How Animals Keep Their Cool

Now that summer’s here, a lot of us probably plan on spending our free time at the pool. When it’s hot outside, nothing’s better than jumping into some nice, cool water to relax. But, when a/c or an ice-cold dip isn’t an option, our bodies still find a way to keep us cool; we sweat. Animals in the wild don’t have the option to crank up the air conditioner when they get too hot, so they’ve developed their own ways to cool down.

Photo: CoolFox

Now, we all know that dogs will pant when they get hot, as their tongues are very effective at releasing heat from their bodies, but did you know they also sweat from their feet? Dogs don’t have a lot of sweat glands like we do, but if overheated they can sweat from between their toes. Other mammals such as squirrels sweat in this same way. Cows can sweat from their muzzles, and rabbits sweat from their lips, though neither nearly as much as humans. Birds have no sweat glands at all, so they will flare their feathers and open their mouths in hot weather to increase their surface area and evaporate water from the surface of their bodies.


Photo: Rene Modery

 Have you ever heard the phrase “sweating like a pig”? Well, that’s not really possible, because pigs don’t sweat at all. To regulate their body temperatures, pigs have to roll in mud or water, which draws the heat from their bodies. They look like a mess, but they’re just trying to stay cool!


Photo: Andrew Smith

Cold-blooded animals such as reptiles, amphibians, and fish have body temperatures that are the same as the air or water around them, and do not sweat. Land-going reptiles that are too hot will do their best to find shade or burrow into cool soil. If shade is not available, some have the ability to lighten their skin color, making it more reflective. Fish often seasonally migrate to deeper, cooler waters to regulate their temperatures.

Photo: Phillip Halling

Of course, we’re not the only ones who enjoy a nice swim in hot weather. Have a safe and happy summer!


Photo: Wen-Yan King



It's National June Bug Day!

As many of us spend our evenings relaxing outside this summer, we may receive all-too-frequent visits from the clumsy little Junebug. These inch-long beetles buzz about the night sky running into walls, getting in your hair, and doing just about anything they can to get to that oh-so-inviting porch light you have turned on.



Photo: Patrick Coin

 Named as they are because of the time of year they become most common, Junebugs are actually any one of over 260 species of New World scarab beetles (phyllophaga) that emerge from the ground (where they’ve been living as larvae for the past three years) every spring to look for food and a mate.

They might not be the cutest little creatures around; but relax, they’re harmless. Junebugs feed almost exclusively on tree leaves, and they don’t bite or sting. If you like to spend your summer evenings in the backyard, simply turning off any outside lights will cut down on the intrusion, as Junebugs are attracted to just about any light source. And if the buzzing gets to be too much for you, just remember that these little critters are only looking for love!

Are Horses Wild After All?

As much as horses are a symbol of the American West, it has long been accepted and taught in textbooks that they are not a native species. Historians are certain that these animals were brought to North America in the 15th and 16th centuries by Spanish explorers, and that the current populations of wild mustangs are descendents of those domesticated horses.

Wild mustangs - Photo: BLM

However, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times, federal courts are hearing a case that may change that belief, as animal rights groups are presenting DNA evidence suggesting that wild horses may have roamed North America over 1 million years ago, and that today’s horses are genetically linked to them.

If this case can be proven in court, it may change the way wild mustangs are treated in the United States. Currently, free-roaming horses are classified as no more a wild animal than cattle, and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) can legally control their population and corral them as necessary to allow enough land for cattle grazing. If mustangs were to become classified as native wild animals, they would have a right to graze on rangeland just as antelope and bison do, and the BLM would no longer be able to displace them for the purposes of commercial cattle feeding.


Wild mustangs - Photo: Jaime Jackson



Wild Elk Return to Missouri

When most people think of elk, they picture the mountainous landscapes of the American West. The truth is, before European settlement these animals were most common throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States. Missouri Department of Conservation officials have sought for years to reintroduce native elk, which have been absent since 1865, to the state’s landscape, and as of just a few days ago it seems they’ve finally succeeded.

Photo: Missouri Dept. of Conservation

The 34 elk that will comprise this first herd were captured in a Kentucky conservation area, home to 1500 elk, and trucked to Missouri in May. The elk were confined to a 3 acre holding pen at Peck Ranch Conservation Area for their first few weeks in Missouri to allow them time to acclimate to their new home. On June 1st, the gates to the pen were quietly opened and the elk herd, now with an additional five newborn calves, was allowed access to their entire 221,000 acre range.

All of the animals have been fitted with GPS radio collars, allowing experts at the University of Missouri to track the herd’s movement. The Peck Ranch Conservation area is currently closed to the public to allow the herd to acclimate without human interruption, but state officials are hopeful that the elk herd will grow and eventually become a draw for tourists and wildlife lovers alike.

