Reptile Pet

"Exotic pet" snow corn baby

2011-04-05T16:15:00.001-07:00

picture of a cobra

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Scientific name: Ophiophagus hannah
-A large poisonous snakes in the world, has a length of up to 5.7 m

Baby "King Snake" pictures

2011-04-05T16:13:00.001-07:00

Information about: Kingsnake ( click her )

Photo "tiny snake"

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This is a very small snake, you can view images , Snakes are not venomous , The main food is small insects . This kind of snakes live in dense grass

When the large snakes in length from 3 to 4 m

picture snake eating frog:

Photos Pet "Pueblan milk snake"

2011-04-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Photos Pets cobalt blue spider

2011-04-05T16:09:00.000-07:00

download photo backup Pets cobalt blue spider

Turtle as pet

2011-04-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Photos for the turtles to eat

download photo backup Photos Turtle as pet

some pictures pet turtle

Cute puppies pictures

2011-04-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

download phot backup Cute puppies pictures

Manning A Bird

2011-04-05T16:05:00.000-07:00

When you attend a World Bird Sanctuary Program, you may have noticed how well all the birds sit on the trainer’s glove. They seem unfazed by the small children who run up to them and by the adults who crowd around for pictures. How do birds become such great “Education Ambassadors?”

Skinner, one of our older, more experienced birds, entertaining a school group of about 200 children

Most birds WBS utilizes for education are hatched and raised here, and this is a big advantage for getting them ready for life as ambassadors for us. Almost all birds do not hatch naturally well-mannered on the glove. In fact, some of the World Bird Sanctuary birds were hatched in the wild and cannot be released again due to injury. It takes more patience with wild birds, and they learn to interact with humans through a training process called “manning.”

When a wild bird first arrives at WBS, they don’t know how to interact with humans at all. In fact, they see humans as something that can cause them harm. In the training process called manning, a wild bird learns how to stand on the trainer’s glove and how to react to the common situations they might encounter while at WBS or at a program. First, the bird receives their equipment: anklets, jesses, swivel, and leash. The anklets and jesses are just light strips of soft leather that go loosely around the bird’s ankles. The swivel allows the leash to attach to the jesses, and keeps the jesses and leash from becoming tangled. The leash keeps the bird safe from accidental release.

Our new young Turkey Vulture, Kinsey, sporting his new equipment and learning to stand on the glove

A large portion of the manning process involves sitting with the bird on the glove for a long time. Even before the bird is placed on the glove, the bird becomes accustomed to having a trainer close to it through positive reinforcement. As the trainer works his/her way closer and closer to the bird, the bird is rewarded with food. Through this technique the bird learns that the trainer is safe, and the bird becomes comfortable around him/her.

Next, the bird slowly learns that the trainer’s glove is a steady, safe, comfortable perch, and because of the positive reinforcement work done beforehand, the bird learns that the human under the glove will not hurt them. When the bird finally becomes comfortable standing on the glove, the trainer can try slowly walking around. This helps the trainer learn how to keep the bird perfectly balanced on the glove, which helps in the manning process, and introduces the bird to the things they might see in their everyday lives at WBS or at a program.

One of our veteran performers being walked up and down stairs and through the crowd--possible only because he has learned to trust his handlers.

As you can see, the manning process requires patience, time, positive reinforcement and good handling techniques. As a result, we are rewarded with a calm bird ready for a life as an education ambassador.

Submitted by Leah Sainz, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalists

Photos pet snake

2011-04-05T16:02:00.001-07:00

download photos

Have you been thinking about getting a snake for a pet?

2011-04-05T15:31:00.000-07:00

If so you may want to read the following article by Naturalist Sara Oliver to decide if you are really committed to fulfilling all of the requirements necessary to maintaining a healthy and happy reptile.

Monty, our Ball Python

Ball Pythons, also called Royal Pythons, are considered one of the best snakes to have for a pet, especially if your son or daughter has been begging you for a pet snake. In the wild, they are found in Central and Western Africa and will frequent both the ground and trees, and are most active around dusk and dawn. They usually live between 20 and 30 years.

Ball Pythons make a good choice particularly because of their docile nature and small size. They generally do not grow longer than 3 or 4 feet. When choosing a Ball Python, find one bred in captivity as these are much easier to tame and handle.

Remember that the cute little snake in the five-gallon tank at the pet store may get quite large. Research the species you are cnsidering.

Annually, thousands of Ball Pythons are caught in the wild and imported to the U.S. to be sold in pet stores. These are usually more difficult to tame, may have parasites and be stressed from capture and transport. Also, it is best for any pet to not be taken from the wild, since sooner or later the wild population will suffer because too many are taken.

Before purchasing, check the snake’s body and make sure it has clean, smooth skin. Check the vent (or anus), nostrils and eyes for any discharge. Arrange for the breeder to show a feeding demonstration as well, to make sure the snake is eating well.

Ball Pythons are not as active as other snakes, so a 10 gallon tank is usually sufficient for juveniles and a minimum of 20 gallons for adults. Make sure you have the lid securely fitted because all snakes are great escape artists. For the tank’s substrate, newspaper or astro-turf are fine, as well as aspen, pine or cypress mulch. Add a few branches for them to climb on at night, and a dark hiding place for them to sleep during the day.

Provide a water bowl large enough for the snake to soak in, which is important in helping a snake shed its old skin. Since ball pythons are native to very warm temperate to dry areas in Africa, they may be comfortable with the current humidity of your household. However, if it is too dry and your snake is having difficulty shedding (it takes more than 24 hours or the shed comes off in many pieces), or its feces are dry when excreted or there is straining to defecate, it is a good idea to mist inside the tank twice a day with a spray bottle filled with room temperature water. Then natural evaporation of the water by a heat source (discussed below) raises humidity in the tank.

Daytime temperatures in the tank should be between 80 and 90 F. Nighttime temperatures can be between 70 and 80 F. A heat lamp with a ceramic heat bulb can be placed on top of the tank off to one side to act as a basking area. A low wattage incandescent light with a metal reflector (found at any hardware store) can be placed on top of the tank, at about the midpoint. It’s best to turn off the light at night.

Ball pythons will be happy with a diet of mice or small rats. Adults can be fed 4 or 5 mice every other week and juveniles can be fed a few pinkie mice every 5-7 days. Using pre-killed food is safest for your snake. Using a pair of forceps to dangle the mouse in front of the snake will trigger interest and keep your hands safe from their bite. Their teeth are quite small, needle thin and needle sharp, so be careful when feeding. When handling any snake make sure there’s no scent of the snake’s food on your clothes or hands. It is a good idea to move the python into a separate area for feeding so it won’t associate anything that enters its tank (your hands, for example) as food. These snakes are known for fasting for long periods. As long as body weight is sustained and the Python's condition looks good overall, there is no need to panic.

