#there are not. due to the fact that they are a north american species.

[queerpyracy]

i think it’s fun how i’m too neurotic to write historical fiction but then the people who get published won’t use the internet to find answers to such questions as “are there coyotes in sweden”

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Ecology is one of those disciplines where there is just so, so much we don't understand yet. Yes, we know that the many species within a given ecosystem have a widespread, complex network of interrelationships, but we only have the barest understanding of a fraction of them. It's like having a symphony where you've heard everyone playing, but you only have some notes from some of the musicians' sheet music, and so you can't yet put together how it all works.

In this case, we're seeing just how important northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides) are to their ecosystems. After the devastating eruption of Lawetlat'la/Loowit/Mt. St. Helens in May 1980, the land was left burned and covered in tons of ash and tephra. While some zones further out from the mountain were replanted by timber companies, the area directly around the eruption site has been allowed to recover naturally because this offers North American scientists an unprecedented chance to see how an ecosystem recovers after such a large eruption, at a place that is easily accessible.

When a small number of gophers were returned to an ash-covered area of the mountain for just twenty-four hours in 1982, they kicked off what would be a forty-year study in ecological resilience. In areas with no gophers, there were only a few struggling plants born from seeds transported by birds, while in places where the little mammals were able to burrow and turn over dirt, scientists found 40,000 individual plants. This was due to the fact that the gophers were able to free soil fungi and other microbes beneath the ash and give them a chance to repopulate closer to the surface where they normally would be found. In turn, seeds of plants that had mycorrhizal relationships with the fungi, or which otherwise benefited from the increased microbial biodiversity, flourished.

And forty years later, the pattern still stands, with the gophers' work reverberating to this day. If one small mammal can have such a profound effect in a miniscule amount of time, imagine what happens when we reintroduce extirpated species to other eplaces. The volcanic area may be left to repopulate naturally as scientists continue to study it, but there are countless badly damaged ecosystems in need of restoration. The results of this experiment clearly support the importance of returning as many native species to an ecosystem as possible, because even those that may seem insignificant have invaluable contributions to make to the whole.

[herpsandbirds]

Do you have any cool facts about Missouri wildlife?

I'd love to share something with my Midwestern friends, and thank you for always updating this blog!

I don't know if i have any Missouri animal facts per se... but I can share some of the state symbols with everyone.

We moved around a lot when we first came to the U.S. and we lived briefly in Kansas City. I have great memories of going to the Ozarks at Christmas time (near Lake of the Ozarks). I specifically remember following woodpeckers and deer around the forest in the snow.

SOME MISSOURI STATE SYMBOLS:

STATE BIRD: Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), family Turdidae, order Passeriformes, found across much of the central and Eastern U.S., SE Canada, and NW Mexico

Changes in land use lead to drastic declines in Eastern Bluebirds after the early 1900s. They have recovered in many places, due to "bluebird trails", reestablishing appropriate habitat and nest box campaigns for public and private property.

Find out more: NestWatch | Eastern Bluebird - NestWatch

Blue birds are in the thrush family, Turdidae, along with American Robins.

They eat mainly worms, insects, and other small invertebrates (but also take berries for part of the year).

Bluebirds are cavity nesters, nesting in tree holes usually, but will readily take to properly constructed and placed nest boxes.

Males (pictured) are brighter blue, and females are a more muted and faded blue or bluish gray.

photograph by Keith Kennedy

STATE AQUATIC ANIMAL: American Paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), family Polyodontidae, order Acipenseriformes, found in various parts of the Mississippi River basin

This species is the only member of this family that still exists. They are most closely related to sturgeons. This order, Acipenseriformes, is considered one of the most evolutionarily primitive groups of ray finned fishes.

They do not have scales, and their skeleton is mostly cartilaginous.

They are filter feeders. Their heads and rostrums are covered with thousands of sensory receptors, which help them locate zooplankton swarms.

They are considered "vulnerable" due to overfishing, habitat degradation and destruction, and pollution.

photograph via: US Fish & Wildlife Service

STATE ENDANGERED ANIMAL: Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), family Cryptobranchidae, eastern United States

The largest salamander in the Americas, it grows to a total maximum length of up to 40 cm (15.7 in). 

Though nationally it is considered to be just "vulnerable", in some states (like Missouri), it is "endangered".

photograph by Mark Tegges

STATE REPTILE: Three-toed Box Turtle (Terrapene triunguis), family Emydidae, found in the South-central and Southeastern U.S.

This specie shas been considered to be a subspecies of the Eastern Box Turtle, T. carolina (and still is by some herpetologists).

These turtles are terrestrial, but are not closely related to tortoises. They are in the same family as aquatic sliders, pond turtles, cooters, map turtles, and painted turtles.

photograph by Noppadol Paothong

STATE FISH: Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), family Ictaluridae, order Siluriformes, found in freshwater habitats in the eastern and southern US, southern Canada, and northern Mexico

They are widely caught, and have been introduced into waterways in other parts of North America and around the world. (In some places they are considered an invasive species).

photograph via: Missouri Dept. of Conservation

photograph by Brian.gratwicke 

[thatwobblychair]

141 Bear! Edition

Cause what if 141 were bears?

Including bear facts ! Why? Because bears are cute. 💕

Ghost: Spirit Bear "Kermode Bear"

Ursus americanus kermodei

A subspecies of the American Black Bear that lives exclusively on the coastal shores of British Columbia, Canada.

They are not actually albinos, but instead have a recessive gene that causes the white pigmentation to their fur and eyes. For example, two black 'kermode bears' with the recessive gene can produce a white furred bear.

The white fur is thought to be advantageous towards hunting salmon, as it is theorised that the white colour makes it harder for fish to evade them.

Soap: Sun Bear

Helarctos malayanus

An Asiatic bear that stands as the smallest of all bear species, ranging from northeastern India and extending south to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

They measure between 4-5 ft from tail to snout and weigh between 55- 145 lbs. It is an excellent climber that is known to be the most arboreal of all bears.

Their name is derived from the orangey- cream colour 'sun' crest on their chest. Another name for them is Honey Bear or beruang madu, in Malay/Indonesian due to their love of feeding on honey combs.

