Tag: Animals

Famous spider monkeys of Historic Monkey Island make grand return home
HOMOSASSA, Fla. — A few big tourist attractions have made their grand return to Citrus County. The monkeys of Historic Monkey Island are finally home after recent renovations.
What You Need To Know

The famous spider monkeys of Historic Monkey Island have returned to their island

Renovations were being made to the monkey’s home, including air conditioning, heating and perimeter polls to prevent unauthorized guests from getting too close

Those with Historic Monkey Island will be holding a special fundraiser Thursday night, with funds helping maintain the island and the monkeys
Hundreds — if not thousands — of visitors gather to catch a glimpse of the little celebrities on the island along the Homosassa River each year. It’s an attraction that is helping the local economy.

“They’ve settled in nicely and they seem to be enjoying it, almost like they never left,” says Blake Lowman, caretaker at the Florida Cracker Riverside Resort.

Historic Monkey Island is probably known by no one better than Blake Lowman, who works not only at the resort but is also the island’s caretaker.

“The community just absolutely loves and adores this island. It’s a piece of history here,” he said. “People have grown up with it. It was here before I was born, and it’s just cool to be a part of that legacy and keep it going forward for future generations.”

The island’s long-term guests — known as Ralph, Emily and Ebony — were moved so that renovations could be made to their home.

“Basically, the whole island got redone,” said Lowman. “The biggest thing is these perimeter polls here to keep unauthorized, unwanted boaters and kayakers out from getting too close.”

And just like most Floridians, they now have air conditioning. A requirement, Lowman says, by the USDA and FWC.

“The A/C has to come on if it’s above 85 degrees for a consecutive of four hours and vice versa on the heat,” said Lowman. “If the temperature drops below 45 for a consecutive of four hours, the heat has to be turned on and that is a requirement.”

It took some time to finish, but an improvement that was mandatory for the island’s longevity.

“Tourism, now, is a huge draw basically because of the location,” Lowman says. “Having the springs, having the river, easy access to the gulf is really a fishing destination and starting to pick up on the tourism side of it.”

Ensuring future generations can enjoy the island, too.

Those with Historic Monkey Island will be holding a special fundraiser Thursday night. Funds will help maintain the island and the monkeys — including food and upkeep.
Calvin Lewis

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April 10, 2024
Wild animals and domesticated pets making the world howl with laughter! (52 Photos)

Bob

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April 10, 2024
How Will the Solar Eclipse Affect Animals? NASA Needs Your Help to Find Out

In other anecdotes, onlookers have reported birds that stop singing, crickets that stopped chirping, or bees that return to their hive, reduce their foraging, or suspend their flight during total darkness. But there are also studies that deny that some of these behaviors occur or can be attributed to the eclipse.

Therefore, NASA scientists plan not only to systematize observations but also to document what people hear and see under the shadow of the moon.

“The Great North American Eclipse”

NASA has created the Eclipse Soundscapes citizen science project to collect the experiences of volunteers. It was inspired by a study conducted nearly 100 years ago by William M. Wheeler and a team of collaborators. At that time, the Boston Natural History Society invited citizens, park rangers, and naturalists to report on the activities of birds, mammals, insects, reptiles, and fish during the summer eclipse of 1932. They collected nearly 500 reports. In their final report they note that some animals exhibited nocturnal behaviors such as returning to their nests and hives or making nighttime vocalizations.

The current NASA study will add observations made during the annular solar eclipse of October 14, 2023 and the total solar eclipse of April 8. The latter will be visible first in Mexico in Mazatlan, then in Nazas, Torreon, Monclova, and Piedras Negras. These localities will be located directly in the umbra of the eclipse and, therefore, their inhabitants will perceive it as total. In nearby regions it will be experienced as a partial eclipse, with less darkness. It will then enter the United States through Texas, passing through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Finally, it will travel across Canada from southern Ontario and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. Astronomical estimates point to the Mexican port of Mazatlan as the best place to observe the 2024 event, which will experience totality at about 11:07 am local time.

A sparrow experiencing a partial solar eclipse in Jize Country, Hebei Province, China, June 21, 2020.Future Publishing/Getty Images

How You Can Help

In the United States, 30 million people live in the area where the eclipse will be perceived as total. If you add in the Mexican and Canadian public, the potential for collecting experiences is immense. That’s what NASA wants to take advantage of.

The project foresees several levels of volunteering: apprentice, observer, data collector, data analyst, and facilitator.

Geraldine Castro

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April 6, 2024
He Got a Pig Kidney Transplant. Now Doctors Need to Keep It Working

Other than rejection of the organ, one of the most common transplant complications is infection. Doctors have to strike a balance when prescribing immunosuppressive drugs: too low a dose can lead to rejection, while too much can make a patient vulnerable to infection. Immunosuppressants are powerful drugs that can cause a range of side effects, including fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

Despite the deaths of the two pig heart recipients, Riella is optimistic about Slayman’s transplant. For one, he says, Slayman was relatively healthy when he underwent the surgery. He qualified for a human kidney but because of his rare blood type he would likely need to wait six to seven years to get one. The two individuals who received pig heart transplants were so ill that they didn’t qualify for a human organ.

