Wild Creations Frog Blog

Memorial Day in America

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:29:00 +0000

This Memorial Day, Wild Creations is proud to offer a prayer of thanks for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice upon the altar of freedom, as well as honor & salute our nations service men & women serving our country today.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. It was formally known as Decoration Day and commemorates all men and women, who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season. READ MORE

Love is in the Water

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:35:00 +0000

The following article is a repost from last year, it fitting we present it again for those just joining us and missed it the first time. -ED
It’s spring again! The time of year that signals the start of warm weather, green grass and bright flowers, baseball, BBQs, and amplexing. That’s right, you heard me … amplexing.

And, while this may not float your boat this time of year, it is definitely on the minds of our little African dwarf frogs.

Spring is mating season for frogs, the time of year when frogs become a little more aggressive … and a little more provocative. For the most part, the mating season passes quickly, but it undoubtedly raises very stimulating questions about the behavior of your frogs.

First, it doesn’t matter whether you have a male and female in an aquarium. When mating season starts, he will start his mating ritual without reservations and regardless of whom he shares company with. Dwarf frogs have very poor vision, so most of the time they can’t see what is in their aquarium anyway. So when the season of love starts, so does your frog.

He will start by performing his mating dance, which consists of arching his back and kicking outward. This is accompanied by soft humming, which is your frog crooning to Sinatra. When it is very quiet, you can hear this beautiful singing. He typically prefers to sing at night, which is when your frogs are more active, but you may hear him sing any time of the day.

This is when it becomes interesting. If the there is a mate in the water, and sometimes even if there is just another male frog, the crooning frog will grab his companion around the waist just above the lower legs, as if engaging in a big-brother type of bear hug from behind … and he will not let go. This is “amplexing”. If he is grasped to a female, the female will swim to the top of the water and release her eggs, which are later fertilized in the water by the male after the ritual. If your frog is affixed to another male, well then all bets are off. A fight will seemingly ensue, with the winner gaining bragging rights at the next major sporting event they attend with their friends. They prefer to call amplexing a “bro hug”. Regardless, this behavior is completely natural and nothing to be concerned about.

African dwarf frogs are very unique breed of frogs, because they will not grow very large and actually learn to adapt to the environment they are in. Unfortunately, their eggs and off spring aren’t as adaptable, and often the water conditions in an aquarium are not conducive for raising fertilized frog eggs to maturity. More often, the adult frogs, given their lack of proper eyesight, will mistake the floating eggs as food and … well, you can conclude your own ending to this paragraph.

In all, the ritual looks as though the frogs are engaging in a fight, and often individuals believe that one frog is trying to hold the other frog down. This is not the case. While it’s not dinner and flowers, this is actually froggie romance … se la vi. It’s natural, and there is nothing you need to worry about or need to do.

So, when it’s time to make up the family picnic and head out for a day at the park, just remember that someone in your house may have different plans, and it doesn’t’ involve taking in a baseball game in your absence … more like a wrestling match.

We wish to thank the readers of our facebook page who submitted the photos included in this article-ED.

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:27:00 +0000

Our hats off to Mommy & Me for cranking up a great giveaway! Someone is getting a free Jewel All-in-One Kit, just by participating. So what are you waiting for?

Another Anniversary

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Gasca) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:18:00 +0000

Happy 3 Year Anniversary to
Janet Noto

By: Peter Gasca, Co-Founder and CEO Wild Creations
Happy 3-Year Anniversary to Janet Noto of Wild Creations! Janet, originally from Marlboro, NY, has lived in Myrtle Beach (Murrells Inlet to be exact) for the past four years, three of which she has spent with Wild Creations as a Client Service Manager! As a member of the team with the longest seniority, she has seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly and has been an invaluable asset through it all. In fact, we were proud that her wonderful character was recognized in August with an outstanding Customer Service Award!

Fostering and Nursing
Two Cute Baby Possums
at the Office

If you know Janet, then you know she is passionate about animals (which I suppose is why she loves working with frogs!!). She often volunteers for The Noah Program, an organization in Surfside, SC that finds homes for rescued animals. In fact, Janet often serves as a "foster mom" to rescued pets in immediate need of care, such as the two baby possums she currently has under her care. And, not unexpected, she is a wonderful "mom" to two wonderful dogs, Rocky and Taz.