Gaz: Cinnamon Bear

Ursus americanus cinnamomum

Another subspecies and colour morph of the American Black Bear. It is thought to exist and interbreed with the black coloured American Black Bears.

The name is derived from the brown to red-brown fur colour that resembles cinnamon. It's coat colouration is theorised to be a mimic of grizzly bears who may also cohabit the same areas.

Price: Grizzly Bear "North American Brown Bear"

Ursus arctos horribilis

Despite being known as the 'grizzly bear' or 'grizzly', the bear is categorised as a subspecies or pop. of the Brown Bear, a species that originates in Eurasia. It is thought that this subspecies/pop. migrated to North America between 177,000 BP ~ 111,000 BP.

There are other morphological forms of brown bears in North America also termed as 'grizzly' that were once considered subspecies but is now synonmised with Ursus arctos horribilis, such as the "Kodiak Bear and the "Alaska Peninsular Bear". The 'grizzly bear' historical range starts from Alaska to Mexico, taking in consideration of past subspecies that are now extinct, though it's current population is situated mainly in North America.

It's name came from the descriptor 'grisley' which can be read as 'grizzled' - grey haired, or "grisly" -fearsome, inspiring, though it was formally classified as U. horribilis, for it's terrible character in 1815.

+

*all facts taken from wiki. If there are any mistakes let me know!

[alittleplaytime]

hii! im trying to get over my phobia of bugs, so i decided i would try and see the good side of them :]

if its okay, could you share with me some of your favourite facts about bugs, and/or some cool images of bugs? no pressure, though! ^_^

oh, i'm so happy and proud of you anon! as a very avid bug lover, i always love hearing people try to be more open to them, even just slightly!!

a few fun facts:

a single dung beetle can move about 1141 times it's own weight! it's like if a human pulled SIX double decker buses, all on their own!

male stoneflies are like, the gym guy of the bug world - sometimes they'll do pushups as a way to impress a potential mate!

male giraffe weevils use their looong necks to fight eachother, much like actual giraffes!

some tarantulas have been found to essentially keep frogs as pets! the spider will offer safety and protection to frogs while a frog will eat any insects that may try and attack the spiders eggs!! (this habit has also been seen in some other spider species too!)

and here's some photos!!

rosy maple moth (dryocampa rubicunda), also known as the great silk moth! this species is a small north american moth. it's recently surged in popularity due to it's adorable colours and tiny size, even having plushies made after it!

sources: image one, image two

humming bird hawk moth (macroglossum stellatarum) is named for it's resemblance to the humming bird as they feed on the nectar of tube shaped flowers using their long proboscis while staying in the air. this species is found across temperate areas of eurasia such as portugal, japan and spain!

sources: image one, image two

cecropia moth (hyalophora cecropia), aka a giant silk moth is the largest native moth found in north america! their wing can even span up to five-seven inches (13-18 centimeters) wide!

source: image one, image two

the peacock spider (maratus volans) is a jumping spider native to australia (my country!!) with only one species residing in china! much like the bird they're named after, peacock spiders will display their bright feathers as a mating technique, paired with a dance! it is widely believed that females will kill a male if they find their dance unsatisfactory but this is fortunately, for the men, untrue! she will instead ignore him or move her abdomen side to side to display her disinterest. the maratus sarahae (first image) is one of the largest species! image two is a maratus azureus!

source: image one, image two

sabertooth longhorn beetle (macrodontia cervicornis) are some of the largest beetles in the world! it spends most of it's life in a larval stage which can last up to 10 years!! after which it will only live a few more months in which it will reproduce. sabertooth larvae are planted under the bark of dead or dying softwood trees as they will burrowing inside it!

source: image one, image two

i hope this was enjoyable!! i had a lot of fun doing this hehe

[insipid-drivel]

Ahoi, horse question -

I knew most facts on your list but it’s a fun read, thanks for that.

I also knew that horses can overeat themselves to death but I always wondered:

What’s different with wild horses, how do they regulate themselves? And didn’t they occasionally eat bad plants and mushrooms, too, that poisoned them?

Wild horses can and do poison themselves by eating toxic plants, it's just that herds of wild horses are remarkably rare to see EVER, so the whole "toxic plants in reach of horses" discourse is almost entirely limited to domestic settings. Tansy, especially, is a poisonous herb that can appear to blend into other safe grasses and herbs a horse may eat, and the horse will eventually die of colic (intestinal spasms that cause the horse's GI tract to literally tie itself in knots, cut off bloodflow, and result in an agonizing death; it's one of the most common causes of premature death in horses). That's why responsible owners pay out the nose to have their paddocks ID'd and and cleared of any toxic plants the horse may accidentally graze on. Most experienced horse/ranch owners practically qualify for an honorary botany degree, because the best owners learn how to identify most - if not all - of the toxic plants their horses may encounter in their area, and keep their horses far away from them until/unless the plants can be removed.

With many wild horses you may see in photos, those are the ones that made it to adulthood. Horses are prey animals, and so wild horses you see in film or pictures - even babies - may not have survived to the publication of the picture you're looking at. As prey animals, only the strong and lucky survive to old age without human intervention on some level to improve their mortality rates. Foals are just as vulnerable to predation as baby deer, and usually can't survive if they're injured or sick in any way that keeps them from keeping up with their herd. The herd usually follows the dominant mating stallion, who typically decides when it's time for the herd to move (unless the mares decide he's not worth listening to, which happens sometimes). There aren't really that many places in the world where you'll see truly wild horses, so most people don't think of them as prey animals that are as vulnerable to environmental dangers as any other prey animal.

It's well to remember, too, that pretty much all true-blue, wild horses today are the descendants of domestic horses to some degree. In the American West, wild herds of Mustangs were captured by the US Army and westward-bound settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries so voraciously that wild mustang populations pretty much went entirely extinct (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron is very much taking place during the final years Spirit will ever know freedom as a wild animal. A few years later, the horses will end up broken and domesticated by soldiers if they aren't tamed and separated by other humans, and there will be no more mustang herds to see on the western frontiers for well over a century).

