article_text
stringlengths 294
32.8k
⌀ | topic
stringlengths 3
42
|
|---|---|
A mother-of-two was mauled to death by her pet American Bully XL dog after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat'.Joanne Robinson, 43, died at the scene of the attack at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Friday night. She is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco, which is on the legal dog breeds list and attacked her at around 10pm. Her partner, Jamie Stead, 42, was left with injuries to his hands, stomach and face as he tried to saved her and pull the animal off her.Joanne's mother, Dotty Robinson, said the family are in 'disbelief and shock' over her death and believed the weather may have affected the animals.She said Joanne had two XL Bully dogs - Rocco who was nearly two, and Lola.She said the pets were well behaved and 'not dangerous', but added: 'I don't know why they suddenly snapped. I can only think they turned mad in the extreme heat. It must have set them off.'Today, Ms Robinson's heartbroken son paid tribute to his mother, calling her his 'best friend' and a 'caring mum and the best Nannan to my kids.' Joanne Robinson (pictured) is believed to be the third victim of a legal breed which has killed two tots Joanne is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco (pictured), which is on the legal dog breeds list and attacked her at around 10pm Joanne's partner also suffered life-changing injuries after the dog attack, police have said. Pictured: South Yorkshire Police officers were on scene on Saturday morning Joanne Robinson (pictured), 43, was killed by her American Bully XL dog at her home in Rotherham on Friday night Dozens of flowers have already been laid at the scene of the attack'Rocco's a big dog, he's bigger than a lion. He was like a small horse.'She told The Sun that Rocco and Lola, have been destroyed. Dotty added of Jamie: 'He's hoping to come home from hospital today but he is still in much pain.'He knows Joanna has gone and is absolutely devastated as we all are. We will miss her so much.'He's had a horrible ordeal.He's lost his partner of twenty years and his dogs.'Ms Robinson's son Dillon, penned a heartbreaking tribute to his mother on Facebook today. Floral tributes have been placed on metal railings outside the house while neighbours have spoken of their shock and horror The gate at the property had a 'Beware of the dogs' sign that continued: 'They bite you have been warned' Dangerous dog legislation in the UKWhat is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks.Which dogs are banned in the UK?It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are:American pitbull terriers;Japanese tosasDogo Argentinos;Fila Brazileiro The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'.What happens if there's a dog attack?You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'.And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. Why has the Act been criticised? Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences.He wrote: 'If you want to share anything about my mum please feel free to share this. Let's remember her how she was the crazy, caring loving mum, daughter, friend, sister, auntie, Nannan.'My mum was more than a mum, she was my best friend. She was the most caring person and would do anything for anybody. 'She was the best Nannan to my kids and I'm honestly heartbroken she will never get to meet the third one on the way.'Since Ms Robinson's death, dozens of floral tributes have been left at the scene on Masefield Road.One message said: 'To our beautiful angel up above. You will never be forgotten. Love you always.'One neighbour described Joanne as a 'lovely lady' and a loving mum of two. Another said: 'I'm devastated. She was a lovely lady. They are a lovely family.''I can't get over what's happened'Dillon Robinson added: 'I would like the thank all the support from family and friends, everyone who has been to drop cards and flowers.'As a family are all hurting she was the life and sole at every party and will be missed by a lot of people. As of now my life has completely changed I can't get over what's happened but I know with the help from friends and family we will get there. We will keep her memory alive and make sure everyone knows who Joanne Robinson was.'Floral tributes have been placed on metal railings outside the house while neighbours have spoken of their shock and horror.One heart-breaking message read: 'To our beautiful angel up above. You will never be forgotten. Love you always.'Neighbour John Allerton, 69, a retired miner, said: 'It's really really tragic.'Another friend said: 'I'm devastated. She was a lovely lady. They are a lovely family.'The police took away two dogs. One man, who said he was the couple's son, said, 'I can assure you that the dogs were treated well.'There have been numerous incidents involving Bully XL dogs, with police confirming in march that Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by one in her own home. Police said the toddler was attacked at her family's home in St Helens, Merseryside, a week after they bought the dog. It was also reported that a Bully XL mauled Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis to death in a savage attack last year.Floral tributes have been left to the mother, with neighbours describing her as a 'lovely lady'. South Yorkshire Police forensic officers at the scene of a fatal dog attack in Rotherham Fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2022: Six people have so far died from dog attacks in the UK this year. They are:John William Jones, 68John William Jones, known as William, was found dead at his country cottage in Lampeter, West Wales on - 10 Jan. Police sedated three bulldogs Milo, Tia and Abbie after arriving at the scene.Kyra Leanne KingThree-month-old Kyra Leanne King died on March 6 at Ostler's Plantation, near Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. A 40-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of being in charge of an out-of-control husky.Bella-Rae Birch Bella-Rae Birch was just 17 months old when an American Bully XL mauled her to death at her home in Blackbrook, St Helen's on March 21. Lawson BondTwo-year-old Lawson Bond was savaged at home in the village of Egdon, Worcestershire, on March 28. Lawson suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of his horrific injuries and died two days later on March 30.Daniel TwiggThree-year-old Daniel Twigg from Rochdale was mauled to death in a dog attack on a farm on May 15. Daniel was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was pronounced dead.Kevin Jones62-year-old Mr Jones died after being mauled by a dog at a house in Wales on Monday, May 23. The Welsh Ambulance Service said Mr Jones was having a heart attack after being bitten by the dog, but died at the scene.Cards and flowers have gathered outside the home where the couple lived, including a note from her children Elle, 24 and Dillon, 19, which read: 'Mum I love and miss you.' South Yorkshire Police says two dogs have been seized and removed from the property, and neither of these are on the banned breeds list. The force said neither are considered 'banned breeds' under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A statement from the force said: 'We were called to a property on Masefield Road in West Melton at about 10.15pm last night by a member of the public stating a dog had attacked himself and a woman.'Officers attended with a Yorkshire Ambulance [Service] crew and found a man, aged 42, with a potentially life-altering injury to one hand, plus injuries to his other hand, abdomen and face. He was transported to hospital for further treatment.'The woman, aged 43, had been fatally bitten and despite the best efforts of emergency crews was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.'The dog, plus another dog at the property, were secured by specially trained officers.'Neither dog was of a banned breed.'According to the UK Bully Kennel Club website, the American Bully XL is a large breed, with males standing between 51cm and above. The Club says: 'In spite of its considerable size, the XL is highly prized for not only its impressive stature, but also its gentle personality and loving nature.'It is a recent breed, dating back to the 1980's, and is regarded the distinctive build and height combined with a compassionate nature mean its popularity continues to grow.'RSPCA is linking the the increase in Britons buying puppies during Covid to a surge in fatal dog attacks.Reports from the Dog and Cat Behaviour Association show dog attacks increased by 54 per cent between 2020 and 2021.It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court.They are American pitbull terriers, Japanese tosas, Dog Argentinos and Fila Brazileiro.The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. Third death involving Bully XL dog breed Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog which had been recently bought by her father Ryan Ms Robinson's death on Thursday was the third involving a Bully XL dog in the space of two years. In March this year Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by a dog of the same breed. The toddler had been attacked in her family's home in St Helens, Merseyside, just a week after they bought the animal. The dog had been bought by her father 'for buttons' just one week earlier and was 'humanely destroyed' following the shocking attack, Merseyside Police said.Police and the ambulance service had been called to the home at 3.49pm after a report that a child had been 'seriously injured.'Despite medical treatment, Bella-Rae was declared dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital at 4.45pm the same day.A post-mortem examination ruled the cause of death as 'head trauma.'Tests confirmed that the animal involved was an American Bully XL. Jack Lis, 10, was mauled to death by the killer XL Bully dog that weighed a 'muscular' 96.5lbs. His mother is now demanding that sentences of the dog's owners should be longer Last year Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis was also killed in a savage attack by a Bully XL. The 10-year-old boy was playing at a friend's house in Caerphilly in November last year when he was set upon by the dog.The animal, which was called 'Beast', had been bought by its owner less than a week before the attack.Amy Salter, 29, and Brandon Hayden, 19, were in charge of the raging animal when it launched an attack on schoolboy Jack in Caerphilly, South Wales.Hayden was jailed for four years and six months while Salter was handed three years at Cardiff Crown Court.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
BearWise helps people live responsibly with black bears BearWise helps people live responsibly with black bears From the BearWise Article Bank How to be BearWise, at Home & Outdoors Headed Outdoors? Bear Safety Tips – Part Two
BearWise Ways to Avoid Encountering Bears Outdoors There are lots of simple steps you can take to discourage bears from getting into your stuff and avoid bear encounters. Teaching bears to associate cars, trails, campsites and people with food doesn’t just put a damper on your outdoor fun. It also ...Read More Headed Outdoors? Bear Safety Tips – Part One
Whether you’re going for a day hike, out for a jog or a bike ride, headed to a campground or just taking your dog out for a stroll, being BearWise outdoors can help you have fun, stay safe and keep bears wild. It’s Better Together Walk, hike, jog, cycle and ...Read More The Bear Facts What bears do in July
July at a Glance: By July, cubs born this year have grown to the size of a raccoon or a small dog with big ears. Yearling bears now on their own can be the size of medium dogs. Bears of both sexes mark trees and adult bears mate. Cubs smell ...Read More New “Welcome to Bear Country” kit in the BearWise Store. Order today. BearWise® is the black bear program you can trust for sound information and smart solutions that help homeowners, businesses and communities coexist with bears. Six At-Home BearWise Basics Never Feed or Approach Bears Intentionally feeding bears or allowing them to find anything that smells or tastes like food teaches bears to approach homes and people looking for more. Learn More Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors Feed pets indoors when possible. If you must feed pets outside, feed in single portions and remove bowls afterwards. Store pet food where bears can’t see or smell it. Learn More Clean & Store Grills Clean grills after each use and make sure that all grease, fat and food particles are removed. Store clean grills and smokers in a secure area that keeps bears out. Learn More Do you spend time outdoors… BearWise Educational Materials The Black Bear Comeback Black bears once roamed over all of America’s forested lands. But after European settlement, their numbers and habitat in the Southeast dwindled. Thanks to new attitudes and enlightened conservation and management efforts, black bears are making a dramatic comeback over much of their historic home range. Now that bears are returning to areas they used to call home, it’s up to people and communities to learn how to peacefully coexist with these amazing animals.
BearWise shares ways to prevent conflicts, provides resources to resolve problems, and encourages community initiatives to keep bears wild.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Microplastic contamination has been reported in beef and pork for the first time, as well as in the blood of cows and pigs on farms.Scientists at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VUA) in the Netherlands found the particles in three-quarters of meat and milk products tested and every blood sample in their pilot study.They were also found in every sample of animal pellet feed tested, indicating a potentially important route of contamination. The food products were packaged in plastic, which is another possible route.VUA researchers reported microplastics in human blood for the first time in March, and they used the same methods to test the animal products. The discovery of the particles in blood shows they can travel around the body and may lodge in organs.The impact on human or farm animal health is as yet unknown, but researchers are concerned because microplastics cause damage to human cells in the laboratory and air pollution particles are already known to enter the body and cause millions of early deaths a year. Some wildlife is also known to be harmed by microplastics.Huge amounts of plastic waste are dumped in the environment, and microplastics have contaminated the entire planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. People were already known to consume the tiny particles via food and water as well as breathing them in.“When you’re measuring blood, you’re finding out the absorbed dose from all the different exposure routes: air, water, food, et cetera,” said Dr Heather Leslie at VUA. “So it’s very interesting because it immediately tells you what’s penetrating into the river of life.”The pilot study was conducted to assess whether microplastics are present in farm animals, meat and dairy. “It should act as an impetus to further explore the full scope of exposure and any risks that may be associated with it,” said Leslie.The scientists tested 12 samples of cows’ blood and 12 of pigs’ blood and found microplastics in all of them, including polyethylene and polystyrene. The 25 milk samples included milk from supermarket cartons, milk tanks on farms and hand-milking. Eighteen of the samples, including at least one of each type, contained microplastics.Seven of the eight beef samples and five of the eight pork samples were contaminated. “It remains unknown if there are any potential toxicological risks of these findings,” the report said. Farm animals and meat have yet to be tested in other countries, but microplastics were reported in purchased milk in Switzerland in 2021 and farm milk in France.Maria Westerbos at the Plastic Soup Foundation, which commissioned the research, said: “With microplastics present in livestock feed, it is not surprising that a clear majority of the meat and dairy products tested contained microplastics. We urgently need to rid the world of plastic in animal feed to protect the health of livestock and humans.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
'Pure love and trust': Donna Air's daughter Freya Aspinall, 18, shares wild bond with a lion as she posts photo of pet cub nibbling her arm Published: 05:22 EDT, 27 July 2022 | Updated: 05:38 EDT, 27 July 2022 Most teenagers would be terrified to come face to face with a lion, but Freya Aspinall is made of sterner stuff.The 18-year-old, who spent her childhood at her father Damian's wildlife parks in Kent, has shared an Instagram photo of her pet lion Azi nibbling her arm.Freya, whose mother is actress and TV presenter Donna Air, says she has a close bond with the one-year-old after following her father into conservation work. Wild behaviour: Donna Air's daughter Freya Aspinall, who spent her childhood at her father Damian's wildlife parks, has shared an Instagram photo of her pet lion Azi nibbling her arm 'We had to hand-raise Azi because his mother rejected him,' she says. 'From this, I was able to develop a completely natural relationship with him. No training, no taming. Pure love and trust.'Freya is the only daughter of Damian and Donna, was just 21 when she met and fell in love with the multimillionaire, who was 40 at the time.They were introduced at a dinner party in 2000 by their mutual friend, former It Girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, and went on to have a seven year relationship. Bond: Freya says she has a close bond with the one-year-old after following her father into conservation work Mum: Freya is the only daughter of Damian and Donna, was just 21 when she met and fell in love with the multimillionaire, who was 40 at the timeThe couple famously hit the headlines when Freya was a baby, announcing they were planning to place their daughter in a gorilla enclosure at Damian's animal park and allow her to be carried off by the female of the group.It was a ritual Damian had carried out with his first two daughters, Tansy, 33, and Clary, 30, from his 15-year marriage to Louise Sebag-Montefiore. Damian has carried on the legacy of his late father John Aspinall who encouraged close contact between animals and keepers at Kent park Howletts and its sister site Port Lympne.Damian's dad John bought Howletts with his gambling winnings in 1956 and moved his family there from central London. Working together: Freya has entered the family business, with Damian and Donna backing their daughter's decision to drop out of school and follow him into conservation Natural talent: Freya recently part in a rewilding mission in the Congo and Damian made her the star of his documentary Freya & The Gorillas: An Incredible Rewilding JourneyFollowing his father's death, Damian has has managed the parks through the John Aspinall Foundation, a charity named for his father.Now Freya has entered the family business, with Damian and Donna backing their daughter's decision to drop out of school and follow him into conservation. Freya recently took part in a rewilding mission in the Congo and Damian made her the star of his documentary Freya & The Gorillas: An Incredible Rewilding Journey. Established in 1989, the Aspinall Foundation's gorilla orphanage was the first of its kind in the world, and has rescued over 80 gorillas since then. The Foundation has also reintroduced over 70 gorillas back into the wild, including 26 that were raised in its two parts, Port Lympne and Howletts. Childhood: The couple famously hit the headlines when Freya was a baby, announcing they were planning to place their daughter in a gorilla enclosure at Damian's animal park Advertisement
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
DEAR JOAN: A few days ago, I caught on camera a skunk out front, right before sunrise. Not too surprised, as over the years I have caught strong whiffs of them.
Last night, just after midnight, my camera and light came on at the rear on my patio. I was surprised to see a skunk on my fenced-in patio. We have two dogs that we let out for quick relief at night, and I definitely do not want them to encounter a skunk.
I see that you can buy skunk repellent, but one solution was to have motion sensor lights, and as soon as the lights came on, the skunk did scurry away.
Should we be concerned and take measures or just be aware when letting them out back in the evening? Mike, Fremont DEAR MIKE: Letting dogs out is a concern night or day, especially if you know you’ve had skunk visitors. I’m not saying never let your dogs out — just that you don’t know what they might encounter. Usually, nothing, but it’s a good idea to take precautions.
Skunks tend to be nocturnal, coming out at dusk and returning to their dens at dawn, but you can’t always rely on a skunk. They sometimes like the daytime, too, especially if they’re looking for food, water or a new home. While the motion-activated lights work at night, they aren’t going to shoo away a skunk in the daytime.
Skunk repellents can work, but it depends a lot on the determination of the skunk. If they have a strong need to be in your yard, they’ll come regardless. The same goes for the lights. It doesn’t take long for the skunk to realize the lights aren’t really a threat to them.
The best way to keep a skunk out of your yard is to use a combination of repellents and lights, maybe throw in a motion-activated sprinkler and remove or minimize the things that could be attracting them, such as pet food, water dishes and cozy spots under decks or sheds where they can make a den. Always give your backyard a once-over before letting the dogs out, especially at night, when they are more likely to encounter one.
Beaver festival
It’s time to celebrate the Martinez beavers with the 13th annual Beaver Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at Susana Park, Susana and Estudillo streets in Martinez.
The festival, which includes a children’s parade, food, music, chalk art, stuffed beaver giveaways, a silent auction and even a salmon mystery to solve. The event celebrates a decision 15 years ago that saved the beavers that had taken up residence in Alhambra Creek. Their natural tendency to build a dam had caused street flooding in downtown Martinez, and officials were planning to capture and remove the creatures.
There’s where Worth a Dam, a group of concerned residents, stepped in, found a mechanical solution to the flooding and saved the beavers and their dam. In turn, the decision to allow the beavers to remain helped restore other wildlife to the creek and marsh — a win all around. Although the beavers left the area in 2017, possibly because the ongoing drought raised the salinity in the creek, other wildlife, as well as the spirit of cooperation, have continued to thrive.
Contact Joan Morris at jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Have a question for Joan?
Use this form to submit questions. Photos should be mailed separately to jmorris@bayareanewsgroup.com.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A man has received a suspended sentence after admitting to poisoning his neighbours’ cats.Tristian Paul Pearson was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months for targeting the family pets Luna and Bailey and luring them into consuming the toxic substance ethylene glycol.Luna and Bailey died shortly after the poisonings took place in early September 2021, when within a week of each other they returned home appearing unwell.Bailey. Photograph: Family handout/PABoth cats seemed weak and wobbly in their legs, with Bailey, a male Persian, dying before he could be seen by a vet. Luna, who was later found to have kidney failure, had to be put down by a vet to stop her suffering.At a hearing on Friday, Cardiff crown court heard how after their deaths the cats’ devastated owners, a father and daughter who lived in two separate houses near Pearson’s home, began searching their neighbours’ gardens. When they looked into the rear garden of Pearson’s property they spotted two pots: one that contained a bright blue liquid and another that appeared to have tuna in it.The pots were passed to the RSPCA and both were found to have a high concentration of ethylene glycol, a highly toxic substance to cats. An expert veterinary witness report concluded it was “very highly likely that this [the pots] was the source of ethylene glycol that caused the death of” Luna and Bailey.A vet statement added that the “effects of ethylene glycol poisoning cause a cat to suffer via the mechanism of dehydration with subsequent headaches, nausea, disorientation, weakness and collapse”.Pearson, 44, of Bargoed in south Wales, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to protected animals. He was ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from keeping all animals for five years – a ban he may not contest for at least four years. He was also ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTThe RSPCA inspector Simon Evans, who investigated the case, said: “These poor cats were deliberately tempted into digesting a substance that is incredibly dangerous for cats and ultimately proved fatal to them both. The two dishes found in the defendant’s garden contained a high concentration of the dangerous substance – and he admitted in court that he caused them to consume it, causing them to suffer unnecessarily.“We hope this shocking, landmark case sends a clear message to anyone thinking of targeting cats in this way – this is wrong, illegal and will not be tolerated.”The RSPCA believes it is the first case to be referred to a crown court since the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 came into force. It increased the maximum sentence that could be imposed on offenders from six months to five years.Evans added: “This case reminds us that pet poisonings do happen. Anyone fearing their cat may have been poisoned should try to remain calm, move the cat away from the source and contact a vet straight away.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By Michelle RobertsDigital health editorImage source, Getty ImagesA rise in exotic pet ownership means snakebite injuries are becoming more common in the UK, doctors are warning. In the last 11 years medics have seen and treated 300 victims. Some 72 of the patients were teenagers or children - 13 were under the age of five. Most of the people who had been bitten made a complete recovery, but some had to be treated in intensive care. One patient needed part of their finger amputating, and one man died.He was a reptile conservationist who had been bitten by a king cobra - the world's longest venomous snake. Measuring around 13 feet long, these snakes can rise or "stand up" to reach an adult's eye level. Snake venom is a neurotoxin that can stop the victim's breathing and heartbeat.Those who saw the incident said that, after being bitten, the man staggered about "as if drunk" and then collapsed. Image source, Getty ImagesWitnesses tried to resuscitate him while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Despite being given 10 vials of antivenom by the emergency services, he died from a cardiac arrest. It's possible he had an allergic reaction to the antivenom, say doctors in the journal Clinical Toxicology. The amateur snake keeper who lost part of their finger because the tissue died was also treated with antivenom. They had been bitten by a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to Mozambique.Image source, Getty ImagesThey are considered to be among the most dangerous snakes in Africa. Their fangs can spray venom up to three metres, and their bite can be lethal. According to the World Health Organization, there are more than 250 species of venomous snake - most are native to Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. The UK has three native snake species - the adder, the grass snake and the smooth snake. Only the adder is venomous. It is not illegal to keep some exotic reptiles as pets. The RSPCA advises people to research as much as possible about what it entails before buying one, since caring for them properly can be challenging. If you have a pet python, for example, it advises: "Do not handle your python after handling prey as the snake may smell food and try to bite; wash hands well first."In the study, the researchers logged 321 exotic snakebites from 68 different species. Of those who were bitten, 15 had severe symptoms.One of the study authors, Prof David Warrell from Oxford University, said: "Most of these bites occur to fingers, hands and wrists following deliberate handling interaction by people who keep snakes as part of their occupation or hobby."Prof Nicholas Casewell is the director of the Centre for Snakebite Research & Interventions at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He said it was important to distinguish between venomous snakes and non-venomous ones, such as corn snakes, which many High Street pet shops sell. Snakes, like other animals that bite, can be a safe pet.Ownership of many venomous species requires a special licence in the UK, meaning children shouldn't be handling them. "People keeping venomous ones should be careful and have a mitigation plan in place for if they are bitten," said Prof Casewell. He added that native adder bites in the UK were extremely rare. "You can find adders in some coastal areas - parts of the south-east, north Wales and the Yorkshire moors. Most snakes are not aggressive. You would have to be quite unfortunate to be bitten. "Very occasionally someone might step on one and get bitten. Or they might pick one up not realising it's an adder. The NHS has access to different antivenoms for these rare emergencies."Around the BBCRelated Internet LinksThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! John Miller, founder of America's VetDogs, appeared on "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Saturday morning to discuss Shea, a 6-month-old Labrador Retriever, who is training to be a service dog for a lucky veteran or first responder who qualifies.Volunteer Tom Rubing also appeared on the program to discuss the training process for the animals.The pups, once they're trained and are about 16-18 months old, are ready to be paired with the right individual. IVANA TRUMP LOVED DOGS — AND HER LEGACY OF CARE FOR ANIMALS WILL CONTINUE AFTER HER DEATH"The biggest thing we do is socialize them," said Rubing. A blind man and his golden retriever dog take a walk outside on a sunny day. That socialization includes preparing the animals to navigate such everyday tasks as grocery shopping, traveling, going to doctor's offices and more. Citi Field — home field of Major League Baseball's New York Mets in Queens, N.Y. — "is a great training venue," he added."Our mission is to help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence." Miller said, "We're a national organization that provides service dogs to veterans and service dogs. Everything we do is free of charge, so partnerships like the one we have with the Mets, with Shea, is really vital," he added."The best way to get to us is VetDogs.org, our website, and you can volunteer there, donate there — and if you need a service dog, you can apply there, too." America's VetDogs, based in Smithtown, N.Y., is looking for volunteers to help train and care for the puppies — as well as for veterans or first responders who might need and be eligible for a service dog. (iStock)The organization's website explains that America’s VetDogs specializes in placing highly skilled service and guide dogs to individuals with physical injuries, PTSD, hearing issues, vision loss and seizures."Our mission," the group says, "is to help those who have served our country honorably live with dignity and independence."BENGHAZI LEGEND MARK GEIST PRESENTS K9 SERVICE DOG TO COMBAT VETERAN IN NJThe campus is located in Smithtown, New York.Founded in 2003, America's VetDogs explains that those who are veterans or first responders should check out the information to see if they meet the organization's eligibility requirements. First responders who have work-related disabilities may be eligible for a dog free of charge from America's VetDogs. It lists the following requirements — plus others as well — for eligibility.You have served in any of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces from any era and have received an honorable discharge.You are a first responder who has a work-related disability.The eligibility requirements for a service dog include being able to meet the physical and emotional needs of the pet. You are visually or hearing impaired or physically disabled.You can participate in our two-week training program and will be committed to our training program and schedule.FAMILIES ARE RETURNING THEIR PETS TO ANIMAL SHELTERS DUE TO RISING RENTS AND INFLATION: ‘SO SAD’You are dedicated to maintaining the dog’s training throughout the life of the team and can provide for the well-being of the dog, which runs about $100 per month.You are able to meet the physical and emotional needs of a dog and have an appropriate support system in place to do so if/when you are unable to yourself.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPFor more information, anyone can check out VetDogs.org.All services are provided at no cost to clients — including the dog, transportation to and from the Smithtown facility, instruction and more, the group says. Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent on Twitter at @maurmack.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its monkeypox guidance to include dogs as animals that can catch the virus. The CDC tweaked its guidance after the first case of a pet dog suspected of contracting the virus from its owners was documented in France.Scientists said in a paper published in The Lancet medical journal last week that they'd found evidence of human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox. Before that, it was not clear whether the virus could be spread to dogs.Monkeypox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization on June 23. It is transmitted between humans through close contact with lesions or bodily fluids, and it's spreading in the United States and Europe among people who have not traveled to areas where it is known to be endemic.The case in France involves two male partners who live together and were not sexually exclusive. The men started showing symptoms of monkeypox a few days after sleeping with other partners.Twelve days after they first showed symptoms, their pet dog — a four-year-old Italian greyhound — also developed lesions and then tested positive for the monkeypox virus.The men reported having slept alongside their dog, though they said they had been careful to prevent him from coming into contact with any other people or pets from when their own monkeypox symptoms began.In countries where monkeypox is endemic, wild animals, including rodents and primates, can carry the virus. Captive primates in Europe have also contracted monkeypox from coming into contact with imported animals that were sick, but infection in domestic pets like dogs and cats had not previously been reported."To the best of our knowledge, the kinetics of symptom onset in both patients and, subsequently, in their dog suggest human-to-dog transmission of monkeypox virus," the researchers said in the study published in The Lancet.The researchers called for further investigation into secondary monkeypox transmission via pets."Our findings should prompt debate on the need to isolate pets from monkeypox virus-positive individuals," they wrote.The CDC recommends that people with monkeypox avoid close contact with animals, and that pets that have not been exposed to the virus be cared for by friends or family in another home until the owner or owners fully recover.Reflecting on the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, one year laterPolio vaccine inventor's son on resurgence of virus in U.S.Wyoming GOP primary election to test Rep. Liz Cheney and Trump’s hold over party
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Furry friends of all kinds can come from animal shelters, rescue organizations and breeders — but one pet nonprofit is different than most others.Peace of Mind Dog Rescue is a nonprofit organization with a mission to be a resource for senior people and, in many cases, senior dogs. The Pacific Grove, California, dog rescue works with seniors who need to forfeit their beloved animals due to illness or an inability to care for them — while also functioning as an adoption agency for these dogs. AMERICA'S VETDOGS OFFER FREE SERVICE DOGS TO OUR MILITARY AND FIRST RESPONDER HEROESCarie Broecker, executive director and co-founder, told Fox News Digital exactly how she came up with the idea for the nonprofit after she visited a friend in the hospital. Sheila and her dog Chex help clients at the Pacific Grove, Calif., dog rescue. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)"I was taking care of a little spaniel mix for a lady who had emphysema," she said. "She asked me if we should euthanize her [dog] … but [the dog] was healthy at seven years old."At that moment, Broecker decided she would make sure the dog found a good home when needed.The organization takes in pets that people can no longer care for — and then adopts them out to other homes. As she was leaving the hospital after visiting her friend, Broecker came up with the idea of creating a dog rescue for senior citizens who could no longer care for their pets. 4,000 BEAGLES RESCUED FROM VIRGINIA BREEDING FACILITY IN NEED OF NEW HOMESPeace of Mind Dog Rescue was born.The organization has a two-step process. It takes in pets that people can no longer care for — and then adopts them out to other homes. Ives and her foster mom Yves (pictured here) share a hug. Tiny little Ives is still up for adoption and has a lot of love to give. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)Every dog taken in by Peace of Mind is given a veterinary exam at the group's on-site veterinary clinic.Each dog is given a physical workup including blood work to ensure there are no underlying health issues. After this, the dog is ready to be put up for adoption. DOGS CAN HELP KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS SAFER AND REDUCE CRIME: NEW STUDYPeace of Mind began 13 years ago with just one volunteer. It has now grown to 1,300 volunteers and 23 paid staff members today. The dog rescue also offers other services after the adoption process as it continues to stay connected with almost all pets. Little Clementine, wearing an "adopt me" shirt, snuggles with foster mom Ellie. The pooch was recently adopted by a loving family. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)Their Helping Paw Program provides financial assistance to senior citizens and low-income pet parents who need help paying for veterinary care. "Our precious fur baby was suddenly sick, requiring four nights in the hospital," one Helping Paw client said. "[The] financial assistance allowed us to care for our pet [by] offering him life-saving measures."If senior citizens have to be admitted into the hospital for any reason and cannot care for their animals, Peace of Mind will place their dogs in a temporary home. Applicants can submit an online application on peaceofminddogrescue.org. The application will be reviewed, a visit will be scheduled with the dog and the organization will help if they can. Chiquito's favorite pastime is playing fetch. He gets along great with other dogs. He was recently adopted into a great home. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)The rescue also offers a temporary foster care system, so that if senior citizens have to be admitted into the hospital for any reason and cannot care for their animals, Peace of Mind will place their dogs in a temporary home."The support I receive as a foster, and the care they give each precious pooch, is remarkable," said one foster volunteer. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER"All the volunteers that I have interacted with have all gone out of their way to support me and the dogs I have fostered. I'm honored to be a part of such a compassionate community," another foster volunteer said. Little Grandpa Joe, shown here with two veterinary staff, gets an entry exam at the veterinary clinic at Peace of Mind Dog Rescue. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)Similar to their intake process, the perpetual care program allows seniors to pre-register their animals with the organization. If those seniors become severely illness or pass, Peace of Mind will take the pet when prompted. Broecker said they have roughly 100 dogs in this system right now. Pompy and his foster dad John (pictured here) are best friends. Pompy likes playing with his toys and with other dogs. (Peace of Mind Dog Rescue)On top of that, they also offer dog-walking services for seniors who are physically unable to walk their dogs. One client said, "The volunteers you have set me up with have restored my faith in humanity. They have gone above and beyond for my dog!"CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThis resource is rare among dog rescue organizations. "I don’t know of any other organization in the country that does the scope of what we do," Broecker said.The organization hopes to help one senior and one dog at a time. Brittany Kasko is a lifestyle production assistant with Fox News Digital.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Published August 21, 2022 1:30PM 150 pets saved from Surprise homeless encampment More than a hundred animals were rescued from a far West Valley homeless encampment, and now, these dogs are in need of a fur-ever home. FOX 10's Irene Snyder reports. CAVE CREEK, Ariz. - Nearly 150 dogs were rescued from a homeless camp in Arizona - and it was one of the people living there that called for help. The dogs, ranging in age from two days old to 17 years old, were surrendered to Sky Sanctuary Rescue in Cave Creek and to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. The sanctuary took 50, while the county took the rest. The owners were a family that had become homeless, and they were living with dozens of pups in the desert. They had asked the sanctuary for help after their camp was destroyed by recent monsoons. "It was shocking, I think, for most people to see the conditions that they were in, because it wasn't just the animals living in these conditions - it was the humans living in the conditions as well," said Elli Smith, founder of Sky Sanctuary. Sky Sanctuary captured footage of a homeless camp that held nearly 150 dogs. "It’s not often that members of the transient community reach out begging for help but when this family ended up homeless, in the brutal heat of the desert with the 150 animals they were so desperately trying to keep alive in the Arizona monsoons, we knew we had to help," read a Facebook post from Sky Sanctuary. Smith says the dogs were well-fed, each had a name, and when the owners surrendered them, she could see that it tore them apart. "Surprisingly enough, you could see they did the best with what they had to really take care of the animals, especially living in these conditions," Smith said. "I think that was their comfort…knowing they had their animals, so knowing after we left and took the animals that they were out there in the silence in the desert by themselves, it's really sad." Now, all these animals are looking for new homes, including the senior dogs that are starting to get much needed medical care. All the dogs have been rescued, but in the beginning, Elli said she prioritized those seniors for her sanctuary. "Like which animal is most likely to die in the shelter because the shelter can't afford medical care?" Smith said. "Those are the ones we chose." The dogs will be available for adoption, and some of them are available for pre-adoption right now. The shelter is also expanding and is asking for donations to keep them going. Learn more: https://skysanctuaryrescue.org/ More Arizona headlines Love Them All Rescue: Scottsdale shelter trains dogs to prep them for adoptionIconic 'Strong-Arm' Saguaro cactus topples in MaranaElderly Flagstaff couple trapped in home surrounded by mud wall: 'We can't get out'
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Two swans suspected of having bird flu were captured from the Charles River Monday and humanely euthanized, Boston city officials said.Boston’s Animal Care and Control division responded to the Charles River Esplanade after receiving “multiple calls about two sick swans,” according to Mayor Michelle Wu’s press office.With the help of the Boston Fire Department, an animal control officer managed to capture and the adult swans and take them to the city’s animal care facility.“Unfortunately the birds were quite ill, exhibiting symptoms consistent with Avian Influenza and were humanely euthanized,” Wu’s press office said in a statement.On Wednesday morning, the city’s Animal Care and Control division returned to the Esplanade and rescued five cygnets. The cygnets are being taken to the Cape Wildlife Center to be evaluated, Wu’s press office said.In March officials warned that avian influenza had been detected in multiple areas of Massachusetts. The virus has become more of a concern recently as Massachusetts officials have seen an uptick in reports of dead and dying seabirds. State officials are asking the public to report sick or dead birds at mass.gov/reportbirds. Poultry and other domestic birds suspected of having bird flu should be reported to the state Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1795.Emily Sweeney can be reached at emily.sweeney@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @emilysweeney and on Instagram @emilysweeney22.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Officials in Thailand arrested two women at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok after they said 109 live wild animals were found in their luggage before they boarded a plane.Sathon Khong-ngern, chief of the wildlife checkpoint at Suvarnabhumi Airport, told the Bangkok Post the animals were found Monday in two suitcases after an X-ray inspection.Wildlife officials discovered two white porcupines, two armadillos, 35 turtles, 50 lizards and 20 snakes in the baggage, Khong-ngern told the outlet.Police arrested Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana Ebrahim, 24, who were preparing to board a flight to Chennai, India, according to Khong-ngern.Two Indian women were arrested Sunday night at Suvarnabhumi Airport trying to board a TG flight with luggages filled with protected wildlife including 20 live snakes, 2 albino porcupines, 2 armadillos, 35 turtles & 50 lizards. The flight was heading to Chennai. #Thailand #KE pic.twitter.com/5mFbQjEKSM— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) June 27, 2022Bear death: Black bear dies after locking itself inside 140-degree car while sniffing for foodRecord python? Biologists catch record-breaking 215-pound Burmese python in Florida EvergladesThe women were charged with violating the Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act of 2019, the Animal Disease Act of 2015 and the Customs Act of 2017, the outlet reported.Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation could not immediately be reached for comment.Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 109 animals, snakes included, found in plane luggage: Thailand airport
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Crime July 7, 2022 / 7:05 AM / CBS/AP Authorities on Wednesday started hauling away 177 lions, tigers, jaguars and other exotic big cats that were found at an animal rescue center in the mountains on Mexico City's south side.The federal Attorney General's Office for Environmental Protection said 202 animals in all, including monkeys, dogs, donkeys and coyotes, were being taken to other locations.Dozens of heavily armed city police raided the "Black Jaguar White Tiger" animal sanctuary Tuesday after images of rail-thin, distressed and injured lions circulated on social media. .@comunalmx a través de la Fundación Comunal pone a disposición su plataforma crowdfunding para sumarse al rescate de los 200 felinos abandonados por Black Jaguar.De esta manera todos podremos contribuir con su comida, curaciones, veterinarios y traslado.https://t.co/m0bMeZybw3— AZCARM (@azcarmx) July 6, 2022 The founder of the reserve told local media that he had rescued some of the animals and that some of them arrived in bad shape. "It all started with a worker who had been laid off recently and he had lots of video evidence showing abused animals," Association of Zoos President Ernesto Zazueta told Reuters. "We tried to approach (the sanctuary's) area at the back, where you can see animals in very bad conditions – animals down to their bones, with mange, maimed, some of them had had their tails cut out, some with bugs." Gracias por compartir toda esta importante información. Además de rescatar a los 200 animales silvestres que quedan, la mayoría en muy mala condición física, es muy importante que le exijamos a las autoridades castigo ejemplar para el delincuente Eduardo Serio. https://t.co/j8gJGr0Z5H— AZCARM (@azcarmx) July 7, 2022 Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch said the property had been seized "for the crime of improper use of property and mistreatment of animals." City police said in a statement that "according to the inspection, the property where the animals were kept is zoned for agricultural or grazing purposes, not for keeping the kind of species found."Under Mexican law, private individuals can register to keep exotic cats and other animals in supervised wildlife management units. The facility raided Tuesday appears to have filed such paperwork.But the animal rights advocacy group PETA called the site a "false sanctuary," saying it had been complaining for years that the facility was engaged in abusive practices.PETA said the lions, tigers and jaguars were held in relatively small fenced-in pens, sometimes with more than one animal per enclosure, and also were forced to interact with humans for "selfies" or videos. The Association of Zoos, Breeders and Aquariums of Mexico said its members would volunteer to take charge of the animals.But Mexican drug cartel members illegally keeping big cats and the country's 2015 ban on animal acts in circuses have both contributed to the saturation of animal shelters and rescue facilities."Several of our facilities are already saturated with wild animals from various rescues, ranging from circuses to hundreds of seizures of illegal trafficking" of animals, Zazueta said. "But we cannot allow these animals, many of which are endangered, to continue in these deplorable health conditions and malnourishment."Zazueta said some of the monkeys and three lions might be taken to Mexico City zoos as soon as Wednesday and there were plans to send 50 of the animals on Thursday to zoos west of the capital and in the northern states of Gunajuato and Sinaloa.The animals were in "a horrible situation," he said. "Some of their tails are missing, they had been eaten. Others lack an eye, an ear. They are very, very thin, dehydrated."The founder of the refuge has said that donations to the reserve had dropped during the coronavirus pandemic.Mexican narcos have long had a fascination with exotic animals. Last month, a spider monkey dressed up as a drug gang mascot was found shot to death after a gunbattle. Photos from the scene of a shootout in Texcaltitlan with police in which 11 drug gang members died, showed a small monkey - dressed in a tiny camouflage jacket and a tiny "bullet-proof" vest - sprawled across the body of a dead gunman who was apparently his owner.Also in June, a 450-pound tiger wandered streets in the Pacific coast state of Nayarit, and a man died from being mauled when he tried to pet a captive tiger in a cartel-dominated area of western Michoacan state. A Bengal Tiger roaming around town and then gets taken home without any resistance. This happened in Tecuala, Mexico. pic.twitter.com/TtDwbHAjRT— ⭐️Amazing Posts (@AmazingPosts_) June 15, 2022 In: Mexico Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Radioactive wild boar are invading towns in southern Germany. They take out a man in a wheelchair; they break through fences and roam the roads, shutting down highway traffic; they travel in packs scavenging for food. Police scramble to restore order in urban centers. The radioactive boar are armed with a postapocalyptic payload; they live in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. By foraging on radioactive plants, the animals embody the return of a disaster many seek to repress. Following the collapse and meltdown of a reactor at Chernobyl, more than 100,000 people were evacuated from the 20-mile Exclusion Zone around the nuclear power plant. Residents exposed to the radiation suffered from radiation poisoning, leukemia, and thyroid cancer. Estimates are that some 4,000 people could die from illnesses related to the accident.Now in the Exclusion Zone, amid cracked streets overgrown with weeds, a bear paws its way across a decaying town. Markers of human habitation are slowly faltering into dilapidated ruin. Paint peels from buildings and windows have lost their glass. Signs stand askew, signaling to no one their formerly relevant information about a street name, a grocery store, café service hours. In abandoned pastures there are only sparse indications of the former crops, while native grasses convert the space into a meadow. There, short stocky horses—the only subspecies never domesticated—run wild where humans will never plant again. Thick-haired bison roam woods and fields that they have not known for centuries. Without fear of being hunted, the animals flourish in an eerily mutant, post-human wildlife sanctuary where radiation remains 10 to 100 times higher than is safe for occupancy. Rare species not seen in the region for hundreds of years have returned, including the Przewalski’s horse, the European bison, the lynx, and the Eurasian brown bear.As for the radioactive boar several hundred miles away in Germany, with an omnivorous appetite and sturdy snouts for rooting out food, they consume their landscape. They eat acorns, nuts, and insects but also unearth truffles, tubers, and mushrooms, which absorb high degrees of radioactive waste that, decades ago, drifted downwind from the power plant meltdown. In droves, the boar make their way into the nearby towns intent upon a density of food in trash cans, park bins, and alleys. Weighing in at some 400 pounds each and with tusks and unpredictable temperaments, they are given right of way in urban areas. A coarse-haired wildness stands at odds with the orderly small-town environments in which they find themselves.Decades hence, Chernobyl fades from memory. Generations have passed for humans. But for the radioactive elements that the disaster unleashed, life has just begun. The nuclear reactor core fire lives on, but invisibly. And the boar carry it with them. They bear the materiality of our failed technology and the indifference to life of a radioactive isotope.Perhaps we should pay more heed to our fictions. Godzilla, a fabricated prehistoric marine reptile monster empowered by nuclear radiation, reminded Japan and the rest of the world that radioactive material is a beast more forceful and longer living than humans can imagine. Godzilla makes the otherwise invisible nuclear threat visible. His overall indifference to humans makes him a fitting avatar for radioactive material.The Godzilla films spawned other notable monsters, including the massive radiant moth creature Mothra, accompanied by small humanoid twins who speak on the creature’s behalf. Mothra appeared in 16 movies, including Godzilla vs. Mothra in 1964 and its remake in 1992 and Rebirth of Mothra, which, like the Rocky series, had a number of unfortunate sequels. Of the many Japanese monster films, Mothra vs. Bagan never made it past a screenplay, but it should have. Bagan is a massive multihorned rhino with wings, who, thousands of years ago, protected the earth from threats. Cut to the present as Bagan is released from captivity in a glacier that melts because of global warming. As protector of nature, the monster sets out to destroy humanity, which is destroying the earth. Throngs of people meet their doom while the rest plead for help. Mothra hears their cries and flies to their aid. But help is short-lived as Bagan soundly savages Mothra in what would be an epic scene for an actor wearing a latex costume and a puppet moth with cardboard wings. With the monster moth defeated, all seems lost. But on a remote island, one of the moth monster’s eggs hatches and a new Mothra is born. After various plot twists and suspense, the young Mothra defeats Bagan, protector of the earth. While it is clear the earth needs saving, we have a problem scripting ourselves out of existence for the betterment of the nonhuman world. It is as though Mothra vs. Bagan replays itself over and over again. While Bagan returns time and again, one day there may not be a Mothra spawn to save humanity.Other nuclear disaster movies followed the Japanese franchise. In the 1954 Hollywood monster film Them!, an early atomic bomb test in New Mexico mutates common ants into giant, human-killing beasts. As the wise character Dr. Harold Medford (played by the Miracle on 34th Street Santa Edmund Gwenn) observes: “We may be witnesses to a Biblical prophecy come true: ‘And there shall be destruction and darkness come upon creation and the beast shall reign over the earth.’” Mystery and ominousness ruled the day. “If these monsters got started as a result of the first atomic bomb in 1945,” Gunsmoke cowboy actor James Arness asks of Gwenn’s Medford at the film’s conclusion, “what about all the others that have been exploded since then?” To which Medford replies: “Nobody knows. When Man entered the atomic age, he opened a door into a new world. What we’ll eventually find in that new world, nobody can predict.”But as the proliferation of weapons gave way to the less immediately threatening use of nuclear energy for power, the peril of radiation diminished in human consciousness. It became an inhuman force under control as culture triumphed over nature. Even when disasters strike—like at Chernobyl and then later Fukushima, where radioactive boar have also been reported—humanity tends to forget.Human control comes with a dose of repression. We bury the unwanted. We look away from the hideous progeny of our disasters. If we keep busy enough and avoid looking at minor changes, everything is fine. But the doses of repression build up; the minor starts to grow into something major. We convince ourselves that this must be a once-in-a-hundred-year sort of event. Until the once-in-a-hundred-year perfect storm seems to happen more and more often, until despite our best efforts the cancerous growth cannot be ignored.People want to move forward from calamities like Chernobyl and Fukushima into a more hopeful, optimistic future. Our machines will carry us into brighter worlds. “We were promised flying cars!” we cry. We who feel a technocultural imperative want to forget our vulnerability as bodies on earth and get on with our cultural lives. There are quips to tweet, dinners to serve, and a veneer of stability and progress to maintain. But recall the exploit—that humans and animals may live in different perceptual worlds but corporeally share the same earth—which the revolution leverages as an opening to rupture culture. The animals won’t let us forget our disasters or the earth we share. They carry our past along with them. In eastern Germany, the radioactive cesium-137 levels in wild boar are six times the European Union limits for safe hunting and consumption of game. Geiger counter stations stand sentinel to remind citizens of an invisible toxicity. Hunters can haul their game to check for radiation levels and the machines read the toxicity in flesh and fur. There is nowhere to run from the geological time of radiation and the evolutionary time of animals carrying the disaster’s ongoing effects back to us. They are the return of the repressed!These unpaid actors of ecological remembering are not tricked out in Japanese monster costumes. There is no man in a latex suit, no puppetry, no scale models. The Exclusion Zone and sanctuary around Chernobyl is also known by the almost existential title “Zone of Alienation.” Who is alienated if not we humans? First from a time outside of human time—the half-life of radioactive elements—and then from physical bodies that do not conform to planned technological progress. Even though these beasts seem more modest than our fictions imagined, creatures like the boar have become the real Godzillas and Bagans, invading our cities tusk and snout to remind us of the (breached) boundaries of human control.Americans are not immune to the invasions found in Europe and Asia. In November 2010, a small brown rabbit nibbles his way to the border of the Hanford nuclear site in Washington state—the largest nuclear site in the Western Hemisphere. There in a grassy plain are some tasty morsels in a small enclosure. Tentatively, with whiskers twitching, he enters the opening and snap, the rabbit is trapped in a cage. Hopping and pushing frantically against the shut metal door, the coney looks to make an escape. After what seems like hours, the animal gives up and awaits his fate. Humans in white suits come and pick up the box. The rabbit, now weary and wary, is hauled from the confines and “inspections” begin. Later, a report emerges from the lab. The animal is highly contaminated with radioactive cesium.Hanford is the site of the first nuclear reactor and the facility that fed plutonium to the “Fat Man” bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan. The bunny seems innocuous enough, until one realizes that it, being a rabbit, breeds. There must be more out there inadvertently foraging for radiation from the site and adding more potential carriers of radioactivity. And why stop at rabbits, since there are myriad animals across the Hanford site? How many? As the movie character Dr. Medford says, nobody knows.The Hanford reactor was put out of service in 1988 but left behind millions of tons of solid waste and hundreds of billions of gallons of liquid waste from its decades of producing plutonium. The radioactive material is buried underground in dark pits and holding ponds where—like the repression of a bad memory—it has been forgotten. As the US Department of Energy explains: “Depending on when the waste was buried, records about what was buried and where it was buried can be either very good, or in some cases, very bad.” As inhuman time moves onward, liquid waste continues to soak into the soil. The membranes designed to separate nature and culture have worn down, and radioactive rabbits are the result. The bad memories return.A decade after Fukushima, three decades after Chernobyl, and seven after the Manhattan Project, the boar and bunnies wandering in the wake of disaster continue to bring us a gift. It is the same lesson we began to explore with Godzilla but quickly relegated only to fiction: the human trajectory of technological and social progress has produced by-products that linger on a scale of time and space far larger than humanity can easily understand. The Chernobyl boar are not just visitors from the past, it turns out. Thanks to the longevity of radiation, they are also visitors from the future, a future of continued radioactivity and leaking between the membranes of culture and nature. To take their gift seriously would require accepting the repressed detritus of human progress and incorporating that aftermath into the idea of progress, rather than believing that it remains safely buried, cordoned off, and forgotten. Are we willing to accept such a gift?It would mean looking steadfastly at a lengthy catalog of cultures’ mishaps written across the earth and in the bodies of animals. We would not be able to script a Mothra to save us. And we may have to abandon all hope of flying cars and other optimistic technocapitalist promises at the expense of other life on earth. Instead, it would be a hospitality to what revolutionary animals are telling us, bringing to us time and again. It would be fashioning our technologies to accommodate them and their messages. World-famous biologist E. O. Wilson has proposed a half-earth plan. We live in cities and make use of strategically planned areas over half of the earth and leave the rest for all other beings. Perhaps it seems impossible with the messy intermingling of humans and animals, but Wilson is opening himself to the message brought by the return of the repressed. He has created a speculative proposition and is asking us to make room for animals other than ourselves.Excerpted from Animal Revolution by Ron Broglio. Published by the University of Minnesota Press. Copyright 2022 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
It's a girl! Meet Nun cho ga, the most complete mummified baby woolly mammoth ever found in North America. The near-complete mummy was found in the Klondike gold fields within Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Traditional Territory in the Canadian province of Yukon, by miners working on Eureka Creek, the Yukon and Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin governments said in a joint press release."Being part of the recovery of Nun cho ga, the baby woolly mammoth found in the permafrost in the Klondike this week (on Solstice and Indigenous Peoples' Day!), was the most exciting scientific thing I have ever been part of, bar none," Dan Shugar, a professor in the geoscience department at the University of Calgary, wrote on Twitter. Being part of the recovery of Nun cho ga, the baby woolly mammoth found in the permafrost in the Klondike this week (on Solstice and Indigenous Peoples’ Day!), was the most exciting scientific thing I have ever been part of, bar none. https://t.co/WnGoSo8hPk pic.twitter.com/JLD0isNk8Y— Prof Dan Shugar (@WaterSHEDLab) June 24, 2022 Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin Elders named the mammoth calf Nun cho ga, which means "big baby animal" in the Hän language.Although the Yukon is world-renowned for the ice age animals discovered there, the release notes that "mummified remains with skin and hair are rarely unearthed" and calls Nun cho ga "the most complete mummified mammoth found in North America."The baby probably died more than 30,000 years ago, during the last ice age. Yukon government "As an ice age paleontologist, it has been one of my life long dreams to come face to face with a real woolly mammoth," Grant Zazula, a paleontologist for the government of Yukon, said in the release. "That dream came true today. Nun cho ga is beautiful and one of the most incredible mummified ice age animals ever discovered in the world. I am excited to get to know her more."