Python swallows baby in Edo State - Graphic picture

2011-04-05T01:14:00.000-07:00

A python, yesterday, swallowed a baby at Okada, Edo State.
Witnesses say the snake, measuring about 10ft long, swallowed a six-month-old baby that was left abandoned outside a house.
The baby was reportedly left on a mat outside, while the mother went inside. A witness, who claimed to have arrived the scene as the snake was in the process of swallowing the baby, raised an alarm. People rushed to the scene and killed the snake, but were too late to save the baby.

My question is, if someone saw the snake in the process of swallowing the baby, why didn't they kill it before it completed the job and at least try to save the child. Where was the child's mother? There's no way a snake would be swallowing a baby and the baby would not be screaming its lungs out at least at first. I'm so freaked out by the story and the picture is not helping matters.

Source

Anaconda Snake Wallpapers – Wallpapers of Anaconda Snake

2011-03-12T03:32:00.000-08:00

Rare Anaconda snake wallpapers

anaconda snake on the wood wallpapers

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little anaconda snake wallpapers

Hunting hungry Anaconda Snake Wallpaper

2011-03-12T03:31:00.000-08:00

Hunting anaconda snake head wallpaper

dangerous black poison snake wallpapers

black cobra snakes mobile wallpapers

anaconda snake head into the river wallpapers

Hunting animal Anaconda snake pictures

Different family type of snake wallpapers images

2011-03-12T03:29:00.000-08:00

High quality yellow green desktop snake wallpapers

small snake on the wood wallpapers

rare bull snake photos

Small size snake with snake egg photos wallpapers

King Cobra Poison ivy Snake Wallpapers

2011-03-12T03:28:00.000-08:00

King Cobra

King Cobra Snakes Desktop for Pc Wallpapers

King Cobra Poison

Poison ivy Cobra Snake Desktop wallpapers

Poisonness Cobra Wallpapers

Egyptian Banded Cobra Snake Ready to attack

Red Spitted Snake Wallpapers

WideScreen High Resolution HD Snake Wallpapers

2011-03-12T03:27:00.000-08:00

widescreen green snake wallpapers

wide screen green snake hd pictures

White snake sharp eye wallpapers

HD White Snake Wallpapers

Mouth open green vine snake wallpapers

3d snake mouth open pictures

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Sketches of Wild Animals Wallpapers

2011-03-12T03:25:00.000-08:00

Desktop Wallpapers of squirrel eating nuts animals wallpapers

Sketches of two White rabbits fighting Animals wallpapers

Sketches animals wallpapers of horses in icelands

Sharp Hunting Animal Tiger drinking water on ice berg wallpapers

Animals Wallpapers of white tigers eyes

Animals Wallpapers White Lion Rare Wallpapers

America World Small Bird Humming Bird HQ Wallpapers

2011-03-12T03:23:00.000-08:00

Americas Small Humming Bird rapidly wings flying ability

Sketches of humming birds pc wallpapers

Wide screen humming bird sketches pc wallpaper

10 Most Beautiful Snakes on Earth, come see it

2011-03-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

Photo: nasmac

Snakes. The word makes some shudder and others cringe while yet others think in wonder of the huge world of reptiles and their marvels. Whether you hate them or love them, one thing cannot be denied: their beauty. Count the top 10 down with me!

10. Honduran Milk Snake
Photo: Doug Mong

Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis, is found in Honduras and Nicaragua. While at first glance not one of the most beautiful snakes, take a look at its scales above - they are bright (which is what the 'lampro' in the binomial name stands for) and a brilliant red and black. They are constrictors, but look a lot like coral snakes which herpetologists believe is an example of Batesian Mimicry - when a harmless animal takes on the appearance of a venomous one to protect themselves.

Photo: Doug Mong

9. Leucistic Texas Rat Snake
Photo: Doug Mong

This Leucistic Texas Rat Snake is a lovely lady in white. She gets her coloring and the "leucistic" element of her name from a condition that results in a lack of all pigmentation, rather than just melanin which appears in albinism. This is why her eyes are of normal color. Texas Rat Snakes are (obviously) found in Texas as well as in Arizona and Louisiana. They are non venomous so a bite will give you little more than a sore leg.

8. Indigo Eastern Rat Snake
Photo: Ameng Wu

The Eastern Indigo snake is unofficially the longest in America, reaching lengths of 9.2ft. Carnivorous in habits, he has been known to beat his prey against other objects in a frenzied fashion to kill it. He will even eat other snakes such as the Texas Rattlesnake, and is immune to its venom. That aside, he deserves number 8 in our countdown for his brilliant black beauty that can look almost blue in the light.

7. The Emerald Tree Boa
Photo: Derek Ramsey

One of the most vivid and unforgettable snakes is the Emerald Tree Boa, Corallus Caninus. These are found in South America and the Amazon. Even though it looks like it is closely related to the Green Tree Python and sleeps the same way, they are only distant relatives. One thing that the Emerald has, is very large front teeth. They way she catche her prey is to stay coiled on the branch, head down, ready to strike. She then catches small
mammals with her front teeth and pulls them in to their doom.

6. The Iridescent Shieldtail
Photo: Sandilya Theuerkauf

The only reason this lovely is not in the top 3 is that it is hard to see exactly how beautiful she is from this photograph, but she is actually even more gorgeous than she appears here. She has to be one of the most beautiful snakes in the world. The Iridescent Shieldtail, Melanophidium bilineatum , is not well known. Only three specimens are thought to have ever been caught and little is known of how it behaves in the wild. Recently some more have been seen but all that can be said for certain is that it's beautiful and rare.

5. Amelanistic Burmese Python
Photo: Danleo

This head turner is an Amelanistic Burmese python - a species which retains their yellow, carotenoid-derived pigments. Mammals only produce pigments with melanins while birds and reptiles can also produce them by other means including carotenoids as we see here. Effectively though, she can be considered an albino snake in that amelanistic is classified under albinism

4. Brazilian Rainbow Boa
Photo: Doug Mong

This beauty is the Brazilian Rainbow Boa, Epicrates cenchria
named for the iridescent color of its scales. The underlying color is either brown, orange as we see here or a mix of the two. It is found in Central and South America and all the way through the Amazon basin. It is medium sized compared to other snakes and it likes the rivers and drainage areas, living for up to 20 years.

3. Eastern Coral Snake
Photo: Norman Benton

Micrurus fulvius is one of the most beautiful of all snakes. Unfortunately it is also very venomous, as are all coral snakes. On the good side, there are only about 15 to 20 recorded bites a year but on the bad side they are deadly and soon there will be no more antivenin for it. Pfizer, has said that with such low demand, it is not worth the cost and research spent on it, and current stock is due to expire at the end of this year. The snakes are forest animals, living in leaf litter and brush. They flee before biting, but if you do get bitten it is imperative you go to a doctor. Respiratory failure occurs within hours.