All horses are thought to descend from the OG horse, the Przewalski's Horse, aka Those Cave-Painting Horses:

The very first true horses to ever appear were initially native to what is now steppes and grasslands in Mongolia and Russia - so basically Central Asia. It's theorized that, thousands of years ago, these horses gradually migrated into North America via the Bering Land Bridge that once joined North America to what is now Russia, and evolved and were domesticated into now what we recognize as the American Mustang:

American Mustangs don't bear a very clear resemblance to their Przewalski ancestors due to thousands of years of domestication, separation from their original species, and selective breeding practices by humans.

Both the Przewalksi's Horse and American Mustangs have recently been on the rise thanks largely to conservation methods when it comes to wild populations of them. The Przewalski's Horse was so rare that it was functionally extinct in the wild in the 1960s, with the only significant populations of surviving horses being kept in zoos and wildlife conservatories. Now, the horses have made such a big comeback that some of the first wild herds have been released back into their home environment in Central Asia.

The main difference is in how the horses are treated by their human protectors, or if they have humans looking after them at all. Domestic horses that are raised privately and kept essentially as very expensive pets spend their entire lives having humans providing them with most, if not all, of their required resources and care, so they don't typically get the same experience with food that they would in the wild. Herds of wild horses can have roaming territories of hundreds, if not thousands, of hectares and be comprised of a dozen or more individual horses, while most domestic "pet" horses are usually limited to much tighter pastures that only span a couple of acres, maybe in the double or triple digits if there's money-money involved, but the horses still largely have their dietary needs and daily routines decided for them by their owners - not natural instinct and rearing by other horses.

A horse really can't get everything it needs nutritionally or behaviorally in a paddock-and-stable setup without humans to feed and look after them, because they don't have a huge range of places they were evolved to travel between to sustain their health; horses, like other ungulates, need vital minerals like those found in natural salt deposits to maintain their health, and the soil in your horse's paddock may be so nutritionally deprived that the grass your horse grazes on doesn't actually contain enough nutrition for the horse to survive without supplementation to their food. They also need more than grass to be nutritionally stable; horses will seek out and eat fruits, veggies, grains, herbs, and especially love molasses and other forms of sugar for their sky-high amounts of carbohydrates (and because they taste good). But they don't know how to properly regulate what they eat when presented with an unlimited supply without a human to handle the portion control side of things, so it's easy for them to overeat to the point that it kills them.

Wild horses are born and raised feeding and taking care of themselves and each other in highly maternal, matriarchal communities (mostly females of reproductive age and their babies with only one or two adult breeding males; the stallions are usually the ones that lead the herd, but the mares really have the final say). Aside from eating something they didn't know was toxic, wild horses learn from their peers and elders when it comes to where they can find the best food and when, and rely heavily upon their understanding of their territory/range when it comes to knowing where and what they should eat to stay healthy. They also have to share resources with other horses in their herd, and don't get access to huge 200lb barrels of oats or 150lb bales of pure feeding hay, so they usually don't find opportunities like domestic horses do to find Enormous Stores Of Unprotected Food and make themselves sick.

Horses have a muscle at the top of their stomachs referred to as a French Tie. It literally makes it physically impossible for a horse to throw up, even if they've eaten something bad or overeaten and would stand a better chance at surviving if they could spit up what they ate. Being grazing animals with long necks, they can't have the internal structure to throw up with, because otherwise they would never be able to get their food or water from their mouths to their stomachs. Gravity would prevent them from being able to eat without constantly raising their heads up to gulp down food like an alligator with a chicken drumstick (seriously, try taking a drink of water while you're dangling upside down; that's why NOT being able to regurgitate is more valuable for horses), which is not what grass-eating animals want to do: grass and plant life is very hard to digest efficiently, horses only have one stomach compared to other ungulates like cows, and horses and similar grazing animals spend so much time chewing on their food in order to make it easier to digest and draw nutrition from that it generally makes their food intake pretty steady for their digestive systems to cope with.

Domestic horses that live their lives in paddocks and barns know where things like the grain store/feed room are, and don't really understand why we stingy humans will only give them a scoop or two of oats as a treat and not give them as much as they want 24/7. Their instincts almost always are to graze, graze, graze, so what's wrong with going face-down in a barrel full of oats? It's just tasty food!

Except we know that overeating means they can't puke up what they don't need or can't digest the way your dog can if they managed to rip open your 50lb bag of cat food while you were away at work. They don't know better, and there's no way to teach a horse NOT to eat when food is right in front of their noses, so farm-horses essentially have their entire diets managed for them to keep them safe and healthy, while wild horses just don't have access to that sheer quantity of unguarded food to overeat at all under typical circumstances.

[bigfootbeat]

Bigfoot on TV Cartoons

The mythical Bigfoot, an ape-like creature rumored to live in North American forests, has gained popularity as a character in television cartoons. Both kids and adults frequently choose Bigfoot, a legendary figure known for his enormous feet and enigmatic aura, as their favorite. Cartoons portray Bigfoot in a way that combines mystery, adventure, and humor, contributing to the myth's ongoing popularity. TV cartoons often employ the character of Bigfoot to explore issues of the unknown and the misunderstood. Numerous television shows portray Bigfoot as a kind giant with a kind heart, rather than as a terrifying monster. The audience perceives the mythology as a sympathetic figure, demystifying it. Television shows like The Simpsons, Scooby-Doo, and Gravity Falls have exploited Bigfoot to captivate viewers with comedic and suspenseful plots that frequently convey deeper themes of acceptance and friendship.

Cartoons frequently parody the notion that Bigfoot is a misunderstood species, highlighting racial discrimination and a fear of the unknown as societal issues. With this strategy, artists can bring attention to significant societal concerns in a way that is both approachable and enjoyable. For instance, in certain episodes, characters may initially fear Bigfoot before realizing that the creature is actually gentle and misunderstood. This storyline arc not only imparts important lessons about empathy and tolerance, but also teaches important lessons about humor. The fact that Bigfoot is often associated with adventure adds to the creature's appeal in cartoons. Bigfoot's enigmatic nature makes for intriguing narratives involving inquiry and revelation. Cartoon characters frequently embark on thrilling adventures to find Bigfoot, captivating young viewers. When paired with the humorous aspects of animation, this spirit of adventure produces captivating content that piques viewers' interest. Furthermore, cartoon depictions of Bigfoot frequently incorporate a range of imaginative interpretations. While some shows emphasize its elusive nature and craft narratives full of deft turns and twists, others emphasize its size and strength for humorous effect. This representation flexibility allows for a variety of storytelling possibilities, catering to a wide range of age groups and interests.