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
CHUBYNSKE, Ukraine -- Natalia Popova has found a new purpose in life: Rescuing wild animals and pets from the devastation wrought by the war in Ukraine.“They are my life,” says the 50-year-old, stroking a light-furred lioness like a kitten. From inside an enclosure, the animal rejoices at the attention, lying on her back and stretching her paws up toward her caretaker. Popova, in cooperation with the animal protection group UA Animals, has already saved more than 300 animals from the war; 200 of them went abroad and 100 found new homes in western Ukraine, which is considered safer. Many of them were wild animals who were kept as pets at private homes before their owners fled Russian shelling and missiles. Popova’s shelter in the Kyiv region village of Chubynske now houses 133 animals. It's a broad menagerie, including 13 lions, a leopard, a tiger, three deer, wolves, foxes, raccoons and roe deer, as well as domesticated animals like horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats and birds.The animals awaiting evacuation to Poland were rescued from hot spots such as eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, which see daily bombardments and active fighting. The Ukrainian soldiers who let Popova know when animals near the front lines need help joke that she has many lives, like a cat.“No one wants to go there. Everyone is afraid. I am also scared, but I go anyway,” she said. Often she is trembling in the car on her way to rescue another wild animal. “I feel very sorry for them. I can imagine the stress animals are under because of the war, and no one can help them,” Popova said.In most cases, she knows nothing about the animals she rescues, neither their names and ages nor their owners.“Animals don’t introduce themselves when they come to us,” she joked.For the first months of the war, Popova drove to war hot spots alone, but a couple from UA Animals recently offered to transport and help her.“Our record is an evacuation in 16 minutes, when we saved a lion between Kramatorsk and Sloviansk,” Popova said. An economist by education with no formal veterinary experience, she administered anesthesia on the lion because the animal had to be put to sleep before it could be transported.Popova says she has always been very attached to animals. In kindergarten, she built houses for worms and talked to birds. In 1999, she opened the first private horse club in Ukraine. But it wasn't until four years ago that she saved her first lion. An organization against slaughterhouses approached her with a request for help saving a lion with a broken spine. She did not know how she could help because her expertise was in horses. But when she saw a photo of the big cat, Popova could not resist.She built an enclosure and took in the lion the next morning, paying the owner. Later, Popova created a social media page titled “Help the Lioness,” and people began to write asking for help saving other wild animals. Yana, the first lioness she rescued, has become a family member since she could not find a new home due to a disability. Popova took care of her until she died two weeks ago.The shelter is just a temporary stop for the animals. Popova rehabilitates them and then looks for new homes for them. She feels a special connection with each big cat, but says she does not mind letting them go.“I love them, and I understand that I do not have the resources to provide them with the comfortable life they deserve,” says Popova.At first, she bankrolled the shelter with her own funds from the horse business. But since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the horse business has not been profitable. With more than $14,000 a month needed to keep animals healthy and fed, she has turned to borrowing, and seen her debt grow to $200,000. She gets some money from UA Animals and from donations, but worries about how to keep everything together have kept her up at night.“But I will still borrow money, go to hot spots and save animals. I can’t say no to them,” she said.Popova sends all her animals to the Poznań Zoo in Poland, which helps her evacuate them and find them new homes. Some animals have already been transported to Spain, France and South Africa. Her next project is sending 12 lions to Poland this week. With no end to the fighting in sight, Popova knows she will still be needed.“My mission in this war is to save wild animals,” she says.———Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Early on Monday morning, three gentle giants wandered out of a corral in the Kent countryside to become the first wild bison to roam in Britain for thousands of years.The aim is for the animals’ natural behaviour to transform a dense commercial pine forest into a vibrant natural woodland. Their taste for bark will kill some trees and their bulk will open up trails, letting light spill on to the forest floor, while their love of rolling around in dust baths will create more open ground. All this should allow new plants, insects, lizards, birds and bats to thrive.The Wilder Blean project, near Canterbury, is an experiment to see how well the bison can act as natural “ecosystem engineers” and restore wildlife. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.A more natural woodland should also absorb more carbon, helping to tackle the climate crisis. Global heating was evident as the bison were released, with England in the grip of a heatwave, and the early timing was to allow the bison to reach the shade of the woods before temperatures started to climb.European bison are the continent’s largest land animal – bulls can weigh a tonne – and were extinct in the wild a century ago, but are recovering through reintroduction projects across Europe.“The restoration of naturally functioning ecosystems is a vital and inexpensive tool in tackling the climate crisis,” said Evan Bowen-Jones, CEO at Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT). “We want Wilder Blean to mark the beginning of a new era for conservation in the UK. We need to revolutionise the way we restore natural landscapes, relying less on human intervention and more on natural engineers like bison, boar and beaver.”Paul Whitfield, director general of Wildwood Trust, said: “Not only this, but we’re giving people in the UK – for the first time in over a thousand years – the chance to experience bison in the wild. It’s a really powerful, emotional, visceral experience and it’s something we’ve lost in this country.”The three bison are an older female from the Highland wildlife park in Scotland, which will be the matriarch of the herd, plus two young females from Fota wildlife park in Cork, Ireland. “We could not have asked for a better matriarch,” said Donovan Wright, one of two new bison rangers employed by the project. “She’s very, very calm, she’s very confident.”They will be joined by a young bull from Germany in mid-August, whose arrival was delayed by import complications related to Brexit.The three females were fitted with tracking collars on Sunday, an approach that will allow the team to plot the animals’ movements and glean insights into the plants they interact with. Wright said bison are like giant seed banks. “As they move, they collect seeds, and then they [are] also dispersing seeds along the route.” At first the females will have a five-hectare double fenced area to explore, but this will increase to 50 hectares when the bull arrives. The animals will eventually have access to 200 hectares. Visitors to Blean Woods might be able to catch a glimpse of the bison from trails, the team said.Bison-sized tunnels are also being built to allow the animals to safely cross existing footpaths. They are contained by two fences, one of which is electric. The bison in other UK wildlife parks are contained in smaller areas and receive supplementary feeding.“I cannot wait to see how the bison start to shape the Blean over a five-, 10-, 20-year period as they settle into their new home and start throwing their weight around,” said Tom Gibbs, the other bison ranger.The rangers have spent time at the Kraansvlak project in the Netherlands, where people can now walk freely through the area occupied by 14 bison. There has never been a dangerous incident.The bison will soon be joined by other grazing animals, including Exmoor ponies, iron age pigs and Longhorn cattle, whose natural behaviours compliment the bison in managing the landscape without the need for human intervention. Their impact will be closely watched over the long term, including soil sampling and worm counts, examining the vegetation structure and monitoring invertebrates, birds and mammals.“If we can create diverse, dynamic, bio-abundant habitats in our crowded corner of the south-east, why shouldn’t we be doing it in our national parks and protected landscapes?” said Paul Hadaway, director of conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust.The rangers expect the bison to breed, with females producing one calf a year, and the Wilder Blean site is licensed for up to 10 animals. In future, they hope to provide bison to found other sites in the UK, as well as exchanging animals across Europe.All 7,000 bison living in Europe are descended from just 12 zoo animals, and the species is still classed as vulnerable, so maximising genetic diversity is very important. The £1.1m project was funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A scheme testing an oral contraceptive pill on grey squirrels in the UK is producing 'hopeful results', experts say.It is estimated there are currently around three million grey squirrels in the country, and they are causing damage to young trees by stripping away their bark.They have also driven the native red squirrel to the verge of extinction in many parts of the UK, due to being stronger than reds and carrying a disease fatal to them.It is hoped that providing contraception to the animals will humanely limit their population and allow red squirrels and tree populations to thrive.Lord Kinnoull, chairman of the UK Squirrel Accord (UKSA) and Red Squirrel Survival Trust, said: 'This is a vital milestone on the road to enabling forestry to play fully its part in the climate battle, while preserving our native broadleaf trees and allowing our native red squirrels to return.' Grey squirrels were initially imported to the UK from North America as souvenirs by collectors, animal lovers and wealthy landowners in the Victorian era. Their population grew quickly due to their ability cope with new landscapes, and are now known as an Invasive Alien species Grey squirrels are one the main reasons for local extinctions of red squirrels (pictured) in large areas of the UK, as they directly compete with them. As they are larger and stronger, they greys are able to take a larger share of available food and steal from red squirrels' food caches WHY ARE RED SQUIRRELS ENDANGERED IN THE UK? There are only an estimated 160,000 red squirrels in the UK, with just 15,000 in England.The grey squirrel is the main reason for the decline of the red squirrel. As they are larger and stronger, they greys are able to take a larger share of available food and steal from red squirrels' food caches. Outside of the UK, red squirrels are common across continental Europe and Asia, especially in areas where grey squirrels have not been introduced. Habitat loss has also contributed to the red squirrel’s decline. This occurs when areas of woodland are destroyed or become separated by development and changing land-use.This leads to isolated areas which cannot sustain viable populations of wildlife, including red squirrels in some places. Squirrelpox virus is fatal to red squirrels but is carried by grey squirrels without causing them any harm.Source: The Wildlife Trusts UKSA-funded laboratory trials from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) have been looking into an oral contraceptive as a non-lethal way to manage grey squirrels.Lead scientist Dr Giovanna Massei told the BBC that her team have developed a vaccine that temporarily restricts the production of sex hormones in squirrels.This renders both male and female greys infertile, and further tests are being carried out to increase its longevity and safety in the wild.The team have also developed special bait boxes with a weighted door that can only be accessed by grey squirrels.Apha says that, over a four-day trial period in Yorkshire and Wales, it allowed more than 70 per cent of local grey squirrel populations to get in and eat from them, while excluding other species.The agency is testing different methods of keeping red squirrels out of the feeders, so contraceptives could be used in areas where there are both types of squirrel.They are exploring a trigger plate with a weight threshold, so it only opens the feeder for heavier grey squirrels.The researchers are not currently using the contraceptive in the natural landscape, but are carrying out further testing and landscape-scale field trials.They hope to spike hazelnut spread with their drug to put into the special feeders, and it could be ready to deploy within two years.If successful, a similar scheme could be carried out for other invasive species like rats, mice and deer in future.Grey squirrels were thought to have been introduced to the UK from North America from the 1870s onwards.They were initially imported as souvenirs by collectors, animal lovers and wealthy landowners in the Victorian era.Some personal pets would escape from the collections, and others were deliberately released into country estates. Their population grew quickly due to their ability to cope with new landscapes, and these days they are known as an Invasive Alien species.Grey squirrels cause damage to woodlands by stripping bark from trees aged between 10 and 50 years, the young trees in a forest. Apha says it has a feeder with a weighted door that allows more than 70 per cent of local grey squirrel populations to get in and eat from them, while excluding other species HOW IS THE CONTRACEPTIVE BEING TRIALLED? UKSA-funded laboratory trials have been looking into an oral contraceptive as a non-lethal way to manage grey squirrels.They have also developed special feeding sites that can only be accessed by them, and not other hungry wildlife. Apha says it has a feeder with a weighted door that allows more than 70 per cent of local grey squirrel populations to get in and eat from them, while excluding other species.The agency is testing different methods of keeping red squirrels out of the feeders, so contraceptives could be used in areas where there are both types of squirrel.Body weight could be key to helping to distinguish between greys and reds, as greys are generally much heavier.The researchers are not currently using the contraceptive in the natural landscape, but are carrying out further testing and landscape-scale field trials. This can kill the tree or leave scarring that allows entry to pests and disease which stunt their growth.They target broad-leafed varieties, including oak, which are ecologically important because they are support so many other species.Oak alone supports 2,300 species of wildlife and the size of the trees means they lock away a significant amount of carbon, helping the fight against climate change.The grey squirrels are also one the main reasons for local extinctions of red squirrels in large areas of the UK, as they directly compete with them.As they are larger and stronger, the greys are able to take a larger share of available food and steal from red squirrels' food caches.They also carry disease such as the squirrelpox virus, which greys are immune to but can infect and kill red squirrels.As a result, efforts have been made to eliminate the grey squirrel for the past 70 years. They breed very quickly and have few natural predators, meaning culls in the past have been largely unsuccessful.It is thought that without human intervention, red squirrels will be extinct in the UK within 20 years. UKSA now has the funds to cover the research of the grey squirrel fertility control project. Environment minister Lord Benyon described invasive grey squirrels as 'pests' who cause 'untold damage in the British countryside'.He said that 'important research on oral contraception shows promising signs that could help to eradicate the grey squirrel in the UK in a non-lethal way, as well as helping to recover our beloved red squirrel'.Gideon Henderson, the chief scientific adviser at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: 'Fertility control can be an effective method complementing other approaches to wildlife management. 'This UK Squirrel Accord & Defra funded study aims to produce an immuno-contraceptive that can be orally administered to grey squirrels through a species-specific delivery mechanism. Apha is testing different methods of keeping red squirrels out of the feeders, so contraceptives could be used in areas where there are both types of squirrel. Body weight could be key to helping to distinguish between greys and reds A stoat investigating a bait hopper being used for a trial by the Animal and Plant Health Agency'This innovative research has great potential to provide an effective, easily-applied and non-lethal method for managing grey squirrel populations. 'It will help red squirrels – native to the UK – expand back into their natural habitats, as well as protecting UK woodland and increasing biodiversity.'Vanessa Fawcett, of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust, said: 'Without effective conservation management, red squirrels could face further local extinctions across the UK.'Research into developing an oral contraceptive for the grey squirrel is at an advanced stage. 'We are deeply grateful to all those who supported us so far on our journey to offer a new solution to effectively manage grey squirrel populations.'Rebecca Isted, of the Forestry Commission, said she was 'optimistic these trials could eventually lead to a significant change of approach in the management of these animals'.She added that the Forestry Commission is updating the Government's Grey Squirrel Action Plan, and will later set out its aims to better understand and manage the negative impacts of grey squirrels.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Sunny, a beautiful cat with bright green eyes and a pink nose, was recently surrendered to Marin Humane for biting her guardian five times. It didn’t take long to learn the likely reason Sunny was biting — she’d been declawed.
Declawing, once touted as a solution to a cat’s pesky scratching of furniture or other places, is an inhumane, non-therapeutic surgery that involves the amputation of the animal’s toes at the last joint. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.
According to the Paw Project, “Most people do not realize that bone — not only the nail — is removed. Declawing can result in chronic pain for the cat’s life as well as behavioral issues.”
Scratching is a normal and healthy behavior for cats. They mark their territory that way, stretch their shoulders and back, and it’s their first line of defense. It also lets them fight off an attack as well as retreat as their claws allow them to climb up and out of harm’s way. If a cat doesn’t have claws, they’ll often resort to biting as their only available defense. And in homes with more than one cat, a declawed cat may act out by urinating or defecating outside the litter box. A recent study by Maddie’s Fund found that “cats in multi-cat households that have been declawed are three times more likely to fail to use the litter box appropriately than those with intact claws.”
There is a simple solution to a cat scratching in inappropriate places like your furniture — give them a great alternative to scratch. Pet supply stores are filled with options such as cat trees, scratching posts and simple boxes made of corrugated cardboard. Your cat will quickly learn to exercise those scratching instincts where they’re supposed to. Pro tip: add a little cat nip to the item when you first bring it home.
Learning to safely trim your cat’s nails will also be a big help and avoid accidental scratches to us humans. The ideal scenario is to get them used to nail trims when they’re kittens but even adult cats can learn to tolerate regular manicures. Pro tip No. 2: wrapping the cat in a towel helps.
Declawing has never been common in most other countries, and, in fact, it is illegal or considered unethical by the veterinary profession in most of the world, according to the Paw Project. For years, many animal welfare organizations, including Marin Humane, have sought to ban declawing in California yet so far, this gruesome practice remains legal except in a few municipalities in Southern California. Fortunately, we have another chance at banning this unnecessary mutilation if the California Anti-Declaw Bill AB 2606 is passed.
In late May, the California Assembly voted to pass it with a floor vote of 60-5. The bill now will go to the state Senate for committee hearings. The bill must pass the state Senate and be signed by the governor before becoming law. Marin Humane encourages people who share our position against this inhumane practice to contact their state representatives and voice their opinion. Lastly, remember that Marin Humane’s feline behavior team is here to help. Go to marinhumane.org/oh-behave or call 415-506-6284.
Lisa Bloch is the marketing and communications director for Marin Humane, which contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Find us on social media @marinhumane or email lbloch@marinhumane.org.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Pet-owners are increasingly unable to afford their animals as the cost of living crisis bites, according to welfare charities.The Dogs Trust has received 15,000 calls this year from owners asking about the process of giving up their dogs to be rehomed.
The figure is up 54% from this year, and the highest ever since the charity's contact centre opened in 2014.In the first five months of 2022, the RSPCA took in 49% more rabbits, 14% more cats and 3% more dogs than the same period in 2021. Its research suggests cat-owners are the most impacted and concerned about cost of living pressures.Dogs Trust CEO Owen Sharp said they were speaking to families "forced to make impossible choices because of their financial situations". They had even received a call from a lady who was "distraught because she felt she had no choice but to give up the family dog; she was facing a decision between feeding him or her children," he said.
Costs of things like pet food have increased following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which fuelled inflation in the UK that could rise to 13%. More on Cost Of Living 'We don't keep a lot in our fridge' - how one family is dealing with cost of living squeeze as recession looms Sixteen million people cut back on food and essentials during cost-of-living crisis, ONS survey finds Child poverty in key worker households is increasing, study suggests Veterinary charity The PDSA estimates the cost of keeping a dog at between £50 - £80 a month. But this adds up to £25-30,000 over the course of the dog's lifetime, including upfront costs like a bed and lead, extra items including toys and poo bags, as well as pet insurance.The RSPCA warned the country is on the "brink of an animal welfare crisis" due to the rise in pet ownership during the pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis, especially for low-income households."We're starting to see the knock-on effects of this as we, and other charities, predicted," Emma Slawinski, the RSPCA's director of advocacy and policy, said in a statement earlier this summer. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Maxim Skripnik has stayed in Ukraine ever since intense Russian bombing started, to look after 600 dogs at his shelter. "Tragically, we're starting to see an increase in the abandonment of pets and growing numbers of cats and rabbits being rescued and coming into our care," she added.A YouGov survey of 4,000 people, commissioned by the RSPCA, suggested 78% of pet owners think the cost of living will impact their animals, almost seven out of 10 (68%) were concerned about rising cost of care, and a fifth (19%) worried whether they could afford to feed their pets.The Dogs Trust urged pet owners to get in touch before reaching crisis point. Various forms of help from donors, volunteers, foster carers and adopters is available, said the charity, which houses dogs until it can find them new homes.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comNEW YORK, June 29 (Reuters) - More than a dozen goats journeyed to Riverside Park in New York City on Wednesday to feast on weeds, a chemical-free way to remove invasive species while adding to the joys of nature.The furry visitors arrived in Manhattan from Green Goats farm in Rhinebeck, New York, earlier in the day to gobble up overgrown brush - even species dangerous to humans, like poison ivy."Have you seen this slope over here? I am told it is the steepest river bank east of the Palisades," said John Herrold, interim president and chief executive of the Riverside Park Conservancy.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comA handler leads goats from Green Goats farm in Rhinebeck, New York, as they are released into Riverside Park to eat invasive plants in Manhattan, New York City, U.S. June 29, 2022. REUTERS/Mike Segar"Imagine trying to keep your balance while you're pulling out invasive plants so that you can plant native species that will better hold the soil and provide better habitat for the wildlife."Goats are an ingenious approach to weed removal, harnessing their natural hunger for leafy greens as the primary mechanism behind the task, which traditionally involves pollutant chemicals."They love this stuff," said Herrold. "They eat poison ivy, they eat the porcelain berry, they eat the multiflora rose and that's what we're trying to get rid of."Of the 20 goats, four will call Riverside Park home through the end of summer, eating their way through two acres of the park.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Roselle Chen; additional reporting by Aleksandra Michalska; editing by Diane Craft and Richard ChangOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Monarch butterflies rest on a tree at El Rosario sanctuary, in El Rosario, in Michoacan state, Mexico February 11, 2021. Picture taken February 11, 2021. REUTERS/Toya Sarno Jordan/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comGENEVA, July 21 (Reuters) - The migratory monarch butterfly, which has for millennia turned North American woodlands into kaleidoscopes of colour in one of nature's most spectacular mass migrations, is threatened with extinction, international conservationists said on Wednesday.Every autumn, migratory monarchs fly thousands of miles (km) from breeding grounds in the eastern United States and Canada to spend the winter closely huddled in trees in Mexico and California.Numbering in the millions in the 1990s, the butterfly's population has since shrunk by more than 85%, scientists estimate.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comOn Wednesday it was placed in the endangered category of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species."What's happening to monarchs is like a death by a thousand cuts," said Karen Oberhauser, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum.Logging has destroyed much of the insects' winter grounds, agricultural pesticides have decimated the milkweed plants that their larvae feed on, and extreme temperatures due to climate change are triggering them to begin migrating too early, before the remaining milkweed is available.In all, the IUCN says, more than 41,000 species are now at risk of going extinct in what scientists are calling the planet's sixth mass extinction event - and the first caused by humans."Today's Red List update highlights the fragility of nature's wonders," said IUCN director general Bruno Oberle.GLIMMERS OF HOPEJoining the migratory monarch on Wednesday's list were all remaining species of sturgeon - large prehistoric fish found in Eurasia and North America - following centuries of overfishing for their meat and caviar.Of the 26 sturgeon species, 17 are now considered critically endangered, the IUCN said."There's something to be said about humanity, when a species that's outlived the dinosaurs is pushed to the brink of extinction by humans," said Beate Striebel-Greiter, leader of the global sturgeon initiative at World Wildlife Fund.The Red List update did provide glimmers of hope.Tiger numbers increased 40% since the last assessment in 2015, due to improvements in monitoring, with as many as 5,578 in the wild. However, some big cat biologists have taken issue with how numbers are counted, saying such growth is misleading.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Gloria Dickie in London and Emma Farge in Geneva; editing by John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Victoria’s largest permanent flying fox colony will be able to keep cool over summer thanks to a custom-built $180,000 sprinkler system.The sprinklers, part of a $5.3m wildlife boost in May’s state budget, will be up and running within months at Melbourne’s Yarra Bend Park to help protect a local colony of up to 50,000 grey-headed flying foxes.Area chief ranger, Brendan Sullivan, said temperatures above 38C can prove fatal to the bats, which are listed as a threatened species.“The idea with this irrigation system is to keep that ambient temperature below 40C so the bats aren’t getting pushed into that extreme level of thermo-regulation,” Sullivan said Monday.The state’s environment minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, said the fruit bats play a vital role in pollinating and dispersing seeds for native forests, and global heating is creating hotter and longer summers, making it harder for them to survive.But not everyone is a fan of the bats, with outgoing Kew MP Tim Smith saying they are a nuisance and spread disease.“The government is going to spend almost $200k to hose them down when it gets hot over summer. Yes, as everyone knows, I dislike bats, and many other locals hate them too,” he tweeted.The Liberal MP, who will not recontest his seat after a drink-driving incident last year, in 2020 called for the colony to be moved or culled after the emergence of the Covid-19 virus in China.In 2019, more than 2000 native flying foxes perished due to heat stress in eastern Victoria.Scientists from the University of Tasmania last year predicted the grey-headed flying fox could take “climate refuge” in the southernmost state in coming decades if greenhouse gas emissions continued on their current trajectory.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Researchers have created cloned mice from freeze dried skin cells in a world first that aims to help conservationists revive populations of endangered species.The breakthrough paves the way for countries to store skin cells from animals as an insurance policy, as the cells can be used to create clones that boost the species’ genetic diversity if they become threatened with extinction in the future.Many dwindling species suffer from inbreeding that drives up the risk of birth defects, but the loss of genetic diversity can also make animals more vulnerable to other threats, such as diseases, which exacerbate the pressures they face.While scientists have used frozen cells to produce clones for conservation projects, the cells are kept in liquid nitrogen which is expensive and risky: if there are power outages or the liquid nitrogen is not regularly topped up, the cells melt and become unusable. Freeze dried sperm can also be used to create clones, but cannot be obtained from all animals.“If these cells can be preserved without liquid nitrogen using freeze-drying technology, it allows genetic resources from around the world to be stored cheaply and safely,” said Prof Teruhiko Wakayama who led the work at the University of Yamanashi in Japan. “Developing countries will be able to store their own valuable genetic resources in their own countries. Also, even in endangered species where only males survive, this technology can be used to create females to revive the species.”In the latest work, researchers froze dried skin cells from mouse tails and stored them for up to nine months before trying to create clones from them. The freeze-drying processes killed the cells, but the scientists found they could still create early stage cloned embryos by inserting the dead cells into mouse eggs that had their own nuclei removed.These early stage mouse embryos, known as blastocysts, were used to create stocks of stem cells that were put through another round of cloning. The stem cells were inserted into mouse eggs emptied of their own nuclei, leading to embryos that surrogate mice carried to term. The first cloned mouse, named Dorami after a melon bread-loving robot in the Doraemon Manga series, was followed by 74 more. To check whether the clones had healthy fertility, nine females and three males were bred with normal mice. All the females went on to have litters.Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTDespite the achievement, the process is inefficient – freeze drying damaged DNA in the skin cells – and the success rate for creating healthy female and male mouse pups was only 0.2 to 5.4%. In some of the cells, the Y chromosome was lost, leading to female mice being born from cells obtained from male animals. “If the same treatment could be performed in endangered species where only males survived, it would be possible to produce females and naturally preserve the species, the authors write in Nature Communications.The work comes as scientists prepare to nurture offspring from the world’s first cloned black footed ferret, Elizabeth Ann, in an attempt to boost the species’ genetic diversity. The animal was cloned from cells deep frozen in liquid nitrogen 35 years ago.Dr Alena Pance at the University of Hertfordshire said being able to store genetic material is “extraordinarily important” to maintain samples of species and also their genetic variation. But she said it was “paramount” to show the freeze-dried cells could be stored indefinitely if they are to provide an effective long-term solution.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Dog show organisers have been slammed for going ahead with their outdoor event yesterday despite sweltering temperatures and health warnings.The heat hit 29C amid health warnings issued by the RSPCA and an amber weather warning for extreme heat in Dorset announced by the Met Office - but Bournemouth Championship Dog Show kicked off anyway.While other shows in the Dorset area cancelled the dog elements of their events, the Bournemouth Canine Association decided to proceed with their annual event.Consequently, owners and their pets were seen forced to shelter under marquees without any air conditioning at the event.Prior to the dog show taking place, outraged and worried locals and animal experts had already expressed their concern for the health of the canines while competing during a heatwave.In the backlash, members of the public took to social media to dub those involved selfish, stupid and shameful for ploughing ahead. Temperatures hit 29C amid health warnings issued by the RSPCA and an amber weather warning for extreme heat in Dorset announced by the Met Office - but Bournemouth Championship Dog Show kicked off anyway Prior to the dog show taking place, outraged and worried locals and animal experts had already expressed their concern for the health of the canines (pictured is not one of the competitors) while competing during a heatwaveOn Thursday, the organisers posted on Facebook: 'We are all ready to welcome you tomorrow to our first Open Show & the Championship Show on Saturday. The show is definitely NOT cancelled!!!'We have a lovely cooling breeze blowing & plenty of shaded areas. We will also have some baths of cool water for your dogs to have a paddle (or you if you like!).'Angry pet owners took to the comments section, blasting the event for being 'stupid and selfish and irresponsible'.One wrote: 'There is Now a Amber Warning by the Met Office of Extreme Heat of 36 degrees hopefully it won't be so hot, years ago I nearly lost a my champion dog at a Welsh KC Championship Show from heat exhaustion. Never again would I take a dog out in extreme heat for a piece of cardboard.'Another said: 'Dogs can still suffer from heatstroke even in the shade, if the shade is in the form of marquees there will be no breeze in them.'It's up to the individual if they take their dog but putting your dog at risk for your own vanity and ego of possibly winning a showing class is just pure stupidity and selfishness!'A third added: 'Absolutely appalled the Bournemouth Dog Show is going ahead in this heat.'I hope animal welfare and vets on hand to deal with the potential disasters. And don't at me, please those tents are like ovens, no matter how many flaps are open.' Owners and their pets were seen forced to shelter under marquees without any air conditioning at the event Under intense fire, the dog show attempted to justify its position, explaining 'the show is not on tarmac' and that they have facilities such as cool baths on site for animals attending the eventMeanwhile, Ellingham Show announced earlier this week they were asking people not to bring their dogs to the event yesterday and had removed all dog shows from their schedule following advice from the RSPCA.Christchurch Carnival also cancelled their dog show on Sunday due to similar concerns.The prestigious dog show at the Fyfield Village and Church fete near Andover, Hants, was another event cancelled yesterday due to the heat.It is a usually a leading feature of the village fete, with dog owners bringing their pets from miles around.The decision was taken 'for the welfare and safety of our furry creatures' after the temperature was forecast to hit 34C, while the rest of the fete went ahead.The competition was meant to have lasted 30 to 40 minutes but it would have been when the sun was at its strongest.One of the fete organisers Phil Boyes yesterday stressed: 'We have had to call the dog show off. It is because of the heat and professional advice we were given by a vet.'Under intense fire, the organisers of the Bournemouth Championship Dog Show attempted to justify its position, stressing 'the show is not on tarmac' and that they have facilities such as cool baths on site for animals attending the event.Meanwhile, dog owners planning to attend were quick to defend the decision and commented in defence of the show's organisers.One remarked: 'Shows go ahead in Spain, Portugal, brazil, Africa etc all the time. As a lot have said above... everyone knows their own dog.'If you don't want to go, don't! Don't slam people for going or the hard working committee that put on these shows ... they do it for free!'While another said: 'I will ensure my girlie is kept cool with a cool coat, coolmat and frozen water bottles in her crate, I will also make sure she has plenty available to drink.'Most people who show have far more common sense that your regular pet owner in the heat so please don't slate us for doing something that we and our dogs enjoy.'And one more added: 'There is one very clear answer to those who think it is wrong: just do not go and leave everyone else to have the common sense to make sure their dogs are kept cool and comfortable as I have seen at the shows recently.'Worry about the pet people walking their dogs on pavements, worry about dogs locked in hot houses - not people used to dealing with the welfare of their dogs at all times!!!!!'Esme Wheeler, dog welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: 'We're concerned to hear of dog shows taking place during the heatwave and would urge organisers to prioritise the welfare of dogs and consider rearranging or cancelling.'The hot weather has gone from glorious to extreme, and we can't stress enough how vital it is that pet owners take the situation seriously.'That means limiting or skipping walks, only taking very essential car journeys, leaving water available at all times, and preparing damp, cold towels and mats, and frozen treats.'We're still getting reports of dogs being left in cars, and seeing a lot of dogs being taken to busy outdoor events like festivals, shows and fetes, and to the beach.'Don't be that person who is dragging their panting dog along the pavement or plodding around a show. Please leave them at home in the cool where they'll be safe.'Knowing how to try and prevent heatstroke, and also how to spot the signs of heatstroke in pets could be a matter of life and death, so we're urging anyone with a pet - whether it's a dog or cat, a rabbit or guinea pig, and even chickens, horses and exotic animals - to put aside some time today to read up and make plans.'
