#weighted wildlife opossum

[doyouhavethisplush]

Do you have this plush?

Weighted Wildlife Opossum, by Roamin' Bison Workshop

[rottingcompost]

I brought Bug with me to Ristafallet in Järpen this week, and it was amazing to see. I had never been to Ristafallet before and it felt so powerful to watch it, and even if i went there with a headache it was a really nice experience because it was so cool (it did pass later tho, my meds hadnt kicked in fully yet)

[geezerwench]

Weighted Wildlife!

Instead of a weighted blanket, hug your chubby, chonky weighted friend!

About Weighted Wildlife™

Designed by an autistic artist, Weighted Wildlife™ plushies are designed to help with anxiety and aid in relaxation with a keen eye toward the cuteness factor!

[fernlakefriends]

★ petra ★

a weighted wildlife brand opossum purchased online via kickstarter, received in april 2024.

weighing around 3 pounds, they are my main stim buddy and i bring them with me in high-stress situations to help me regulate!

[elvensworld]

What is a favorite fact that you like but feel like you never have a chance to share? More than one favorite is also totally acceptable.

The Virginia Opossum is not only the only marsupial in North America, but it also has the shortest pregnancy of all mammals which is 12-13 days (the water opossum of Central America is also 12-13 days). On the other hand elephants have the longest pregnancy at 22 months. When Virginia Opossums are born, they are about the size of an American dime or a honeybee and weigh 0.13 grams (about the weight of 2-3 grains of rice). Virginia Opossums have between 8 and 25 babies per litter, but have to crawl up their moms belly (with only front legs and while completely blind) and attach to one of 13 teats. Once they attach, their jaws lock down till they are about two months old. If a baby is dropped by mom for any reason, she will not come back for them. Wildlife rehabbers can feed baby opossums with a small tube that goes into their stomach due to the fact that opossums can’t swallow at a young age and their mothers teat grows with them and stays in their stomach till they deattach. I have worked as a wildlife rehabber since 2008 and my specialty has always been opossums. I have raised them as small as 6 grams in weight which seems impossible to a lot of rehabbers out there. I will attach some photos. (Oh an Virginia Opossums have a pronged p3n1$ and females have two uteru$’ to support this.)

[vixen525noms]

So as someone who keeps tiny pets (insects, a tarantula, a small lizard) as well as volunteered at a wildlife rehab for years where I handled small baby animals (baby squirrels, opossums, rabbits, ducklings, goslings, newly hatched turtles) I can actually provide some idea of the perspective of the giant side on this! I do sometimes sort of forget how easily I could damage my precious babies because it's become such second nature to use precise care.

With wily squirrel babies that occasionally need to be restrained for care, I never injured even one even though it became habit to hold them firmly at times for their own safety. I was surprised by how strong the scared ones were when I was trying to feed them and they were trying to escape.

With my personal pet tarantula she actually indicates to me when she doesn't want to be handled, but most of the time I can scoop her up and hold her in the palm of my hand. Most of the time it's just enjoying the gentle weight and light tickles of movement. But every so often when she settles to chill on my palm it occurs to me just how very fragile she is. How easily one small mistake could mean I lose her.

With baby waterfowl I was always struck by how bold they are and how willing they are to yeet themselves off of a high surface if you aren't careful. Even knowing they are tough enough to be fine it would panic me and get my heart racing when they tried that nonsense.

If anyone has questions about these kinds of interactions with small animals, feel free to shoot me an ask!

I sometimes wonder if giants ever forget thier own strength around tinies. Not that they accidentally cause harm because they forgot, but more so they have just done things like picking up thier tiny so many times that it's just second nature. Vise versa, I wonder if tinies that have been around giants for long enough ever forget thier friends strength. It would take quite alot of trust to get to that point though. I can imagine that the giant would have to try day in and day out to be as gentle as they can around them, maybe even going so far as to be borderline paranoid, but the spoils of thier work would be rich. If anyone else has anything to add, I'd love to hear it. I feel like this is an overlooked part of the G/T community, and I'd love to explore it more.

[carnegiemuseumnaturalhistory]

Pitfall Traps: Fieldwork Surprises

by Amanda K. Martin

Powdermill Nature Reserve is home to a wide variety of creatures whose presence remains undetected by most human visitors. One way that scientists can explore the animal diversity of an area is by a method called pitfall trapping (Fig. 1A). For research into the Reserve’s amphibian diversity, I was part of a small team who placed pairs of 5-gallon buckets in the ground 8 feet apart, with their rims at surface level. We then set up a low metal fence between each pair of buckets (Fig 1A). Animals moving along the forest floor who encountered the fence would generally follow the barrier, to the left or to the right, and fall into one of our traps.

We checked our pitfall traps every morning during the study period, noting which species we had captured, along with their size and weight, before releasing them unharmed. As an amphibian study our trapping targets were frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts, and we were successful in documenting their presence. Across ten sample periods of ten days each, we captured 1,962 individual amphibians representing 17 different species! (Fig. 1B)

Fig 1A: Dr. Martin inspecting a pitfall trap array for captured amphibians. Photo by P. DeQueiroz.

Fig. 1B: Species diversity from captures in traps along with a few surprise reptilian encounters.