2. Blue Racer Snake
Photo: Jon Fife

This beauty is a pretty rare photograph of a Blue Racer snake. I say rare because its not often you get such a brilliant blue reflecting from the scales, as often they seem more gray in color. Its formal name is Coluber constrictor but despite this, they normally simply pin their prey to the ground and swallow them alive. They are known mostly east of the Rockies but have been seen as far south as Mexico.

Photo: Jon Fife

1. Green Tree Python
Photo: Micha L. Rieser

Morelia viridis, the Green Tree Python is a stunner that is found in New Guinea, Indonesia and parts of Australia. It, along with the Emerald Tree Boa, have a unique way of sleeping. They loop one or two coils along a branch, saddle style and place their head in the middle. Remember if it is in Indonesia, it is a python, if it is in South America, a boa. They are often mixed up because they are the only two that sleep this way.

Photo: Silvain de Munck

Sadly it is threatened due to the destruction of its habitat by logging, as well as by the pet trade. For her grace, her beauty and her threatened status, she easily deserves the number one spot in our countdown.

As I said earlier, whether you shudder at snakes or you like them, their beauty cannot be denied. There are others some feel more beautiful but I think this gives a good cross section of their amazing diversity in appearance. Several are threatened by loss of habitat, thereby threatening other species. However, hopefully we can remember that they are needed in this world to keep the food chain balanced. If for no reason but their beauty I hope you will think twice when you hear of new logging in the Amazon or other areas.

Sumber: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/news-most-beautiful-snakes

kangaroos hopping away

2011-02-28T17:54:00.000-08:00

Danish police have appealed for public help to track down a kangaroo that escaped from its owner's home in Copenhagen.

Two of the fleet-footed native Australian marsupials escaped from their owner's residence in the Copenhagen neighborhood of Amager on Monday.

One found its own way home today but the second remains on the loose, police said.

Auction for the Naming Rights for A New Butterfly Species

2011-02-28T17:53:00.000-08:00

In an apparent first for butterflies, the Florida Museum of Natural History is auctioning the naming rights for a newly discovered species online to raise money for butterfly research.

University of Florida researchers George Austin and Andrew Warren discovered the new species of owl butterfly earlier this year. The discovery is significant because the species is large and colorful, and is the first butterfly from this group to be named in more than 100 years.

Rather than naming the butterfly themselves, the customary practice when new species are discovered, Austin and Warren decided to auction the naming rights of the new species to raise money to support continued research on Mexican butterflies at the McGuire Center.

Arctic Foxes save for lean times

2011-02-28T17:52:00.000-08:00

Arctic foxes create "nest eggs" each year to prepare for leaner times, according to a new study.

Like squirrels gathering nuts for the winter, the small foxes hoard bird eggs in case there's not enough of their favorite prey—the collard lemming—to go around in the spring.

The stored eggs can last for up to a year after being buried, thanks to the Arctic permafrost and natural preservatives inside the eggs.

(via)

A Tribute to Fup. Store Cat.

2011-02-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

Fup, the resident cat at Powell's Technical Books, passed away on October 25. She was 19 years old. She continued to greet her admiring public to the end, when her health failed and there was no choice but to put her to sleep. Her lifelong veterinarian made the trip out to the store to perform the task and Fup died peacefully at home with several of her longtime co-workers present.

Dressing up a doggie? Put pooch's safety first

2011-02-28T17:14:00.000-08:00

About 7 percent of dog owners say they have purchased a Halloween costume for their pet, up from 4 percent in 2004, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

If you're part of that trend, beware of the hazards of costumes for our furry friends.

Some tips:

• Be sure that straps aren't buckled too tightly, because they might constrict air passages and cause choking.

• Make sure the costume lets the animal move comfortably and does not restrict vision or hearing.

• Don't let your pet chew on the costume; it may contain dangerous dyes and other chemicals.

• Make sure no part of the costume is flammable.

• A reflective costume adds to safety after dark.

If you do dress up your dog on Halloween night, don't have him wear the costume for too long. And always keep dogs on a leash, as there are lots of distractions around.

One final warning: Don't let dogs or other animals get close to a candlelit jack-o-lantern.

It could be dangerous for the animal and become a fire hazard.

Dogs in costume

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Photo: AP/Lisa Poole

Cats in Costume

2011-02-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

Photo: AFP/Yoshikazu Tsuno

Ming the clam is 'oldest animal'

2011-02-28T17:06:00.000-08:00

A clam dredged up off the coast of Iceland is thought to have been the longest-lived creature discovered.

Scientists said the mollusc, an ocean quahog clam, was aged between 405 and 410 years and could offer insights into the secrets of longevity.

Researchers from Bangor University in north Wales said they calculated its age by counting rings on its shell.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest-lived animal was an Arctica clam found in 1982 aged 220.

Meet Harry Potter's Animals

2011-02-28T17:05:00.000-08:00

Do you wonder how the scenes involving owls were created and shot for the Harry Potter movies?

This article has some interesting "behind the scenes" information. Animals received royal treatment during filming. In many cases, the animals received better treatment than the human actors – such as the scenes with the cats Mrs. Norris and Professor McGonagall. Many of the scenes take place in a real castle, which was actually quite drafty and cold. For the cats' comfort, they were provided heated floors to keep their paws and their bodies warm. The human actors had no such comforts.

The hellbender

2011-02-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

Which salamanders have four legs, a flat head, a paddle-like tail, beady little eyes and are called names like "snot otter" and "devil dog"?

Also known as Allegheny alligator, mollyhugger, and mud cat, the hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) is North America’s largest salamander, reaching lengths of nearly 30 inches.

These strange, but interesting creatures once thrived in thousands of pristine streams throughout the eastern United States. Populations have drastically declined, mainly because of declining stream quality. Not only has the hellbender population dwindled by 80 per cent in the last 30 years, but those remaining have severe deformities – missing toes, limbs and open sores. There is a 95 per cent chance of extinction of this animal over the next 75 years.

The average age of Cryptobranchus in the wild is unknown, but in captivity, they have lived as long as twenty-nine years.

Hellbenders are not venomous, though their skin secretions are somewhat toxic. They will bite, but only if they are really provoked. A common myth is that hellbenders will 'ruin' good fishing streams by eating all the fish. This couldn't be farther from the truth! In fact, if you see hellbenders in a stream, this is an excellent indication that the water quality is still good -- and this is good for both hellbenders and game fish. The hellbender's voracious appetite for crayfish also means that they are very important for keeping a stream's food chain balanced, and this is good for fish and the entire ecosystem.

Photo #1: Kurt Buhlmann
Photo #2: Jeff Humphries

World's Rarest Cat Species Boosted by Newfound Lynx

2011-02-28T17:00:00.000-08:00

The world's most endangered cat species may be slightly less endangered than previously thought.

A new population of Iberian lynx has been discovered in a remote area of Spain—raising the number of known populations from two to three—a conservation group reports.

The newfound population appears to roam private estates in the Castile la Mancha Province of central Spain, according to the international conservation group WWF.

