http://www.petsugar.com/ Girl's Best Friend. en http://www.petsugar.com/2473630 <p>I have a good friend that will travel to great lengths to get the best sushi. Her favorite restaurant is here in SF (she lives about 25 miles outside of town), and she swears by their salmon and yellowtail. Little does she know that her raw fish obsession is one she shares with killer whales! </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/45_2008/4efdc7c8902ddfe7_KillerWhales.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" width="400" height="267"></span>A recent study finds that <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/07/killer-whales-salmon.html" target="_blank">salmon is killer whales' favorite food</a>, and they will travel large distances to nosh on the best. Using their Ecolocators (creating an echoing sound), they can scan areas up to a half mile away to find their favorite King Salmon, which provides the high concentration of fats and lipids that these whales seem to prefer. I can see traveling 25 miles to a favorite sushi bar a couple of times a month, but scanning hundreds of miles of ocean for a particular fish? Now that's a dedication that my pal <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com" >Yum</a> could appreciate! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2473630#comment fish in the wild killer whales news the scoop Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:30:42 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2473630 http://www.petsugar.com/2471158 <p>We all know that <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2426281" >Hayden Panettiere wants to save the whales</a>, but she's not the only one! Founded in 1977, the <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/" target="_blank">Sea Shepherd Conservation Society</a> has been protecting the seas at the bottom of the Earth against Japanese whalers, and over the Winter season of 2007 to 2008, Animal Planet tagged along to document their journey. </p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_2471198"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so2471198 = new SWFObject('/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','400','300','7'); so2471198.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so2471198.addVariable("file",'2471198.flv'); so2471198.addVariable('height', 328); so2471198.addVariable('image','/media/cooked/thumbs/2471198.jpg'); so2471198.addVariable('width','400'); so2471198.addVariable('logo','/static/imgs/watermark/petsugar.png'); so2471198.write('player_2471198'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div></center></p> <p>In a <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/about/" target="_blank">seven-part series beginning tonight</a>, we get a closeup look at how far the Sea Shepherds will go to protect the whales of the Antarctic. Not only are they intent on saving ocean dwellers, but they are also committed to <a href="http://www.seashepherd.org/campaigns/" target="_blank">protecting all wildlife</a>, including seals that are <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1090652" >hunted every year in Canada</a>. Check out the clip above, and tell me: Will you be watching <strong>Whale Wars</strong>?</p> http://www.petsugar.com/2471158#comment Animal Planet conservation in the wild TV videos Whale Wars whales Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:00:26 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2471158 http://www.petsugar.com/2448427 <p>Like I said before, <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/2444915" >spiders give me the creepy-crawlies</a>, but I have to give them some respect – <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/31/spider-scorpion-genetic.html" target="_blank">they're among the oldest creatures around</a>, with recently found fossils dating back at least 130 million years! </p> <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/44_2008/3eb8f1a43240d573_spiderfossil.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" width="320" height="203"></span>If you think that's old, wait 'til you get a load of this number: 450 million years. That's when the first arachnid was said to have appeared on Earth, based on genetic research recently published in the latest issue of <strong>Experimental and Applied Acarology</strong>. </p> <p>I can't even fathom what the earth looked like back then, but seriously, spiders are pretty well equipped for almost any condition. Highly developed senses, self-constructing materials, protective outer armor, and (some) even have a pretty dangerous venom defense system. These guys can live almost anywhere. . . but I try not to think about that when I open my dark closet! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2448427#comment in the wild news scoop spiders the scoop Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:00:14 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2448427 http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/2444915 <a href="/slideshow/2444915?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/44_2008/72df044ad0167f34_bat.xlarge.jpg" alt="Ten Animals That Will Spook You This Halloween! " title="Ten Animals That Will Spook You This Halloween! " class="image xlarge inline left" height="320" width="298" /></a>This being All Hallows' Eve, I thought it would be fun to round up the creepy, spooky, and scary animals of the planet. Not only will some of these make your skin crawl, but I don't think I'd want to meet any of them in a dark alley if you know what I mean! Check out the creepiest animals ever in this slideshow. Happy Halloween! <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com">Source</a><div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/2444915?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/2444915#comment Halloween in the wild slideshow spooky animals Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:15:33 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2444915 http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/2419229 <a href="/slideshow/2419229?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/43_2008/e074d9d9706a049e_AfricanElephant.xlarge.jpg" alt="Red Listed: New List of Animals Close To Extinction " title="Red Listed: New List of Animals Close To Extinction " class="image xlarge inline left" height="281" width="320" /></a>In an annual "health check for the planet", the <a href="http://www.iucnredlist.org">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> has released its list of the most threatened animals on earth. The scary news? <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081006-endangered-species.html">Twenty-five percent of all mammals are on the verge of extinction</a>. That's a big number to swallow, considering there are over 44,000 animals on the Red List this year. Check out my slideshow of just a few of the animals that are critically endangered, but also check out Conservation International's website <a href="http://www.conservation.org/act/get_involved/Pages/stoptheclock.aspx">with an educational countdown clock</a> showing us animals that are pushed to extinction every nine to 44 minutes. It's scary stuff, but it really makes you realize how delicate the balance is between safe . . . and extinct. <a href="http://www.gettyimages.com">Source</a><div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/2419229?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/2419229#comment endangered in the wild slideshow wild animals Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:00:32 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2419229 http://www.petsugar.com/2406069 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/43_2008/06990cc7c22bea54_belugabubbles.larger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left larger" height="179" width="240"></span>I just couldn't get <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2405953/" >that song out of my head</a> so I dove right into a bunch of wild whale facts! Do you know anything about those baby Belugas (and adult ones too)? Test yourself when you take my quiz! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2406069">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2406069#comment beluga whales creature features exam in the wild quiz whales Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:30:24 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2406069 http://www.petsugar.com/2405953 <p>Sing it with me: Baaaa-by Be-luuuuga. Am the only one getting <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0rInDa39l8" target="_blank">flashbacks to childhood</a> whenever I see pictures of Beluga Whales? Anyway, the endangered mammals are best recognized by their distinctive white color and large foreheads (forget "fivehead" . . . more like <i>twenty</i>-fivehead). Prominent noggins or not, they are pretty cute . . . especially when blowing bubbles. Check it out in the video below!