Meet the Staff

Even though you don't have to own a pet to work at The Jungle Store, all of us do. We thought it might be fun for you to meet us by meeting the animals we share our lives with.

Spatch is a Liver-spotted Dalmatian. He lives with our Purchasing Manager. Spatch got his name because he's not just spotted but patchy as well. Spatch is something of an acrobat. Not only does he fancy a bounce on the trampoline, the more children that join him the better, but he climbs fences. Really. Spatch specializes in chain link. He puts his paws into the metal rungs and uses the fence itself as a ladder. A clever trick unless you want him to stay in the yard.

You could see how Spatch's skill with ladders (even improvised ones) may be a help to firefighters, but that isn't what made the breed a firehouse fixture. Dalmatians were originally used as carriage dogs because they have a natural affinity for horses. Horses were less skittish in new surroundings if they had their Dalmatian with them. This came in especially handy when dealing with the noise and tumult of a fire scene. As an added bonus, the Dalmatian's white coat made them easier to see at night or in smoke-filled conditions.

The Generalists

How many of you have met a skunk? I'm happy to say that I have and that we parted ways amiably, no sharing of odors. Skunks are an increasing fixture in urban environments. Even if you haven't seen them (they are quiet, nocturnal and shy), you've surely smelled them. Even with all the hype, a skunk will only spray if it feels threatened or cornered. If you stay still and quiet, the skunk will too.

Skunks are like raccoons and foxes, happy to snack on your compost and garbage and then head for a nap in your shed. They are nomadic and will probably not stay in your yard for long, which is a shame as they are very beneficial. Skunks eat small rodents and insects and include scorpions and spiders on their menu. They are not as easily startled from a meal as opossums may be and they certainly don't mind sharing their dinner. There are reports of skunks entering homes through the pet doors. They share a nice meal with the family cat, and, when finished, they sleep it off in a nearby closet. Skunks are also carrion eaters and will handle a road kill faster than animal control.

I remember opening my mother's garage one night in early spring to find a skunk dozing peacefully behind her stowed lawn mower. We simply walked away, leaving the door open—wide open. When we went back a few hours later, he was gone. Skunks are clean, gentle animals that never seem to be in a hurry. The hurrying seems to come from the animals around them.

The Generalists

Last night, as I contemplated which generalist's story I would tell next, I heard a low-pitched, haunting sound coming through the sparse trees across the street. We have a train crossing a few miles from us, and I love the occasional whistle, especially on a chill and starry night. But this noise was not a train.

In my very suburban neighborhood, there are at least two Owls and they call to each other in the night. I'm pretty sure they are Barred Owls, although I haven't gotten a good look at them. Text books say that Barred Owls can only survive in "old-growth forests," but in the last few years, these owls have rewritten those text books. The largest population of Barred Owls currently inhabits the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. Scientists have tried to determine why and found a rather obvious answer, one the owls hit on years ago. A Barred Owl's preference for old-growth forests is two-fold. First the trees are mature enough to offer holes to nest in. Second, the dense upper canopy keeps the under canopy bare and stunted. Barred owls hunt by sight. They sit in a tree branch and wait for something to move under them. Little or no undergrowth helps in the owl's success, so an old-growth forest makes sense.

Now think of your well-established suburban/urban neighborhood. For our pleasure we line our streets with oaks and elms, watering and nurturing them for size and breadth of branches. Underneath these stately trees, we weekly mow our lawns, providing broad swaths of close-clipped sod. We also provide bird feeders full of seed, and well-mulched flower beds—enticements to small birds and rodents. You've got to think that when the Barred Owls were driven from the old-growth forests and winged their way into our cities, they must have been well pleased. I love having these owls as my neighbors. I'm sure they are helping to curb the rabbit and mice populations and they seem contented as I've heard them, off and on, over the last three years. What I love most about having them nearby, is that they add mystery to an otherwise very middleclass world.

The Generalists

Our next urban dweller and generalist is the Fox. Although England has a higher population of urban foxes than we do in the States, it is probably because England has no raccoons for the fox to compete with. That doesn't mean the foxes aren't out there, prowling our cities and backyards. You could easily be blaming other animals—raccoons, coyotes, cats—for the mischief or mayhem that is actually being caused by the fox.