In addition to close monitoring and traditional immunosuppressants, Slayman’s medical team is treating him with an experimental drug called tegoprubart, developed by Eledon Pharmaceuticals of Irvine, California. Given every three weeks via an IV, tegoprubart blocks crosstalk between two key immune cells in the body, T cells and B cells, which helps suppress the immune response against the donor organ. The drug has been used in monkeys that have received gene-edited pig organs.

Photograph: Massachusetts General Hospital

“It’s pretty miraculous this man’s out of the hospital a couple of weeks after putting in a pig kidney,” says Steven Perrin, Eledon’s president and chief scientific officer. “I didn’t think we would be here as quickly as we are.”

Riella is also hopeful that the 69 genetic alterations made to the pig that supplied the donor organ will help Slayman’s kidney keep functioning. Pig organs aren’t naturally compatible in the human body. The company that supplied the pig, eGenesis, used Crispr to add certain human genes, remove some pig genes, and inactivate latent viruses in the pig genome that could hypothetically infect a human recipient. The pigs are produced using cloning; scientists make the edits to a single pig cell and use that cell to form an embryo. The embryos are cloned and transferred to the womb of a female pig so that her offspring end up with the edits.

“We hope that this combination will be the secret sauce to getting this kidney to a longer graft survival,” Riella says.

There’s debate among scientists over how many edits pig organs need to last in people. In the pig heart transplants, researchers used donor animals with 10 edits developed by United Therapeutics subsidiary Revivicor.

There’s another big difference between this procedure and the heart surgeries: If Slayman’s kidney did stop working, Riella says, he could resume dialysis. The pig heart recipients had no back-up options. He says even if pig organs aren’t a long-term alternative, they could provide a bridge to transplant for patients like Slayman who would otherwise spend years suffering on dialysis.

“We’ve gotten so many letters, emails, and messages from people volunteering to be candidates for the xenotransplants, even with all the unknowns,” Riella says. “Many of them are struggling so much on dialysis that they’re looking for an alternative.”

The Mass General team plans to launch a formal clinical trial to transplant edited pig kidneys in more patients. They received special approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for just one procedure. For now, though, their main focus is on keeping Slayman healthy.

Emily Mullin

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April 5, 2024
License-free freshwater fishing weekend kicks off in Florida

INVERNESS, Fla. — License-free freshwater fishing weekend kicks off across Florida on Saturday.

For two days, residents and visitors are invited to try freshwater fishing without the added cost of getting a license. Any dock, lake, river or bank with public fishing access is free to use for fishing throughout the license-free weekend.

Other fishing rules including restrictions on seasons, size, bags and quantities will still be in effect.

George Kapiton, who worked as a professional bass fisherman for many years, says the freshwater lakes in Citrus County are the perfect spot to fish and experience old Florida charm. The Tsala Apopa chain of lakes pulls water from the Withlacoochee River and is separated into three main pools named after nearby towns: Inverness, Floral City and Hernando.

Kapiton says this license-free weekend is the perfect time to expose a child to fishing in the beautiful, serene spots in the state without having to spend a bunch of money upfront.

“When you turn that passion on in a kid you never know what it’ll grow to and how many people that’ll impact in a positive way for the outdoors,” he said.

Bass fishing is a great option this weekend, as Kapiton says bass nest in the springtime closer to shore.

Watch the video above for an inside look at some of the best freshwater fishing spots in the Tampa Bay area.

Angie Angers

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April 5, 2024
Austin Pets Alive! | “Pawth of Totality” Adoption Special

All pet adoption fees will be 50% off between April 5-8, 2024

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April 5, 2024
Who knew the nosiest neighbors of all were pets? (34 Photos)

Camry

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April 4, 2024
Unprecedented Research: Houston Zoo to study animal reactions to total solar eclipse
HOUSTON – The total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, will be a historical and rare event. Humans are generally excited to see this natural phenomenon, but it’s also important to consider how animals will be impacted by the unprecedented event. That’s what the Houston Zoo is hoping to do.
The Houston Zoo is welcoming visitors to come witness the eclipse and see firsthand how a variety of different animals react to the experience.

“Have you ever wondered how animals react during an eclipse? Now’s your chance to witness it firsthand,” the Houston Zoo’s website reads.

Since a total solar eclipse creates fairly unique environmental conditions, the current data on how animals respond to them is spotty. KPRC 2 meteorologist Anthony Yanez sat down with Adam Rose, a biomedical science professor at North Carolina State University, to discuss his work with this under-researched topic.

Rose is part of a team that he calls the “Solar Eclipse Safari Research Team.” As the name would suggest, Rose’s unit looks to study how animals in different areas and climates react to these conditions.

“For humans, we feel like an eclipse is about the sun getting dimmed, but also during an eclipse, the temperature drops, the pressure changes, and a lot of species are more perceptive to that shift than we are.”

Rose conducted a study at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina, during the 2017 solar eclipse, and he was shocked by how dramatically many of the animals reacted to the event.

A group of gorillas walked in unison towards the typical night area of their enclosure. Giraffes reacted with behaviors that convey anxiety, like galloping. Galapagos Tortoises, typically slow-moving animals, began moving around their enclosure quickly, and two of them began mating at the point of totality.

“I don’t know if [the tortoises’ reaction] is a normal reaction, and no one does, because no one had ever witnessed these animals during an eclipse,” Rose said.