Pitfall traps also capture non-target species, called by-catch, a term that give little indication of the surprising encounters some of these creatures create. Normally I see a wide variety of invertebrate species when I check my traps, including millipedes, large beetles, spiders, crayfish, and even moths. Additionally, this year we captured a Northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon; Fig. 2A) and four eastern garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis; Fig. 2B). More surprisingly, one trap briefly detained a fledging Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo, Fig. 2C)!

Fig. 2: Captured snakes and a surprise avian, Northern Water (A), Eastern Garter (B), and a fledgling turkey (C).

Our study’s pitfall trap by-catch also included several different mammals that scurry across the forest floor: We caught different species of mice (Fig. 3A), shrews, voles (Fig. 3B), and on single occasions a chipmunk (Fig. 3C), mole, or even an opossum! Our traps contained moist sponges to provide water for these small mammals, along with small sections of PVC pipe for shelter. We also found that anchoring a jute string to the bucket edge overhang, with knots tied every 50 – 60 mm, reduced small mammal by-catch. The string provided a means for small mammals to climb up to the ground surface and escape on their own—except for a tiny eastern cottontail rabbit (Fig. 3D), which was safely released after we encountered it.

Fig. 3: Small mammal encounters with a mouse (A), vole (B), chipmunk (C), and a bunny (D).

In addition to encounters with the animals caught in our pitfalls, the time we spent checking the traps provided opportunities to observe other wildlife passing through the forest. On one occasion while my field assistant and I were measuring an Allegheny dusky salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus) we heard a loud noise. When we both looked up a wooded slope in the direction of the sound we were shocked to see a black bear (Ursus americanus) approaching. I took a quick photo (Fig. 4), released the salamander, and we cautiously watched the bear come down the hill and walk off. The incident was nerve-wracking in the moment, but very exciting in retrospect! Also, while relaxing outside my cabin one day after a long fieldwork session, I was lucky enough to spot a bobcat walking past —a great bonus to spending so much time in the forest!

Fig. 4: A surprise black bear encounter while checking pitfall traps.

All research was conducted under approved permits. Photos by A.K. Martin.

Amanda K. Martin is the Rea Postdoctoral Fellow in the Section of Amphibians and Reptiles. Museum employees are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.

[sawgrassnaturecenter]

Report from a Wildlife Rehabber: 

On February 19 a female opossum was caught in a car engine. The auto repair shop that found her called the Coral Springs Humane Unit to come help. After a long struggle, they were able to remove her. She suffered from several facial lacerations and was very thin. 

Since we have a developed community partnership, they brought her to us at the Sawgrass Nature Center. Once in our care, she was treated for the facial wounds, parasites, and her weight was monitored. She healed well, but the weight gain was slow moving. Eventually, she recovered to what would be considered a healthy weight. Only one thing was left - release. 

After almost a month in care, on March 13, the female opossum was released back to the wild. Now back out in the wild, she can continue to live out her life in her natural habitat. 

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

i saw the nyc au ask and wondered, what do you think animorphs would have been like if the series had been set in the midwest instead of california?

Bless.  (For anyone wondering, this is the NYC AU.)  Based solely on my experiences with living in central Iowa…

The selection of battle morphs would be a heck of a lot more limited.  The local zoo would probably have a large cat, maybe two large cats of the same species, and that’d be about it for ginormous predators.  Clearly, the only recourse would be for Marco to use domestic goat morph, Jake to find a coyote through the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and Rachel to kick butt as The Only Giant Cat in Fifteen Counties.  Tobias would have no shortage of raptors to choose from, given that there’s practically a hawk on every telephone pole, and the rabbit overpopulation problem would also keep him quite well-fed.  Cassie to go for something that that destrier morph Jake gets in MM3, and knowing her she’d be surprisingly good at fighting as a giant pissed-off horse.  Ax would have the largest and scariest-looking cow morph one can imagine, and would be quite happy with its superiority over mere bipedal humanity.

Obviously, there’s no ocean.

All five human kids would have to spend an entire week going on a massive adventure where they search corn fields, soy fields, wheat fields, and the occasional field-of-cows field to try and find the source of the mysterious andalite voice.  Presumably by the time they finally find him, Ax will have already made several attempts to communicate with the local cattle, and will have concluded that if these locals aren’t even sentient then there’s probably no hope at all for communication with the silly primates.

Rather than going through the trouble of building a secret underwater base, Visser One would simply construct a fake biodome.  The resultant airtight super-controlled environment might be even harder to penetrate than the underwater base, and would be guarded by a large pack of mind-controlled cougars.

Presumably the pemalite ship will be hidden in plain sight, perched on top of a truck stop and disguised as a giant metal dog that is advertising the local Kum and Go, or possibly an off-brand Fast ‘n Go, or else an off-off-brand Kwick & Go.  The password to access it will be to ask for the key to the bathroom like you’re some kind of rube from New York who thinks that all truck stops have locking bathrooms.

Visser Three would get a lot of conflicting information about whether armadillos and opossums are native to the area or not.  The human-controllers (presumably some of whom would have to be shipped in from elsewhere) would be known to emit occasional shrieks of terror while insisting that “no rat is EVER supposed to be that large… Hang on, it just dropped dead, never mind I guess.”

