White Wolf

Bus Driver in Australia stops bus in heavy traffic to rescue a lost dog

2013-05-24T13:47:00.002-07:00

Bus driver stops bus to rescue lost dog running in heavy traffic (PHOTOS)

In this often cruel world animals are made to suffer at the hands of humans. But it is important to note that are many people who also strive to offer protection and comfort to our fellow animal brothers and sisters. Such was the case recently in Australia.

A bus driver who was driving in heavy traffic saw a dog running loose across a highway. The bus driver stopped the bus to rescue the dog and brought the dog, a husky named Sasha, on board and to safety. A passenger on the bus took a photo of Sasha when she was brought on board the bus and related what happened next.

Luckily, the dog had tags so the girls holding Sasha "called the owners from the bus and another girl tied her scarf to sashas collar as a leash and got off the bus at the local shops to return her to the family."

In all, it took 5 minutes for the dog to be rescued from a scary situation and to be on her way back to her family. It "was a happy ending indeed! As a dog owner I said a personal thank you to the bus driver for doing something so kind. Sasha was beautiful..."

"It was a new bus driver I had never seen and he was so lovely to me as I got on the bus and then helped this animal too...Dog was lucky. Bus driver was fantastic."

Photos Source via Reddit

Rutland Water osprey chicks first to hatch this year (Video)

2013-05-23T06:22:00.002-07:00

A pair of ospreys at Rutland Water have become the first in the country to hatch this year, a wildlife trust says.

The three osprey chicks appeared in the nest between Sunday and Wednesday.

The birds are being monitored by the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust which captured the second chick hatching on its webcam.

Tim Mackrill, the trust's senior reserve officer, said: "We've never watched a chick hatch before."

The trust was able to view the chick hatching after they improved the camera that monitors the ospreys and moved its position so it could zoom into the nest.

"It's allowed us to see things in amazing detail," said Mr Mackrill.

He said the footage had been viewed around the world.

Osprey eggs usually take between 35 and 42 days to hatch.

Mr Mackrill said: "These three chicks are tiny at the moment. The eggs were the size of a hen's eggs.

"It's amazing to think that in three months' time, these chicks will fly to Africa for the winter."

The new chicks take the number of young ospreys to hatch at Rutland Water to 65 since 2001, when ospreys were reintroduced to the area.

Mr Mackrill said they were expecting eggs from three other nests this year.
Source

VIDEO Rutland Water Ospreys 2013 - 18 May 19.37hrs - Chick hatching at Manton Bay

VIDEO Youngster being fed

The King of Norway is visiting a Yanomami village (Video)

2013-05-23T04:58:00.000-07:00

Norway's King Harald 'secret' trip to the Amazon

76-year-old King Harald V of Norway accepted Davi Yanomami's invitation and spent four days in the Watoriki community (Demini) which is located 150 km west of Boa Vista (Roraima). He enjoyed the convivial experience which he defined as something "wonderful".

King Harald V's desire was to get some real life experience in an indigenous community living in the tropical forest, to share the everyday life of its inhabitants and to be able to take some part in it. He saw his dream come true thanks to the invitation that Davi Yanomami gave him to participate in the twenty-year anniversary of the recognition of Yanomami Indigenous Land which was held in Watoriki village in October 2012. Because of a busy agenda, this visit took place only in April.

Allowing the King to visit a Yanomami community with a restricted delegation, without putting his security at risk, required a particular effort from the Court and the Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia.

Through the Itamaraty, the Funai and the federal police, the Brazilian government has been made aware of the situation and offered its support to ensure the monarch's safety and respect his privacy since it was not an official visit.

The King's delegation was composed of security officers from the Royal Palace and representatives of the civilian organisation Rainforest Foundation Norway which has been supporting the Yanomami through education projects for more than fifteen years, using resources from the government. It was also composed of a representative of The Socioenvironmental Institute (Instituto Socioambiental - ISA) which has worked with the Yanomami for seventeen years and helped as a Yanomami-Portuguese interpreter.
Source

VIDEO

Pack of Eagles attacks a car at an Alaskan Safeway supermarket (Video)

2013-05-23T01:42:00.000-07:00

Police called to break up party of hungry EAGLES at Alaskan Safeway supermarket

Feathers were flying in the parking lot of an Alaskan supermarket last week when police were called in to deal with a large flock of unruly bald eagles.

The majestic birds of prey - America's national symbol - made quite the scene outside the Unalaska Safeway store last Thursday when about three dozen of them descended on a pickup truck laden with fish.

Jamie Sunderland, director of public safety for the supermarket, said that several concerned citizens called in Thursday afternoon to report the unusual incident.

According to Sunderland, the feathered troublemakers converged on the ill-fated truck looking to feast on bags of fish fillets stored in the bed of the vehicle, the local station KUCB reported.

The public safety official said the owner of the truck confirmed that he and his passenger were trying to get rid of the seafood, but were too afraid to approach the vehicle because it was being assailed by about 40 ravenous eagles.

Shopper Jessica Earnshaw told the station that her car was parked next to the truck, and she was afraid of getting attacked by the chomping birds if she got too close.

