In The Wild - Pet Advice

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In The Wild - Pet Advice

Disadvantage of Killing Wild Snakes

May 9th 2009 15:35

Not many people like snakes, especially wild snakes in their yard and garden. It can really be a surprise to walk outside, try to plant a few flowers and a black kingsnake come creeping out from behind a bush. It's just not pleasant, but what you don't want to do is take your shovel or gardening tool and chop off his head. For one, it's not nice, and for two, that kingsnake is helping to keep down your pests as well as other snakes.

Not all wild snakes are bad, which is why you shouldn't kill the ones that you find in your yard. In most areas, the snakes that you'll find slithering around are going to be non-venomous, and you don't want to kill those. Now, if you spot a venomous one, by all means, for the safety of yourself, your family, friends, and pets, kill it or trap it and have animal control come pick it up. Just be safe about it because you don't want to get bit.

As for wild colubrids and other non-venomous, cannibalistic snakes, you'll find that by leaving them slither around your yard and neighborhood, they'll help keep down the population of rodents and snakes.

In some areas, that have native colubrids and venomous snakes, the colubrids (milksnakes, cornsnakes, kingsnakes, rat snakes will keep the population of venomous snakes down.

Remember that in the United States there are over 250 species and subspecies of wild and native snakes, but there are only four that are venous.

* Copperhead
* Coral snake
* Rattlesnake
* Water moccasin

Also, remember that just because a snake rattles its tail, that doesn't mean that it's venomous. The king, milk, and rat snake, will all rattle their tails in dry leaves to scare off potential predators, but all three are non-venomous colubrids.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: Snakes, In The Wild

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Tuatara Hatchling Spotted in New Zealand

March 19th 2009 16:04

The Tuatara is a pretty rare reptile that has a dinosaur lineage. I remember a teacher in school referred to them as living dinosaurs. Well, there are about 50,000 of them living on 32 small offshore islands, but it's been about 200 years since anyone has spotted a hatchling.

They've found one, which means where there is one hatchling, there are probably others. This baby Tuatara was discovered by staff at the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellington. Everyone is thrilled with the discovery, as it means they have successfully reinstated the breeding population to the mainland. This is a pretty big breakthrough for the conservation.

Tuataras grow to about 32 inches in length and can live about 100 years. They are the descendants of lizard-like reptiles that walked the Earth with the dinosaurs about 225 million years ago.

And, due to the introduction of rats and other predators, the New Zealand population of Tautara has diminished greatly.

This little hatchling is thought to be about a month old, and probably hatched from an egg that was laid about 16 months ago. They did find two nests of eggs that were unearthed in the sanctuary last year, so in a way they were hopefully expecting to find Tuatara hatchlings around this time

This little Tuatara baby will have a hard life as it has a long journey to maturity fighting through the 620 acres on the sanctuary and hiding from predators such as birds of prey and even adult Tuatara, who are cannibalistic. The hatchling won't have it easy, and he'll have to fight for survival like all the other animals on the sanctuary.

The sanctuary has released about 200 Tuatara into the wild since 2005, which was initially established to breed native birds, insects, and other creatures.

About the Tuatara:
* They have two rows of top teeth and and one row on the bottom.
* They have a parietal eye that is covered by scales, and is thought to be light-sensitive.
* The "third eye" is thought to help the reptile absorb UV rays and manufacture Vitamin D.
* It takes a juvenile Tuatara about 13 to 20 years to reach sexual maturity.
* They live about 100 years.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: In The Wild

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771 Pound Giant Freshwater Stingray

February 26th 2009 14:24

It took 13 men, 90 minutes to drag the 771 pound sting ray onto the boat using 1 rod and line. Ian Welch is in the records for his catch, which beat the 2005 646 pound catfish that was caught in 2005.

The stingray measured nearly 7 feet by 7 feet, which does not include the 10 foot tail that trailed behind him.

The large stingray nearly dunked Welch into the river, but he was literally saved by the seat of his pants by his crewmates. These creatures are very dangerous, and I wouldn't think the sting from the 10 foot tail would have had a nice ending for Welch.

The stingray was pregnant when captured, which means one day there will be more giant stingrays swimming loose in the river because yes, after taking DNA samples and marking the creature, Welch released her back to the waters.

This find is actually a good thing, as the giant freshwater stingray population has decreased at least a good 20 percent in the past decade and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list, so with this giant creature's help, the population will hopefully be on the rise in the future, but only time will tell.

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Posted By: Whitney - Category: In The Wild

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Update on Sam the Koala - Rescued in Fire

February 12th 2009 13:24

Sam captured the hearts of many after she was photographed taking water from a fireman's water bottle. You'll find that she is now making friends with Bob another koala that was saved in Australia's wildfire that was finally put out on February 7th.

Both Bob and Sam are doing very well in their recovery. If you haven't heard, Sam had her paws scorched in the fire and is being taken care of by Lynn Raymond.

The two koalas have made great friends, Bob even protects Sam when she is moved. Like any loving boyfriend, Bob the koala watches out for Sam and follows her around to make sure that she's ok.

Neither of the koalas will ever be healthy enough to be release in the wild any time soon due to their injuries, but it is thought that after at least four to six months, the koalas can be released to the wild. But, currently, they are being cared for by professional caretakers who much salve their paws every few hours.

Bob (top) and Sam (bottom)

So, as you can see Sam the koala who was rescued on February 1st by a caring firefighter, is doing very well, and the six fires that were started on January 29th, destroying 30 houses, cars, and other property, and killing at least 180 people, did not affect the Sam the koala's will to live.

In the middle of putting out the blazes, she readily accepted the water bottle from the firefighter who would in turn save her life.

Sam and Bob were both given painkillers, but to date, they are both off of any drugs. Although, they are both receiving antibiotics, they are mending very well without any pain-relieving medicines.