Instead of Jake complaining about rainy days, Jake would be complaining about any day when the wind is greater than 30 MPH.  Actually, Tobias would have a lot more to complain about on those kinds of days.  But either way, the windchill would be brutal for the poor Animorphs any time they’re birds.

The Sharing would either have to unite with FFA, or else die by FFA’s hand.  There is no third option.

Which outcome we’d see would probably depend on how much the Council of Thirteen allowed Visser One to intervene in the invasion plan.  If Visser One did get involved, then the Sharing would probably do some joint recruiting events, the yeerks would infest the FFA’s senior leaders, and there’d be plenty of cross-promotions.

If Visser Three was allowed too much oversight, on the other hand, then the Sharing would probably challenge the FFA to single combat for the minds and bodies of the local youth.  The Sharing would, of course, lose spectacularly.  The only way to save them would be through an alliance with 4H, which even then might not be sufficient.

In a small town in the Midwest, there’s no way that Marco’s whole “that controller cop knew Tom and so Tom must also be a controller” hypothesis would hold water.

Because of course the cop would know Tom; Tom’s the top scorer on the local high school’s basketball team!  Over half the county would know Tom.  Probably most local cops would be able to list Tom’s name and age and height and weight and jersey number and average points per game.  Tom scores points for a local team!  More points than any other player!   It wouldn’t be that unusual for his face to be on posters and novelty shirts and coffee mugs.

Assuming the Sharing could actually get a toehold in this town, Tom’s level of influence would then be fucking terrifying.

When it comes to protecting the local land from environmental pollutants and extraterrestrials alike, Southern California hippies got nothing on people whose livelihood literally depends on the continued quality of the land.  So expect all the civilians to be automatically on the side of whoever isn’t invading.  Maybe the Animorphs couldn’t go so far as to trust random strangers in the area — a decent percent of them are probably controllers — but woe betide any yeerks who get caught unnecessarily cutting down trees or shooting skunks.  There would probably be a lot more people like Derek and Polo who are like “I dunno what’s going on here, but if you’re local animals who are sometimes humans and you’re trying to do something about the guys in spaceships destroying everything in sight… How can I help?”

Either the Animorphs would have to learn how to morph more clothes, or else they’d spend way more time morphing to get rid of frostbite and hypothermia the way they do in #25.  It’s really only warm enough to be outside barefoot in leotards for about four months of the year in most places in the Midwest.  It would be miserable the rest of the time, but then being an Animorph is already like 85% relentless misery.  They would also stand out a heck of a lot more any time they ended up having to go into a public establishment like a McDonald’s wearing nothing but their morphing clothes, because everyone else in there would have on 15 layers of flannel.

The veleek would go almost totally unremarked-upon.  It probably wouldn’t make the news (it’s just a minor tornado; no one actually dies from it) and the Animorphs would probably take way longer to realize that it’s not behaving the way a normal wind storm does.

Infesting actors would be way more difficult (probably no Jeremy Jason McColes or William Roger Tennants in the area) but the number of politicians in the area would more than make up for it.

There are, at minimum, two or three presidential hopefuls per year at various events in Des Moines.  Most of the time their security is less than it would be in Washington D.C., because of the fewer vantage points and less-charged political atmosphere there.  It would be terrifyingly easy to infest the future president if the yeerks were based out of central Iowa.

Not only that, but there are always dozens of congress members at every single Iowa State Fair, usually because they’re angling for something political.  Given that politicians are a bunch of greedy power-hungry bottom feeders who definitely don’t have souls, the Sharing would just have to offer them powerful political connections and they’d practically be lining up to become controllers.

If the yeerks have less control of the media and also more control of the government, there’d probably be a lot more social conflict in the U.S. and less faith in Washington overall.  However, they also might be able to get martial law declared in the U.S., at which point suspension of the First Amendment is semi-legal…

What would probably be the yeerks’ downfall in a Midwestern town is sheer lack of bodies.  In the greater L.A. area, the yeerks can produce hundreds of thousands of controllers in a matter of weeks when desperate enough (#52) but they’d never be able to achieve that kind of army if they were working out of Kansas or Iowa or Nebraska.  Given that one Animorph can take on like seven controllers in open battle, and that it only takes about two dozen Animorphs (and several other intersecting factors, but still) to take down the whole Yeerk Empire, Jake wouldn’t have to recruit that hard to get enough of an army to face down maybe 400 controllers in total.

[rottingcompost]

I finally got my weighted opossum plushie! Their name is Bug (pronounced boug) and they are from the brand weighted wildlife. Im really happy with this hefty little guy! Very good size to hug as well

[ameritechpcsi]

4 Tips to Keep Wildlife Out of Your Home

At Wildlife Removal Services in Florida, we provide the professional and humane animal control services you need. From rats and racoons to opossums and snakes, be sure to contact us to learn more about what we can offer, and get a free quote on our services.

1. Secure Garbage Cans

When you take out the trash, it can be easy to forget that it poses a tempting treat for many wild animals. After all, it’s free food that they can simply go and take. Depending on the type of garbage can you have, make sure it closes securely so that nothing can get in. You also want to check to see if it is easy to open after being knocked over. Ideally, you could store your garbage cans in the garage to keep them safe from wildlife until trash day, but if that’s not an option, utilize heavy weights or rocks on top of the cans. You could also look for lid-securing devices to attach to your garbage cans.