‘I put my car alarm on so maybe that would let the eagles go away, but they still didn’t,’ Earnshaw said.

Police Officer Bill Simms, who responded to the bizarre call, turned on his sirens as he approached the parking lot swarming with eagles, which scared off some of them.

He then jumped into action, instructing the drivers of two of the vehicles targeted by the unwelcome feathered guests to get their keys ready and prepare to take off as soon as he shoos the eagles away.

The plan worked without a hitch, and the unlucky owner of the pickup truck managed to slip the flock of predators, who quickly lost interest in the parking lot after losing their movable feast of fish fillets.

No one was hurt in the incident, and Sunderland said the truck owner was not cited because no waste was left behind in the parking lot after the impromptu dinner party he had inadvertently throw for the bald eagles.
Source

VIDEO Flash Mob of 40 Bald Eagles Gather for Free Lunch

Abandoned Wild Big Cats Rescued from Home in Kansas (Video)

2013-05-22T13:21:00.002-07:00

Animal rescue groups help authorities confiscate an abandoned tiger, cougars, and other wild cats

Recently in Atchison, Kansas a wild animal problem was brought to the attention of the authorities. Nearly one dozen dangerous wild animals had been abandoned in their enclosures without access to food or clean water. The animal's owner has been charged for 10 violations, including cruelty to animals and violations of the Dangerous Regulated Animals Act.

Once the abandoned animals were discovered, the sheriff’s office worked with the Kansas City Zoo and The HSUS to provide food for the animals on an emergency basis. Zoo Veterinarians and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association personnel were also on hand during the animal seizure.

The Atchison County Sheriff’s Office seized all of the animals. The animals, included a tiger, two cougars, three bobcats, two lynx, a serval, and two skunks. They were all living in enclosures that were inadequate in size and security. Sadly,the enclosures were also full of mud and feces and there was no appropriate enrichment for the animals.

Although Kansas law currently prohibits the keeping of dangerous regulated animals, including big cats, as pets, there are several provisions that render the law virtually ineffective. Specifically, the law allows people who have a U.S. Department of Agriculture license to maintain an inventory of dangerous animals.

According to Atchison County Undersheriff Joe Butner, “This case exemplifies the inherent problems with the existing law and the need for it to be strengthened. Most private individuals cannot provide humane and safe care for captive wild animals, which leaves law enforcement, taxpayers, and sanctuaries to shoulder the financial burden. We are thankful for the assistance and expertise of the organizations that helped rescue these animals.”

The Humane Society of the United States, Big Cat Rescue, In-Sync Exotics, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and the Kansas City Zoo were all involved in placing the animals from the property and transported them to sanctuaries around the country.

The tiger was transported to The Fund for Animals’ Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Murchison, Texas, an affiliate of The HSUS; the two cougars were taken to In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Education Center in Wylie, Texas; the bobcats, lynx and serval will be provided homes at Big Cat Rescue in Tampa, Fla.; and the skunks will go to Operation Wildlife in Linwood, Kan.

All the animals will be thoroughly examined by a team of veterinarians and will receive any necessary immediate medical treatment. They will be held at the sanctuaries pending final disposition in this case.

VIDEO Big Cats and Other Exotic Animals Rescued in Kansas

Chief Joseph Mural being painted by well-known Native Artist, Toma Villa

2013-05-22T04:55:00.003-07:00

Chief Joseph Mural Being Created at Chief Joseph School (Photos)

Joe Galati, principal at Chief Joseph School in North Portland, used money the school had received from the Portland Public Schools Equity Fund, to hire Toma Villa, 35, a Native American artist from the Yakama tribe, to paint a large mural of Chief Joseph on the side of one of the school buildings.

Villa, who has traveled all over the country and the world teaching and doing art work started this mural last week. He has worked long days all through the weekend to finish this mural which is done totally in spray paint.

About the artist in his own words -

"My name is Toma Villa. Born in Oklahoma, but raised in Portland Or. and registered member of Yakama Nation.

I am currently attending PSU working towards a BFA in painting and printmaking. My abilities in art range from graffiti art, iron casting, painting, airbrushing, printmaking, sculpture and design.

The roots of my art have always been graffiti art. I get a lot of my inspiration from all kinds of places, from cities I have visited and paintings I’ve seen such as Salvador Dali or Saber.

Photos Source

The world is so big yet so small and I wish to see it all.

I feel that you can never dream too big and always look forward to the future. Something’s may seem impossible but if you make a plan in life you will succeed."

Photos Source

Slow pokes: Acupuncture helps hypothermic turtles (Photos- Video)

2013-05-22T01:08:00.002-07:00

Sea Turtle Acupuncture

Two endangered sea turtles that are shells of their former selves after getting stranded on Cape Cod during a cold spell are getting some help easing back into the wild — from an acupuncturist.

Dexter and Fletcher Moon, juvenile Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, remained calm as acupuncturist Claire McManus gently tapped more than a dozen needles into their grayish-green, leathery skin during a therapy session intended to decrease inflammation and swelling on their front flippers, restore a full range of motion on those limbs and help the animals regain their appetites.

