6 miles an hour. They can also hold their breath for 30 seconds.

- Bull moose shed their antlers & regrow them each year.

- Moose tend to be very shy animals!

- Baby moose are called calves.

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Nov. 16/2022

 

10 Pet Rat Behaviors & What They Mean

PetMD.com

"Rats can make wonderful & interesting pets. While there are common misconceptions about pet rats, they are actually intelligent, clean, & highly social animals with a variety of different behaviors that are loved by pet parents. By understanding their different behaviors, pet parents can better bond with their rat, & both can benefit from the joys of pet rat ownership.

Nesting

Rats are social creatures who enjoy time outside their habitat, but also enjoy their quiet time. Rats naturally enjoy creating nest—in the wild they use leaves or moss to provide a soft nesting area. In captivity, rats enjoy tearing, gnawing, & bringing desirable items back to their nest. A nest is a safe spot for rats, providing physical comfort & safety for sleep but also a place to birth pups.

Pet rats will use materials from inside their habitat to line their nest including:

Fleece bedding

Recycled newspaper

Paper towels

Toilet paper rolls

Cardboard

Carefresh bedding

Rats enjoy frequent bedding changes to keep their cage clean & free of waste material odors, & to provide enrichment that stimulates their senses.

Investigating

Rats are highly inquisitive animals by nature. They enjoy investigating & exploring their habitats, including adventures around the house during supervised playtime. A rat’s sense of vision is not great, so they rely on sniffing & touching to inspect new items.

Rats have a terrific sense of smell. You’ll notice their whiskers & nose twitch when they sniff & appear to breathe more rapidly. The smells & sensory information from their highly sensitive whiskers provide rats with additional information to determine if the new item is safe, fun, or something they would like to investigate further. Once deemed relatively safe (or edible!) rats will use their front paws & mouth to touch, drag, eat, & play. 

Grooming

Pet rats are incredibly clean animals require minimal bathing & brushing. They stay clean by instinctively grooming themselves. This may involve rubbing their front paws on their face, then licking & rubbing the rest of their body down to their tail.

Pet rats will also groom other rats & their pet parents. Often, this is out of affection or the start of intended play. You may even notice rats using their teeth to comb through fur. These are all normal behaviors, however if the licking & nibbling become obsessive, it could indicate a problem with your rats...

Bruxing

Bruxism, or commonly referred to as 'bruxing' in the pet rat world, is a common behavior of rats & is usually considered normal. Bruxing occurs when rats grind their teeth gently & repetitively. As rodents, rats have constantly growing teeth that must be filed naturally to prevent problems. Gently grinding their incisors helps to wear these teeth down, but pet rats also need other toys, food, & proper care to effectively wear down their teeth. Pet parents shouldn’t rely on bruxing alone to keep their rat’s teeth healthy.

Most pet parents notice bruxing when the rat is happy & showing signs of affection—similar to a cat purring. However, rats may also brux when they are stressed. Make sure to take the rat’s entire demeanor & behavior into account when they brux. If they are acting scared, not eating, or have other unusual behaviors, a trip to the veterinarian may be necessary.

Boggling

Rats have a unique anatomical difference in which part of their jaw muscle runs behind their eyes. During aggressive bruxism, this repetitive tooth grinding may cause the eyes to move abnormally in & out of the socket. This bulging of the eyes is called boggling, & is considered normal. Like bruxing, take the rat’s entire behavior into account to determine if your pet is happy or stressed. If concerned, you should always talk to your veterinarian to be safe. 

Chattering

Chattering is also repetitive grinding of the incisors, like bruxism. However, chattering is typically louder, stronger, & with more pops or cracking noises. While bruxing is associated with joy or contentment, chattering is most associated with an internal struggle, annoyance, or impending fight with another rat.

Playing

Rats love to play! They will play by themselves, with other rats, & with their pet parents. During play, you may also notice different noises—such as chirps & other vocalizations. This is how a pet rat indicates he is content & having fun. While they are generally quiet animals, most parents can begin to differentiate the noises their pet rats make when they are happy versus stressed.

Young rats may gently nip, bite, & wrestle with each other or their mother as a form of play fighting. This is a healthy & normal behavior that allows them to form bonds & learn appropriate social cues. Play fighting should never result in cuts or hair loss.