2. Don’t Feed Wildlife

Sure, wild animals like raccoons and prairie dogs can look cute, especially when they’re young, but don’t be fooled into leaving food outside for them. Not only will this eventually make them dependent on humans for food, but it also teaches them that they don’t need to be cautious around humans. If you feed your pet outside, it’s a great idea to monitor them while they’re eating and then bring any uneaten food back inside once they’re done. If you observe racoons being active during the day, this is a warning sign, and you should contact Wildlife Removal Services immediately.

3. Protect Your Garden and Water Features

If you have a koi pond or another water feature with fish in it, then you’ll want to seriously consider installing an electric fence or other protective measures around the pond. Racoons absolutely love water foods like fish and crawdads, which makes your pond an open invitation to dinner. Gardens that provide you with delicious fruits and vegetables are also very appealing to wildlife as this is a great source of tasty food. You can set up a fence to protect your garden, make sure to pick up any overripe fruits and veggies, or build a raised garden.

4. Close off Entryways for Critters

That tiny crawl space that you thought nothing could fit through? It’s the perfect entrance for wildlife looking for shelter. Walk around your home to look for any tight spaces, gaps, or holes that could be an open invitation. Seal them up with caulk or mesh as appropriate for the area. Remember, wildlife, even animals as big as racoons, can fit through spaces that are just three to four inches in diameter.

Animal Control Services in Florida

If you think you have a wildlife problem in your backyard or home, don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Wildlife Removal Services in Florida. We provide humane animal control to ensure your health and safety. Contact us today for a free quote.

[lifelearningapps]