"There aren't a lot of people doing sea turtle acupuncture," said McManus, who works alongside a vet to find parts of the marine mammals' bodies corresponding to locations where acupuncturists put needles to treat front limbs. "There is not a whole lot of literature out there on turtle acupuncture, so I'm basing it on how we treat other animals and humans."

McManus uses particularly thin needles for sea turtle acupuncture.

"The needles, they are tiny, no bigger, like having a mosquito bite. You notice there's no blood," McManus said. "You can probably fit four or five of these inside the type of a needle you'd use to draw blood, so they didn't really feel it."

Dexter and Fletcher Moon were among a record number of more than 400 turtles of various species that got stranded on Cape Cod and the southern Massachusetts shore over the winter.

The victims included juvenile Kemp's Ridley sea turtles that were there to feast on crabs, fish and jellyfish as cold weather settled over New England, causing hypothermia to set in and render the cold-blooded animals immobile and unable to eat for days. As their stunned bodies floated on the sea surface, their limbs were exposed to extremely cold winds that ultimately blew them to the beach. Only 242 of the stranded sea turtles lived, and they were taken to the New England Aquarium's offsite animal care center for treatment.

The turtles arrived because of hypothermia but also had secondary problems, such as pneumonia, and were malnourished.

"They haven't been eating in a couple of weeks, so they don't have the energy that it takes to be able to fight off some of these things," said Connie Merigo, head of the aquarium's marine rescue team.

Vets used laser therapy, antibiotics, enriched meals and other treatments to help turtles recover their health and strength before being returned to the wild.

Still, the sophisticated treatments could not help 14 sea turtles. That includes Dexter and Fletcher Moon, who are unable to use their front flippers — making it impossible for them to forage for food in the wild or escape from sharp-toothed predators prowling off the coast.

"We reach a point, sometimes, in the therapy for these turtles that the traditional methods aren't working the way we want them to, and so we've reached out to a licensed acupuncturist," Merigo said.

One other turtle, a loggerhead, is also getting acupuncture treatment; the other 11 not yet back in the wild are continuing on traditional treatments for lingering infections and orthopedic ailments.

The acupuncture is intended to reduce stress, increase blood flow and boost the immune system — just as in humans.

Dexter and Fletcher Moon have already had three acupuncture sessions, scheduled once a week, said Merigo, who broke into a broad smile as she described their improvements over the past three weeks.

"These two turtles really had very limited limb use and they weren't eating. We are seeing improved limb use and improved appetite," Merigo said. "They are eating on their own, which is fantastic."

McManus, the acupuncturist, was restrained when describing her reaction to the results.

"It makes me feel very happy," McManus said. "Acupuncture is not alternative to conventional medicine — they are also receiving Western treatments as well, but the fact that it can work in conjunction with the other treatments they are getting makes me very happy."
Source

VIDEO

Three horses in a field in Oklahoma miraculously survive tornado

2013-05-21T13:58:00.000-07:00

Miracle Horses Survive Oklahoma Twister (Video)

Yesterday's tornado in Oklahoma took the lives of a lot of pets and other animals. Sadly, many people lost their cattle and horses when the tornadoes tore through their pastures and farms. Human lives were also taken by the tornado including those of children.

But even in the worst times there are always some miraculous stories of survival that offer us hope and the reason to carry on. One of those stories is that of a horse named Fiona along with Moonstruck and Catori who survived a similar tornado in Oklahoma in 2011. Hopefully there will be more stories like this that will surface from yesterday's tornado.

Catori had actually escaped death twice before. Once when she was being sent to slaughter, the trailer she was in crashed on the highway last May. Several horses died in the crash, but Catori survived and was pregnant at the time with her colt, Moonstruck who was born two months ago.

Both mother and colt were also out in a field in Calumet when that tornado blew through yesterday. According to Natalee Cross of Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue, "She found the best possible place to lay low and keep her baby as protected as possible." Her colt, Moonstruck has several deep cuts and is limping but miraculously Catori, although being skittish from the experience, has come through it unscathed.

Fiona on the other hand was also out in the field in Calumet when the tornado went through. She somehow managed to get inside a barn that was closed off, but then that barn collapsed on her and she was trapped inside of a mangled mess of metal and debris.

"Basically it just formed a nice little cocoon for her to survive under. She was trapped in there for probably 16 to 18 hours. No food or water and when we did find her we had to get a dozer," said Natalee Cross of Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue. "She never overreacted about the situation or anything."

Fiona ended up having to get several stitches on her side and underneath and is truly lucky to be alive. What is even more amazing is that Fiona is blind and how she found shelter in the tornado is unknown. "She can't see, she's totally blind, so how she know what to do or where she was going I don't know. She definitely had an angel watching over her that day too," Cross said.

In fact all three horses seemed to have angels watching over them that day. All three horses were nursed back to health by volunteers and fosters with Blaze's Tribute Equine Rescue. Seems like they continued to have angels all around them.
We offer prayers that there will be more miracles discovered like this from yesterday's tornado.