Cartoon Bigfoot can represent popular intrigue with cryptids and the paranormal in addition to providing entertainment. The creature's appearance in animated shows reflects society's general interest in the unexplained. Cartoonists capitalize on this curiosity by bringing Bigfoot into their stories, giving viewers an entertaining yet thought-provoking look at myths and folklore. Bigfoot plays a variety of roles in TV cartoons, including social commentary, humor, and adventure. The character has been a mainstay of animated programs due to its adaptability to different storytelling requirements, as evidenced by its lasting popularity. Cartoons maintain the myth of Bigfoot alive in the hearts and minds of viewers for years to come by means of imaginative depictions.

[unreadpoppy]

Anyways, here are my favorite bears

These are not all species of bears, just my faves. Also, no order cause I can't brink myself to rank these babies. Under the cut cause longpost

Beggining with a lesser known one, the only bear species that exists in south america is the Spectecled Bear (also known as the Andean Bear)

They have this name because of the white/cream markings on their face that can somewhat resemble glasses! As I said before, they're the only south american species of bear and is the last short faced bear alive, and most are found in the Andes. I like them because look at that cute little face and also latino solidarity. Fun fact, Paddington is a specteled bear considering he is from Peru.

Now moving on. She is beauty, she is grace, she is the largest species of bear AND the largest land predator, she is the Polar Bear

Few fun facts. Polar Bear's scientific name is Ursus maritmus (which would very roughly translate to sea bear) bc of how much time they spend swimming (which also means they are grear swimmers!). They are the most carnivorous of the bears, and imo, they will eat anything that is made of meat. The reason you see so many pictures of mother bears hugging their cubs is because of the cold. Althought, when they are old, their fur is great to protect from the harsh weahter, when they are young they are still vulnerable to it, so mama bears hugs her cubs to keep them warm. Oh and another thing, I discovered that bears can do this thing where they'll find a hole in the ice where seals come up to breath and they just...sit there and wait for it to happen (and they can wait for a LONG time). I love how cute they are when they're young and how fierce they are as adults, and honestly, look at their faces, I love them a lot.

Next, we're back in the american continent, this time with the American Black Bear

The american black bear has a lot of subspecies, which are mostly different colors than their signature black fur, they are omnivorous (and they will eat anything, like i've seen videos of them eating crabs and moths), and also, they are really good climbers! They are mostly found in North America, and they are a bit more chill, like if you ever encounter a black bear, you can scare it away by making yourself look big and making loud noises. They don't have the shoulder hump that brown bears have, and their ears are more prominent (which makes them so freaking cute.) Also, there has been black bears who have made their dens inside of trees, which i think is cool .

Lastly, this might be cheating, but it's a subspecies of the black bear, which is the Kermode Bear

Mostly found in British Columbia, the kermode bear is also known as the spirit bear or the ghost bear, due to their white fur (important to note that they do not have albinism, look at their noses and eyes). The gene that makes them white is a recessive gene, so they are very rare. It's believed that they might be more succesful when hunting fish bc of their fur color, which could make the fish believe that they are a cloud. I love how different they are, how rare they are, and how beautiful they look, especially in contrast with the green around them.

As an honourable mention, I'll talke not about a species but an individual bear known was Grizzly 399.

(she's the mother in case you couldn't tell). She and her cubs can be found in the Yellowstone National Park, and she's the most famous brown bear in the world. She is famous for how many cubs she has had and raised (22 cubs and grandcubs) and she lives in proximity to humans (some believe that the reason she does that is to avoid the male bears when she has cubs). Also she has learned and taught her progeny how to avoid getting hit by cars, and she's a very old bear. (having 27/28 years, which trust me, for bears is a lot and she's still having cubs!). There have been hunters who claimed to have killed Grizzly 399 but they were all lies as she is very alive and well with her cubs. Also, forgot to mention, the reaosn she has had so many cubs is because while most bears give birth to 1 or 2 cubs, 399 often births twins and triplets, and she has had quadruplets which is very rare for most bears (and she raised them succesfully, which is even more impressive).

Anyways, these are my favorite bears.

[tg-headcanons]

Thinking about ghouls as farmers/farmhands

I imagine that some types of kagune would be excellent for harvesting/ploughing with a nice bonus of no carbon emissions. I imagine ghouls, after criminalisation, would possibly even revolutionise farming/carbon footprint from farming?

(Although of course ideally a farm wouldnt till but even then for harvesting ghouls would be quite efficient.)

GHOULS IN FARMING AND FOOD PRODUCTION IS SO INTERESTING

Ghouls have always been a part of society, and regardless of where they are or how accepted they are, they’ve always had some hand in farming since, especially before industrialization, it was a good field for them. Their strength, senses, and kagune make them fantastic at cultivating, protecting, and harvesting food

In old world cultures where ghouls were always ostracized, they couldn’t be open about why their crops grew so well, so they tended to make up myths and stories about some ritual or another that makes their harvests so bountiful. They had senses of smell and pressure detection that could help them sniff out blights and pests, as well as semi-accurately predict rainfall, letting them handle issues before they got too bad. That, and their strength that lets them handle the physical task of planting and harvesting, helped them produce a lot of plants. But telling humans how they did it is off the table, so it was common for them to have a plowing Ox just for show and to say they said some prayer that helped

A lot of why ghouls thrived in farming is due to their regeneration. It may not be talked about much anymore, but it is DANGEROUS. Not just the modern machinery, but the strain of lifting and carrying. The illnesses carried by plants and animals. The workhorses and oxen that can just fucking kick you to death. The PIGS. It’s all risky work, and back before antibiotics, just one cut and you’re done for. A person who can not only survive almost any cut, but take a donkey kick to the face and get right back up to finish plowing the field is one of the most valuable people any farming village can have