Rose and his team will be watching the 2024 eclipse from a zoo in Fort Worth, Texas. His team is asking everyone to observe animals before, during and after the eclipse, by submitting their findings to his team’s official site.

Jessica Reyes, the manager of public relations and communications at Houston Zoo, said many members of their staff are excited to observe this rare information.

“We don’t know how animals will react, but our animal teams will be monitoring animal behaviors for any changes. If it gets dark enough, animals may believe there has been a disruption to their routine (i.e. feeding schedules) and begin to vocalize. Our zookeepers will monitor the animals and take notes of any behavioral changes.”

For more information about visiting the Houston Zoo for the eclipse, click here.
Copyright 2024 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.

Michael Horton

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April 3, 2024
What to know about the latest bird flu outbreak in the US

A poultry facility in Michigan and egg producer in Texas both reported outbreaks of avian flu this week. The latest developments on the virus also include infected dairy cows and the first known instance of a human catching bird flu from a mammal.

Although health officials say the risk to the public remains low, there is rising concern, emerging in part from news that the largest producer of fresh eggs in the U.S. reported an outbreak.

Here are some key things to know about the disease.

What are experts saying?

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the agency is taking bird flu seriously, but stressed that the virus has already been well studied.

“The fact that it is in cattle now definitely raises our concern level,” Cohen said, noting that it means farmworkers who work with cattle — and not just those working with birds — may need to take precautions.

The good news is that “it’s not a new strain of the virus,” Cohen added. “This is known to us and we’ve been studying it, and frankly, we’ve been preparing for avian flu for 20 years.”

What is bird flu?

Some flu viruses mainly affect people, but others chiefly occur in animals. Avian viruses spread naturally in wild aquatic birds like ducks and geese, and then to chickens and other domesticated poultry.

The bird flu virus drawing attention today — Type A H5N1 — was first identified in 1959. Like other viruses, it has evolved over time, spawning newer versions of itself.

Since 2020, the virus has been spreading among more animal species — including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises — in scores of countries.

In the U.S., this version of the bird flu has been detected in wild birds in every state, as well as commercial poultry operations and backyard flocks. Nationwide, tens of millions of chickens have died from the virus or been killed to stop outbreaks from spreading.

Last week, U.S. officials said it had been found in livestock. As of Tuesday, it had been discovered in dairy herds in five states — Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas — according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

How often do people get bird flu?

This bird flu was first identified as a threat to people during a 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong. In the past two decades, nearly 900 people have been diagnosed globally with bird flu and more than 460 people have died, according to the World Health Organization.

There have been only two cases in the U.S., and neither were fatal.

In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program caught it while killing infected birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.

This week, Texas health officials announced that a person who had been in contact with cows had been diagnosed with bird flu. Their only reported symptom was eye redness.

Avian influenza or bird flu is a disease that naturally spreads among wild aquatic birds worldwide, as well as domestic poultry and other bird and animal species.

What are the symptoms of bird flu?

Symptoms are similar to that of other flus, including cough, body aches and fever. Some people don’t have noticeable symptoms, but others develop severe, life-threatening pneumonia.

Can it spread between people?

The vast majority of infected people have gotten it directly from birds, but scientists are on guard for any sign of spread among people.

There have been a few instances when that apparently happened — most recently in 2007 in Asia. In each cluster, it spread within families from a sick person in the home.

U.S. health officials have stressed that the current public health risk is low and that there is no sign that bird flu is spreading person to person.

Associated Press reporters Jonathan Poet in Philadelphia and Mike Stobbe and videojournalist Sharon Johnson in Atlanta contributed to this report.

Sean Murphy | Associated Press

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April 3, 2024
Austin Pets Alive! | Austin Needs To Rebuild Its Model, Not Kill For…

Shelters all over the United States are struggling, including Austin Animal Center and us right here at Austin Pets Alive!. In 2011, Austin became a No Kill community and has remained so with increasing save rates year over year. With the recent city ordinance changes and AAC’s latest announcement stating that hard decisions may need to be made for 20+ dogs who volunteers say should never be at risk, it’s safe to say that we’re facing the real chance that Austin is dangerously close to stepping into the wrong side of history.

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April 3, 2024
How To Draw a Dog (Free Printable + Video)

If you have pet lovers in your classroom who like to draw, then you’re barking up the right tree! Our free printable has step-by-step instructions for teaching kids how to draw a dog. Make it a fun Friday group activity or keep it on hand for your fast finishers.

If you’re ready to create some beautiful art of man’s best friend, check out our easy-to-follow steps below. There’s a video tutorial and images with step-by-step instructions. Plus, be sure to download the free printable instructions so kids can easily follow along.

How To Draw a Dog Video

There are six easy steps for teaching kids how to draw a dog. They are easy for kids of all ages and abilities.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Once you have your paper laid out and your Sharpie in hand, you can begin by drawing two upside-down triangles spaced about an inch apart. Next, connect them with a single line.

We Are Teachers

Step 2

Next, we’re going to draw the outline of the dog’s body. Draw two lines extending from each ear and pointing inward to create the dog’s neck. Then draw two longer lines extending from those. The line on the left should go almost straight down, while the line on the right should slant outward. Finally, connect the two longer lines with a slightly curved line. Be sure to include a little bump for the dog’s foot on the left side.

