Tuesday, February 22, 2011

In the news: Baby Dolphins are Washing Up Along the Coast

According to the Sun Herald, baby dolphins are washing up along the Mississippi and Alabama shorelines at ten times the normal rate.
“For some reason, they’ve started aborting or they were dead before they were born,” Solangi said. “The average is one or two a month. This year we have 17 and February isn’t even over yet.”

Even though this is the first birthing season since the BP oil spill in the Gulf, it's still too early to determine the exact cause of this unfortunate increase.

You can read more over at the Sun Herald.

Domestic and Wild

I would be pretty confused if I was that corgi, too! I doubt that little doggy has seen many creatures smaller then itself let alone a goat!


Monday, February 21, 2011

Animal Fact: Black Bears

Black bears are North America's most familiar and common bears. They normally live in forests and are excellent tree climbers, but have been to know to live in swamps and mountains.  Despite their name, black bears can be blue-gray or blue-black, brown, cinnamon, or even (very rarely) white. 


An unusual fact about these mammals is that contrary to popular belief they are not true hibernators. Even though they don't eat, drink, or go to the bathroom during winter months they will awake if disturbed. 


Enjoy this epic battle between a black bear and a cougar. 

Presidential Pets

Since it's President's Day, I thought I would share some of the more interesting presidential pets.

Thomas Jefferson owned two bear cubs which were a gift from Lewis and Clark.


John Quincy Adams had an American alligator.

Theodore Roosevelt owned a badger [Josiah], pig [Maude], zebra [unknown name] and a one-legged rooster [name unknown]. The photo is of a young Roosevelt with his pet parrot. 

Taft let two cows graze the White House Lawn. Their names were Mooly Wooly and Pauline Wayne. Unsure of which cow that is illustrated below. 


Calvin Coolidge by far had the best pets! Including but not limited to raccoons [Rebecca and Horace], donkey [Ebeneezer], bobcat [Smoky], lion cubs [Tax Reduction and Budget Bureau], pygmy hippo, wallaby, duiker, AND A BLACK BEAR! That is First Lady Grace Coolidge holding Rebecca the raccoon. 

Can any of you tell me the name of the newest first pooch?

Friday, February 18, 2011

Happy Friday!

Hope you all have a wild weekend! This video should make you chuckle. Can't wait to go play with my animal friends!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

RIP Coco

Sad news coming out of the Columbus Zoo. Apparent their beloved 37 year old Asian elephant, Coco, has passed away. Here's a video of Coco during feistier times. You'll be missed by many.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Polar Bear Backflips!

Nikita, one of the newest additions at the Kansas City Zoo, spends her day perfecting this routine for all to see!



Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Animal Fact of the Day: Koalas naps!


You might want to rename your afternoon cat nap to koala naps. These cuddly marsupials need up to twenty hours of sleep a day! Since they have a slow metabolism and eat for three to five hours a day, Koalas have to recharge their bodies for an extended period of time.Get your very own Koala to snuggle with over at The Jungle Store!

As you'll see in the below video, Koalas have to slow chew on the eucalyptus leaves until they are eventually an easily swallow-able paste.





Even though this creatures look innocent they are quite vocal and fiesty as you'll see in the last two clips!




Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentine's Day Animal Fact


When most  humans hear a mosquito’s high-pitched whine they are immediatedly put on guard antipaciting the insect’s itchy bite. But to mosquitoes of the opposite sex, that foreshadowing is a powerful love song. Mosquitoes engages in a wing-beating courtship duet that depends on very specific frequencies.

When males and females come together, they match up their wingbeat frequencies — but not at the male’s rate of 600 beats per second, or the female’s 400. Rather, they make minor adjustments that produce a harmonic, or multiple, of their tones, which rings in at about 1200 beats per second. Just right for love, apparently.

Happy Valentine's Day!!


Don't forget to give those special people in your life a big ol' bear...errr lion hug today!