Excited rats may also jump, hop, or 'popcorn' when they are happy. They may run excitedly at full speed around the house or enclosure—just like how dogs get the 'zoomies.'

While rats are capable of activity during the day, especially with their family, they are basically nocturnal animals. This means they will be more active, making noise, playing, & chewing throughout the nighttime hours. If their cage is placed in a bedroom, this may present a problem for the pet parent to sleep!

Climbing

Rats are adept at climbing & love to explore throughout their enclosure. They can scale vertical walls, given a little foothold. They tend to be clumsier when climbing down.

Providing rats with multiple habitat levels, ladders, hammocks, safe exercise wheels, hide boxes, & other cage furniture encourages their natural curiosity & activity. This enrichment can keep their mind & their bodies stimulated & prevent boredom.

Rats do best with multiple cage furniture items to climb, & even better when those items are constantly rotated in & out of the cage. Rats perceive these rotated toys & climbing structures as 'new' & are excited to investigate & inspect. Some common cage furniture that promotes exercise & climbing include:

Ladder

Hide boxes

Hammocks & other suspended beds

Safe exercise wheel

Cardboard boxes

Bridges

Chewing

As a member of the rodent family, rats have constantly growing teeth. They rely on consistent chewing, gnawing, & nibbling to wear down their incisors. If not given appropriate food & chew toys, rat teeth become misaligned & abscessed. These conditions are incredibly painful & require veterinary intervention.

Rats should be fed high-quality pellets made specifically for pet rats, in addition to some human vegetables & fruits. While food & pellets can help wear down teeth (in addition to providing excellent nutrition,) pet rats also benefit from chew toys. Toys provide mental stimulation as well as the medical benefit of wearing down their teeth! There are many commercially available chew toys for rats, but these inquisitive & fun creatures don’t require fancy toys! They can be just as happy with items from around the house. Common chew toys for rats include:

Wood blocks

Cardboard boxes

Ball chew toys

Paper towels

Stick chew toys

Toilet paper rolls

Climbing toys

Because rats are natural chewers, it is important to rat-proof any area of the house they have access to. Electrical cords are of specific concern, as they could cause serious injury or death.

Scent Marking

Rats, both male & female, have flank glands along the sides of their abdomen. These glands contain natural oils used to scent mark areas of their environment. Rats will rub the side of their body, in addition to their face, to mark their territory.

Male rats will also urinate to mark their territory & signal to female rats. They may rub their rear end over items, which leaves a trail of urine, or they may lift their hind leg, similar to a dog.

References

Zarbock, Marylou. Lafeber. 16 Common Pet Rat Behaviors.

Hanson, Anne. Rat Behavior and Biology. Glossary of rat behavior terms. November 2012.

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Nov. 9/2022

 

10 Things to Know About Black Cats

petmd.com/cat/10-hair-raising-facts-about-black-cats

"You might think of a black cat as a witch's familiar or as a bad omen when one crosses your path, but there is much more to the black cat than meets the eye.

Black Is the Most Common Feline Coat Color

Have you had more than one black cat cross your path? It is not a glitch in the matrix; black is actually the most common coat color among felines.

The gene for expressing eumelanin—the pigment needed to make black fur—is dominant in black cats. A cat usually gets 2 copies of a gene, one from mom & one from dad. If one of these genes codes for black fur, then the kitten will be black.

Genetics for coat color in cats is a bit more complicated than that, which does give us different varieties of color.

Black coats allow cats to blend better into the night & hunt their prey more inconspicuously. This genetic advantage may have allowed black cats to be healthier & more likely to breed.

Black Cats Are More Likely to Be Adopted

You may have heard the misconception that black cats are less likely to be adopted than their fair-coated peers. This is not always the case, because in addition to cats being predominantly black, people’s old superstitions about black cats have faded over the years, leading to more adoptions.

Because black is a common coat color, more black cats enter the animal shelter system, resulting in disproportionately high numbers of adoptions.

Unfortunately, the high shelter intake of black cats means that they’re also euthanized more often than cats with any other fur color. The bottom line is that adopting black cats might save their lives, so it is always a good idea.

