Animals Blogs (472)

Many years ago, they used to spray the pesticide DDT in an attempt to control the mosquito population.
They had no idea at the time, that DDT would have such a devastating affect upon the environment, especially the health of eaglets.

By the time 1982 arrives, there was only one known eagle nest in all of the state of New Jersey (NJ).
That nest only gave rise to 1 eaglet that survived long enough to fledge (leave the nest in flight).
With the banning of the use of DDT along with a Clean Water Act, the eagles have gotten much healthier.
in 1985 there was still only 1 nest, but 2 eaglets fledged.
In 1990 there were 4 nests and 5 eaglets fledged.
In 1995 there were 11 nests and 19 eaglets fledged
In 2000 there were 23 nests and 30 eaglets fledged
In 2005 there were 48 nests and 64 eaglets fledged
In 2010 there were 82 nests and 69 eaglets fledged
In 2015 there were 150 nests and 199 eaglets fledged
and this year 2019 there were 189 nests and 248 eaglets fledged,
(Source NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife)

That's a terrific recovery.

Mosquitos are now controlled with more biological techniques.
For instance certain small fish specialize in eating mosquito larvae,
Those fish are inoculated into streams and swamps,

We need to ensure that we do not damage the ecosystem with man-made harmful chemicals,
especially those who have residual affects.
We are a part of that ecosystem. Our food comes from it.

:



Although I do personally have a lot of bald eagle photos, I got lazy and posted the one above from the internet. I wonder how many viewers know how to tell the difference between male & female bald eagles.

Today from CNN;



Perhaps it's karma;

The beginning and misadventures of a dog named Wall-E.

When scientists sequenced the chimp genome in 2005, it confirmed that chimpanzees are our closest living relatives. Of course, they’re cute; they look like us. They have big ears like the Europeans, long toes like the English, a bad accent like the French, small noses like the Africans, short legs like the Japanese, large testicles like the Russians, small dícks like the Australians and an IQ to match the Americans.

These clever animals can be taught to use tools to build their own shelters and we like to think of them as cute and huggable but those who think they are peace-loving creatures will have another think coming.

The truth is that they are cruel and aggressive fighters that form gangs to plunder neighboring tribes in search of food, females and/or territory, leaving behind only devastation and maimed opponents. Any infant chimps taken with their mothers during such a raid are simply killed and sometimes eaten.

It is estimated that as much as 50% of all male chimpanzees are being hunted down by other males and killed. And they do not only fight neighboring tribes, they also form factions within their own tribe and kill one another. Such killings normally happen to settle leadership and/or mating rights.

When we compare chimpanzee behavior with human behavior it is easy to believe that chimpanzees share more than 98% of their DNA with us. And it is even easier to see where our willingness to kill and to wage war comes from.


Still think they're cute?

People often tell me how lucky I am to have such a good dog but they’re wrong; there is no luck involved. My dog’s good temperament is the product of years of work. And if more people understood this, more people would have had ‘good’ dogs.

I’ve put a lot of effort into exposing him to other dogs, kids, loud motorcycles, noisy power tools, popping fireworks, loud music, and many other disturbances when he was still a puppy; and took him for regular rides in my car. I allowed him to see, hear, smell and feel these influences at his own terms and it paid off. He is comfortable with such disturbances around him and he loves kids.

It is easy to train a puppy. He responds to his name, you give him a treat. He comes when you call him, you give him a treat. He sits when he’s told, you give them a treat. And after a few months, you have a dog that knows simple commands. But this is when many fall off the bus. You have to keep it up as your dog matures. You have to keep your dog stimulated and it also helps him to keep up with you as circumstances change. A dog's training never stops.

A dog needs plenty of love and attention. When given enough of that, he will bend sideways trying to please you. He will protect you with his life… or lose it in an effort to do so.

Regular exercise is another must for your dog. A restless dog is often a sign of not enough exercising. When the weather allows it, I walk instead of driving the 2 km to the supermarket. He knows that he may not go into the shopping center but he also knows where to wait for me. That took a bit of training but eventually, he did learn to wait until I returned. He understands that the word ‘wait’ means that I’ll come back for him.

So, a ‘good’ dog is not the result of some lucky genetic draw; a dog requires a good owner and a lot of work to make him a ‘good’ dog.


So have you taken your dog for his walky, walky today?

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and put 1/8 cup of pet shampoo in the bowl.
2. Pick up the cat and sooth him on the way to the bathroom.
3. In 1 smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and put down the lids. You may have to stand on the lids.
4. At this point the cat will self-agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises. That's just the cat's way of enjoying the process.
5. Flush the toilet 3 or 4 times. Provides a power wash and rinse.
6. Have someone open the front door to your home. Make sure nobody is in the way of the path from the bathroom and the front door.
7. Stand well back behind the toilet and quickly lift the lid.
8. The cat will rocket out of the bathroom and streak right out the front door and dry himself off.
9. Both the toilet and cat will be sparkling clean.

While it can be quite relaxing, when used right,
when you are very young, a hammock is not the easiest thing to navigate.
Some balance is needed. It may take some practice.
It's a lot harder to use, if your 2 siblings just won't leave you alone.
But, if you work together, you just might get it right.

See what I mean;