Moodzie Loves Rabbits

Moodzie loves rabbits, as they are small furry mammals with nice long ears and little fluffy tails but also strong and very fast legs. Moodzie would like to share some interesting facts about rabbits that surely will influence anyone reading to also have some love for rabbits. Firstly, Rabbits can have multiple litters or babies each year, and they are able to give birth to up to a total of 9 litters at the same time, when babies are born within the wild they only spend a little bit of time with their mother, as mother rabbits avoid spending time with them as they do not wish to draw attention from other predators, however when the babies grow up they all do continue to live together as a family. An unfortunate fact about rabbits is that far too often they are killed, and killed so for their fur, as bunnies endure terrible abuse in certain parts of the world, such as Angola’s fur farms, where are kept in small cages and killed once their fur is required. Rabbits similarly to humans however also get very grumpy, especially once you invade their space, as rabbits like humans really like certain spaces where they wish to eat and sleep especially, and they prefer to have lots of the space, thus if one invades the space they will certainly get quite grumpy. Studies also show another fact about rabbits, that usually around the hours of sunset and sunrise, rabbits tend to be at their most active and functional. Rabbits and bunnies similarly to humans also happen to get bored quite easily, as if you trap them or put them within a cage, where they cannot do anything, if you are keeping your bunnies within a cage which Moodzie would advise against, certainly make sure that it is a sizeable cage where they can roll around and do other things, and also maybe give them some toys or hay or something to play with to help ease their boredom. A tip by Moodzie to those who have pet rabbits would be to never put them outdoors, as not is there a chance that other predatory animals like cats, dogs, or others can come and harm the rabbit, but also many times the lawn or grass has certain chemicals that do not suit the rabbit and it can kill them. Moodzie also believes it is very important to be together with the rabbit or bunny if you take them outside, as other animals can easily hurt them, as rabbits happen to be prey animals and not predatorial at all, thus those are some fun facts about rabbits and why Moodzie loves them. Moodzie loves these adorable creatures. Below are facts about rabbits and what impacts them: Characteristics: Rabbits are small, furry mammals with long ears, with strong, large, hind legs and short, fluffy tails. They have two pairs of sharp, incisor, front teeth, one pair on the top and one pair on the bottom. Using their powerful hind legs, rabbits move by hopping. They have four, long webbed toes on their hind feet to keep them from spreading apart as they jump. They also have five toes each on their front paws. Rabbits vary in size and color, ranging in weight from 2 to 16 pounds (1 to 7 kilograms), depending on their breed. Pet rabbits that have been well taken care of and spayed early in life, have a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years. Behavior: Rabbits are highly intelligent, potentially loving and loyal creatures, who can become a most delightful companion. They are shy, ground-loving creatures, who feel really insecure and frightened when cuddled, held, restrained and bathed. Although some rabbits tolerate handling quite well, many do not like to be picked up and carried. Like wild rabbits, if house rabbits are mishandled, they will nip, kick and scratch to protect themselves. Rabbits use their legs to thump and express how they are feeling. Legs are escape vehicles to flee from predators, weapons to defend their territory from other rabbits, or to protect their ears from fleas. Rabbits need daily monitoring. Problems that are relatively minor in some species, differ from other rabbits. (e.g. a day or two of not eating may be threatening to a rabbit) Diet: Rabbits are herbivores that feed by grazing on grass and leafy weeds in the wild. They re-ingest their own droppings to further digest their food and extract sufficient nutrients. A house rabbit’s diet should be made up of good quality pellets, fresh grass hay, oat hay, water and fresh, dark leafy or root vegetables. They can also be fed a variety of fruits in moderation, such as: apples, melons, berries, pears, oranges, plums, pineapple, papaya and peaches. Hay is essential to a rabbit’s excellent health, by providing roughage that reduces the danger of hairballs and other blockages. Apple tree twigs also provide good roughage. Absolutely NO pasta, breakfast cereals, chocolate (poisonous!), cookies, crackers, bread, yogurt drops or other ‘human treats” should be fed to rabbits. Special Features: Rabbits are fastidious groomers and shed their hair every three months. They will constantly lick themselves to stay clean, but are prone to hairballs. They are immaculately clean and once they have matured and are spayed/neutered, they go to great lengths not to soil their living quarters and will readily use a litterbox. Rabbits can breed from a young age. Some species can breed from 4 to 5 months old. Their teeth are specifically adapted for gnawing and grow continuously throughout their lives. Some species of rabbits can reach speeds of 35 to 45 miles (55 to 70 kilometers) per hour. Rabbits can become bored and depressed from isolation. Habitat: Wild rabbits are found in underground burrows in many habitats around the world, such as meadows, deserts, woods, forests, grasslands and wetlands. As a result of their appetite and the rate at which they breed, rabbits can be a risk to agriculture. In some countries or locations, measures are in place to manage wild populations. In some locations, having rabbits as pets is illegal. In locations that allow rabbits as pets, it is recommended that house rabbits live indoors, because rabbits kept in hutches outdoors have a lower lifespan. Make sure to supervise rabbits when they are outside, as there are many risks to their health. Rabbits must be trained and the house must be bunny-proofed or they will chew electrical cords, books, rugs and furniture. Impacts: (a) Breeding and abandonment In many countries, there is an overpopulation of domestic rabbits. Millions of adorable rabbits are killed in animal shelters every year. Unwanted rabbits are often abandoned in fields, parks or on city streets to fend for themselves, where they suffer from starvation, sickness and are easy prey to other animals or traffic accidents. Many of these rabbits will be sold as snake food, or as a pet for a small child who will soon “outgrow” the rabbit. (b) Breeding and abandonment Rabbits are bred world wide for the following purposes: Rabbit fur: The fur is used to make coats, collard, ear muffs and cat toys. Meat: Millions of rabbits are being raised and slaughtered in factory-like conditions, with very little government oversight, for human consumption every year. Product testing:  There is no need to test cosmetics, tooth paste and household products on live animals, yet a large number of rabbits give their lives to such testing. Please consider avoiding products that have been tested on animals.  (c) Easter Each year, thousands of baby rabbits, chicks and ducks are purchased as Easter gifts, only to be abandoned or left at shelters in the days, weeks and months that follow Easter. Some photography studios and businesses around the world offer photo sessions using a rabbit as a prop. The little bunny ends up neglected, abandoned or as a prize for a raffle. Please join us this Easter in encouraging people to buy a “chocolate bunny” and “stuffed toy” rather than a “live” bunny. (d) Health Many factors can adversely affect the health and life-span of rabbits, such as extremes of weather, poisonous plants, bacteria, ingested hairballs and diseases spread by fleas, ticks, flies and mosquitos. Rabbits insist on being clean and tidy and will lick themselves like cats, and like cats, they can get hairballs, if they ingest too much hair. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot vomit. If hairballs are allowed to form, they can become gigantic masses of tangled hair and food. This will block the stomach exit, causing the rabbit to starve to death while his stomach appears to be very fat. (e) Hunting Wild rabbits and hares (and sometimes domestic rabbits, who have gone feral) are subject to being killed for sport. (i.e. hunting, greyhound training and hair coursing) Government efforts to control wildlife occur in some locations, when rabbits or hares have found themselves living on land to be developed, farmed or when they have moved onto already developed properties, such as retirement homes or golf courses. (f) Predators If house rabbits are left outside in rural and urban areas, there is risk of predators. Rabbits can die of heart attacks from the very approach of a predator – even if the rabbit is not attacked or bitten. Predators include; dogs, feral cats, raccoons, foxes and coyotes; and more rarely, owls, hawks, opossums and weasels. 10 interesting facts about rabbits RSPCA, Victoria, Animal, Adoption, Donate, Ambassador, rabbit, bunny, feeding, vaccination, crepuscular, grooming, desexed, bun, hare, #bunnylove, thumper, bunnies, snuggle, pet, little, small, animal lover, fluffy, animals, adorable, cuteness, furry, pet, plush, toy, new pet, easter You'll Be Checking Sweater Tags Once You Find Out What Angora Is Rabbits can have multiple litters each year, giving birth to up to nine babies, known as "kittens," each time. In the wild, they're born helpless in a shallow hole lined with grass and their mamma's fur. Mother rabbits in the wild spend only a few moments each day with their babies in order to avoid drawing attention to them from predators. 20 Fascinating Facts about Rabbits | Care2 Causes Rabbits are intelligent, social, very clean - and definitely not starter pets, as some people believe them to be. Just in time for Easter, here are some interesting facts that you may not know about these "hoppy" little creatures. 1. Rabbits are not the same species as hares, which, among other characteristics, are larger and less social. Thanks to the House Rabbit Society for providing the factual information. House Rabbit Society Buy a Bunny a Little Time

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[pamelapedrick]