Farming animals is more hit or Miss, because a lot of prey animals panic when they smell ghoul. Some ghouls still kept them and after enough time, or enough animals born around the smell of them, they could get used to it. Historically ghouls have run a lot of butcher shops because it was one of the best places to hide human meat before dna testing became widely available, so some animal husbandry skill was a good thing

Ghouls tended to make good shepherds. In especially rural areas, a lot of humans would collectively decide not to talk about the fact that someone is obviously a monster because they’re simply so fast and strong and don’t let sheep and cattle go missing or get hunted. If you were in Cold Ass Nowhere Ireland in 1635 and you had a shepherd who not only never loses a sheep but also eats the English, you’d pretend you didn’t notice either

In areas and cultures where ghouls were more accepted, they were essential to hunting and farming. North and central american ghouls had traits designed for taking down megafauna to supplement their diets, and their human companions could depend on them to bring countless Buffalo and deer home. Jungle subspecies had traits built for climbing, and were central to the harvest of high growing fruits and beans. A now likely extinct species native to Canada had semi aquatic adaptations and a thick layer of fat who were designed to hunt seals and small whales, and shaped the way any community lucky enough to have some survived. In places where ghouls were welcomed, they were so efficient at harvesting and hunting that land rarely needed to be developed for monocultures at all

When ghouls are decriminalized in more parts of the world, their physical abilities are allowed to shine again. Stories of ghoul farmers through history arise. Plenty of American and Polynesian communities (who had been telling people about ghoul’s contributions to their land and cultures for years and were having that brushed off as myth) can legally reintroduce the old practices of ghoul hunting and harvesting techniques. Smaller farms hire more ghouls once it’s clear that they can do machine level work without the expense of maintaining machines, and it’s one of the biggest ghoul hiring fields at the start of their legalization

Naturally, ghoul farming unions are quick to form. They can do machine level work, but are not going to risk being treated like machines for it. As with any Union there’s some backlash, but when it becomes apparent just how much better ghouls are at crop maintenance and harvesting, demands are met. It’s become a well paying profession, and has been good work for ghouls that struggle with the human grade education they were denied when they were younger, or ghouls who simply prefer to work outside doing something that benefits people

[local-littleguy]

hey . hey hey. are you like me in the fact that you used to like httyd as a kid

and then when the hidden world came out you really didn't like it and you didn't know why

well a few weeks ago i got my little goblin hands on the httyd hidden world art book and then realized. O h . The reason i didnt like it was because they were telling a different story than the one i wanted to hear. they wanted to tell a story about The Wild and Nature and i just wanted to see the funny dragon and his best friend be best firends

so i am going to start brain dumping about my httyd modern au rewrite

here's some out of context fun facts !!

toothless really fucking loves humans. he is dragon autistic about them

hiccups real name is Hayden but hiccup was a nickname that Just Kinda Stuck

toothless and the lightfury are siblings. she is so tired of his shit. theyre Worsties

hiccup is aroace

the hidden world is a universe parallel to our own where dragons live. we get the cryptid/ghost hunter vibes :333

they all get to use magic and i think im gonna give hiccup a dragon form or something (pleasing the child in me who wanted hiccup to Be Dragon Also)

lightfuries are the "main" species, an exclusively albino variant that survived well due to their semitranslucent skin allowing them to become invisible. nightfuries are melanistic, very rare versions (a subspecies)

they're derived from a common ancestor, a gray dragon that was probably called sky furies or something

since i'm american (unfortunately) the whole story takes place on the north shore bc there's lots of nordic stuff there. new berk (hiccups town) was made by viking settlers thousands of years ago and that's why they all have funky viking names because Honoring Heritage

dragons :3333

[memorable-epocha]

Facts about James Madison Vol. 1

(Because I’m bored and everyone should be enlightened with some James Madison)

James Madison walked with a small spring in his step, considerably to make himself appear slightly taller than he was

Because of the soggy and mushy climates surrounding William and Mary College in Williamsburg, James Madison instead went to the College of New Jersey (Princeton) for his health

James Madison, along with Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, created the Republican Party (also known as the Democratic Republican Party or Jeffersonian Republican Party) in 1792

James Madison’s wife Dolley Payne was gifted a pet parrot named Polly— who was notorious for being aggressive towards humans (thus biting Madison’s finger in front of guests during one occasion)

James Madison personally knew Aaron Burr and Philip Freneau ever since they were all in college

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, reported by a girl walking down the street, could once be seen playing with a neighbor’s pet monkey

James Madison had a long-lasting five decade friendship with Thomas Jefferson

James Madison would eventually have a fall-out with not only Alexander Hamilton, but also George Washington over the belief of federal government and a national bank by the early 1790’s

While Thomas Jefferson in France, he and James Madison would enjoy measuring animals, comparing them to their counterparts (North American animals compared to their similar species in Europe), and telling each other of their findings

James Madison, while he was in college, would last on a five-hour sleep schedule due to studying until he collapsed from a breakdown (this made him stay at the college for an extra year to restore his weakened health)

James Madison had never been good with marital relationships (being allegedly rejected by Freneau’s sister Mary and dumped by Kitty Floyd in the 1780s), but eventually married the 26 year-old widow Dolley Payne in 1794

James Madison was a MASSIVE fan of ice cream, along with his wife Dolley, whose favorite flavor was oyster

[backyardentomologist]

Yesterday, I went to a beach! I say “a” because there are actually a lot of private and public beaches in my area (as a result of living practically on top of Lake Michigan). While the beach was deserted of vacationing humans, I was delighted to find a number of different insects going about their business!

In order, we have:

A seven spotted ladybug navigating some gravel. There were a lot of ladybugs on the beach, and I’m not entirely sure why. Perhaps they were hunting for aphids that might be lurking among the leaf debris scattered across the beach.

A bean leaf beetle, taking a moment on the side of a tiny sprout in the sand. Bean leaf beetles are plant-eaters, and are considered pests by farmers due to their voracious appetites and their preference for vegetable plants.