Lastly, what many people do not know about Janet is that she is a Trivia Queen! In fact, Team Wild Creations anticipates utilizing her expertise for the JA Grand Strand Titan of Trivia Cup in April!

Thank you, Janet, for all the you have and continue to do for Wild Creations. Your positive attitude, enthusiasm and compassion are a welcome part of every day!

Five Years ... and Counting!

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Gasca) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:35:00 +0000

2007 Original Catalog

By Peter Gasca, Co-Founder and CEO Wild Creations

Last week marked the five year anniversary for Wild Creations! And, like any proud parent, all I can do is ask myself … Where did the time go???

When my business partner and Wild Creations' Co-Founder, Rhett Power, and I started this business in March 2007, we of course had big aspirations. Our goal was not to run a company simply to “make a living” for each of our families, but instead to establish and nurture an exciting and adventurous business that attracted partners who shared our passion for life and desire to make an impact. It seemed a pretty straight forward and altruistic goal. Really, what could go wrong?

Direct from a business consulting job and relatively fresh from graduate school, I was ready to implement and apply all of the fancy frameworks and 4x4 matrices I had studied diligently in business school and had applied thousands of times over. I was high on life, ripe with knowledge, and ready to conquer any problem we faced.

2008-2009 Catalog

Then, in our first week of operations, our office flooded.

While not terribly damaging to our office, water seeped into our neighbor’s office and damaged their carpet and furniture. The fault was our own, so unfortunately we were responsible for cleaning. It turned out to be a costly issue for which, of course, we had failed to appropriately budget. So became my first lesson in business: Nothing goes according to plan, no matter how many contingencies you have built into your business plan. From there, it was goodbye matrices and frameworks … hello "winging it".

2010 Catalog

Since then, we have had innumerable hard (and expensive) trials and tribulations, though all provided valuable (and expensive) lessons learned. The challenges seemed to have culminated in 2008 with the collapse of the global financial markets. Up to that point, we were making satisfactory progress building our brand and establishing our reputation, but as other businesses struggled and financing dried up completely, "Cash is King" took on a whole new significance. We found ourselves relegated to the simple task of generating cash in any way possible, including attending every possible trade show that would allow live frogs and hitting the road for sales and deliveries. For the first two years of the business, we compiled an estimated 300,000 driving miles (not to mention countless bedbugs in our search for "economic" lodging along the way). It was not an effective way of doing business to say the least, but we did what we had to do to keep the doors open.

2011 Catalog

A break came in early 2009 when, at the enthusiastic encouragement of one of our oldest accounts, CR Toys in Nebraska, we took the plunge and attended the InternationalToy Fair in New York. Our growth strategy had always included the expanding nationally with a focus in the toy industry, but we were grossly under-capitalized and unprepared for such growth. We were, after all, too busy “making a living” to focus on our business growth strategy. As with most of our business decisions to that point, we figured we had little to lose and would just "wing it". We registered and attended. The show turned out to be wildly more successful than we could have ever dreamed.

The rest, as they say, is history.

In spite of the comedy of errors that followed (for a different story), we grew and grew fast over the next couple of years. Growth was not without its growing pains, but thanks to the incredibly dedicated and hard-working team at Wild Creations, we endured. Our growth was recognized by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce as the fastest growing company in South Carolina in 2010 and in 2011 by the US Chamber of Commerce as a Blue Ribbon Finalist. In 2011, Wild Creations was INC500's #259 fastest growing private companies in America. And while I am proud of all these accomplishments, I am most elated about the tremendous friendships and memories we formed along the way.

2012 Catalog

Moving forward, our goal remains the same. We will continue to strive to introduce great products and provide unsurpassed service, all with the same fun-loving, adventure-seeking and easily-excitable attitude we’ve had from the start. While we may be "old" in terms of small businesses, we are no less youthful in our exuberance.

"In 5 more years it'll be TWICE as big!"

Thank you and kudos to all of our loyal fans, our valued retailers and vendors, and of course all the fantastic members of the Wild Creations team who have made these past five years successful and memorable! Thank you also to Rhett Power for being a fantastic partner in this adventure!

Cheers to another memorable and successful five years! - Pete G.

Happy Birthday to Us...Happy Birthday to Us...

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Things are a little giddy around here...

We've reached a milestone. We're FIVE YEARS OLD!
And I think someone has spiked the Birthday punchbowl... the Boss just OK'd this SALE!