<br /> <center><object width="425" height="344"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hCAUleX5h8A&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hCAUleX5h8A&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center></p> <p><a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/10/beluga-whales-video-endangered-alaska.php" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2405953#comment beluga whales cute endangered in the wild videos whales Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:15:04 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2405953 http://www.petsugar.com/2390426 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/43_2008/d2fc53b176fef610_sloth.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarger" width="264" height="400"></span>A majority of you can agree that <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1910015" >these guys are pretty cute</a>, despite their given name. I'm guessing all furry creatures that look kinda like teddy bears would be cute on principal. But do you know anything else about the sloth . . . other than it (obviously) hangs from trees?</p> <p>Take my quiz and see how much you know about this mammal. I bet you can even find some answers hidden within the pages of PetSugar! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2390426">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2390426#comment creature features in the wild sloths Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:00:16 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2390426 http://www.petsugar.com/2369640 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/tasmaniandevil.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarger" width="260" height="400"></span>Although the Tasmanian Devil you might know best spins around like a tornado, destroys everything in its path, and can sometimes be seen alongside a rascally rabbit, the <i>real</i> Tasmanian Devil isn't quite so cartoonish. </p> <p>You may know <b>Looney Toons</b> Taz from the 60s, but how much do you know about the real guys out there in the wild? Take my quiz on the crazy marsupials and find out! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2369640">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2369640#comment creature features exam in the wild Tasmanian Devil Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:00:54 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2369640 http://www.petsugar.com/2358034 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/1_australianewspecies_461.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left xlarge" width="320" height="229"></span>I think this guy looks like he belongs on a Christmas tree, but this sea crab is just one of the hundreds of new sea creatures <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/photogalleries/Australia-new-species-photos/index.html" target="_blank">discovered off the coast of Tasmania</a>. From crabs to starfish to octopus, these new species were recorded in two separate mile-deep voyages in 2006 and 2007. </p> <p>Not only did voyagers find new species of animals under the sea, they also discovered miles of coral that is thought to be about 2,000 years old, providing life and food to many creatures. Lead scientist Nic Bax, a marine biologist with Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/10/081009-new-marine-life.html" target="_blank">talks about the discovery in a recent interview</a> saying,"We know very little about the deep sea. Finding out how much live coral is down there, and how large those communities are, is very exciting." </p> <p><p><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-93864 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#34b3d1'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 active" href="http://petsugar.com/gallery/view/2357982?page=0,0,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/2_australianewspecies_461.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-34422 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#34b3d1'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://petsugar.com/gallery/view/2357982?page=0,1,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/3_australianewspecies_461.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-66424 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#34b3d1'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://petsugar.com/gallery/view/2357982?page=0,2,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/4_australianewspecies_461.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-16148 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#34b3d1'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://petsugar.com/gallery/view/2357982?page=0,3,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/5_australianewspecies_461.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-77356 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#34b3d1'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://petsugar.com/gallery/view/2357982?page=0,4,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/42_2008/6_australianewspecies_461.mediumsquare.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div></p><br clear="all"></p> <p><a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2358034#comment crabs fish in the wild news scoop starfish the scoop Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:00:46 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2358034 http://www.petsugar.com/2322789 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/41_2008/CrystalJellyfish.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" width="340" height="400"></span>If you've ever wondered how some jellyfish glow green, you're not alone. Three researchers from across the country – Osamu Shimomura, Martin Chalfie, and Roger Tsien – teamed up to discover ways to produce the protein unique to Crystal Jellyfish – called GFP – to help aid in medical research. The discovery was so important that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/08/nobel.chemistry/index.html" target="_blank">it earned them the Nobel Prize for Chemistry</a>. </p> <p>How would this glowing protein aid the medical community? Formally, certain things have been invisible to the eye – like how cancer cells form and spread – but with this fluorescent protein, we can now see those cells and watch how they develop. What's more, researchers can also see how nerve cells deteriorate as they do in patients with Alzheimer's, which means that a deeper understanding of the disease is possible! Hopefully, this will help form a cure for both cases, and open up a whole new understanding for other medical related issues. Way to go jellyfish! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2322789#comment in the wild Jellyfish news Nobel Prize scoop the scoop Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:00:20 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2322789 http://www.petsugar.com/2169725 <p>I keep looking at my finger, then back at this picture, then back at my finger . . . wow! Once found all over the continent, the European Tree Frog is endangered in Western Europe because of the negative influences of human activity on their natural habitats. This babe's just chillin' with his keeper at a German Zoo – the facility continues to breed the species in order to reintroduce them to the wild in Nuremberg and the city's surrounding areas. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/40_2008/frogonfinger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="477" width="550"></span><br /> To see another picture of five little tree frogs just sittin' in a tree, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2169725">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2169725#comment baby animals cute European Tree Frogs frogs germany in the wild Nuremberg Zoo zoos Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:45:10 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2169725 http://www.petsugar.com/2120333 <p>See? I'm not the only one that feels like getting a massage after a long day at work. Killer Whales get creative in the ocean, using sea kelp and stones for a nice, exfoliating, and moisturizing self rubdown. Thankfully, they don't have to pay the $160 that I would pay for the equivalent here on land! Lucky. </p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_2120498"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so2120498 = new SWFObject('/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','400','300','7'); so2120498.