imagine my delight
when discovering this spring baby giraffe
in the woods near my home
i had no idea that they were native to michigan.
—
“however much you know giraffes, to see one in the wild for the first time feels prehistoric.”
-jane goodall
the kinder, who are spring chickens, check out the other spring chickens
and the other spring chickens check out the kinder.
—
“the sun’s not yellow, it’s chicken!”
-bob dylan
just a guess,
but i’m thinking
this was not
thoroughly thought through
market tested
or
focus grouped
and may not go well.
—
“nothing dies harder than a bad idea.”
-julia cameron
—
source credit: mingott pet
*National Park Service warning that begins,
“Most squirrel bites originate at the front, or “bite-y end,” of the squirrel.”
Most? Yeah, most. Wanna fight about it? In general, it’s best not to be in contact with any part of a wild animal.
Let’s be honest, squirrels can be cute and fluffy (if not friend, why friend shaped?) therefore, people don’t usually mind them getting too close. But cuteness fades when a squirrel bites your hand, steals your car keys, and floors it out of the park with all your food in tow. Um, was Grandma in the car?
We kid about the keys and driving, (that’d be nuts), but squirrel bites really can happen at parks. Best to keep hands and fingers away from bitey ends. Feeding human food to any wildlife is bad for them and makes them fearless and potentially aggressive.
In conclusion, squirrels may not know better, but YOU do. Although it may feel flattering, (well, aren’t you the animal whisperer) if any kind of wildlife approaches you, back away and maintain that safe distance. It’s your responsibility and your safety —help us keep wildlife wild. Has anyone seen our car keys?
*i’m such a fan of the national park service’s humorous approach to warning the public about the creatures in their parks. humans need reminders from time to time.
—
“this town is infested with squirrels, have you noticed?”
“i’d rather say it’s rich with squirrels.”
― e
this guy….. acting all hangry and ready for spring
MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, WY – On March 7, a Yellowstone National Park wildlife biologist on a radio telemetry flight observed the first grizzly bear of 2023 to emerge from hibernation. The adult bear, estimated at 300-350 pounds, was seen near the remains of a bison carcass in Pelican Valley, in the central-eastern part of the park. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May. When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively toward people when feeding on carcasses. All of Yellowstone National Park is bear country.
—
“most animals show themselves sparingly. the grizzly bear is six to eight hundred pounds of smugness.
it has no need to hide. if it were a person, it would laugh loudly in quiet restaurants,
boastfully wear the wrong clothes for special occasions, and probably play hockey.”
-craig childs, the animal dialogues: uncommon encounters in the wild
—
credits: national park service, jim peaco, grizzly bear on swan creek flat – photo
when walking on a path in the park today
i noticed 5 different dogs, with 4 different owners
coming from all directions
lots of jumping and friendly barking
wondering how they would all get along
soon saw
it was a planned play date
a dog party
so thrilled to see each other
immediately falling into joyful play
just like in one of my very favorite books
go, dog, go!
with the surprise dog party at the end.
(sorry for the too late spoiler alert)
—
“animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”
-george eliot
—
image credit: p.d. eastman, ‘go, dog, go!,” random house publishing
foghorn leghorn of television fame
and yet another wonderful nextdoor post on my neighborhood site:
Did you have a chicken missing? We have a Leghorn chicken who appeared in our back yard this morning. She is now in our coop with our three, However, we really don’t need or want another chicken so if she is yours, please message me to arrange a time to come and collect her. We have marked her feet with a purple antiseptic so we can identify which one is yours.
Posted in Lost & Found to The River District
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“i dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.”
-ralph waldo emerson
image credit: warner brothers animation
The Paris Aquarium Is Home to a Massive Rescued Goldfish Sanctuary
The future rarely looks bright for an unloved goldfish. Its owner may confine it to a small bowl and deprive it of the space or stimulation it needs, or worse, flush it down the toilet while it’s still alive. But the Paris Aquarium is offering regretful pet owners a better solution: Any unwanted fish that are brought there will be cared for and given a new home in a massive tank, The Nation reports.
The French aquarium launched its goldfish rescue program two years ago, and it houses roughly 600 rescued fish today. Many of the pets that are handed over arrive in poor health. Each specimen is given medical care, including antibiotics and anti-parasite treatments, and kept in quarantine for a month before transitioning to the tank with the rest of the fish. Some goldfish don’t survive the move, but those that do often thrive, growing up to a foot in length.
People have different reasons for taking advantage of the aquarium’s service. For some, it’s a convenient—and eco-friendly—way to get rid of a pet they no longer want. When fish are disposed of in sewage systems, they face almost certain death, and when they’re released directly into a pond or river, they can grow to monstrous proportions and wreak havoc on the local ecosystem.
In other cases, pet owners see that the aquarium can provide a better life for their fish than they ever could. Goldfish can suffer from depression when they’re kept in a small, empty environment, and goldfish bowls have even been banned in some parts of the world for being inhumane. The fish sanctuary is open to members of the public to view—including anyone wishing to check up on a former pet.
—
“a goldfish is reason enough for living, if someone needs a reason.”
-martin cooley
—
credits: michelle debczak, mental floss, the nation
one of the many beautiful and curious creatures at the belle isle aquarium
The Belle Isle Aquarium was designed by famed Detroit architect, Albert Kahn, and opened in August, 1904. It is the oldest aquarium in the country and has served the Detroit community as a beloved attraction for generations. In 2005, the city of Detroit announced that the Aquarium was to be closed due to lean economic times for the city. The building remained closed to the public until the Belle Isle Conservancy reopened it on September 15, 2012. Since its reopening, the aquarium has exploded in popularity, evident by the attendance numbers that have soared over the course of the last decade. “Momentum” is truly the best term for what is happening in this historic building. A work-in-progress, the aquarium continues to grow and flourish as new exhibits and fish are added, tanks are restored, and history is preserved for generations to come.
“the universe is full of the lives of perfect creatures.”
-konstantin tsiokovsky
Penguins Accidentally Took Selfie After They Found a Cam In Antarctica
(Everyone has the one friend who LOVES to take selfies)
Expeditions to Antarctica are constantly filled with surprises. Australian Eddie Gault went on an expedition there along with his cam to take photos of penguin colonies. Out of the fascinating photos he took, he also ended up having a photo of penguins taking a selfie.
While there, Gault visited Auster Rookery to record a group of Emperor penguins, leaving his camera near them to record their daily lives. After he left it, the penguins came close to the cam, one knocked it over and accidentally took a selfie along with other penguins.
Emperor penguins are the biggest penguin types on the planet, have an average height of 45 inches and can live to be 20 years old. Emperor penguins live in colonies and their breeding period is in Winter, when female penguins lay their eggs and leave them in the care of the male penguins.
“a penguin cannot become a giraffe, so just be the best penguin you can be.”
– gary vaynerchuk
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credits: Australian Antarctic Program, Auster Rookery, The Guardian
I didn't have my glasses on.... 