A multicolored Asian ladybeetle and a Spotted Cucumber beetle crossing paths. I’ve talked about Asian ladybeetles at length in the past, and the Spotted Cucumber Beetle is remarkably similar to the bean leaf beetle, both in appearance and in appetite. Strangely, spotted cucumber beetles don’t subsist solely on cucumbers, which I suppose explains their presence here.

*Disonycha leptolineata* (no common name), a species of flea beetle, which get their name from their remarkable jumping abilities. Flea beetles are closely related to leaf beetles, which makes sense given that their names are anagrams. The fact that this one lacks a common name illustrates just how vast the insect world is: there are simply too many insect species, and not enough time, to give all of them a common name. If I were to name this guy, I’d go with something cool—perhaps ‘painted firefly leaf beetle’.

Spotted pink lady beetle. A large number of these dudes were crawling frantically around the beach, searching for nothing in particular. Perhaps it was their mandatory exercise break.

Green Immigrant Leaf Beetle Weevil. As its name indicates, it is not native to the United States, having arrived from Europe in the early 1900’s. Despite the reputation that nonnative species of insect have gathered for themselves (thanks, spotted lantern flies) these little weevils do not appear to have had a major impact on North American ecosystems, though I doubt this was out of the goodness of their hearts—insects cannot tell the difference between right and wrong.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Prairie Day

National Prairie Day, on June 3 this year, celebrates the beauty and ecological value of this often-overlooked ecosystem. Spanning more than a dozen American states and several Canadian provinces, the North American prairie is a vast grassland that offers more biodiversity and beauty than most people realize. With their endless, gently rolling plains and highly productive soils, prairies have been a valued location for farming and ranching for thousands of years. Today, only 1% of tallgrass prairie in the United States remains untouched by farming or development. National Prairie Day promotes the appreciation and conservation of America’s native prairies.

History of National Prairie Day

The United States is home to a dazzling array of geographies and environments. Some, like the towering redwoods of California or the majestic cascades of Niagara Falls, enjoy worldwide reputations as media darlings and tourist hotspots. Other ecosystems, like the humble prairie that covers much of the interior United States, receive fewer accolades but play crucially important roles in the development of the nation.

Defined as a flat grassland with a temperate climate and derived from the French for ‘meadow,’ ‘prairie’ has become almost synonymous with the expansion of the American frontier. Flanked by the Great Lakes and the grandiose Rocky Mountains, the North American prairie extends across 15% of the continent’s land area. Other examples of similar grasslands around the world include the pampas in Argentina, the Central Asian steppes, and the llanos of Venezuela.

There’s more to the prairie than meets the eye. In fact, tall grass prairies host the most biodiversity in the Midwest and provide a home for dozens of rare species of animals and plants, including bison, antelope, elk, wolves, and bears.

Native prairies face extinction as more and more land is converted to agricultural and ranching use. Due to its rich, fertile soil, prairie land is prized for agricultural use. Around the world, almost three-quarters of agricultural regions are located in grassland areas. With only 1% of tallgrass prairie in the U.S. remaining untouched, the American tallgrass prairie is now one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet. The Missouri Prairie Foundation launched National Prairie Day in 2016 to raise awareness and appreciation for the nation’s grasslands. The organization seeks to protect and restore native grasslands by promoting responsible stewardship, supporting acquisition initiatives, and providing public education and outreach.

National Prairie Day timeline

6000 B.C. The Prairie Forms

The North American prairie forms roughly 8,000 years ago when receding glaciers give way to fertile sediment.

1800s The American Prairie Decimated

Throughout the 19th century, farmers and ranchers, excited about the rich potential of prairie soil, convert almost all of the American prairie to farmland and grazing land.

Early 1930s The Dust Bowl

The combination of years of mismanagement, the stock market crash, and drought conditions come to a head as thousands of families in Oklahoma, Texas, and other parts of the Midwest lose everything when their farms fail, driving them to California and elsewhere to seek work in more fertile fields.

2016 First National Prairie Day

The Missouri Prairie Foundation launches the National Prairie Day campaign to promote awareness and conservation of the vanishing ecosystem.

National Prairie Day FAQs

Why don't prairies have any trees?

The environment of the prairie, with its flat terrain, regular droughts, and frequent fires, is uniquely suited to grasses that don’t require a lot of rainfall or deep soil to thrive.

Why are prairies important?

The prairie provides an irreplaceable home for hundreds of plant and animal species, as well as exceedingly fertile soil for human agriculture and ranching. Prairie destruction has had catastrophic effects, like the Dust Bowl that decimated American farms in the 1930s. Prairies also contribute to the conservation of groundwater.

Why did the Dust Bowl happen?

The Dust Bowl disaster that swept the U.S. and Canada in the 1930s had several natural and man-made causes, including severe drought and a failure to properly manage farmland and conserve precious topsoil. A series of intense dust storms wiped out agriculture, eroded the soil, and left the land unable to produce crops.

National Prairie Day Activities

Learn about the prairie

Donate to a conservation group

Plan a visit to a famous prairie

Do a little research to learn about this important American ecosystem and the role it has played in the cultural and economic development of our country.

If you're concerned about the loss of the American prairie, donate to a grasslands conservation group to support their work.

Do you live near a prairie? Try finding the grassland nearest you and plan a visit.

5 Interesting Facts About Prairies

‘Prairie schooners’

Dogtown

Where the buffalo roam

Carbon hero

Rising from the ashes

During the 1800s, when Americans embarked on the long journey westward, their covered wagons were often referred to as ‘prairie schooners.’

Prairie dogs live in vast networks of underground burrows called ‘towns,’ which can cover hundreds of acres and house thousands of prairie dogs with complex social relationships.

When Europeans first arrived in North America, up to 60 million bison roamed the plains — by 1885, there were fewer than 600.

Prairies can help fight climate change — one acre of intact prairie can absorb about one ton of carbon each year.

On the prairie, wildfires can actually be a healthy thing — with more than 75% of their biomass underground, prairie plants are uniquely suited to surviving and thriving after a fire.