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so2120498.addVariable("file",'2120498.flv'); so2120498.addVariable('height', 328); so2120498.addVariable('image','/media/cooked/thumbs/2120498.jpg'); so2120498.addVariable('width','400'); so2120498.addVariable('logo','/static/imgs/watermark/geeksugar.png'); so2120498.write('player_2120498'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div></center></p> <p><a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2120333#comment cute in the wild killer whales massages videos Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:30:13 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2120333 http://www.petsugar.com/2039606 <p>You know that feeling of anticipation you get during a full moon that makes you want to go out and party? Well, maybe that's just me, but studies show that the "Full Moon Effect" touches other species, too. Not only are those werewolves on the hunt during full moons, <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/09/18/full-moon-birds.html" target="_blank">but so are sharks, seals, and sea birds</a>.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/38_2008/birdswatermoon.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="504" height="339"></span><br /> Since sea birds — like the streaked shearwater — rest on the water's surface, they are especially noticeable on a night with a full moon, where the light penetrating the water is brighter, and the birds cast a shadow below. So the sharks and seals that prey on the birds have a better chance of catching a midnight snack on those evenings. How did researchers first discover this activity? To find out, just </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/2039606">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/2039606#comment birds full moons in the wild news scoop sharks the scoop wild animals Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:00:58 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/2039606 http://www.petsugar.com/1848208 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1848208"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1848208',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1848208');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p>Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I wanna hear it from you: do you think this <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080804-ugly-video-ap.html" target="_blank">bulbous-headed snub fin dolphin</a> is properly called the "world's ugliest dolphin?" <center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_1859635"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so1859635 = new SWFObject('/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','400','300','7'); so1859635.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so1859635.addVariable("file",'1859635.flv'); so1859635.addVariable('height', 328); so1859635.addVariable('image','/media/cooked/thumbs/1859635.jpg'); so1859635.addVariable('width','400'); so1859635.addVariable('logo','/static/imgs/watermark/lilsugar.png'); so1859635.write('player_1859635'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div></center> At first glance, it made me think of a victim of a Looney Tunes random act of violence where an animal gets somehow smushed up but still lives to go on. What do you think about the species?</p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1848208" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Is This the World&#039;s Ugliest Dolphin?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Eeks! Yes, the face is too smooshy (and not in a good way).</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Hmm, well it's not as cute as Flipper, but not awful.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No, all dolphins are cute.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other: I'll tell you in my comments below.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1848208" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.petsugar.com/1848208#comment bulbous-headed snub fin dolphins dolphins in the wild news opinion scoop video Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:00:29 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1848208 http://www.petsugar.com/1772815 <p>Although you might think this species spends a good amount of time at the surface, these fish actually live mostly at depths of 700 to 2,000 feet underwater. Do you know what kind of fish this is?<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/28_2008/73920034.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="550" height="354"></span><br /> To see the answer, just </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1772815">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1772815#comment fish guess who in the wild Sun, 13 Jul 2008 09:00:10 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1772815 http://www.petsugar.com/1720978 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/25_2008/cobra2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="502" height="340"></span>Yeesh, when I see this image, I get chills up and down my spine! Everybody knows (or should know) what a cobra looks like, but do you know what to do if you were to meet one? See what you know about this slithering reptile when you take my quiz! </p> <p><a href="http" www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1720978">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1720978#comment cobras creature features exam in the wild snakes Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:30:06 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1720978 http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1719960 <a href="/slideshow/1719960?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/25_2008/fruitbatnew.xlarge.jpg" alt="Top 10 New Species " title="Top 10 New Species " class="image xlarge inline left" /></a>Each year the <a href="http://www.species.asu.edu/">International Institute For Species Exploration</a> announces a list of the <a href="http://www.livescience.com/animals/080617-top10-species.html">Top 10 New Species</a> for the preceding calendar year. Even though there are virtually thousands of new plant and animals found each year, an international committee of experts choose these 10 to help draw attention to biodiversity, the field of taxonomy, and the importance of natural history museums and botanical gardens in a fun-filled way. Eight of the 10 named this year are animals, check them all out in this slideshow!<div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/1719960?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1719960#comment in the wild news plants scoop wild animals Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:15:36 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1719960 http://www.petsugar.com/1699764 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/24_2008/manatee.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" width="550" height="370"></span>The big guys of the ocean – whales, sharks, and dolphins – get all the attention! One animal that's missing the boat in the PR department is the manatee. I don't hear many facts or stories about the so called "sea cow," and this one seems like such a friendly guy! Doesn't it look like he's smiling? Let's test our knowledge and see what we can dig up, or figure out, about the manatee! </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1699764">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1699764#comment creature features exam in the wild Manatees Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:30:35 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1699764 http://www.petsugar.com/1697424 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/24_2008/200544192-001.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="503" height="339"></span>Usually when I think of animal conservation, I think of <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1570600" >protecting the animals' natural habitat</a>, educating the masses on <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1090652" >the need for conservation</a>, and maybe even helping nature along with breeding, but I've never heard of putting them on ice! </p> <p>In Moscow, a research team is trying to <a href="http://www.russiatoday.ru/scitech/news/25971" target="_blank">save the rarest of toad and frog species from extinction by freezing their sperm and eggs</a> at minus 200 degrees for later use. With over 3,000 species on the endangered list, Natalia Sheshova from the Institute of Biophysics in Moscow says they are learning other ways to use science to their advantage as well: </p> <blockquote><p>“We’re learning to freeze embryo cells too, to give us a complete genetic picture. We hope that if a certain species does become extinct, we can retrieve the frozen cells and reproduce it.”</p></blockquote> <p>I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures! </p> <p><a href="http:www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1697424#comment conservation frogs in the wild news scoop the scoop Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:00:00 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1697424 http://www.petsugar.com/1690337 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/24_2008/kudu-7a-big.