VIDEO

News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Native American actress proud to walk Cannes red carpet (Video)

2013-05-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

Native Actresses Michelle Thrush and Misty Upham Hit the Cannes Film Festival

Native American actress Misty Upham never dreamt she would be walking the red carpet at Cannes to showcase a film shot on her reservation.

Upham features in "Jimmy P. Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian", focused on the relationship between World War Two veteran Jimmy Picard, a Native American Blackfoot, and Georges Devereux, his psychoanalyst.

Upham said like Picard, played by Puerto Rican actor Benicio Del Toro, she is Blackfeet, the largest tribe in Montana state. She said she was a direct descendant of the last chief and grew up on the reservation where much of the movie was filmed.

"I had no dreams and no way to make a dream. I had to leave the reservation," Upham, 30, told a news conference on Saturday ahead of the premiere of the film's premiere by French director Arnaud Desplechin.

"So 18 years later ... (I am) coming a full circle to the reservation I left to fulfil my dream."

Upham says and another "Jimmy P." actress, Michelle Thrush, a Cree from Canada, are the first Native American women in the official selection at Cannes, although organizers of the festival, now in its 66th year, were unable to confirm it.

One of 20 films competing for the main prize at the 12-day event on the French Riviera, the movie was inspired by a true story in Devereux's 1951 book "Reality And Dream".

Set in 1948, the film follows Jimmy as he checks into a military hospital in Topeka, Kansas, that specializes in mental illness for war veterans to be treated for numerous symptoms, including temporary blindness, hearing loss and dizzy spells.

The doctors are baffled by his psychological problems and decide to call in anthropologist and psychoanalyst Devereux (Mathieu Amalric) a specialist in Native American culture who spent two years living with the Mojave Native Americans.

Del Toro, who won the best actor award at Cannes in 2008 for "Che", said it was important for him to understand the history of Native Americans to get to grips with his character.

The oppression of Native Americans remains a stain on the history of the United States following the seizure of land, removal of children from families, and violation of treaties.

The 2010 census found 5.2 million people in the United States identified themselves as American Indians and Alaska Natives, while government figures this year showed they had the highest poverty rate in the country, at 27 percent, from 2007 through 2011.

Upham, who plays the mother of Jimmy's daughter, said the film recognized the different approach needed to treat psychological illness among Native Americans.

"We believe in spirits. We believe in ghosts. We believe in shape shifting. We believe in medicine and curses. We are very spiritual people," said the actress, best known for the 2008 film "Frozen River".

"What somebody else would call delusional, to us it is normal. That is why they had to create a new way to see what is going on in our minds without confusing the spirituality."

"Jimmy P." is Desplechin's fourth film selected for the main competition at Cannes, with the prestigious Palme D'Or for best picture to be awarded on the festival's final day, May 26.
Source

VIDEO

Tornado Survivor Finds Dog During TV Interview

2013-05-21T06:35:00.001-07:00

Tornado survivor miraculously reunited with dog found under rubble (VIDEO)

An elderly woman whose home was destroyed by the Oklahoma tornado found her pet dog among the rubble during a live TV interview.

The footage of Barbara Garcia came as fellow survivors began reliving the terror they felt while winds of up to 200mph obliterated their neighbourhoods.

Mrs Garcia was standing among the twisted wreckage of her home as she was interviewed about her experiences by a reporter from CBS.

"I was sitting on the stool holding my dog," she said.

"This was the game plan all through the years, to go in that little bathroom (together). I rolled around a little bit and when it stopped I was right there (and) that stove cooker is what I saw.

"I never lost consciousness and I hollered for my little dog and he didn't answer, he didn't come, so I know he's in here somewhere."

But as she spoke, a member of the camera crew spotted a dog's head poking out of the twisted remains of her home.

Mrs Garcia is seen crouching down before exclaiming with joy as she spots her pet.

"Well I thought God just answered one prayer to let me be OK but he answered both of them," she said, before being led away from the ruins with her dog.

Meanwhile, one mother who survived the storm described how she and her children took refuge in their bath as the tornado tore their house apart.

"My husband told us to get in the bathtub immediately and put on a mattress," she said.

She said she had to hold her daughter's hair to stop her slipping away when the tornado struck.

Another family locked themselves inside their cellar - only to have its door ripped open by the twister.

Ricky Stover said: "We thought we'd die. We saw the latch coming undone and we couldn't reach for it ... glass and debris started slamming on us."
Source

VIDEO

At least 20 children among 91 feared dead in monster Oklahoma tornado

2013-05-21T04:41:00.002-07:00

Oklahoma Tornado Time Lapse Footage Shows Terrifying Progress Of Massive Twister (VIDEO)

Pre-dawn emergency workers searched feverishly for survivors in the rubble of homes, primary schools and an hospital in an Oklahoma City suburb ravaged by a massive Monday afternoon tornado feared to have killed up to 91 people and injured well over 200 residents.