Here's a birthday present to you! To celebrate 5 YEARS in business, the head frog has knocked $5 off the price of our Jewel All-in-One Kits! Regularly $39.99, this week on sale for $34.99. Hurry order one and save, (before the punch runs out!) CLICK HERE!

HURRY, this week ONLY, March 12-18, 2012!

Something to whet your appetite...

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Over at our facebook page, we've been tinkering away, doing some sprucing up. We've added some features like a feed of this blog, a video page, easier links to our online catalog, and most especially, we've set up a coupon page. Because while it's nice that we have neat videos to watch, informative articles to read, great customer service, and quick access to available products, we know what you all really want...A DEAL!
Yep, everyone wants something... and preferably at a discount. That's what we all search for, it gives us all meaning, purpose, something that let's us say LOOKIE what I GOT!!!

So. You've read this far. If we have your attention, you're welcome to click this link to find out more...

Siblings team up with Wild Creations to sell their toy invention, FlipOutz

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:47:00 +0000

Wild Creations offers new, unique toys

By Peggy Mishoe - For The Sun News

About four years ago, siblings Erin, La

chlan and Jake Johnson were riding home to Charlotte, N.C., after a trip to Myrtle Beach with their parents, Robin and Emily Johnson.
“We were bickering in the back seat,” Lachlan said.
To stop the bickering, their parents challenged them to come up with an idea for a product that they would like to see on the market. Read more here:

STOP THE PRESSES!!! Even smaller frog discovered!

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:55:00 +0000

A dozen frogs would fit on a penny with room to spare. Instead, this tiny frog, Microhyla nepenthicola, prefers to hang out in the cozy confines of carnivorous pitcher plants. The species, found in the rainforests Borneo, has been known for years, but had been mis-identified as a juvenile of another species. It's only been recently that scientists realized it was a full grown species of it's own. This link tells more...

Scientist finds Frog Smaller than Ours!

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Sitting on top of half a dime is Paedophryne amauensis, officially the smallest vertebrate on earth. The new species of frog was discovered in Papua New Guinea, where it lives in leaf detritus on the rainforest floor. Read more about him including a video of how scientists discovered the species here.

Get to know your African Dwarf Frog

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:35:00 +0000

EDITORS NOTE: This article is a repost of one we published back in 2009. Since each Christmas we gain so many new EcoAquarium Owners, it's a good idea to repost this article since it covers a lot of ground concerning African Dwarf Frogs.

This holiday season, someone somewhere is getting a gift of an EcoAquarium(TM). If you have received one, you may now be searching out more information about your desktop eco-system and it's web-footed inhabitant. Here's some info about our star of the show...Hymenochirus Curtipes, the African Dwarf Frog.
Small in stature, big in personality...

African Dwarf Frogs (ADF) are originally native to the rain forest swamps & wetlands of West Africa, but due to man's development of the land in the region, it's natural habitat has virtually all been erased.

Today, ours, and all African Dwarf Frogs sold in pet stores, are farm-raised under controlled conditions.

African Dwarf Frog, (ADF) natural habitat is shallow pools & puddles of low oxygen, stagnant water. The cold-blooded amphibian is fully aquatic but have lungs instead of gills, perfect for life in still shallow water with little or no dissolved oxygen. The African Dwarf Frog sense of smell exceeds it's vision. The frog evolved into a creature suited for turbid, muddy water of a shallow pool or swamp, where it would inhabit a sandy muddy bottom seeking food. In an aquarium, African Dwarf Frogs do not require much light and prefer close confined spaces free of predators.

An African Dwarf Frogs lifespan in captivity is on average 2 to 3 years but has been known to exceed 8 to 10 years. In nature, its greatest concern was to avoid being eaten, but not so in an EcoAquarium. With no threat of predators, and cared for properly, a African Dwarf Frog can flourish much longer than they would in the wild. The African Dwarf Frog has been a popular species of frog for aquariums due to it's minimal needs & docile behaviour.

The size of the EcoAquarium is a perfect fit. The depth of the water closely mimics the African dwarf frogs natural habitat. You will see them often swim to the top for a breath of air and the small size of the aquariums gives them a easy, short trip to the surface. While they often are popular additions to standard freshwater aquariums, the depth of an aquarium can often make the trip to the surface for a breath of air a long & stressful trip. In nature, the African Dwarf Frog is accustomed to 4" to 6" inch water depths or less.