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="320" width="244"></span>When I think of antelopes, the first thing that comes to mind are their extravagant horns, often curving into beautiful shapes like arcs and helices. Can you recognize any of these unique-looking hoofed, horned creatures? Originally I was gonna ask you to match the name to the antelope pictured but, because even I am not an absolute antelope expert, I decided to make it easier on both of us. For each, you'll see a picture, a description of a trademark feature, and part of the species name (think <strong>Wheel of Fortune</strong>) – it's up to you to complete the word! Good luck.</p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1690337">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1690337#comment antelopes creature features exam in the wild wild animals Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:00:10 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1690337 http://www.petsugar.com/1649049 <p>I had many fishies growing up, mostly little goldfish, some beta fish, but my fave was my one puffer fish that lasted six years! <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1626378" >I was always intrigued by water creatures</a> and one of my earliest memories of being blown away by an animal was when I learned about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyingfish" target="_blank">flying fish</a>. I didn't know too much about these guys, but I thought they were so awesome because they could do two things that I wished I could do - breathe underwater and fly! So, when I learned about a flying fish <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7410421.stm" target="_blank">setting a new record of gliding for 45 seconds in the air</a>, I was not surprised! I knew they could glide for good distances (up to 50 yards) and previously the longest time in air was 42 seconds set back in the 1920s, but I had no idea that they could even flap their winged fins to catch an updraft sending them soaring even higher! </p> <p>Although the video is a little shaky, you can see a flying fish enjoying his time in the air as he glides alongside a ferry off the southern tip of Japan. Check it out below! </p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_1649050"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so1649050 = new SWFObject('http://images.teamsugar.com/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','425','350','7'); so1649050.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so1649050.addVariable("file",'1649050.flv'); so1649050.addVariable('height','350'); so1649050.addVariable('image','http://images.teamsugar.com/media/cooked/thumbs/1649050.jpg'); so1649050.addVariable('width','425'); so1649050.write('player_1649050'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div> </center></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1649049#comment animal videos fish flying fish in the wild news scoop Thu, 22 May 2008 08:00:10 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1649049 http://www.petsugar.com/1634640 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/20_2008/feedingducks.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="546" height="312"></span>I remember going to ponds and lakes near my hometown with a bag of bread in one hand and my mom gripping the other. We were going to feed the ducks our leftover stale bread, a common practice back in the day. But a new study suggests that <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1954210/%27Ban-bread-as-bird-food%27.html" target="_blank">feeding the birds your bread may not be helping them stay as healthy</a> as we once thought. </p> <p>While white bread does its job of filling up the tummies of the ducks, geese, swans, and other birds seen around lakes, it doesn't do a good job of giving them any nutritional assistance. Birds quickly get full from the bread, so they can't eat anything else that may contain the nutritional value they need to breed and raise their young. Val Osborne, head of wildlife inquiries at the <a href="http://www.rspb.org.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Society for the Protection of Birds</a> in the UK, said: “There are many other household foods that would be much better for them." </p> <p>To see what kind of foods, just </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1634640">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1634640#comment birds feed the birds health in the wild the scoop Mon, 19 May 2008 00:30:16 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1634640 http://www.petsugar.com/1626378 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/20_2008/poseidon-resort.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="470" height="300"></span>I always wanted to work with animals and, when I was little, I may have even declared I would become a marine biologist. So when I got to spend a few days in Orlando <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1550417" >hopping from Aquatica to SeaWorld, and Discovery Cove checking out the fish, swimming with the manta rays, and learning about all the cool exhibits</a>, I was as happy as a clam. If you're anything like me and ever daydreamed of living with the fishes, you can now get a little closer at the <a href="http://www.poseidonresorts.com/poseidon_main.html" target="_blank">Poseidon Resort in Fiji</a>. </p> <p>This ultra cool (and ultra expensive) one-of-a-kind resort has you staying 40 feet under the surface in one of 24 suites appointed with top side luxuries like marble and leather, plus nearly all of the walls in each suite are made of acrylic glass so you can get up close and personal views of the sea life. And with an underwater library, restaurants and bars, you'll never have to head topside! The price for this underwater experience starts at $15,000, and seems to be worth every penny, especially since they teach you how to navigate your own sub to go even deeper underwater and check out the view from 1,000 feet down! Sign me up! </p> <p><a href="http://www.uncrate.com/men/culture/travel/poseidon-undersea-resort/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1626378#comment aquariums Fiji fish in the wild Poseidon Resort travel Wed, 14 May 2008 07:00:36 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1626378 http://www.petsugar.com/1614403 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/19_2008/hedge2APEX0705_468x293.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" width="468" height="293"></span><br /> How appropriate that we are seeing so many baby animals this week with Mother's Day just around the corner! First a <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1612345" >day-old rhino</a>, then an <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1614317" >hours-old baby elephant</a> . . . now we can throw these hedgehogs into the mix! Although these little guys were born last month, they do have an interesting story. In Europe, birthing time for hedgehogs is usually in late May to early June, with hibernation and cold weather keeping them safe inside their burrows. But this litter, born April 26th, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=564675&amp;in_page_id=1770" target="_blank">is one of the earliest litters of hedgehogs ever seen in Europe, and oh-so tiny</a> – each little one weighs less than an ounce! Elizabeth Dyas, founder of Prickly Ball Farm in Devon (which looks after these animals) is speculating that unseasonably warm weather is what's bringing the hedgehogs out of hibernation early: </p> <blockquote><p>"When we first started taking them in about 20 years ago there were harsher winters and they hibernated for much longer periods than they do now. Normally we would start to get small numbers being born at the end of May and beginning of June"</p></blockquote> <p>To read more about these adoro hedgehogs, and to see just how tiny they really are, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1614403">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1614403#comment cute Hedgehogs in the wild the scoop Fri, 09 May 2008 07:00:52 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1614403 http://www.petsugar.com/1596368 <div id="guesswho-view-1596368"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/guesswho/view/1596368',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var guesswho=$('guesswho-view-1596368');guesswho.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p>On which island in Hawaii can you find these native and wild chickens roaming free? </p><p><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/18_2008/KingChicken.jpg" alt="Guess Where?" title="Guess Where?" class="image preview" /></p><p><form action="/1596368" method="post" id="guesswho_guess"> <div><div class="guesswho_form"><div class="form-item"> <input type="text" maxlength="128" name="edit[guess]" id="edit-guess" size="20" value="" class="form-text form-autocomplete" /> </div> <input class="autocomplete" type="hidden" id="edit-guess-autocomplete" value="http://www.petsugar.com/taxonomy/autocomplete/43" disabled="disabled" /><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1596368" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Guess" class="form-submit" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="I Give Up" class="form-submit" /> <input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="guesswho_guess" /> </div> </div></form> </p></noscript> http://www.petsugar.com/1596368#comment chickens guess where guess who in the wild Sat, 03 May 2008 07:00:37 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1596368 http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1577010 <a href="/slideshow/1577010?