The 3-kilometre-wide tornado tore through town of Moore outside Oklahoma City, trapping victims beneath the rubble as one elementary school took a direct hit and another was destroyed.

Reporters were cleared back from Plaza Towers Elementary School, which sustained a direct hit Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb told CNN. But television pictures showed firefighters from more than a dozen fire departments working under bright spotlights to find survivors.

President Barack Obama declared a major disaster area in Oklahoma, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local efforts in Moore after the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago.

There was an outpouring of grief on Plaza Towers’ Facebook page, with messages from around the country including one pleading simply: “Please find those little children.”

A separate Facebook page set up to reunite people in the area hit by a tornado on Sunday with their belongings and pets also showed entries for Moore residents overnight.

Another elementary school, homes and a hospital were among the buildings leveled in Moore, leaving residents of the town of about 50,000 people stunned at the devastation and loss of life. Many residents were left without power and water.

The Oklahoma medical examiner said 20 of the 91 expected to have been killed were children. The office had already confirmed 51 dead and had been told during the night by emergency services to expect 40 more bodies found in the debris, but had not yet received them.

At least 60 of the 240 people injured were children, area hospitals said.

The National Weather Service assigned the twister a preliminary ranking of EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning the second most powerful category of tornado with winds up to 320 km/h.

Witnesses said Monday’s tornado appeared more fierce than the giant twister that was among the dozens that tore up the area on May 3, 1999, killing more than 40 people and destroying thousands of homes. That tornado ranked as an EF5, meaning it had winds over 300 km/h.

The 1999 event in Oklahoma ranks as the third-costliest tornado in U.S. history, having caused more than $1 billion in damage at the time, or more than $1.3 billion in today’s dollars. Only the devastating Joplin and Tuscaloosa tornadoes in 2011 were more costly. Jeff Alger, 34, who works in the Kansas oil fields on a fracking crew, said his wife Sophia took their children out of school when she heard a tornado was coming and then fled Moore and watched it flatten the town from a few miles away.

“They didn’t even have time to grab their shoes,” said Alger, who has five children aged four to 11. The storm tore part of the roof off of his home. He was with his wife at Norman Regional Hospital to have glass and other debris removed from his wife’s bare feet.

Moore was devastated with debris everywhere, street signs gone, lights out, houses destroyed and vehicles tossed about as if they were toys.

The dangerous storm system threatened several southern Plains states with more twisters. The area around Moore faces the risk of severe thunderstorms on Tuesday, which could hamper rescue efforts.

Speaking outside Norman Regional Hospital Ninia Lay, 48, said she huddled in a closet through two storm alerts and the tornado hit on the third.

“I was hiding in the closet and I heard something like a train coming,” she said under skies still flashing with lightning. The house was flattened and Lay was buried in the rubble for two hours until her husband Kevin, 50, and rescuers dug her out.

“I thank God for my cell phone, I called me husband for help.”

Her daughter Catherine, seven, a first-grader at Plaza Towers Elementary School, took shelter with classmates and teachers in a bathroom when the tornado hit and destroyed the school. She escaped with scrapes and cuts.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center provided the town with a warning 16 minutes before the tornado touched down at 3:01 p.m. (2001 GMT), which is greater than the average eight to 10 minutes of warning, said Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the centre in Norman, Oklahoma.

The notice was upgraded to emergency warning with “heightened language” at 2:56 p.m., or five minutes before the tornado touched down, Pirtle said.

Television media measured the tornado at more than 3 km. wide, with images showing entire neighborhoods flattened.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a temporary flight restriction that allowed only relief aircraft in the area, saying it was at the request of police who needed quiet to search for buried survivors.

Oklahoma activated the National Guard, and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency activated teams to support recovery operations and coordinate responses for multiple agencies.

Briarwood Elementary School, which also stood in the storm’s path, was all but destroyed. On the first floor, sections of walls had been peeled away, giving clear views into the building; while in other areas, cars hurled by the storm winds were lodged in the walls.

The number of injured as reported by several hospitals rose rapidly throughout the afternoon.

“The whole city looks like a debris field,” Glenn Lewis, the mayor of Moore, told NBC.

“It looks like we have lost our hospital. I drove by there a while ago and it’s pretty much destroyed,” Lewis said.

The massive twister struck at the height of tornado season, and more were forecast. On Sunday, tornadoes killed two people and injured 39 in Oklahoma.
SOURCE

VIDEO

Action News 5 - Memphis, Tennessee

Wes Studi releases a golden eagle into the Rio Grande Gorge (Video)

2013-05-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Rehabilitated Golden Eagle, James Dean, to be released over the Rio Grande with a send off from Cherokee actor Wes Studi

When Lori Paras arrived at the edge of the Río Pueblo gorge Sunday morning (April 28), the golden eagle in her lap was as calm as a docile kitten. After being nursed back to health, the eagle was re-released into the wild by American Indian actor Wes Studi in front of a crowd of dozens of onlookers.

Just before the release, the eagle and Studi posed one last time for the cameras. Studi then raised his arms and the eagle began flapping its wings as it dropped below the edge of the gorge. Seconds later, the bird was gaining altitude to the applause of the eager crowd.