Foxes are as opportunistic as raccoons, helping themselves to shelter in our sheds and abandoned barns or grabbing a quick snack from our garbage cans and compost heaps. They just tend to be more secretive about it. Foxes canvas a wide territory, or range, and move their dens frequently. They tend to be more strictly nocturnal, although finding a fox basking on your trampoline in the afternoon sunshine is not cause for alarm. Foxes are unconcerned with the presence of your dog or cat (unless a large dog) and will tend to ignore them, or even play with them for a bit, before securing their snack and moving on. Foxes are not strictly carnivorous and include insects, vegetables and fruit in their diet. Unlike raccoons, foxes will not stay on your back porch to consume their meal, but instead cache it. This means a fox retreats with its food and finds a "safe" place to bury it. The food will be retrieved and eaten later, even much later. Foxes have an amazing sense of smell and have no problem finding their buried meals. So, the next time you blame your dog for digging up the kids pet rabbit, you might want to look for the sharp face and bushy tail of a fox.

This Youtube video is a little long (2 minutes), but the fox is having such fun, I couldn't resist.

The Generalists

Raccoons have benefited greatly from the presence of humans, something not many animals can claim. Their intelligence, omnivorous diet and amazing adaptability have caused raccoon populations to increase, even quadruple, in urban environments. As far as raccoons are concerned, humans host the perfect "bed and breakfast." With backyard gardens, compost heaps, and brimming garbage cans, we set a bountiful buffet. Our abandoned cars, sheds, decks and attics provide warm, safe dens. Our mere presence protects raccoons from predators. Coyotes, wolves, foxes and mountain lions will hesitate to invade our property for the sake of a raccoon. And we think raccoons are non-threatening and cute, something that definitely works in the raccoon's favor.

It is best to remember, raccoons are wild animals, even if they've become close neighbors. It is safer for you, your family, your pets and the raccoon to discourage interaction. Raccoons can carry rabies and parasites and will kill your pets to gain ownership of the outdoor food bowl. Simple precautions—weighting your trashcans, keeping them tightly sealed, feeding your pets indoors, closing crawl spaces or decking—will make your yard less attractive.

To learn more about raccoons and how interesting they are, visit our Animal Facts Pages.

The Generalists

Did you guess? Do you remember the question? I'd asked which animal relies on huge urban pigeon populations to help it survive in the city.

The answer is the Peregrine Falcon. Now I know you might be saying "Hold on there, Jungle Jane. I remember in the 1970s the Peregrine Falcon was critically endangered and extinct on the East Coast of the United States. True generalists don't get critically endangered, they thrive!"
And I would say, "You're right, unless the animal in question was driven to near extinction by humans." Now that the U.S. and other countries have banned the use of the pesticide DDT, the Peregrine Falcon is making an amazing comeback. And one of the places they are coming back to is the city.

Since humans were responsible for the Peregrine's decline, humans took responsibility for their resurgence. Captive breeding programs were started and achieved success. However, when it came time to release the fledglings, there was another problem. Natural habitats for falcons are mountain ranges, river valleys and coastlines. But the falcon's natural enemies, foxes, owls, and raccoons, also inhabit these areas. Where would the fledglings have the high, cliff-like habitat they preferred, but without the threat of predation? Cities became the answer. Falcons could perch and nest on skyscrapers and cathedrals. And since a peregrine's preferred food is medium-sized birds it can catch on the wing, the hope that they would become a natural deterrent to the overwhelming pigeon population was a bonus. Currently, successful nesting pairs of Peregrine Falcons can be found in cities across the United States, Canada and Europe. Wild falcons are also enjoying the abundance of an urban habitat, and in 1999 the Peregrine Falcon was officially removed from the Endangered Species list. The Peregrine's population has continued to grow and among city dwellers, it has become a mark of distinction to live, work or worship in a building that is graced by the presence of a Falcon.

Photo courtesy of Philip MacKenzie

Pigeons: The Generalists

When I was a student in Boston, I wondered why I'd never seen a baby pigeon. I'd see other baby birds and nests, but I'd never see anything to suggest the origins of the pigeon. They seemed to spring, fully formed, from the concrete of the city. Where did they come from? And why were they everywhere?
Pigeons have been bred and raised by humans for hundreds of years. We've used them for food, to carry our messages and to provide racing sport. The pigeons in our U.S cities were called "rock doves" and were brought here by early settlers. They are clean, intelligent, hardy and adaptable.
The reason you don't see pigeon nests, or baby pigeons, is because pigeons are doting and protective parents. Pigeons mate for life and both take part in building the nest. Once a safe and secretive place is chosen, the male will bring one twig at a time to the female. She will decide if and how to use it in the nest. The female lays two eggs and both male and female will incubate them. When the young hatch, both parents will feed them. If the first nest is successful, a second nest will be built and a second pair of eggs laid, even before the first pair of hatchlings are fledged. Pigeons will mate all year long and can produce 5 to 6 broods a year. They are cooperative among their kind and will feed chicks who aren't their own.