Black Cats Can Rust in the Sun

If you spend your summer by the pool, your hair might get lighter. The same lightening effect applies to the fur of black cats, which may have light red or orange highlights when they spend a lot of time in the sun. The sun bleaches the pigment from the fur, causing it to lighten. Since fur isn’t alive but is a structure of keratin, it will stay bright until it is shed.

It’s Rare To Find an All-Black Cat

While some cats are indeed black from head to toe, this is actually rare. Most black cats have some other coloring in their whiskers, paw pads, or random patches of fur.

Whisker hairs are thick sensory hair follicles that originate deep in the skin. Cats are known to shed their whiskers, & often new ones will grow back in other colors.

Paw pad color is often the same as a cat’s fur color. Darker-furred cats tend to have black or gray toes, while lighter ones have pink toes. Black cats with some white fur markings are more likely to have patches of pink or white on their paws.

Famous Black Cats

Animation has brought to the fore many famous felines from Bagheera, the black panther in The Jungle Book, to Luna, the black cat in Sailor Moon.

Live-action black cats that stole the show include:

Salem in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)

Thackery Binx in Hocus Pocus (1993)

Isis in Star Trek (1966-1969)

In addition to silver screen characters, other black cats have gained celebrity status, including:

The official first cat of the White House while George W. Bush was in office was named India. India was an all-black American Shorthair that lived to a great age of 18 years.

Blackie, the world's richest cat, was left a $12.5 million fortune when his owner, British antique dealer Ben Rea, died in 1988.

Oscar the Bionic Cat was the world's first cat to have double rear-leg prosthetics, in 2009.

Black Cats Almost Always Have Yellow Eyes

Just as genetics plays a role in the color of a cat’s fur, it is also responsible for the color of their eyes. The same pigment (eumelanin) that affects a black cat’s fur also affects their irises. The majority of black cats have irises with yellow/gold, orange/copper, or green pigment.

The Bombay Cat is a breed that typically has eyes in the gold or copper range. Black cats in other breeds are more likely to have lighter eyes.

Kittens, like human babies, are most commonly born with blue eyes, but the color of their iris changes as they age. The change typically starts between 4 to 8 weeks, & their eyes will be their permanent color by 3-4 months.

Types of Black Cat Breeds

While many cat breeds can have black coats, the Bombay Cat is the only breed whose standard includes a shiny black coat. This breed was created in the 1950s as a hybrid of the Burmese & American Shorthair. Bombay cats are nicknamed as 'parlor panthers' due to their exotic good looks, sleek black coats, & gorgeous copper-orange eyes.

Other black cat breeds include:

Sphinx

Persian

Ragamuffin

Scottish Fold

Selkirk Rex

American Curl

American Bobtail

Chantilly-Tiffany

Why Are Black Cats Considered Bad Luck?

The superstition that black cats were associated with the occult started around the Middle Ages, & many black cats fell victim to this misconception. Many believe that this led to a decrease in the cat population & the eventual spread of the bubonic plague, or Black Death, in the early 14th century, which was a disease carried by mice.

The perceived connection between black cats & witches’ evil deeds continued to North America & came to a head with the Salem witch trials of the 1690s.

No one knows exactly when black cats got their bad rap, but a black cat crossing your path certainly won’t bring you bad luck.

Black Cats in History

Black cats played an important role in history. In Ancient Egypt, they were used to protect food stores from mice. The goddess Bastet was thought to bring good fortune to those who housed cats. Bastet was part black cat, part woman warrior goddess, a deity who protected the pharaoh & was a goddess of fertility.

British & Irish sailors in the early 19th century believed that black cats were symbols of good luck & could protect ships from dangerous weather. They were also adept at killing rats on board.

Today, in many countries & cultures, cats are symbols of prosperity. In Scotland, England, & Ireland, it is actually considered good luck to have a black cat cross your path, & black cats are sometimes given as wedding gifts to bring happiness to the couple. In Japan, many believe that a black cat can increase your chances at romance.

Celebrate Black Cats Every Year

2 days on the calendar are set aside for making the tiny panther in your life feel extra special.

October 27, 4 days before Halloween, is National Black Cat Day, & August 17 is National Black Cat Appreciation Day around the world.

So whichever day you choose to celebrate, let’s give 3 cheers to the black cat!"