African Dwarf Frogs will molt, or shed their skin on occasion, making them appear “mossy” during the process. This is normal. The discarded skin will become part of the ecosystem food chain and does not need to be removed.In fact don't be alarmed if you see one frog picking at the skin of another and eating it.

The EcoAquarium: A world onto itself

It's very easy to maintain a healthy EcoAquarium environment. First & foremost, you should always use bottled spring water at room temperature for periodic water changes, as well as to clean anything you may put in your EcoAquarium since tap water & bottled drinking water often contains chlorine. Any chlorine introduced to a EcoAquarium can kill off the filtering bacteria in the gravel, as well as harm the Lucky Bamboo plant and your frogs. With Bottled Spring Water you can be sure you are using clean chlorine-free, mineral rich water, without having to treat it to de-chlorinating chemicals. We also recommend avoiding putting your fingers in the water since doing so can introduce chemicals and pathogens that can affect the bio-system. It's wise to wash hands with bottled spring water before and after doing any maintenance to your tank. Consider your EcoAquarium as a separate bio-system onto itself. The less exposure to the world outside the better.

Your EcoAquarium does not need direct sunlight. African Dwarf Frogs evolved in dark muddy water, and loves its nightlife. Also, the lucky bamboo plant in the aquarium is an aquatic undergrowth plant that thrives in full shade. Keeping everything away from direct sunlight also helps maintain a stable water temperature.

Remember, your African dwarf frog is fully aquatic and spends it's entire life in water. Keeping the lid of your EcoAquarium in place keeps frogs from getting out, or other uninvited guests (like the Cat) from getting inside.
A little feeding goes a LONG way...
African dwarf frogs are not big eaters. Our recommended weekly feeding is four pellets of our frog food per frog, per week. Of any problems associated with care & upkeep, over-feeding is the biggest culprit. Uneaten food can spoil and cause the water to become cloudy. It can effect water-quality making the need for water changes much more frequent. Best rule of thumb... a little bit goes a long way. By the way, other 4-legged family members may LOVE the taste & smell of frog food too, so keep your frog food in a safe place away from prying paws.

African dwarf frogs have personalities. You may notice they anticipate feeding times, or develop a routine of hanging out in a particular place in its home at a particularly time each day. All African dwarf frogs like to do a "Zen" pose, where they stand motionless... and you may hear them sing at night. They'll grow on you.

When it comes to information..

You can find more information online about Mr. Hymenochirus Curtipes, especially on our website. Feel free to study up, and always remember we're happy to answer questions and offer advice. Give us a call if you wish, our frog experts are always ready to leap (pardon the pun) to your aid.We also have a moderated page on Facebook, we try to answer any questions there as well, however, the best way to get a question answered is to give us a call at 843-448-8880 Mon-Fri, 9AM-6PM.

Cybersaver Savings Mania

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:46:00 +0000

Everyone seems to go a little nuts on "Black Friday" or "Cyber-Monday", we're no exception, we had our own CyberMonday sale with 10% off everything. Well, we surprised ourselves on how great the response the one-day sale really was. So we cornered the boss, tied him up, stuck him in a closet, and extended the sale on through the rest of the week.

Don't miss out! 10% off on everything through Saturday, Dec 4th. Order online and add the coupon code "cybersaver" at the check-out.

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:22:00 +0000

From the Wild Creations family to yours, we wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Flipoutz Coins & Bracelets make Impact at Chicago Toy & Game Show

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:22:00 +0000

In Chicago, the Holiday season has a special atmosphere of excitement. An excitement found especially at the Chicago Toy & Games Fair, the largest Toy & Game Fair open for the public. ChiTAG is the place to be to showcase the hottest, newest, greatest toys & games right before the holiday season goes full throttle. Flipoutz was right in the thick of things with a steady crowd discovering the interactive funwear.

Thru-out the two-day event, Flipoutz inventors Erin, Jake, & Lachlan Johnson met with the press, potential retailers, and the public, spreading the word about Flipoutz. Seeing the young inventors in the flesh went a long way toward showing that great ideas often come from young minds.

Meanwhile, the Flipoutz Booth was seldom empty as a steady stream of curious crowds kept things hoppin'. We even had royalty pay a visit as Miss Illinois, Miss Teen Illinois, & Mrs. Illinois gave us a royal beauty blessing. Having 3 Queens makes for a powerful, winning hand!