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Animals lovers have been left outraged after Greyhound racing took place in stadiums across the country amid scorching temperatures of over 30C during last week's heatwave.The Greyhound Board of Great Britain, which regulates the sport, was slammed for allowing the dogs to continue racing even after the Met Office issued an amber extreme heat warning for last Thursday through to Sunday as temperatures peaked in the mid 30s (mid 80s Fahrenheit) in much of the UK.Despite the extreme heat, the races went ahead because the regulator states events only need to be postponed when temperatures exceed 33C, leading to accusations of 'cruelty' from social media users, who also asked why animal charities like RSPCA and Dogs Trust had not taken more of a stand.Among many others, 12 races took place in Kinsley on Sunday between 2.04pm and 5.22pm when temperatures ranged from 31C to 33C. Four other stadiums also held races on this day. Greyhounds racing at Kinsley. Among many others, 12 races took place in Kinsley on Sunday between 2.04pm and 5.22pm when temperatures ranged from 31C to 33C. Four other stadiums also held races on this day Greyhounds racing in Newcastle. Animals lovers have been left outraged after Greyhound racing of over 35 miles an hour took place in stadiums across the country amid scorching temperatures of over 30C during the recent heatwaveOn Saturday, when a total of five stadiums were hosting events, 14 races took place in Doncaster on Saturday between 1.39pm and 5.54pm, when temperatures reached 30C.And seven races happened in Brighton and Hove on Friday between 10.17am to 1154am, when temperature highs were recorded as 30C. A total of six stadiums went ahead with races on this day.On its website, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain states races can go ahead with 'special measures' in place when temperatures range between 28C and 33C.Additionally, it writes: 'Greyhounds prefer to operate within their Thermo-Neutral Zone (TNZ) of between 10 and 26°C, with a small margin for individual animals.'Above 26°C, greyhounds need to expend energy to thermoregulate (cool themselves) and when the ambient temperature is high, the risk of heat stress is increased. Greyhounds racing at Brighton and Hove. Seven races happened in Brighton and Hove on Friday between 10.17am to 1154am, when temperature highs were recorded as 30C. A total of six stadiums went ahead with races on this day Greyhounds racing in Harlow. Regulator the Greyhound Board of Great Britain as well as animal rights charities like the RSPCA and Dogs Trust have been slammed for forcing the dogs to continue racing even after the Met Office issued an amber extreme heat warning for last Thursday through to Sunday as temperatures peaked in the mid 30sC in much of the UK'With the growing likelihood of summertime temperatures exceeding 28°C, this has placed a greater emphasis on safeguarding greyhounds from the effects of heat and humidity.'In the 10.37am race held in Brighton and Hove on Friday, all of the dogs ran 500 metres in around 30 seconds, taking their rough speed to around 37 miles per hour. Greyhounds have a top speed of about 45 miles per hour.This has led to many accusations of 'cruelty' from social media users. These have been launched at the regulators the Greyhound Board of Great Britain as well as animal rights charities that are part of The Greyhound Forum, which is a coalition that is supposed to work to improve the welfare of the dogs.'Racing just finished at Towcester where the temp is now 31°. As members of the Greyhound Forum @RSPCA_official @DogsTrust @Battersea_ @The_Blue_Cross were you party to agreeing the unrealistic cut off point of 33°? Your silence is deafening,' wrote one on Thursday.Temperatures peaked at 31C in Towcester on Thursday, but 12 races still went ahead throughout the day.Someone replied, 'Dreadful cruelty,' while another retweeted the post and simply added the hashtag, '#BanGreyhoundRacing.'A different user posted a photo of their own Greyhound sprawled out on the sofa and looking drowsy from the heat, with the caption, 'Poor dog is laid out on the sofa and is suffering in this heat. Tell me again why we’re allowing greyhound racing to go ahead in a heatwave?' Greyhounds racing in Sheffield. Despite the extreme heat, Greyhound racing went ahead throughout the country because the regulator states that events only need to be postponed when temperatures exceed 33C, leading to accusations of 'cruelty' from social media users Greyhound racing at Suffolk Downs. According to ThoughtCo., Greyhounds have a top speed of about 45 miles per hourMeanwhile, another wrote, 'No dogs allowed at Ellingham Show & all their dog events cancelled due to heat. It's outrageous to allow Greyhound racing to continue in 31° heat! #BanGreyhoundRacing #YouBetTheyDie.'The user was referring to the Ellingham dog Show, which announced earlier last week that they were asking people not to bring their dogs to the event on Saturday and had removed all dog shows from their schedule following advice from the RSPCA.Similarly, Christchurch Carnival also cancelled their dog show on Sunday due to similar concerns.The prestigious dog show at the Fyfield Village and Church fete near Andover, Hants, was another event cancelled on Saturday due to the heat.It is a usually a leading feature of the village fete, with dog owners bringing their pets from miles around.The decision was taken 'for the welfare and safety of our furry creatures' after the temperature was forecast to hit 34C, while the rest of the fete went ahead. A user posted a photo of their own Greyhound sprawled out on the sofa and looking drowsy from the heat, with the caption, 'Poor dog is laid out on the sofa and is suffering in this heat. Tell me again why we’re allowing greyhound racing to go ahead in a heatwave?' 'Racing just finished at Towcester where the temp is now 31°. As members of the Greyhound Forum @RSPCA_official @DogsTrust @Battersea_ @The_Blue_Cross were you party to agreeing the unrealistic cut off point of 33°? Your silence is deafening,' wrote one user on Thursday. Temperatures peaked at 31C in Towcester on Thursday, but 12 races still went ahead throughout the dayThe competition was meant to have lasted 30 to 40 minutes but it would have been when the sun was at its strongest.One of the fete organisers Phil Boyes yesterday stressed: 'We have had to call the dog show off. It is because of the heat and professional advice we were given by a vet.'However, other dog shows did go ahead, with the Bournemouth Canine Association deciding to proceed with their annual event, sparking outrage from animal lovers.On Saturday, the heat hit 29C in Dorset amid health warnings issued by the RSPCA and an amber weather warning for extreme heat announced by the Met Office - but Bournemouth Championship Dog Show kicked off anyway. Consequently, owners and their pets were seen forced to shelter under marquees without any air conditioning at the event.Under intense fire, the organisers attempted to justify its position, stressing 'the show is not on tarmac' and that they had facilities such as cool baths on site for animals attending the event.MailOnline has approached Greyhound Board of Great Britain, RSCPA, Dogs Trust, Blue Cross, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, and the stadiums at Towcester, Kinsley, Brighton and Hove and Doncaster.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A group of veterinarians is urging people to stop buying English bulldogs, saying "urgent action" is needed to address the breed's serious health issues.English bulldogs began to appear in the 13th century when they were bred for bull-baiting, a now-illegal sport where animals would be tied to and fight a bull, according to PetMD. Now, they are among the most recognizable dog breeds in the world, as they are a popular pet and the face of many college sports teams.But the Royal Veterinary College made the call to action Wednesday after research published in the peer-reviewed journal Canine Medicine and Genetics found English bulldogs, also known as British bulldogs, are "compromised by major health issues" that have been around for over a century.Researchers cited the bulldog's flat face, short muzzle, protruding lower jaw and their distinct body shape as reasons why the breed's health is so dangerous. They acknowledged those characteristics are "normal" and sometimes "desirable" features that dog owners want."Every dog deserves to be born with equal and good innate health by having a natural ability to breathe freely, blink fully, exercise easily, have healthy flat skin, mate and give birth," Dan O’Neill, lead author and associate professor in companion animal epidemiology at the college, said in a statement.Two English bulldogs are pictured in Oslo, Norway, on February 7, 2022."For breeds such as English Bulldogs where many dogs still have extreme conformations with poor innate health, the public have a huge role to play by demanding dogs with moderate and healthier conformations. Until then, prospective owners should 'stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog'."The Royal Veterinary College's VetCompass program compared the health disparities of 2,662 English bulldogs and 22,039 other dogs by looking at disorders recorded in each dog in a year. The results showed the English bulldogs were twice as likely to have at least one disorder in a year compared to others.Researchers also looked into the differences in 43 common dog disorders and found English bulldogs were at higher risk in 23 of the disorders. The disorders included skin fold dermatitis, protruding lower jaw, skin infections and brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, also known as poor breathing.Excusez-moi?: French bulldogs are more likely to develop common disorders, study saysNeed a break from the news?: Here are some cute cats and dogsGroup calls for 'immediate redefinition' of breed; US vet says he's 'puzzled'English, as well as French, bulldogs have been well documented for their health issues.Dr. Ashley Rossman, a veterinarian at Glen Oak Dog and Cat Hospital in Glenview, Illinois, told USA TODAY in August 2021 bulldogs were more susceptible to heat stroke because they don't have long nasal passages, and they aren't good swimmers to cool off from heat. Norway banned the breeding of English bulldogs in February due to their health concerns.The group calls for an "immediate redefinition" of the breed to reduce the high rate of health issues. The group adds that English bulldogs should eventually have longer faces, smaller heads and non-wrinkled skin.Current English bulldog owners are encouraged to monitor all health issues and seek medical advice early if there are concerns."The real power for change rests with the public who can demand and purchase only those types of dogs with moderate and healthier conformations," the group wrote.Dr. Roy Kraemer, a veterinarian who specialized in bulldog care in Orange County, California and wasn't involved in the study, told USA TODAY via email he is "puzzled" by the call to action, saying people shouldn't be discouraged to rescue abandoned, abused bulldogs. He added there are numerous reasons that contribute to the breed's poor health."Intense commercial breeding, lack of breeding/breed standard, and insufficient oversight are some of the reasons for the wide range of the (breed's) idiosyncratic medical problems," Kraemer said.Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: English bulldog health problems: Some vets caution against getting one
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A dog that had been trapped inside a hot car this summer in New York City for as long as 24 hours now has a new home — thanks to the police officers who rescued him from the dire situation and the officer who then took him into her heart.An official from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) told Fox News Digital that New York City Police Department officers rescued the fluffy white dog — an American Eskimo dog whose name is now Snow — and brought him to the ASPCA Animal Recovery Center on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. There, the dog was given medical care and behavioral treatment until he was ready for adoption. AS MORE FRENCH BULLDOGS ARE STOLEN, PET LOVERS WANT TO KNOW: WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS BREED?Last month, the NYPD tweeted about the rescue as it was happening. It said police responded to calls from "caring New Yorkers" who notified them about a dog locked in a hot car in the heat of the summer. The responding police officers discovered the car was off, the windows were closed and the distressed dog was inside, according to the NYPD 19th Precinct's tweet.Police tweeted that the dog was locked inside the car for two hours; the ASPCA confirmed afterward that the dog was trapped inside the car for at least 24 hours.The officers broke through one of the car's windows, removed the suffering pup from the car once they were able to open the door — and brought the animal to the ASPCA for treatment. A criminal investigation was underway at that time, according to the June 18 social media post.On an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees, the NYPD said. Another tweet shared by the NYPD 19th Precinct said the temperatures that hot summer June day were in the mid-80s.CATS CLASSIFIED AS ‘INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES' BY POLISH SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTEThe precinct said that on an 85-degree day, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach a deadly 102 degrees. This sweet dog — an American Eskimo dog — was trapped in a hot car in Manhattan for approximately 24 hours. It took the dog a month to recover and to be available for adoption. (ASPCA)The NYPD social media post also said the law prohibits leaving "an animal unattended in a car under these dangerous conditions — thankfully the pup was rescued & is being cared for."Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, remained in touch with the ASPCA during Snow’s month-long recovery, a media spokesperson for the ASPCA told Fox News Digital. This dog — rescued from a hot car — has now been adopted. The dog's new name is Snow. The officer who adopted the pet "knew Snow was special." (ASPCA)The ASPCA also confirmed that the officer and her fiancé made the adoption official just last week. "From the moment Officer Maharaj was involved in this case, she knew Snow was special," the ASPCA official told Fox Digital News."When [the officer] rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love." The spokesperson said that the officer was not looking to adopt a pet — but when she rescued Snow from the car, she instantly fell in love. 82% OF AMERICANS FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT WITH THEIR DOGS, SURVEY FINDS"She immediately brought him into her car with the air conditioner blasting, where he sat on her lap, licked her face and wouldn’t move from her company," the ASPCA spokesperson added. Officer Aruna Maharaj, one of the NYPD rescuers, holds Snow, who was removed from a hot car in June. Maharaj has since adopted Snow. (ASPCA)The ASPCA official said the dog's adoption was delayed for several weeks because Snow needed to receive medical care and behavioral care. Officer Maharaj officially adopted Snow once the dog was cleared.She brought him to her home, where he now enjoys a large backyard and walks to a nearby park, according to an emailed statement from the ASPCA.Snow is enjoying a large backyard and regular walks to a nearby park. The official also said Snow has been adjusting well to his new family and to having a cat sibling. This pup rescued by officers with the NYPD is now enjoying himself again. (ASPCA)Fox News Digital reached out to the NYPD, who said the officer was not available for comment; the department did not comment on the case. As the summer continues, the ASPCA shared the following tips and advice for everyone when dealing with pets and the heat. Never leave pets alone in a parked carA car can overheat even when the window has been left cracked an inch or two.PENNSYLVANIA BABY BOY DIES IN HOT CAR INCIDENT: WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW NOWThe temperature inside a parked car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter than the temperature outside. Not only can it lead to a fatal heat stroke — it is also illegal in many states.Know the signs of overheating in petsThe signs that an animal is overheated include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, bright red gums, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor — or even collapse. Symptoms can also include seizures, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, along with an elevated body temperature of over 104 degrees. Heat stroke can be life-threatening.PIGS AND A PLAYLIST? FARMER FINDS HIS PIGS ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY HEAR MUSICIt can cause permanent damage or death.If you're worried a pet might be experiencing a heat stroke, immediately remove your dog from the environmentLet your dog pant out excessive heat in a controlled and cooler space, such as an air-conditioned room, the ASPCA advises.During very hot weather, use good judgment about keeping pets indoorsAlso, when walking dogs in hot weather, never let them linger on hot asphalt — which can burn their sensitive paw pads. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPSince pets are close to the ground, the hot asphalt can also contribute to their body heating up very quickly. Amy McGorry is a contributing health reporter for Fox News Digital. Follow her on Twitter @amymcgorry.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Toxic toads are returning to South Florida in growing numbers as the region falls back into its warm, rainy summer season, experts say, and they want people to be aware of the risk to pets.The bufo toad, also known as the cane toad, is a common summer sight in South Florida, but experts in the area believe the species is returning in larger numbers than in previous years.Jeannine Tilford, owner of local toad management company Toad Busters, said that the changing climate has impacted the population of bufo toads in the area.Tilford told ABC News that because the region's temperatures did not drop as consistently as they usually do in winter months, toads that usually would have been too weak or young to survive the winter in the past were able to make it to spring this year.A main component of Toad Busters' work is moving toads to habitats where they aren't a danger to other animals, especially dogs, which can be killed by licking or eating the toads.Tilford explained that the organization has been expanding west in Florida, and establishing more habitats with properly contained areas and lakes.She said Toad Busters has shown over the last seven years that management is possible by safely collecting the toads.The key to containment, Tilford said, is consistency."As long as you maintain it, we go from collecting hundreds one night to 30 the next. If you let it go for eight months, a couple cycles go by and they reproduce into large numbers," Tilford told ABC News.A Bufo Toad - also known as a Cane ToadUniversal Images Group via Getty ImagesTilford said that an influx of people relocating from states like California, New York and New Jersey to Florida has further contributed to dogs dying due to the poisonous toads."We had a lot more dog deaths this year," Tilford said. "People don't know about the toads, let their dogs out in the backyard and it only takes a couple of minutes."Tilford said the best thing for new residents is education."They need to understand what we have here, what [the toads] look like and what to do if you have a dog and a backyard," she said.Dogs are more likely than cats to try and attack or eat a bufo toad, which poisons the dog, data from the University of Florida showed. Depending on the amount of poison ingested, symptoms often include pink or red gums, drooling or frothing at the mouth, pawing at the mouth, seizures and sometimes cardiac arrest.Tilford told ABC News that residents shouldn't let their dogs loose in the backyard, especially during evening hours, as the toads are nocturnal.She added that if a dog does have contact with a toad, immediately wipe out the dog's mouth with a wet rag and take the dog to the nearest emergency animal hospital.If there are bufo toads on a resident's property, Tilford said the homeowner should reach out to have them removed from the area and they should install barrier fencing. While they aren't deadly to humans, they can cause skin and eye irritation and should not be handled without gloves.Bufo toads can be found in urban, suburban and agricultural areas, most commonly in yards, around buildings or near canals and ponds, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.The commission added that bufo toads breed year-round in standing water, streams, canals and ditches.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Katie Gillman was racing south down Second Street in Highland Park, a few steps behind her husband Max, who’d grabbed their daughters’ double stroller and yelled “Run!” after the shooting began at Highland Park’s Fourth of July parade. Just before Walnut Street, she looked back and saw a mass of people, all running for their lives. “And leading the pack was this little dog,” Katie Gillman says.It was a Yorkshire terrier, 6½ pounds, in a pink harness and trailing a leash. Gillman says she ran back and scooped up the terrified animal “football-style” under one arm. She caught up with her husband and daughters, 4½ years old and 16 months old. And she looked down and saw the blood all over her arm, oozing onto her from the dog’s right eye.On a day of horror, the family focused on one small thing they could do: help this dog.They got home, and Max wrapped the little dog in a bath towel. He placed the bundle on the passenger seat of their Honda CR-V and sped toward BluePearl Pet Hospital in Northfield, figuring it would be one of the few places open on the Fourth of July.Dr. Todd Horowitz, the veterinarian on duty, had just heard about the shooting when Max Gillman ran in. Horowitz started an IV and saw the dog hadn’t been shot or hit with shrapnel. But it did have “significant trauma” to its right cornea and eyelid.“She was actually really sweet,” Horowitz says of the tiny dog. “She was really scared, but you could tell she was a nice dog. She was used to people.”The vet doesn’t know what caused the injury but guesses someone running to escape the gunfire might accidentally have kicked the dog. Lola had “significant trauma” to her right eye, according to the veterinarian who treated the dog at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Northfield.Provided Meanwhile, Max Gillman texted his neighbor Megan O’Meara, who posted a photo of the bleeding dog on Nextdoor.com, naming the animal hospital and asking: Does anyone know this dog’s owner? Around the same time, a woman posted a message looking for her sister’s dog Lola, which had disappeared in the chaos of the shooting.The dog, owned by Reina Conner and her family, had taken part earlier that morning in Highland Park’s kiddie parade, riding in a wagon with Conner’s 4-year-old grand-niece.When the shooting started, family members grabbed the little girl and ran to a nearby Walker Bros. pancake restaurant. One relative, Lilli Carrasco-Martini, 18, was grazed on her cheek by a bullet and treated at a hospital, according to Conner, who was home when it happened.“Everybody kind of ran in different directions,” Conner says. “It was horrific what they went through.”When the family spotted O’Meara’s post, an aunt headed straight to the veterinary clinic. After six hours, Lola was well enough to go home.“Our pets are family & during this difficult time we are lucky to have Lola back with us. Wishing all of you [love] & healing,” a member of Conner’s family wrote in a post thanking all who helped. Lola in better days, seen in an updated social media post made by a relative of her owner.Provided Conner says Carrasco-Martini needed stitches in her cheek and that her family is getting counseling for trauma. But she says: “We’re just so lucky that they’re all alive. Some people were not as fortunate as us.”They’re planning to go back to the animal eye specialist soon, hoping to hear if Lola might regain her vision in the injured eye.The Gillmans, who plucked Lola from the chaos, say their older daughter, not yet 5, doesn’t understand what happened. She only knows there was noise and people running and a little dog who was injured and lost.“She talks about the ‘firecrackers’ at the parade that day, but she also talks about Lola,” Max Gillman says. “Getting the dog back with its family, that’s her memory of the day. That’s our silver lining.” Lola in her favorite spot on the couch of her family’s home in Highland Park.Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere / Sun-Times
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
MoneyWatch June 17, 2022 / 9:10 AM / MoneyWatch The popular Seresto flea-and-tick collar should be recalled following research showing the roughly $70 device poses risks to pets and their owners, according to a new congressional report. The findings link the collar to almost 100,000 incidents and 2,500 pet deaths. Almost 34 million of the collars have been sold to American pet owners, who have been attracted by the product's pledge to ward off ticks and fleas for up to eight months, compared with other treatments that must be applied monthly. But the collar, made by Elanco Animal Health, is linked to a higher number of death and injury reports than competing products, claims the report from the Committee on Oversight and Reform's subcommittee on economic and consumer policy.The report may prompt some pet owners to question if they want to buy or continue using the product, part of the $232 billion pet-care industry. During the pandemic, more Americans adopted pets, while spending on pet-related items have surged during the health crisis, according to Grand View Research. The subcommittee's report highlighted the number of reports of injury or death that owners linked to the collar, as well as Canada's decision to bar sales of the Seresto collar because its review of U.S. incidents and toxicology studies found it "posed too great a risk to pets and their owners to be sold in Canada." During a hearing before the committee on Wednesday, Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeffrey Simmons said the collar is safe and had been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, undergoing more than 80 safety, toxicity and efficacy studies."Adverse event reports aren't proof of causation," Simmons said in the hearing. "We haven't found a single death due to the ingredients in the collar." In 2021, there were just over 17 incident reports for every 10,000 collars sold, with most of those issues involving irritation or redness, according to Elanco. In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, the company said an analysis of all such reports between 2013 and 2021 shows "no established link between the active ingredients in Seresto and pet death."Added Elanco: "Given the robust scientific evidence for Seresto's strong safety profile, we are proud to stand behind the product as an important tool to protect pets from fleas and ticks and the damaging diseases they carry."Symptoms: Skin lesions, lethargyThe report cited findings from Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), which Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and the chairman of the committee, said is akin to the EPA in the U.S.The PMRA's analysis of symptoms experienced by hundreds of pets included skin lesions and irritated skin, which sometimes covered large areas of a pet's body and didn't resolve after the collar was removed, the report said. Other symptoms include lethargy, abnormal behavior, excessive grooming and vocalization, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia, according to the panel. "These troubling symptoms appeared shortly after use of the Seresto collar began, mostly within the first month," according to the report. "Many pet owners reacted by removing their pets' collars early," it said. One pet owner, Thoomas Mairino, of Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, said in the hearing that the family's dog suffered from increasingly severe symptoms, including a bleeding patches on her stomach and a seizure, after they began using a Seresto collar on the advice of their veterinarian. Although they consulted with several other vets, her condition worsened, and the family eventually decided to have the dog put down. "The final 18 months of her life were agonizing to watch," he told lawmakers. "If I could help prevent another family from going through what my family went through, I wanted to act.Some pet owners also reportedly experienced side effects, the panel's report added. These included skin and immune disorders, as well as respiratory, neurological and digestive impacts such as throat irritation, dizziness and nausea, it said.The report included several recommendations, including a voluntary recall of the collars by Elanco. It also suggested that the EPA revamp its review process for products with pesticides. In: Pets Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Five highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) will this week be created by the government to ban all fishing and rewild the sea, the Guardian has learned.The new generation of marine nature reserves, which are governed by tougher regulations to allow decimated sea life to recover, are being set up close to the coast of Lindisfarne in Northumberland and at Allonby Bay, Cumbria, and at three offshore sites, two in the North Sea and one at Dolphin Head in the Channel.The five sites in the pilot project are expected to pave the way for more HPMAs to be designated in English waters in 2023. Separately, Scotland is now committed to fully or highly protected areas across 10% of its waters.Nearly a quarter of Britain’s territorial waters are covered by marine protected areas but conservationists criticise these as “paper parks” because there are so few restrictions on fishing and industrial activities such as offshore windfarm cabling. In 2020, the Guardian revealed how more than 97% of the protected areas were still be subjected to dredging and bottom trawling – the most damaging kind of fishing that disrupts and destroys much marine life on the seabed.HPMAs are effectively “no-take” zones (NTZs) for fishing, and while a few tiny NTZs have already been established including one off Lundy in the Bristol Channel and a community-led one off the Isle of Arran in Scotland, such areas are usually highly controversial for fishers.But research shows that the Arran NTZ has led to a “spill-over” effect with more, larger lobsters caught by fishers close to the restricted area, which acts like a nursery for fast-recovering sea-life.The environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “Highly protected marine areas will offer the highest levels of protection in our seas. They will help a wide range of valuable habitats and species to fully recover, boosting the resilience of our ecosystem and allowing the marine environment to thrive.“As demands on our oceans increase, it is more important than ever that we take decisive action to safeguard nature whilst ensuring we can continue to meet the sustainable needs of those who rely on our seas.”Joan Edwards, the director of policy at the Wildlife Trusts, said: “Protecting large areas of our marine environment is a critical part of addressing the nature and climate crises. We welcome today’s announcement that will safeguard vital strongholds for wildlife and end damaging activities like bottom trawling in these areas.“This is, however, just the start. We want to see an entire network of highly protected marine areas to help our ocean habitats recover. As well as providing a much-needed boost to wildlife, fishers will also benefit from the spill over of fish into surrounding waters, helping to restock our depleted seas.”Kirsten Carter, the principal policy officer (marine) for the RSPB, said the charity supported highly protected sites but they needed to be introduced alongside better fisheries regulations and a holistic plan for all British waters to restore marine life.“It’s an incredibly positive step in the right direction,” she said. “We urgently need to be protecting more marine wildlife but these areas are still very small and we need to manage and monitor more widely. Still more than 90% of marine protected areas are subject to highly damaging fishing activity.“Whilst we’ve now got protected sites in the Irish Sea and North Sea there is very much a need for a strategic approach to consider our seas as a whole, looking at how we spatially plan our seas and how we bring in measures to address biodiversity decline and climate mitigation together.”No HPMAs have yet been established around the south-west coast of England but sources at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs say sites are currently being considered, with the government keen to balance ecological and social and economic factors.The five HPMAs cover a mixture of marine habitats including intertidal mudflats, kelp forests and rocky reef habitats further offshore.The three offshore sites also include “blue carbon” areas, important in the sequestration and storage of atmospheric carbon, which also support a range of mobile species including marine mammals and commercially important fish species.On Monday, the government was criticised by wildlife campaigners for failing to deliver on a wide range of promised policies to enhance England’s biodiversity, including on nature-friendly farming, the use of peat and pesticides, reintroducing beavers and other lost species, and protecting rare marine life.Highly protected marine areas in English watersAllonby BayAlong the coast on the English side of the Solway Firth in the Irish Sea, extending from the intertidal zone further offshore.Habitat: large areas of biogenic reefs, including blue mussels and the best example of Sabellaria reefs in the UK. The proposed site contains a significant store of blue carbon and provides protection from coastal erosion.Species: an important spawning ground for thornback ray and seabass. Pupping ground for harbour porpoise.Inner Silver PitSouthern North Sea, approximately 16 miles off the Lincolnshire coast at Theddlethorpe.Habitat: a unique glacial valley with deep-water geological features (down to nearly 100 metres) in what is a very shallow area of sea.Species: a spawning ground for commercially important fish species, also supporting cetaceans and seabirds.Dolphin Head2Thirty-two nautical miles from the Sussex coast in the Channel.Habitat: seabed supports benthic (bottom-dwelling) communities of species and biogenic reefs, rising from the seabed and created by living organisms such as honeycomb worms or tube worms.Species: productive, fish-rich waters attract seabirds and cetaceans.North-east of FarnesNorthern North SeaHabitat: subtidal sediments.Species: the sediments are important for ocean quahogs, sea pen and burrowing megafauna communities, anemones, worms, molluscs, echinoderms and fish. Dolphins, whales and harbour porpoise use the wider region.LindisfarneInshore site off the north coast of NorthumberlandHabitat: salt marsh, beaches, cliffs, dunes and islands.Species: this region supports important breeding colonies of seabirds such as terns, auks, such as guillemots, and seals.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Whitney Bollinger, assistant director at Dallas Animal Services, presented a coyote response update with a draft plan to the Dallas community.(Rebecca Slezak / Staff Photographer)After a coyote attacked a 2-year-old in Lake Highlands in May, tension between neighborhoods and city officials ran high. Now, the city of Dallas is considering a ban on feeding wildlife — a practice that officials say contributed to the coyote problem.The ordinance is a reasonable step to help keep neighbors safe. But it will only work if the city holds up its side of the deal: educating neighbors and monitoring for new threats.Coyotes menaced the White Rock Valley neighborhood in Lake Highlands for weeks this spring — alarming neighbors and prompting a nearby elementary school to shut down outdoor activities. After the 2-year-old was attacked, the city took decisive action. By the end of its high-tech coyote hunt, the city had captured four coyotes in total.Then came the blame.In the aftermath, a Dallas Animal Services Facebook post indicated neighbors had been petting and feeding the coyotes. Neighbors were frustrated. Many said they had warned the city about the coyote threat but received an underwhelming response. Dallas Animal Services disputes this.We called on the city to restore trust with neighbors. City officials appear to have made progress on that front, but they should be careful to be collaborative, and not punitive, as they move forward with this plan.Despite what the city’s finger-wagging Facebook post suggested, most wildlife feeding is probably an accident. The “problematic behaviors” the proposed ordinance targets — leaving exposed trash, overflowing bird feeders or outdoor cat food bowls — are mostly unintentional.This exposed food can entice wild animals to make themselves at home in a residential neighborhood, according to MeLissa Webber, interim director of Dallas Animal Services. And when coyotes shed their instinctual fear of humans, Webber said, they become more likely to attack.Webber said the proposed ordinance is modeled on similar policies in other communities with urban coyotes.Because these behaviors are largely unintentional, city officials said they would initially focus on educating residents. This is the right approach. Neighbors should receive support and information first, not blame and fines.Officials stressed that the anti-feeding ordinance is just one component of a broader coyote management plan. The city, for its part, plans to maintain a coyote hotline and a public database that tracks coyote sightings.The success of the city’s plan will depend on communication and tact.The city should coordinate an educational campaign, teaching neighbors the best coyote deterrence practices. And when officials receive reports of wildlife feeding, they will need to exercise judgment. Neighbors shouldn’t be punished for a first-time, accidental offense.The coyote hotline and database will be important for monitoring new threats. The city will need enough manpower to make it possible.The city’s earlier mistakes should serve as a cautionary tale. Officials must interact with residents in ways that help neighbors view them as allies in protecting their families from wildlife threats.We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here.Get smart opinionsEditorial and commentary from op-ed columnists, the editorial board and contributing writers from The Dallas Morning News, delivered three days a week.By signing up you agree to our privacy policyMost Popular on DallasNews.com123456
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
CHUBYNSKE, Ukraine (AP) — Natalia Popova has found a new purpose in life: Rescuing wild animals and pets from the devastation wrought by the war in Ukraine.“They are my life,” says the 50-year-old, stroking a light-furred lioness like a kitten. From inside an enclosure, the animal rejoices at the attention, lying on her back and stretching her paws up toward her caretaker.Popova, in cooperation with the animal protection group UA Animals, has already saved more than 300 animals from the war; 200 of them went abroad and 100 found new homes in western Ukraine, which is considered safer. Many of them were wild animals who were kept as pets at private homes before their owners fled Russian shelling and missiles.Popova’s shelter in the Kyiv region village of Chubynske now houses 133 animals. It's a broad menagerie, including 13 lions, a leopard, a tiger, three deer, wolves, foxes, raccoons and roe deer, as well as domesticated animals like horses, donkeys, goats, rabbits, dogs, cats and birds.Get The Big To-DoYour guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more.The animals awaiting evacuation to Poland were rescued from hot spots such as eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv and Donetsk regions, which see daily bombardments and active fighting. The Ukrainian soldiers who let Popova know when animals near the front lines need help joke that she has many lives, like a cat.“No one wants to go there. Everyone is afraid. I am also scared, but I go anyway,” she said.Often she is trembling in the car on her way to rescue another wild animal.“I feel very sorry for them. I can imagine the stress animals are under because of the war, and no one can help them,” Popova said.In most cases, she knows nothing about the animals she rescues, neither their names and ages nor their owners.“Animals don’t introduce themselves when they come to us,” she joked.For the first months of the war, Popova drove to war hot spots alone, but a couple from UA Animals recently offered to transport and help her.“Our record is an evacuation in 16 minutes, when we saved a lion between Kramatorsk and Sloviansk,” Popova said. An economist by education with no formal veterinary experience, she administered anesthesia on the lion because the animal had to be put to sleep before it could be transported.Popova says she has always been very attached to animals. In kindergarten, she built houses for worms and talked to birds. In 1999, she opened the first private horse club in Ukraine. But it wasn't until four years ago that she saved her first lion.An organization against slaughterhouses approached her with a request for help saving a lion with a broken spine. She did not know how she could help because her expertise was in horses. But when she saw a photo of the big cat, Popova could not resist.She built an enclosure and took in the lion the next morning, paying the owner. Later, Popova created a social media page titled “Help the Lioness,” and people began to write asking for help saving other wild animals.Yana, the first lioness she rescued, has become a family member since she could not find a new home due to a disability. Popova took care of her until she died two weeks ago.The shelter is just a temporary stop for the animals. Popova rehabilitates them and then looks for new homes for them. She feels a special connection with each big cat, but says she does not mind letting them go.“I love them, and I understand that I do not have the resources to provide them with the comfortable life they deserve,” says Popova.At first, she bankrolled the shelter with her own funds from the horse business. But since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, the horse business has not been profitable. With more than $14,000 a month needed to keep animals healthy and fed, she has turned to borrowing, and seen her debt grow to $200,000.She gets some money from UA Animals and from donations, but worries about how to keep everything together have kept her up at night.“But I will still borrow money, go to hot spots and save animals. I can’t say no to them,” she said.Popova sends all her animals to the Poznań Zoo in Poland, which helps her evacuate them and find them new homes. Some animals have already been transported to Spain, France and South Africa. Her next project is sending 12 lions to Poland this week.With no end to the fighting in sight, Popova knows she will still be needed.“My mission in this war is to save wild animals,” she says.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
AnimalsPocket gophers fertilize and harvest fields of subterranean roots. Some say this is a form of farming.Humans are not the only animals that practice agriculture. Leaf-cutter ants, for example, painstakingly carry leaves back to their nest to cultivate a fungus that they feed upon. Some beetles also raise fungi inside rotten trees. Damselfish tend to areas where their favorite algae grows and weed out the undesirable types.Now, researchers have found evidence that small mammals called pocket gophers manage, fertilize, and harvest roots for food too. This meets the definition of agriculture, according to the researchers of a study published July 11 in Current Biology.“Gophers are shaping the plants, as well as the soil,” says Francis (Jack) Putz, a professor of biology at the University of Florida, and the researcher behind this project. “So they're managing crops. If farming is the management of crops, that’s what they're doing.”Although further work is needed to definitively prove this behavior amounts to a type of agriculture or “farming,” the finding raises fascinating questions about the ecological role of these creatures and suggests that animal-plant interactions are often much more complex than first thought. It also shows gophers are ecological engineers, not just pests.Subterranean specialistsSoutheastern pocket gophers (Geomys pinetis) spend most of their lifetime alone, burrowing underground. Although they’re common across North and Central American grasslands, you’re unlikely to see one—their presence is usually only noticeable thanks to the mounds of sandy soil they leave behind upon digging sprawling underground tunnel systems stretching more than 500 feet, usually about 50 inches below the ground.Their anatomy suits such a life: They can close their mouths behind their incisors, using teeth to dig without swallowing dirt. Fur-lined pockets on both sides of their faces carry seeds and plant material while plowing. Recent research has discovered that they glow in the dark too, another skill that comes in handy when living deep below—perhaps for communicating or evading predators.Previously, gophers were thought to feed themselves mainly by munching away at the roots they encounter while constructing new tunnel systems. Yet, digging tunnels is energetically costly—up to 300 to 3000 times more tiring than walking on a surface—and the researchers show that solely eating the roots found while excavating just doesn’t make up for the energy spent.“If they were burrowing a meter and they were encountering this many roots in that meter, would they gain enough energy from those roots to offset the cost of burrowing that meter?” ask Veronica Selden, the student researcher at the University of Florida behind this study. “In all but one case we looked at, the answer is no.”Gopher research To understand how else these mammals get access to enough roots to survive, Putz and Selden observed the behavior of gophers in a longleaf pine savanna in northern Florida. The researchers manually excluded the gophers from parts of their tunnel systems by using an open-ended barrel as a small dam, cutting access to parts of their home for varying amounts of time. They observed that, in the dark, wet subterranean tunnels the gophers had dug, new, soft, digestible roots grew like stalactites and stalagmites covering the surfaces.The gophers seem to be actively tending to the roots to ensure they grow, the scientists contend. By maintaining and defending these long networks of tunnels, gophers are creating the perfect humid environment for roots to thrive, and causing soil aeration by loosening the ground in which plants grow in the first place.Importantly, the gophers scatter and distribute their feces and urine throughout the tunnels.This waste fertilizes the soil and the roots, Selden says. This is rather unlike other gopher species, which tend to have designated waste areas, and sets them apart from other herbivores on the surface who may incidentally fertilize patches of grass or brush with their excrement.“Gophers seem to be employing a version of a food production system by providing this optimal space for roots to grow,” Selden says.By nibbling at the roots, the gophers also seem to be encouraging new growth.“You’re a small mammal going along and you encounter a large root, and you bite it off but it’s not very digestible because it has a lot of lignin or celluloses, it’s tough, it’s hard,” says Putz. “But in response to being cropped, that root will make many small roots, and those will be really tasty and more digestible.”The study found that the gophers’ daily harvest of root crops can supply from 21 to 62 percent of their caloric needs—making up the rest of the calories the animals need to continue burrowing systems of tunnels.“They have these long tunnels that [cannot] be explained. It is risky digging tunnels… energetically costly,” Putz says. So why do it? If it’s not to “farm food,” he says, “I can't think of any other reason.”The ‘farming’ debate “I have often thought of gophers as ‘farmers,’” says Brittany Brito, a habitat biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, who was not involved in the study. “I think this [is] a compelling argument that gophers could be considered farmers because they aerate the soil, increase nutrient mineralization, and fertilize the soil. Those activities are, in a sense, growing crops [that] they consume.”But other researchers wonder if “farming” is an appropriate term for the gophers’ activities.“I am not sure they are actively ‘tending’ or just actively harvesting with the effect of stimulating growth. It’s a subtle difference,” says James Demastes, a professor of biology at the University of Northern Iowa who studies pocket gophers but who wasn’t involved in the paper.He notes that the observations of fertilization are interesting and “definitely unusual” for this family of animals, but the idea that pocket gophers could potentially be practicing agriculture resonates with what is known about gophers overall. “I think it is pretty cool,” says Demastes.Yet, pocket gophers aren’t sowing or weeding their crops, two elements traditionally understood as necessary for farming, and which some other “farming” animals such as the fungus-inoculating ants and beetles are thought to do.“To describe the gopher activity as farming seems like a stretch,” says Kimberly Asmus Hersey, from the Mammal Conservation Coordinator Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, who was not involved in the study. “I don't see this as all that different from many other plant and herbivore interactions.”There are many cases where grazing can stimulate productivity in plants, she adds, which is why she finds this not much different than a deer pruning a shrub.It's controversial to claim that gophers are farming because people have different definitions of the term farming, according to Putz. “They're certainly agricultural engineers because they’re doing everything they can to enhance crop growth.”Of course, the researchers note that there are several other ways gophers could be satiating their energy requirements which haven’t been explored in depth yet. Gophers could be foraging in areas with more roots than those tested; they could be relying heavily on tubers for their nutrition in addition to roots; or they could occasionally be eating above ground too, or pulling plants underground by their roots and eating them whole.Although gophers are usually thought of as pests, studies have shown that they are often invaluable ecosystem engineers for the habitats they inhabit. For example, they have been shown to help maintain prairies and mountain meadows by keeping out significant numbers of encroaching tree seedlings, and they even helped colonizing plants gain a foothold in the barren landscape following the eruption of Mount St. Helens in May 1980.“Learning that gophers themselves are farmers … may hopefully shift the narrative from them being agricultural pests to agricultural partners that we can learn from,” Selden says.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The first python Siewe nabbed measured more than 10 feet. “I caught it by myself, wearing flip-flops,” Siewe said, noting she found it in the middle of a Florida highway. She disoriented the snake by placing a pillowcase over its head, then put the snake in the trunk of her Camry.The largest python Siewe has caught was 17 feet, 3 inches, and weighed 110 pounds. “I jumped on her in a ditch on the side of the road, all 17 feet of her,” Siewe said. “She had the biggest snake head I had ever seen. That was a real battle of strength.”Among those facing off against Siewe in this year’s Florida Python Challenge: fellow professional python hunter, and defending challenge champion, Dusty Crum. A Florida native, Crum, 42, snagged the longest python in the competition’s professional category last year, catching a 16-foot python. In 2016, he was part of a three-man team that took top honors in the challenge, catching 33 pythons.“A lot of it is luck, but it’s also about being in the right place at the right time,” Crum said. “It’s anybody’s game.” Snake hunters use a variety of equipment to get the job done, ranging from snake hooks to special carry bags to an array of lights that can spot the reptiles in the dark of night. To prepare for this year’s challenge, Crum is employing his carefully curated collection of snake-catching technology.“When it comes to the challenge, it’s guns blazing,” Crum said. “I’m trying to utilize all my equipment: little geo-trackers, four-wheelers. I’ve got swamp buggies, monster trucks with big tires on them. We outfit those with lights on and I’ll be able to access places the general public can’t get to.” Dusty Crum holds a snake in Florida in 2017.Courtesy Lisette Morales McCabePython hunting, Crum and Siewe said, is not for the faint of heart. While pythons aren’t venomous, they are powerful — and known to bite. “They’ve got hundreds of teeth, and when they bite you it’s like needle pricks,” Crum said. “The worst thing that can happen is when the tooth breaks off and gets stuck in you, and it gets infected.”Siewe said she’s been bitten too many times to count. “A 14-footer bit me on my hand. I’ve been bitten on my butt, on my calf. Thankfully, I haven’t been bitten on my face.”Like Crum, Siewe says she works to repurpose portions of the pythons she catches. “I use the leather to make Apple watch bands,” she said.Crum and Siewe both say they’re “in it to win it” when it comes to this year’s challenge. Neither plan on getting much sleep during the competition, as pythons are nocturnal, meaning the best time for hunting is late at night. Still, they said, the real goal of the challenge has less to do with any individual victories they might score, and far more to do with the greater cause both say they’re fighting — and hunting — for. “This isn’t a trophy hunt or a sport hunt,” Crum explains. “This is an environmental hunt. It’s hunting to save our environment. It’s a special feeling when it’s man versus beast, fighting for the environment.”No humans in the U.S. have been killed by pythons, but plenty of pets have, and wildlife officials worry pythons will destroy entire populations of Florida native species if they’re not stopped. Among the mammals in the Everglades that pythons are decimating: marsh rabbits, raccoons, foxes, deer and bobcats. “The Burmese python is one of the largest snakes in the world, capable of reaching 20 feet long, and because of our climate the pythons are able to thrive in Florida by preying on our wildlife,” Kirkland said. “In some regions of Florida, up to 95% of fur-bearing animal populations have disappeared.”The pythons are even eating Florida alligators. Python incentives and education specialist Robert Edman demonstrates how to catch a python during an event promoting the Florida Python Challenge on Dec. 5, 2019.Al Diaz / Miami Herald via Getty Images file“The pythons are generalists,” said McKayla Spencer, Florida’s Interagency python management coordinator. “They’ll eat anything.”Pythons made their first appearance in the Everglades in the 1970s, likely a result of a pet snake being released into the wild, but the population did not explode until the 1990s. That’s when Hurricane Andrew struck Florida, destroying, among other things, several python breeding facilities. Kirkland said there’s no definitive proof that the destruction of breeding farms is responsible for the explosion of Florida’s python population. “But it didn’t help,” he acknowledged.There’s no official estimate of how many pythons there are in Florida, owing to their stealth nature. “They are very hard to find,” Spencer said. “For every one python we find, there are 99 more out there.”Increasingly, Spencer said, pythons are showing up in people’s yards and boats, as the snakes literally swallow more and more Florida territory. That’s where human hunters come in. “I have always had this obsessive fascination with snakes and reptiles since I was little and my dad taught me to catch fish,” Siewe said. “I thought, ‘Why isn’t this passion [for] puppies or kittens or something normal?’ It’s not — it’s snakes.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Two people were injured and another died as a result of alligator attacks in Florida in the last two weeks. On July 15, one woman was walking through the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club near her home when she fell into a pond. Two alligators attacked her, and she was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders pulled her from the water. As a result, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission removed one 8-foot, 10-inch-long alligator and another 7-foot, 7-inch alligator that were suspected to be involved in the attack. The country club features signs along its course warning about the gator population. Experts are warning against feeding the animals. (TexPhoto/Getty Images/iStock) 100-POUND FISH FLIES OUT OF WATER AND STABS WOMAN ON BOAT Then, on July 20, a man was discovered near Lake Manatee Fish Camp with part of his arm missing. He was swimming in the lake when an alligator attacked him, but he was luckily transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The most recent attack was on July 24 when a 13-year-old girl was swimming in Zolfo Springs near the Gardner Boat Ramp. An alligator attempted to bite her foot and bit her arm. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission contracted a "nuisance alligator" trapper to the area to remove the suspected alligator. A "nuisance alligator" is defined as one that is longer than 4 feet in length and appears to be a threat to humans. Wildlife experts suspect most nuisance alligators have been fed by humans in the past. Its Wildlife Commission reported 442 unprovoked bite incidents from alligators between 1948 to 2021, with 26 resulting in fatalities. Alligators are found in every one of the state's 67 counties. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one," the Wildlife Commission recommends on its website. "Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water."