“It’s a bittersweet thing,” said Paras, who spent weeks rewrapping bandages on the eagle’s wounded feet, as she watched the eagle soaring at the far end of the gorge.

The eagle, nicknamed James Dean, was rehabilitated at the Santa Fe Raptor Center after running into a power line near White Sands last September.

Sunday’s event was meant to attract attention to the Raptor Center, a nonprofit that cares for injured birds until they’re healthy enough to return to the wild. According to the organization’s most recent tax filing, the center’s expenses outpaced its revenue from donations by $8,500. Paras said she was averaging two to three new birds coming in to the center each week, and she hoped to attract new donors to keep up with the volume.

Ellen Regan of San Cristóbal was among those who came to watch the release Sunday. “It just brightens my soul,” Regan said when asked what she thought of the event.

Photos Source

Studi, known for his roles in “Avatar,” “Dances with Wolves” and “Last of the Mohicans,” said the eagle weighed about as much as a bag of sugar. He said he was surprised by how gracefully it took off from his hands.

Studi, who now lives just outside Santa Fe, said he agreed to release the eagle to help the Raptor Center’s cause.

Paras said the eagle released Sunday was 2 years old and able to hunt on its own. Paras said the release location was chosen because it’s already a proven habitat for other eagles.

“There are eagles in this area and they’re nesting, but he’s a juvenile so they won’t chase him away,” Paras said.

Before it was let go, the eagle was outfitted with a tracking device that will allow Paras and others to follow its movements. Paras said knowing that the eagle is moving and doing well gives her peace of mind, but she also worries that something may happen, something she might prefer not to know about.

“We’ll hope for the best,” she said.
SOURCE

VIDEO Wes Studi releases a golden eagle into the Rio Grande Gorge

Native American culture celebrated at pow wow in Marksville (Video)

2013-05-20T05:08:00.001-07:00

Keeping Tradition Alive

For Native Tribes in Central Louisiana, the Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow is part of their tradition. In its 18th year, the tribes come together as family.

"When you plant a seed, for a plant and you watch that just grow, to what it is today, we have a lot of relationships that have been built through that time, new relationships that are made and we nurture those and we enjoy that." Said Bert Polchies, a Tunica Biloxi Tribe Member.

But it goes beyond just the Tunica-Biloxi, a Pow Wow is an opportunity to extend compassion to other tribes. For Choctaw-Apache Princess Erica Samples the Pow Wow means carrying on in her ancestors footsteps.

"It's a young voice saying, the people are still here, the younger generations going to come in and be like, we're going to take control as soon as the older generation has gone, we're still here, we're going to be here with our culture." Said Samples.

For Heather Wilkerson of the Mowa Choctaw Tribe, it means passing down her heritage to her 5-year-old daughter Annslee.

"Our culture is actually a dying culture, and if we don't pass it along from generation to generation, it's very important to me that she learns the way of not only our personal tribal culture but the pow wow culture as well." Said Wilkerson.

A native culture that is as important to the tribes as it is misunderstood outside of the family.

"There's a lot of omissions in the true history of this continent, of this country. So we take the time, whenever we get the chance to educate the people about who we really are, not the stereotypes, but who we really are." Said Polchies.
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VIDEO

Baby Tasmanian Devils Enjoy Playtime, Internet Falls In Love (VIDEO)

2013-05-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

The 'evil' in Tasmanian devil is just an act. This video is undeniable proof of that.

On Monday, Devil Ark, Australia's largest conservation breeding program for Tasmanian marsupials, posted this video of two furry devil babies sleepily drinking from bottles, play fighting, and snuggling -- and within days they've become the Internet's new favorite distraction..

Tasmanian devils are at risk of extinction because of a highly contagious disease that results in devil facial tumors. .

The video's YouTube caption states, "Genetic diversity is rapidly diminishing in Tasmania.. There are currently more than 120 devils at the Ark and the goal is to have 360 devils at Devil Ark by 2016." .

Learn more about these adorable creatures and find out how you can help preserve the species at Devil Ark's website. .

High in the hills of the Barrington Tops is a critical project working to save an endangered Australian animal. Devil Ark is the largest conservation breeding program for the Tasmanian devil on mainland Australia.
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'Critter cams' capture life from a bear's point of view (Video)

2013-05-19T06:37:00.003-07:00

'Critter cams' offer peek into daily lives of city bears

Up until recently, little was known about the private lives of bears living in and around Anchorage, Alaska. Sure, the urban-dwelling animals could occasionally be seen strolling through town or rummaging through trash, but now biologists are beginning to get a better idea of what bears are up to when they think no one is watching.

Last summer, officers from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game fitted four black bears and two brown bears with collar-mounted 'critter cams' to gain insight into their daily routines. The durable devices, set to film 10 second video clips every 20 minutes for a month, are equipped with a self-releasing mechanism along with GPS to help researchers track their movements and to recover them later.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, around 60 hours of up-close and personal bear's-eye-view footage has been captured on the critter cams so far -- which biologists say will help them better manage the animals' city-going tendencies.