Sun setting on a classic design

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:14:00 +0000

Bamboo Watergarden

An EcoAquarium design that served as a foundation product for us from the beginning had been the Bamboo Watergarden. With it's distinctive shape, and vase insert, the Watergarden was a stunning and unique product, set apart from our Classic & Jewel EcoAquarium designs. However, it's place in the line-up came to an end late 2009 when manufacturing ceased on the signature keystone shaped tank.

However, late last year, we uncovered more tanks in our warehouse. Five hundred of the tapered keystone-shaped tanks quickly became available as the Keystone Classic. It's been a year, and now we're down to only 80 tanks left. Soon, they'll be all gone, and that'll be it for our most unique EcoAquarium. With the holidays coming up, and if you're looking for that one-of-a-kind gift idea, naturally we can't think of anything more unique than an EcoAquarium. But add to that, a EcoAquarium, in a special tank, never be available again...well, to us, that's a very, very, special holiday gift indeed! The Keystone Classic is offered in limited supply complete, and as a "Builders Series" Kit, (everything but frogs).

Wild Creations Prez looking for Flipoutz friends at Coastal Carolina Fair

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:43:00 +0000

The sounds, the smells, & the excitement of a Fair's midway continues this week in Charleston SC as the Coastal Carolina Fair brings family fun & excitement. Flipoutz is in the thick of it.

Continuing on through Saturday Nov. 5th, make a point to visit the Flipoutz Booth where not only will you'll find a complete selection of Flipoutz Coins & Bracelets, if you say the magic words, you can receive a generous discount as well...

Wild Creations President Rhett Power, born & raised in Charleston, is happy to see Flipoutz being so well received in his own hometown, he's become rather generous... to the point of permitting a 15% discount on any Flipoutz products purchased at the fair... if you say the magic words..."I'm a friend of Rhett"

So don't miss out on a great bargain, as well as making new friends by walking up to the Flipoutz Booth and saying "I'm a friend of Rhett."

Frogs, Witches & Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:13:00 +0000

Our favorite Halloween Costume

EDITORS NOTE: The following article is excerpted from "Animals & Witchcraft" on Controverscial.com

For thousands of years, frogs and toads have been associated with myths, folklore and magic. Sadly many of these myths and tales portray them as demons, creatures associated with the devil. Some cultures however viewed them in a positive light, and saw them as representative of good fortune, protection, rain and fertility. In some cultures the frog symbolized resurrection and a higher stage of spiritual awakening. In the Rig Veda creation myths of the Hindus, the Great Frog supports the universe and is representative of the matter from which all is created.
In ancient times clay used to make pottery was collected from the banks of natural rivers and lakes, sites that would have had an abundance of frogs and toads. The peoples of ancient Mesopotamia for example, collected clay from along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, where they undoubtedly encountered frogs and toads and later adopted them into their religious beliefs.