The two other known populations occupy isolated portions of Andalusia in southern Spain

Understanding Endangered Frog's Diet And Environment May Save It

2011-02-28T16:57:00.000-08:00

A brightly colored tropical frog under threat of extinction is the focus of a new research project hoping to better understand how environment and diet influence its development and behavior.

Biologists from The University of Manchester have teamed up with experts at Chester Zoo in the hope that their findings will not only help save the splendid leaf frog Cruziohyla calcarifer from extinction in the wild but provide clues as to how it can be better catered for in zoos and aquariums.

Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary

2011-02-24T15:15:00.001-08:00

The Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Montana rescues and shelters disabled animals. Every animal who arrives at the sanctuary gets another chance to have a safe and loving home. Residents include blind dogs, blind horses, deaf dogs, blind cats, and others with medical issues like muscular dystrophy.

Although these animals may have disabilities, they do not consider themselves handicapped. They just want to get on with life and enjoy themselves. Thanks to the support of the sanctuary's friends, that's what they get to do there.

Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)

2011-02-24T15:13:00.000-08:00

A captive Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA. This critically endangered subspecies of the Gray Wolf once ranged from central Mexico to the Southwestern United States. In 1980, the last five known surviving members were captured to save the species. Now, over 300 wolves are taking part in a wolf reintroduction program, with at least fifty individuals in the wild.

Photo credit: Jim Clark, USFWS

Woman Wants Service Horse As Roommate

2011-02-24T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Central Vermont Community Land Trust usually has no objection to a service animal moving into its apartments.

But Patty Cooper's service animal is a horse of a different color: a black and white miniature horse, to be exact.

The nonprofit housing group is trying to figure out whether it can accommodate the disabled woman's new companion amid concerns about the horse's need for grazing space and whether it will be adequately housebroken.

Rare Blue Lobster Caught Off Mass. Coast

2011-02-24T15:11:00.000-08:00

A blue lobster, so rare that only one in two million have the color, has been trapped off the Massachusetts coast.

The lobster, nicknamed Betty Blue, was found in a trap off Minot's Light, one mile offshore of Scituate, Mass.

The lobster is so blue that "she glowed in the trap," said Eddie Figueiredo, who trapped the pound-and-a-quarter lobster.

Beautiful White Lion

2011-02-24T15:10:00.000-08:00

The Latin name of Panthera leo krugeri is not limited to white lions. It applies to all South African lion subspecies; the prides of which are mostly located in Kruger National Park and nearby game reserves.

White lions are not albino as they have pigmentation which shows particularly in eye, paw pad and lip colour. The correct term for their condition is leucism, a state where there is near-normal eye colour, but loss of pigment in the skin and fur.

The cause of the unusual colouration is the same as for the white tiger. A recessive gene which results in the white appearance is found in a very small number of captive lions.

White specimens usually have a yellowish-brown or golden eye color which is very similar to their tawny cousins, though some have bluish coloring like the white tiger

The Feline Solarium

2011-02-24T15:08:00.000-08:00

Great for small dogs, pet birds, and free roaming lizards!
Makes a great addition as an inside garden spot for plants and seedlings.

Give your cat "the outdoor experience" within the safety of your home.

If you have a cat and a window you will enjoy The Feline Solarium. Cats naturally enjoy the outdoors and love to sleep in warm sunlight. You will make your best friend so happy!

Rare leatherback sea turtles hatch in Walton, FL

2011-02-24T15:07:00.000-08:00

Walton County’s fi rst-ever documented leatherback sea turtle nest has hatched, and 23 babies have made their way safely to the Gulf of Mexico.

After 79 days of close watch by the South Walton Turtle Watch Group, Walton County’s sea turtle nest No. 12, located in Seagrove just west of Seagrove Villas, came to life Oct. 6 following the day’s heavy rain.

At 9:15 p.m., Turtle Watch Volunteer Joe Burton checked on the nest and found a tiny flipper coming out of the sand. After making several phone calls, Burton, fellow volunteer Sharon Maxwell, and 23 other spectators crowded around the nest as the baby sea turtles slowly emerged and crawled into the water.

“A truly awesome sight,” Maxwell said.

Squirrel Foster Mom

2011-02-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Photo: Karen T. Borchers / Mercury News

Mary Nacey, of San Carlos Peninsula Humane Society, is the "squirrel whisperer."

Nancey is the one the shelter's Wildlife Care Center entrusts with its most fragile rescues: baby squirrels. She gives them the mothering they need to survive and then knows when to pull away so they can be the wild creatures they were meant to be.

"Unfortunately, orphaned, sick and injured wild animals don't always make it," said Scott Delucchi, spokesman for the humane society.

"Mary's very caring and is good about giving the animals TLC, but she is also good about setting boundaries and understanding when and how to let go.

A bizarre breed of guinea pig

2011-02-24T15:04:00.000-08:00

A bizarre breed of guinea pig that was created for laboratory testing more than 30 years ago has become the latest designer pet.

The skinny-pig has no hair on its body except for tufts on its face and feet - so needs strong suncream in the summer and a jumper in winter.

What do you think,

On second thought, I'll hold it.. snake story

2011-02-24T15:02:00.000-08:00

A 38-year-old Brooklyn woman got quite a surprise when she used her bathroom Monday morning.

The New York Daily News is reporting that Nadege Brunacci was washing her hands when she glanced at the toilet and saw a 7-foot python staring back at her

Fish in trees, unbelieveble

2011-02-24T15:01:00.000-08:00

Scientists have discovered that the mangrove killifish spends several months of every year out of the water and living inside trees.

Hidden away inside rotten branches and trunks, the remarkable creatures temporarily alter their biological makeup so they can breathe air.

Biologists studying the killifish say they astonished it can cope for so long out of its natural habitat.

The discovery, along with its ability to breed without a mate, must make the mangrove killifish, Rivulus marmoratus Poey, one of the oddest fish known to man.

Around two inches long, they normally live in muddy pools and the flooded burrows of crabs in the mangrove swamps of Florida, Latin American and Caribbean

Turtle Tipping Tricks Revealed, its amazing

2011-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

With a flat shell, the Argentine snake-necked turtle (Hydromedusa tectifera) often rights itself by pressing its head against the ground with its muscular neck, levering itself onto its belly. Credit: Gaabor Domokos.

For turtles, lying belly-up is a helpless, life-threatening situation.

Now it appears many turtles evolved shells with unique shapes to easily help them flip back onto their bellies if they find themselves on their backs.

"Before starting this project, I always thought animals such as turtles worked hard to right themselves, and what this showed was this need not be the case—they can just have a good shape for their shell that does most of the work," applied mathematician Peter Varkonyi at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics in Hungary told LiveScience

The sweetest monkey you will ever see

2011-02-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

"Straight into the heart.." uploaded by hvhe1

Knut Learns to Stand On Hind Legs Without Falling Over

2011-02-21T14:26:00.000-08:00

Berlin's most famous resident, Knut the polar bear cub, has finally taught himself to stand on his two hind legs after practicing hard for months.