We Are Teachers

Step 3

Now we’re going to add an oh-so adorable doggy face. Draw two black dots for eyes spaced out about half an inch apart. Next, draw a circle just above the dog’s neck, but below the eyes. Inside the circle, draw a small black oval with two hooks extending down from that for the dog’s mouth. Finally add a few little dots as whiskers.

We Are Teachers

Step 4

Now we’re going to add three straight lines from the bottom curved line going about three-quarters of the way up the dog’s body. These will make up the dog’s front legs. Next we’re going to add a half circle to the right of those lines to serve as the dog’s back leg. Once you have your legs drawn, add little markings to make the paws. Next, add a curved tail at the back of the dog. Finally, draw a few movement lines to show that your little dog is happy and wagging his tail.

We Are Teachers

Step 5

Now it’s time to draw a collar. Draw two horizontal lines connecting the dog’s neck and shade it in. Finally, add a little dog tag in a shape of your choosing.

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Step 6

Now to add a little detail around your doggie. Draw some grass to the left and right of your dog by making some jagged lines. Then add a little bone in front of him.

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Get your free How To Draw a Dog printable with step-by-step instructions

We Are Teachers

Are you ready to save and print your free dog drawing printable? All you need to do is fill out the form at the top of this page.

Do you have more ideas for animal drawing activities? Come and share them in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out more of our favorite Directed Drawing Activities for Kids.

Kristy Zamagni-Twomey

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March 29, 2024
Activists sue US National Park Service over plan to remove Puerto Rico’s famous stray cats

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A nonprofit organization said Thursday that it sued the U.S. National Park Service over a plan to remove Puerto Rico’s famous stray cats from a historic district in the U.S. territory.

The lawsuit filed by Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies comes four months after the federal agency announced it would contract an animal welfare organization to remove an estimated 200 cats that live in an area surrounding a historic seaside fortress in Old San Juan.

The organization would decide whether the trapped cats would be adopted, placed in foster homes, kept in a shelter or face other options. It wasn’t immediately clear if an organization has been hired.

At the time, the National Park Service said it would hire a removal agency if the organization it contracted failed to remove the cats within six months.

The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tourists and locals have long considered the cats both a delight and a nuisance, with the National Park Service stating in 2022 that the population had grown too much as it noted the smell of urine and feces in the area.

Activists have decried the plan, saying six months is insufficient time to remove so many cats and worried they would be killed.

In its lawsuit, Alley Cat Allies requested additional environmental statements from the federal agency and asked that a judge finds its actions allegedly violate acts including the National Environmental Protection Act.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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March 28, 2024
Baby gorilla cuddled by mother at London Zoo remains nameless

LONDON — The newest endangered baby gorilla at the London Zoo is more than six weeks old but doesn’t yet have a name. Zookeepers aren’t even sure if it’s a male or female because they haven’t been able to get close enough to examine it.

A photo taken Monday by The Associated Press shows why: The gorilla’s mother, Effie, has the baby in her loving cuddle.

“It’s actually quite tricky to sex a young gorilla without a close-up examination,” said Rebecca Blanchard, a zoo spokesperson. “The infant is still held closely by its mum most of the time, and here at London Zoo, we leave the baby in mum’s capable hands.”

The tiny ape that arrived Feb. 8 is one of two baby western lowland gorillas born at the zoo this winter. Another mother, Mjukuu, gave birth to a little one almost a month earlier.

Both babies were sired by Kiburi, a 19-year-old silverback brought to the zoo from Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands as part of a conservation breeding program to help preserve the critically endangered gorilla subspecies.

The birth of Effie’s baby wasn’t simple. The gorilla arrived wrapped in its umbilical cord, posing a possible threat to its life.

Zookeepers watched over it for the first three days, making sure it continued to feed and move around until the cord finally detached.

London Zoo, located within Regent’s Park, is opening a new habitat to the public on Friday called The Secret Life of Reptiles and Amphibians to replace its old Reptile House.

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March 25, 2024
Chick-Fil-A backtracks from its no-antibiotics-in-chicken pledge, blames projected supply shortages

ATLANTA — The fast-food chain Chick-Fil-A backtracked from its decade-old “no antibiotics ever” pledge intended to help prevent human antibiotic resistance linked to the rampant use of the drugs in livestock production.

Instead, the company said in a statement that it will embrace a standard known as “no antibiotics important to human medicine,” often abbreviated as NAIHM, which entails the avoidance of medications commonly used to treat people and limits the use of animal antibiotics to cases of actual animal illness.

Livestock producers have long used antibiotics to boost rapid weight gain in animals such as chickens, pigs, cows and sheep, improving the profitability of their businesses. Over the past decade, however, many nations, including the United States, have begun to restrict the practice as evidence mounted that it was contributing to drug resistance and reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics against disease in humans.

Chick-Fil-A said it will begin shifting to the new policy in the spring of 2024. A company spokesman added that the move reflects company concerns about its ability to acquire sufficient supplies of antibiotic-free chicken. One of the poultry industry’s largest companies, Tyson Foods, said last year that it was reintroducing some antibiotics to its chicken production and removing its “No Antibiotics Ever” package labeling. It began to eliminate antibiotics from some of its poultry production in 2015.