🤗And....we got him! This little one has been under the house since at least Monday when he found his way into the AC duct...I saw him ( and heard him) in the AC grate trying to claw his way into my house. My vents are floor vents... My dad tried to catch him (almost had him) from the AC vent but....so...🤷‍♀️🐭 No sleep for me all week as I had my ears open for him...we thought he got out from under the house since I hadn't heard him but put out live traps just in case...one above the AC vent with the grate off and one under the house... he's in the trap that was under the house... According to what I've read his weight and size says he can be on his own. Run free my friend...run free...🐾 #thereformeddieter #opossum #wildlife #visitor #animals #critters #livetrap #nosleep (at Coach Pamela Pedrick, R.N., CHC) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1PRVLBjQoN/?igshid=x5istxwuston

[bubarnes820]

Balance

April 10, 2018

This morning chick #2, who shall from now on be called Michael, was balancing and walking across branches in the grove like a tightrope artist, and then flapping over to other limbs. He seemed to be getting more secure, and he seemed to be happy in the same grove where one of last year’s chicks frolicked for several days. He’s not as active as that one was, but he was moving around. I don’t think I’d seen the tightrope walk done exactly that way before. And then on the branch of the hollow tree, chick #3, who shall be called Buster, was still there. In fact, there was a large owl with him, giving him something substantial to eat. It was too dark to see what it was, but it looked like they were sharing a meal. The big owl was bent over the baby a little higher up than it had been yesterday, and they both stayed there for a few minutes.

Then Big Owl left, and Buster went back down the branch he’d been on since at least yesterday afternoon. I gave him some of my telepathic advice: go up a little higher, and you can find more branches to practice on. In a little while he tried that. He clung to the trunk and climbed little by little, but then the trunk curved out some and I guess he wasn’t comfortable with leaning that far back. Cary saw him turn and glide back to his branch, where he too practiced the tightrope walk for my collection of short videos. He’s still sitting up there right now, half a day later.

The owl books say the young owls do this “branching” for about a week, but last year they all left sooner than that. This year chick #1, who shall be called Gob (pronounced Job—if you’ve watched the TV series Arrested Development you will understand), only stayed a couple of days, but he may still be close by. The woods are just over the berm, and there are several trees even closer, in our neighbor’s yard, and dotted up the hill to the lake.

Our yard is in a perfect habitat for owls—we have old trees with lots of natural, unpruned growth; we live right down the hill from a lake, and at the end of the lake, right behind us, are the woods and the wetlands, which are part of the Wolf River Conservancy. We’ve seen all kinds of wildlife in and near our yard, including deer, opossums, wild turkeys, quail, a skunk, and of course rabbits, squirrels, and raccoons. Once a coyote somehow got into our yard for a few seconds in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon.

An arborist from our tree service came out and told us that the top half of the hollow oak will probably break off someday but that we can delay that by removing some of the weight if we let them prune branches and some of the trunk at the top. It sounded like a good idea, so we told them we would have them do that after owl season. He said the hollow is very deep—he could tell by looking at it. We’ve noticed that the owls disappear completely, and that several of them can be in there at the same time.

Anyway, the balancing act the owls do is interesting but worrisome to watch—if you’ve seen the movie with Philippe Petit, or if you’ve ever seen one fall, you’ll understand. They remind me of the hippo ballerinas in Fantasia—they look top-heavy, although they are much lighter than they look. A full-grown barred owl with a three to four foot wingspan weighs only around two pounds.

They don’t have to balance much as adults, but over the years, if they feed their young on a branch, they have to know how.

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How To Shield Your Pet From Fleas

Whenever you personal a pet, the dreaded “F-word” is an unlucky reality of life. We’re not speaking in regards to the phrase you possibly can’t say in entrance of your grandma, we’re speaking about fleas. These tiny, annoying pests have an effect on all forms of canines. From well-known canine Instagram stars and modest shelter canines to tiny toy Yorkies and large Cane Corso puppies, the flea is an equal-opportunity invader.

As quickly because the climate begins to heat up, the flea inhabitants blooms. This creates a hazard for each you and your furry buddy. Whereas there’s nothing you are able to do to keep away from fleas utterly, there are some issues you are able to do to attenuate their affect. Let’s take a better have a look at the hazard fleas deliver and the most effective methods to guard your pet.

The Drawback with Fleas

It’s simple to inform in case your pet has picked up fleas. You’ll doubtless discover him itching, licking, and chewing his pores and skin. Sadly, it doesn’t all the time finish there. A flea infestation could cause a bunch of well being points. This ranges from easy issues like scorching spots and pores and skin allergy symptoms to way more harmful circumstances together with bacterial infections, tapeworm, and anemia. In extreme circumstances, flea infestations could cause your pet to shed weight and really feel weak and torpid. Anemia introduced on by fleas may also result in respiratory misery and even dying.

Ideas for Defending Your Pup

One of the simplest ways to take care of fleas is to keep away from getting them within the first place. Taking a number of proactive steps to guard your pet year-round will allow you to keep away from the daunting process of coping with a full-on infestation when the climate warms up. Listed here are 5 belongings you’ll wish to begin doing immediately.

1. Groom Your Pet Repeatedly

Repeatedly bathing and grooming your pet will hold him feeling recent and can also be an effective way to maintain fleas at bay. When you brush your canine, hold an eye fixed out for any indicators of pores and skin irritation or flea bites. Catching and treating points immediately will assist hold them from turning into a a lot bigger downside.