"He started standing up this month. It's a sign that he's getting increasing control of his body," said Heiner Klös,the zoo's expert on bears.

Cute Mini Pigs

2011-02-21T14:25:00.000-08:00

The mini pigs weigh less than a fifth of an ordinary pig when fully grown.

Photo: © Pennywell Farm

Possum breaks record with year-long snooze

2011-02-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

A possum has set an enviable record for doing absolutely nothing. After stuffing itself full of food in a laboratory, one curled up and hibernated for a record 367 days.

There ARE some days when I think I could beat this!

South American hummingbird visits Wisconsin home

2011-02-21T14:22:00.000-08:00

Bird experts say sightings of the green-breasted mango inside the United States are rare, making the one in Joan Salzberg's yard on a recent warm October morning that much more unusual.

"Birds from the Yucatan aren't supposed to be in southwestern Wisconsin," said Donnie Dann, a bird conservation expert from Highland Park who recently made the approximately 90-mile trek to see the iridescent green animal. "But that's one of the wonderful things about birds. They fly, and sometimes they act in a bizarre and unexpected way."

Duck Diapers

2011-02-21T14:21:00.000-08:00

Wow! I didn't know this:

Diapering your duck, goose or chicken is the first step to enjoying the rewarding experience of living with one of these amazing creatures. It not only keeps your house clean, it gives your little feathered kid the freedom to go where you go and do what you do!

Hero Cat!

2011-02-21T14:19:00.000-08:00

Ramses was awarded a Medal of Courage by the Governor of Texas for scaring off a wandering tiger which was heading toward 65-year-old Emma Betts, Ramses' owner.

During a coffee break from filming a commercial, an animal handler led Sasha, a trained Siberian tiger, into her makeshift holding pen. But the handler forgot to fasten the gate and Sasha sneaked out of the cage — and out of the room — undetected.

The 400-pound tiger made her way down a stairwell and dashed out the front doors of the office building as a Fed-Ex man was coming in. The unexpected noise and commotion of downtown Austin caught the cat off guard, and she quickly became spooked and defensive.

Emma Betts was walking down the sidewalk with her cat Ramses when without regard for his own safety, Ramses leaped from his owner’s arms and ran straight for the tiger.

The two felines squared off amid shocked onlookers, and for some time just stared at one another.

Then the tiger roared at the tiny cat and took a swipe with its paw, just missing the quick-moving Ramses. It was a moment when most cats in their right minds would have turned tail and ran. But not Ramses … not on this day.

The 10-pound hairless cat drew himself up and “roared” back with all he was worth, baring his teeth while hissing and growling.

Much to the dismay of everyone present, Sasha the 400-pound Siberian tiger turned and ran in the other direction — back into the building she had just escaped.

Windy City Dog Walkers

2011-02-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

Serving Chicagoland's pet community for over five years. Windy City Dog Walkers, Inc. offers daily dog walks, cat care, and pet sitting with the highest level of customer service and personal attention in the industry. They are available 365 days a year, any time of day, and offer a variety of services to meet your pet care needs.

This is one of the Chicago area's most trusted dog walking and cat care service. They are licensed, bonded and insured. You get the same walker everyday.

Cerberus in real live

2011-02-21T00:34:00.001-08:00

In Greek mythology, Cerberus is the three-headed watchdog who guards the entrance to the lower world, Hades.

Originally, the dog was portrayed having fifty or hundred heads but was later pictured with only three heads.

Cerberus permitted new spirits to enter the realm of dead, but allowed none of them to leave. Only a few ever managed to sneak past the creature, among which Orpheus, who lulled it to sleep by playing his lyre, and Heracles, who brought it to the land of the living for a while (being the last of his Twelve Labors).

Great news for mythology aficionados: Cerberus lives!

found at The J-Walk Blog

found at You Can't Make it Up

Cute Baby Mangabey Monkey

2011-02-21T00:32:00.000-08:00

A rare, red-capped mangabey monkey has been born at the Denver Zoo, one of only 27 living in North American zoos.

The birth of the monkey, named Kanzu, on Sept. 30, brings Denver's mangabey troop to six. Zookeepers haven't yet determined the monkey's gender.

They named it Kanzu, a Swahili word for treasure.

Oh sure, blame it on the cat!

2011-02-21T00:31:00.000-08:00

In Greenville, Maine, Thumper, black Labrador retriever, is getting credit for saving a Greenville man when a fire swept through his home.

Roland Cote said his wife and their 7-year-old grandson were away when the blaze started early Sunday in a converted two-story garage. He said Thumper grabbed him by the arm to wake him, leaving just enough time for him to dial 911 before fleeing the fast-moving fire.

While the dog is the hero, a cat is the bad guy in this story.

Cote said the fire marshal investigator believes the blaze was started when Princess, the family cat, tipped over a kerosene lantern. Cote says he and his pets escaped safely, but he says Princess did get her tail singed by the flames

Why did 3,000 chickens cross the road?

2011-02-21T00:29:00.000-08:00

Because a transport truck crashed on a busy road near Glasgow.

The A80 heading towards Glasgow was shut for more than eight hours as the birds were rounded up by a specialist team drafted in by police.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

2011-02-21T00:26:00.000-08:00

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established in 1936 to preserve the 438,000 acre Okefenokee Swamp. Presently, the refuge encompasses approximately 402,000 acres. In 1974, to further ensure the protection of this unique ecosystem, the interior 353,981 acres of the refuge were designated a National Wilderness Area.

The swamp remains one of the oldest and most well preserved freshwater areas in America and extends 38 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west.

Okefenokee is a vast bog inside a huge, saucer-shaped depression that was once part of the ocean floor. The swamp now lies 103 to 128 feet above mean sea level. Native Americans named the area "Okefenokee" meaning "Land of the Trembling Earth". Peat deposits, up to 15 feet thick, cover much of the swamp floor. These deposits are so unstable in spots that trees and surrounding bushes tremble by stomping the surface

the only cold blooded mammal

2011-02-21T00:23:00.000-08:00

Afarensis defends the much maligned naked mole rats.

It's about time someone protests their continuously being labeled as ugly!

Not only are naked mole rats cute, but they are also quite amazing:

* They are not naked, they are not moles, and they are not rats - the naked mole rat is the only cold blooded mammal.

* Naked mole rats have the highest incest rate of all animals. A colony shows 80% genetic resemblance (in comparison: human siblings only show 50% resemblance).

* Unlike humans and most other mammals, nursing naked mole rats often have many more pups than mammary glands. Breeding female mole rats have an average of 12 mammae but can have as many as 28 pups at a time. Brookfield Zoo's original queen came to the zoo 1989, bore 45 litters in the course of her life, and produced more than 580 naked mole-rat pups!

* Naked mole rats are the only known mammals that operate a hive system, in the way that insects do, with one queen who does all the breeding and lots of workers who have no children of their own.