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/17_2008/lotsofpenguins.xlarge.jpg" alt="Happy World Penguin Day!" title="Happy World Penguin Day!" class="image xlarge inline left" /></a>That's right – it's <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tags/earth+day">another holiday</a> today! In honor of <a href="http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/world-penguin-day">World Penguin Day</a>, I've created a slideshow to teach you a little more about the 17 species of penguins worldwide. Many times, looking at their heads is the easiest way to tell them apart . . . makes sense because that's what we can see when they pop up from <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1578509">swim time</a>! <a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com">Source</a><div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/1577010?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1577010#comment in the wild penguins wildlife world penguin day Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:15:36 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1577010 http://www.petsugar.com/1551035 <div id="guesswho-view-1551035"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/guesswho/view/1551035',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var guesswho=$('guesswho-view-1551035');guesswho.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p>It's also known as Uni in a sushi restaurant . . . </p><p><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/16_2008/uni.jpg" alt="Guess What Animal?" title="Guess What Animal?" class="image preview" /></p><p><form action="/1551035" method="post" id="guesswho_guess"> <div><div class="guesswho_form"><div class="form-item"> <input type="text" maxlength="128" name="edit[guess]" id="edit-guess" size="20" value="" class="form-text form-autocomplete" /> </div> <input class="autocomplete" type="hidden" id="edit-guess-autocomplete" value="http://www.petsugar.com/taxonomy/autocomplete/43" disabled="disabled" /><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1551035" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Guess" class="form-submit" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="I Give Up" class="form-submit" /> <input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="guesswho_guess" /> </div> </div></form> </p></noscript> http://www.petsugar.com/1551035#comment guess what animal guess who in the wild Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:00:41 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1551035 http://www.petsugar.com/1568600 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/17_2008/californiaseaotters.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="350" width="550"></span>While not many of you were instantly on board with <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1568606" >composting dog poop</a>, I thought I'd mention some important information for those feline owners. A common parasite that kitties can get is actually <i>very</i> deadly to wildlife, like these adoro sea otters, when cat litter is not properly disposed! Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that commonly gets into feline systems from eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. <a href="http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/21976" target="_blank">When kitties later expel these parasites in their droppings — sometimes hundreds of millions at a time — each can survive in soil and water for over a year!</a> </p> <p>Although many different kinds of animals can serve as intermediate hosts for the parasites, cats are the only animals known to shed the parasite's eggs in their droppings. (In fact, this cat-parasite link is the reason <a href="http://www.research.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/spot_otter.html" target="_blank">pregnant women are advised against cleaning cat litter boxes</a>.) Because of this danger, cat poop should not be flushed because it can then be carried via storm drains and sewage outflows into near-shore ocean waters. But, what about those indoor cats? Find out when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1568600">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1568600#comment cats earth day eco eco-tastic in the wild news poop scoop sea otters the scoop wildlife Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:30:18 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1568600 http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1570600 <a href="/slideshow/1570600?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/17_2008/girlwithdoves.xlarge.jpg" alt="Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard" title="Create a Certified Wildlife Habitat in Your Backyard" class="image xlarge inline left" /></a>The <a href="http://www.nwf.org/">National Wildlife Federation</a> offers some great tips to turn your backyard into a wildlife habitat (and then <a href="https://secure.nwf.org/backyard/certify.cfm?campaignid=BW5JDISC">make it certified</a>). Show your commitment to conserving wildlife and provide elements from each of the five essential areas you'll learn about when you read more. <a href="http://legacycreative.gettyimages.com">Source</a><div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/1570600?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.petsugar.com/slideshow/1570600#comment earth day eco eco-tastic in the wild national wildlife federation wild animals wildlife Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:20:42 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1570600 http://www.petsugar.com/1570306 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/17_2008/raccoon.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="541" width="550"></span>In spirit of <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tags/earth+day" >Earth Day</a>, I thought we'd tackle a problem with wild animals. <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/Sonoma+b" >Sonoma b</a> is having a big problem with some masked creatures. The very hungry raccoons seem determined to make a mess of her garbage. It's a company-issued, heavy-duty blue industrial plastic "can" filled with plastic kitchen bags. Even though it's emptied once a week, the pesky critters seem to find their way in before then! To hear what she has to say, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1570306">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1570306#comment earth day i need your help in the wild lifestyle raccoons wild animals Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:45:01 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1570306 http://www.petsugar.com/1558173 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1558173"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1558173',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1558173');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><center><object width="425" height="355"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bOEIQMiEEdk&amp;hl=en"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bOEIQMiEEdk&amp;hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object></center> Making their home in a Northern California creek, this family of beavers have quickly become local celebrities. As cute and entertaining as they are for tourists and local schoolchildren, not everyone loves these furry creatures. Last Fall the <a href="http://www.cityofmartinez.org" target="_blank">city of Martinez</a> actually had plans to kill the beavers and remove their mud-and-stick dams! That plan was publicly criticized by locals and a committee was formed – the Beavers in Alhambra Creek – with members presenting seven options for controlling the creatures who've been living it up in their new home for the last 18 months. Why are some people so anxious to remove the furry family? Find out more details when you <!--break-->.</p> <p>Beavers are known for their big teeth so they can obvs do horrible damage if they chew through the $10 million of flood control work already completed in this Northern California town. Experts have already been called in, including Vermont-based wildlife biologist Skip Lisle, who installed a pipe through the dam to lower water levels to (hopefully) reduce flood risk. "If we can put a man on the moon, we can outsmart beavers. They're not very good at deductive reasoning," <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/04/16/BAFG1066A2.DTL&amp;type=printable" target="_blank">Lisle said</a>. "They're very single-minded." Unfortunately their minds are to build, build, build, while officials can't continue to take down, take down, take down. Of the plans on the table, costs can range from $2,000 to upwards of $100,000 to safely keep the creatures in the creek. So what do you think – should eviction begin immediately, do beavers belong in the creek as much as the water does, or is this matter simply water under the bridge?