Why We Love National Prairie Day

The prairie often gets overlooked

Native grasslands are critically endangered

It reminds us of the diversity of America's ecosystems

It's not often we remember to celebrate grasslands, yet the prairie plays an important role in America's cultural past and environmental future.

With only 1% of America's native prairie remaining, it's more urgent than ever to conserve and protect this vital resource.

The United States has more environmental variety than almost any other country on earth. Celebrating each unique ecosystem reminds us to appreciate and protect all the beauty our country has to offer.

Source

[thatwobblychair]

CoD The Other Good Guys Bear! Edition

What if the rest of the good guys in call of duty were bears? Part 2 - see Part 1 for 141 as bears

More bear facts! Cause bears are truly the best! 🐻💯

Alejandro: Mexican Grizzly Bear*

Ursus arctos nelsoni - now Ursus arctos horribilis

*depiction of what a mexican grizzly bear may have looked like alive

A now extinct subspecies of the grizzly bear that once inhabited northern Mexico. Due to its predation on cattle farms, they were considered pests and hunted by farmers. By the 1960s there were less than 30 individuals remaining. In 1974 the last known individual was shot in Sonora.

It was smaller than grizzly bears from the United states and Canada, and its colouration was said to range from a pale yellow to greyish-white with a darker undertone, though some individuals were described to be darker and reddish brown.

Due to its silvery fur, it was called 'el olso plateado' (the silvery bear) in Spanish, though it's name in the Ópatas language (an indigenous Mexican people's) was 'pissini'.

Rudy: Spectacled Bear "Andean Bear"

Tremarctos ornatus

The last remaining short-faced bear, native to the Andes Mountains in northern and western South America. Though all bears are omnivores, the spectacled bear has a mostly herbivorous diet with only 5-7% of their diet being meat.

The bear is named after it's distinctive eye markings, though not all spectacled bears may have such markings. Individuals can have highly variable fur patterns making it relatively easy to distinguish from one another.

It's short face and broad snout is thought to be an adaptation to a carnivorous diet despite it's herbivorous preferences.

Paddington Bear is said to be a Spectacled Bear from Peru.

Farah: Asian Black Bear "Moon Bear"

Ursus thibetanus

A medium sized bear native to Asia and highly adapted to arboreal life. It can be found in parts of Korea, China, Japan, eastern Russia, the Himalayas, southeastern Iran and northern India. It is listed as vulnerable due to deforestation and poaching for its body parts (used in traditional medicines).

The name 'moon bear' is given due to its distinctive creamy white cresent fur patch, though in some individuals it is "V" shaped. It has a powerful upper body stronger than it's lower limbs and are known to be the most bipedal of bears.

It has a reputation for extreme aggression despite their reclusive nature and there have been documented reports of unprovoked attacks. They are said to be more aggressive than the Eurasian Brown Bears that may cohabit the same areas and the American Black Bear.

Alex: American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Alongside the Brown Bear, it is one of the only Bear species not threatened with extinction.

Despite living in North America, it is more closely related to the Asian Black Bear and Sun Bear than Grizzly Bears (North American Brown Bears) and Polar Bears. It's ancestors are thought to have split off from the Sun Bear.

Black Bears are distinguished from Grizzly Bears who may cohabit the same area, with their longer tall ears, straight face profile, shorter claws and lack of distinctive hump.

Teddy bears, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Smokey Bear are all inspired by the American Black Bear.

Nikolai: Polar Bear

Ursus maritimus

A large bear native to the Arctic. It is closely related to the Brown Bear and can hybridise with them though this is rare and not often seen. (See Grolar Bears)

They are the most carnivorous of all bear species (hypercarnivores), specialising in hunting seals through ambush attacks. Polar Bears are usually solitary but can be found in groups on land. They can form stable 'alliances' based on dominance hierarchies outside of breeding seasons with the largest males at the top.

It's common name was given in 1771, and was previously referred to as 'white bear', 'ice bear', 'sea bear', 'Greenland bear' in 13th - 18th century Europe. The Netsilik cultures (Inuit) named it 'nanook' and have several additional different names for them depending on sex and age of the polar bear.

Laswell: Kodiak Bear "Kodiak/Alaskan Brown Bear"

Ursus arctos middendorffi

Named after it's habitation of the Kodiak Archipelago in southwest Alaska, the Kodiak bear is the largest subspecies of Brown Bear, with some individuals comparable to the Polar Bear in size.

An island bear, it is 1.5-2x larger than it's mainland cousins the grizzly bear, though physically and physiologically, the two bears are very similar.

Due to its tendancy to feed in dense groups, it has thought to have developed more complex social behaviours (in comparison to mainland grizzly bears) to minimise infighting/fatalities via both verbal/ body posturing and social structures.

+

All info taken from wiki. Please let me know if ther any mistakes.

[rating-bears]

The country bear jamboree claims, and I quote, "Us bears we do love fishing, every hour if we could." But I MUST ask: do all bear types in the jamboree have a mainly fish diet? Would their methods to catch fish be best described as fishing? Would they truly spend so many hours on it without stopping to sing some delightful American tunes??? These are all highly important questions to me.

alright everypony buckle up

my first challenge in answering these questions is to figure out what species the country bears are, which is harder than it may seem. we have a couple clues, but mostly circumstantial evidence.

firstly, based on the fact that they are American and the general shape and character design of the models, we can conclude that they are either brown bears or black bears, or a mix of the two. but thats the easy part to figure out, it gets more complicated from here.

you might jump to say theyre brown bears because of the color of their fur, but that is Not how it works. the shade of a bears fur is determined by a number of environmental factors, not just their species. brown and black bears can have fur colored in any range from blonde to black and anything inbetween.

Next we move on to consider geography. The NUMBER ONE easiest way to figure out if you are facing a black bear or a brown bear is to simply remember where you are in the continental us.

This map isnt super accurate, but it does give the general idea of the range.

Brown bears tend to live farther north, and more on the west side, while black bears can be found just about anywhere there are mountains.

Now if we want to stereotype, and say they country bears are meant to fulfill Appalachian stereotypes, then the answer is pretty apparent, they are black bears that just have a lighter coloration.