* Vicious fights-to-the-death periodically occur among mole rat females that are vying to become the colony's only breeding female, or "queen."

* Naked mole rats in the lab have reached up to 28 years of age.

* A mole rat's teeth grow from above and outside of its lips, allowing it to use its teeth for tunneling without getting its mouth full of soil. The animal can move its front teeth independently, spreading them apart and moving them together, like a pair of chopsticks.

* The teeth will grow 10 inches in one year, but by gnawing on hard things, they keep their teeth from getting too long. When naked mole rats are kept in captivity they are usually given a block of concrete to chew on.

* Naked mole rats in nature kidnap pups from other colonies and bring them back to serve as workers in their own tunnels; naked mole rats will invade neighboring colonies and fight for hostile takeover; and when naked mole rats disperse, or leave the colony to found a new one, they have often been found up to a mile away.

* Naked mole rats can run just as fast backwards as forwards.

* Naked mole rats produce at least 18 vocalizations — more than any other rodent.

Here's a video from the Oregon Zoo.

Photo #1: "Eatin Celery" uploaded by knittingskwerlgurl

Photo #2: National Geographic

The dog and the polar bear amazing photo

2011-02-21T00:21:00.000-08:00

On a late October day on the Canadian tundra next to a gray, cold, but unfrozen Hudson Bay near tiny Churchill, Manitoba, a pack of large Husky dogs, the pride of hunter-trapper Brian LaDoon were comfortably lounging on a fresh bed of snow, each tethered by a long chain. Norbert Rosing, a naturalist and photographer was setting up his equipment to capture the scene.

A wild polar bear is approaching the Husky who is signaling an invitation to play.

Amazing photos:

mouse Playing with food

2011-02-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

Frog Cufflinks

2011-02-21T00:18:00.000-08:00

Frog Cufflinks

Rhodium plated metal cufflinks accented with green Swarovski crystal eyes. One piece fixed backing with a green fiber optic glass ball. Approximately 3/4in w x 5/8in h. Made in England. By Tattossian

Pets marry on World Animal Day

2011-02-21T00:17:00.000-08:00

A canary, a goldfish, a guinea pig, a handful of cats and more than two dozen dogs received blessings from a Catholic priest in church to mark World Animal Day.

In a ceremony that was sometimes touching and often comical, Rev. Pierre Valkering led his congregation in songs and prayers - frequently interrupted by meowing and yapping from the pews - before the blessing took place.

St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals on whose feast day World Animal Day is held, was the inspiration for the Oct. 4 service - a seven-year-old tradition in Amsterdam

The water baby: pictures that capture the birth of a dolphin

2011-02-21T00:14:00.000-08:00

It is one of the rarest and most magical sights in the natural world.

A bottlenose dolphin goes into labor . . . then a calf emerges, tail first. Mother guides baby gently to the surface, where they swim together for the first time.

Very few dolphin births have been captured on film in such astonishing detail

Cat Nip Toys for Scaredy Cats

2011-02-21T00:12:00.000-08:00

6 silly egg-shaped cat toys your cat will love to bat and swat.
Lightweight foam bodies sail erratically when batted. Feature glued-on, amusing faces in assorted colors. Roly-poly bat and swat toys in amusing Halloween characters. Lightweight foam bodies have glued-on silly facial details.

Cute Baby black-and-rufous giant elephant shrew

2011-02-18T13:16:00.000-08:00

A pair of rather unusual siblings has just gone display at the Denver Zoo; they are black-and-rufous giant elephant shrews.

The Denver Zoos is one of only seven zoos in North America with this species and now zookeepers have successfully had raised a pair of pups named Potter and Weasley.

The brothers were born on Aug. 28. When they are fully grown each will weigh a little more than a pound and be a bit more than eight inches long with an eight inch tail.

Jealous peacock attacks blue cars

2011-02-18T13:15:00.000-08:00

Like any male defending his patch, Ron does his best to banish potential love rivals.

Unfortunately, this fellow's a little confused about who his competitors are.

Ron, a peacock, has begun attacking any bright blue cars which drive into his territory at a stately home.

In his latest assault, on a blue Lexus, he scratched and dented every panel - causing £4,000 worth of damage.

Ron's owner, Sir Benjamin Slade, said: "He doesn't seem to be bothered by other birds, but the peacock-blue cars just drive him wild.

"He suddenly becomes aggressive and can't control himself."

Ron lives with 12 other peacocks on the baronet's 13th century Maunsel House estate in North Newton, Somerset.

A Gallery of Beautiful Tiny Things

2011-02-18T13:14:00.000-08:00

Since 1974, Nikon has sponsored a yearly photo competition for images that delve into the worlds beyond the reach of the unaided human eye. The camera maker feted the photographers who made the top 20 "photomicrographs" in Nikon's annual Small World competition at New York's Explorer's Club. The winners were drawn from a pool of 1,709 submissions.

The $3,000 first prize in Nikon's 2007 Small World competition goes to Gloria Kwon of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute in New York. Kwon's composite image of a mouse embryo, captured in both visible and ultraviolet light, reveals the inherent biochemical differences between the embryo (fluorescent red) and its yolk sac (highlighter green)

7 Unusual Military Animals

2011-02-18T13:11:00.000-08:00

Humans, employing animals in their warfare ...

The earliest examples of cats being used in warfare dates back to the Ancient Egypt during a war against Persia. The Persians, fully aware of the reverence that Egyptians paid to their felines, rounded up as many cats as they could find and set them loose on the battlefield. When the Egyptians were faced with either harming the cats or surrendering, they chose the latter.

The Monkey Buffet

2011-02-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Every year, in Lopburi province, Thailand, all of the province's approximately 600 monkeys are invited to eat fruits and vegetables during an annual feast held in honor of Rama, a hero of the Ramayana, who, it is said, rewarded his friend and ally, Hanuman the Monkey King, with the fiefdom of what is now Lopburi.

Lawyer for the dog

2011-02-18T13:06:00.000-08:00

A decade ago, the idea that a divorce would involve "custody" of a pet, much less that the decision would factor in the pet's own predilections, would have been dismissed by most lawyers as absurd. Pets were property, and not very valuable property at that, to be balanced against all of the other stuff that is split up in a divorce - nobody, after all, talks about joint custody of an armoire.

But recent years have seen an intensifying effort on the part of animal rights activists, legislators, prosecutors, and legal scholars to change the way the law treats animals.

The result has been the beginning of a qualitative shift - not merely the stiffening of animal cruelty laws, though in most states that has happened, but changes that are turning animals into legal beings with their own interests, and, in a few cases, their own enforceable preferences.

The field of animal law is growing. Nearly half of the 190 accredited law schools in the United States now offer animal law courses, up from a handful 10 years ago, and around 100 now have chapters of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund. A rising number of lawyers are dedicating themselves, in whole or in part, to the practice, and the American Bar Association and 13 state bar associations now have animal law committees

Hideout

2011-02-18T13:05:00.000-08:00

World Animal Day - October 4

2011-02-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

World Animal Day takes place every year on 4 October. Animal welfare groups, sanctuaries and individuals throughout the world hold special events to heighten public awareness of animal issues and to encourage people to think about how we as humans relate to animals.