Photo: Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Road-Tripping with your Pooch

Now that summer has arrived, I’m sure a lot of you are planning on taking a family vacation, and if you’re like me, the entire family includes the dog. Dogs can be great traveling companions, and are usually happy just to be with their people. However, if you take a few extra steps you can make your next road trip more fun for everyone.

To start, make sure your pup is acclimated to riding comfortably in your car for close to the length of the trip you have planned. The car should be large enough that they have plenty of room to stretch out or stand up if they want to. In other words, no Great Danes in a subcompact! If you have leather or vinyl seats, put down a sheet or towel to give your pup some more walking traction, and consider a seatbelt harness if he or she just won’t stay put.

If your dog tends to get carsick, consider feeding him a couple of ginger snaps right before the trip. Ginger has long been used to treat nausea in people, and it helps with dogs too. An elevated perch that allows them to look outside the vehicle can provide a sense of equilibrium and help calm their nerves as well. Also, be sure to take along more water than you’ll likely need. Dogs can have sensitive stomachs, and switching them immediately to a different water source when you reach your destination can make them sick. Instead, mix in some of the water you brought with the new water until your pup gets used to it.

Finally, some dogs just can’t be let loose in the car, so the use of a properly-sized crate may be necessary. Just keep in mind that crates aren’t always near a/c vents, so you’ll need to be especially watchful that your pup doesn’t overheat, and include a pet crate fan if possible. Be sure to stop frequently for water breaks, and never leave your dog in a hot car!

As always, you should consult your veterinarian for any specific pet travel issues, but hopefully these tips can help make your next trip more enjoyable for every member of your family. 

Photo Credit: LNJ

Snakes Alive!

Happy June, everyone! In case you didn’t know, June is the month of the snake, and to celebrate, I thought I’d show you a few of the biggest snakes in the world. But don’t worry; you’re not likely to find either of these giants in your backyard anytime soon!

Our first contestant is the reticulated python. Native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, these pythons can grow to 28 feet in length, making them the longest snake in the world! They’re not poisonous, but they don’t have to be. They hunt by constricting their coils around any kind of live animal they can catch.

Reticulated Python - Photo: Mariluna

While not as long as the reticulated python, our next snake is a real heavyweight. The green anaconda, native to the Amazon rainforest can be as big around as an adult male and can weigh up to an astonishing 215lbs! They’re not short, either; with the longest recorded measuring 16 feet. Although they may be slow on land, the green anaconda spends most of its time in water, where it’s an excellent swimmer. Like pythons, anacondas are not poisonous, and hunt using their incredible constricting strength.



Green Anaconda - Photo: L.A. Dawson



Hummingbird Season!

In many parts of North America this time of year we begin to see the arrival of the hummingbird. These little overachievers are rarely more than a few inches long and are easily recognized by their buzzing wings, which may beat up to 90 times per second!

As small as they are, these tiny birds are quite the travelers. Most North American varieties migrate up to 2000 miles south every winter, only to make the trip back every spring. At the 27mph speed most hummingbirds fly, it would take more than 3 days of nonstop flight to make that journey without stopping to rest, which the birds frequently do.

So, next time you see one of these little birds taking a rest on a branch, keep in mind just how far he has flown!

Photo: National Geographic

Hundreds of Whale Sharks Near Mexico

Whale sharks are the largest fish on the planet. As long as a city bus and weighing nearly 80,000lbs, these ocean giants were once thought to be solitary creatures, preferring the open sea. However, recently a group of 420 whale sharks was spotted off the coast of Mexico, according to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.



Photo: Discovery News


Despite their size and the fact that they are indeed sharks, whale sharks usually feed on very small creatures such as shrimp and plankton. According to biologists, these whale sharks were feeding on a dense patch of fish eggs. It marks the largest documented gathering of whale sharks in history.

Photo: Discovery News

Penguin Gets New Shoes

A Santa Barbara Zoo-based penguin named Lucky finally got some relief recently after being fitted with a special protective boot made by adventure footwear company Teva, according to Noozehawk.

The one-year-old Humboldt penguin was born with an impaired foot, which is not uncommon according to zookeepers. As young penguins spend much of their time huddled beneath their parents, they can often develop splayed feet. However, when Lucky did not respond to treatment the zoo took action, enlisting Teva to create a specialized boot to allow him to get around more easily.

Lucky has responded well to the new footwear, and is now able to swim and socialize with no issues. 

Lucky the penguin (photo: Chuck Graham)

Mexican Gray Wolves Come to Seneca Park Zoo

A trio of Mexican Grey Wolves were introduced at the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York today, according to local news. The three wolves, all four-year-old brothers, are slated to become a permanent fixture at the zoo.

The Mexican Grey Wolf is the smallest wolf in North America. Only 50 of them are known to still exist in the wild.




Mexican Gray Wolf