In a May 2023 video featured on the Tyson Foods YouTube channel, Tyson’s senior director of animal welfare, Karen Christensen, described the shift as “based on scientific research and industry learnings.” She noted that Tyson planned to begin using antibiotics known as ionophores, which don’t play a role in human medicine, to “improve the overall health and welfare of the birds in our care.” Ionophores have long been used to promote growth in livestock.

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March 24, 2024
Nevada’s first big-game moose hunt will be tiny as unusual southern expansion defies climate change

RENO, Nev. — In what will be a tiny big-game hunt for some of the largest animals in North America, Nevada is planning its first-ever moose hunting season this fall.

Wildlife managers say explosive growth in Nevada moose numbers over the past five years, increasing to a population of more than 100, justifies the handful of harvests planned.

Scientists say the experiment of sorts should also provide a real-time peek at how the complexities of climate change affect wildlife, and why these majestic — some say goofy-looking — mammals the size of a horse have unexpectedly expanded their range into warmer territory.

“Moose are newcomers to North America,” said Cody McKee, a Nevada Department of Wildlife specialist.

The last deer species to cross the Bering Sea land bridge into Alaska and Canada, McKee said the movement of moose into the Lower 48 has occurred almost exclusively in the past 150 years.

“Their post-glacial range expansion isn’t really complete,” McKee said. “And that’s what we’re currently seeing in Nevada right now, is those moose are moving into the state and finding suitable habitat.”

Only a few Nevada moose, perhaps just one, will be killed across an area larger than Massachusetts and New Jersey combined. But state officials expect thousands of applications for the handful of hunting tags, and it’s already controversial.

“Why a moose hunt at all?” Stephanie Myers of Las Vegas asked at a recent wildlife commission meeting. “We want to see moose, view moose. Not kill moose.”

The first moose was spotted in Nevada in the 1950s, not long before the dim-witted cartoon character “Bullwinkle” made his television debut. Only a handful of sightings followed for decades, but started increasing about 10 years ago.

By 2018, officials estimated there were 30 to 50, all in Nevada’s northeast corner. But the population has more than doubled and experts believe there’s enough habitat to sustain about 200, a level that could be reached in three years.

Bryan Bird, Defenders of Wildlife’s Southwest program director, is among the skeptics who suspect it’s a short-lived phenomenon.

“I believe the moose story is one of `ghost’ habitat or `ghost’ range expansion. By that I mean, these animals are expanding into habitat that may not be suitable in 50 years due to climate change,” Bird said.

Government biologists admit they don’t fully understand why the moose have moved so far south, where seasonal conditions are warmer and drier than they traditionally prefer.

“It seems to be opposite of where we would expect to see moose expansion given their ecology,” said Marcus Blum, a Texas A&M University researcher hired to help assess future movement. He analyzed aerial surveys, individual sightings and habitat to project growth trends.

Six feet (1.8 meters) tall at the shoulder and up to 1,000 pounds (453.5 kilograms), moose live in riparian areas where they munch on berry bushes and aspen leaves along the edges of mountain forests native to the northern half of Nevada.

They usually avoid places where temperatures regularly exceed 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 Celsius).

The Nevada study documented moose spending nearly half their time in areas where that “thermal threshold” was exceeded about 150 days a year, while climate change models suggest the threshold will be surpassed by another 14 days annually by 2050, Blum said.

To be clear, the valleys beneath the snow-capped winter mountain ranges with moose are 500 miles (805 kilometers) from the Las Vegas Strip in the desert many people picture as Nevada.

Researchers have more questions than answers about why moose continue to expand their range into Nevada where extended drought has taken a toll on other wildlife, McKee said.

“There’s a lot of speculation and questions about why they are here, given concerns about the changing environment and how it’s probably getting warmer and dryer,” McKee said. “Why is it that our extensive drought cycles haven’t seemed to be affecting the moose population?”

Populations along the U.S.-Canada border have oscillated for more than a century. Several states, from Idaho to Minnesota and Maine, have dramatically reduced hunting quotas at times to allow populations to recover.

Alaska is home to the vast majority of U.S. moose, upwards of 200,000, with about 7,000 harvests annually. Maine has nearly 70,000, which is five times more than any other Lower 48 state, and issued 4,100 permits last year. Neighboring New Hampshire offered only 35 for 3,000-plus moose and Idaho issued about 500 for its 10,000 to 12,000.

No moose were observed in Washington state before the 1960s but its growing population now exceeds 5,000. The state issued three hunting permits in 1977 and now tops 100 annually.

Nevada’s research suggests its population could sustain more harvests than planned, McKee said, but “conservative is the name of the game here.”

Aerial surveys are now backed by radio-tracking collars biologists have fitted on four bull moose and nine cows since 2020. In some spots, males significantly outnumber females. Removing a bull or two might improve herd dynamics, he said.

The exact number of permits will be determined in the coming weeks, but McKee anticipates no more than three. Only Nevadans can apply for the inaugural hunt, which will help guide decisions about future endeavors.

Successful hunters must present the skull and antlers for state inspection within five days. That will give scientists more insight into herd health, body conditions, disease and parasites.

Bill Nolan of Sparks, who first hunted ducks at age 12, says he intends to apply for a chance he describes as “slim and none” to draw a moose tag.

