July 25/2018

Feature:

Tips To Help Pets Stay Cool & Safe During Record-Breaking

Temperatures

   “Paige Theng doused her dog Duke in cold water multiple times on each walk they took
during last week’s heat wave in Montreal. She bought an air conditioner for her NDG
home-something she wouldn’t have done had it not been for Duke. But the dog still got
diarrhea & struggled through the record-breaking temperatures.

   Furry animals like dogs & cats have a limited capacity to sweat, according to Dr.
Carole- Anne Laurin, a veterinarian at SPCA Montreal. That leaves them more
susceptible than humans to heat stroke.

   Some pets are even more sensitive to the heat, including short- nosed dogs & animals
that are obese. Pay extra close attention for signs of heat stroke in these animals.

   When walking a dog, keep your strolls shorter than usual & avoid going out in the hot
afternoons. Walk in the shade & along the grass, & avoid giving the dog intense physical
exercise. Laurin says hot weather offers a good opportunity to focus on mental
stimulation. 15 minutes of mental stimulation- such as teaching your dog tricks or playing
games- can be equivalent to one hour of running for a dog, according to the veterinarian.

   Other ways to keep an animal cool include taking them swimming in a lake or pitching
a kiddie pool in our backyard. Offer them frozen treats. Try filling a balloon & giving the
ball of ice to them like a big frozen lollipop.   

     If you think your pet might have heat stroke, take them to a veterinarian immediately.
On the way, wrap them in a cold towel, but don’t put ice or ice packs directly on
their body.

     Never leave your dog in a parked car. ‘The temperature can get up to 20 degrees

higher within 10 minutes even in a parked car or a car that has the windows down…”

Laurin said.

    It’s usually not recommended to shave your animal, Laurin said.

     ‘The fur protects them from UV rays & it seems to have insulating properties even

against the heat.’ Laurin said…

     As for birds, snakes, & other animals, keep their cages directly out of direct sunlight

& don’t put them directly next to air conditioning units.”

Darya Marchenkova

The Gazette, Montreal

July 9/2018

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

July 18/2018

Feature:

8 Cool Facts About Snakes

“…1. Snakes live on every continent except Antarctica.

Over 3,000 species of snakes live worldwide in nearly every environment possible, including deserts, swamps, forests, grasslands, & the ocean.

The largest variety of snakes is found in warmer climates because all snakes are cold blooded or ectothermic, which means they can’t regulate their own body temperature. They need an external source of heat to survive. In colder areas, many snakes will hibernate for winter or seek warm areas to hide in, such as inside a garage or barn.

The only places in the world that do not have snakes are Iceland, Ireland, Greenland, & New Zealand. Why snakes never made it to these island nations is unknown, but many of them now have laws against importing snakes because non-native snakes could cause extensive damage to the local ecosystems.

2. Snakes have been around for over 60 million years.

The largest snake fossil ever found was from what scientists have named the titanoboa. This creature lived over 60 million years ago & grew 50 feet… long & weighed up to 2,000 pounds ...

The largest snake in the world today is the reticulated python…

3. Snakes have no chin.

…Instead of one continuous jaw bone like humans, snakes have 2 bones that come down each side of their jaws. These bones are connected by very stretchy ligaments that allow them to easily spread apart & consume large prey…

4. Only 70% of snakes lay eggs.

The other 30% give birth to live young…

King cobras are the only snake known to build actual nests for their eggs, which the mothers guard viciously.

5. Some snakes can fly.

The thought of a flying snake may seem like something out of a nightmare, but a few snake species in the jungles of South & Southeast Asia are known to take flight…

6. The majority of snakes are not poisonous.

Of the approximately 3,000 species of snakes in the world, only 375 of these are venomous…

7. Snakes can hunt in groups.

Snakes have the reputation of being solitary hunters. But that’s not always true. A few species have actually been documented hunting in groups…

Cooperative hunting has also been observed in Cuban boas. These snakes are known to gather at the mouths of caves to hunt bats as they move in & out of the cave to roost each day. They do this by attaching their tails to small pits in the ceiling of the cave & hanging downwards to grab bats as they fly past…

8. Snakes symbolize good luck.

…many cultures traditionally believe that snakes bring good luck. In Japan, snakes symbolize wealth & money. It’s said you may lose all your money if you kill a snake. And finding a white snake can bring life-long luck.

In general, the more poisonous a snake is, the more good fortune it will bring. In India & Southeast Asia, meeting a king cobra can be considered a very lucky event. And in some parts of China, seeing a snake enter your home is a sign that you will have a long, peaceful life…”

Zoe Blarowski

Nov. 16/ 2017

Care2.com

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

July 11/2018

Feature:
Iconic Hawaiian Bird Finally Gets Much Needed Protection

“One of Hawaii’s most endangered birds is finally going to receive the protection it desperately needs.

