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

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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

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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

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Weekly Chuckle

June 27/2018

Feature:
20 Fascinating Facts About Rabbits

“Rabbits are intelligent, social, very clean…
1. Rabbits are not the same species as hares, which, among other characteristics, are larger & less social.

2. Rabbits, hares  pikas, a mouselike burrowing animal, belong to the order of lagomorphs. They were classified as rodents until 1912.

3. You probably know a doe as a female deer, but it’s also true …that a doe is a rabbit, a female rabbit. And, just like deer, a male rabbit is called a buck.

4. Rabbits are most similar to horses, according to MSPCA-Angell, which notes, ‘They have similar eyes, teeth, & ears (those belonging to many prey animals), as well as a similar diet & behavior…’

5. Rabbits are born blind & spend their first few days in a nest lined with grass & their mother’s fur…

6. …Does are pregnant for 30 days & may have a litter of 4 to 12 babies, called kits — short for kittens. Bunnies can start reproducing as young as 4 months old, & they can have 800 children, grandchildren, & great-grandchildren during their lifetimes.

7. …another good reason to spay or neuter pet rabbits is because it will make them live longer. Rabbits that have been sterilized can live 10 to 12 years — up to 4 years longer than those that haven’t undergone the procedure…

8. Scary fact: A rabbit’s teeth never stop growing. Fortunately, they’re naturally kept short by the normal wear & tear of chewing. Lots & lots of chewing, that is — about 120 times a minute.

9. Like cats, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box.

10. Also like cats, rabbits will groom themselves — as well as any rabbit they’re bonded with — as often as 5 times a day.

11. Bunnies don’t have the ability to vomit, so it’s critical to only feed them healthy, appropriate food like hay, grass, & vegetables. They also can’t cough up hairballs after all that grooming, so it’s important to regularly brush their coats to prevent shedding.

12. Rabbits eat their poop. Icky, yes, but they have to do it. They need to digest some of their food twice, so they eat their soft ‘cecotropes’, or nutrient-packed droppings. What’s commonly known as ‘rabbit pellets’ comes out after their 2nd round of digestion.

13. Happy rabbits will do what’s called a ‘binky’: They’ll jump in the air & spin around, kind of like a bunny Baryshnikov.

14. Happy rabbits will also ‘purr’, making a chattering noise with their teeth.

15. Rabbits are crepuscular…they’re the most active in the early morning & early evening. This makes them good pets for working people.

16. Rabbits need about 4 hours of exercise & playtime a day to keep them happy & help prevent osteoporosis.

17. Just like TV antennas used to be called ‘rabbit ears’, real rabbit ears serve as a kind of antenna. They can pick up sounds from every direction & are capable of hearing from 2 directions at the same time.

18. In the wild, rabbits live in burrows called warrens. One warren in Europe contained 450 rabbits & 2,000 entrances, according to the RSPCA.

19. After cats & dogs, rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet in the United States…

20. It’s not a good idea to give bunnies — … or any live animals — as Easter gifts.” 

Laura Goldman

March 31, 2018

Care2.com

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Weekly Chuckle

June 20/2018

Feature:
10 Fascinating Facts About Squirrels
“…1. Squirrels are rodents.
They’re members of the family Sciuridae, which includes small- & medium-sized rodents like tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks, & prairie dogs…

2. A squirrel’s front teeth don’t stop growing.
To prevent those 4 teeth from getting too long, squirrels must frequently gnaw on things. (The same is true of other rodents. In fact, ‘rodent’ is derived from ‘rodere’ in Latin, which means just that: to gnaw.)

3. Other squirrels (& birds) steal ¼ of a squirrel’s hidden food.
… Squirrels can also have difficulty keeping track of their buried stash, which is good news not only for other animals but for the environment as well, since those forgotten acorns grow into oaks in the forest.

4. Squirrels use something called ‘deceptive caching’ to deter thieves. 
Squirrels will sometimes cleverly pretend to bury nuts by digging a hole & then covering it up with nothing inside.

5. Squirrels have powerful senses of smell. 
In the wintertime, some squirrel species are able to smell food that’s buried under a foot of snow. They can then dig a tunnel to reach the food, whether it belongs to them or another squirrel.