“For hunters, it would be like hitting the lottery,” he said.

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March 23, 2024
Mountain lion kills 1, injures another in California

GEORGETOWN, Calif. — A mountain lion in Northern California killed one man and injured another while the two were out hunting for shed antlers, authorities said Saturday.

An 18-year-old male called the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Saturday afternoon, reporting that he and his 21-year-old brother were attacked by a mountain lion in a remote part of the county, the office said in a news release.

Deputies arrived around 1:30 p.m. to find the younger brother with “traumatic injuries” to his face. Minutes later, deputies saw a crouched mountain lion next to the older brother on the ground, according to the statement.

They fired their guns and scared off the mountain lion, but the older brother was deceased.

Wardens with California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife are searching for the mountain lion. The department did not immediately respond to emails and a phone message seeking more details.

Georgetown is a small, historic town about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Sacramento.

Mountain lions have attacked humans previously, but the last fatal encounter was in 2004 in Orange County, according to a verified list kept by the fish and wildlife department.

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March 23, 2024
The US Is About to Drown in a Sea of Kittens

Scientists, conservationists, and cat advocates all agree that unchecked outdoor cat populations are a problem, but they remain deeply divided on solutions. While some conservationists propose the targeted killing of cats, known as culling, cat populations have been observed to bounce back quickly, and a single female cat and her offspring can produce at least 100 descendants, if not thousands, in just seven years.

Although sterilization protocols such as “trap, neuter, and release” are favored by many cat rescue organizations, Lepczyk said it’s almost impossible to do it effectively, in part because of how freely the animals roam and how quickly they procreate. Without homes or sanctuaries after sterilization, returning cats outside means they may have a low quality of life, spread disease, and continue to harm wildlife. “No matter what technique you use, if you don’t stop the flow of new cats into the landscape, it’s not gonna matter,” said Lepczyk.

Rescue shelters, already under strain from resource and veterinary shortages, are scrambling to confront their new reality. While some release materials to help the community identify when outdoor kittens need intervention, others focus on recruiting for foster volunteer programs, which become essential caring for kittens who need around-the-clock care.

“As the population continues to explode, how do we address all these little lives that need our help?” Dunn said. “We’re giving this everything we have.”

Sachi Mulkey

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March 23, 2024
After 30 Years Together, New York Resident Fights to Reclaim Seized Pet Alligator – Southwest Journal

HAMBURG, N.Y. — A New York man is battling to get his alligator back after conservation officers confiscated the reptile, which he claims is harmless and has been a part of his family for over 30 years. Tony Cavallaro faced officers at his Buffalo suburb residence last week, who came with a warrant to take his alligator named Albert, a 12-foot (3.6-meter), 750-pound (340-kilogram) creature. They sedated Albert, secured his mouth, and transported him in a van.

The Department of Environmental Conservation cited the expiration of Cavallaro’s license to keep Albert in 2021. Furthermore, Cavallaro’s interactions with the alligator, including allowing others to touch and swim with Albert, violated regulations regarding the ownership of animals deemed dangerous.

Screenshot from Instagram / cavallaro966

Cavallaro, 64, disagrees with this characterization. He insists that Albert, who has been raised in captivity since he was two months old and bought at an Ohio reptile show, has never been aggressive towards humans or pets. He reminisced about times when Albert and his dog would snuggle together.

Describing Albert as an “emotional support animal,” Cavallaro has invested $120,000 in a home extension tailored to the alligator’s needs, featuring a heated pond, tropical plants, and a bar. Since the seizure, he finds the space devoid of its main attraction.

Cavallaro’s fight to reclaim Albert has garnered widespread support, evidenced by a petition with over 120,000 signatures and social media campaigns. A friend even composed a song titled “Oh Albert, please come home” to support the cause.

Despite his personal bond with Albert, Cavallaro admits to letting visitors interact closely with the alligator, emphasizing Albert’s gentle nature, even with his elderly mother.

The issue arose from a failure to renew his license after changes in the laws governing the possession of dangerous animals in 2020. Cavallaro attempted to renew his license but found the regulations unclear and believes his previous compliance should be grandfathered in.

Cavallaro’s passion for reptiles is long-standing, with a history of owning various species. He refutes claims by the DEC about Albert’s health problems, asserting the alligator’s well-being and disputing any vision or spinal issues.

The DEC has placed Albert with a licensed caretaker temporarily, not disclosing the location, while plans for his permanent care are made. The case highlights the complexities of owning exotic pets in the U.S., where abandoned alligators in public spaces occasionally surface, raising concerns about their welfare and public safety.

Source: Yahoo

Srdjan Ilic

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March 22, 2024
Baby Goats = Pure Happiness at Split Creek Farm

Do you love baby goats? KAG’s Kristina Hernandez sure does. She visited local farm, Split Creek Farm in Anderson, SC, and got to spend some time with baby goats. You can head to Split Creek Farm and see goats, too. This farm offers tours, events, a farm store with delicious cheese and more.

For more places to see and interact with animals, see our Petting Zoos in and near the Upstate.

When you have the chance to play with baby goats, you play with baby goats. You get insanely happy. You wear a silly smile on your face for hours. And then your heart breaks a bit when you can’t take them home.