Anchorage residents have long had to deal with bears scouring through their trash for food, worrying biologists that they had grown too dependent on our uneaten leftovers. As it turns out from critter cam footage, however, the bears were found to still fill their stomachs mainly from natural food sources in the wild -- though they happily foraged through unsecured garbage most days anyways.

"That's one of the questions we want to ask: If we could magically get rid of all the garbage, would we still have bears in town?" says researcher Sean Farley. "My guess is we would."

Interestingly, bears appeared to recognize trash cans with bear-locks, suggesting them to be an effective deterrent. In other words, with an estimated 300 or so bears living in the Anchorage area, interactions in urban spaces will be inevitable, though they needn't necessarily be messy.
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The amazing moment a bird of prey does a loop-the-loop (Photos)

2013-05-19T02:24:00.003-07:00

A bald eagle flips upside down in mid air. The odd manoeuvre was captured on camera by Pam Mullins close to her home in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

The bald eagle turned over in mid-flight making it look like he is falling out of the sky.

But he’s actually flipped himself upside down 200ft above the ground in a mid-air stunt that legendary daredevil Evel Knievel would have been proud of.

Eagles can flip as part of a mating ritual but also use it to make a sudden dive down once they spot food lurking beneath the surface of water.

The extraordinary spectacle was captured on camera by Pam Mullins close to her home in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.

Pam, 49, had been trying to get the perfect snap of the flipping eagles for years.

She said: “What you see in that photo happens in a split second.

“It’s not an accident but an acrobatic manoeuvre used by eagles for different reasons.

“Sometimes it’s used when the bird spots a fish or other food - it will do this mid-air flip and nose dive towards it. mpu

“Another reason is a mating ritual. Every year eagles do a dating dance where they clasp talons and free fall towards the ground.

“They also do this as a defence manoeuvre. If they are being attacked they will flip and this allows them to use their talons on their attacker.

“It is very hard to capture because it happens so fast.”

Bald eagles can reach speeds of up to 43 miles per hour while gliding and up to 99 miles per hour when diving.
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Cherokee Nation to operate largest wind farm on tribal land

2013-05-18T13:06:00.000-07:00

Cherokee Nation Developing Largest Tribal Wind Farm in U.S.

AHLEQUAH, Okla. — The Cherokee Nation agreed Monday to partner with Chicago-based PNE Wind USA Inc. to develop the largest tribal wind farm in the United States.

“The Cherokee Nation is playing a significant role in creating new green jobs and expects to play a key role in Oklahoma’s emerging wind energy industry,” said Principal Chief Bill John Baker. “The Cherokee Nation is committed to growing the Oklahoma economy, helping reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and creating sustainable jobs for our people in the renewable energy sector.”

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council voted 14-2 to enter into the project that is estimated to generate $16 million over the next 20 years. Development of the 90-turbine wind farm will start immediately on 3,000 acres of the tribe’s Chilocco property in Kay County, site of a former Indian boarding school.

“The Cherokee Nation has an opportunity to be a leader among Indian nations in renewable energy,” said Deputy Speaker Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The tribe will be able to utilize an underutilized resource. We talk a lot about protecting our environment and conserving our resources, so this is a prime opportunity to put words into action.”

The wind farm would provide 153 megawatts of power to the southwest grid region for homes, businesses and farms.

“This is the largest wind farm on tribal land in the U.S.,” said Ellen Wesley, director of PNE Wind USA Inc. “The Cherokee Nation will own half of the project, which is significant because usually they are private owners. We’re thrilled to have the Cherokees as a partner in this endeavor. It’s a win for the land and the people.”

Chilocco was ideal because of its wind resources, and environmental studies show it will not curtail the migratory bird population. The entire Chilocco wind farm will encompass 6,000 acres, with four other tribes jointly overseeing 45 turbines on their 3,000-acre half.

In other business, the Tribal Council took action on the following items:

• Passed an act that will allow citizens to receive 90-day prescriptions.

• Passed a resolution to apply for a $4.5 million grant for health center infrastructure from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

• Recognized Jeff Stancil for his work and dedication to preserve Cherokee history and culture at New Echota, Ga., and Vann House.

• Approved Amber Lynn George, of Tahlequah, to the Cherokee Nation Foundation board. George received a Master of Arts from University of Tulsa in speech language pathology, has served on several boards and has extensive experience in fundraising for nonprofit organizations.

• Approved Glendon Kay Watkins, of Tahlequah, to the Economic Development Trust Authority Board of Directors. Watkins has more than 30 years of experience in the financial sector, most recently serving as senior vice president at BancFirst in Tahlequah before retiring in 2011.

• Approved Steven Wilson, of Tahlequah, as commissioner on the Cherokee Nation Tax Commission. Wilson graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science in education and has served on the Cherokee Nation Tax Commission.