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By Garry OwenBBC NewsImage source, Hope Rescue CentreImage caption, Katie Bull from the Hope Rescue Centre with one-year-old terrier RoloThere has been a "sharp rise" in the number of dogs being abandoned as the cost-of-living crisis deepens, a rescue centre has said.Hope Rescue Centre in Rhondda Cynon Taf said it had taken 300 calls in the past three months about pets. The centre said it was caused by a "perfect storm" of an increase in dog ownership during lockdown alongside the cost-of-living crisis. In the year after the first lockdown, UK households bought 3.2 million pets.Rolo, a one-year-old terrier is one of the many dogs at the rescue centre.He was brought by a dog warden as a stray, with very little known about his background. The centre said although he was very friendly, he could get overwhelmed in some situations, so needs a gentle approach.The centre's owner and founder, Vanessa Wadden, said Rolo was one of many and the situation was the worst she has seen 17 years."In the last three months alone we've had over 300 calls from people asking for our help," she said. "It is very dramatic, it is a perfect storm."We are having to turn dogs away and that is the hardest bit, it is heartbreaking."Image caption, Hope Rescue's founder Vanessa Wadden said the situation was the worst the centre had ever seenCentres across Wales are struggling to cope with demand and although many are full, staff stressed there was still help at hand. "There are circumstances where we can't always help, we can't always take the dog in there and then, but we would urge owners to always pick up the phone," said Hope Rescue's Katie Bull."We can always offer advice if you are struggling to feed the dog, or struggling with medical costs and we can also put people on the waiting list."It is a similar story at Cardiff Dogs Home. With the number of strays, surrendered and unwanted dogs rising on a daily basis, the centre has seen record inquiries. Manger Maria Bailey said: "The demand has been quite striking for lots of different reasons. "We are getting about 40 to 50 calls a month. Between April and July this year we have taken in 225 dogs, that is roughly 56 dogs a month at the moment so we are pretty much full all the time." Image source, Hope rescue centreImage caption, Ragner is an American bulldog described as the "biggest puppy at heart"Ragner, a two-year-old American bulldog, was signed over because his owner could not look after him any longer. He is also what is now commonly known as a "lockdown pet", many of which have been abandoned. Veterinary charity The PDSA estimates that "depending on which dog you have, their potential lifetime cost could be £30,000".
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, acting on input from a group of veterinary researchers, began investigating whether the increasing popularity of grain-free dog foods had led to a sudden rise in a potentially fatal heart disease in dogs, dilated cardiomyopathy.Four years later, the FDA has found no firm link between diet and dilated cardiomyopathy. Nor has it rejected such a link, and research is ongoing. Publicity surrounding this issue, nevertheless, has shrunk the once-promising market for grain-free dog foods.Furthermore, a tangled web of industry funding and interests appears to have influenced the origin, data collection, and course of the FDA study, according to internal FDA records.A six-month investigation by 100Reporters has found that veterinarians who prompted the FDA to consider diet have financial and other ties to the leading sellers of grain-inclusive pet foods. Additionally, agency records show that for the initial study, some vets were instructed to submit only dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) cases that implicated grain-free, “exotic” or “boutique” pet foods. Suppliers of ingredients used in grain-free dog foods have also exerted pressure on the FDA to protect their market.Consequently, the conversation around DCM and grain-free food is deeply divided, with each side claiming the other is prioritizing industry relationships over scientific integrity and the lives of pets.“This became such an emotional issue,” said Dana Brooks, CEO of the Pet Food Institute, whose members produce most pet foods in the US. “We’re scrambling to try to even determine what’s going on.”CAUSE FOR CONCERNGrain-free pet diets became popular in the early 2000s, relying heavily on pulses — seeds from legume plants including peas, beans and lentils. By 2019, grain-free kibble represented 43 percent of dry pet foods sold.Until 2017, the FDA saw one to three reports of DCM annually. But between January 1 and July 10, 2018, it received 25 cases. Seven reports came from a single source, animal nutritionist Lisa Freeman from Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, an FDA spokesperson said. FDA records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, however, indicate those reports may not have been fully representative of cases seen at the Tufts clinic.In a June 2018 email to FDA veterinary medical officer Jennifer Jones, Freeman attached a document instructing vets to report cases to the FDA, “If patient is eating any diet besides those made by well-known, reputable companies or if eating a boutique, exotic ingredient, or grain-free (BEG) diet.”When asked if this could be perceived as cherry-picking data that would shape the inquiry, Freeman stated through Tufts media relations: “The protocol in that email was developed for and intended to help veterinary cardiologists in the early stages of the investigation into potential associations between diet and dilated cardiomyopathy.”“I shared the protocol with the FDA to inform them of what our clinical recommendations for patients were at that time,” Freeman wrote, noting they’re “continuing to study” any diet with ingredients linked to DCM “regardless of manufacturer.”In an email, an FDA spokesperson wrote, “The FDA has never requested that DCM cases reported to the agency be limited to certain diet types. We welcome all DCM reports with a suspected link to food, regardless of the type of diet.”According to PubMed.gov, Freeman has received funding from leading sellers of grain-inclusive foods, including Nestle Purina Petcare, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, and Mars Petcare, since 2002. Her recent conflict-of-interest declarations state: “In the last 3 years, Dr. Freeman has received research funding from, given sponsored lectures for, and/or provided professional services to Aratana Therapeutics, Elanco, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Nestlé Purina PetCare, P&G Pet Care (now Mars), and Royal Canin.”Industry funding is common in animal nutrition science. Freeman said she stands behind her research and has “ transparently disclosed the sources of funding for the work I conduct on this topic.”Two veterinary cardiologists—Darcy Adin from the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and Joshua Stern from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine—also collaborated with the FDA.Emails from a public records request indicate that in April 2018, Jones spoke with Freeman, Stern and Adin about grain-free dog foods and DCM and requested spreadsheets of their clinical case data.Adin has been involved in studies funded by Purina since 2018 and, since 2017, by the Morris Animal Foundation, an animal health charity created by the founder of Hill’s and chaired by a Hill’s employee.University of Florida’s public relations said neither Adin nor the university received direct financial support from the companies for these studies.Stern has authored studies funded by the Morris Animal Foundation since 2011, and currently receives funding from the foundation.“I completely understand conflict-of-interest concerns with people being funded by the pet food industry,” Stern said. “It’s hard to find a veterinary nutritionist that hasn’t done research for pet food companies.”Purina, Hill’s and Mars didn’t respond to multiple requests for comment.In July 2018, the FDA announced its investigation, noting many of the 25 dogs diagnosed lacked a genetic predisposition to DCM. The common thread, it said, appeared to be a grain-free diet.A year later, the FDA took the unusual step of naming 16 dog foods, nearly all grain-free, that appeared most frequently in their DCM case reports. “We’ve never seen anything like that before without a certainty of the cause,” said Brooks.Joseph Bartges, professor of animal nutrition at the University of Georgia, wasn’t surprised, noting the FDA flagged grain-free food early on. “When you only look for what you want to see, you only see what you look for,” Bartges said. By July 2020, reports of DCM numbered 1,100 — likely resulting from the FDA encouraging people to report the disease," said Brooks.INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRYSuppliers of ingredients for grain-free foods, in turn, marshaled forces to protect their market share.In its 2019 annual report, the USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council said it “convinced the FDA to clarify their language about their concerns and minimize the damage to the industry.”In a 2019 letter to FDA officials, Sen. Jon Tester from Montana — a principal growing region for pulses— complained the agency’s “unsubstantiated warning” had hurt pulse farmers. The following year, seven senators signed another letter to the FDA flagging potential “bias about causation of this disease.”The FDA has continuously stated that DCM involves multiple factors. Shortly after that letter, Steven Solomon, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), emphasized this point, describing DCM as “a scientifically complex, multifaceted issue,” adding that “we . . . currently do not view this as a regulatory issue.”An FDA spokesperson wrote that while it met with stakeholders, “Ultimately, all FDA decisions and work are guided by science, data, and our public health mission.”Regardless of the investigation’s ultimate findings, sales of grain-free dry dog foods have fallen since June 2018 and decreased by $60 million from 2021 to 2022. Meanwhile, grain-inclusive sales spiked in 2019 and rose by $700 million from 2020 to 2021.Getting an answer about DCM will be difficult thanks to the complexity of the science and industry influence, said Marion Nestle, author of Pet Food Politics. “They’re all trying to protect their market share.”______This article is an abridged version of an investigation produced by 100Reporters, a nonprofit investigative news organization, with financial support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism and legal guidance from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
FILE - A woman plays with a dog at sunset, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at a park in Kansas City, Mo. In August 2022, health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials are warning people who are infected with monkeypox to stay away from household pets, since the animals could be at risk of catching the virus.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for months has had the advice in place as monkeypox spreads in the U.S. But it gained new attention after a report from France, published last week in the medical journal Lancet, about an Italian greyhound that caught the virus.The dog belongs to a couple who said they sleep alongside the animal. The two men were infected with monkeypox after having sex with other partners and wound up with lesions and other symptoms. The greyhound later developed lesions and was diagnosed with the virus.Monkeypox infections have been detected in rodents and other wild animals, which can spread the virus to humans. But the authors called it the first report of monkeypox infection in a domesticated animal like a dog or cat.Pets that come in close contact with a symptomatic person should be kept at home and away from other animals and people for 21 days after the most recent contact, the CDC advises.___The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
An elusive fox has been captured following a two-month hunt after the predator somehow evaded a defence system to enter Victoria’s Phillip Island, threatening a world-famous penguin colony.Phillip Island was declared fox-free in 2017 after a 25-year effort to drive the animals out of the area, south-east of Melbourne.After several chickens were killed on a local property in early May this year, animal tracks and droppings were found before infrared surveillance cameras captured an image of a fox.Phillip Island Nature Parks on Wednesday confirmed the fox had been caught on the island’s southern coastline after the two-month operation.The predator was humanely euthanised, Phillip Island Nature Parks said.The fox was tracked to the location with the assistance of a conservation detection dog.How the fox arrived on Phillip Island remains a mystery, with no sign of it crossing from the mainland through cameras operating on the San Remo Bridge.One theory is it may have swum on to the island, with foxes known to paddle significant distances in search of new territory and food.The conservation team set traps, ran night-time surveys and did detection dog searches to track down the fox, while the droppings and other samples underwent genotyping to determine its sex and obtain a DNA profile.Foxes are the primary threat to the island’s little penguins – the largest colony in the world – as well as other native species, livestock and domestic pets.“We will continue to remain vigilant and conduct extensive surveys until we are certain that the island is fox free again,” acting Phillip Island Nature Parks chief executive, Peta Wittig, said.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Morad Tahbaz, the British-Iranian man held in a Tehran prison, has been released on an electronic tag, the UK Foreign Office has confirmed.He had been due to be released on a tag at the same time as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and Anoosheh Ashoori were allowed to return to the UK in March, but he was only allowed to return to his mother’s home in Tehran for a few days before he was sent back to Evin prison.Tahbaz is a co-founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation. In January 2018 Iranian authorities arrested him and eight other PWHF-affiliated individuals. He has American as well as British and Iranian citizenship.In November 2019, the Iranian judiciary sentenced Tahbaz to 10 years in prison for “contacts with the US enemy government”.It is understood that the Oman government has acted as broker in the release, as it did in the release of Zaghari-Ratcliffe.An FCO spokesperson said: “The Tahbaz family have confirmed Morad has been released from Evin prison on furlough and is at their home in Tehran.“Morad is a tri-national and we continue to work closely with the United States to urge the Iranian authorities to permanently release him and allow his departure from Iran.”Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTIt is not clear if there was any exchange either by the US or the UK that led to the relaxation of his conditions. One possibility is that Oman or another foreign power agreed to paid a substantial bail to ensure his release.The UK has already repaid the historical £400m debt it owed to Iran, a move that most observers said was linked to Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s release. The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, refused to accept there was any direct link and said the two episodes were unrelated.Truss came under criticism for allowing Anoosheh and Zaghari-Ratcliffe to be released without securing the release of Tahbaz, but she seemingly thought the Iranians were intransigent and that Tahbaz was going to be treated as an individual whose future would be negotiated with the US. Truss said the Iranians had gone back on their commitment to allow him to be released on furlough.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Dog owners in Japan can now buy wearable fans to keep their pets cool during the country’s sweltering summer.Comprising a battery-operated, 80-gram fan attached to a breathable mesh outfit, the device circulates cool air around the animal’s body.Rei Uzawa, president of maternity clothing company Sweet Mommy, said she came up with the idea after seeing how tired her pet chihuahua became when she took it out for a walk.Moco out for a walk in Tokyo wearing one of the portable ‘air-conditioners for pets’. Photograph: Issei Kato/ReutersWhile experts have advised owners to skip walks or take their pets out very early in the morning or late at night during the recent record-breaking heatwave in Britain, Japan’s high humidity levels are keeping temperatures over 25C through the night, according to public broadcaster NHK.Tokyo experienced its longest heatwave on record from late June, with temperatures up to 35C for nine straight days after the rainy season ended early.“There was almost no rainy season this year, so the hot days came early,” said Uzawa, who teamed up with a veterinarian to make the jackets.Mami Kumamoto, who owns a miniature poodle named Purin and a terrier called Moco, said she tried to keep her pets cool with packs of dry ice during walks. “But it’s easier to walk my dogs with this fan,” she told Reuters.The Cool Dog range, which is also suitable for cats, appears to be modelled on fan-fitted jackets that have become increasingly popular among Japanese construction workers and others who have to spend long periods outside.Demand is not expected to drop off any time soon. Temperatures rose again at the weekend after the arrival of a high-pressure system over much of the country.Of 914 observation points, 725 recorded a maximum temperature of 30C or higher, the Mainichi Shimbun reported, adding that the mercury in Kushiro city in Japan’s far north had reached 33.5C – the highest temperature there since records began in 1910.Although slightly less brutal weather is forecast for Thursday and Friday, temperatures are expected to rise again at the weekend, remaining in the mid-30s for much of next week.Weather officials have warned against venturing outside unless absolutely necessary and exercising during the day. They have also urged people to set their air conditioners as “appropriate” levels, drink water at night and remove their masks outdoors provided they are observing social distancing.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Beneath a tree in the middle of Arlington’s Menotomy Rocks Park sits a potted plant sprouting red flowers, a solar-powered light, and a sign reading “IN LOVING MEMORY” and “YOU ARE MISSED.”It’s a small memorial to the recent deaths of some beloved park figures: three great horned owls.Two owls, an adult and child, were found dead May 31, Arlington Police Captain Richard Flynn said. Another owlet’s body was found shortly after.“Everybody’s been out looking at the baby owls, wondering what they’ll look like, waiting to see if they take off from the nest,” said Chris Mooney, 72, a lifelong Arlington resident. “It’s brought a lot of enthusiasm and watchers, so I was really sad.”Flynn said the department did not test the owls’ bodies for toxins and cannot confirm what killed them. That, however, hasn’t stopped speculation among residents. Several passionate nature observers have identified a culprit on their own: rodenticide.Rodenticide, more commonly known as rat poison, can cause second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide, or SGAR, poisoning. That occurs when animals ingest rats that have poison in their systems and are affected by the poison themselves.A memorial for the owls at the Menotomy Rock Park in Arlington.Jonathan Wiggs/Globe StaffVisitors have left flyers around the park depicting photos of the owls, and messages on chalkboards reading: “Rodenticide (rat poison) is killing. Wildlife can adapt as long as we don’t poison it.”The messages come amid increasing awareness of rodenticides as a problem for wildlife. In 2020, Tufts Wildlife Clinic Director Maureen Murray said that 100 percent of birds taken into the clinic from 2017 to 2019 were exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides.Heidi Ricci, director of policy and advocacy at Mass Audubon, said the nonprofit has worked to educate the public on the dangers of rodenticide and promoted better sanitation, exclusion, and trapping as alternative methods to keep unwanted rodents away.A bill sponsored by State Representative Jim Hawkins, a Democrat from Attleboro, would require pesticide companies to disclose information about their products’ negative environmental effects and mandate that customers acknowledge the dangers of possessing such toxins, among other restrictions.Arlington community members have also sought to reduce toxins in their area via local bylaws. The issue was discussed in a town meeting last month.Jodi Sylvester, a Central Massachusetts resident who created the memorial, became invested in wildlife preservation after helping a baby eagle that died of poisoning last year in Arlington. That bird, which Sylvester described as “the most horrific, sad thing I have ever witnessed in my life,” was the second eagle to die from SGAR poisoning in 2021.“The owls brought so much joy in our lives — with COVID and all these mass shootings, it brought together that community,” Sylvester said.“I set up a memorial so the community would have a place to congregate, to talk about it, and there’s a note that says, ‘Please help fight our poison situation. Please save our wildlife.’ It’s not just a memorial, it’s a message.”Anjali Huynh can be reached at anjali.huynh@globe.com.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
With Dallas-Fort Worth seeing a string of triple-digit temperatures this week, it’s not just people who are at risk from the heat.Pets, too, can become seriously ill from exposure to hot weather — and each pet has a different level of danger when it comes to high temperatures. “If it’s hot outside for you, it’s even hotter for your pet,” said Lori Teller, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association.An animal’s age, weight, underlying medical conditions and activity level lead to the heat affecting them differently. Pets with longer or darker fur, or those that are brachycephalic — with flat or pushed-in faces, like pugs or Persian cats — may have extra trouble managing heat.There are signs for pet owners to keep an eye out for, including anxiousness, restlessness, excessive panting and drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal gum and tongue color or unsteadiness. If your pet experiences any of these, take them to emergency veterinary care.Related:5 ways to avoid heat exhaustion, heatstroke in North Texas’ triple-digit temperatures Pets should never be left inside parked vehicles. Within 10 minutes, the temperature in a car can rise almost 20 degrees, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, putting pets at risk of heat stroke. “Cracking the windows and parking in the shade make no difference,” Teller said. “Even if you think it will just be a quick stop, leave your pet at home or postpone the errand.”In addition to your pet’s characteristics, the time they spend outdoors should depend on the temperature, humidity and airflow. Owners should allow for breaks, shade and constant access to water for their cats and dogs. “When possible, avoid spending time outside or taking walks in during midday,” Teller said. “Instead, enjoy the fresh air together in the early morning and evening when the weather is less severe.”Related:Dry conditions, wind led to grass fire that canceled Fort Worth July Fourth fireworks showDuring the day, pavement can get very hot and lead to burned paws. Walking in the early morning, avoiding dark pavement, giving pets the option to walk on the grass and using dog booties can help avoid injury, she said.Dogs can get sunburned during their time outdoors. Hairless dog breeds, dogs with white or thin coats and dogs with light-pigmented noses and eyelids are more at risk for sunburns. Seasonal shedding or thin coats also can create a greater risk of sunburn.Shaving your dog’s double coat is not recommended — and can actually increase the chance of overheating and sunburn — because their coats provide protection from the heat.Too much sun exposure also can lead to skin cancer.“Shirts, hats, and even goggles are also available to protect dogs when they’re outside in the sun,” Teller said. Sunscreens specifically made for dogs may also help.Related:How do you endure the summer heat? Here’s how the pros handle itCats also can be at risk for heat exhaustion and sunburn because of prolonged sun exposure, she said. Open-mouth breathing is a sign your cat needs emergency care.If your pet is showing signs of heat stress, move it to a cool, shady area and give it water. Cooling too quickly can lead to more problems.“Cooling a hyperthermic animal too quickly can cause its blood vessels to constrict, which will make it harder to cool down, so apply cool — but not cold — water or wet towels to their bodies and paws, and fan them to help encourage evaporation,” Teller said.Related:Here's why your car's temperature sensor is probably wrong about how hot it is outside
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Little blue penguins at a New Zealand preserve in 2021.Guo Lei/Xinhua via ZUMA Press This story was originally published by the Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.
The penguins lie in orderly, evenly spaced rows, wings splayed, their trademark glossy blue plumage dulled by sand. There are 183 in all, carefully collected by local people, laid out and photographed for later investigation. The birds were found at Ninety Mile Beach last week, just the latest in a phenomenon of dead penguins washing up on New Zealand’s beaches in huge numbers.
The kororā, also known as little blue penguins, are the world’s smallest penguin, and are native to New Zealand. They have been a common sight on northern coastlines, seen hopping up the dunes at dusk with their characteristic, slightly stooped waddle, however the Department of Conservation (DoC) classes their population as “at-risk, declining.”
Their deaths have shocked and bewildered locals, who in recent months have found hundreds washed ashore and decaying on the beaches in the North Island. The 183 at Ninety Mile Beach came the same week that more than 100 were found dumped and decaying at the nearby Cable Bay. Local residents photographed another dead flock of 109 at Ninety Mile Beach the close of May, a resident found 40 at Tokerau Beach, also in the Northland region, in mid-May. The DoC has other reports of at least 20 dying on the same beach at the start of the month.
In Northland social media groups, locals discuss the deaths with a growing sense of distress and alarm—are the birds being caught and dumped by fishermen? Is there something in the water? Have they caught some new kind of disease, like avian malaria? Hi @docgovtnz, 3 dead blue penguins on 90 mile beach today, about 12km north of #Ahipara. All within a 100m stretch of each other. Run over by cars? Or victims of a certain fishing method? #NewZealand #Aotearoa #Wildlife #Penguins@nzherald @NZStuff @Breakfaston1 pic.twitter.com/isuo4OV1Yk
— Jeff Rice (@EvolvingCaveman) May 2, 2022 Graeme Taylor, a DoC principal science adviser who studies sea birds, believes more than 500 penguins have washed up since the start of May 2022, and that the figure may be approaching 1,000. It is impossible to give an accurate number, mainly because some are found and buried by people, he says.
Earlier in the year, he says, scientists from the Ministry of Primary Industries decided to test some of the dead birds in case a new virus or disease was sweeping through the colonies. They looked for infections and toxins. They concluded that the birds were starving to death.
“All of the bodies were found to be super underweight. These birds should be around 800 to 1,000 grams, but they were way down around half that weight,” Taylor says. “There was just no body fat on them, there was hardly any muscle to show. When they get to that stage of emaciation, they can’t dive.” Eventually, the birds simply die—of starvation or hypothermia from the lack of blubber to keep them warm.
The DoC believes Kororā are not starving because of overfishing. Rather, climate change was creating waters too hot for the fish they feed on. Data released last year saw the hottest ocean temperatures in recorded history, the sixth consecutive year that this record has been broken. In New Zealand, that has combined with a La Nina weather conditions to create marine heatwaves. As waters warm, the small fish that kororā eat go deeper in search of cooler waters, or leave the area entirely.
“This little species [of penguin] can dive down to 20 or 30 meters routinely, but it’s not that good at diving a lot deeper than that,” Taylor says. Hot water temperatures through winter had likely kept the fish out of reach.
Mass deaths of sea birds are not unheard of historically: severe storms, heatwaves or weather events can result in birds washing ashore in the tens or hundreds. What has changed, Taylor says, is the frequency. Previously, deaths in these numbers would occur maybe once a decade. Over the past 10 years, he says there have been at least three mass-death years, and their frequency was increasing. Ian Armitage, a member of the governing council for Birds New Zealand, which runs beach patrols to monitor dead sea-bird numbers, says the number of penguins found this year has been unusually high, particularly in the far north. Recent storms and high water temperatures mean he expects more mass deaths. “This event is probably not over and will continue through the winter,” Armitage says. “Many more little penguins found.”
As human-driven climate change continues to heat the globe and its oceans, eventually, the species could be wiped out in warmer North Island regions. “As you start seeing it happen regularly like this, then there’s really not much chance for the birds to recover between the events, and rebuild the numbers again,” Taylor says.
In the South’s colder waters, he says, populations are still doing well. “But the northern population are definitely in a very poor state. And when we get summer events like this happening at the frequency that’s been happening in the past 10 years, they really will be under pressure to be able to survive.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
AnimalsExplainerBeyond common sense, there are few simple rules for enjoying wildlife that can prevent dangerous encounters.With summer being the busiest season for most U.S. national parks, the potential for run-ins with wildlife increases—and so do visits to the emergency room.Though most people imagine bears or bison are the animals to watch out for, even small mammals can pose a risk.“At the Grand Canyon, the number one reason people end up at the clinic is from squirrel bites,” says Kathy Kupper, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Park Service.It’s illegal to approach, harass, or feed any type of wildlife in national parks, adds Kupper. “No matter the size, no matter how harmless or safe they appear.”Between 2008 and 2015 in the United States, 1,160 people died in animal encounters, mostly due to domestic animals such as dogs, followed by venomous species such as hornets, bees, and snakes.Though such incidents are rare, they can be made even rarer by following a few basic guidelines. The first and perhaps most important is to give wildlife a lot of room.“If your actions cause a reaction from the animal, then you’re too close,” says Kupper. “And if you can take a selfie with wildlife, then you’re definitely too close.” (Why people risk their lives for the ultimate animal selfie.)Know before you goMany problems with wildlife can be solved simply by doing a little bit of research before entering an unfamiliar area.For instance, the American alligator, which can be found from South Carolina to Florida to Texas, can reach up to 15 feet long and weigh around a thousand pounds. These apex predators are capable of inflicting great bodily harm to their prey, and they have been known to kill humans from time to time.It may seem obvious, but don’t approach an alligator or get in the water with one. Certain behaviors, like splashing at the water’s edge, are also a no-no for this particular animal, says Rolf Olson, project leader for the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.“You can be within 10 to 15 feet as long as you’re up on dry ground,” Olson says. “Alligators can charge really fast and move really quickly, but they’re most dangerous in water.”Predators are also not the only animals that should be given a wide berth: Large herbivores like bison and hippos can be just as deadly. In Alaska, more people are injured by moose than bears each year. Bison, which may look slow-moving, are unpredictable and can charge in an instant. They're capable of running up to 35 miles an hour and changing directions with more speed and agility than a horse. (Read why a bison attacked a tourist in Yellowstone National Park.)In general, Kupper says remaining at least a hundred yards away from large animals like bears, wolves, and cats. For other wildlife, 25 yards is usually a good buffer.Please don’t feed the animalsIn addition to knowing your surroundings and keeping a distance, one of the best things you can do to prevent negative wildlife encounters is to keep your food to yourself.This is because when animals come to associate humans with food, it can create situations that put both parties at risk. (See National Geographic's tips for photographing wildlife.)In fact, Kupper says even small mammals with a taste for human food can be surprisingly harmful. (Here’s how to get kids to respect wildlife.)A fed bear is a dead bearOf course, larger animals can do even more damage, which is why Olson, of the Florida refuge, says he and his team work tirelessly to keep people from feeding the alligators.“People have brought filet mignon down here,” he says.Food-habituated animals sometimes have to be trapped, relocated, or euthanized by wildlife managers because of the threat they pose to humans. This is why those in the know say “A fed bear is a dead bear.”Black bears have an incredible sense of smell, and will easily track down any human food that's left out or improperly stored. Not only are bears habituated to people more dangerous, they have shorter life-spans than bears that steer clear of us. (Here’s how to do wildlife tourism right and how to avoid negative interactions with bears.) In the end, Kupper says that we need to remember that seeing wildlife is a privilege.“You’re in their home,” she says. “We all need to do our part to make sure that they are safe so that others can enjoy them as well.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Area pools and water parks will end the swim season with splash parties for you and your four-legged friend. Dogs can splash around in the water, look adorable in beachy costumes, and show off their diving and paddling skills. All dogs must have proof of current vaccinations. Check each venue’s website for other requirements.MESQUITEDoggie Splash DayThe lap pool, wading pool and 1-meter diving board will be open to canines and people are invited to swim with their pets. Competitive pooches can win prizes in a swimsuit parade, a diving contest, a dog paddle race, and a pet and owner look-a-like contest. Admission is $5 for one owner and one pet, and for spectatorsAug. 6 from 9 a.m. to noon at Vanston Pool, 2913 Oates Drive, Mesquite. CEDAR HILLPaws in the Pool-oozaDogs can take a dip in the pool and join in friendly competitions to win prizes. Dog-friendly vendors will be onsite. Registration is $5 per dog with 100% of proceeds going to the Friends of the Tri-City Animal Shelter. The Pool-ooza party is a rain or shine event.Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Crawford Pool, 401 Straus Road, Cedar Hill. Pool-ooza rules.HURSTDoggie Dive-InDogs can swim and enjoy other features of the aquatic center. Admission is $10 per person with a maximum of two dogs. Concession stands will be open.Aug. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Aquatic Center, 715 Mary Dr., Hurst. Register here.ROWLETTPooch PlungeThe Wet Zone teams up with the Friends of Rowlett Animals for a three-hour swim party at the water park. Doggies and humans can cool off in the pool, shop with vendors, and buy raffle tickets for a chance to win goodie bags. Tickets are $12 per dog, $3 for humans. Tickets must be purchased in advance.Aug. 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wet Zone, 5304 Main St., Rowlett. Pooch Plunge tickets.DALLASDog Day AfternoonDogs can dive in and paddle at Everglade Pool’s end-of-summer party. Tickets are $5 per dog, people are free.Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Everglade Pool, 5100 N. Jim Miller Road, Dallas. dallasaquatics.org.BEDFORDDog Day at the PoolThere’s a waiting list for admission to the doggies-only pool party but everyone can enjoy activities in the park including games, treats and specialty vendors. If a spot becomes available, pool admission is $2 for dogs which also includes two humans as chaperones. Advance tickets only, no tickets will be sold at the gate.Aug. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Central Park and Roy Savage Pool, 1200 Central Drive, Bedford. Preregister here.LEWISVILLEDoggie Dive-InYour fur baby can swim in the pool and compete for treats and prizes in contests such as best tricks, best costume, longest jump and fastest ball retrieval. Vendors will be at the party with pet merchandise and services. Admission is $5 per dog, humans are free.Sept. 10 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at Sun Valley Aquatic Center, 801 South Valley Parkway, Lewisville. Preregister by Sept. 9FRISCOPaws in the PoolPups and their people can splash, float and paddle during separate sessions for small- to large-size dogs. Admission is $8 and must be prepurchased. Both humans and dogs must have a ticket and each pup must be accompanied by a person 14 or older. Rain-out date: Sept. 11.Sept. 10 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. (small, elderly and mobility challenged dogs), 10:30 a.m. to noon (medium and large dogs), 12:30 to 2 p.m. (large dogs). Tickets on sale Aug. 12 at 8 a.m.GARLANDWags & WavesBeach party admission includes access for you and to the park’s water attractions including the Kona Kooler Lazy River, Oahu Bay Wave Pool and water slides, with separate areas for large and small breeds. There’ll be plenty of fun activities, contests, vendors and concessions. Proceeds benefit local animal nonprofits. $22 for an advance ticket that includes one person and up to two dogs; increases to $25 at the gate.Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hawaiian Falls, 4550 N. Garland Ave., Garland. Advance tickets.THE COLONYBow-Wow LuauHawaiian Falls Waterpark in The Colony hosts a luau-themed splash party with doggie swims, contests, games and prizes. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Colony Animal Shelter Injured Animal Fund. Icy treats, drinks and other concessions will be available for purchase. $19.99 for an advance ticket that includes one person and up to two dogs; increases to $23.99 at the gate.Sept. 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Hawaiian Falls Waterpark, 4400 Paige Rd., The Colony. Advance tickets.NORTH RICHLAND HILLSDoggie Beach BashPooches and their families have access to NRH2O attractions including the 660-foot Endless River, Frogstein’s Splashatory, the Tadpole Swimming Hole and the white sands of Beachside Bay. Admission is $20 per person (free for ages 2 and younger) with a maximum of two dogs. Proceeds benefit the North Richland Hills Animal Adoption & Rescue Center.Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at NRH2O, 9001 Blvd. 26, North Richland Hills. Doggie Beach Bash tickets.BONUS BASHNational Dog Day Beach BashVisit Klyde Warren Park’s new dog park for a day of fun with your furry friend. There’ll be splash pools for the pups to play in, music, pet-friendly vendors, puppy portrait fun, and more. My Best Friend’s Park is located in front of the Museum Tower on the corner of Pearl Street and the eastbound Woodall Rodgers access road.Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Klyde Warren Park, 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Dallas. Free. klydewarrenpark.org.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Wildlife sightings can increase in warmer weather and Plano is offering residents tips on how to react when seeing coyotes or bobcats.What to do when seeing these animals is one of the most common questions the city is asked, according to a Plano video presentation.Though seeing a coyote or bobcat on your property can be startling, it is usually not a safety concern for people, the city said. But these wild animals can pose a risk for pets.Bobcats in the area generally hunt prey that is rabbit-sized or smaller. Coyotes, however, may go after larger pets. One of the best ways to keep all pets safe is to stay with them while outdoors. It also helps to keep them on a leash during walks and to always be aware of your surroundings.Removing outdoor water and food sources and eliminating potential den sites can also help prevent wildlife from entering your property.Coyotes can often be scared off by yelling, throwing a small rock at them or spraying them with a garden hose. The idea is to make them feel uncomfortable so they learn that people should be avoided.City officials also noted that children should be taught to never interact with an unknown animal — and that applies to both wildlife and other pets.Related:Plano Police offering rape prevention course for female studentsTeri Webster, Special Contributor. Teri Webster is a freelancer covering Plano for The Dallas Morning News. She has worked as a staff writer and freelancer for several area news outlets and is a regular contributor to Fort Worth Weekly. Email story tips to writerteriw@gmail.com.writerteriw@gmail.com
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A team of biologists recently hauled in the heaviest Burmese python ever captured in Florida, officials said. The discovery was part of the state’s python removal program.The female python weighed in at 215 pounds (98 kg), was nearly 18ft long (5 metres) and had 122 developing eggs, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida said in a news release.The team used radio transmitters implanted into male “scout” snakes to study python movements, breeding behaviors and habitat use, said Ian Bartoszek, wildlife biologist and environmental science project manager for the conservancy’s program.“How do you find the needle in the haystack? You could use a magnet, and in a similar way our male scout snakes are attracted to the biggest females around,” Bartoszek said.The team used a scout snake named Dionysus – or Dion for short – in an area of the western Everglades.“We knew he was there for a reason, and the team found him with the largest female we have seen to date.”Biologist Ian Easterling and intern Kyle Findley helped capture the female snake and haul it through the woods to the field truck.A necropsy also found hoof cores in the snake’s digest system, meaning that an adult white-tailed deer was its last meal.National Geographic documented the discovery, highlighting the continued impact of the invasive pythons, which are known for rapid reproduction and depletion of surrounding native wildlife.Bartoszek said removal of female pythons plays a critical role in disrupting the breeding cycle.“This is the wildlife issue of our time for southern Florida,” he said.Since the conservancy’s python program began in 2013, they’ve removed more than 1,000 pythons from approximately 100 sq miles (258 km) in south-west Florida.Over that stretch, necropsies have found dozens of white-tailed deer inside Burmese pythons. Data researchers at the University of Florida have documented 24 species of mammals, 47 species of birds and 2 reptile species from pythons’ stomachs.Prior to the recent discovery, the largest female removed through the conservancy’s program weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) and was the heaviest python captured at the time in Florida, officials said.The state’s python removal program runs for two weeks in August. Participants compete for prizes, including $2,500 for capturing the most pythons.Last year’s challenge involved more than 600 people from 25 states.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
As more gluten-free food options pop up in grocery stores and on menus, some people are still wondering what gluten is. In short it is a protein found in wheat that maintains the shape of food. It is also found in rye, barley and a cross between rye and wheat called triticale.Increased gluten-free options are a good thing, especially for people who have a gluten allergy or suffer from celiac disease. People who are celiac can’t eat gluten because they have an immune reaction when they eat gluten which can lead to serious complications. While people have become more aware of gluten in their own diets some may be left wondering can my dog eat gluten?What human foods can dogs eat?: Here's what is and isn't safe for your pet to consume.Why do dogs lick you?: Explaining why your pet does it and when it might be too much.Can dogs eat gluten?Gluten is typically harmless for dogs, but just like humans, some dogs may experience discomfort from eating gluten, according to The Honest Kitchen.Claudio Salem, Veterinarian Council at organic dog food company Paw Foods, said some dogs can suffer from celiac disease.“In the same way that humans, there will be dogs that will be gluten sensitive, they will develop what is called a celiac disease. And for those dogs, then the benefit doesn't (outweigh) the cost,” Salem told USA TODAY. Like humans, dogs can suffer from celiac disease.Gluten can be found in dog food through the presence of grain, which is a popular ingredient in many pet foods because it is a low-cost way to get more protein into pet food. According to MyPlate.gov, grains are any food that are made from wheat, rice, cornmeal, oats, barley and other cereal grains. People who suffer from celiac disease only react to gluten found in rye, barley and wheat.According to the American Kennel Club, grains do not cause food allergies, but they can be the “target of allergies, and some foods are more allergenic than others. Those foods are specific ones, such as wheat, not general categories, such as grains.” Like humans it is unknown what causes celiac disease in humans and dogs, the Honest Kitchen says, but the good news is most dogs do not suffer from it.However, Salem said over time dogs who do suffer from gluten sensitivity may be unable to absorb important nutrients because of how their body responds to gluten.“The digestive system will perceive a harm and will produce immunoglobulins, which is (a) kind of antibodies against that harm, and that will cause an inflammation of the intestine. So in the long term, what may happen is that you are not absorbing the nutrients that you actually need and not just the gluten itself,” Salem said.Why does my dog tilt its head?: Trying to understand your pet's nonverbal communication.How often should you walk your dog?: Best practices for keeping your pup healthy.How can I know if my dog has a gluten sensitivity?It can be difficult for pet owners to know if their dog has a sensitivity to gluten. While humans can easily identify if they are experiencing discomfort from the food they eat, they are not always as quick to identify this in their pets, Salem said.“You may go to your physician or you'll tell others and if you do that continually, you're certainly going to ask for help, so it's hard for a most empathetic owner to perceive that his dog is kind of having a mild discomfort, not digesting well,” Salem said.Salem said dogs suffering from gluten sensitivity can also inhibit symptoms that their owners may not connect to gluten including soft stool that is becoming more persistent, diarrhea with mucus and their pets becoming lethargic.Additionally, unlike humans, since dogs generally eat the same food every day if they are suffering from a sensitivity to gluten they will be forced to continue to eat food that is making them sick, Salem said.“Because we do feed our dogs every day with the same food, they have no time to recover so if that has gluten, they will be receiving gluten every day, twice a day and the inflammation in the gut will just grow up, and never recover.” Salem said.Are some breeds of dog more likely to be sensitive to gluten?Salem said while some believe that Irish Settlers are more likely than other breeds to suffer from a gluten sensitivity, there is not enough data to know which breeds are more susceptible.“We do have certain statistics on humans and it's believed that about one in every 133 humans will have celiac disease ... but for dogs, we don't have data," Salem said.Just curious?: We're answering your everyday questionsWhat should I do if my dog is sensitive to gluten?If you suspect your dog is sensitive to gluten, you may want to change their diet to gluten-free. Salem said since grain is a cheap source of protein for dogs, it is often found in dog food.“Gluten is found in grains, which is a cheaper source of protein for the dog food industry, every dog food will have grain, and if it does not, the price of it will go up."However, since the benefits of grains for dogs with a gluten sensitivity do not outweigh the harms, choosing a gluten-free diet for those dogs can be beneficial, Salem said.“I would not blame the grains because of the gluten, but for those dogs that have celiac disease, you know, again, the benefits of eating grains are not enough to overcome the harm of eating gluten,” Salem said.Some gluten-free dog food options include all foods by Paw Foods, dry Blue Buffalo Basics and dry Taste of the Wild.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Can dogs eat gluten? Here's how the protein can affect your dog
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! A family dog in Florida is now dead after a visit to the park took a turn for the worse.Wildlife authorities said Joshua Wells was following his usual lunchtime routine earlier this month, where he would take his dog, a 40-pound black Labrador retriever named Toby, out for a walk and a quick game of fetch at a local park, when the pair were attacked by an alligator.Wells and Toby traveled to the J.R. Alford Greenway Trail, a popular park in Tallahassee, for their usual outdoor activities, when an alligator that was just over 9 feet long leaped out from a nearby waterway, grabbed the dog by his head, and carried it back into the water. MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 04: An alligator swims in the Florida Everglades on May 04, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)The incident happened so fast that Wells said the dog never had time to respond.ALLIGATOR INTERRUPTS GOLF GAME BY GRABBING GOLFER'S BALL ON FLORIDA COURSE"Boom, the water just sort of exploded," Wells told the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FOX 13 of Tampa Bay reported. "He never barked. He never saw it.""It took him down like it was nothing," he added. An alligator swims in the Florida Everglades on May 04, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)Wells told officials he attempted to rescue the family pup by grabbing the gator but quickly reconsidered the decision when he saw its size.FLORIDA MAN CHARGED IN DEATH OF MISSING MOM AFTER UNKNOWINGLY GIVING POLICE VIDEO SHOWING HIM 'MOVING A BODY'"He said he soon realized that was not a good idea and let the alligator go," the FWC report said.The incident happened on June 9, and wildlife officials who responded to the scene were able to track down the alligator. An alligator swims in the Florida Everglades on May 04, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)FWC Officer Benjamin Johnson said later the alligator measured 9 feet, 2-inches in length.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP A trapper later discovered the remains of the dog’s body in the same area the alligator was found.The dog was not leashed at the time of the incident. The wildlife agency encourages anyone who travels to areas near water to keep pets on leashes.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The county fair — there’s nothing quite like it. The aroma of fair food wafting through the crowds, the screams carrying from the carnival rides, the music blasting from the stage, and the sounds of the animals roaming their pens, then check out this sampling of Northern California fairs happening this summer.