That’s what happened at Split Creek Farm, an award-winning goat farm in Anderson, SC when I visited one morning. Time flew by as I got a tour from co-owner and goat-lover Sandra. We saw mama goats who were about to have their kids, baby goats playing together, baby goats sleeping all piled up together, baby goats eating my pants, and little tiny baby goats getting trained on bottle feeding.

I fell in love with a three-day-old little girl baby goat that had soft, black fur and let me hold her (ok, Sandra let me hold her). Seriously, this was blissful. It made me happy, which for me, is kind of hard to come by some days.

What Happens at Split Creek Farm

The stellar reputation of this farm precedes them. This farm has so many awards for their cheeses, goat milk products, and actual goats that they have a legitimate little museum on site to house all their trophies, ribbons, and plaques.

In 2022, they came in third place in the world for their Feta Marinated in Olive Oil and first place in the United States. In 2017, they beat out every single American producer and farmer in the cheese category for their feta. And in 2010, they took home the Gold Medal at the World Championship of Cheese Contest in Madison, WI, beating cheeses from France, Italy, and the US.

This little farm plays in the big leagues and they are darn proud of it, as they should be. They’ve been providing grade A goat milk for over 30 years and their passion just radiates from every aspect of the farm, from the little goat babies to end products of cheese, fudge, and yogurt.

You can purchase their products at the shop on the farm or online but also enjoy the cheeses at many Greenville restaurants such as The Anchorage, Farm Fresh Fast, Bacon Brothers, Stella’s Southern Bistro, GB&D, Farm House Tacos, Passerelle, and a dozen others.

Kidding Season

Springtime is their busy season as kidding has begun, which is a round-the-clock operation. As a mother, I understand nighttime feedings, little sleep, and running on fumes. Split Creek Farm estimates they will have around 100 baby goats by the end of kidding season in April. These cute little animals that need round-the-clock care and feeding every two hours for the first two days of their lives, then hands-on care as they learn to feed themselves from the bottle for the next few days.

This goes on for months! I snuck a peek into one of the employee-only rooms off the little shop at the farm. There were five or six pack ‘n plays all lined up. I had stumbled into the goat nursery. Unfortunately, no newborn goats were there but just imagining the care that these little guys and girls need when they are born is overwhelming. Sandra told me she has a similar setup at her house, as does her co-owner, Jessica Bell.

Whoa.

I asked Sandra if she sleeps, which was like asking a new mom the same question. You can guess the answer.

Can I See Baby Goats, Too?

Yes! Split Creek Farm is all about educating the public on what they do, how they treat their animals, what they produce from the farm, and how cool goats are. They have Adirondack chairs and benches all over the place for guests to just come and hang out. They have a little shop that sells their goat cheeses, fudge, and milk plus all kinds of other goodies like goat stuffed animals, soap, and trinkets.

Baby goats, like baby humans, have a delicate immune system so you can’t just frolic around and hold the little guys and girls. Families especially have to be careful since kids tend to carry around germs more than others (or so it seems). But they are welcome to come and check out the kids and see the other animals.

Don’t miss their Spring Means Babies festival on April 20, 2024 from 10 am – 3 pm. You’ll be able to see all the babies and shop from cool, local vendors.

Educational Tours at Split Creek Farm

The farm understands the importance of educating the public because it pertains directly to their survival. If the public is familiar with how the farm works, what they do, and why it is important, the community will be more supportive, which benefits everyone. For children especially, learning where food comes from in a fun environment is beneficial to their education and knowledge.

Split Creek Farm is not a huge farm with lots of volunteers and employees. In fact, there are less than ten people that work there, which shocked me because I observed a mere fraction of the work that was being done and it was a great deal, more than I would have thought a small number of people could pull off.

They introduced a new, self-guided tour with plaques all around the farm that explain what they do, the different breeds of goats on the farm, and how milking works. It’s awesome and very educational. You can take the tour on Fridays and Saturdays when they are open for visiting hours.

Goat Yoga at Split Creek Farm

As you may imagine, Split Creek Farm goat yoga sessions are insanely popular. They allow guests to bring their yoga mats out in the field with the mama goats, who just love all the attention. The animals are gentle and just like to hang out and befriend whoever comes their way. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for dates.

“We probably do more playing with goats than actual yoga,” Sandra tells me.

Guests who come for goat yoga are also able to play with the baby goats (yay!), specifically the Nigerian dwarfs. These guys, oh my gosh, I can’t even write anything that accurately describes their energy. It’s totally different than the bigger mamas. The babies want to play with you and jump around and maybe eat your pants. I loved these guys and if Sandra wasn’t with me, I probably would have jumped into their pen to play with them.

Why is goat yoga so popular?

“Because it just makes people happy,” said Sandra.

Goats 4 Goodness

Speaking of making people happy, Sandra recently founded a non-profit called Goats 4 Goodness, whose mission is to “Do Good Things” for goats and people. They have already partnered with Make A Wish Foundation to give kids that last wish they may have of playing with goats or being a farmer for a day. Goats 4 Goodness also works with special needs kids, recognizing that goats are inherently playful and loving, and fun. They don’t judge anyone!