2. Use a High quality Flea Preventative

There are a variety of choices relating to flea-prevention merchandise. Many pet homeowners choose topical merchandise, like Frontline Plus, or a month-to-month dose of oral preventative. Each of those strategies are handy and efficient whereas additionally being pretty cheap. Different flea-prevention choices embrace sprays, powders, and flea collars. Earlier than making your determination, it’s a good suggestion to speak to your vet and weigh the professionals and cons of every. Your pet’s age and weight may additionally be a deciding issue relating to security and effectiveness. No matter product you select to make use of, be certain that it hasn’t expired. Out-of-date merchandise are sometimes much less efficient, leaving your pet weak to infestation.

three. Clear Up Your Yard

Whenever you’re making ready to deliver your pet house, be sure you add cleansing up your yard to the to-do checklist. Fleas like to reside in areas which are heat, moist, and shady. This makes yards which are stuffed with natural particles a safe-haven for them. Mow your yard repeatedly and be sure you rake up the clippings and useless leaves. Keep away from over-watering your yard and trim your bushes and bushes to assist hold the grassy areas scorching and sunny. Take into account making a pure barrier that appears lovely and retains fleas away by planting lemongrass, basil, rosemary, mint, or sage close to your back and front doorways. Fleas hate the odor of cedar, so contemplate including it as ornamental mulch round your plant beds. You may as well sprinkle cedar chips in shady areas of your yard, below your porch, round garden furnishings, and close to canine bedding. It’s secure to mow over and utterly non-toxic, so there’s actually no restrict to the areas the place you should use it. Sprinkling cedar chips round your fence line may even deter fleas from coming in out of your neighbors’ yards.

four. Hold the Wildlife Out

Wild animals coming into your yard can deliver flea eggs with them. Among the commonest offenders embrace deer, opossums, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and even untreated canines and cats. Putting in a protecting barrier like a fence will assist with some, however not all, of those pesky guests. To keep away from turning your yard right into a wildlife scorching spot, be certain that there aren’t any easily-accessible meals sources close by. Additionally, take away any particles that might create handy hiding spots for unwelcome visitors. For those who discover undesirable animals hanging round, contemplate placing down a non-toxic repellent or utilizing different pet-safe deterrent strategies.

5. Schedule Common Test-Ups

Repeatedly taking your pet to the vet for his check-ups will allow you to catch small points earlier than they turn out to be a serious downside. Your vet may even allow you to monitor how your pet is tolerating the flea prevention therapy you’ve chosen and can allow you to discover different choices for those who determine you want a change.

How one can Take care of a Flea Infestation

Irrespective of how cautious you might be, there’s an opportunity that in some unspecified time in the future your pet will find yourself with fleas. If this occurs, don’t panic! Appearing rapidly and completely will allow you to eradicate the issue with out an excessive amount of problem. Listed here are a few of the greatest methods to get fleas off or your pets and out of your home.

1. Begin by Treating the Pet

Eradicating the fleas out of your pet must be your primary precedence. Begin by giving him a shower with a mild, puppy-safe flea shampoo. This can assist soothe any irritation brought on by flea bites and kill the grownup fleas dwelling in his fur. Combing your pet’s fur with a fine-toothed flea comb may even assist the method. Sadly, flea shampoo doesn’t do something to eradicate larvae or kill the eggs, so that you’ll doubtless additionally want an over-the-counter or prescription flea medicine. Make sure that to speak to your vet earlier than you begin therapy to make sure that you’re utilizing a product that’s secure to your pet’s age-range. Most topical flea remedies are poisonous when ingested, so that you’ll have to take precautions to keep away from unintended poisoning.

2. Remove Fleas from Your House

Fleas solely reside on their hosts 5 % of the time, so getting them out of your property is a large a part of the battle. For those who deal with your pet with out additionally treating your carpets, bedding, and furnishings, you’re losing your time.

Many individuals choose to deal with their house with pure flea repellent. A few of your choices embrace tea tree oil, eucalyptus or lavender oil, food-grade diatomaceous earth, and helpful nematodes. Bear in mind, nevertheless, that “pure” doesn’t robotically imply “secure.” Be sure that any product you’re utilizing is formulated to be used round small animals and that it’s diluted correctly. Tea tree oil, for instance, will be poisonous for those who use too sturdy of a mixture.

You’ll additionally wish to give your total home a radical cleansing to take away larvae and eggs. Use a high-quality flea-killing carpet spray and be sure you throw your vacuum bag away as quickly as you’re accomplished. Wash each your bedding and your canine’s bedding in scorching, soapy water to kill something that’s dwelling in them. Family sprays and foggers will be efficient in eliminating dangerous infestations. Sadly, they may also be harmful to different pets, together with fish, in addition to youngsters. At all times learn the labels and observe the directions fastidiously.

three. Sort out Your Again Yard

Lastly, you’ll have to take steps to do away with any fleas which are already dwelling in your yard, so that they don’t soar proper again onto your canine and into your property. In case your infestation is dangerous, you would possibly contemplate placing down an out of doors chemical therapy. Bear in mind, nevertheless, that these are often poisonous and will by chance poison your pet or different animals coming into your yard. For those who select to go this route, heed the warnings on the label and use excessive warning. Remember to take away all toys from the yard earlier than spraying and don’t enable youngsters or animals to the touch the grass till it’s utterly dry. For a safer flea-control possibility, contemplate making your individual flea traps. This can be a easy as setting out a small dish of soapy water with a lightweight bulb or lamp over it and leaving it in a single day. Fleas can be interested in the sunshine, soar into the water, get trapped, and drown. You may as well buy premade non-toxic flea traps from most shops.