The ‘i’iwi, or scarlet honeycreeper, was once considered one of the most common forest birds in Hawaii, who could be found across all of the major islands. Sadly, they have virtually disappeared from the islands of Lanai, Oahu, Molokai & west Maui, while the population on Kauai is rapidly declining.

Now, 90% of their population exists only on East Maui & Hawaii Island (Big Island) at elevations between 4,265 & 6,234 feet.

Back in 2010, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned authorities to list them as ‘threatened’ under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). And now the FWS has announced that the ‘i’iwi will be listed as ‘threatened’- bringing hope that the species will not be wiped out.

Although these striking birds face a number of threats, one of their biggest problems today is the spread of disease that’s being exacerbated by climate change. Avian malaria & avian pox, which are spread by invasive mosquitoes, have devastated Hawaii’s native forest birds, who have little to no resistance to these diseases…

‘‘I’iwi have virtually disappeared from any habitat where mosquitoes are found,’ said Mary Abrams, project leader for the FWS’s Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office. ‘This has caused their range to shrink dramatically – they are almost entirely limited to higher elevation ‘ohi’a forests for their habitat, dietary, & nesting needs.’

The ‘i’iwi still have some refuge in higher elevations, where it’s too cold for mosquitoes, but these birds travel widely in search of food, & scientists have raised concerns that as the climate gets warmer & wetter, mosquitoes will be moving up into areas that are currently considered safe, further restricting their already limited range…

‘In recent years, the ‘i’iwi population has been in sharp decline, due to threats from habitat loss, invasive species & avian diseases, particularly avian malaria,’ said Abrams… Conservation that benefits the ‘i’iwi will undoubtedly benefit other Hawaiian forest birds.’

The listing will be official on October 20, & will first lead to the development of a recovery plan, which will hopefully be followed by other measures that will restore & protect their habitat, reduce other threats, & stop the spread of diseases.

‘Working with the state, our conservation partners, & the public will be crucial as we work to recover the ‘i’iwi,’ added Abrams. ‘The Service is committed to building on our record of collaborative conservation to protect Hawaii’s native species.’

Alicia Graef

Sept. 28/ 2017

Care2.com

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle

July 4/2018

Feature:
5 Animal Rebels Who Break the Rules
“...1. Aye Aye 
The aye aye, a lemur native to Madagascar... uses... echolocation while hunting. The aye aye... also holds the title of world’s largest nocturnal primate... the aye aye acts as a primate woodpecker. Aye ayes tap on the wood of trees to find insects & larvae, using their long, thin middle fingers to scoop out the tasty treats.
...Aye ayes are endangered, as they are considered bad omens & symbols of death in their native Madagascar.

2. Solenodon
While the solenodon, found primarily in Hispanola & Cuba, is not the only mammal that injects venom, it is the only one to do so using its teeth... the solenodon’s saliva is venomous, & it is a neurotoxin that is very similar to that of certain snakes. Solenodons are a cranky creatures who will bite quickly, unexpectedly & often...
These creatures existed alongside dinosaurs, & thus exhibit many primitive mammal characteristics... Their venom is thought to be a remnant of old mammalian species that have since died out...

3. Platypus
...Some of the platypus’ more well-known oddities create the creature’s confusing look- a duck’s bill, beaver’s tail, mammal’s body, & amphibian’s reproductive system. The platypus is one of just 2 egg-laying mammals in existence!
What may be less well-known is that the platypus is also venomous. Male platypuses have spurs on their hind legs to inject venom... they are one of the few venomous mammals in the world. And...the platypus has evolved to have no stomach.

4. Immortal jellyfish
One of the most basic animal rules is that, ultimately, every creature must die. But this jellyfish has other ideas. The immortal jellyfish is currently the only known animal to be able to flout death. After reaching sexual maturity, if these creatures become injured, ill or old, they can return to the polyp stage- effectively, the organism’s youth. This is done through the cell developmental process of transdifferentiation, which transforms cells into different types of cells.
... It isn’t actually completely immortal, as it can fall prey to predators or disease before it has reached sexual maturity, never making it back to the polyp stage.

5. Leafy sea slugs
The leafy sea slug uses plants become part-plant, part-animal, looking very much like a leaf that moves.
These sea slugs use a straw-like structure to suck the chloroplasts from algae for

camouflage & photosynthesis. The creatures can... become solar-powered for certain lengths of time by storing the chloroplasts for months on end. Some sea slugs have been known to use photosynthesis for up to a year after only a few feedings. This process...is called kleptoplasty. Essentially, the animals eat algae to start functioning- not to mention looking- like a plant.”

Laura Burge

July 30/2017

care2.com

Cute Critter Pic

Weekly Chuckle