World Animal Day was founded at an ecologist's convention in Florence, Italy in 1931 as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. October 4th was chosen as World Animal Day because it is also the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic Church holiday which is often celebrated with an annual "blessing of the pets". Since then, it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal life and has been widely celebrated around the world. Churches and synagogues in many faiths traditions have adopted "Pet Blessing Day" or "World Animal Day" in increasing numbers every year.

Be part of something special and find out how you can get involved in World Animal Day 2011

Halloween Costumes for Pets

2011-02-18T13:00:00.000-08:00

Looking for inspiration to dress your pet for Halloween?

i-pets.com has posted the latest and greatest in pet costumes for:

Cat Costumes for Halloween:

Dog Costumes for Halloween:

Halloween costumes for other pets:

Mites may be to blame for mystery bug bites in Illinois

2011-02-17T22:24:00.002-08:00

Chicago officials say that an itch mite may be responsible for an outbreak of itchy, raised red bumps. The symptoms sent approximately 100 people to Chicago-area emergency rooms in the last week, according to the state Illinois Health Department.

The mites are tiny, measuring only 0.2 millimeters. In August 2004, an estimated 54% of the population of Crawford County, Kansas was thought to have suffered from its bites. The mites have been found from Illinois to Texas.

You can't see them with the naked eye. And you won't feel them biting. But, 10 to 16 hours later, your back, neck, shoulders and arms may be filled with itchy red welts.

"Peaches" is a good bird, they swear!!

2011-02-17T22:24:00.001-08:00

The keepers at Black Pine Animal Park
state that contrary to what has been widely reported, Peaches does not possess a vocabulary full of swear words, nor does she curse on a regular basis! Visitors and their families do not need to cover their ears in fear of improper language.

But what about Coby, the poo-throwing chimp? Can he be trusted?

Monkey Suicide

2011-02-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

Monkey Suicide asks the question “How many times can 1 monkey die?”

So far, 205 monkeys have met their doom in all kinds of sticky situations.

Beheaded snake sends man to hospital

2011-02-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

Turns out, even beheaded rattlesnakes can be dangerous. That's what 53-year-old Danny Anderson learned as he was feeding his horses Monday night, when a 5-foot rattler slithered onto his central Washington property, about 50 miles southeast of Yakima.

Anderson and his 27-year-old son, Benjamin, pinned the snake with an irrigation pipe and cut off its head with a shovel. A few more strikes to the head left it sitting under a pickup truck.

"When I reached down to pick up the head, it raised around and did a backflip almost, and bit my finger," Anderson said. "I had to shake my hand real hard to get it to let loose."

the 2-legged dog

2011-02-17T22:18:00.002-08:00

Sugar is a 2-legged miracle dog, who was found as a puppy in Taiwan more dead than alive. She overcame abuse, pneumonia, a badly broken leg, an unsuitable adoption family, brain damage and ensuing paralysis from being left on a rooftop without any shade. The organization Animals Taiwan rescued Sugar, gave her a wheelchair, and just found her a new family. After all she's been through Sugar has nothing but love to give.

Woman kills raccoon with her bare hands

2011-02-17T22:18:00.001-08:00

A woman killed a raccoon with her bare hands Thursday when the animal attacked a young boy. Officials with Cheshire, Connecticut, animal control say the woman was walking in the woods around 11 a.m. with a group of children when the animal bit the 5-year-old son of a friend.

She pulled the raccoon off the child, told the children to run home and strangled the animal, authorities said.

"She had the presence of mind to choke it," animal control officer April Leiler told the Record-Journal of Meriden. "She is one tough lady."

How much is that Tibetan doggy in the window?

2011-02-17T22:15:00.000-08:00

The latest "it dog" is no tiny purse filler, it's the Tibetan mastiff.

The dogs are so popular among China's elite that a perfect specimen can sell for over $500,000. The large dogs were domesticated in the mountains of Tibet 6,000 years ago and are considered to be the oldest, biggest and fiercest domestic dog.

The mastiff may not only be the most expensive dog in the world, but also among the rarest, with only 100 pure-bred animals believed to exist.

Angry beavers frighten bathers

2011-02-17T22:14:00.000-08:00

Angry beavers have managed to successfully scare off the locals after taking over a bathing area in Lindesberg in central Sweden.

A mother and her two children could only look on in horror as a beaver went on the attack, biting the children's grandmother until she bled. The older woman was also struck by the beaver's tail and was left needing hospital treatment, Nerikes Allehanda reports.

There have previously also been reports of a beaver attacking a child on the same stretch of water.

"If you're in the water and see a beaver you should watch out. In the water they see you as their enemy and will attack," said Leif Linder, who is responsible for curbing the beaver population in the area.

130 Cats in One Flat room

2011-02-17T22:13:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine about 130 cats in a one small Moscow flat?

The flat’s owner says, that she loves homeless pets and simply wants to help them.

Passenger 'hide monkey under hat'

2011-02-17T22:12:00.000-08:00

A man has been questioned by police at LaGuardia airport in New York after smuggling a monkey onto a flight from Florida by hiding it under his hat.

Passengers spotted the animal when it climbed out and perched on the man's ponytail, Spirit Airlines spokeswoman Alison Russell told reporters.

Ms Russell said the monkey - a marmoset - spent the remainder of the flight in the man's seat and was well-behaved.

fat cats falling victim to diabetes

2011-02-17T22:06:00.000-08:00

Vets have found that cats are imitating their owners' couch potato lifestyle.

As a result of eating more and exercising less, more than a third of cats are overweight and the number of cases of feline diabetes has risen five-fold in 30 years.

Edinburgh University researchers estimate that one in 230 - or up to 400,000 pet cats - is diabetic.

Cats are not the only pets to be losing the battle of the bulge. A quarter of dogs are clinically obese and overweight rabbits and even hamsters are also a common sight in vets' surgeries.

Two-headed turtle goes on display

2011-02-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

A two-headed turtle captured by a turtle collector is a rare example of a conjoined-twin birth, its owner said.

The turtle would have likely died in the wild because it swims awkwardly and would be an easy target for predators, according to Jay Jacoby, manager of Big Al's Aquarium Supercenter in East Norriton.

The store bought the tiny turtle from the collector for an undisclosed price and will keep it on display, he said.

MonKEYS cute

2011-02-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

MonKEYS are stretchable durable covers that fit over almost any shape key, adding a playful touch to a normally ho-hum object.

You can even give 'em names. These are Cheeky, Che, Kong, Darwin, Spank, and Bob.