Some Closing Ideas

In case your pet finally ends up with fleas, don’t beat your self up over it. It’s a quite common incidence that each pet proprietor offers with at one time or one other. When it occurs, merely take a deep breath and observe the steps above to systematically eradicate them. For those who discover that the issue continues regardless of your greatest efforts, attain out to your vet to debate your particular state of affairs intimately. Normally, prescription-strength merchandise will deal with the problem as soon as and for all.

Bio: Curt Gebers owns Crimson Rock Canyon Cane Corso which is a widely known Cane Corso kennel based mostly in Las Vegas, Nevada. Crimson Rock Canyon Cane Corso is listed as a Breeder of Benefit with the AKC, a title given to solely probably the most accountable breeders who adhere to the best requirements when breeding and putting puppies.

  from Pet Supply and More http://petsupplyandmore.com/index.php/2019/03/05/how-to-shield-your-pet-from-fleas-2/

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9 Reasons You Should Actually Love And Appreciate Squirrels

Many folks dislike squirrels, believing them to be pests much like opossums or moles. One of my friends even refers to squirrels as “big rats with fluffy tails.”

Sure, sometimes the furry critters may snatch seeds from the bird feeder in your backyard. They might even dash out suddenly in front of your car.

But the more I have learned about squirrels, the more I have realized that they are seriously misunderstood, creatures. Contrary to popular belief, they are actually extremely intelligent. On top of that, they are very friendly and adorable animals that deserve to be loved by all humans.

Seriously, squirrels make everything they do cute and silly, from eating globs of almond butter off a fork to burying nuts in people’s hoodies. Their overall quirkiness and occasional hankering for mischief are what makes them my favorite animal.

Check out this list of nine reasons you should ditch misconceptions and start loving squirrels. These companionable creatures will be so happy to have your friendship.

1. They Eat The Insects In Your Yard And Garden

Ground squirrels are primarily omnivores. They munch mainly on plant-based foods like nuts, berries, flowers, and acorns, though they also have been known to eat insects and the occasional small vertebrate.

Who knew the squirrel hanging out in your backyard was helping out with pest control?

2. They Help The Planet By Planting Trees

We have all seen squirrels lugging around nuts or frantically trying to bury them. It turns out, though, that squirrels don’t always dig up the edible treasures after stashing them.

In fact, these forgotten nuts often grow into trees, meaning squirrels play a huge role in conserving our ecosystem!

3. They Are Friendly Little Guys

Very few wild animals are trusting enough to approach humans. Squirrels, however, are generally friendly creatures. Many are accustomed to living near humans — so much so that some will eat directly from people’s palms!

Some of the most social squirrels even let their human friends dress them up! Just ask Penn State’s self-proclaimed “Squirrel Whisperer,” who is known for crafting miniature hats for her pal Sneezy.

4. They Are Actually Extremely Intelligent

A lot of people mistakenly view squirrels as unintelligent — especially considering they often run in front of cars for seemingly no reason. As it turns out, though, this is a natural behavioral response for squirrels, who smartly escape hunters by running in unpredictable zig-zags.

According to One Kind Planet, squirrels are actually quite cunning. They have been known to stage fake nut burials to divert potential thieves. How clever!

5. They Get Pudgy During The Winter, And It’s Honestly Too Cute

According to the Natural Wildlife Federation, it is common for squirrels to pack on pounds during the winter in order to stay warm.

They can also consume their body weight in seeds (approximately four pounds) over the course of a week! Have you ever seen anything more adorable?

6. Some Of Them Can Fly

Well, technically, flying squirrels do not “fly” as much as the glide between trees.

According to The Wild Bird Habitat Stores, some squirrels can even glide as far as 290 feet with one leap! They simply play out their arms and legs, and the stretchy skin between their limbs and bodies (called “patagia”) acts like a parachute.

7. They Can Help You Boost Your Business

Last summer, Putter the squirrel showed up at Fantasy Isle Ice Cream and Mini Golf in North Carolina. Putt-Putt, as he is now fondly known, frequents the ice cream joint, enjoying tiny cones hand-crafted for him by the store owner, Scott Martin.

This cute visitor has become quite famous throughout the town, and he often lures curious customers into the store. Is this a perfect business model or what?

8. They Are Impressively Acrobatic

Have you ever seen a squirrel scale a tree in less than three seconds? It’s no secret that these animals are extremely athletic and can surmount almost any acrobatic challenge.

9. They Help Eliminate Waste

One of the funniest moments of my life was walking to class at my university and spotting a squirrel perched on a trash can, eating a giant slice of Sbarro pizza.

Although many people don’t like animals rummaging through their trash, there is something to be said for the fact that squirrels don’t let food scraps go to waste. They help clean up food that ends up on the ground or at the bottom of neglected trash cans. They’re like nature’s tiny janitors!

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9 Reasons You Should Actually Love And Appreciate Squirrels was originally published on Hearts Of Pets