Alameda County Fair: June 17-July 10, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton. The Alameda County Fair returns for 19 days of all your favorite fair fun, plus new rides, shows and food experiences. $15-$18 admission. annual.alamedacountyfair.com/
A carnival ride zips fairgoers into the air on opening weekend of the 2022 Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Marin County Fair: June 30 – July 4, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Enjoy carnival rides, exciting exhibits, spectacular firework displays, first-rate concerts and all kinds of food. $20 admission. fair.marincounty.org/2022
Stanislaus County Fair: July 8-18, 900 N. Broadway, Turlock. This year’s fair will feature carnival rides, animals, live entertainment, local exhibits — including a new Selfie Museum — and such beloved events as the famous Duck Races, Marionette Show and Destruction Derby. $7-$15 admission. stancofair.com/ Santa Clara County Fair: July 23-30, 344 Tully Road, San Jose. With a theme of “Get your Ag on,” this year’s fair will emphasize livestock and home art exhibits. No carnival rides this year, unfortunately, commercial vendors or traditional fair food, but there will be plenty of exhibits and a Jr. Livestock Auction. Free admission. thefair.org/
Amador County Fair: July 8-31, 18621 Sherwood St., Plymouth. Join the fun at this county fair, where the theme is “Around The World In Four Days,” and festivities celebrate California’s living history. You’ll find all your favorite carnival rides, entertainment and food, too. $7-$12 admission. amadorcountyfair.com/
California Exposition and State Fair: July 18-25, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. Join this showcase of California’s industries, agriculture and diversity. The state fair features blue-ribbon animal displays, culinary delights and competitions, live music concerts, a carnival, fireworks and other family fun. $8-$14 admission. calexpostatefair.com/
The Ferris wheel dominates the midway at the 2018 California State Fair. (VisitCalifornia/Carol Highsmith)
Sonoma County Fair: Aug. 4-14, 1350 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa. Enjoy all your fair favorites including carnival rides, live concerts, food, horse racing, special contests and a flower show. $10-$18 admission. sonomacountyfair.com/
Napa Town and Country Fair: Aug. 11-14, 575 Third St., Napa. Enjoy carnival rides, a livestock show and competitive exhibits where artists, craftspeople, farmers and youth can show off their creative expertise. Prices tba. napavalleyexpo.com/town-and-country-fair.php Yolo County Fair: Aug. 17-21, 1250 Gum Ave., Woodland. This year’s fair will feature crowd favorite activities and a local exhibitor and livestock show. Tickets go on sale July 11, check back for prices. yolocountyfair.net/
Butte County Fair: Aug. 25-28, 199 East Hazel St., Gridley. The Butte County Fair has been creating feel-good family memories for the last 75 years. Enjoy fair food, fun events and shows. Prices tba. buttecountyfair.org/
Lake County Fair: Sept. 1-4, 401 Martin St., Lakeport. The Lake County Fair will feature all your favorite carnival rides, food, live entertainment and concerts, animals, and special competitions. $4-$9 admission. lakecountyfair.com/
Monterey County Fair “Wool Meet Ewe at the Fair!”: Sept. 1-5, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey. Enjoy carnival rides, fair food, live entertainment and concerts, local exhibits and a livestock show and special contests. $5-$10 admission. montereycountyfair.com/
Crews work on assembling rides for a pre-pandemic Monterey County Fair. (Dennis L. Taylor/Monterey Herald)
Mariposa County Fair: Sept. 2-5, 5007 Fairgrounds Road, Mariposa. Enjoy family fun, agricultural events, displays and demonstrations, live entertainment, a carnival, a midway and more provide old-fashioned fun for the young and young-at-heart. $5-$10 admission. mariposafair.com/fair
Gold County Fair: Sept. 8-11, 1273 High St., Auburn. Enjoy a Comic Con, Knight Fights, and Darth Vader himself as the fair plays out its theme, “Where No Fair Has Gone Before.” $5-$12 admission. goldcountryfair.com/
Santa Cruz County Fair: Sept. 14-18. County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville. In previous years, the fair has included carnival rides, livestock exhibits, food booths, live music and children’s activities. Find updates and ticket prices at santacruzcountyfair.com
Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show: Sept. 23-25, Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville. Staying true to its roots as an old-time harvest festival, the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show offers a three-day wonder to showcase Anderson Valley apples and other local produce, in addition to fun carnival rides and games. $6-$10 admission. mendocountyfair.com
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Twenty years ago, the future of the Spix’s macaw could not have looked bleaker. The last member of this distinctive parrot species disappeared from the wild, leaving only a few dozen birds in collectors’ cages across the globe. The prospects for Cyanopsitta spixii were grim, to say the least.But thanks to a remarkable international rescue project, Spix’s macaws – with their grey heads and vivid blue plumage – have made a stunning comeback. A flock now soars freely over its old homeland in Brazil after being released there a month ago. Later this year, conservationists plan to release more birds, and hope the parrots will start breeding in the wild next spring.A macaw wildlife refuge has been established in the north-eastern state of Bahia in Brazil“The project is going extremely well,” said biologist Tom White, of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and a technical adviser to the rescue project. “It’s almost a month since we released the birds and all of them have survived.“They are acting as a flock; they are staying in the vicinity of their release and they are beginning to sample local vegetation. It’s going as well as it possibly could.”The Spix’s macaw – named in honour of the German biologist Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix, who first collected a specimen in 1819 – became the victim of a double environmental whammy that began in the 19th century. As farming spread across South America, the parrot’s homeland – in an area of shrubland and thorn forest known as the Caatinga in north-east Brazil – was overgrazed by goats and other livestock. The land was severely eroded, and macaw numbers dropped as their habitat was destroyed.“That loss in numbers had a very unfortunate secondary effect,” said White. “As soon as an animal becomes endangered, collectors want to have one. And that is what happened to the Spix’s macaw. They became rare and, as a result, unscrupulous individuals decided to try to take the few that remained in the wild for their private collections.”The future for the species looked dismal until the bird’s fortunes were revived by, of all things, an animated film. Rio, the story of a domesticated male Spix’s macaw called Blu, who is taken to Rio de Janeiro to mate with a free-spirited female, Jewel, was released in 2011. The film, and its sequel, Rio 2, earned almost $1bn. Crucially, the films revealed the threat facing the species to a global audience.The 2011 animation Rio, the story of a domesticated Spix’s macaw, revealed the predicament of the species to a global audience. Photograph: 20th Century Fox/Sportsphoto/AllstarLater, in 2018, Michel Temer, then president of Brazil, signed a decree that established a macaw wildlife refuge in the north-eastern state of Bahia, while a breeding programme, using parrots from private collections, was established at various centres across the world. A key player in this collaboration was the German-based organisation the Association for the Conservation of Threatened Parrots.The growing sophistication of modern genetics also played an important role in saving the Spix’s macaw, said White.“When you are trying to build up numbers of animals from a very small surviving population, inbreeding can be a real problem. However, the techniques used to check the genetic status of these birds were very, very sophisticated and allowed breeders to match birds very carefully.“Artificial insemination has also made it easier to produce offspring from birds.”As a result, several hundred Spix’s macaws have now been bred in captivity, and eight of these were taken in June to Bahia for release. And they had company: along with the Spix’s macaws, eight Illiger’s macaws were also let loose on 11 June.White said: “The Spix’s macaws that we now possess are the end result of generations of captive breeding, and that will have taken the edge off some of their instinctive survival skills.“However, by mixing them with Illiger’s macaws – who were basically just wild birds brought briefly into captivity – the Spix’s benefit by associating with a native species that is sharp and alert, and can show them where they get food and alert them to potential predators.”The birds, each tagged with radio transmitters, are now being monitored carefully. “We will release another 12 Spix’s macaws in December if everything goes well,” added White.“These birds will all be of reproductive age. We have also ensured there are several nest cavities, some natural and artificial, in the area to encourage the birds to begin mating next year and eventually establish breeding territories in the area.“It’s ambitious but so far things are going well.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The family believe she has separation anxiety as the note attached to her read she was discovered drinking beside her dead mother in a field when just a few weeks oldRoxanne and Ann with their pet lamb 'Hope'A family adopted an orphaned lamb that was dumped on their doorstep by a stranger with a note in a cardboard box. Roxanne Owings and her mum Ann say three months old Hope thinks she's a dog and loves playing with children in a nearby park where she is walked twice a day on a lead. They first took Hope to a rescue sanctuary but when the final paperwork was completed, the lamb cried and stubbornly refused to leave. The family believe she has separation anxiety as the note attached to her read she was discovered drinking beside her dead mother in a field when just a few weeks old. Ann Owings (L) and her daughter Roxanne (R), who have adopted a little lamb called ‘Hope’ (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) Roxanne, 29, of Halewood, Merseyside, said: "We took her to the sanctuary but it was heartbreaking for us all. We tried to leave her but she refused. "As we were walking away, she was crying and crying. Then my mum ended up crying. "Hope was crying really loudly, as if she was crying for my mum like she was her mum. Roxanne Owings (L) with her mum Ann (M) and daughter Savannah (R), with their little pet lamb called ‘Hope’ (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) "My mum eventually said 'let's have her, we will have her forever.' She didn't stay in the sanctuary at all but we were shown where she'd stay and we filled out the forms. "It was reassuring that the staff at the centre said she was doing well and she was fine." In the three weeks since, Roxanne and Ann have bottle fed Hope milk, walked her on leads in parks and in the grounds of National Trust properties having been granted permission and let her play with Roxanne's two young children. Hope, who is three-months-old, has separation anxiety having been discovered drinking beside her dead mother weeks after her birth (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) Roxanne, who is a self-employed children's face painter, said: "We've been to Speke Hall a lot as it is our most local, having had permission from it, and Tatton Park. "Nobody has batted an eyelid. People have just accepted her everywhere she goes. We've actually had a lot of people stop and Hope gives them a lot of attention. "Some people have actually seen her and paid her attention, and then said that they are actually going to become vegetarians after meeting her. The Owings family plan to make a sanctuary in their Merseyside home (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) "Some people think she's a dog. They've said 'Oh I thought my eyes were deceiving me, I thought that was a dog' when they've realised she's actually a lamb. "It's certainly not a normal thing to see in your park. People are really happy to see her, especially the kids. She actually likes to play with the kids. "She goes off the lead and bounces around with them because she is quite friendly. She's like a dog, and I think she thinks she's a dog to be honest. She's lovely like that." The family say some people think the lamb is a dog (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) Mum-of-two Roxanne was devastated to find a tearful Hope on her doorstep in June with a note that read: "'Left suckling from dead mother, sibling dead next to them, thanks for everything you do x" Ann and her daughter already volunteer a significant amount of her time by rescuing and homing ducks and other birds and believe the mystery stranger must have known this. They were yet, however, to home any other types of animals until they encountered Hope. The mum and daughter are now determined to give Hope the best life possible - in Ann's garden in Halewood. Roxanne and Ann have bottle fed Hope milk with the whole family getting involved (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) But they must raise £1,000 to be able to care for the bottle fed lamb. The money will go towards vet fees, a paddock in the garden, food and other equipment that'll give Hope the best protection. To raise the funds they created a Go Fund Me page, which has already raised more than £200. Roxanne said: "Hope has now been raised entirely around humans. She's been very distressed after her trauma. The mum and daughter are now determined to give Hope the best life possible (
Image:
Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror) "We want her to stay now and would like to build a stable, and create her own little sanctuary with us and be able to pay her vaccines and other associated costs. "She's going to need things at each stage of her life, just like any human or animal does. These things aren't cheap. "The majority of the money will be to build the stable for the winter, which will ensure she is comfortable and warm. We've put in a lot of money ourselves but the donations will help a lot. We understand times are hard and the cost of living is rising but donations will be hugely appreciated." To donate to the appeal, visit here. Read More Read More
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
MoneyWatch Updated on: June 15, 2022 / 8:19 PM / MoneyWatch The popular Seresto flea-and-tick collar should be recalled following research showing the roughly $70 device poses risks to pets and their owners, according to a new congressional report. The findings link the collar to almost 100,000 incidents and 2,500 pet deaths. Almost 34 million of the collars have been sold to American pet owners, who have been attracted by the product's pledge to ward off ticks and fleas for up to eight months, compared with other treatments that must be applied monthly. But the collar, made by Elanco Animal Health, is linked to a higher number of death and injury reports than competing products, claims the report from the Committee on Oversight and Reform's subcommittee on economic and consumer policy.The report may prompt some pet owners to question if they want to buy or continue using the product, part of the $232 billion pet-care industry. During the pandemic, more Americans adopted pets, while spending on pet-related items have surged during the health crisis, according to Grand View Research. The subcommittee's report highlighted the number of reports of injury or death that owners linked to the collar, as well as Canada's decision to bar sales of the Seresto collar because its review of U.S. incidents and toxicology studies found it "posed too great a risk to pets and their owners to be sold in Canada."During a hearing before the committee on Wednesday, Elanco Animal Health CEO Jeffrey Simmons said the collar is safe and had been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, undergoing more than 80 safety, toxicity and efficacy studies. "Adverse event reports aren't proof of causation," Simmons said in the hearing. "We haven't found a single death due to the ingredients in the collar."In 2021, there were just over 17 incident reports for every 10,000 collars sold, with most of those issues involving irritation or redness, according to Elanco. In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, the company said an analysis of all such reports between 2013 and 2021 shows "no established link between the active ingredients in Seresto and pet death."Added Elanco: "Given the robust scientific evidence for Seresto's strong safety profile, we are proud to stand behind the product as an important tool to protect pets from fleas and ticks and the damaging diseases they carry."Symptoms: Skin lesions, lethargyThe report cited findings from Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), which Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and the chairman of the committee, said is akin to the EPA in the U.S. The PMRA's analysis of symptoms experienced by hundreds of pets included skin lesions and irritated skin, which sometimes covered large areas of a pet's body and didn't resolve after the collar was removed, the report said. Other symptoms include lethargy, abnormal behavior, excessive grooming and vocalization, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia, according to the panel. "These troubling symptoms appeared shortly after use of the Seresto collar began, mostly within the first month," according to the report. "Many pet owners reacted by removing their pets' collars early," it said. Some pet owners also reportedly experienced side effects, the report added. These included skin and immune disorders, as well as respiratory, neurological and digestive impacts such as throat irritation, dizziness and nausea, it said.The report included several recommendations, including a voluntary recall of the collars by Elanco. It also suggested that the EPA revamp its review process for products with pesticides. In: Pets Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Sloppy wet kisses, lots of jubilation and jumping — and, now, tears of joy?Turns out, yes. When dogs are reunited with their owners after being away from them from 5-7 hours, they tear up with joy, a new study indicates. ARMY SOLDIER AIMS TO RESCUE DESPERATE DOG THAT SNUCK ONTO OVERSEAS BASE: ‘SHE DESERVES TO COME HOME’The study, published in the journal Current Biology, was released on Monday."We found that dogs shed tears associated with positive emotions," Takefumi Kikusui of Azabu University in Japan said in a media release about the study."We also made the discovery of oxytocin as a possible mechanism underlying it." "There is joy, there is memory — dogs are smarter than people think." (iStock)Kikusui and his team discovered the dog tears after his own two standard poodles had puppies six years ago. Kikusui noticed that whenever his dog was nursing the puppies — there seemed to be tears on the dog's face, though those tears weren't falling like human tears.Researchers used a standard test to measure dogs’ tear volume before and after reuniting with their owners. "That gave me the idea that oxytocin might increase tears," Kikusui also said.PIGS AND A PLAYLIST? FARMER FINDS HIS PIGS ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY HEAR MUSICOxytocin is described as the "love hormone," according to Kikusui. So he proceeded with an experiment.His team of researchers used a standard test to measure dogs’ tear volume before and after the pets reunited with their owners. The dogs' tear volume increased when the pets were reunited with their owners, a new study has found. (iStock)They found that tear volume increased when the pets were reunited with their owners, as opposed to other humans whom the dogs did not know.The researchers also knew from earlier observations that oxytocin is released in both dogs and their owners during interactions, according to the press release. "We had never heard of the discovery that animals shed tears in joyful situations, such as reuniting with their owners." That's why they ran the "reunification experiment" — to see if it brought dogs to tears.That finding supports the idea that the release of oxytocin plays a role in tear production when dogs and their people get back together. The study's new findings about dogs and tears came as a surprise, said the lead researcher. (iStock)These findings suggest that dogs’ tear production helps to forge stronger connections between people and their dogs, according to the release.It also shows the strong emotional bonds between humans and their pet dogs. NEW STUDY SHOWS THE EFFECT OWNING PETS HAS ON OWNERS' BRAINSWhile there is still much they don't know, Kikusui said that the findings came as a surprise. "We had never heard of the discovery that animals shed tears in joyful situations, such as reuniting with their owners, and we were all excited that this would be a world first," he said in the media release. Dogs’ tear production apparently helps forge stronger connections between people and their dogs, according to a new study. (iStock)Said a New York resident who grew up with dogs as a child, "There is joy, there is memory — dogs are smarter than people think."He recalled the reaction of his family's German shepherd to him when he returned home after basic training. She'd had puppies by then.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTERHe had been away from home for about a year at that point — and the puppies, who didn't know him, started to growl as he approached the house.But Schatzi, the mama dog, was "as happy as can be — she was wagging her tail, jumping up on the fence to greet me," he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAll of the puppies instantly changed their behavior toward him, too, he said."That was a great dog," he said. Maureen Mackey is managing editor of lifestyle for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent on Twitter at @maurmack.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A mother-of-two was mauled to death by her pet American Bully XL dog after it 'turned mad in the extreme heat'.Joanne Robinson, 43, died at the scene of the attack at a house in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, on Friday night. She is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco, which is on the legal dog breeds list and attacked her at around 10pm. Her partner, Jamie Stead, 42, was left with injuries to his hands, stomach and face as he tried to saved her and pull the animal off her.Joanne's mother, Dotty Robinson, said the family are in 'disbelief and shock' over her death and believed the weather may have affected the animals.She said Joanne had two XL Bully dogs - Rocco who was nearly two, and Lola.She said the pets were well behaved and 'not dangerous', but added: 'I don't know why they suddenly snapped. I can only think they turned mad in the extreme heat. It must have set them off. Joanne Robinson (pictured) is believed to be the third victim of a legal breed which has killed two tots Joanne is understood to have been the owner of the animal, called Rocco (pictured), which is on the legal dog breeds list and attacked her at around 10pm Joanne's partner also suffered life-changing injuries after the dog attack, police have said. Pictured: South Yorkshire Police officers were on scene on Saturday morning Joanne Robinson (pictured), 43, was killed by her American Bully XL dog at her home in Rotherham on Friday night Dozens of flowers have already been laid at the scene of the attack Bouquets were left outside the house with messages such as 'We love you!' showing the outpouring of grief for Joanne Photos from the scene show the woman appeared to be locally known and loved, which was confirmed by her family'Rocco's a big dog, he's bigger than a lion. He was like a small horse.'She told The Sun that Rocco and Lola, have been destroyed. Dotty added of Jamie: 'He's hoping to come home from hospital today but he is still in much pain. Floral tributes have been placed on metal railings outside the house while neighbours have spoken of their shock and horror The gate at the property had a 'Beware of the dogs' sign that continued: 'They bite you have been warned' The police took away two dogs. One man, who said he was the couple's son, said, 'I can assure you that the dogs were treated well'. Pictured: A floral tribute and card left for Joanne on Sunday Dangerous dog legislation in the UKWhat is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991?The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control.It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks.Which dogs are banned in the UK?It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are:American pitbull terriers;Japanese tosasDogo Argentinos;Fila Brazileiro The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'.What happens if there's a dog attack?You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed.If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'.And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. Why has the Act been criticised? Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous.However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences.'He knows Joanna has gone and is absolutely devastated as we all are. We will miss her so much.'He's had a horrible ordeal.He's lost his partner of twenty years and his dogs.'Floral tributes have been placed on metal railings outside the house while neighbours have spoken of their shock and horror.One heart-breaking message read: 'To our beautiful angel up above. You will never be forgotten. Love you always.'Neighbour John Allerton, 69, a retired miner, said: 'It's really really tragic.'Another friend said: 'I'm devastated. She was a lovely lady. They are a lovely family.'The police took away two dogs. One man, who said he was the couple's son, said, 'I can assure you that the dogs were treated well.'There have been numerous incidents involving Bully XL dogs, with police confirming in march that Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by one in her own home. Police said the toddler was attacked at her family's home in St Helens, Merseryside, a week after they bought the dog. It was also reported that a Bully XL mauled Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis to death in a savage attack last year.Floral tributes have been left to the mother, with neighbours describing her as a 'lovely lady'. Cards and flowers have gathered outside the home where the couple lived, including a note from her children Elle, 24 and Dillon, 19, which read: 'Mum I love and miss you.' South Yorkshire Police says two dogs have been seized and removed from the property, and neither of these are on the banned breeds list. The force said neither are considered 'banned breeds' under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. A statement from the force said: 'We were called to a property on Masefield Road in West Melton at about 10.15pm last night by a member of the public stating a dog had attacked himself and a woman.'Officers attended with a Yorkshire Ambulance [Service] crew and found a man, aged 42, with a potentially life-altering injury to one hand, plus injuries to his other hand, abdomen and face. He was transported to hospital for further treatment.'The woman, aged 43, had been fatally bitten and despite the best efforts of emergency crews was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene. South Yorkshire Police forensic officers at the scene of a fatal dog attack in Rotherham Fatal dog attacks in the UK in 2022: Six people have so far died from dog attacks in the UK this year. They are:John William Jones, 68John William Jones, known as William, was found dead at his country cottage in Lampeter, West Wales on - 10 Jan. Police sedated three bulldogs Milo, Tia and Abbie after arriving at the scene.Kyra Leanne KingThree-month-old Kyra Leanne King died on March 6 at Ostler's Plantation, near Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire. A 40-year-old woman and a 54-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of being in charge of an out-of-control husky.Bella-Rae Birch Bella-Rae Birch was just 17 months old when an American Bully XL mauled her to death at her home in Blackbrook, St Helen's on March 21. Lawson Bond:Two-year-old Lawson Bond was savaged at home in the village of Egdon, Worcestershire, on March 28. Lawson suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of his horrific injuries and died two days later on March 30.Daniel Twigg: Three-year-old Daniel Twigg from Rochdale was mauled to death in a dog attack on a farm on May 15. Daniel was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was pronounced dead.Kevin Jones:62-year-old Mr Jones died after being mauled by a dog at a house in Wales on Monday, May 23.The Welsh Ambulance Service said Mr Jones was having a heart attack after being bitten by the dog, but died at the scene.'The dog, plus another dog at the property, were secured by specially trained officers.'Neither dog was of a banned breed.'According to the UK Bully Kennel Club website, the American Bully XL is a large breed, with males standing between 51cm and above. The Club says: 'In spite of its considerable size, the XL is highly prized for not only its impressive stature, but also its gentle personality and loving nature.'It is a recent breed, dating back to the 1980's, and is regarded the distinctive build and height combined with a compassionate nature mean its popularity continues to grow.'RSPCA is linking the the increase in Britons buying puppies during Covid to a surge in fatal dog attacks.Reports from the Dog and Cat Behaviour Association show dog attacks increased by 54 per cent between 2020 and 2021.It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court.They are American pitbull terriers, Japanese tosas, Dog Argentinos and Fila Brazileiro.The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. Third death involving Bully XL dog breed Bella-Rae Birch, pictured, was mauled to death by an American Bully dog which had been recently bought by her father Ryan Ms Robinson's death on Thursday was the third involving a Bully XL dog in the space of two years. In March this year Bella-Rae Birch, a 17-month-old girl, was killed by a dog of the same breed. The toddler had been attacked in her family's home in St Helens, Merseyside, just a week after they bought the animal. The dog had been bought by her father 'for buttons' just one week earlier and was 'humanely destroyed' following the shocking attack, Merseyside Police said.Police and the ambulance service had been called to the home at 3.49pm after a report that a child had been 'seriously injured.'Despite medical treatment, Bella-Rae was declared dead at Alder Hey Children's Hospital at 4.45pm the same day.A post-mortem examination ruled the cause of death as 'head trauma.'Tests confirmed that the animal involved was an American Bully XL. Jack Lis, 10, was mauled to death by the killer XL Bully dog that weighed a 'muscular' 96.5lbs. His mother is now demanding that sentences of the dog's owners should be longer Last year Welsh schoolboy Jack Lis was also killed in a savage attack by a Bully XL. The 10-year-old boy was playing at a friend's house in Caerphilly in November last year when he was set upon by the dog.The animal, which was called 'Beast', had been bought by its owner less than a week before the attack.Amy Salter, 29, and Brandon Hayden, 19, were in charge of the raging animal when it launched an attack on schoolboy Jack in Caerphilly, South Wales.Hayden was jailed for four years and six months while Salter was handed three years at Cardiff Crown Court.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
ChicagoShe pops up suddenly from behind a green tarp and trots through the construction site, pausing every so often to swivel her large, triangular ears. The beep beep beep of a cement paver and the deafening roar of buzzsaws are just background noise to 1242.A few weeks ago her mate for life, 1244, was shot near this new high school going up outside Chicago. Now Lauren Ross, a field technician with the Max MacGraw Wildlife Foundation, has pinpointed the radio-collared female’s location with a telemetry unit, the constant ping revealing her exact location. Even so, it’s rare to see urban coyotes during the day, as most have learned to be active at night to avoid people. But 1242 has pups to feed. And in the indefatigable coyote spirit—that same quality that has propelled the predator into every corner of the United States—this lanky single mother is making it work without her partner.“We consistently underestimate this animal and its ability to adjust and adapt,” says Stan Gehrt, a wildlife ecologist with Ohio State University and the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation. Gehrt has studied Chicago’s coyotes since 2000, not long after the animals surfaced in the nation’s third biggest city. “They push the boundaries of what we perceive to be constraints,” Gehrt says.For instance, at the beginning of his research, he thought coyotes would be restricted to parks and green spaces. He was wrong. “Now we have coyotes everywhere—every neighborhood, every suburban city, and downtown. The only place we don’t have them is airports, and that’s because they kill them.”Native to the western two-thirds of the United States, coyotes began dramatically expanding their range in the early 1900s. They’ve increased their habitat across North America by 40 percent since the 1950s—twice the rate of any other North American carnivore—and now live in every U.S. state but Hawaii. The near-extinction of wolves, the crash of the coyote pelt market, and the explosion of food-rich suburbs fueled their rise, as did their innate tenacity forged by a million years of evolution.“They have this amazing balance between being bold enough to hunt, attack, and kill something and being shy or savvy enough to avoid being killed themselves,” Gehrt says. And they’ve achieved this dramatic increase despite being one of the most persecuted animals in the U.S. At least 400,000 coyotes are exterminated each year, with the federal government killing around 80,000. (Read how the most hated animal in America outwitted us all.)From New York City (one daring individual hopped onto a roof in Queens) to the Florida Keys to the Hollywood Hills, no city or climate seems off limits. Coyotes recently migrated as far south as Panama, where they’re now poised to enter South America for the first time.When will they stop? That’s the question that fascinates many urban ecologists. So far coyotes seem to have weathered most traditional population checks, such as disease.“What’s striking is almost all eastern states show exponential growth,” says Roland Kays, a zoologist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and North Carolina State University in Raleigh, who studies how coyotes evolved and spread across the continent. “There’s no leveling off in most places.”That’s why Gehrt’s Urban Coyote Research Project in Chicago—and many similar initiatives in New York, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and elsewhere—are busy trying to figure out how people can best coexist with a predator that’s here to stay.Pup surpriseOn a chilly morning at the start of the spring research season, Gehrt and other biologists are searching for coyote pups in Busse Woods, a nature reserve northwest of downtown Chicago. Gehrt captured the city’s first coyote here in 2000. Now there are 1,283 on record.The scientists fan out across the open, sunny forest abloom with spring wildflowers such as jack-in-the-pulpit and red trillium. They poke their heads into moss covered logs—choice coyote denning sites.Lauren Ross, the field technician, shines a light inside a decaying log and shouts, “I think I found them.” A pile of coyote pups is tucked at the far end. Shane McKenzie, a researcher with Max McGraw, fishes out two blinking, squirming pups. Another two are out of reach. “In this situation, you’re not going to give up,” McKenzie says, one arm buried in the log up to his shoulder.Finally the team carefully tears a hole in the log and extracts the two remaining pups. (The parents would soon move their babies to a new den anyway.) Surprisingly calm, the football-size coyotes smell like wet dogs and are covered in thick, dark brown fur except on their fuzzy bellies.Ross weighs, measures, and tags each pup, steering clear of their tiny, razor-sharp claws. “You’re 1252,” she says gently to one. A commotion ensues when technician Yasmine Hentati places the pups back in their den and discovers a fifth pup that, in classic wily coyote fashion, had evaded capture.Testing the limitsBusse Woods has been home to two packs of coyotes since biologists began monitoring them in 2000—a north pack and a south pack—and each year there’s been a litter born in each section. But these pups are notable because, for the first time, there’s been a second litter born in the southern part of the park—suggesting another pair of coyotes have moved into the area and apparently took over part of the southern territory.“Life must be good for the coyotes—there are still ways for them to increase even within areas that have been occupied for many years,” Gehrt says.Though much is made of coyotes’ flexibility, they’re rigid in two regards: their monogamy—generally both parents raise a litter of pups together—and in their need for a defined territory. This territorialism, says Gehrt, could be a factor that will limit their spread.Common sense says that when coyotes run out of room, their population should drop. But that’s not what’s happening in Chicago. Instead, the animals are carving out niches in the most impractical and dangerous of places, such as busy downtown streets. If a young coyote simply can’t find a home, its parents will sometimes cede part of their territory, a process called "budding."The territorial instinct is also why killing coyotes with the goal of reducing their numbers—called lethal control—doesn’t usually work. Like the game Whac-a-Mole, killing coyotes only creates a habitat vacuum, giving their competitors a chance to move in. Beyond that, coyote biology is primed for persecution: When the rate of killing goes up, young coyotes mature faster, and females produce larger litters.Disease is another factor that usually limits wildlife populations, Gehrt notes. Canine distemper, for example, often breaks out among wild coyotes. But except for a few cases of mange and getting hit by cars—their primary cause of death—Chicago’s coyotes are oddly healthy, living even longer than rural coyotes. (Learn how coyotes are hacking life in the city.)According to analyses of coyote trapping records in the eastern U.S. by Roland Kays, the North Carolina zoologist, it's possible that coyote populations have reached their limit—called the carrying capacity—in Maine and New Hampshire, the first eastern states they colonized. But it’s still too early to say for sure, Kays cautions.Stewart Breck, a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Denver, says that the coyote population in that city has remained stable over the past decade, indicating that it has reached carrying capacity.<p>A macaque grips a wall at the Padangtegal Temple in Bali, Indonesia. "There is a strong mystery component to this image, and that is what makes it special," Yadav says. </p>
Mystery HandA macaque grips a wall at the Padangtegal Temple in Bali, Indonesia. "There is a strong mystery component to this image, and that is what makes it special," Yadav says.
Photograph by Stevyn D., National Geographic Your ShotBut, he says, “As they continue to expand their distribution on a geographic level [throughout the Americas], what are the limits?”For some animals with specialized diets, food availability can also restrict population growth. But coyotes are omnivores, often eating fruit and vegetables—both of which are in plentiful supply in the suburbs. Yet most urban coyotes still eat a lot of wild prey—particularly rabbits and squirrels—instead of trash or human food.Because many coyotes dwell in areas that blur the line between wild and urban, figuring out how to predict their patterns is complex. Busse Woods, for example, may look natural, but it’s an illusion, Gehrt says. At least 2.5 million people come here every year, and the park is hemmed in by neighborhoods and busy roads.“Even in what you consider the most protected, natural areas, those coyotes are being born and raised around people and dogs.”So far, reported run-ins with people haven't increased, even as Chicago’s coyote population continues to grow—there are now up to 4,000 in Cook County alone. But, Gehrt says, “The question is, year after year, generation after generation, will they continue to have that healthy fear of people?”Capital coyotesThat question intrigues Megan Draheim, founder of District Coyote in Washington, D.C., one of the last American cities that coyotes colonized, in the early 2000s. Because the predators are relatively new arrivals to the nation’s capital, “I’d like to get out in front of conflict,” says Draheim, a conservation biologist at Virginia Tech. “It’s a nice opportunity to be proactive rather than reactive.”On a summer morning at the Rock Creek Park Golf Course, Draheim and American University biologists Christopher Tudge and Lindsay Powers are out looking for coyote scat, which tells them what the animals are eating and where they’re hunting, as well as offers a peek into their DNA.As in the case of Chicago’s Busse Woods, Rock Creek Park is quasi-natural. A helicopter drones above us, woodpeckers tap, a golf cart buzzes by on its rounds.Draheim bends down to photograph two sets of likely coyote pawprints—one large, one small—on a dirt path that runs along the hilly back nine, a temporarily closed section of the course fringed by forests. Cresting a hill, Tudge turns and whispers, “Walk slowly!”At the base of the hill, completely out in the open, a coyote and pup are standing next to each other, staring at us with apparently mutual surprise. The parent, its back golden in the sun, remains frozen in place, while its pup frolics about. A few seconds later, the adult slips into the forest, bushy tail disappearing last. The pup hangs back a few seconds, seemingly curious, then follows.It’s a thrilling sighting—“The coyote gods smiled down on us,” Draheim says—and it provides valuable insight into where coyotes are using the landscape, one of the project’s research goals. Draheim has created an online citizen science reporting form so people in the D.C. region can record where they see or hear coyotes and foxes. She and Powers are also planning a “howl survey” in which they broadcast a coyote howl, then use acoustic software to identify individual coyotes that howl in response.So far the canids have been sighted mostly in green spaces, and reports of human conflicts are relatively low. But the capital coyotes will inevitably spread into more urban parts of D.C., and Draheim hopes her data can help the city government manage coyotes and prevent conflicts with people.She also plans to share best practices for coexisting with coyotes with schools and local communities. Guidelines include keeping pets inside and on leash and not feeding the carnivores, which can make them more aggressive. Teaching people how to humanely haze coyotes could also keep the animals wary of people.It probably won’t be easy, adds Draheim, who has a coyote tattooed on her left arm. Her research has shown there are usually some “people who believe that cities are human areas and nature belongs out there. Coyotes muddle that perspective of the world.”Heading southLike them or not, coyotes are thriving in our human-dominated era—the Anthropocene—when most species aren’t, Kays notes. “It’s a really interesting evolution story that’s happening right under our noses.”This very instant, coyotes are literally pushing their boundaries southward. The animals first made it to Panama in 2013 as deforestation opened up dense habitat. The lawless Darién Gap is their last hurdle to reaching South America. Once there, Kays says, “They’re probably going to take over the continent in non-forested areas,” such as grasslands and agricultural lands in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil.Meanwhile, biologists are busy trying to discern whether urban coyotes are bolder than rural coyotes, and if that is reflected in populations across the country. In Denver, for instance, some coyotes are "very visible and brazen," says the USDA’s Breck, while in Chicago they’re more shy, according to Gehrt.To determine if this phenomenon of bold urban coyotes is specific to Colorado or more widespread, Kays, Breck, and USDA’s Julie Young have developed a nationwide “boldness protocol” that at least 20 cities will use to study their coyote populations—including places as diverse as Panama City, Panama; Florida; and Seattle.“[If] we can figure it out, we can reduce people’s problems with these animals and allow them to enjoy the good side of coyotes,” Kays says.As for Gehrt, the project that was meant to last a year is now funded through 2023. There are just too many questions to stop now.“It’s an evolving story,” he says. “We don’t know what the final chapter of the urban coyote story is going to be.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The black bear appeared to enter the car parked at a Sevierville rental cabin Wednesday using its teeth or paws and got trapped inside when the door shut.June 24, 2022, 1:04 PM UTCA black bear died after getting stuck inside a car, likely in pursuit of food, amid sweltering heat that exceeded 95 degrees in Tennessee this week, officials said.The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said in a news release the bear entered a parked car at a Sevierville rental cabin Wednesday. The car’s owner left the cabin in a different vehicle around 10 a.m. When they returned just before 7 p.m., they found the bear dead inside, the release said.According to wildlife officials, it appears the bear got inside the car using its teeth or paws to open the unlocked door and got trapped after the door shut behind it. Once inside, the bear likely died in the heat as outdoor temperatures surged past 95 degrees, meaning the temperature inside the car could have “possibly reached over 140 degrees,” officials said. A black bear died after getting stuck inside a parked car at a rental cabin in Sevierville, Tenn.Tennessee Wildlife Resources AgencyThe bear could have been lured into the car by the smell of food. “Notice the empty soda can and food package on the floorboard," the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said, sharing a photo of inside the car. "Bears have noses 7 times better than a bloodhound and can smell even the faintest odor of food inside a vehicle."Tennessee wildlife officials are warning outdoor venturers and campers to lock their car doors, roll up their windows and avoid leaving food or anything that smells like food inside, as even empty food containers, candy wrappers or air fresheners can attract bears. Sevierville is located about 23 miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where a 350-pound black bear was euthanized last week after it ripped into a tent and injured a 3-year-old girl and her mother, park officials said. A family of a five was sleeping in a tent with their dog at Elkmont Campground on June 12, when the bear burst in and scratched the mother and child on their heads. The father was able to scare off the animal.Officials said the animal “exhibited extreme food-conditioned behavior and lack of fear of humans” and had “boldly” entered the trap. It was euthanized June 13 because it posed a “risk to human safety.”Marlene LenthangMarlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A video has shown the moment a distressed dog that collapsed after being left inside a hot car was rescued by police officers in Nottingham. The small black Shih Tzu had been left alone inside the vehicle on Monday afternoon, when temperatures were soaring across the country.
The dehydrated pup was found panting and barking, with officers smashing the car's window to rescue him just in time.UK braces for days of extreme heat as forecast for rest of August revealed - weather latest Twitter Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this. Open Privacy Options They then rushed him into the shade before dousing him in a bottle of water and taking him to a veterinary hospital, where his temperature was recorded as 39.1C (102.38F). The windows of the car had been left slightly open, but it was not enough to prevent the pet from collapsing due to the extreme heat.
