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The Damaging Effects of Feeding Waterfowl
Last week, we looked at how bread can be harmful or fatal to ducks and geese. Wild birdseed is a healthier option – but the best choice you can make for these birds is not to feed them at all.
“Feeding them changes their natural behavior and makes them more dependent on humans,” says Michael Kaufman, Farm and Wildlife Director of Green Chimneys in Brewster, New York, which provides animal-assisted therapy and activities for special needs children. This dependency causes multiple problems. The birds tend to lose their fear of people. This not only makes them more aggressive (geese...
Cats 1, Humans 0
Just on the off chance you missed the June 14th issue of Current Biology, there was an insightful article about cats entitled "The Cry Embedded Within the Purr". In summary, your cat is smarter than you think he is and he's been playing you for a fool. Cat owners everywhere responded with a collective 'duh'.
For all the loyal readers (Hi, Mom) who also read my columns over at our sister site, Camp Campaign, you know how I feel about our government spending our hard earned tax dollars on research of dubious value. But...
Birds, Bread, and Water: A Potentially Deadly Mix
We know, by now, that we’re not supposed to feed wild waterfowl – there are plenty of signs in our parks reminding us of that – and we think we know why. It’s not good, for many reasons, for wild animals to become dependent on humans for handouts.
Still, every time we read about an elderly woman fined for throwing breadcrumbs to ducks or geese, we tend to take her side. After all, what harm does it do the birds? Is the occasional scrap of bread any worse for them than the occasional order of French fries is for us?
Unfortunately, yes....
Hedge
If you have considered having a hedgehog as a pet, this video is a great...
Puma, Leopard, Jaguar: What Is It?
Next time you're at the zoo and you're inside the big cat habitat, take note of the many distinct types of big cats. Like your pet cats, big cats come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. And except for lions and tigers, many of us often confuse the types (like jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs). Think of this as a brief crash course on how to differentiate wild felines.
Adult male lions are easiest to recognize, as they are one of the biggest cats out there (only second to tigers). Male lions also grow a lot bigger than the female lion. ...
Next time you're at the zoo and you're inside the big cat habitat, take note of the many distinct types of big cats. Like your pet cats, big cats come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. And except for lions and tigers, many of us often confuse the types (like jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs). Think of this as a brief crash course on how to differentiate wild felines.
Adult male lions are easiest to recognize, as they are one of the biggest cats out there (only second to tigers). Male lions also grow a lot bigger than the female lion. ...