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Nov. 2/2022

 

5 Facts About Koi Fish

From: petmd.com/fish/care

"Koi fish are an extremely popular & colorful form of the fish species Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus). These fish are commonly kept as an ornamental fish in outdoor ponds or garden water features. They have a rich history in Asian culture dating back thousands of years—but are not related to goldfish despite their similar coloration. Their bright vibrant colors & behaviors can provide a splash of color & activity to any outdoor pond.

Koi Fish Meaning

Koi is actually the informal name for this species—they are often referred to as Japanese koi or their Japanese name, Nishikigoi. Nishikigoi is known as the 'swimming jewel.' In Japanese culture, koi fish are often kept since they symbolize luck, prosperity, & good fortune.

A koi fish was first displayed in Tokyo in 1914—propelling their popularity around Japan. This was also around the time selective breeding started in Niigata, Japan, which developed & spread worldwide.

Koi Fish Pond

Koi are commonly kept as pets in outdoor ponds. Ponds can be great ways to enjoy your Koi & even provide a scenic landscape to your property, since they often include elaborate rockwork & waterfalls. Koi are temperate freshwater fish that can adapt to water temperatures between 45-95 F. When keeping koi, it is recommended to keep them at a temperature between 68-75 F. A deep pond can maintain a thermocline (temperature gradient) in the water, allowing koi to experience different temperatures.

A deep pond will also make it easier for koi to stay in the pond during winter. Water can freeze anywhere between 18-24 inches deep in a pond. Ensuring your pond is deep enough will prevent your fish from freezing. During the winter, koi will go into torpor or dormancy when the water temperature reaches 45-50 F. Their bodies will shut down & will not require as much food. A pond heater can be added to increase the temperature of the water to ensure koi survive winter temperatures. Special measures can be taken if your pond freezes over during the winter. For example, creating a hole in the ice & adding an aerator can help your koi survive.

When selecting fish for your pond, remember that smaller fish will grow over time. Knowing how big your fish will become as an adult is important to determine how many fish can be kept in a pond. Generally, every inch of fish requires about 10 gallons of water. So a 100 gallon pond can have a 10 inch fish.

Prices of Koi Fish

Koi can range in price due to many factors. Typically, a small koi will run anywhere between $8 to $50. Some koi, depending on size & color, can cost over $100. The most expensive koi ever sold at auction was for 1.8 million dollars in Japan at the 2017 All Japan Koi Show.

Factors that determine the price point for koi may include:

Genetic lineage: Highly sought after lineages are more expensive

Koi variety: The most popular varieties include Kohaku, Sanke, & Showa

Pattern: Steps & symmetry in patterns often can increase the price of a koi

Size: Larger animals are more expensive

Origin: Imported animals are more expensive than domestically produced animals

Number of fish purchased: If koi are purchased in bulk the price tends to be lower. Make sure you can house all the koi you intend to purchase if they are not fully grown yet

Koi Fish Color

There are over 100 different varieties of koi that are separated into 16 groups based on Zen Nippon Airinkai (the original koi club) who oversee the breeding & judging standards of koi. Koi can be differentiated by coloration, pattern, & scalation. New varieties of koi are constantly being developed by selective breeding.

3 core colors make up many koi varieties: red (Hi), white (Shiro), & black (Sumi). Other colors that are commonly seen include yellow, orange, blue, & cream. Some fish may have a silver or gold metallic sheen to their appearance. It is common for koi to be tricolored but they can also be either single, bicolored, or multicolored.

How Long Do Koi Fish Live?

Koi, when provided with the correct environmental conditions, can live between 25-50 years on average. Reports of koi living to 100-200 years do exist—the oldest koi ever documented lived to be 226 years old. Water quality, pond conditions, nutrition, & preventative health care can help improve the longevity of a koi’s lifespan. There are many commercial koi fish foods that are available to pet parents, & can be used exclusively to feed koi & provide complete nutrition. Overfeeding is a common concern that can lead to health issues.

Providing appropriate vet care can help improve the lifespan of any koi. Not all veterinarians will treat fish, so be sure find a veterinarian who specializes in your pet. Organizations such as the American Association of Fish Veterinarians (AAFV) & Find a Fish Vet function can help assist in finding a vet that has experience treating koi."

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