The Egyptians believed frogs to have been formed from mud and water, a belief that seems to have materialized as a result of rivers flooding during the rainy season, at which time frogs reproduced in such quantities that thousands of tiny frogs and toads invaded walkways and public areas; they even entered private homes and in general were regarded as pests. This phenomenon was dubbed “Frog Rain”, because such occurrences always happened after the first heavy rains of the season. As such frogs became associated with weather predictions because they would begin croaking just before rains.
In Egypt the frog was most commonly associated with the goddess Heket (or Heqet), the goddess of fertility and childbirth who assisted Isis in her ritual to resurrect Osiris. Heket is depicted as a frog-shaped goddess, whose priestesses trained as midwives. They wore amulets, jewellery and other ornaments that bore her image. Frog shaped knives placed on to the bellies of pregnant women and newborn babies were believed to protect their youngsters. Frogs in general were so important to the early Egyptians they were often embalmed after death.
In ancient China the toad was a trickster and a magician, a master of escapes and spells. But he was also the keeper of powerful secrets. One legend tells a story of a wandering wise old man called Liu Hai and his three-legged toad companion Ch'an Chu. Ch'an Chu knew the secret of eternal life, and due to his masters kindness he revealed the secret to the wise man. In Japan a similar legend involves the Gama-Sennin, also known as Kosensei, a wise old man with a hunched body and a warty face. Kosensei wanders the land with his toad companion, who teaches him the secret powers of herbs, including the secret of immortality.
Frogs and toads go through at least one major transformation during their lives, that from tadpole to adult. Many also shed their skins regularly as they grow, and some even eat their discarded skin. These transformations may explain why many cultures saw frogs and toads as symbolic of re-creation, or as keepers of the secrets of life after death. Members of the Olmec tribes of early Mesoamerica created images of a toad as the ‘God of rebirth’, reborn after consuming itself and thus caught up in the never-ending cycle of life and death.
As much as the frog was seen as a symbol of life and birth, it was also seen as a symbol of death. Some European myths tell that it was bad luck to kill a frog for they housed the souls of dead children. In the ancient Zoroastrian religion of the Middle East the frog was associated with Ahriman (the most evil of all beings). In Europe, it wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the frog was given such an unfavourable reputation, and the frog went from being a sacred symbol of creation to a manifestation of evil. The frog (along with other animals) was quickly associated with Witches, and thought to be their devoted magical animal used to carry out all sorts of diabolical deeds.
In early Christianity, demonologists often referred to frogs as the ‘Witches Familiar’ or ‘Agent of the Devil’. The fact that frogs resided in swamps and stagnant pools, often dirty and unsanitary places, was used to exemplify the power of consecrated holy water to expel evil spirits and purify sinners. Witches were thought to use frogs and toads in satanic rituals, and to concocted malicious sounding spells and potions from their body parts. Some believe that a witch could be identified by a mark shaped like a toad’s foot secreted on her body or that the image of a toad would be visible in the left eye. Other myths tell of witches extracting toad secretions, or collecting toad saliva for use in flying potions and invisibility spells.
In the Witch trials at St. Osyth in England, Ursula Kempe's young son testified that one of her four familiars, a black toad named Pigin, had once caused illness in a young boy. Toads were also popular as poisonous ingredients in potions: “the women-witches of ancient time which killed by poysoning, did much use toads in their confections”. Witches were also believed to control the weather by concocting brews from frogs, toads and snakes, often referred to as “Toad Soup”. Undoubtedly, many experienced illness or death after ingesting or applying some sort of frog-made brew including their toxic secretions. Such folklore and popular mythology was the result of Inquisitional propaganda to eliminate the old Pagan religions and prosecute Witches with charges of heresy during the persecution years.
Frogs and toads since ancient times have been highly regarded for possessing medicinal properties. Pieces taken from a frog’s body were used as aphrodisiacs to aid impotence and boost fertility. A frog’s liver was believed to be an antidote to all poisons, while a toad’s lungs provided the means to the “perfect murder of a wayward husband”. In many Shaman traditions of the Americas, hallucinogenic compounds derived from toads are used in religious rituals for communion with the spirit world and for self-transcendence. In many cases, these myths have some foundation in truth, as some species contain compounds both poisonous and hallucinogenic.
One of the most widely told myths concerning the toad is that of the “Toad-Stone”, a fabulously jewelled stone that grows inside the toad’s head. This jewelled stone when placed in a ring or a necklace, would heat up or change colour in the presence of poison, thereby protecting the wearer from the dangers of poisoning, a common threat in the Middle Ages.

Wild Creations Frog Blog: Flipoutz Inventors in Running for Industry Award

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Gasca) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:11:00 +0000

Wild Creations Frog Blog: Flipoutz Inventors in Running for Industry Award: WE'RE IN THE RUNNING!!! Vote for your favorite FLIPOUTZ Inventors...Erin, Jake & Lachlan Johnson for a TAGIE Award! What's a Tagie?...

Flipoutz Inventors in Running for Industry Award

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:15:00 +0000

WE'RE IN THE RUNNING!!!

Vote for your favorite FLIPOUTZ Inventors...Erin, Jake & Lachlan Johnson for a TAGIE Award!

What's a Tagie?

TAGIE Awards recognizes toy and game inventors from across the country, whose playful creativity and inventiveness resulted in some of the most fun and entertaining play products on the market today.

WE CAN WIN WITH YOUR HELP!

That's right! You can help Lachlan, Erin, & Jake win by voting NOW!

It's EASY...click here.
SPREAD THE NEWS!!! GET FRIENDS TO VOTE!!!

Wild Creations proves Business Success in a Stalled Economy

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:09:00 +0000

Even in a sluggish economy, there's still opportunities for business growth. Wild Creations has proved it possible. Recently Wild Creations was featured in a CNN article that described how different companies have succeeded despite economic hard times.

Check out CNN's article here...