6. Squirrels are not social animals. 

… these creatures want to be alone. They are territorial & rarely interact with one another.

7. Squirrels will raise orphaned pups. 

If an orphaned baby squirrel is closely related to a female adult squirrel, she may adopt it as her own… This is surprising because… ‘Although adoptions occur among species that live in extended family groups, it’s much less common among asocial animals.’

8. Squirrels run in a unique pattern to escape predators. 

Running (even along tree branches) in a zigzag pattern makes it more difficult for squirrels to be snatched by hawks & other animals.

                                   

9. Before the 1800s, there were no squirrels in U.S. parks.

…In the early 19th century, they were introduced to New York’s Central Park to create ‘a bucolic atmosphere that was entertaining, enlightening & salubrious,’ Popular Science reports, quoting an article in the Journal of American History.

10. There are no squirrels in Australia.

But there are more than 200 species all over the rest of the world.”

Laura Goldman

Jan. 20/2018

Care2.com

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Weekly Chuckle

June 13/2018

Feature:
5 Underappreciated Birds to Celebrate

“…Far below the prettier species are the ones many prefer to demonize. They scavenge on carcasses of dead animals. They annoy people.

…Here are 5 commonly misunderstood birds we should celebrate, not decry.

1. Vultures
Vultures overall play a vital role in their ecosystems. Their scavenging prevents diseases from spreading & cleans up the areas they live…

‘People tend to think they’re ugly, dirty, & smelly, & they’re far from it & they’re absolutely crucial to the environment,’ said the International Centre for Birds of Prey’s Jemima Parry-Jones…

2. Magpies
…a lot of people consider the magpie a pest, but they have a lot of positives going for them.

Take their intelligence. Unlike most animals, they recognize themselves in mirrors. That makes them among the 7 known non-human species who can do that.

3. American Crow
The American crow has long been tied with bad luck. Their signature caw is a far cry from the popular birds’ pleasant chirping.

Still, they’re another bird whose intelligence you should respect. According to one study, they’re as smart as a 7-year-old kid.

4. Cormorants
…The seabird competes with fishermen, significantly cutting down on fish species like walleyes.

However, in the Great Lakes, they tend to feed on invasive species & aren’t the biggest problem affecting fish populations, next to pollution & other issues...

5. European Starlings
Even birding authority Audubon has sanctioned hating starlings. They’re invasive, loud, & destructive…

Keep in mind starlings do have redeeming qualities. As Washington State University News notes, they eat pests. They’re also skilled in teamwork, sometimes flying in groups of hundreds to stay safe from predators.”

Emily Zak

Dec. 27/ 2017

Care2.com

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Weekly Chuckle

June 6/2018

Feature:
Dog Wins Prize For Valour Under Fire in Afghanistan

     “A British military dog that saved the lives of troops in Afghanistan in 2012 was decorated…for bravery.

     Mali, an 8 year old Belgian Malinois, won the Dickin medal- a prize awarded by the PDSA veterinary charity & billed as the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

     The charity says Mali was twice sent through direct fire to conduct searches for explosives. He also detected the presence of insurgents, giving troops key seconds to ‘engage the enemy in close-quarter combat’. He carried on despite being hurt by grenade blasts that injured his chest, legs, and ear. He has since fully recovered.

   The dog is the 69th recipient of the prize since 1943.”

Associated Press
The Gazette, Montreal
Nov. 18/2017   

U.S. Army Dog Gets Medal For Battle Bravery

     “A U.S. Army dog that attacked a machine-gun nest during the Second World War was posthumously awarded Britain’s highest honor for animal bravery…Chips, a German shepherd- husky cross, was awarded the Dickin Medal for actions during a 1943 beach landing in Sicily. According to the U.S. soldiers, Chips raced into an Italian machine-gun nest, attacking an enemy soldier & pulling the gun from its mount. The medal was    awarded by veterinary charity PDSA in a ceremony in London.
     U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alan Throop said that shortly after the battle Chips was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross, the silver Star, & the Purple Heart…”

Associated Press
The Gazette, Montreal
Jan. 16/2018

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Weekly Chuckle