</p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1558173" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>What&#039;s Your Take: Beaver Family vs. City of Martinez?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Let 'em stay!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Kick 'em out!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Undecided – it's all water under the bridge to me!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other – I'll tell you in my comments below.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1558173" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.petsugar.com/1558173#comment beavers CA California in the wild Martinez news poll scoop the scoop Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:00:24 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1558173 http://www.petsugar.com/1553437 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/16_2008/elephantswim1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" width="270" height="400"></span>An ancient relative of the modern elephant may have lived in an aquatic environment. Fossilized teeth were found embedded in a rock in northern Egypt's Faiyum region, which is known to have been a coastal system that changed often from swamp to river and back again. </p> <p>Little did I know that elephants share a common ancestor with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee" target="_blank">manatees</a> and other aquatic animals, so it makes sense that they would have some sort of water connection. Although the teeth that were found indicate that the ancient animals didn't quite look like we know them today – minus the recognizable trunk and much much smaller in stature (about three feet tall at the shoulder) – this creature would have eaten the freshwater plants that grew in the area. "Essentially it's a hippo-like mode of life. That's the closest animal that we can think of today," said Alexander Liu of Oxford University's department of earth sciences, lead author of recent research on the teeth. No wonder elephants are such good swimmers! </p> <p><a href="http://gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1553437#comment elephants in the wild the scoop wild animals Thu, 17 Apr 2008 14:00:35 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1553437 http://www.petsugar.com/1555912 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/16_2008/wilbaer_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="381" width="550"></span>There must be something in the water in Germany because the country seems full of young and adoro polar bears! We know <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tag/knut" >Knut</a> (Berlin) and <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tag/flocke" >Flocke</a> (Nuremberg) . . . so now meet Wilbaer! Unlike the first two cuties I mentioned, this lil cub is actually being raised by his mom, Corinna. Making his home at the <a href="http://www.wilhelma.de/nc/en/home.html" target="_blank">Wilhelma Zoo</a> in the southern German city of Stuttgart, Wilbaer was born on Dec. 10, 2007 and made his first outing today! Which means there are pictures! Lots of them! That I'm (of course) sharing with you when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1555912">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1555912#comment Corinna cute in the wild Nuremberg Zoo polar bears wild animals Wilbaer Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:15:23 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1555912 http://www.petsugar.com/1549860 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15300/16_2008/lungless-frog-324x205.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" width="324" height="205"></span>With only a few species of salamanders and worms known to be without lungs, a species of frog – the Barbourula kalimantanensis – <a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/04/10/lungless-frog.html" target="_blank">was added to that very short list after being discovered in a remote province on Borneo Island</a>. In August of last year, David Bickford, an evolutionary biologist at the National University of Singapore, was one of the few expeditioners to discover the unique amphibian. The small brown spotted frog, found along the fast moving rivers of the island, brings an interesting comparison from the researcher: </p> <blockquote><p>"These are about the most ancient and bizarre frogs you can get on the planet. They are flat and have eyes that float above the water. They have skin flaps coming off their arms and legs," describing them as "a squished version of Jabba the Hutt." </p></blockquote> <p>Straight out of a <b>Star Wars</b> flick, researchers say that the frog (although totally weird) is not a mistake – the species has evolved to adapt to the cold and oxygen rich rivers that it calls home. And this may sound totally crazy, but I would think that breathing through your skin can't be all that bad. I mean, you wouldn't have to worry about asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer, but if your pores got clogged, would you have trouble breathing? </p> <p><a href="http://dsc.discovery.com/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1549860#comment frogs in the wild the scoop wildlife Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:00:42 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1549860 http://www.petsugar.com/1534200 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/15_2008/flockedancin.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="550" width="548"></span>OK, maybe she's not technically dancing but doesn't she look like she's about to drop it like it's hot?! Flocke already knows how to pose for the camera and it's only her first week of public appearances – she'll be a lil superstar for sure. Because you know <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1536529" >I think this bear is the cutest of them all</a> – especially when she busts a move – check out more piccys when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1534200">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1534200#comment cute flocke germany in the wild Nuremberg Zoo polar bears wild animals Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:15:16 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1534200 http://www.petsugar.com/1536264 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/10/104166/15_2008/flocke.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="543" width="550"></span>Hello there, Flocke! How nice to see you again! We first <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/967737" >caught a glimpse of this polar bear</a> when she was just five weeks old. Well, now she's a whole three months and cuter than ever! Now, we can't forget the world famous <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1102101" >Knut</a>, but I bet lil Flocke will give him a run for his money. Check out her media presentation today – the public one doesn't come 'til tomorrow – which I've included in an awwwww-dorable gallery. I don't know about you all, but (about 20 minutes later) I've found my new desktop picture. See pictures of the bear with her blankie (!), swimming, jumping, eating, and more posing when you just </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1536264">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1536264#comment cute flocke germany in the wild Nuremberg Zoo polar bears wild animals Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:45:03 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1536264 http://www.petsugar.com/1139422 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/13_2008/chickadee_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="342" width="550"></span>Chickadee is one of my favorite words to say. Chickadee, chickadee, chickadee! So I know these birds (along with woodpeckers, goldfinches, thrushes, bluebirds, and wrens) like peanut butter suet . . . the problem, what in the heck is suet?! After consulting a dear friend (read: google), I learned that it's raw beef or sheep fat. I eat neither beef, nor sheep, so I was at a standstill about where to find such a thing – and whether or not I'd even want to touch it.