Turtle Falls Off Forest Cliff: You Won’t Believe His Journey Home

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:52:00 +0000

EDITOR NOTE:Many thanks to Laura S. at Care2.com for the original post...

Written By Steve O’Neil
In June, a man named Uncle Raoul was driving through a rocky gorge in Western North Carolina when he came upon an adult female Eastern Box Turtle sitting in the road. He stopped his car to help the turtle across the street because they are usually not lost and do not need to be rescued and do not need to be taken to a new location — but this one was different.

The gorge had steep cliffs on either side of the road and the turtle had an eye injury that rendered its left eye swollen closed. The man deduced that the turtle had probably slipped and fallen from the woods at the top of the cliff and had bounced and rolled down into the road only moments before he had arrived on the scene. He understood that the turtle needed veterinary care so he picked her up and took her home.
He promptly networked with a friend to get the turtle to me close to 50 miles away. I am a wildlife rehabilitator so I took the turtle — Cullasaja I have named her — to my reptile veterinarian Dr. Coleman at Haywood Animal Hospital in Hendersonville, NC. Dr. Coleman said that Cullasaja was uninjured other than the swollen eye, so he prescribed special eye drops to relieve the conjunctivitis.
About a month later, Cullasaja’s eye opened to reveal a damaged pupil and an unusual blue colored iris (most female Eastern Box Turtles have brownish irises). Dr. Coleman said that it looked like she had a badly damaged eye and that it seemed to be sightless and that she may have injured it in the fall.
A Plastic Tub Full of Moss Is No Home For a Turtle

Although blind in the left eye, Cullasaja needed to be returned to the wild because a plastic tub full of leaves and moss is not a home for a wild box turtle. She needed to be back in the wild as close to home as possible so that she could be an active part of a healthy ecosystem. The problem was — where exactly was her home? I contacted the woman who had brought Cullasaja to me and she put me in touch with Uncle Raoul who had found her in the road. He sent me several Google Earth images of her discovery location and he even drove back to the site to determine where exactly he had found her.

Then we talked on the phone and determined the best course of action. We decided that because box turtles have a very strong homing instinct she would need to be returned as close as possible to her discovery location — but that location was not safe in any way due to the steep cliffs and the road. We eventually decided that the forested mountainside several hundred yards above the cliffs would be the best site to release her because the cliffs below the road were just too steep and rocky and at the bottom of the cliffs was the fast flowing Cullasaja river.
Then, in late August I set out to return Cullasaja to as close to her home as possible. I had no difficulty finding the site and after a drive in the woods along a wooded mountain ridge, I found a good spot to release her and said goodbye to Cullasaja. I had no way of knowing that where I released her was her home area — but I did know that it was very near her discovery location on the road below the cliffs so her home area was not far away. I also know that box turtles are better navigators than humans so I feel assured that after I released her near her home she would have oriented towards her preferred area and would then find it on her own, even with just one eye.
As I drove away, I felt a great sense of accomplishment knowing that I had helped a turtle get back to its home. This would not have been possible without all of the people who helped make it happen, especially Uncle Raoul. Thank you to you all — you know who you are!

Watch a video of Cullasaja’s release...

A note about box turtles that you find crossing the road: turtles crossing roads are not lost — they are on the move between points of “business” — feeding sites, wintering sites, watering and nesting sites and so on. Unless they are injured as Cullasaja was, they do not need to be rescued, only moved across the road to the side that they are walking or pointing towards. Simply pick them up and carry them into the woods a few yards and release them.
Box turtles are land turtles, so do not drop them into deep water since they cannot swim — they will sink and drown. Please do not take them home as a “pet” or move them to a new place. This stresses them and can cause sickness and death. Relocated turtles that are moved far from home will often attempt to walk home and will usually die in the process. Simply help them across the road: that is all they need.
If you find an injured turtle, please take it to a veterinarian or wildlife rehabilitator and be sure to remember the exact discovery location so the turtle can be returned after it recovers. For more information on my non-profit reptile rescue and nature education program, visit Earthshine Nature Programs.

Steve O'Neil is staff Naturalist at Earthshine Mountain Lodge in Lake Toxaway, NC. His Earthshine Nature Program teaches nature knowledge, awareness and conservation through exciting hands on education to people of all ages. Check out his Nature Series Videos on Youtube.