And for the most part, I am happy with this answer. As far as i can tell there is no officials species, and as they are drawn in a more humanized way its hard to tell if they have species specific physical characteristics. Black bears are typically smaller and sleeker than brown bears, and although most of the country bears appear fluffy, that could just be considered part of their hair and makeup for their show.

HOWEVER, there are a few that i believe are brown bears, or meant to be brown bears. for example: Gomer. He is a brown bear. you can see in his character art and to a lesser extent his animatronic model, a noticeable hump in between his shoulder blades. this is a KEY indicator of being a brown bear. Ernest is also a brown bear, not because i have any specific reason, but because they call him that in his character description. Trixie is also described as a brown bear in a similar manner.

NOW ON TO THE FISH QUESTION!

Black bears and brown bears Do both eat fish, but where fish ranks in the hierarchy of their diet is different. Brown bears tend to be very avid fisher, with most of their diet consisting of fish. Black bears can and will fish, but due to their more spread out habitats will generally eat whatever is around.

Now, if you choose to believe that ALL of the country bears are brown bears ( well within your right) then that answers the question pretty cleanly! they fish and they eat fish and they are bears! butttttt if you buy into the black bear category then you get a more fun explanation. if the country bears are black bears then fishing can be more of a recreation hobby for them than their main way of collecting food! its something they seek out and do for fun! i think either explanation works here personally.

I would say heir methods to catch fish would be best described as fishing, its just a bit different from how we fish on account of they are bears and all!!

And i think they absolutely spend their fishin time singin good ole country bear songs!! thats half the fun! spendin time on the water, fishin up dinner, workshopping new songs, itd be a great way to bond, try out new melodies, and generally seems like the perfect way for a bear in showbizz to spend their days off!!!!

[noticiasarquelogicasjaponesas]

Capítulo 4: El origen de un país y su prehistoria, un paseo por la historia del país del sol naciente.  -  El Pleistoceno: ¿Cómo era el clima en el pleistoceno a través de los registros? Los testigos geológicos y los foraminíferos que nos permiten saber cómo era el clima en aquella época, en Japón era muy húmedo y muy frío, hay que tener en cuenta que las temperaturas actuales no son las mismas que hace 1.2 millones de años. ¿Es verdad, que los humanos en el pleistoceno extinguieron a mucha megafauna? Lo cual es una verdad a medias, ya que el ser humano fue una de las muchas causas, por el hecho de que como las temperaturas fueron uno de los factores claves en sus extinciones, por el hecho de que si una especie necesita de determinada para sobrevivir y el ser humano y el clima acaban con ella, pues, hay tenemos el golpe de gracia. Se sabe que en Hokkaido había Mamuts. El territorio Nippo, estaba unido al continente chino y correano en la zona sur por el estrecho de Tsushima o también denominado Paleo - Honshu y al norte por la isla de Sanjin. Como veíamos en el capítulo anterior, ¿Cómo se llaman las placas tectónicas que forman el archipiélago? Está compuesta por cuatro, Placa del Pasifico, EuroAsiática y NorteAmericana. Esto jugará, un papel fundamental, en la conformación del archipiélago japonés. Como ya mencione en el capítulo 3, posiblemente serían un conjunto de pequeñas islas que se fueron cambiando hasta conformar lo que vemos actualmente como Japón. - Mientras unas se indican, otras emergen y así a la inversa, esto deja registros geológicos. Algunas prefecturas donde se han encontrado restos humanos: prefecturas de Hyogo Shizuoka. - Chapter 4: The origin of a country and its prehistory, a walk through the history of the country of the rising sun. - The Pleistocene: What was the climate like in the Pleistocene across records? The geological witnesses and foraminifera that allow us to know what the climate was like at that time, in Japan it was very humid and very cold, we must take into account that current temperatures are not the same as 1.2 million years ago. Is it true that humans in the Pleistocene extinct many megafauna? Which is a half truth, since the human being was one of the many causes, due to the fact that since temperatures were one of the key factors in their extinctions, due to the fact that if a species needs a certain amount to survive and the human being and the climate put an end to it, well, there we have the coup de grace. It is known that there were Mammoths in Hokkaido. The Nippo territory was joined to the Chinese and Correan continent in the south by the Strait of Tsushima or also called Paleo-Honshu and to the north by the island of Sanjin. - As we saw in the previous chapter, what are the names of the tectonic plates that form the archipelago? It is made up of four, Pacific, Euro-Asian and North American Plates. This will play a fundamental role in the formation of the Japanese archipelago. As I already mentioned in chapter 3, they were possibly a set of small islands that changed until they formed what we currently see as Japan. While some are indicated, others emerge and so on, this leaves geological records. Some prefectures where human remains have been found: Hyogo Shizuoka prefectures. - 第4章 国の成り立ちと先史、日出ずる国の歴史を歩く。 - 更新世: 記録に残る更新世の気候はどのようなものでしたか? 地質学的証拠と有孔虫は、当時の日本がどのような気候であったかを知ることを可能にします。日本は非常に湿気が多く、非常に寒かったため、現在の気温は 120 万年前と同じではないことを考慮する必要があります。 更新世の人類が多くの巨大動物を絶滅させたというのは本当ですか? これは半分真実です。なぜなら、温度が絶滅の重要な要因の1つであるという事実、そして種が生き残るためにある程度の量が必要であるという事実のため、人間は多くの原因の1つであるからです。人間と気候がそれに終止符を打ったのです。まあ、ここで私たちは幸運をもたらしました。 北海道にはマンモスがいたことが知られています。 日豊領土は、南は対馬海峡、または古本州とも呼ばれ、北は三津島によって中国大陸とコレリア大陸につながっていました。 - 前の章で見たように、列島を形成する構造プレートの名前は何ですか? 太平洋プレート、ヨーロッパ・アジアプレート、北米プレートの4枚で構成されています。 それは日本列島の形成に根本的��役割を果たします。 第 3 章ですでに述べたように、それらはおそらく、私たちが現在日本として見ているものを形成するまでに変化した小さな島の集まりであった可能性があります。 示されているものもあれば、出現しているものもあり、これにより地質学的記録が残ります。 人骨が発見された都道府県: 兵庫県 静岡県。 -