</p> <p>Imagine my delight when I found a recipe for peanut butter suet – sounds a lot less scary, and OMG, I've got tons of <a href="http://www.birdsamore.com/videos/bcch-plog.htm" href=http://www.petsugar.com/tags/peanut+butter">PB</a>. To see how to make this treat in plastic containers, little balls, or even <a target="_blank">rolled in wire mesh for birds to come pecking</a>, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1139422">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1139422#comment birds feed the birds hanging feeders in the wild National Wildlife Week peanut butter suet suet wild animals Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:45:41 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1139422 http://www.petsugar.com/1502895 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/13_2008/5046_300-1_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image left preview" height="199" width="300"></span>There are many birdies that like fruit . . . and not just <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/734431" >smoothies</a>! To offer up this treat in your backyard choose a feeder with spikes for actual fruit, trays for jelly and, if you're brave with the squirmies, a spot for mealworms. I like <a href="http://www.bird-house-bath.com/d/Window-Oriole-Feeder.html" target="_blank">this feeder ($24.95)</a> because <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1125790" >once again</a> you can see feathered friends from any treeless home — all you need is a window!</p> <p>To find out which fruit to use – and who will come to dinner – when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1502895">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1502895#comment birds feed the birds fruit in the wild jelly National Wildlife Week wild animals Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:15:45 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1502895 http://www.petsugar.com/1140216 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/13_2008/nectar500.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="285" width="500"></span>If you offer sweet sips of nectar, they will come! Hummingbirds usually move too quickly for a solid look but, as a child, they were a fave at our nectar feeder . . . essentially the only time they were still enough for me to get a good glimpse. Now I'll bet not only hummingbirds and other syrupy lovers will adore the design of this <a href="http://www.shopgrounded.com/servlet/Detail?no=96" target="_blank">Dew Drop Feeder ($34.99)</a>, you will too. Each one is hand-blown of beautiful, recycled glass in Mexico and comes in red, blue, or green. Just add water to a "nectar" mix like <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=16320" target="_blank">Nectar Magic ($4.49 for three)</a> or <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12392" target="_blank">Ultimate Blend Hummingbird Nectar ($5.99 for a two-pound bag)</a> and find out which feathery friends may stop by when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1140216">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1140216#comment birds dew drop feeder feed the birds in the wild National Wildlife Week nectar feeder wild animals Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:00:48 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1140216 http://www.petsugar.com/1131868 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/13_2008/nigerlantern.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="460" width="500"></span>We're still <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tag/feed+the+birds" >feeding the birds</a> here on PetSugar and it's now onto the thistle treats. I love <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schrodt-Designs-SBNL-Songbird-Nigerseed/dp/B00004TTT0" target="_blank">this feeder ($21)</a> because the prickly seeds are popular with many lovely songbirds that are welcome to chirp at my windowsill anytime! Some of the pricier foods, thistle runs <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7700" target="_blank">about $16 for five pounds</a> but, trust me, it's worth it – see who'll come to feed when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1131868">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1131868#comment birds feed the birds in the wild National Wildlife Week niger lantern thistle wild animals Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:45:28 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1131868 http://www.petsugar.com/1125790 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/12_2008/pineconebirdfeeder.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="536" width="550"></span>Although there are many types of sunflower seeds, <a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=7704" target="_blank">black oil sunflower seeds ($4.99 for five pounds)</a> are the most popular for wild birds. These are a great source of high quality protein and oil during cooler months that (unfortunately) don't immediately end on the first day of <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tags/spring" >Spring</a>. Just add them to a pretty tube feeder <a href="http://willowtreehome.com/Home-Decor/02506.html" target="_blank">like this one ($41)</a> or use a flexible <a href="http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-3454" target="_blank">alternative that attaches right to a window</a>! I'm sure even your kitties would love it . . . but likely scare the birdies away by their peeking. </p> <p>By themselves, the black oil sunflower seeds will attract goldfinches, chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, redpolls, and pine siskins. The soft outer shell makes them easy for smaller wild birds to nibble – by adding a tray to the tube feeder, you'll attract a different set of flutters. Find out and </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1125790">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1125790#comment bird table birds black oil sunflower seeds feed the birds in the wild millet National Wildlife Week tube feeder wild animals Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:30:37 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1125790 http://www.petsugar.com/1129410 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/12_2008/dy_p1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="300" width="125"></span>As much as <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1096145" >North and I love peanut butter</a>, the real thing, not so much. Still, <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/884622" >peanuts aren't just for the lil critters</a>, many wild birds enjoy them, too! You can pick up a bag of unsalted shelled or unshelled peanuts at any local store and add them to a feeder in your backyard to call out a bunch of new flutterers. </p> <p>To see what kind of birds this nut-filled tube feeder attracts, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1129410">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1129410#comment bird table birds feed the birds in the wild National Wildlife Week peanuts tube feeder wild animals Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:23 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1129410 http://www.petsugar.com/1123390 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/12_2008/lolseals1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="414" width="550"></span>Nigel Barker <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1090652" >is far from done with his seal-saving mission</a>. In more playful news, the <strong>America's Next Top Model</strong> judge is bringing his talents to a <a href="http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/protect_seals_what_you_can_do/lolseals.html" target="_blank">LOLseals Photo Caption Contest</a> — the Humane Society provides photos of lil baby harp seals, you create a caption, and then Nigel picks his fave to win a whole bunch of Project Seals gear! Get some inspiration from the <a href="http://speaklolspeak.com/?t=anon" target="_blank">lolspeak glossary</a> to <a href="http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/protect_seals/protect_seals_what_you_can_do/lolseals.html" target="_blank">create a LOLcaption by March 21</a> — I couldn't resist including a gallery of their eight adoro piccys to choose from when you </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1123390">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1123390#comment caption contest contest humane society Nigel Barker in the wild LOLseals seals Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:00:00 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1123390 http://www.petsugar.com/1124246 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/12_2008/recycledbirdfeeder.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline center preview" height="550" width="485"></span>I only wish I had a tree (or backyard) to tempt many birds to come for a visit. Even North loves watching things fly by! For those lucky suburban or rural dwellers, this <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tags/ecotastic" >ecotastic</a> twofer is completely made up of reused materials! The unique <a href="http://www.recycledbirdhouse.com/" target="_blank">Recycled Birdfeeders</a> (<a href="http://www.recycledbirdhouse.com/contact.shtml" target="_blank">$49</a>) are tray-hanging, platform feeders constructed with recycled parts from birdhouses and leftover asphalt roof shingles.