Using animals for therapy isn’t anything new, however, there are not many places, especially in this area of the country, that do it with goats. There is something special about spending time with goats that can heal or just help people to let go of their immediate reality and enjoy some moments of peace.

Sandra would know, too. She had a long and successful career in Washington, DC as the Deputy Chief of Police of U.S. Capitol Police and worked also at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and as the Emergency Response Team Leader for FEMA. These are stressful jobs. She fell into destructive habits and went to rehab for several months. It was volunteering at Split Creek Farm where she turned her life around. Now she wants to give back to the community the goodness and healing she has found working with goats. You can learn more at their website or Facebook page.

Tips on Visiting Split Creek Farm

You can go to Split Creek Farm to shop (get the fudge, all of it) when the store is open but visiting hours (when you walk around, do the tour, or just hang out with the goats), is only on Fridays and Saturdays. Times are below.

Just understand that this is a working farm and there is a lot that needs to be done. The volunteers and staff are awesome and can answer your questions but they can’t take a couple of hours to walk you around. So watch your kids, follow the instructions on the signs, and wear proper clothes to deal with mud and dirt. No pets are allowed at the farm.

Also, if you or your children are battling a cold, come back when those sniffles are gone. Baby goats are susceptible to getting sick just like human babies and can’t afford to be exposed to sicknesses that early in life.

There are other animals hanging out there like chickens, cats, and dogs. They roam and will come and check you out. If your kids are scared of unknown animals checking them out, prep them ahead of time. The border collie, Sam, will probably just want to play with them though, and throw his toy around.

Lastly, enjoy your time at the dairy farm. Life is stressful. Adulting is hard. Playing with baby goats is relaxing, fun, and truly blissful. Whether for five minutes or two hours, visiting Split Creek Farm should go on your #mustdo list this year. Don’t miss out on this joy.

Self-guided tours are available Friday and Saturday 10 am – 6 pm. The farm shop is open Monday-Saturday 10 am – 6 pm.

Split Creek Farm
3806 Centerville Road, Anderson
864.287.3921

For more experiences with cute animals, check out 10 Places to See Baby Animals.

Kristina Hernandez

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March 20, 2024
Jane Goodall Fast Facts | CNN

CNN
—

Here’s a look at the life of world-renowned primatologist, activist and conservationist Jane Goodall.

Birth date: April 3, 1934

Birth place: London, England

Birth name: Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall

Father: Mortimer Morris-Goodall, businessman

Mother: Margaret Myfanwe (Joseph) Morris-Goodall, a novelist

Marriages: Derek Bryceson (1975-1980, his death); Hugo van Lawick (March 28, 1964-1974, divorced)

Children: with van Lawick: Hugo

Education: Cambridge University, Ph.D. in ethology, 1965

Obtained a doctorate without receiving a bachelor’s or master’s first.

Was the first scientist to give names to her research subjects instead of the conventional practice of assigning them numbers.

Found that chimpanzees engage in warfare with neighboring communities and that chimps are capable of altruism, which they display by adopting unrelated orphaned infants.

First to observe chimps eating meat and making and using tools.

1956 – While working as an assistant in a London film studio, she receives an invitation from a friend to visit her farm in Kenya.

1957 – Arrives in Africa and meets famous archeologist and paleontologist Louis Leakey. He hires her as an assistant and then asks her to study a group of chimpanzees living in Tanzania.

July 1960 – Arrives at the Gombe Stream Chimpanzee Reserve in Tanzania to begin her study of chimpanzees.

October 1960 – Goodall observes chimpanzees eating meat; they were thought to be vegetarians.

November 1960 – Observes the first recorded instance of chimpanzees making and using tools.

1977 – Founds the Jane Goodall Institute.

1991 – Begins the Roots & Shoots environmental program for young people.

2002 – Designated a United Nations Messenger of Peace.

February 20, 2004 – Is invested as a Dame of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace.

2010 – A documentary film about her life, “Jane’s Journey,” premieres.

March 2013 – Apologizes for plagiarized passages in her book, “Seeds of Hope: Wisdom and Wonder from the World of Plants,” scheduled to be released in April. The Washington Post first reported on the borrowed passages, saying they came from Wikipedia and other websites.

September 30, 2014 – A new species of orchid is named after Goodall. The Dendrobium goodallianum orchid was collected in Papua New Guinea in 2003.

October 20, 2017 – “Jane,” a documentary about Goodall’s early work with chimps, directed by Brett Morgan, opens.

January 2019 – Announces launch of the Jane Goodall Legacy Foundation, “in the hope that we can create an endowment that will enable the programmes I have developed to continue, new ones to be initiated, and so that the fight for the good of the natural world will continue beyond my lifetime.” It is registered in Switzerland.

April 17, 2019 – Is named to the Time 100, the magazine’s annual list of the most influential people in the world.

May 8, 2020 – In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Goodall says that humanity’s disrespect for nature led to the coronavirus pandemic, saying “we brought this on ourselves.”

May 20, 2021 – Is announced as the winner of the Templeton Prize, an award worth over $1.5 million, that honors “outstanding individuals who have devoted their talents to expanding our vision of human purpose and ultimate reality.”

July 12, 2022 – Mattel Inc announces the release of a new Barbie doll of Goodall, made from recycled plastic, as part of its Inspiring Women Barbie collection.

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March 13, 2024