You've actually got to hand it to the pigeon. Not only can they tolerate the conditions of a city, but they can thrive there. There are 1,000s of ledges and overpasses on and under which to build their nests. Humans provide more than enough food, consciously or, through garbage, unconsciously. The dense population of people discourages predators. It's a fact; pigeons have found an ecological niche few other animals can fit into.

The Generalists

It seems a couple of coyotes are killing small dogs and cats in my neighborhood. You can't blame the coyotes; they're simply doing what coyotes do—trying to find a meal. Of course I understand the sadness of the pet owners too. You would think letting your pet out into the backyard would be a safe thing. After all, we don't live in a wild or remote place even though we do have a park and an area of reserved open space adjoining the neighborhood. More often you hear of wild animals adapting to, even thriving with, a nearby human presence. These animals are usually generalists. That means they have an extensive and varied diet, adaptability to habitat and a clever, resourceful mind. In other words, they have all the qualities that have made us humans so successful.

Coyotes tend to hunt in pairs although small fluid packs of 5 – 6 related adults may join forces for a time. When hunting as a larger group, they will hunt larger prey and do so with coordinated effort, much like a wolf pack. Usually, coyotes prefer smaller game and so have been less of a threat to livestock, and less noticed by humans. Coyotes are opportunistic. As wolf packs are driven out of habitat, or killed off, the coyote has slipped in to fill the predatory niche. Although once a diurnal animal, continued contact with human populations has made them nocturnal. Coyotes can survive on almost anything and include rodents, rabbits, carrion, fruit, insects, vegetables and human garbage in their diet. There's been at least one coyote caught in New York City's Central Park, and a den of coyotes live in Washington D.C.'s Rock Creek Park, keeping down the vermin population and eating nearby road kill. A recent census discovered that close to 2,000 coyotes live in and around the city of Chicago. Although most humans don't realize it, it is generally coyotes that keep neighborhood rabbit populations under control. I know last year our block was, literally, hopping with rabbits. Maybe that's what brought the coyotes. Unfortunately they've turned to easier prey and the rising outrage may prove their undoing. I truly hope that doesn't happen.

Photo courtesy of Justin Johnsen.

Why Are Lambs A Symbol Of Easter?

Do you know how lambs came to be associated with Easter?

In the book of Exodus the Israelites were told to sprinkle their doorframes with the blood of a lamb, thereby telling the Angel of Death to "Pass Over" their homes during the killing of the first born. This Passover Lamb became an important factor in Jewish life. Subsequently, when Jesus Christ came, he was called "the Lamb of God," and the sprinkling of His blood would take away the sins of the world. For Christians, the lamb symbolizes Christ, and there is no more important animal associated with the celebration of Easter.

Sheep were domesticated over 12,000 years ago. Some of the most ancient written recipes include lamb as an ingredient. Sheep have been prized as a productive commodity. We use their wool for clothing, their milk for cheese and butter, their skin for parchment, their lanolin for weather-proofing, and their lambs for food. They do not require as much pasturage as cattle and are easier to maintain. Cortez and his Spanish soldiers first brought sheep to the New World in 1519. In the 1800s, range wars between cattlemen and shepherds led to bloody conflicts in the American west. Although Americans don't eat much lamb, to the rest of the world, it is a dietary staple. Lambs and sheep are truly a significant part of our cultural history.

Why Are Chicks An Easter Symbol?

Eggs, and thereby chicks, have been a symbol of Spring for thousands of years. The egg represents fertility, the chick represents new life. Christians adopted the egg into their Easter celebrations, using it to symbolize the rebirth one can find in Christ.

For a while, papal edicts banned the eating of eggs during the 40-day period of Lent that leads up to Easter. Of course no one told the hens, so there were plenty of eggs to use when the Lenten fast was over. Hard-boiling the eggs helped them last longer. How people came to color eggs is not known, but the tradition is very old. Ukrainians use a form of batiking called Pysanka to produce the colorful, intricate designs found on their Easter eggs.

Picture of Pysanka Eggs supplied by Luba Petrusha