</p> <p>Simply adding corn to a platform feeder like this one will attract a different group of birds than our <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1122998" >millet version</a> — if you're curious why (and who) </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1124246">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1124246#comment bird table birds eco eco-tastic feed the birds in the wild millet National Wildlife Week platform feeder Recycled Birdfeeder wild animals Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:30:45 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1124246 http://www.petsugar.com/1122998 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/12_2008/birdtable1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="338" width="274"></span>I'm kicking off a <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/tags/feed+the+birds" >Feed the birds</a> extravaganza! I've only got one pet in my family, but it's fun to pretend the birds that come visit my windowsill are like my pets, too. Each day for the next two weeks, I'll share a new feeder and seed combo – and share what kind of feathery friends will likely stop by for a snack! </p> <p>Start out with a tray feeder like this sleek <a href="http://www.shopgrounded.com/servlet/Detail?no=227" target="_blank">Eva Solo Bird Table ($154.99)</a> and add some millet. Millet is lower in fat than other seeds and very nutritious with high levels of proteins, carbohydrates, B-complex vitamins, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in addition to a host of other important nutrients. Because it's very appealing to many bird species, switch it up and add some white millet (<a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11115" target="_blank">$5.99 for five pounds</a>) and red millet (<a href="http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11114" target="_blank">$8.99 for five pounds</a>). To see what kind of birds you'll likely attract with this combo, </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1122998">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1122998#comment bird table birds Eva Solo feed the birds in the wild millet National Wildlife Week platform feeder wild animals Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:45:21 -0700 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1122998 http://www.petsugar.com/1090652 <p>With the fashion industry taking the <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/734620" >Cool vs. Cruel</a> anti-fur movement to heart, it seems that we're finally making some headway on the realization that cruelty for the sake of couture isn't the best idea. Plus, when celebs like Hayden Panettiere <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/756367" >make headlines for their causes</a> – like her involvement in <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/993939" >Save The Whales, Again!</a> – it puts a blazing spotlight on issues that are important to our world.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/15300/10_2008/NigelSeals1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="412" width="550"></span><br /> Just like Hayden, Nigel Barker, one of Tyra's industry judges on <b>Americas Next Top Model</b>, is <a href="http://www.nigelbarker.tv/blog/?p=68" target="_blank">taking a stand against March's annual commercial seal hunt</a> (where each year hundreds of thousands of baby seals are hunted and killed for their fur). Traveling to eastern Canada this week, Nigel will be scoping out the baby seals before the hunt begins :</p> <blockquote><p>“It is my hope that by witnessing these baby seals in their natural environment we can draw attention to the inhumane slaughter that will occur in a few short weeks,” said Barker. “Every year hundreds of thousands of baby seals are clubbed and shot to death for their fur. Their carcasses are discarded like waste and left on the ice. It is my strong opinion that this is bigger than making a fashion statement. This is about making a life statement. If we call ourselves human we must act humanely.”</p></blockquote> <p>If that's not enough, Nigel will be returning to the ice flows of eastern Canada to film and witness the seal hunt in progress. Ultimately, Nigel and The Humane Society hope that the seal fur trade will be banned in Europe, where a majority of the fur is shipped and sold. To check out a video of Nigel and HSUS President Wayne Pacelle speaking out against the fur trade, just </p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1090652">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1090652#comment activism americas next top model fur humane society in the wild news nigel barker scoop seals the scoop Tue, 04 Mar 2008 10:45:57 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1090652 http://www.petsugar.com/1078951 <p>With all <a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1078353" >the talk about baby Giraffes</a>, it got me thinking about other exotic African animals. Known for their black and white stripes and mohawk-ed manes, these desert, plain mammals <a href="http://fabsugar.com/615834" >are major power players when it comes to fashion</a>, influencing <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/LilPeaPod/petmark/1078836" >pet products</a> and <a href="http://teamsugar.com/user/LilPeaPod/geekgear/1078834" >gadgetry</a>, even if they don't know it.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/1/15300/09_2008/zebra.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image center preview" height="337" width="506"></span>I wasn't too knowledgeable about Zebras when I was little, only that they were a special kind of striped pony. Or are they? Take my quiz on Zebras and find out! </p> <p><a href="https://legacycreative.gettyimages.com/source/account/SignIn.aspx?/source/home/homeCreative.aspx" target="_blank">Source</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.petsugar.com/1078951">read more</a></p> http://www.petsugar.com/1078951#comment creature features exam in the wild species wild animals zebra zebras Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:30:00 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1078951 http://www.petsugar.com/1068061 <div id="guesswho-view-1068061"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/guesswho/view/1068061',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var guesswho=$('guesswho-view-1068061');guesswho.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p></p><p><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/08_2008/79175182.preview.jpg" alt="Guess What Animal?" title="Guess What Animal?" class="image preview" /></p><p><form action="/1068061" method="post" id="guesswho_guess"> <div><div class="guesswho_form"><div class="form-item"> <input type="text" maxlength="128" name="edit[guess]" id="edit-guess" size="20" value="" class="form-text form-autocomplete" /> </div> <input class="autocomplete" type="hidden" id="edit-guess-autocomplete" value="http://www.petsugar.com/taxonomy/autocomplete/43" disabled="disabled" /><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1068061" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Guess" class="form-submit" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="I Give Up" class="form-submit" /> <input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="guesswho_guess" /> </div> </div></form> </p></noscript> http://www.petsugar.com/1068061#comment guess who in the wild wild animals Sun, 24 Feb 2008 10:00:07 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1068061 http://www.petsugar.com/1059643 <div id="guesswho-view-1059643"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/guesswho/view/1059643',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var guesswho=$('guesswho-view-1059643');guesswho.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p>What kind of bird is this?</p><p><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl0/10/104166/08_2008/swan1.jpg" alt="Guess What Animal?" title="Guess What Animal?" class="image preview" /></p><p><form action="/1059643" method="post" id="guesswho_guess"> <div><div class="guesswho_form"><div class="form-item"> <input type="text" maxlength="128" name="edit[guess]" id="edit-guess" size="20" value="" class="form-text form-autocomplete" /> </div> <input class="autocomplete" type="hidden" id="edit-guess-autocomplete" value="http://www.petsugar.com/taxonomy/autocomplete/43" disabled="disabled" /><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1059643" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Guess" class="form-submit" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="I Give Up" class="form-submit" /> <input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="guesswho_guess" /> </div> </div></form> </p></noscript> http://www.petsugar.com/1059643#comment animals birds guess who in the wild Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:00:17 -0800 PetSugar http://www.petsugar.com/1059643