"I would like to thank staff at NET Nottingham Tram for alerting us to this incident. Had they not done so, it is unlikely the dog would have survived," said PC Jamie Martin. More on Nottinghamshire Road rage driver who killed a grandfather in five-hour 'catalogue of carnage' is jailed Man convicted of breaking into Ashley Cole's house as star threatened with having his fingers cut off Stuart Broad: England cricketer's Nottinghamshire pub 'severely damaged' by fire "Many people think it's OK to leave their dog in the car on a warm day providing the windows are open. But this incident shows that just simply isn't the case."Put simply, you should never leave your dog alone in a car on a warm day." Is it illegal to leave your dog inside a vehicle? While it is not illegal to leave a dog inside a hot car, owners are legally responsible for their pet's health and welfare.If a dog becomes ill or dies due to being shut inside a vehicle, owners can be charged with an animal cruelty offence, which could lead to a prison sentence or a fine.With temperatures expected to exceed 30C (86C) across the UK this week, people are being reminded not to leave their pets trapped inside their car.Read more: How to protect your dog from deadly UK heatwave as weather gets hotter Cars can 'become as hot as an oven'The RSPCA has warned that cars can become as hot as an oven, even when the weather doesn't feel that warm.It claims that when it's just 22C (71.6F) outside, a car could reach 47C (116.6F) within an hour."As sweltering temperatures continue, it's more important than ever to spread the message that dogs die in hot cars," an RSPCA spokesperson said."Many people think it will be fine just to leave their pets for a short period of time, but not long is too long. Temperatures can soar to dangerous levels so quickly - and that can put dogs in serious danger."People are advised to call 999 if they spot a dog in distress.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The Richardson Animal Shelter is urgently seeking permanent homes for 28 dogs.Renovations are underway at the shelter and the number of available kennels has been reduced from 44 to 19.The shelter is also seeking foster homes if families are not able to adopt a pet. Currently, only a few dogs are in foster care.The renovation project is funded through the 2015 bond program and includes the removal of existing chain link kennel enclosures, a new epoxy floor coating system, new acoustic panels and new kennel enclosures.“It’s going to decrease the spread of illness and disease in the shelter since it’s all going to be hard panels and they will be also installing the floors where food and any other waste is not going to be transmitted underneath the kennels,” Noura Jammal, animal services manager, said in a prepared statement.In June, the shelter temporarily waived adoption fees in hopes of finding new homes for dogs during the renovations. Next month, the shelter plans to participate in a “Clear the Shelter” event to help get more pets adopted.Information about pet adoption is available online.Photos of adoptable pets are available online and on the shelter’s Facebook page and other social media pages.Due to the lack of available space, the shelter is not accepting additional dogs.Related:Richardson’s Cottonwood Art Festival names 2022 featured fall artistTeri Webster, Special Contributor. Teri Webster is a freelancer covering Plano for The Dallas Morning News. She has worked as a staff writer and freelancer for several area news outlets and is a regular contributor to Fort Worth Weekly. Email story tips to writerteriw@gmail.com.writerteriw@gmail.com
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
The Shedd Aquarium’s “Amazon Rising” exhibit offers a glimpse into the many animal and plant species native to the faraway rainforest, including the emerald tree boa, white-faced whistling duck, dwarf caiman and wattled jaçana.And now, the exhibit has welcomed a new slithering creature, one of the world’s largest snakes — a green anaconda.The female snake, who is believed to be around 5 years old, was donated by a member of the Chicago Herpetological Society when the exhibit was “in need” of an anaconda, according to “Amazon Rising” manager Michael Yuratovac.“I think she’s beautiful. She’s a very large snake. She’s 10 feet 7 inches right now and she could get up to 20 feet. So it’s impressive — people don’t normally get to see a snake that size in person,” Yuratovac said.Children watch closely as a female green anaconda explores its enclosure in the "Amazon Rising" exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium, June 21, 2022. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)The new anaconda drew many curious visitors, including several children who found themselves leaning against the glass that separated them from the snake, staring in awe as it slithered through the water and across several branches.Nathan Gonzalez, 16, visited the Shedd Aquarium on Tuesday and was especially excited to see the anaconda, which he had learned about in school: “It’s just amazing to see animals that I’ve never seen before, especially the anaconda.”The snake’s native habitat is in South America and this species is known for its predator-like presence. As a constrictor, the anaconda can detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole, its mudlike coloring helping it blend into shallow waters and greenery. The animals are known to be capable of living in and out of the water, and are unique for having their eyes and nose on the tops of their heads, which helps them see and smell while swimming.As the Shedd’s new snake is getting used to its new environment, aquarium employees are working to make the anaconda less sensitive and responsive to touch. Yuratovac said this process involves touching her back for a moment or two and hoping she doesn’t respond. By desensitizing the anaconda to touch, Yuratovac and his staff can ensure she does not put herself or staff in harm’s way during feeding or veterinarian procedures.“We have to be very cautious that we’re not passing in front of her when she’s in the water because she does look like she’s just sitting there and then one second she could be striking up at you because she thinks you’re food,” he said. “We are very cautious and we’re trying to feed her in a way where … she’ll know that food comes from only this one spot.”[ How old was the Shedd’s dearly departed Granddad? According to new research, very old indeed ]Many aquarium-goers viewing the anaconda were surprised by its size and reflected on broader concerns for critical ecosystems around the world.A news release from the aquarium noted that humans are the biggest threat to the snakes as they hunt the animals for their skin or out of fear.Indiana resident Tara Debish was visiting the Shedd with her children as part of a family trip to Chicago. She noted that her son was “absolutely astounded” by the large green anaconda. “It opens my eyes to what kind of impact we have on these animals and how we need to work to protect them,” she said.Daniyah Ahmed, another mom visiting Chicago with her family from Houston said her kids were “pretty excited” to learn about different aquatic species and ecosystems.“You have a better, greater knowledge of seeing how many animals can be impacted by whatever we’re doing, so this exhibit is pretty good because you probably think of fish in a small range, but when you come here you see a lot of species so it gives you a broader view,” she said.dgill@chicagotribune.com
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By James GregoryBBC NewsImage source, ZSL London ZooImage caption, Western lowland gorilla Gernot enjoys ice lollies during the heatwavePeople across the UK are bracing for a period of extreme heat, with temperatures potentially rising to highs never witnessed before on these shores. A red warning for extreme heat will be in place for large parts of England on Monday and Tuesday, covering London, Manchester, and York. Temperatures could even reach 40C (104F). The hot weather is already causing all sorts of challenges to daily life - but there are a number of, on the face of it, unusual things happening across the UK to mitigate against harmful effects. Gritters in summerImage source, PA MediaImage caption, Gritters spread salt to clear snowy roads but can also be used during the summerGritting lorries are normally associated with protecting the roads in the cold, winter months. But as well as protecting against icy conditions, they can also be deployed to prevent damage to roads in hot conditions. Three vehicles are currently in operation in Worcestershire and a road has been treated in Leicestershire, while gritters were deployed during the hot spell in June earlier this year in other parts of England.Hampshire and Warwickshire county councils have also confirmed they are preparing to send out their gritters, while several other councils have said they are on standby and monitoring the situation. It may sound unusual, but there is a very logical explanation behind it. Instead of salt, gritters in the summer are used to deposit sand or stone dust on roads which may be at higher risk of melting in extreme heat, acting as a sponge to soak up excess bitumen.David Renard, transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, said gritting teams play a "vital" role in keeping roads safe for motorists. "Snow and ice are the last thing on most people's minds at the moment and I'm sure there's been a lot of head-scratching if they've seen our gritters out on the roads in the height of summer," he said. "This proactive work helps reduce the potential damage high temperatures can inflict on our roads, so keeping them safe and limiting disruption."Bridge wrapped in foilImage source, Hammersmith and Fulham CouncilImage caption, Hammersmith Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the worldWe have all seen images of runners wearing foil blankets, but have you ever seen a bridge wrapped in the material? The chains, which are anchored to the river bed, are regulated to be kept under 13C (55.4F) in the summer. If any of them reach 18C (64.4 F), safety engineers will shut the bridge.The Grade II*-listed structure, built in 1887, had to be closed during a heatwave in 2020 when cracks in the cast-iron expanded. The bridge reopened the following year but only to pedestrians and cyclists.The foil and a £420,000 cooling system, installed following the 2020 heatwave, are being used to keep the pedestals safe so it remains open to the public.Pupils ditching uniforms for PE kitsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Schools are taking a number of measuresSchools across the country are taking a number of measures to protect their pupils against the heat. Some have relaxed their uniform policy, allowing children to wear their PE kits to help keep them cool. Dozens of schools, including Finham Park School in Coventry, Skinners' Kent Academy, in Tunbridge Wells and the Co-op Academy Swinton in Greater Manchester, are allowing pupils to wear their PE kit rather than uniform.Some schools are also preparing to send pupils home early, including the Hereford Academy in Herefordshire. A message on its Facebook page read: "Due to the high temperatures due to hit next week, we will have an earlier condensed format for our final four days: Finishing earlier but starting earlier thus being away for the hottest part of the day."Animals and ice lolliesImage source, ZSL London ZooImage caption, Western lowland gorilla Gernot enjoying an ice lolly during the heatwaveImage source, Philip JoyceImage caption, Red-bellied lemurs are among the animals that have been given frozen fruit and veg smoothies at Cotswold Wildlife ParkAnd it is not just people who have to be looked after. Zoos, wildlife parks, and sanctuaries up and down the country have measures in place to make sure their animals keep hydrated. Some animals at ZSL London Zoo are given healthy ice pops to enjoy, made from frozen sugar-free iced tea and filled with nuts and seeds. "Primates such as the gorillas and squirrel monkeys love an ice lolly, just like us," said zookeeper Rob Harland.Asiatic lions and pygmy hippos at the zoo have their own moats to swim in while other animals, like the red river hogs, get a cooling shower from their zookeeper, Rob added. Cotswold Wildlife Park, in Oxfordshire, has also been making ice lollies from ingredients in the animals' normal diets, including pears and carrots.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Tessa Lighty/The Journal-Star/AP Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.Everyone will think your worm collection is gross until they need some soil for their plants.
That’s what I discovered when I told my coworkers that I keep a plastic bin full of squirming invertebrates in my apartment to decompose food scraps and generate compost. In the summer of 2018, while reporting for a local newspaper on organics collection in New York, I became fascinated with the process by which food waste biodegrades and how waste disposal impacts the environment. So I went online and ordered 500 red wigglers whose descendants are still thriving in a decaying pile of my discarded food.
Sound gross? That’s what my colleagues said. But as winter set in and everyone’s house plants began to wilt, my coworkers started asking me to bring them bags of the nutrient-rich soil my worms produce. I had more than enough dirt to go around. After all, you reap what you compost.
Instead of letting your holiday leftovers fester in your refrigerator, consider giving them a second life with an indoor compost bin. Here’s how to get started.
Take a tour of Abigail’s apartment garden, which uses her compost, on this episode of Bite: Wait, won’t it smell bad?
No. A healthy compost pile will have an earthy, even pleasant, smell.
What will prevent the worms from escaping?
Worms thrive in dirt and will dry out if they leave the bin, so there’s very little risk of them escaping. I did have one minor worm exodus early in my composting career when my bin’s carbon-nitrogen balance was off. Still, worms move slowly and can’t get very far. The odds of one popping up beside your pillow while you sleep are next to zero.
OK, but why should I bother?
One worm bin in a closet isn’t going to stop climate change when fossil fuel companies are responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. But it can’t hurt. Composting keeps food out of landfills, where anaerobic bacteria decompose the waste and produce methane, a greenhouse gas more potent over the short term than carbon dioxide.
Composting is also a fun science experiment involving hundreds of the lowest-maintenance pets you could have. It will let you feel like you’re nurturing something without the effort of, say, scooping dog poop up off the sidewalk. Plus, when the global economy collapses and we’re forced to live off the fat of the eroded topsoil, you’ll know how to create arable dirt.
You’ve convinced me. How do I get started?
First, you’ll need someplace to put your worms. You could buy a compost bin, or you could use your own container. I opted for a $6 Sterilite storage bin from the dollar store. I drilled a constellation of tiny holes in the top for air and in the bottom for drainage. The EPA recommends drilling a larger, one-inch hole into the container and covering it up with a screen. Then, I set the bin on a bed of newspaper to sop up any water that might seep out the bottom.
I keep my bin in a closet beneath the ladder that leads to my roof, but it’s also common to keep a compost bin beneath a kitchen sink or next to the household trash and recycling bins. My pride and joy Next, you’ll need to get your hands on some worms. I ordered 500 red composting worms from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm, whose website is also full of helpful information for getting started composting. European night-crawlers are another option. Just make sure that your worms are safe for composting and not an invasive species.
Once you have your worms and your bin, line the bottom of the bin with shredded paper or ripped-up newspaper. Place the worms in the bin, along with a decent amount of potting soil. Discarded soil from a dead houseplant will do the trick. Add enough water to dampen the soil; it should be about as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
I’m ready to start feeding my worms. What’s this carbon-nitrogen balance you mentioned?
A healthy bin will have a mixture of nitrogen-rich “green” waste and carbon-rich “brown” waste. Nitrogen-rich materials include vegetable scraps and grass cuttings, while carbon-rich materials include newspaper and leaves. If there’s too much carbon in the bin, decomposition will slow down; if there’s too much nitrogen, the bin will emit smelly ammonia. An ideal carbon:nitrogen ratio is about 25-30:1.
It doesn’t have to be as complicated as it sounds. I maintain a healthy C:N ratio in my bin by limiting the amount of food scraps I deposit—worms don’t consume as fast as you’d think!—and adding strips of wet, carbon-rich newspaper each time I add other materials. This is a helpful chart for deciding what to compost and how it contributes to your bin’s C:N ratio.
What can I compost?
Almost any organic matter. Cut food scraps into little pieces, the smaller the better. Avoid meat and dairy, which are harder to decompose and could stink up the bin. Here are some ideas.
Nitrogen-rich materials: Any vegetables, but avoid smelly onion and garlic
Grains, including bread and cooked or uncooked rice and pasta
Fruit, excluding citrus (too acidic)
Tea bags and coffee grounds Carbon-rich materials: Rinsed-out egg shells
Ashes from smoking untreated tobacco or cannabis
Paper towels, cardboard, or newsprint
Cotton, wool, or silk clothing, cut into small pieces
Pet fur and human hair When you add materials to your bin, use a trowel to bury them about an inch under the soil so they don’t begin to grow mold and fungi.
How often should I add to the bin?
Not often. I add food scraps to my bin every two or three weeks, but I sometimes abandon it for even longer. Use a trowel to take a peek at how things are decomposing. When your food waste looks sufficiently digested, go ahead and add some more.
It’s a good idea to keep food scraps in your freezer so they don’t start to rot before it’s their turn to be composted. I keep mine in old yogurt containers. My freezer Every once in a while, use a trowel or a shovel to turn the compost and aerate the bin. This will keep your worms happy and the aerobic decomposition churning.
How do I harvest the compost?
The least labor-intensive method is to add new materials to one side of the bin, wait a few days for the worms to migrate to the new food, and then scoop the worm-free compost from the other side of the bin. Check out some other methods here. Some newspaper scraps atop healthy worm castings That’s it! You’re ready to start turning your food waste into soil. Happy composting!
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
U.S. August 12, 2022 / 12:43 PM / CBS News Videos showing a horse collapsed in the middle of the street during rush hour and police watering down the fallen horse had animal rights groups protesting outside of City Hall on Thursday. The Wednesday incident reignited calls for the city to ban horse carriages in New York City. "Yet another sick carriage horse has collapsed in distress on the hot pavement of New York City as onlookers express shock and horror while the animal was repeatedly beaten by the driver," Edita Birnkrant, executive director of the animal advocacy organization NYCLASS, tells CBS News. "How many more horrific tragedies will it take to end carriage horse abuse in New York?" Witnesses quickly began filming after the 14-year-old horse, named Ryder, fell at the intersection of West 45th Street and 9th Avenue. "As I was walking through my neighborhood to get to the gym, I heard an unusual 'thud,'" Christian Parker told CBS News. "I looked over my shoulder and saw a horse on the ground in the middle of busy 9th Avenue." One video shows the carriage driver whipping Ryder with the reins, and then smacking the horse while saying, "Get up." 911 was called, according to the NYPD, and mounted officers were filmed spraying the horse with water. "After the police got the horse up and off to the veterinarian, the man picked up his own carriage and walked it away. Lots of people started shouting 'How does it feel,'" said Parker. "It was a very New York moment when they were all yelling at him." The horse was moved to a nearby private horse stable for veterinary care, a police spokesperson told CBS News. The veterinarian later diagnosed Ryder with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, or EPM, said Pete Donohue of Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents the city's 300 horse-carriage drivers and owners."EPM is a neurological disease caused by a parasite found in possum droppings," Donohue told CBS News. A high percentage of horses in the U.S. are exposed to the parasite, he said, though "only a very few develop symptoms, sometimes months or years after exposure." But Ryder is on the mend, says Christina Hansen, shop steward and carriage driver, who is handling his care. "Ryder has been resting comfortably and in addition to eating his hay all day, as he usually does, he is all full from carrots offered by the press, and after his many interviews is ready for a nap," Christina Hansen said in a statement Thursday. New York's Public Transit Union Local 100 "His preliminary basic bloodwork came back normal, and further lab tests to confirm EPM are due in a couple of days," she said in a statement. But some animal activists are saying such preliminary diagnoses of Ryder are irrelevant."As of now, no one knows exactly what is wrong with Ryder, but it is quite clear by his emaciated state and the fact that he collapsed and was unable to get up for over an hour — he is in a life-threatening condition," Birnkrant told CBS News. "If Ryder does indeed have a neurological infection and he was worked by the carriage owner with this infection until he collapsed, criminal charges need to be filed for violating the New York State animal cruelty statutes."Ryder was rescued in April after his Amish owner no longer wanted him for transportation, Donohue said. "NYC has the most extensive set of rules and regulations to protect the health of the Central Park Carriage horses, including regular physical exams, multiple vaccinations, and a prohibition against physical activity in extreme heat," the Transport Workers Union said in a statement. "Horses, however, occasionally do get sick and have medical emergencies - just like people and pets."Horses must stop working when temperatures reach 90 degrees, according to city law. The maximum temperature reached Wednesday was 83 degrees, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Several New York City Council members are backing the proposal to replace horse-drawn carriages with electric ones, according to CBS New York. But Donohue argues that would be a "travesty." "It took NYC decades to ban cars from Central Park," he told CBS News. "No one wants to go backwards and put tin-can Disney-like electric cars or carriages or buggies or whatever you want to call them." In: New York City New York Michael Roppolo Michael Roppolo is a CBS News reporter. He covers a wide variety of topics, including science and technology, crime and justice, and disability rights. Twitter Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
AnimalsWeird & WildThe marine mammals use several cues, including unique whistles, to form a complex awareness of others in their minds.We humans rely on a suite of cues to recognize our friends, such as their smiles, their voices, or the way they walk. Biologists have known for several decades that dolphins form close friendships, and that the cetaceans identify pals by their unique whistles. Now new surprising research suggests bottlenose dolphins use their sense of taste to discern their friends’ urine from unrelated dolphins. Study leader Jason Bruck, a marine biologist at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas, didn’t set out to test whether bottlenose dolphins could identify each other through their urine. His original goal was to test whether dolphins use their signature whistles in the same way people rely on names. But to do that, he needed a second way for dolphins to identify each other. (Learn more about how dolphins respond to their “names.”)To find out if dolphins could associate a whistle with a specific dolphin, Bruck turned to an unlikely substance: urine. A scientist had previously observed wild dolphins purposefully swimming through plumes of urine, leading Bruck to suspect they were gathering information from it.“It was a shot in the dark,” says Bruck, whose study was published this week in the journal Science Advances. “And I was not expecting it to work, to be honest.”In experiments using captive dolphins, the team discovered that dolphins paid more attention to their friends’ urine and whistles, suggesting they knew the animals that issued them, he says.The findings are the first robust evidence of an animal identifying other members of its species using taste. They also show that by using at least two cues to identify individuals, dolphins have a complex understanding of their family and friends—much as humans do.“I was shocked, just shocked,” says Bruck. “I had a big grin on my face, like, Oh my God, this worked.”Eager participantsIn 2016 and 2017, Bruck and colleagues observed several bottlenose dolphins at dolphin-interaction facilities in Bermuda and Hawaii that also maintain a breeding consortium for the species. At these Dolphin Quest locations, dolphins live in lagoons fed by natural seawater, which simulates their environment in the wild.The researchers’ first step was to see whether dolphins could detect urine in the seawater. Over evolutionary time, bottlenose dolphins have lost their sense of smell but retained a strong sense of taste.In expansive pools containing temporarily separated dolphins, the scientists poured water with ice into the water and then watched to see how each animal responded. Curious dolphins that explored the ice water were good candidates for the experiment. Next, the team needed to test whether the animals' reactions to ice water and urine varied, and whether they responded differently to familiar versus unfamiliar urine. (Read why dolphins have the longest memories in the animal kingdom.)The team knew which dolphins were familiar with each other based on who had lived together for at least five years. So the researchers poured about 20 milliliters of both familiar and unfamiliar dolphin urine into the pool, one after another, with the order determined by coin flip. The dolphins spent about three times longer investigating the familiar urine than the unfamiliar urine, with a few individuals sampling the familiar substance for more than 20 seconds. The cetaceans paid little attention to the unfamiliar urine, sampling it only for the same time they had ice water.“The dolphins were very, very keen to participate,” says Bruck, who added they weren’t rewarded with food. “Usually, dolphins get bored with my experiments. We were tapping into something that is part of the dolphins’ world.”Cetacean expectationsThe final test investigated whether dolphins had a paired understanding of other dolphins’ cues—in other words, if an individual’s whistle and urine were connected in their minds.To do this, Bruck did what behavioral ecologists call an “expectation violation” experiment: showing animals something that doesn’t make sense and seeing how they react. In people, this would be like seeing your best friend’s face but hearing a different voice. (Read how dolphins have bold and shy personalities, like us.)For this final experiment, Bruck tested different urine-whistle combinations on 10 dolphins, five of which were the same animals in the previous trials.When exposed to an incorrect urine-whistle combination, the dolphins didn’t pay too much attention—perhaps a useful innovation for the wild, where the mammals would be inundated with mismatched whistles and urine, he says.But when a dolphin encountered the correct urine-whistle pair, the animal explored the area for an average of 10 seconds longer than the mismatched pair. Two individuals hung around for more than 40 seconds—the compelling evidence the team needed that they could recognize their friends.A taste of success “It’s very difficult to demonstrate that a concept exists in an animal’s mind, so these types of experiments trying to answer that question are very interesting and useful,” says Bruno Díaz López, chief biologist of the Spain-based Bottlenose Dolphin Research Institute, who was not involved in the study.López, who would like to see similar studies attempted in the wild, adds “it’s a good approach and a good first step” to understanding the role taste might play in dolphin recognition. (How dolphins use tools, teamwork, and trickery to get their dinner.)“This really deepens our understanding of how dolphins keep track of each other, which we know is really important to them,” says Laela Sayigh, a marine biologist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts, who also was not involved in the study.“It opens doors to other types of questions around what all they might be learning” from urine trails, she says.As for Bruck, he’s eager to delve next into what biological mechanism the dolphins use to taste urine.A promising possibility is lipids in urine, which can be detected with a physical “antenna” on their taste buds. It’s especially pressing, he adds, as it’s unknown what impact human-made pollution has on the dolphins’ taste-based abilities.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Alaska wildlife officials have killed four black bears in a campground recently reserved for people in Anchorage who are homeless after the city’s largest shelter was closed.Employees from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game on Tuesday killed a sow and her two cubs and another adult bear that was acting separately, stealing food from tents inside Centennial Park, which is managed by the city, officials said.Anchorage is Alaska’s biggest city, with nearly 300,000 residents, but it is also bear country.The park is located in east Anchorage, nestled between Chugach State Park and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, which state wildlife officials describe as a vast bear habitat.The Department of Fish and Game said Anchorage residents share the municipality with up to 350 American black bears and up to 65 brown bears.“Certainly it’s a busy bear time for us all across Anchorage,” said department spokesperson Cynthia Wardlow.This part of Anchorage “does tend to be a pretty active bear area because of the high- density housing”, she said.The city closed its pandemic mass shelter at Sullivan Arena on 30 June. The arena had housed hundreds of homeless people throughout the last two years, Alaska Public Media reported.When the shelter closed, some people who are homeless moved to Centennial Park, grabbing the 84 available spots after the campground stopped taking reservations from the public.Corey Allen Young, a spokesperson for Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, said there are 210 people living at Centennial Park, and the city has provided enhanced security for camp users.The city “has also brought in 60 bear proof food storage containers, 20 bear proof 32 gallon containers and is doing hourly clean up efforts to mitigate the trash and food. We also continue to inspect camps and educate campers about bear safe practices”, Young said in an email.The campground, just off the Glenn Highway, is “an ideal jumping-off point for Alaska travelers,” the city’s website says. But it also warns campers not to store food inside tents or outside in coolers so bears are not attracted to campsites.Wildlife officials said before the bears were killed, they were entering tents to get food, personal hygiene items and trash.When bears go inside tents or structures, they pose a risk to human life and are considered a public safety threat, and they may be killed.“Centennial Campground staff are doing the best they can to manage the campground and minimize attractants, but there are still a lot of tents with food in them,” Dave Battle, the fish and game department area biologist in Anchorage, said in a statement. “Until that changes, more bears are going to come into the campground and get into tents.”He said this is a safety issue for campers.“Killing any particular bear is a very temporary solution,” Battle said. “There are always going to be more bears in that vicinity because of its location, and we can’t teach bears not to eat what they can find.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
In one converted shed on the illegal farm expectant mothers and females with young pups were left in near complete darkness with puppies lying on cold bare surfaces in Ireland'Farm' manager Michael Lenane was banned from keeping dogs for lifeDogs have been rescued from horrific conditions in an illegal puppy farm – with some of the poor pups living in "complete darkness". Michael Lenane, 56, from County Waterford, Ireland, has been sentenced to three months in jail after he was found operating the cruel farm. The dogs and puppies were found living in converted sheds at the premises. Inspector Alice Lacey of the ISPCA described how dogs were living in confined spaces with very little room to move. One shed in particular was used for expectant mothers and females with young pups, who were left in “virtually complete darkness with little ventilation”. Want the latest updates from across the globe? Sign up to receive our daily World News newsletter HERE A lot of the dogs were found with dirty, matted coats, overgrown nails and infected teeth and gums. (
Image:
Jam Press/ISPCA) 42 dogs were rescued (
Image:
Jam Press/ISPCA) Some of the dogs were left without water and barely any bedding, meaning that young puppies were lying on bare, hard surfaces. In addition to the awful living conditions, a lot of the dogs also had dirty, matted coats, overgrown nails and infected teeth and gums. In total, 29 dogs and puppies who were most affected were surrendered to the ISPCA and taken into the care of Waterford SPCA. The premises were given a closure notice under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act by Waterford County Council. Inspector Lacey was on the scene, and told the court that the dogs removed had "extremely nervous dispositions". She said: "They were subjected to an environment whereby they were confined to a small space with little to no interaction for the purpose of breeding. Puppys huddling underneath a heat lamp in one of the filthy sheds (
Image:
Jam Press/ISPCA) The dogs were left in appalling conditions (
Image:
Jam Press/ISPCA) "It took months of rehabilitation before any of the adult dogs were ready to be re-homed due to the issues relating to their nervousness and fear of people." In Dungarvan District Court on May 13 this year, Michael Lenane, 65, of Dromana, Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, was sentenced to three months imprisonment having admitted nine offences under sections 11, 12 and 13 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. In addition to the custodial sentence, Judge Brian O’Shea disqualified Lenane from keeping dogs for life, fined him €2,000 (£1,700), and ordered that he pay a total of €2,770 (£2,400) in veterinary and legal costs. Commenting on illegal dog breeding, Judge O’Shea said: “The work of this ISPCA Inspector is important in saving dogs from this type of treatment, which has the potential to be very lucrative and the work of the ISPCA needs to be commended in trying to shut down these places.” Read More Read More
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Photo: Shutterstock (Shutterstock)New research from scientists in Japan affirms a common suspicion held by dog owners: that their pets also deeply miss them when they’re away. The researchers found that dogs’ eyes well up with more tears after being reunited with their owners than with familiar non-owners or when the owners stayed at home. This behavior in dogs appears to be influenced by the increased production of oxytocin, a hormone believed to play a role in emotional bonding in both humans and dogs.OffEnglishStudy author Takefumi Kikusui was inspired to conduct the research by an incident with his own dogs six years earlier. One of his two poodles had recently given birth, and while she was nursing her puppies, Kikusui noticed that she looked even cuter than usual and that her eyes were filled with tears.Kikusui knew about oxytocin’s reputation as the “love” or “maternal” hormone—named as such since it helps stimulate labor during pregnancy and the ability to breastfeed in new mothers. Oxytocin also seems to be released in higher amounts during moments of positive emotional connection in humans, such as having sex or even just being hugged, which can sometimes be expressed through tears. Many studies have shown dogs can have human-like social skills, and his team’s earlier work suggested that dogs and humans alike produce more oxytocin when spending time with one another.“So that gave me the idea that oxytocin might increase tears,” Kikusui, a veterinary researcher at Azabu University in Japan, told Gizmodo in an email. “We previously observed that oxytocin is released both in dogs and owners when interacting. So we conducted a reunion experiment.”The researchers recruited around 20 dogs for their experiments. They set up different scenarios, with the dogs having the tear volume on the surface of their eyes measured each time (dog tears don’t necessarily flow out as readily as they do in humans). In one scenario, the owners simply stuck around and interacted as usual; in the second, the owners would leave and return after five to seven hours; and in the third, they compared dogs at a day-care center that interacted with owners as well as familiar non-owners. Compared to the baseline, dog tears were significantly more plentiful after they were reunited with their owners, while no significant differences were observed before and after the dogs saw familiar non-owners.To further test their hypothesis, the researchers then dosed dogs with eye drops containing oxytocin or a placebo. When dogs received oxytocin, they produced more tears. Lastly, the team showed human volunteers photos of dogs with or without artificial tears in their eyes, asking them to rate how positively or negatively they felt about the dogs. Those with more tears were rated more positively on average, with the humans reporting wanting to touch or take care of them more. In their paper, the researchers allude to the common sight of dogs overjoyed to see their owners again after a long (or even very short) period of time away, as shown by many a viral video. But as far as the researchers know, theirs is the first to investigate the link between emotional state and tear production in non-human animals like dogs. The findings suggest, Kikusui said, that “dogs shed tears associated with positive emotions, such as a reunion with the owner.” And if that’s the case, then oxytocin is likely to be the hormonal lever driving these tears. The team’s findings were published Monday in Current Biology. It’s hard to know what dogs or any animals are truly thinking, since we can’t verbally communicate with them. So there’s always some caution that should be taken when trying to interpret the meaning of canine behavior. But one strength of the study, Kikusui said, is that they were able to measure a behavioral reaction in dogs (the tears) in response to a stimuli such as reuniting with their owners, and then they were able to demonstrate a possible and relevant physiological trigger (the oxytocin) for that behavior.Of course, dog owners hardly need any convincing that their dogs love and miss them. But this sort of research may help garner a deeper understanding of our best friends and the evolutionary path we’ve taken together. The fact that humans seem drawn to teary-eyed dogs might offer an explanation as to why this behavior arose among dogs in the first place, for instance.“We found that teary eyes of dogs can facilitate human caregiving. Dogs have become a partner of humans, and we can form bonds,” Kikusui said. “In this process, it is possible that the dogs that show teary eyes during interaction with the owner would be cared for by the owner more.”There are other unanswered questions that Kikusui’s team or others may hope to explore in the future, he added. It’s not known whether dogs become more teary in response to negative emotions, for example, or whether they show the same tear response when they reunite with long-lost familiar dogs.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By Claire Marshall & Malcolm PriorBBC Rural Affairs TeamImage source, TawintaewImage caption, Animal welfare campaigners want all crates banned from pig farmingAnimal welfare campaigners say it is time supermarkets stopped selling premium ham produced by EU farmers still using methods banned in the UK.Compassion in World Farming said most Parma ham on UK shelves is farmed using crates that confine pregnant sows.Called "sow stalls", the crates have been banned in the UK since 1999 but their limited use in the EU is legal.Trade body the British Retail Consortium said UK stores led the way in requiring high welfare standards.But it added that it was "more challenging with speciality hams where the UK has a small share of a highly-regulated product and the focus is on production methods."Of the UK's top three supermarkets, Sainsbury's said that while sow stalls were used, all its suppliers have to meet "strict welfare standards" and their use was limited to a maximum of 28 days. Asda said pigs used in the supply of Parma ham were farmed according to EU welfare legislation.Tesco has yet to respond to the BBC but its welfare policy states that sow stalls are not permitted in its pork supply chain.Meanwhile one retailer, Waitrose, vowed to end the use of sow stalls in any of its pork production, saying: "Animal welfare is key to our brand. We have led the way for pig welfare in the UK and now we want to ensure that sow stalls have no place in our supply chain by 2025".Compassion in World Farming (CiWF) said it would like to see all retailers, producers and food companies commit to doing away with all confinement crates used in pig farming.That also includes farrowing crates, which are used to confine sows during and after birth to stop them crushing their piglets and are legal both in the UK and EU.Image source, AlexanderLipkoImage caption, Farrowing crates are used to prevent sows from crushing their piglets.Sarah Moyes, CiWF's senior campaigns manager, said: "People who pay a premium for products like Parma ham are likely to be shocked to discover that these 'high-end' products are from systems that keep animals in such cruel cages."Our investigation reveals that their farms are no better than standard farms - the animals still spend a significant part of their lives in cages."The European Commission has said it intends to ban all caged farming systems, including the use of farrowing crates and sow stalls, possibly implementing new legislation by 2027.A partial ban on individual sow stalls was introduced in the EU in 2013 but they can still be used for the first four weeks in a sow's four-month pregnancy.It is argued that using stalls allows for better individual feeding, protection from aggressive behaviour by other pigs and easier access for veterinary attention.But welfare campaigners say they leave sows little room to move and unable to perform natural and motivated behaviours, such as foraging or interacting socially with other pigs.The UK government, which banned sow stalls in 1999, is also considering phasing out farrowing crates.A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "Our aim is ultimately for farrowing crates to no longer be necessary, and we continue to work towards this objective."The National Pig Association estimates 60% of UK sows are kept on indoor pig units and the majority of them give birth and suckle their piglets in farrowing crates.The NPA opposes a ban on farrowing crates and said the 1999 sow stall ban resulted in half the UK pig industry being lost - only for it to be replaced by EU pork produced using the stalls.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Helen Glover and Steve Backshall’s gorgeous riverside eco-house is full of natural wonders. There’s a massive painting of a lion on the living room wall, a collection of animal skulls on the breakfast bar and next to that, a fish tank full of tadpoles. Last night, Backshall reports, their children, Logan, three, and two-year-old twins Kit and Willow, squealed with delight when they noticed that some had sprouted legs.“Their minds were blown,” says Backshall. “Hels and I were shrieking a bit too.”Backshall is famous for presenting the popular Deadly 60 wildlife show. He’s swum with sharks and been bitten by piranhas. In 2019 a crocodile chewed on his right leg after he accidentally trod on it in Argentina. Surely his world is not
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A three-legged tortoise called Hope, who uses wheels to get around, could help save its critically endangered species from extinction.The animal was rescued from smugglers after being found in a suitcase with 56 other tortoises by customs officials in Hong Kong in 2019.