What I Learned From Steve Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Peter Gasca) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:01:00 +0000

by Peter Gasca, Co-Founder and CEO
This week, we lost one of the true visionaries of our time, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. Steve's story is impressive when you consider that he set out on his quest to create and develop the most loved technology company in his early 20's, and succeeded beyond anybody's wildest expectations. He had a dream. He had a vision. And he had the wherewithal, drive, and persistence to make it happen.

I learned many things from Steve. I learned to have vision, not just five or ten years into the future, but a lifelong vision for the direction I see my life. And, not just in business, but personally as well. What type of person do I want to be? How will I live my life? How do I want to be remembered?

In business, Steve was clearly one of the most respected product and marketing people in generations. I still hold many of his business philosophies close. His company is a model of innovation and efficiency and drive. The people of Apple are not only great business men and women, they are luminaries, artists, poets. Steve was never afraid to surround himself with people who filled the gaps. His style, his philosophies, and his goals were always lofty, but it attracted and excited people.

Of course, there are those who say that Steve was a difficult person to get along with, and that he was a poor manager of people. Malcom Gladwell, in his book Outliers: The Story of Success, makes the argument that Steve was the product of really good timing, from his birth place (California) to his birth year (entering the dawn of the computing era). Mr. Gladwell does contend, however, as I would, that Steve was also the product of hard work, dedication and unwavering ambition. Regardless of how you size up his methods or his timing, his body of work is remarkable.

Toward the end of his life, when Steve's mortality was tested, he stated elegantly in his Stanford Commencement Speech to the 2005 graduating class, "Don't live somebody else's life". He certainly did not, and we should not either. I strive to live my own life to the fullest of my ability, regardless of timing or surroundings or even luck. This is what I learned from Steve Jobs.

Thank you Steve, for all you gave us. Rest in peace.

Wild Creations makes Inc.'s 500 Top Companies List

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:33:00 +0000

In today's tough economy, establishing a successful company is a major accomplishment. But becoming one of the top 500 fastest growing companies in the country while doing so, is an achievement beyond expectations. South Carolina-based Wild Creations has achieved that mark by being ranked in Inc. magazines 500/5000 list. Ranked 259 out of the top 500 fastest growing companies in the nation, Wild Creations has shown that is possible to succeed despite hard times. We thank all our customers for helping us achieve this milestone, and we fully intend to continue our growth by hard work and striving to provide the best products and service that we possibly can. We're South Carolina proud!

WMBF TV News filed this report...

Flipoutz a hit at the Teen Choice Awards

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Getting your foot in the door to a high visibility event like the Teen Choice Awards is a major score, getting the chance to show our interactive funwear to the entertainment industry is even better. We did just that, and made some great friends to boot! Erin, Lachlan, & Jake Johnson, stars in their own right, were wonderful spokespersons, at ease with meeting and presenting Flipoutz to some heavy hitters in TV, Music, & Film.

There's some big names sportin' Flipoutz Coins & Bracelets in Hollywood right now!

Ready to see more? Check out our slideshow...

New Thinking might be for the Birds

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:26:00 +0000

An age-old question has gained a new twist with new theories on how modern birds & dinosaurs have much more in common than previously thought. Assumptions about the fossil record has been called in question by new discoveries, particularly the belief that certain dinosaurs are more closely related to birds than to modern lizards.

Kentucky Fried T-Rex anyone? One study has concluded that protein from T-Rex collagen is more closely related to collagen protein found in birds than it is to collagen protein found in crocodiles & alligators. This adds to previous skeletal evidence attesting to a dinosaur / bird common ancestor.
With fossils found in China of "feathered" dinosaurs, the distinction between what was bird, what was dinosaur, is becoming even more blurred. So much so that new theory's have been put forth that has even spawned revisions of how dinosaurs may have looked & behaved.

Old science textbooks once showed drab green dinosaurs with thick elephant hide, or alligator scales, and described them much like large, slow herds of prehistoric cows.

But adding bird-like qualities, the look and feel is now quite different... dinosaurs now have plumage.

It's like an artist pallet has been applied. Bold colors, spots & stripes, like what is found in the bird world is now applied to dinosaurs. Plus, like birds, a deftness & quick inquisitiveness, now define a dino's movement. Two
Velociraptors in a modern kitchen in the movie Jurassic Park did more to change our perceptions of how dinosaurs could behave, than anything else.

It's still a lot of speculation, but from it all, a more realistic image of these ancient creatures is emerging. A new image about dinosaurs has been hatched.