The eglu for rabbits

2011-02-16T14:53:00.000-08:00

The eglu for rabbits

The eglu has a front door which opens using the handle on the top. This handle also locks the door so when your rabbits are in the run you can clean the eglu, without the chance of them escaping! When your rabbits are in the eglu, you can close the door and then pick them up or stroke them using the side hatch.

Oh, that's just too funny!

2011-02-16T14:51:00.000-08:00

Source: wftv.com
Photo credit: Karen Holland

Camouflaged Animals

2011-02-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

Some animals have to blend in with their natural environment in order to not get eaten by other animals.

More at: Very Bored

Dogs & Aviation Security

2011-02-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program is an important tool used to deter terrorism in aviation today. Their teams are the most mobile form of explosive detection and can be utilized in all areas of the airport environment. An explosive detection canine team is used to search narrow and wide-body aircraft, vehicles, terminals, warehouses, and luggage in the airport environment.

Dogs are looking for a variety of explosive odors that they have been trained to detect. Once the dog identifies the explosive odor, it responds accordingly. Recent scientific studies have indicated that the dog actually uses a "bouquet" of several different components of the explosive to make this determination.

TSA dogs have been utilized to clear sports arenas, schools, office buildings as well as all areas of the airport environment. Once again the bomb dog's mobility and ability to identify the source of an explosive odor are critical elements in its operational use.

Armor for Dogs! dogs knight

2011-02-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

Organic Armor creates handmade costume pieces, jewelry and props that look like ancient metal, bone and leather. But unlike the real thing - you'll find the pieces lightweight and comfortable. Wear them for hours through active movement - especially suited to performance. Wear it to clubs, rituals, festivals, on stage, or in the backyard!

They also make armor for dogs.

Lifestyles Of The Pets Of The Rich And Famous

2011-02-16T14:46:00.000-08:00

When it was disclosed that Leona Helmsley had made her pet Maltese Trouble her biggest heir, leaving a $12 million trust fund for her pet, Forbes.com researched the spending habits of the very rich and their pets.

According to Russ Alan Prince, of Prince & Associates, who tracks the habits of the rich, wealthy people who love to lavish money on their pets spend $328,000 on their pets annually.

"Life enrichment" services for pets is the biggest spending category and includes stuff like deep-muscle massage, psychic readings, life coaching and "cosmic sensitivity," a sort of astrology. More than one-third of pet-obsessed owners spend in this category.

Special diets and meals prepared by celebrity chefs are also popular.

More than one quarter pet-focused owners spend more than $25,000 on their beloved pet's wardrobe.

If you thought child birthday parties were getting out of hand, imagine what it would be like to attend a $25,000 party for a pet. Sixteen percent of pet-focused owners in a recent survey are guilty of this.

More than 12% of pet-obsessed people send their lovies to a psychologist.

Six percent of pets fly around in private aircraft unescorted except for the flight crew, mostly being transported to their owner's vacation spot after their owner missed them too much.

57% of pet-focused owners had formal arrangements in place in the event they died before their pets, and 27% of them had a trust set up for their pet, to the tune of $526,000. Ninety percent of those trust arrangements distribute remaining funds to family once the pet dies.

Pet trusts aren't as crazy as they sound. Thirty-nine states, including New York, allow them, but restrict their durations. In N.Y., the term is 21 years.

Alpacas on guard

2011-02-16T14:45:00.000-08:00

A Cornish egg farm has recruited two Peruvian alpacas to act as security guards for their hens.

The animals, named William and Harry, keep predators away from speciality egg producer Clarence Court's hens near Camborne.

Rare albino ratfish caught in Washington

2011-02-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

A ghostly, mutant ratfish caught off Whidbey Island in Washington state is the only completely albino fish ever seen by both the curator of the University of Washington's 7.2 million-specimen fish collection and a fish and wildlife biologist with more than 20 years of sampling fish in Puget Sound.

This fish was almost pure white with a crystalline layer near the surface of its skin that gave it a silvery sheen.

The foot-long female may have been 2 or 3 years old, making her a teenager in the ratfish world. She was caught this summer in about 200 feet of water during a UW research project examining the food web in Hood Canal and Puget Sound.

Bugs can be cute

2011-02-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

This is a Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar. Isn't he cute?

They are bright green with numerous blue spots with thin black outlines. Their eyespots are much bigger, with the black part being kind of shiny. They also have two other secondary fake eye spots that are yellow. The bottom half of their bodies are a sort of pinkish color. Viewed from certain angles they look like a small snake, to help scare off predators.

Here's a view of his cute little face.

Before they pupate, Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillars turn a bright yellow color.

This is what the cute little catterpillar grows up to become:

Spicebush Swallowtail - Papilio troilus

The adults have a wingspan of 2.5 - 3.8 inches. Their range is most of the eastern half of the US, except extreme south Florida and Texas.

Source & photos: Butterfly Gardening & Conservation

The world's wildest delicacies

2011-02-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Joe Staton, formerly of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard, spent an unhealthily long time studying whether everything really does taste of chicken. He concluded that taste is, in large part, to do with the evolutionary origin of an animal. So, birds all taste like chicken, and so does crocodile, since dinosaurs were the ancestors of birds too. But why do tarantulas taste like chicken? And is fugu worth the risk?

Here are seven of the world’s more exotic delicacies, what they actually taste like – and where you can try, or avoid, them.

Rare white koala

2011-02-16T14:40:00.000-08:00

This koala is incredibly rare because although he has white fur instead of the usual grey/brown, he has the normal black eyes and nose.

The creature, nicknamed Mick, was found blind and suffering from a variety of illnesses by a forest ranger and taken to the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, north of Sydney.

He was immediately given round-the-clock security protection in case anyone tried to steal him and sell him to a collector for his novelty value.

After an operation on his eyes, he was put on antibiotics and gradually returned to full health.

Mick has just been released back into the Bush after months of treatment - although his precise location remains a secret.

Bees smother enemies to death

2011-02-16T14:39:00.000-08:00

Honey bees can smother their enemies to death by swarming them, researchers report.

The discovery means that bees have three ways of dispatching their enemies: by stinging, which for a bee means suicide; by raising the other creature's body temperature, or thermo-balling; and by asphyxiation.

Transparent Frogs

2011-02-16T14:37:00.000-08:00

A research team led by professor Masayuki Sumida at Hiroshima University’s Institute for Amphibian Biology has created a type of transparent frog whose internal organs are visible through its skin. The researchers say the see-through frogs can help in the study of diseases and in the development of medical treatments by allowing laboratory scientists to check the status of internal organs and blood vessels while the frogs are alive and without having to dissect them.

Cute and cuddly baby panda

2011-02-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

This seven-week-old panda cub has become one of San Diego Zoo's most famous babes, though she is yet to be named.

In accordance with Chinese tradition, she will have to wait until November, when she is 100 days old, to receive her name.

San Diego Zoo's giant panda breeding project has been one of the most successful in the world. The zoo has the largest population of giant pandas outside China.

Giant pandas are one of the world's most endangered species, with only about 2000 living in the wild.