The owner, a would-be wildlife trader travelling from the Comoro Islands, was later jailed for two years.Ploughshare tortoise Hope is now settled in at Chester Zoo and uses a set of rollers designed by experts to help move around.Conservationists are now aiming for Hope to live up to its nickname by joining a European conservation-breeding programme and helping save the species from extinction. Read more: Zoo battles to save dozens of species from extinction by cryogenically freezing genetic samples
Curator of lower vertebrates and invertebrates at Chester Zoo, Dr Gerardo Garcia, said: "Hope is an incredibly special tortoise, for many reasons. More from UK Boris Johnson live updates: PM could take 'party and government down with him' as leader on brink after bombshell resignations Boris Johnson prepares for double probe at PMQs and Liaison Committee hearing after mini-cabinet reshuffle prompted by shock resignations Nadhim Zahawi made chancellor after Rishi Sunak resigns - as Steve Barclay replaces Sajid Javid as health secretary "Firstly, ploughshare tortoises are exceptionally rare. It's not just the world's most threatened species of tortoise, it's one of the most threatened animals on the planet, full stop."Fewer than 300 now remain in the wild, mostly due to their overexploitation by illegal wildlife traders - leaving them functionally extinct in their home of Madagascar."In addition Hope has a remarkable life story, having been rescued from smugglers, discovered to have a missing leg and then having a prosthetic mobility support specially fitted to help him get around."It works wonderfully well - he moves even quicker than his three neighbours."He's settling in nicely to his new home and hopefully, in several years' time once he's more developed, he'll go on to produce offspring and contribute to the survival of the species thanks to the vital insurance population in conservation zoos." In the wild, the ploughshare tortoise is only found on a small remote stretch of sand, rock and bamboo on Madagascar.Just 63 of the animals live legally outside Madagascar as part of the conservation breeding programmes.The happy news about Hope comes as 109 live animals including 35 turtles were found in luggage as two women tried to board a Thai Airways flight to India in an unrelated case.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A Colorado man who Yellowstone National Park officials say got too close to a bison was thrown by the animal while trying to get himself and a child away from danger.The 34-year-old man from Colorado Springs was walking with his family near Giant Geyser in the Old Faithful area on Monday when a bull bison charged the group, park officials said.A video of the encounter posted on social media appeared to show the man was behind the bison when it charged other members of his party. The man ran up and appeared to be trying to keep himself between the bison and his family when the bison pursued a child who was running away. The man grabbed the child and was thrown by the bison while still holding the child. They both got up and ran away. The man was taken to Eastern Idaho Medical Center for treatment of injuries to his arm, park officials said. His name was not released.The incident is under investigation.This is the second time this year that a visitor got too close to a bison and the animal responding to the perceived threat by goring the individual, park officials said.On May 30, a woman from Grove City, Ohio, got within 10 feet (3 meters) of a bison before it gored and tossed her, causing a puncture wound and other injuries. Bison are unpredictable, have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal and can run three times faster than humans, park officials said. The park requires people to stay more than 25 yards (23 meters) away from all large animals, including bison and moose, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
U.S. June 23, 2022 / 7:06 AM / CBS/AP Bird flu forces chickens into lockdown Bird flu forces chickens into lockdown amid historic outbreak 03:37 Hundreds of dead birds have washed up on Martha's Vineyard and animal control officials there think a highly contagious strain of avian flu may be responsible.The Tisbury Animal Control posted an "avian influenza warning" on social media Monday, telling residents that hundreds of dead cormorants have washed up all over the island and it's "extremely dangerous" for a small island.Animal control officers collected the birds and sent many to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife for testing. The animal control office said the new strain could become a major issue that may take years to recover from.The office warned residents not to touch the birds. It asked them to keep their dogs on leashes on beaches, be careful going into the water since many are floating in seaweed, and notify animal control if they find any dead birds. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, strains of avian flu spread mainly through bird populations, but can infect humans through contact with sick birds. However, this type of avian flu is considered a low risk to people, the CDC says.While it poses little risk to humans, the global outbreak has led farmers to cull millions of birds and threatens to add to already rising food prices.Farmers in states like Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota have already culled millions of fowl to prevent the outbreak from spreading. Zoos around the U.S. have moved exotic bird exhibits indoors to protect their animals, and wildlife authorities are discouraging backyard bird feeding in some states to prevent the spread by wild birds. The disease has also claimed bald eagles around the country."It's quite a sight to see an eagle with a six-foot wingspan having uncontrollable seizures because of highly pathogenic avian influenza," Victoria Hall, executive director of the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center, told AP News in early May. "At that point, they're so far into the disease there's no treatment options left." The state Department of Agriculture and Markets recently had to destroy two large poultry flocks in Suffolk County, killing thousands of birds.The outbreak is also spawning fantastical claims similar to the ones that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring how conspiracy theories often emerge at times of uncertainty, and how the internet and a deepening distrust of science and institutions fuel their spread.The claims can be found on obscure online message boards and major platforms like Twitter. Some versions claim the flu is fake, a hoax being used to justify reducing the supply of birds in an effort to drive up food prices, either to wreck the global economy or force people into vegetarianism."There is no 'bird flu' outbreak," wrote one man on Reddit. "It's just COVID for chickens." In: Bird flu Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
NEWPORT, R.I. — Calling all Rhode Islanders. Be on the lookout for an escaped Aussiedoodle — an Australian Shepherd and poodle mix. Zoey escaped from a dog sitter on Saturday night, one day before she was supposed to be part of an out-of-state couple’s wedding, according to Newport councilwoman Kate Leonard. There is a $4,000 reward for the return of the dog, which was last seen around 8:30 p.m. near the Castle Hill Inn at 590 Ocean Ave. in Newport.Leonard said she was told a dog sitter opened a cottage door and Zoey bolted outside.“They have dog trappers and they are out searching,” Leonard said. “They are still looking, and I have the whole neighborhood looking. We are hoping she is found. They are giving a $4,000 reward. Maybe that’s an incentive for someone to come and search.”Leonard said the couple almost canceled their wedding ceremony because of the lost pet. They are staying in Saunderstown until the dog can be found.“I volunteered to have them stay in my house if they wanted to try and help them out,” Leonard said. “I feel so bad for them. Terrible.”Numerous pets groups have issued bulletins letting people know about Zoey. She is wearing a pink collar.Anyone with information on the missing dog can call 703-795-9860 or message instagram.com/alwaysadoptri.Carlos Muñoz can be reached at carlos.munoz@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @ReadCarlos and on Instagram @Carlosbrknews.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
An animal sanctuary in Merseyside said it is "completely full" as dog owners contend with a "perfect storm" of problems, including a return to the office and the escalating cost of living crisisCarla Lane Animals in Need, in Merseyside, is "completely full" and unable to take in any more pets (file photo)A perfect storm of problems has seen so many dog owners wanting to give up their pets that rescue centres are having to put them on waiting lists. A combination of the Covid pandemic lockdown puppy boom, the cost of living crisis and a spike in unscrupulous backyard breeders has seen rescue centres reach full capacity. One such centre, Carla Lane Animals in Need, in Merseyside, is "completely full" and unable to take in any more pets. Manager Kelly O'Shea told the Liverpool Echo that she blamed the capacity issues on the Covid pandemic puppy boom and the escalating cost of living crisis. She told the BBC that Brits have been failing to realise "the commitment involved" in owning a dog, after buying them while working from home during lockdown and now struggling with a return to the office. Kelly also reported a spike in "backyard breeders" making "an easy income stream" by selling dogs without taking into consideration whether they are suitable for a particular home. Ten-year-old Buddy, who has spent more than 500 days at an animal centre in Somerset (
Image:
RSPCA / SWNS) But she still urged pet owners to approach charities with any concerns, saying: "Sometimes just some basic, simple training is often all that's needed for people to be able to enjoy a lifetime companionship with their pet." In a social media post yesterday, the animal sanctuary pleaded for others to take in a Rottweiler/Pitbull crossbreed that it has been unable to house. It wrote: "Zeus is not yet at Carla Lane as we have no kennel space but he is now desperate for a home. We have already assessed him and had his vaccinations done ready for his new home." The rescue centre added: "This gentle boy has come from a loving home but unfortunately the new baby is extremely allergic and cannot come home from hospital. His owner has exhausted all options but nothing has worked." Kelly blamed the capacity issues on the Covid pandemic puppy boom and the escalating cost of living crisis (
Image:
Liverpool Echo) It comes as another charity says it is also receiving more calls to take in animals, as owners can no longer afford the rising costs of pet essentials. Claire Sparkes, General Manager at Gables Dogs and Cats Home in Plymouth, admitted she worries about what will happen to the unwanted pets if they run out of spaces. She said: "We operate a waiting list of cats and dogs that need to come in for rehoming that people can no longer keep various reasons. The calls we are receiving are increasing now from people who genuinely can't afford to keep their pets any longer. "It's a real shame because they are genuinely loved pets, but the increase in their own costs for themselves and families have gone up. A dog living in an elderly rescue home seen in an image released by Dogs Trust (
Image:
Dogs Trust) "In the increase in dog food, and veterinary costs like flea and worm treatments and basic pet care items are increasing. It seems like everything is increasing and there's no kind of let up for anybody and people are genuinely struggling to keep their pets." UK inflation climbed to 9.1% in the 12 months to May, its highest level since March 1982. The ONS said food and drink prices were the biggest contributor of inflation creeping higher, while households are also being hit by sky-high energy costs. Claire added: "[People giving up pets] has increased significantly over the past three months and I think it's only going to get worse and worse until it gets to a point where there are only so many animals that we can take in at any one time. "It worries me what could happen to those animals if we can no longer take in because we only have so many kennels and cat pens available." Read More Read More
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A New York City police officer has adopted the same dog that she helped save from a hot car last month.Aruna Maharaj, an officer with the NYPD's 19th Precinct, adopted the pup after helping with its rescue."A month ago, this sweet doggo was rescued after his owner left him in his hot locked car for hours; yesterday, one of its rescuers, Officer Maharaj, adopted him," the 19th Precinct posted on its Twitter account.The dog was found in a hot car on June 18. Nearby residents had noticed the dog locked in the car on 88th Street near Third Avenue for over two hours and called 911, police said.In this screen grab posted to the Twitter account of the NYPD 19th Precinct, police officers are shown rescuing the dog from a hot car after a passerby reported the distressed animal.@NYPD19Pct/TwitterPassersby said the dog looked distressed inside the vehicle, according to police.Police broke open one of the car's windows to rescue the dog, helping it out of the vehicle before taking it to veterinary care.A 26-year-old man was charged with animal cruelty, according to police.The dog was taken in by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, before Maharaj adopted the dog from their care."This pup will never be neglected again!" the 19th Precinct said in its post.In this screen grab posted to the Twitter account of the NYPD 19th Precinct, police officers are shown rescuing the dog from a hot car after a passerby reported the distressed animal.@NYPD19Pct/TwitterThe ASPCA said that animals should never be left alone in hot cars. The organization also said it's important to look for signs of heatstroke in pets.Excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor or collapsing, are all signs of your pet overheating, the ASPCA said.According to the NYPD, it only takes 10 minutes for the inside of a car to reach 102 degrees on an 85-degree day.In this photo posted to the to the NYPD 19th Precint's Twitter account, Officer Manaraj is shown with the rescued dog. Officer Manaraj helped rescue the pup and has now adopted the animal.@NYPD19Pct/TwitterThe Humane Society said that it's also important to watch out for humidity."It's not just the ambient temperature, but also the humidity that can affect your pet," Dr. Barry Kellogg, senior veterinary advisor of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, said in a Humane Society statement.Kellogg said that animals pant to evaporate moisture from their lungs, which takes heat away from their body. If the humidity is too high, however, they are unable to cool themselves down and their temperature can quickly reach dangerous levels.The Humane Society encourages pet owners to limit their pets' exercise on hot days and provide lots of shade and water. They also note not to rely on fans, which don't work as effectively for animals as they do for humans.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
With close to a million species now threatened with extinction, it's not often you hear about a conservation success story. But as we first reported in November, the mountain gorillas of the East African nation of Rwanda are just that. When American naturalist Dian Fossey moved to Rwanda half a century ago to study mountain gorillas, their numbers were dwindling, down to just 254 individuals, but today they're up to over 600, with another 400 in neighboring Uganda -- the only great ape whose numbers are actually on the rise. How they've done it? A joint effort by scientists and government to save gorillas and help the human communities around them, with a key role played by tourists. These are the Virunga Volcanoes, home to most of the world's mountain gorillas. Dian Fossey aptly called them gorillas in the mist. But when the mist lifts, they are gorillas in the sun, doing what mountain gorillas do: eat, rest, eat some more and snuggle. Tara Stoinski: When you look in the eyes of a gorilla, you see a kindred spirit looking back at you. They are so much like us. They have friends, they have enemies. They love to play. They love to eat. They love to nap. They are incredible moms and incredible dads.Primatologist Tara Stoinski heads the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, a nonprofit research and conservation organization that grew out of Fossey's work. Lesley Stahl: How many years did she live up here alone?Tara Stoinski: She was in the forest for 18 years. Tara Stoinski Fossey was sent to Rwanda in 1967 by famed anthropologist Louis Leakey, who had also sent Jane Goodall to Tanzania to study chimps.Tara Stoinski: The people in the region, they gave her a nickname: Nyiramacibiri, which meant Woman That Lives Alone In The Forest. I'm sure they wondered, like, what was she doing up there? Lesley Stahl: Strange woman living up--Tara Stoinski: Strange woman.Lesley Stahl: --in the mount--Tara Stoinski: And very tall. She was 6 [feet tall].What she was doing, as Stoinski showed us, was observing gorillas for hours a day. Tara Stoinski: What she would do each night is come back and type up all of her notes.Lesley Stahl (Reading): "There is some soft pig grunting heard from the silverback, and gas is released." Lesley Stahl: And this just goes on and--Tara Stoinski: On and on, yeah.Lesley Stahl: --on and on? Fossey's research -- and her appearances in National Geographic -- helped change the perception of gorillas from aggressive, King Kong brutes, to the gentle vegetarian giants they actually are. But gorillas back then were under assault. Lesley Stahl: Why were there poachers? Why were people interested?Tara Stoinski: Well, at the time, people unfortunately wanted parts of gorillas as trophies. So they wanted a gorilla head for their mantelpiece, or a-- a gorilla hand. The gorillas' habitat was also being eaten away, as thousands of acres of forest were cut down so farmers could plant cash crops up the mountainside. The demarcation line between farmland and forest stands out like a bad haircut, showing how little land gorillas have left. Lesley Stahl: We cut down their homes.Tara Stoinski: Yeah, I mean unfortunately, that's the story for wildlife around the world. But here, that story is getting a rewrite -- and the new version starts at Volcanoes National Park headquarters every morning, where tourists gather to trek to see gorillas, led by expert guides.The Rwandan government regulates the visits -- no more than eight people per group, for just one hour with the gorillas, with precautions taken to protect them from human illness. The price tag is steep -- $1,500 per person -- turning Rwanda, a country known for its horrific 1994 genocide, not so much for its beautiful scenery, into a prime destination for the wealthy. Some of the most luxurious hotels in the world have opened here, generating tens of millions in tourism revenue.Lesley Stahl: Other countries have diamonds, oil. Would you say that gorillas are the most important natural resource of this whole country?Tara Stoinski: Definitely. Definitely-- Lesley Stahl: Definitely?Tara Stoinski: Yeah. It's one of if not the top source of foreign revenue, is tourism to see the gorillas.Lesley Stahl: For the whole country?Tara Stoinski: For the whole country.The government gives 10% of the money from those gorilla treks to districts that border national parks, in a program called tourism revenue sharing. Prosper Uwingeli Prosper Uwingeli: As you see this school behind, that was before. Chief park warden Prosper Uwingeli met us at a local primary school. Behind him was the old school. Behind me, new classrooms paid for by tourism revenue sharing funds. Lesley Stahl: It costs $1,500.Prosper Uwingeli: Yes.Lesley Stahl: --to go see the gorillas for one hour--Prosper Uwingeli: For one hour. Special experience.He admits it's a lot, but says it's made a tremendous difference in his meetings with local leaders.Prosper Uwingeli: We go there and we listen what communities want the tourism revenue sharing to-- to support.Lesley Stahl: They decide? Prosper Uwingeli: Yeah, they decide. This village built a health center, new housing with water tanks and electricity, a new marketplace. The 10% gives communities up to 650,000 U.S. dollars a year.Uwingeli divides his time between greeting tourists, managing his rangers, and traveling around these villages -- talking, cajoling, and celebrating what tourism revenue has achieved. A few years back, this community chose to get milking cows, which have since had calves. So the cows are now being given to new needy families. And those colorful striped sweaters? They're a product of tourism revenue sharing too. One year this community used its funds to buy knitting machines.Lesley Stahl: A lot of the guides, porters come from these communities--Tara Stoinski: --from these communities. And some of them are former poachers themselves.Lesley Stahl: No?Tara Stoinski: Yeah. Lesley Stahl: Some of the porters and guides?Tara Stoinski: Yeah.Lesley Stahl: Were poachers?Tara Stoinski: Or come from poacher families.Lesley Stahl: So has all poaching of gorillas stopped?Prosper Uwingeli: Yeah. In Rwanda, yes. Confidently, yes. How Lesley Stahl got up close with mountain gorillas in Rwanda 04:33 But gorillas can still get caught in snares set for smaller animals like antelopes, so the Fossey Fund dispatches a small army of trackers every morning, 365 days a year. Tara Stoinski: We go out into the forest. We know every gorilla in all of the families that we monitor. We check and make sure every one of them is okay. If one looks ill, we'll notify the veterinarians. And we call this extreme conservation.It could also be called an extreme workout. We set off on a gorilla trek with Stoinski, Uwingeli and a team of porters. Visiting mountain gorillas is no walk in the park. It's an uphill hike for more than an hour at an altitude of 8000 feet, through that farmland that once belonged to the gorillas just to get to the park. Lesley Stahl: Are you out of breath?Tara Stoinski: Yes. [LAUGHS]Lesley Stahl: Or is it just me?Then, just as we reached the park border...Lesley Stahl: [GASP, POINTS] Oh, my goodness gracious, I can't believe this. A silverback, used to seeing tourists, sat calmly eating.Lesley Stahl: He's right here.Unfazed by our gawking and pointing. Uwingeli told us he's an adult male named Lisanga. Fossey Fund country director Felix Ndagijimana taught us how to signal that we come in peace.Inside the park, after more climbing...Tara Stoinski: Look, Lesley, look. Lesley--Lesley Stahl: Oh look at the baby. Oh my goodness. We found the rest of Lisanga's group. Uwingeli told us the dominant silverback was heading higher up the mountain, so the whole group was following. And so were we. In a sign of the population's health, this group has 5 infants, and several juveniles.Lesley Stahl: Oh, my goodness, they're--Tara Stoinski: Yeah, they're having a ball.Lesley Stahl: That's serious.Tara Stoinski: They're havin' a ball.She told us they play for fun -- and to practice fighting. Or perhaps, just to show us who's boss.Near us in the forest, it sounded like a silverback photo shoot was going on. But Fossey Fund research assistant Nadia Niyonizeye wasn't snapping ordinary pictures. She was using a technique called photogrammetry to get better measurements of gorilla size by beaming lasers on to the gorilla's body and head, which it doesn't feel. Nadia Niyonizeye: There are four centimeter in between each. Lesley Stahl: Oh, I see it. Back at the office, she uses the dots to make precise calculations of their size. Science remains the heart of the Fossey Fund's mission. They have the largest collection anywhere of gorilla skeletons, where scientists from around the world come to do research, and a gorilla poop lab.Lesley Stahl: You gather their poop?Tara Stoinski: It's like a treasure trove of information for us.To study stress hormones and do DNA and paternity testing. But Stoinski says they're running out of space. So they're constructing a new, multi-building green campus with initial funding from Ellen Degeneres [It's being built by MASS Design Group, which 60 Minutes profiled earlier this season.] The campus will celebrate the progress made in saving mountain gorillas -- with plenty of space for researchers, exhibits for tourists and people from local communities. And views of the volcanoes.Lesley Stahl: And you can see the mist.Tara Stoinski: It really rolls in.The building process itself reinforces the fund's motto -- "helping people saving gorillas." It's employing more than 1,500 local workers, more than 20% of them women. One exhibit on display here will teach visitors to speak like a gorilla.Tara Stoinski: We can play it.FEMALE VOICE (ON TAPE): Welcome to Gorilla Chat. Tara Stoinski: You can hear. FEMALE VOICE (ON TAPE): We're happy that you want to learn to speak like a gorilla.It plays gorilla vocalizations somewhat comparable to human ones. Yes, gorillas laugh.Tara Stoinski: Isn't that great? So the idea is that you have to try and mimic it.Lesley Stahl: That's impossible.She gave me one she said was simple.Tara Stoinski: So this is the pig grunt.Lesley Stahl: What does it mean? Tara Stoinski: It's kind of like a mild warning. The sort of human version is, "Unh-unh-unh."Lesley Stahl: You're on thin ice.Tara Stoinski: You wanna try it with me recording and see?Lesley Stahl: Yeah.Tara Stoinski: Okay. (BEEPS)Lesley Stahl: [GRUNTS] (LAUGHTER) "Try again--"Tara Stoinski: Again. (LAUGH) Lesley Stahl: I did such a bad job. Tara Stoinski: It's hard.Lesley Stahl: So fun.Tara Stoinski: Won't it be fun, though?Stoinski wants school kids to come and be inspired to solve the next set of problems -- increasing numbers of gorillas inhabiting a fixed amount of space.Tara Stoinski: As the population has increased, but the habitat hasn't, it is putting more pressure on the gorillas. And so the government is looking to try and expand the park so that there will be more space so that population can continue to grow.There are plans to expand the park by 23% and relocate communities to what the government calls model villages like this one, with electricity and brand new schools. Trying to make park expansion another win-win for gorillas and their human neighbors. Lesley Stahl: It's a success story.Tara Stoinski: It is a success story, definitely, but we say it's a fragile success because there are so few of them left and there are still so many threats.But for now, the news is good. Last year, 33 new baby gorillas were born here.Prosper Uwingeli: Wow, I mean, you can't have enough of telling those stories of gorillas-- when you look at the moms carrying the babies--Lesley Stahl: Do you know that when you talk about gorillas, your face completely lights up?Prosper Uwingeli: I know about it. But much of the smile comes from what they're helping us to achieve. That's really the best way we can serve the next generation of kids, gorillas, and-- and-- and people.Produced by Shari Finkelstein. Associate producer, Braden Cleveland Bergan. Broadcast associate, Wren Woodson. Edited by April Wilson. Photos of Dian Fossey courtesy of Bob Campbell Papers/George A. Smathers Libraries/Univ. of Florida Lesley Stahl One of America's most recognized and experienced broadcast journalists, Lesley Stahl has been a 60 Minutes correspondent since 1991.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
AnimalsNewsThe study is the latest in a growing body of evidence that animals form tight bonds—suggesting that they’re more like us than we thought.Most of us likely consider snakes to be cold, solitary beings, as indifferent to others of their kind as they are to us.But those notions are wrong—especially when it comes to garter snakes, a new study says.These nonvenomous creatures, which range from the chilly plains of Canada to the forests of Costa Rica, have definitive preferences about which snakes they hang out with—in other words, they have “friends.”“All animals—even snakes—need to interact with others,” says study leader Morgan Skinner, a doctoral candidate in behavioral ecology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. To investigate this theory, Skinner devised a novel experiment to assess the personalities and sociability of eastern garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis).The results showed that “like us, they seek out social contacts, and they’re choosy about whom they socialize with,” says Skinner, whose study appeared recently in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. The idea that snakes have close friends may be surprising, but such relationships are increasingly being found throughout the animal kingdom, from flamingos to bats to elephants. A recent analysis of vampire bats showed, for example, that bats and humans both have conditional friendships.Scientists are likely better at discovering friendships among animals now than, say, 30 years ago, partly because many societies are more accepting of such a concept, and because researchers have far better tools for gathering and analyzing the data.Analyzing social networks in wildlife, such as snakes, “has made huge leaps in the last few decades,” says study co-author Noam Miller, a comparative psychologist and Skinner’s advisor.Indeed, as this field of study deepens, it’s now common to use the word “friend” when discussing such relationships in nonhuman animals.That wasn’t the case even as recently as 2012, says Melissa Amarello, a herpetologist and director of Advocates for Snake Preservation, who was advised against using the word in her thesis on closely bonded black rattlesnakes in Arizona.“It’s really cool to see this study,” she says.Snakes in a shelterFor the research study, Miller and Skinner observed 40 juvenile eastern garter snakes—30 from wild-caught mothers and 10 from a single litter purchased from a breeder.To keep track of the reptiles, Skinner marked each with a pattern of nontoxic colored dots on its head. In his lab, he placed a batch of 10 snakes—a mix of males and females—inside a walled, tabletop enclosure that included four plastic shelters with small entrances. Because there were only four shelters, the 10 snakes had to form groups.For eight days, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., a camera recorded an image of the testing arena every five seconds, tracking the snakes’ movements. Twice a day, Skinner also photographed the snakes and their groupings. He then removed the serpents, cleaned the enclosure to eliminate any odors, and put the snakes back—but in different places. (See National Geographic's amazing snake pictures.)The snakes, though, had other ideas. They didn’t stay where Skinner placed them, but returned to their original groups of three to eight individuals inside the small shelters. What’s more, they sought out specific snakes that they’d hung out with before. “They have sophisticated social cognition,” adds Miller. “They can tell others apart.”Intrepid reptilesThe scientists also tested the snakes’ personalities—namely, whether they were “shy” or “bold,” the two main traits evaluated in wildlife. To see if an individual garter snake was bold, they put it in a shelter alone.Shy individuals tended to stay put, and rarely ventured into the larger enclosure. Bolder snakes behaved like explorers, often immediately leaving the shelter to slither about their new habitat. (Here’s the secret to how snakes slither.)However, once they were in groups, such personality differences vanished, and the snakes generally followed the herd—perhaps a strategy to keep safe in the wild.Of course, the experiment is limited in that it was done in captivity. “Animals behave differently in captivity, so I’m left wondering how this translates to natural conditions,” notes Amarello.Because wild garter snakes form aggregations similar to those they created in the lab, however, Miller and Skinner suspect such relationships occur in nature—and are common in many reptilian species. (See beautiful photos of amphibians and reptiles.)Cryptic loners? Think again.Though animal buddies are making the news these days, Miller cautions that animal friendship “may have nothing to do with the reasons humans have friends.” Indeed, the scientists have no idea what’s motivating friendships in garter snakes, though they do know it’s not related to reproduction or mating: The study snakes did not prefer the opposite sex as friends.But such partnerships must be offering some benefit—otherwise the animals would not waste the energy forming such bonds. For instance, snake friends usually curl up together, which helps them retain heat and defend against predators.Whatever the reason, says Gordon Burghardt, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Tennessee, the study “should help convince people that snakes aren’t all cryptic loners, but have more social intelligence and a larger social repertoire than most of us realize.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Millions of native animals, including wallabies, green rosellas, cockatoos and wombats have been killed in Tasmania under property protection permits, according to data produced by the state government.The Tasmanian Greens say the “staggering” figures, which were first reported by The Mercury newspaper, should be examined through a broader parliamentary inquiry into the management and protection of wildlife in Tasmania.In Tasmania, landowners can obtain property protection permits which allow them to kill wildlife to prevent damage to crops, stock or infrastructure.The Greens have raised concern that the number of animals killed through this system is opaque and that the broader effects on the environment have not been thoroughly assessed.New data, supplied in answers to questions on notice, shows 859,304 native animals were killed in 2021 alone and an additional 53,352 were culled up to 6 June this year.The total climbs to about 2.8m when data for 2020 and 2019 is included.It includes 1,176,002 Bennetts wallabies; 1,088,117 rufous wallabies; 530,487 brushtail possums; and 168 common wombats that were recorded as having been culled in the period from 2019 to 6 June this year.Other affected species include yellow-tailed black cockatoos, black swans and forester kangaroos (also known as eastern grey kangaroos).About 3,400 permits for culling of native wildlife were issued from 1 July 2019 to 6 June this year.The Greens Leader, Cassy O’Connor, said the government should be working with landholders to reduce the impact of native wildlife on property through non-lethal means.She said the party would be moving for a broad inquiry into wildlife protection and management because “Tasmanians deserve to know what is being done to ensure, in a time of climate and biodiversity crisis, this island’s wildlife is has a future”.Rosalie Woodruff, the Tasmanian Greens environment and biodiversity spokesperson, said the number of native animals killed was “heartbreaking”.Green rosellas and rufous wallabies are also being culled under Tasmania’s property protection permits. Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPAShe said many were much-loved animals that people went out of their way to see and some of the species had recorded local declines in population numbers in recent years.Woodruff also questioned whether damage to property was being thoroughly verified before permits were issued, as was required under the permit system.“With hundreds of thousands of native animals every year being legally slaughtered under an opaque process, where is the assessment of biodiversity impacts or justification?” she said.Tim Beshara, the manager of policy and strategy at the Wilderness Society, expressed concern about the potential ecological impact of large numbers of animal carcasses if they were left in the environment.“We are talking about what could be as much as 10,000 tonnes of marsupial carcasses here – about two to three times the amount of roadkill,” he said.“With the recent crash of devil and quoll populations to devour the carrion, leaving so many carcasses in patches across the landscape is likely to boost numbers of species like feral cats and ravens, in turn creating huge flow-through impacts to other species.”A government spokesperson said the wildlife regulations were in place to ensure sustainable management of wildlife populations across the state.They said permits were issued after an assessment of damage at a property and where there was a demonstrated need to protect crops or stock, or equipment or infrastructure used for agricultural production.“To be clear landowners use a range of management measures, such as fencing, netting and noise-scarers, to try to keep wildlife populations at a sustainable level in the agricultural landscape and protect their investment and livelihood,” they said.“Farming is a business and our farmers must be able to manage their land to support ongoing viability.”The spokesperson said applications for a permit were also assessed against requirements under the state’s Nature Conservation Act.“Long-term wildlife population monitoring indicates that the species subject to property protection permits have stable or increasing populations, which indicates that the current process for taking wildlife is sustainable,” the said.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By Helen BriggsEnvironment correspondentImage source, Rich CareyImage caption, More than one in ten wild tree species is threatened by unsustainable loggingOne in five people around the world rely on wild animals, plants and fungi for food and livelihoods, according to a landmark assessment.But many wild species are not being harvested sustainably, putting food security at risk, the report found.In 2019, experts estimated that one million plants and animals could go extinct in coming decades. And much of this is being driven by unsustainable fishing, hunting and logging.Now a new report by the same influential body concludes that the sustainable use of wild species is critical for people and nature.And climate change and increased demand is likely to push more species to the brink, putting food security at risk.Image source, Wild Poets SocietyImage caption, Over-fishing threatens a third of marine fish speciesThe Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is conservation scientists' equivalent of the IPCC group of climate scientists. Their most recent assessment, approved by 139 countries in Bonn, Germany, focuses on how fishing, hunting and logging can be carried out more sustainably without damaging biodiversity and food security.It found that billions of people across the world rely on 50,000 species of wild animals, plants and fungi for food, medicine, fuel, income and other purposes. The assessment paints a picture of widespread exploitation of nature, with about a third of wild fish in the ocean overfished, more than 10% of wild trees threatened by unsustainable logging, and more than 1,300 mammals pushed to extinction by unsustainable hunting.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Forest being cleared for cattle ranching in BrazilActions that would help address these challenges include a crackdown on illegal fishing and wildlife trade; better management and certification of forests; and recognising the rights of indigenous people who look after land and forests, it said.Dr Jean-Marc Fromentin, co-chair of the assessment for France, said rural people in developing countries were most at risk from unsustainable use, and had few alternatives, "often forcing them to further exploit wild species already at risk".About 50,000 wild species are used for food, fuel, cosmetics, medicines, tourism and other purposes.More sustainable use of wild species is critical for people and nature, with billions of people in every corner of the globe relying upon them. The sustainability of wild species in the future is likely to be challenged by climate change, increased demand for such products, and technological advances in methods of hunting, logging and fishing. Addressing these challenges will require "transformative changes".Commenting on the assessment, Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said more sustainable use of animals and plants can provide a strong incentive for conservation and living in harmony with nature."Today one million species are at risk of extinction," she said. "And the unsustainable, illegal and unregulated use of species is a large part of the problem. For example, the illegal wildlife trade is a 23 billion dollar annual business that lines the deep pockets of a few unscrupulous individuals. These people get rich at the expense of nature and ecosystems."The 2019 IPBES global assessment alerted the world that the direct exploitation of species is one of the main reasons that one million species of plants and animals now face extinction. The new report will provide decision-makers with evidence for enhancing the sustainable use of wild species and will feed into negotiations in Montreal later this year on setting global targets to stem the loss of biodiversity.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
U.S. August 23, 2022 / 11:03 AM / CBS News A mysterious illness is infecting dogs in Michigan and some cases appear to be deadly. It is a parvrovirus-like illness, causing vomiting and bloody stools.Parvovirus is highly contagious for dogs and is common in Michigan. A vaccine is available, and the virus is not contagious to other animals or people.Otsego County has seen more than 30 deaths from the illness, Melissa FitzGerald, director of Otsego County Animal Control and shelter told CBS News. Clare County has had at least 10 deaths, and Ostego County has had about 10, but Fitzgerald said there could be more. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said it received a report that a dog in northern Michigan was vomiting and had diarrhea. These are common symptoms of canine parvovirus, but the animal tested negative for the parvovirus at the veterinary clinic. Other animal control agencies in northern Michigan reported seeing dogs with the same symptoms, as well as others typically associated with parvovirus, like lethargy and loss of appetite. The causes of the symptoms had not been determined. The state department is working with partners like the Michigan Association of Animal Control Officers, Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to learn more about the illness, but they are still in the early stage of the investigation. Samples were submitted to the state university lab and those tested positive for canine parvovirus – but there are more results pending, State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said in a statement. "When MDARD first learned of these cases in northern Michigan, we immediately reached out to the veterinarians and animal shelters involved and began our response efforts. Protecting animal and public health is one of the department's key pillars, but it is a team effort. Dog owners need to ensure their pet is up to date on routine vaccinations as it's the first step in keeping your pet healthy."The department is urging pet owners to keep up with routine vaccinations for their dogs, clean up after their pets, keep unvaccinated puppies away from other dogs and keep any dogs exhibiting any signs of illness away from others. Earlier this month, Ostego County Animal Shelter posted about the mysterious illness infecting dogs in the area, saying several dogs developed parvo-like symptoms, but tested negative. "Most of these dogs have passed within 3 days," the animal shelter wrote in its Facebook post. "These dogs are mostly under the age of 2. Some of the dogs were vaccinated.""No one has an answer. The best 'guess' is that this is a strain of parvo," the shelter said at the time, adding that they had not spoken about the illness until then "because we really don't know anything."The animal shelter had been in close contact with veterinarians in surrounding towns to try and figure it out Gaylord, Traverse City, Grayling, Mancelona and Indian River trying to figure this out, and said the infected dogs were not in any one area. Last Friday, the animal shelter posted an update, saying the illness does not affect certain breeds more than others, and the illness was detected in dogs from many counties around northern and central Michigan. The shelter said at the time that, while the perplexing disease has killed a number of dogs in the area, it had not seen any dogs die "that are properly vaccinated." In Clare County, Animal Control Director Rudi Hicks said last week that all dogs with symptoms of the illness had died regardless of their vaccine status, according to the Clare County Cleaver. The shelter said the illness could be a strain of parvovirus, although the cause is not yet known. It also also mentioned that there are "numerous" canine diseases that present symptoms similar to parvovirus, and veterinarians may therefore treat individual cases differently. Nonetheless, the shelter urged people to get their dogs properly vaccinated against the parvovirus. Otsego County Animal Control and the shelter will host a vaccine clinic for parvovirus this week on Wednesday, August 24 at the Otsego County Fire Department.CBS News has reached out to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and is awaiting response. In: Michigan Caitlin O'Kane Caitlin O'Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift. Thanks for reading CBS NEWS. Create your free account or log in for more features. Please enter email address to continue Please enter valid email address to continue
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Image source, COPFS/SCOTTISH SPCAImage caption, Dozens of dogs were rescued from the Keith area in 2019A father and son who were involved in an illegal puppy farm in Moray have been banned from keeping animals for 10 years.Samuel Ronald Hessin, 49, and Samuel Arthur Hessin, 22, admitted charges including animal welfare offences.It came after dozens of dogs were rescued in an operation involving the Scottish SPCA, police and Moray Council in the Keith area in 2019.At Elgin Sheriff Court, both men were also given 300 hours of unpaid work.They will also be under supervision for 18 months.Hessin snr previously admitted running an unlicensed pet shop which put scores of dogs up for sale.He also failed to provide a suitable environment for the dogs and puppies.Hessin jnr admitted misleading commercial practices and causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate care and treatment and obtain veterinary advice.The court heard how witnesses went to the Hessin farmhouse to view a puppy which was advertised on Gumtree.The puppy was described as "filthy".Image source, Scottish SPCAImage caption, Puppies from the property were taken into the care of the Scottish SPCADue to their concerns for the puppy and conditions at the property they left and phoned the Scottish SPCA.A search warrant was applied for, and inspectors from the Scottish SPCA and officers from Moray Council and Police Scotland went to the property on 19 September 2019.Dogs and puppies of various breed types were found in the house, outbuildings and roaming free across the property.'Great result'Many of the dogs and puppies were suffering from diseases, including skin conditions and eye infections, and a number of the adult dogs were kept in small crates.The Scottish SPCA removed dozens of dogs to care for them.Speaking following Thursday's sentencing, Andy Shanks, procurator fiscal for Grampian, Highland and Islands, said: "This was a case of widespread and indiscriminate neglect where dogs and puppies were caused suffering and pain."Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: "Securing a conviction is a great result."But we believe anyone convicted of running a puppy farm should get a life ban on owning animals. Individuals prepared to put profit before welfare to an extent that dogs get seriously ill should not be allowed to keep animals."Related Internet LinksThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Injuries resulting from snakebites are becoming more common, according to a new study. Doctors said in a report that in the last 11 years they have seen and treated 300 victims, including 72 teenagers or children.
Most made a complete recovery but some had to be treated in intensive care, one patient had part of their finger amputated and another man died due to the bite.The man who died was a reptile conservationist and had been bitten by a king cobra - the world's longest venomous snake, the report said.According to eyewitnesses, after he was bitten the man staggered about "as if drunk" and then collapsed. Snake venom is a neurotoxin that can stop a person's breathing and heartbeat.
He died from a cardiac arrest, despite being given 10 vials of antivenom by emergency services. More from UK Tory leadership race live: 'Hasta la vista, baby' - Boris Johnson gives final message to PMQs as Rishi Sunak skips it UK heatwave: Charred remains of homes and cars after fires on UK's hottest ever day - as public is warned 'danger isn't over' UK weather - live updates: Thunderstorm alert for parts of UK today - as bookies are tipping more 'extreme heat' next month According to doctors in the journal Clinical Toxicology, it is possible he had an allergic reaction to the antidote.The patient who lost part of their finger kept a snake as a pet and was bitten by the highly venomous species of Mozambique spitting cobra - considered to be one of the most dangerous African snakes.Their fangs can spray venom up to 3m, with bites being potentially lethal. Image: The only British venomous snake, the adder, has enough venom to kill an adult There are over 250 venomous snake species, mostly native to Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania.But the UK has three native snake species, the adder, grass snake and smooth snake.Only the adder is venomous.While keeping exotic reptiles as pets is not illegal, the RSPCA advises people to research what it entails before buying one.The charity advises people with a pet python not to handle it "after handling prey as the snake may smell foot and try to bite". Image: A patient lost part of their finger after they were bitten by a Mozambique spitting cobra In the study, researchers found 321 snakebites from 68 species between 2009 and 2020, of which 15 resulted in severe symptoms.They say that this is an increase in the previously recorded period, between 2004 and 2010.Professor David Warrell from Oxford University, said: "Most of these bites occur to fingers, hands and wrists following deliberate handling interaction by people who keep snakes as part of their occupation or hobby."
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Published August 24, 2022 9:58AM Updated 5:18PM article Krispy Kreme is releasing limited-edition baked treats for dogs of all ages and sizes to celebrate National Dog Day, Friday Aug. 26. (Photo courtesy of Krispy Kreme) Dog desserts are one of the popular treats for man’s best friend to enjoy, and Krispy Kreme is putting their unique spin on the growing trend to celebrate National Dog Day on Friday, Aug. 26. The donut titan is releasing limited-edition doggie doughnuts featuring six doughnut-shaped biscuits in a creatively-designed six-count box to buy in-store and at the drive-thru at Krispy Kreme locations nationwide. These sweet treats are created for dogs of all ages and sizes and are handmade by Huds and Toke, an Australian-based pet treat company, Krispy Kreme shared in a company release. RELATED: Krispy Kreme churning out ice cream truck flavored doughnuts for the summer The North Carolina-based company explained on its website that doggie donuts are intended to be snacks and are not "formulated to be served as a complete and balanced meal." Image of new Krispy Kreme dog donuts set for release to celebrate National Dog Day on Friday, Aug. 26. (Photo courtesy of Krispy Kreme) And as a bonus treat, some Krispy Kreme stores will sell a limited-edition red bandana with a design featuring dogs, bones, and doughnuts. These items are available while supplies last. "Our dogs have given us so much love and comfort to help us through these last couple of years. They deserve this special treat," Dave Skena, Global Chief Brand Officer for Krispy Kreme, said in a statement. "On National Dog Day this Friday, give your furry friend something pawsome." RELATED: Ben & Jerry’s makes dog ice cream as pet food industry grows Krispy Kreme isn’t the only company to make specialty desserts for dogs. Last year, Ben & Jerry’s launched Doggie Desserts, a specialty line of ice cream. In recent years pet-focused brands like Frosty Paws, Pooch Creamery, and Dogsters have gained popularity for their specialty dog ice creams. Even the restaurant industry has jumped on the bandwagon with dedicated frozen treats dog owners can buy for their beloved pets. Some of the most popular would are Starbucks’ unofficial "Puppuccino" and Shake Shack’s "Pooch-ini." FOX2 Detroit and FOX Business contributed to this story. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A bull bison gored a Colorado man in Yellowstone National Park this week, park officials said.The 34-year-old man from Colorado Springs was walking with his family near Giant Geyser in the Old Faithful area on Monday when a bull bison charged the group, park officials said.A video of the encounter posted on social media appeared to show the man was behind the bison when it charged other members of his party. The man ran up and appeared to be trying to keep himself between the bison and his family when the bison pursued a child who tried to run away. The man grabbed the child and was thrown by the bison while still holding the child. They both got up and ran away. The man's arm was injured, park officials said.The man was taken to Eastern Idaho Medical Center for treatment of his injuries, park officials said. His name was not released.The incident is under investigation.This is the second time this year that a visitor got too close to a bison and the animal responding to the perceived threat by goring the individual, park officials said.On May 30, a woman from Grove City, Ohio, got within 10 feet (3 meters) of a bison before it gored and tossed her, causing a puncture wound and other injuries. Bison are unpredictable, have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal and can run three times faster than humans, park officials said. The park requires people to stay more than 25 yards (23 meters) away from all large animals, including bison and moose, and at least 100 yards (91 meters) away from bears and wolves.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Sixteen koalas have died at a Victorian tree plantation and investigators don’t know why.Victoria’s conservation regulator launched an investigation after the bodies of 13 koalas were found at a plantation on 14 June. The regulator has said it was alerted to the deaths by the plantation’s operator.The bodies of three more koalas have since been found in an unharvested area on the site, with various stages of decomposition ranging from an estimated two weeks to 12 months, it the regulator said on Monday.Necropsy results have so far failed to establish a conclusive cause of death. X-rays conducted on the bodies did not find evidence trauma, including fractures or broken bones. There was also no evidence of gun shots.The regulator is continuing to assess a range of possible causes, but said the absence of trauma, combined with the pathology results, suggested the deaths could stem from “environmental factors”.“We are following all avenues of inquiry in this investigation to determine what happened to these koalas,” the regulatory operations director, Ash Bunce, said in a statement.About 413,000 koalas were estimated to be living across Victoria in 2020. About 80% of them are believed to be found in the regions of Barwon South West, Gippsland and Hume. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Sign up to receive the top stories from Guardian Australia every morningA 2020 Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning report, based on 15 years of collated counts, estimated 15,000 koalas – or 4% of the statewide population – were affected by the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.Koala populations were elevated from vulnerable status to endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the ACT in February, but are not listed as threatened across Victoria and South Australia.Nonetheless, koalas are protected under Victoria’s Wildlife Act. The maximum penalty for deliberately killing a koala in Victoria is a $9,246 fine and/or six months in prison.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
AnimalsLiving with peers may help young elephants thrive, according to new research—a finding that could help elephants orphaned by poaching and drought.When a group of researchers set out to study the well-being of wild juvenile African savanna elephants in central Kenya, they had a theory: Orphaned elephants would be more stressed out than non-orphans. There’s a lot of evidence that the mother-child bond helps buffer against stress in animals, which has been demonstrated previously in rats, finches, and guinea pigs, says study leader Jenna Parker, a postdoctoral research fellow with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Colorado State University. Elephants have sophisticated social structures and deep familial bonds. Because orphaned elephants in the same region die at a higher rate than elephants with living mothers, it seemed like a no-brainer that surviving orphans would be stressed out.The team, however, made an unexpected finding: There really wasn’t a difference in the stress hormone levels of orphaned and non-orphaned elephants, as long as they lived with family members, such as aunts, cousins, or siblings. Elephants—even the orphans—that lived in groups with peers their own age turned out to be under less stress than those that didn’t. In short, elephants may get by with a little help from their friends. “We expected to see higher levels [of stress hormones] in orphaned elephants,” says Parker, “because until age eight or nine, elephants are rarely more than 10 meters from their mother.” With human-wildlife conflict and drought looming threats to elephants in the region, the findings published today in Communications Biology offer new insight into how having a strong peer group may contribute to elephants’ survival. In 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the African savanna elephant as endangered. About 36,000 remain in Kenya, according to a 2021 national census.This information could also help rehabilitation facilities that take in orphaned elephants set the animals up for a successful future in the wild—releasing them in large groups of bonded peers, for example.Measuring stress through elephant dungParker began the study in 2015, when the Samburu National Reserve region had endured several years of increased elephant poaching. At the time, she says, her colleagues at Colorado State University realized that “we weren’t really understanding the full impact of poaching. When an elephant is killed, there are all these consequences for the elephants she or he is bonded to.” They wanted to look at indirect impacts: How does the poaching of a mother affect the social and physiological well-being of an orphan?The team first looked at survival rates, and found that orphaned elephants in Samburu had lower survival rates than non-orphaned elephants. Next, they wanted to look at the survivors: Were the orphans under stress? To find out, they tested the elephants’ dung for concentrations of glucocorticoid metabolites—a substance produced as a response to stress in the body. “It’s a good way to look at stress hormones because it’s not invasive,” says Parker. “You just wait for them to poop and collect it.” Generally, higher levels would be associated with higher stress, but a one-off sample that shows high levels is inconclusive, Parker explains, because the elephants “could have just come across a lion earlier in the day.” Between 2015 and 2016, the team collected and tested 496 dung samples from 37 juvenile female elephants: 25 of which had been orphaned, and 12 that had not. The orphaned elephants were an average age of five years old when they lost their mothers. Although the team was taken aback that orphaned elephants didn’t show higher stress levels than elephants that still lived with their mothers, the fact that peer groups seemed to play such a key role wasn’t a shock. Parker recalls two orphans in the study, Frida and Rothko. “Frida had a floppy left ear and Rothko had a floppy right ear,” and they were inseparable, she says. “It was as though they had at least one good set of ears as long as they were together!”The findings also fit with previous social research in African elephants, Parker says. “Orphans increase interaction with their age mates after their mother’s death.” She notes that dominance is structured by age in elephants: Older elephants may outrank younger elephants when it comes to food, for example, but peers are generally equals.Setting orphaned elephants up for successParker works with orphaned elephants at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, an orphanage in northern Kenya that rehabilitates and releases young elephants. (Learn how trailblazing communities in northern Kenya have come together to save orphaned elephants). Those elephants were in the back of her mind throughout this study, she says, because the findings show that releasing rehabilitated orphans in large groups with other same-aged elephants could set them up for initial success in the wild. Parker would like to see a similar study with a more specific population of elephants, such as those that have faced heavier poaching. Kathleen Gobush, a wildlife biologist with the IUCN’s African Elephant Specialist Group who was not involved in the study, says it would be interesting to follow this same group of elephants as they face an acute stressor, such as a wave of intense drought or a new wave of poaching.“The bottom line here is that elephants need elephants,” says Gobush. “And when the worst happens, like losing a mother, some find new ways to survive and thrive.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Between litter boxes, beds, scratchers, and trees, felines need a lot of stuff. Here’s what the cats of WIRED have tested and loved.Cats are beautiful, interesting, weird creatures. If you're lucky enough to be loved by one, it's your God-given responsibility to give them a comfortable and fun home. We wrote about the supplies you should get if you recently adopted a pet, but once you have that pet situated at home, you'll want to create a healthy, welcoming space for them. Cats require a specific type of environment to play, scratch, and relax.Here are our favorite products based on months of testing with our own cats. Even if our pets rejected a particular product, we still examined overall construction, design, and value to determine whether it may be of use to other kitties. Felines can be finicky, which unfortunately means you may have to go through a few options to find the right fit.We won't hold it against you if you're more of a dog person; we have a guide to supplies and accessories for dogs too.Updated March 2022: We've added the Leo's Loo Too automatic litter box, Basepaws health and DNA test, Eufy's pet camera, and Bissell's Pet Eraser Carpet Cleaner.Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIREDPhotograph: Martin Poole/Getty ImagesBasic Cat RulesDos and Don'tsDon't listen to the cat haters: Cats do form a connection to their human owners. And while they may be more low-maintenance than dogs, they still require thoughtful care. Here are some basic dos and don'ts when it comes to owning a cat.DO: Separate food and water. Use multiple litter boxes for multiple cats. Give them ways to hunt their food. Ensure they get exercise. Give them places to hide and feel safe. Regularly trim their nails. Give them love and affection!DON'T: Leave them unattended around these toxic plants. Accidentally harm them with common essential oils like eucalyptus. Feed them a vegan diet, milk (yes, really), or these other toxic foods. Declaw them.Photograph: Tuft and PawFind a Litter Box They LikeLitter BoxA litter box is essential. What kind you get depends on your cat—not every cat likes enclosed boxes, and others need high sides to shield your walls from urine (sometimes they aim high!). Experts say you should have one box per cat. If you live in a multilevel home, we suggest a box on each floor.This plant-disguised box nicely blends into small spaces, though the price has risen since we first bought it. Rubbermaid storage bins (without the lid) work well, and they're cheap and sturdy. I also love the simple design of the Tuft and Paw Cove Box with its detachable sides and a place to hold its scoop and small dustpan. It's pricey, but it's a nice upgrade to a basic box. (All Tuft and Paw products are aesthetically pleasing.) You'll find cheap, standard litter boxes everywhere they sell pet items.You should also get a mat for underneath the box to minimize the litter tracked through your house. These mats with deep corrugations trap a ton of litter. Just vacuum and shake it out regularly.Want to try an automatic litter box? We have thoughts below.Photograph: Smarty PearA Self-Cleaning Box That Monitors WeightLeo's Loo Too Automatic Litter BoxI (Medea) was unsure about robotic litter boxes—they're big and expensive, and experts warn that not cleaning out a box every day could mean missing potential signs of sickness. But then I tried the Leo's Loo Too. A connected app keeps track of your cat's bathroom habits, alerting you when they use the box and what their weight is, so you'll know something is off if their bathroom trips suddenly change. It also has a modern look to it that doesn't seem out of place, and it's loaded with sensors and safety features so it won't spin if it detects a cat (or you) near it. My cat Eely tries to stick her head in to watch it spin, and it stops instantly. The entire thing is still big (and expensive), but the internal drum where they actually go is a bit cramped, so bigger cats might not like it. Photograph: Kitty Poo ClubOr Try a Monthly Litter Box Delivery Kitty Poo Club Can't decide on a box? Kitty Poo Club delivers cute themed disposable boxes to your door every month. Out of the package, it looks to be just a few inches tall, but when you remove the lid the box unfolds as a full-size litter box. Place the lid underneath and add the stabilizing strips, which keep the sides sturdy. The cardboard has a thin plastic coating inside, so it shouldn't leak, as long as you're actually replacing them. The box is made from 100 percent recycled materials and can be recycled again each month.If you add the removable dome to your order, you can see whether your cat will use a semi-enclosed box. You can also just get the box for $13 per month or include litter for $26 or $27 depending on the type.Photograph: AmazonKeep Litter Odor UndercoverLitter GenieFor years, I didn't understand the allure of the Litter Genie. Then I moved into an apartment complex where taking out the garbage meant a trip across the parking lot, and I started making excuses to not clean out the box—it was raining or dark, or I had my hair up in a towel and didn’t want to go outside. Finally, I bought one.As with a Diaper Genie, you scoop clumps into the top compartment and open a hatch that drops it to a bottom compartment, where it holds in the odors for up to two weeks. You can clean every day without daily trips to the trash and without wasting a ton of plastic bags. When you’re ready to empty it, there’s a handy attachment that safely cuts the bag to tie it off and start a new one. You'll have to commit to buying refills, though. There's also an XL version if you have multiple cats.Photograph: Wayfair… Or Out of Sight EntirelyArchie & Oscar Frieda Litter Box EnclosureLitter box placement is hard. You need a low-foot-traffic area, away from your cat's food and water, and preferably a space where a stray odor won't ruin the mood. Most people don't want to relinquish closet space or a bedroom to a litter box. I (Louryn) tested and loved this litter box enclosure. It conceals my cat's litter boxes from both eyes and noses, and it gives my kitties privacy. The neutral colors work well in most rooms, and you can also paint it. My cats took to it right away and seem to be as relieved as I am that we can't see one another while they do their business.The enclosure looks like a small credenza or freestanding cupboard. I don't think you could guess it housed litter if you didn't know. I sprinkle this deodorizer on the litter, but the enclosure does a good job at trapping odors on its own. This is my favorite piece of cat gear I've ever tried, and it's often on sale.Photograph: Cat PersonGet Better BowlsGlass and Stainless Steel Food and Water BowlsWhen it comes to materials, most vets and cat experts will tell you to use stainless steel or glass bowls for your pet's food and water. Plastic can get dingy and dirty fast, and it holds onto bacteria. This can result in what's called cat acne.The Cat Person Mesa Bowl gives a modern take to perfect-posture eating. It's made of polycarbonate, and every part is dishwasher safe (and Cat Person packaging turns into cardboard cat houses). Most stainless steel bowls are simple and inexpensive. Elevated feeders are a good option too, as they can help your cat's neck. There are nice elevated glass bowls for their wet food dinners too.★ Alternative: WIRED editor Adrienne So likes the (expensive!) Yeti Boomer 8 Dog Bowl for her pooch. It's great if you have an animal that likes tipping bowls over. The 4-cup version would work for cats.Photograph: ChewyLet Them ScratchScratching PostsCats need to scratch, and if you want to prevent them from ripping up furniture, you must provide them with ample scratching posts. Declawing is not the answer—it's like removing your fingers at the last knuckles and can lead to a ton of problems.There's a wide spectrum, from a simple slat for a few bucks or this Boots and Barkley tunnel. My cats really like the Wave Scratcher from the same brand, made of sisal and carpet. PetFusion lounges are a favorite too, despite being a little costly. They're sturdy (I've stood on them to test) and look nice, as far as cat furniture goes. Once the top has been thoroughly destroyed, turn it over for a brand new surface. Louryn's cats enjoy these affordable, adorable cat scratchers from Target—you can get one for every season, holiday, or theme.Don't forget to trim their nails: You should also regularly trim your cat's nails. (It's easier than it sounds, but it might be a two-person job.) Ask your vet to show you where to trim to so you don't cut their quick (the part of the nail that holds the nerves and blood vessels). There are also helpful guides online.Photograph: CatitGive Them a Place to ClimbCat TreesCats like to jump and climb whatever they can, so a nice cat tree should help keep them occupied and off your mantle or breakable glassware. Cat trees are made from materials that can be scratched up, and some include separate scratching posts. If you aren't worried about aesthetics, you'll find plenty of good cat trees at pet stores, as well as places like Home Goods or the like.Catit's Vesper line has a nice modern feel that's hard to find in moderately priced cat furniture. The Small Vesper Box doesn't take up too much space, but it's the perfect height to get my cats right at window level. They can nap in the covered bottom level, scratch and play on the second level, and sit on the soft fluffy pillow on top for bird watching. It was really easy to put together, and the cloth pillows and pads are machine washable.The Vesper High Base is a taller option, great for multi-cat homes or for pets that don't necessarily like to lounge together. The Vesper line includes many other sizes and colors.Photograph: WhiskerAnd a Stylish Place to RestMore Modern Cat FurnitureWhen you live in a small apartment, everything you decorate with matters because it's all on display—nothing really gets hidden when you only have one to three rooms. So some of us want our cat's furniture to match too.Whisker's Cat Silo (this is the brand that makes the Litter-Robot) looks nice enough to be an end table, but it has sisal mats for them to stick their claws into and a thick pad so they can relax inside. The gold legs are a nice touch too.Tuft and Paw's Happy Camper Cat Bed is extremely cute, and I get happy every time I see my cat peacefully asleep on its furry interior bed. You can put it together with the felt on the outside or inside, whatever your decor and cats prefer. This brand is more expensive, but everything we've seen so far is nicely crafted.Photograph: CatitTry a Water FountainCatit Water FountainCats don't feel the need to drink water the way humans do. So if they're unhappy with their water situation, it could lead to dehydration and other serious issues like bladder stones and urethral blockages—some cats don't like their water right next to their food, which is why it's recommended to keep them separate. Male cats are especially prone to these issues. Feeding them wet food helps with their water intake, but we wanted a more enticing way for our cats to drink water. Some cats prefer drinking from fountains (or, as many cat owners have experienced, from the bathroom faucet).If you get a fountain, you'll need to have an outlet nearby, and you'll need to change the filter about every month, but it's worth it if your cat uses it. We tried Catit's plastic flower fountain and its stainless-steel-topped fountain. While stainless steel bowls are preferred, the plastic should be OK as long as you keep it clean. See below for a smart option.Photograph: CatitOr a Smart Fountain and FeederCatit Pixi Smart Fountain and FeederCatit’s Pixi series offers a smart fountain and feeder controlled via the Pixi app (available on iOS and Android). The fountain's pump has a small LED that shines through the clear cat nose on the front. The light turns red when the water is low and blue if UV-C sterilization is on, and it blinks blue when the filter needs to be changed. The app will also alert you.You can use the app to either pour food remotely or on a daily schedule. You can also press the cat nose to pour, or disable it if your pets figure it out. The app will tell you when the reservoir is ready for a refill. Plus, it includes a spot for backup batteries in case the power goes out while you're away.You need to be close to your router when setting these up—it says 1 meter away, but I had to get closer than any other app-connected product I’ve used. Once you’re set up, you can move it to a different part of your house.Photograph: AmazonKeep an Eye on ThemPetcube Play 2 CameraThe ability to sneak a peek at your cat when you're out offers nervous pet owners (most of us) some peace of mind. We have a whole pet camera guide, but Petcube's Play 2 Camera is designed specifically for cats, with an app-controlled laser. The wide-angle camera records in 1080p and has two-way audio. It's also compatible with Alexa, so you could ask Amazon's voice assistant to play with your pet if you're busy.★ Another pet camera we like: We've been using Eufy's new Dog Camera, and despite the name, it works just as well for cats. It doesn't have a laser, but it does launch treats, and it can pan around the room.★ Standard cameras: A simple security camera will work just as well, too, and they're usually cheaper. Wyze's Cam Pan V2 and Nooie's Cam 360 are easy to use, and the panning feature allows you to follow your cats throughout the room. Wyze also has a cheap cube camera. We haven't tried this newest version, but we liked the V2 model.Photograph: Enabot Give Them a Robot BestieEbo ProI (Medea) tried two robot cat pals, the Ebo Pro and Rocki. My cat Huxley loved them both, while Eely-Rue couldn't be bothered with either. The Ebo Pro was expensive but took the win. If I even bump Ebo and it makes a noise, Huxley will come running from wherever he is in the house.Both are equipped with cameras and microphones and are designed to be controlled by you from home or away. That way you can play with your cats if you can't be home cuddling. The Rocki is larger and has a treat dispenser, but it can't run on its own and had a bit more glitches to its app. Enabot recently debuted newer models, but we haven't tried them.Photograph: BasepawsGet Their DNA and Health InfoBasepaws Breed + Health Cat DNA TestBasepaws is thorough. After swabbing our cats' cheeks and sending the samples back in the included envelope, we received PDFs of nearly 70 pages detailing their breed percentages—as well as several pages about all the cat breeds, and how our babies stacked up against around 115 feline health markers.The test tells you if your cat is clear, a carrier, at risk, or at high risk of numerous metabolic, cardiovascular, eye, blood, endocrine, renal, autoimmune, skin, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue disorders, as well as blood type, transfusion risk, and other traits. Then there's also all the dental info—I found out my cat Eely was at risk of periodontal disease and the vet confirmed her gums were inflamed, so we scheduled a cleaning.Any cat can develop a sickness or dental problems, but having a baseline can alleviate anxieties and also empower you to work with your vet to make the best life choices for your cat. Photograph: AmazonKeep Calm and Kitty OnScientia Pet Bserene Pheromone + Catnip Calming SolutionCat anxiety can manifest as fighting, obsessive grooming, overeating, or our least favorite: peeing in places they shouldn't. When cats are happy and calm, they rub their cheeks on things, depositing pheromones that mark something as safe and familiar. Pheromone sprays imitate those cheeky chemicals, convincing your cat that an area or situation is A-OK.I (Louryn) have tried other pheromone diffusers and sprays; sometimes they work, but they often reek. I don't recommend Feliway nor Scientia Pet's smelly diffuser, but this spray smells better and works faster than others that I've tried. It's infused with catnip, making it smell more herbal and vegetal than the artificial hairspray vibes I got from similar products. You spritz the problem area, like a pet carrier before a vet visit, and wait 15 minutes before reintroducing your animals to that location. I could tell it was working almost immediately. Instead of terrorizing both one another and myself, my cats sniffed around and took a nap. Calmer days are possible!Photograph: Medea GiordanoA Perch for Window GazingK&H Kitty Sill Cat Window PerchThese window seats are a great way for cats to bask in the sun and keep a watchful eye on the neighborhood while safely indoors. They're easy to install too, with sticky strips that attach to your window sill and can hold up to 40 pounds. You can also nail the base into the window frame, and there are even heated seats for super-spoiled kitties. The covers are removable and can be machine washed.You'll need a window sill at least 2 inches deep to properly support it. If you don't have that, see the next blurb on suction-cup seats.Photograph: AmazonA Suction-Cup Seat Kitty Cot Cat Perch With Suction CupsI (Medea) was scared to try perches that attach with suction cups, out of fear they may just suddenly fall, but after some searching, I found the Kitty Cot perches. They stick extremely well—Huxley's 13-pound belly didn't budge it.The seat part is made of tough nylon that should outlast even the sharpest claws. Kitty Cots come in a few sizes, as well as a deluxe version that can be maneuvered to sit flush against the window. That way, you can close your blinds without removing the bed. The company also sells mats for the perches, but your cat may prefer a blanket or bed that they already like on top.Photograph: MeowboxConsider a Subscription Box for ToysMeowboxCats need toys to keep them stimulated and entertained. Unfortunately, there isn't one toy that every cat will love. Some will play with any toy you bring home, others will prefer strings that fall off your clothes and the box that the expensive toy came in. You can go to a pet store and pick up a bunch of things to see what they like—most will probably find some enjoyment out of ball they can push around or crinkly catnip toys—or you can try a subscription box. I've used a few, and Meowbox is my favorite.You can choose to get deliveries every one or two months, and they'll include incredibly cute toys following an equally cute theme, plus treats. Getting a few different toys will show you which your cat prefers, and then you can continue getting boxes or cancel without hassle once you're sufficiently stocked up.Plus, for every box sold, the company gives food to a shelter. You can see exactly where on its website.Photograph: AmazonExtra Window ProtectionExtra Window ScreensBecause my cats like to be up at the window sleeping or chirping at birds, I always use extra screens as a reinforcement. If they roll over and lean all their weight against the open window, or jump at a squirrel, they won't push the screen out of its track and go flying out the window. Check your local Home Depot or Lowe's, as they tend to be quite cheap there.Photograph: AmazonKeep Your Carpets CleanBissell Pet Stain Eraser PowerBrushCats puke and cough up hairballs, usually on whatever carpeted surface they can find. They'll also occasionally get a little piece of poop stuck to their fluffy butt hair and drag it across the room in a desperate attempt to flee its grips (or maybe that's just my cat). The Bissell Pet Stain Erase PowerBrush has been a lifesaver for me and my carpeted bedroom.I used to use a Hoover cleaner, but this specific Bissell is so much easier to use and clean when you're done. It's small and light but powerful, cleaning even day-old stains, and there are no long hoses or tiny little parts for debris to get stuck in—any part that's going to get grimy from what you're cleaning can be rinsed out easily. It's portable too, so as long as it's charged you can walk around cleaning every surface imaginable without being tethered to an outlet. I don't audibly groan when I spot a pile of puke anymore, and that's a big deal. We also like Bissell's Little Green Cleaner.Photograph: AmazonAnd Your Hardwood FloorsEcovacs Deebot Ozmo T5Despite my best efforts, my kitties track litter everywhere their toe beans travel. Like magic, they also dust up fluffy fur tumbleweeds that drift across my hardwood floors. I have to sweep or vacuum at least once a day. This robot vacuum/mop combo has been a time saver. It's easy to use, and when the dust bin gets full, it's easy to empty and clean as well. I lovingly named it Bonk, and my cats have accepted it as their new sibling. Bonk is smart enough to use more suction over the litter mat, use his weird little arms to get into every corner, and alert me in an almost uncanny human voice when his brush is tangled. The companion app is pretty user-friendly and allows me to schedule cleanings or check on Bonk's whereabouts with just a tap or two.The T5 is expensive, and it isn't on our list of the best robovacs (though we like a few products from Ecovacs). However, what makes it cool aren't really its individual features. Any good robot vacuum will offer users a similar sense of satisfaction. Having a helper corral random whiskers, litter dust, and fluffs has made a big difference in my daily to-do list.Photograph: RoverlundHit the RoadRoverlund Pet Carrier[INT: LOURYN'S LIVING ROOM, PRE-ROVERLUND CARRIER]LOURYN: Come on, kitty. You sit in every other container. Why won't you get in this one?HER CAT, PROBABLY: Your motives are suspicious. You want me to do the thing, therefore I cannot possibly do the thing.LOURYN: It's got your blanket! And treats! And pheromone spray! And toys! And my love!HER CAT, PROBABLY: I hate blankets. I hate treats. I hate your love. Please understand that this is a personal attack. Call the vet and inform them we will be running 12 to 24 years late.[END SCENE]Roverlund's carrier is the only one I've used that my cats will (sort of) tolerate. I feel better not cramming them against hard plastic or squinting through tiny holes in order to see them. They feel better with all-encompassing ventilation and a fully unzipping top instead of a claustrophobic cage opening. It's a win-win situation that has drastically shortened the standoffs between me, my cats, and a looming vet appointment. (We also recommend this carrier in our dog gear buying guide; it's a WIRED Gear team fave.)Photograph: ChewyYou May Want to Try ChewyChewyChewy is a big retailer now, but we're still fans. The company offers nearly any pet brand you're used to, with easy-to-manage auto-ship orders (usually at a slight discount), so you don't have to worry about running out of food and litter. Plus, it's nice to have that heavy stuff delivered right to your door.Shipping is fast, and the customer service is good, in our experience. They answer questions quickly and efficiently and will replace any damaged items, no questions asked. I (Medea) received a busted litter package once, and Chewy sent a new box the next day. Every order since then has been more sufficiently packaged to avoid spills. Plus, if you include information on your pets in your account you'll get birthday cards and potentially even hand-painted portraits. Chewy has also rolled out a televet service.Photograph: Sabina Torres/Getty ImagesMore Cat Supplies We LikeMore Cat ProductsSteps for $35: These cardboard steps were easy to put together and are surprisingly sturdy. It took a few weeks of enticing my older cat with treats, but he now uses them every day to get on the bed. Plus, there's a little opening on the sides so they can play underneath.Air Purifier for $152: An air purifier can help if you're dealing with a stuffed-up nose from cat dander and fur, especially if you have carpets. I've been testing the Coway Airmega 150 and it's helped tame my allergies tremendously, (Yes I, Medea, am allergic to cats.) We have a full guide, too, with many more options.Chom Chom Hair Remover for $27: My cats are arguably too fluffy. This tool makes it easy to de-fur my sofa, ottoman, shoes, and any other surface that gets covered in their hair. I use it every single day. It doesn't fill up too quickly, and emptying it out takes all of three seconds. It works efficiently and doesn't take too many passes to de-fur my entire couch.Litter Attractant for $13: If your kitties are having litterbox issues, sprinkle a bit of this after cleaning out the cat box. It'll help them do their business in the designated spot. It's also helpful for after a move.Pet Neat Grooming Brush for $16: I purchased this hoping it would be a more affordable dupe for the pricier Furminator ($31), and it has worked wonders. It helps remove your pets' undercoat so they don't shed as much. It has also prevented matting, a problem my cats usually experience on their rumps and armpits. Since I started using it regularly, I've only had to cut one mat out.Catnip Spray for $8: Most cats love catnip, and mine have responded well to Pet Craft Supply Co's ($10) and Yeowww ($7), but I really like this spray for days when I don't want to get flakes all over.Other Cat Person toys: In addition to the Mesa Bowl we mention earlier, Cat Person makes other good products, like this cute catnip toy ($7). My cats loved the wet food ($7), and even though they're not wholly necessary, I'm a fan of these tiny spoons for scooping out gravy ($12). Bonus: The packaging turns into cardboard cat houses.Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times.... Read moreLouryn Strampe is a product writer and reviewer at WIRED covering a little bit of everything. She especially loves discounts, video games … and discounted video games. She previously wrote for Future PLC and Rakuten. She currently resides in northern Illinois with two fluffy cats.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near the pond and slipped in.An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina on Monday, officials said.It appears the victim, Nancy Becker, was gardening near a pond in Sun City Hilton Head, an adult-only community, and slipped in, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Department of Natural Resources.Responders found the gator "guarding" Becker, officials said.The gator, a 9-foot, 8-inch male, has been euthanized, officials said.Becker's autopsy will be conducted Tuesday, officials said.An 88-year-old woman was killed in an apparent alligator attack in South Carolina Aug. 15, 2022.WJCLThis marks the fifth alligator death in South Carolina since 2000, according to the Department of Natural Resources and the sheriff's office.Alligators are active during spring and summer because when temperatures rise, their metabolism increases and they look for food, Melody Kilborn, a spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, told ABC News last month.Kilborn urged people to follow these safety tips: alligators are most active at night, so only swim in designated swimming areas during daylight hours; never feed an alligator; and keep your pets on a leash and away from the water's edge.ABC News' Darren Reynolds contributed to this report.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — You’re in the mood for fish and your server suggests a dish of invasive carp. Ugh, you might say. But how about broiled copi, fresh from the Mississippi River?Here’s the catch: They’re the same thing.Illinois and partner organizations kicked off a market-tested campaign Wednesday to rechristen as “copi” four species previously known collectively as Asian carp, hoping the new label will make them more attractive to U.S. consumers.Turning carp into a popular household and restaurant menu item is one way officials hope to rein in a decades-old invasion threatening native fish, mussels and aquatic plants in the Mississippi and other Midwestern rivers, as well as the Great Lakes.“The ‘carp’ name is so harsh that people won’t even try it,” said Kevin Irons, assistant fisheries chief with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “But it’s healthy, clean and it really tastes pretty darn good.”The federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is funding the five-year, $600,000 project to rebrand the carp and make them widely available. More than two dozen distributors, processors, restaurants and retailers have signed on. Most are in Illinois, but some deliver to multiple states or nationwide.“This could be a tremendous breakthrough,” said John Goss, who led the Obama administration’s effort to halt the carp invasion and worked on the renaming project. “The next couple of years are very critical for building confidence and acceptance.”Span, a Chicago communications design company, came up with “copi.” It’s an abbreviated wordplay on “copious” — a reference to the booming populations of bighead, silver, grass and black carp in the U.S. heartland.Imported from Asia in the 1960s-70s to gobble algae from Deep South sewage lagoons and fish farms, they escaped into the Mississippi River. They’ve infested most of the river and many tributaries, crowding out native species like bass and crappie.Regulators have spent more than $600 million to keep them from the Great Lakes and waters such as Lake Barkley on the Kentucky-Tennessee line. Strategies include placing electric barriers at choke points and hiring crews to harvest the fish for products such as fertilizer and pet food. Other technologies — underwater noisemakers, air bubble curtains — are in the works.It would help if more people ate the critters. Officials estimate up to 50 million pounds (22.7 million kilograms) could be netted annually in the Illinois River, a link between the Mississippi and Lake Michigan. Even more are available between the Midwest and the Gulf Coast.“Government subsidies alone will not end this war,” Goss said. “Private-sector, market-driven demand for copi could be our best hope.”In the U.S., carp are known primarily as muddy-tasting bottom feeders. But the four targeted species live higher in the water column, feeding on algae, wetland plants and — in the case of black carp — mussels and snails. They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids and low in mercury and other contaminants, Irons said.“It has a nice, mild flavor ... a pleasant surprise that should help fix its reputation,” said Brian Jupiter, a Chicago chef who plans to offer a copi po’boy sandwich at his Ina Mae Tavern. The fish is adaptable to a variety of cuisines including Cajun, Asian and Latin, he said.Yet it could be a hard sell, particularly because the fish’s notorious boniness makes it challenging to produce the fillets many diners expect, Jupiter added. Some of the best recipes may use chopped or ground copi, he said.Span researchers considered a number of names — “butterfin” among them — before settling on “copi,” Irons said. It sounded catchy, a tad exotic, even fun, he said.Span conducted surveys, interviews and focus group meetings involving more than 350 Illinois residents, design principal Nick Adam said.The next step: Seeking approval from the federal Food and Drug Administration, which says “coined or fanciful” fish labels can be used if they’re not misleading or confusing. A familiar example is “slimehead,” which became a hit with consumers after its market moniker was switched to “orange roughy.”Illinois also plans to register the “copi” trademark, enabling industry groups to develop quality control procedures, Irons said.Other regulatory agencies and scientific groups have their own policies and might not go along with the switch.The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and the American Fisheries Society have a committee that lists fish titles, including scientific names in Latin and long-accepted common names. The panel never adopted “Asian carp” as an umbrella term for the four invasive species.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to stick with “invasive carp” and the four individual names, as its focus is on managing and controlling their spread, said Charlie Wooley, the agency’s Midwest director. The Invasive Carp Regional Coordinating Committee, which involves numerous federal, state, local and Canadian provincial agencies, will do likewise.They dropped “Asian carp” last year because of concern about anti-Asian bigotry.———Follow John Flesher on Twitter @JohnFlesher
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
By Jasmine AnderssonBBC NewsImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Dogs cried the most tears when they were reunited with their owners, the study foundDogs can cry tears of joy when they are reunited with their owners, a small study has found.Canines may be genuinely thrilled when they see their human companions after a long period of absence, Japanese researchers have said. The tears are believed to deepen the bond between dogs and their owners.The study, based on the behaviour of 22 dogs, looked at the reactions of dogs who were reunited with their owners and with other people they knew.To test their theory, academics at Azabu University and Jichi Medical University placed strips of paper under the eyes of the dogs during normal interaction with their owners and a minute before they were reunited with them after five-seven hours of separation.They discovered when the dogs saw their owners, it was the only time they shed tears. There was not the same level of increased tear production when the dogs were reunited with the people they were familiar with, but were not their owners.To see whether the tears were linked to their emotions, the researchers applied a solution containing oxytocin, a key hormone involved in bonding, to the dogs. After they used the hormone, they found the dogs' tears significantly increased. While dogs are known to cry to keep their tear ducts clean, it has not been linked to their emotional response before."We had never heard of the discovery that animals shed tears in joyful situations, such as reuniting with their owners," said Takefumi Kikusui, one of authors of the study in the journal Current Biology. While owners might be more familiar with tail-wagging or face-licking from their ecstatic pets, a dog's tears can also affect their human companion.A dog's gaze stimulates secretion of oxytocin, making owners more nurturing or protective of their pet. The scientists also found owners felt more desire to care for their animals when they saw them with teary eyes."Their tears might play a role in the deepening of mutual relationships and further leading to interspecies bonding," the researchers wrote. Share pictures and video of your emotional pets by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.You can also get in touch in the following ways:
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A Florida woman was surprised by an uninvited guest in her bathroom on Saturday night: an iguana in her toilet.Michelle Reynolds told WSVN that when she went to the bathroom, she “did a quick turnaround because I saw this thing in there and quickly shut the door!”The reptile was unable to find its own way out of the toilet so Reynolds had to enlist Harold Rondon of Iguana Lifestyles, a wildlife removal service.Rondon said he had removed several iguanas from south Florida properties this year.The specimen in Reynolds’ toilet, he said, was a Mexican spiny tail iguana. Males can get up to 18in, with tails that can also get up to 18in, Rondon said.The iguana “took up most of the toilet bowl”, Reynolds added.It is believed iguanas were brought to south Florida as pets in the 1960s, and some escaped or were released. While iguanas are not dangerous to people, some can transmit salmonella.In 2018, the Tampa Bay Times described how the “voracious little Godzillas … tend to be good swimmers, able to hold their breath for an extended time period”.George Cera, an iguana trapper from Boca Grande, told the paper the reptiles can leave trees and “come down from the vent pipe in the roof. Even if your vent pipe is closed, that doesn’t mean your neighbors’ is.”Iguanas can swim through plumbing systems, Cera said. Once that happens, “the next place to pop out is your 3in toilet pipe.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Image source, Dogs TrustImage caption, Dogs Trust said adoption numbers had dropped because people could not afford to take on a new petDogs are facing a "looming housing crisis" due to the rising cost of living, an animal charity has said.Dogs Trust said it had been forced to issue an urgent appeal for people to become temporary pet foster carers.It said more than a third of surveyed dog owners in Yorkshire and the Humber felt it was currently harder to give their dog all that they need.The charity said inquiries to give up a dog were at the highest level since its records started.Image source, Dogs TrustImage caption, More foster carers like Christine Drysdale from Leeds are urgently needed, the charity saidThe Dogs Trust, which has a centre in Leeds, West Yorkshire, said the "sky-high cost of essentials" meant many dog owners were unable to properly provide for their pets. It said adoption numbers were also dropping because people could not afford to take on a new dog.Its August survey, which was returned by 1,200 dog owners, also suggested more than half of the respondents in the Yorkshire and the Humber region considered vet bills to be their biggest financial canine concern in the coming months. Image source, GoogleImage caption, The charity, which has a centre in Leeds, said enquiries to give up a dog were at the highest level since its records startedDogs Trust chief executive Owen Sharp said the UK was rapidly heading towards having "a surplus of dogs whose owners need to give them up, but a deficit of people who can afford to take on a new dog".He said: "We're issuing an urgent call for emergency foster carers, especially people with experience of caring for big dogs, who can provide a port in a storm to a dog who - for the moment - has nowhere else to go."Likewise, if you're struggling to afford looking after your own dog, Dogs Trust will do all it can to help."Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk.Related Internet LinksThe BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
In the last major US monkeypox outbreak 19 years ago, a shipment of pet prairie dogs caught the virus while caged in close quarters with infected rodents. The disease ultimately spread to dozens of people who bought the playful and cuddly prairie dogs to keep as pets.At the time, Lisa A. Murphy, a veterinarian, was attending a class in foreign animal diseases in Wisconsin, the same state where the first positive case was reported in 2003.Out of nowhere, the room filled with a flurry of ringtones and vibrations as experts from top agencies like the USDA got notifications of the outbreak.“The instructors’ cellphones started blowing up, and they started getting pulled out of the room,” said Murphy, who is now the associate director of the Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.Although veterinarians only treat animals, things can get a little bit blurry when it comes to diseases that can pass between species. Shortly after attending the training, Murphy received a call from someone with a sick pet prairie dog. She immediately warned them that their health might also be at risk.“As veterinarians, we are trained to recognize zoonotic disease. And even though we are not human medical doctors, that training becomes a very important part of our job if there is a public health risk to human health,” she said.In the 2003 US monkeypox outbreak, there were 47 cases in six Midwestern states over a period of about three months. By comparison, in approximately the same amount of time in this year’s outbreak, there have been 7,102 confirmed monkeypox cases in every state except Montana and Wyoming and 28,220 cases in 88 countries worldwide. Something has changed.“What we’re seeing this year is very different from 2003, which was all animal-to-human transmission. The spread in this current outbreak seems to be purely human to human,” said Murphy. “That doesn’t mean human-to-animal or animal-to-human transmission hasn’t happened or couldn’t happen, but the whole flavor of this outbreak is just completely different.”Public health officials are working hard to test and vaccinate people to limit the spread of the virus in the US and around the world. As part of the process, they are looking for the monkeypox virus in wastewater — essentially flushed toilet water that can contain virus shed in urine or fecal material. Experts do the same thing with coronavirus and other viruses, since it’s a good way to gauge how many people are really infected with a germ.However, some questions remain: If the virus is in wastewater, can monkeypox spread to rats or other urban rodents known to consume waste? And if so, could the virus become permanently established in the US with rats or mice acting as a reservoir?We spoke with experts to determine whether viral DNA found in sewage actually poses a risk for the spread of monkeypox, and what — if anything — people with the virus should be doing to limit the spread when they flush.Monkeypox is considered endemic in at least six countriesIn some countries, all of them in Africa, monkeypox spreads freely among one or more local wild animal species, called animal reservoirs. If humans come into contact with those animals, the virus can sometimes infect people. In the midst of a current worldwide outbreak, there are concerns that animals could play a role in making this disease globally endemic as well, becoming permanent fixtures in countries where it hasn’t existed in the past.The virus was discovered over half a century ago, in 1958, so much is already known about how it behaves. Even so, there are still a lot of unanswered questions, especially when it comes to the version that is currently spreading: Why are we seeing higher levels of human-to-human transmission than ever before? Which animals can and can’t get it, especially our pets, and can animals spread it back to us?We know that many animal species are potentially susceptible to monkeypox. Less is known about whether they can get it from humans or vice versa.Monkeypox can affect a particularly wide range of animal species. The CDC has warned of previous infections in monkeys, anteaters, hedgehogs, squirrels, shrews, and, of course, prairie dogs. For other common species, including many kept as pets — dogs, cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, and rabbits — their potential for contracting monkeypox is not yet known. However, all of these animals have previously been observed with other diseases in the orthopoxvirus family.Not every animal that can get a zoonotic virus can necessarily contract it from every possible host. There is still much unknown about which animals can get monkeypox from humans and which, if any, animals can give the virus back to us.“There’s a sort of an implication out there that disease is just freely moving between animals and people, but that’s not necessarily the case,” said Murphy. “Even with the 2003 monkeypox example, it seemed to go rodent–rodent–people. It didn’t then go from people to rodents or any other animal.”Experts are studying whether monkeypox has undergone genetic modifications that might make it more infectious or likely to spread in humans. However, the strain affecting people around the world is “pretty much the same virus” as the one that caused the 2017–18 surge of the virus in Nigeria, said Heather Koehler, an assistant professor at Washington State University’s School of Molecular Biosciences who studies virus-host interactions in monkeypox. That outbreak also included human-to-human transmission and resulted in at least 122 confirmed or probable cases of the disease.“I am not sure if we ever invested the resources to actually understand the transmission that happened there,” she said. “We know there's an animal reservoir that is probably being driven closer to human populations, so there's more spillover events. But, at some level, there has to be a critical threshold to where you're getting enough people infected where you could be spreading it human to human. And maybe we just haven't seen that until now.”SARS-CoV-2 is the most contemporary example of the temperamental nature of zoonotic transmission. There are many instances in which humans passed the coronavirus to other species. The first was a dog in Hong Kong. Then, there were countless stories of animals at zoos and sanctuaries all over the world affected by the virus, including two tigers belonging to Carole Baskin of Tiger King fame. Reports of wild deer with antibodies include concerns that the species could be reservoirs for the next great COVID infection. But so far, very few humans have contracted the disease from animals — only some with direct connections to mink farms.“Some diseases just go one way to a sort of dead end. For COVID to go from just passing from deer to deer, something will have to happen that the virus changes. That’s the concern,” Murphy said. “Over time, as that virus is hanging out in deer, what is it picking up along the way that makes it possible to then jump back out and infect humans or other species?”Monkeypox is in wastewater, but please don’t pour bleach down your toilet.The Sewer Coronavirus Alert Network (SCAN), which tests wastewater solids for the presence of virus in areas near San Francisco and Sacramento, announced recently the detection of monkeypox in samples from the Bay Area. The idea of testing wastewater for the presence of viruses originated in the 1940s with polio. That disease, once a childhood scourge, paralyzed over 15,000 Americans each year in the 1950s before a vaccine was available. It was eradicated in the US in 1979, although there are occasional cases in travelers infected in other countries. However, poliovirus was recently detected in wastewater in New York, which may have come from an unvaccinated man who developed paralysis in July and was the first polio case detected in the US since 2013.SCAN was launched in 2020 to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2, but it has since expanded its effort to include tests for the presence of other infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the flu.“This tool has existed for a long time, but it really experienced a renaissance with new investments in this as a public health tool during COVID,” said Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health at Emory University and coleader of SCAN.News of monkeypox in wastewater has led some to spin hypothetical scenarios. In theory, if the wastewater infects rodents, and if rodents could then become forever reservoirs of the virus, the rodents spread the virus back to humans through their droppings, it would be...bad.But experts say that’s a lot of ifs.“I know that there will be much more research that will come out on how monkeypox can be spread on surfaces and things that people are much more likely to come in contact with than wastewater,” Wolfe said.Some of these hype flames have been further fanned by new publicity granted to a 2007 study, which showed that orthopoxviruses could survive in stormwater for days or weeks, particularly in colder conditions. But Dr. Saahir Khan, an infectious disease specialist from USC Keck School of Medicine, pointed out that lab conditions are very different from what happens in the real world.“While you may be able to have a virus survive on a surface and be cultured in a laboratory and still be viable, that does not mean it could be an actual source of human infections,” he said. “There was a lot of panic early in the COVID-19 pandemic because studies showed the virus could survive on surfaces for a long period of time, and everybody was washing their groceries. And, of course, we found that transmission from surface contact is incredibly rare.”Furthermore, SCAN’s testing method looks only for genetic material, which does not necessarily represent live, infectious virus. Their test is very sensitive, amplifying the viral DNA by 1,000 times. For SARS-CoV-2, SCAN can detect even one or two cases in a population of 100,000. Their test’s reliability for monkeypox is still being determined. Murphy said the wastewater doomsday scenario is not totally impossible, but it requires too many unlikely conditions to be of primary concern.“Not that it can’t, but probably not. Just because there is viral DNA or RNA in the wastewater, that’s very different than it being viable virus that is also a potential risk for infectious disease,” she said. “But even without the viruses in there, you wouldn’t want to be taking mouthfuls of that.”Some folks subscribing to this theory have suggested that people with monkeypox pour bleach down their toilets as a protective measure for public health. Take it from Wolfe, an expert on virus in wastewater — don’t do that.“I’m definitely pro cleaning your toilet, but I suggest that people focus on the transmission pathways that we have information about and work to interrupt those by following public health guidelines if they are affected,” she said. “Pouring bleach down your toilet is not in the guidelines at all.”It’s probably too late to stop monkeypox from becoming globally endemic because...humansThere is increased belief among infectious disease experts that the window to keep monkeypox from becoming globally endemic may have already closed. Khan believes any theory of how monkeypox might become embedded in global society should begin with the primary driver of new infections: humans.“I haven't seen convincing reports during this outbreak of someone getting monkeypox without being in close contact with a human who had a monkeypox infection,” he said. “I actually think it’s likely to become an endemic disease in the human population forever, even without an animal reservoir.”Khan believes that this disease will not likely cause as much severe illness or societal disruption as SARS-CoV-2, but he has concerns about what an increased presence of this infection could mean for immunosuppressed individuals, like those with severe HIV or people who have received organ transplants.“When, and at this point, I would say when it becomes an endemic disease, there's going to be a subset that is at risk for significant complications from this virus,” he said. “And, you know, having another disease out there is never a good thing.”
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A man was gored by a bull bison on Monday, making him the second to be attacked at Yellowstone National Park in June alone. The 34-year-old sustained an arm injury and was taken to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center by ambulance. FILE - A herd of bison grazes in the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park in Wyo., on Aug. 3, 2016. A 34-year-old man from Colorado Springs, Colo., was gored by a bull bison in Yellowstone National Park this week, suffering an arm injury, park officials said. The was walking with his family near Giant Geyser in the Old Faithful area on Monday, June 27, 2022, when a bull bison charged the group. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown, File) Matthew Brown/AP According to a press release, "The male was walking with his family on a boardwalk when a bull bison charged the group." When the family did not vacate, the bison continued charging toward them and ultimately gored the man. BETTE MIDLER SAYS IT'S 'TIME TO BAN VIAGRA' BECAUSE IT'S 'GOD'S WILL' The event occurred near Giant Geyser at Old Faithful, the release added. The National Park Service said that the incident is still under investigation. "Wildlife in Yellowstone National Park are wild and can be dangerous when approached," it warned. "Stay more than 25 yards (23 m) away from all large animals - bison, elk, bighorn sheep, deer, moose, and coyotes - and at least 100 yards (91 m) away from bears and wolves. If need be, turn around and go the other way to avoid interacting with a wild animal in proximity." According to the NPS, Bison can run up to three times faster than human beings. In May, a woman was similarly gored by a bison at Yellowstone. The 25-year-old had gotten within 10 feet of the animal, closer than visitors are instructed, and the bison gored her, sending her flying into the air. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The attack resulted in a puncture wound, along with other injuries, and she was transported to an Idaho hospital, according to park officials.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
A bill propelled by the Netflix reality series Tiger King passed the House Friday evening to ban private ownership of big cats such as lions, tigers, jaguars, and cheetahs In a 278-134 vote, the bill passed with bipartisan support, and restricts big cats to captivity in zoos, universities, and wildlife sanctuaries due to the public safety risk posed by private ownership of large predators. Carole Baskin, one of the stars of Tiger King and nemesis of main subject Joe "Exotic" Maldonado-Passage, lobbied for the bill over the two years since the series' release. JOE EXOTIC FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM HUSBAND TO MARRY PRISON LOVER Some Republicans opposed the bill on the grounds it duplicates state-level regulations, and that their limited time remaining before August recess should be spent addressing more pressing issues like inflation. However, many signed on for the public safety aspects. There have been incidents where law enforcement officers were endangered when called to a residence with a tiger or lion but weren't aware of the predator until they arrived on the scene. "While I understand and agree that we want to reduce dangerous encounters between the public and big cats, I cannot support this bill because it is an overreaching, duplicative and precedent-setting proposal that has already served as a blueprint for pending legislation on other species,” Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) said in the rules committee hearing Wednesday. The Big Cat Public Safety Act also stipulates that the animals must be in enclosures that keep them 15 feet away from members of the public, which strikes the "cub petting" industry, where customers can pose for pictures and play with tiger cubs. This was one of the hallmarks of Exotic's Oklahoma zoo. He is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence for violations regarding his animal collection and putting out two hit jobs on Baskin. Individuals or private entities that already own big cats will be allowed to keep their pets under the new legislation, provided they register them with the Fish and Wildlife Service and don't allow public interaction. The bill will likely pass the Senate if it comes up for a vote. A version of the act cleared the House in 2020, but the Senate ran out of time to pass it before the session expired. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Biden administration supports the legislation, and the president is expected to sign the bill if it comes to his desk. "This bill would help ensure the health and welfare of these animals, protect the public from the dangers associated with private ownership of large cats, and strengthen our ability to combat illegal trafficking of wildlife," the administration said in a statement. Tiger King rocketed to popularity in the weeks following the first COVID-19 lockdowns in the spring of 2020, and brought to light the issue of private ownership of large, predatory cats.
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
It must be frustrating for Jake Fiennes that reviews of his book will, as this one does, inevitably start with mention of his more celebrated siblings. Jacob Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is one of six children – his older brother is the actor Ralph and his twin brother is Joseph. A more relevant familial connection might be made with his cousin, the writer William Fiennes. Jake shares with the author of The Snow Geese and The Music Room an almost preternatural ability to summon nature on the page, to interweave human and animal life in a landscape with elegance and compassion. Land Healer is a deeply felt, often very moving book about farming; it is also a celebration of the British landscape and a record of Fiennes’s strange, itinerant life.I first came across him a decade ago, while researching a piece for the Guardian’s Country Diary. He was at the time a gamekeeper known for his radical ideas about ecology and biodiversity. Since then, he has become conservation manager at the vast and beautiful Holkham estate in north Norfolk, where his ideas about sustainable agriculture and landscape management have been put into practice on a massive scale.Like Wilding, Isabella Tree’s bestselling book about turning the Knepp estate in Sussex (where Fiennes himself worked) from an overfarmed wasteland into an environment rich in biodiversity, Land Healer is at its core a plea to farmers and policymakers to embrace practices that encourage the return of nature to our countryside. Tree’s book had an extraordinary impact on a local and national level, from community rewilding projects to the recently announced government plans to rewild 741,000 acres of habitat in England. Land Healer, which is both practical and ambitious in spirit, could make an equally significant mark on the national conversation about agriculture.The book intercuts persuasive passages extolling the virtues of what Fiennes calls “regenerative farming” with more personal chapters telling of his childhood in a family that was posh but near-penniless, moving from home to home as his parents sought to make money from restoring crumbling houses. Fiennes was a sickly child, profoundly dyslexic and rather in the shadow of his more luminous twin. It was in nature that he found himself, first at home and then, after a brief foray into the nightclub scene, at Knepp and Raveningham, where he became gamekeeper. At the heart of Land Healer sits Great Farm, a mixed agricultural plot on the Holkham estate. This is where Fiennes’s vision has been implemented most fully and where, already – he only arrived at Holkham in 2018 – his work is bearing fruit.The “small tweaks” Fiennes recommends as part of the mantra of regenerative farming are not on their own immediately thrilling – letting hedges grow out, not ploughing to the edge of a field, disturbing the soil as little as possible, using “cover crops” in winter. In combination, though, they are revolutionary, because they can start to reverse the terrible damage done to the countryside by industrial agriculture. Farmers are not the problem here, Fiennes tells us again and again, they are part of the solution. What he wants is a wholesale change from “Taliban-style farming”, which “kills everything that it doesn’t want”, to farming that embraces the idea that “wildlife is just like the other products on the farm: it needs to be ‘grown’ efficiently and with direction”. In this hopeful, intelligent, important book, Fiennes shows that, if approached correctly, wildlife-friendly farming can deliver a rural landscape that is both more biodiverse, more beautiful and more productive. Land Healer: How Farming Can Save Britain’s Countryside by Jake Fiennes is published by Ebury (£20). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply
|
pets_animals_wildlife
|
Subsets and Splits
List Unique Topics
Simple retrieval of unique topics from the dataset, useful for basic exploration but lacks deeper insights.