The next Tribal Council meeting is scheduled for June 10 at 6 p.m.
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Mountain Lion Tranquilized, Rescued From Aqueduct Near Santa Cruz

2013-05-18T12:47:00.001-07:00

Young mountain lion rescued from Santa Cruz aqueduct (Video)

A young male mountain lion tranquilized and rescued after it was trapped for hours in an aqueduct near downtown Santa Cruz is being released into the wild Thursday, a state Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman said.

The cat was first seen around 7 a.m. Later in the morning, it became trapped in the Branciforte Creek aqueduct near Water Street and May Avenue, police said.

Wildlife rescue crews from the University of California at Santa Cruz Puma Project were able to tranquilize the animal and it was transported to the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center in Santa Cruz, department spokeswoman Janice Mackey said.

Staff from Moss Landing-based WildLife Emergency Services provided equipment for the rescue, including netting to block escape routes at the creek after they were alerted about the situation by Santa Cruz authorities around 8 a.m., group president Rebecca Dmytryk said.

A veterinarian from the Department of Fish and Wildlife was also at the scene, Mackey said.

A staff member from WildLife Emergency Services helped the veterinarian and police personnel move the tranquilized animal into a crate, Dmytryk said.

"We were all working for the good of the animal as well as the safety of the people," Dmytryk said.

The mountain lion weighs about 100 pounds and is healthy and in "very good condition," Mackey said.

Dmytryk said the young mountain lion is likely a few years old.

The mountain lion was taken to the center around 1 p.m. and was expected to be released later Thursday -- after the effects of the tranquilizer wore off -- into an undisclosed area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mackey said.

No one was injured during the hours-long rescue effort, police said.
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Amazing Webcam Features White Wolves At Their Den (LIVE)

2013-05-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Spend some time watching 2 beautiful white wolves go about their daily life at the International Wolf Center Exhibit Pack in Ely, Minnesota USA. Check back often.

Wolf Dens

In a normal den, the birthing chamber lies at the end of a tunnel that may be up to 15 feet long in soft soil. The den is often slightly elevated above the rest of the tunnel, and no den-lining material is used. The mother keeps the den clean by eating fecal mater of her pups. The birthing chamber is usually about three feet in diameter and about two feet high.

Shortly before giving birth, a pregnant female will seek out a den. Dens may be a deep riverbank hollow, a cleft between rocks, a hollow log, a space under an upturned tree or a space under a rock overhang. Sometimes wolves will use abandoned dens of other animals, such as bear dens or a beaver dam.

Dens are often reused by generations of wolves; one den in Jasper National Park was used by wolves eight times in fifteen years. One on Ellesmere Island may be even older, since bones dated at 783 years old.

The entrance to the den is about 20 to 28 inches wide and 15 to 20 inches high. Dens may have two or more entrances, both of which are usually marked by a large pile of dirt. Den sites are often near a source of water, and are often elevated so that wolves can detect approaching enemies.

The Alpha male is very protective of the den. He will often act as a decoy, leading predators (bears and even eagles may prey on a very your pup) away from the site. Although wolves will often stand their ground against wild predators at the den site, they will usually run away for the approach of humans.

Occasional cases of more than one female using the same den at a time have been reported

Wolves may change dens though the year, moving their pups a mile or more. This may occur because of parasitic infestation of the den or because of a disturbance of the den by humans or other animals. (Source)

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Streaming video by Ustream

Natives in Hollywood Come Together for Idle No More PSA (Video)

2013-05-18T03:42:00.001-07:00

This is a public service announcement made by JT Pro Imaging for Idle No More starring Native celebrities of all ages.

Those appearing in addition to Grant include Shannon Baker and Shauna Baker (the Baker Twins), Sam Bearpaw, Shayna Jackson, Crystle Lightning, Zahn McClarnon, Rick Mora, Rocky Navajo, Marisa Quinn, MC Red Cloud, DeLanna Studi, Alan Tafoya, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett. (Source)

Idle No More calls on all people to join in a revolution which honors and fulfills Indigenous sovereignty which protects the land and water. Colonization continues through attacks to Indigenous rights and damage to the land and water. We must repair these violations, live the spirit and intent of the treaty relationship, work towards justice in action, and protect Mother Earth.

On December 10th, Indigenous people and allies stood in solidarity across Canada to assert Indigenous sovereignty and begin the work towards sustainable, renewable development. All people will be affected by the continued damage to the land and water and we welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies to join in creating healthy sustainable communities. We encourage youth to become engaged in this movement as you are the leaders of our future.

There have always been individuals and groups who have been working towards these goals – Idle No More seeks to create solidarity and further support these goals. We recognize that there may be backlash, and encourage people to stay strong and united in spirit.

This movement started in Canada as a peaceful demonstration between tribes and government. It spread as people world wide stood in solidarity for the Canadian government to honor treaty rights. It has become bigger than that. These violations have direct bearing on the protection,or lack there of, of our waters and land. If we don’t stand up as one people and start protecting our earth’s greatest resources we are dooming our future generations. It is an important movement and it has been our honor to be a part of this important message.

A collection of studio portraits from the project can be seen at the JT Pro Imaging blog.

JT Pro Imaging official site

JT Pro Imaging on Facebook

VIDEO

A lost dog nurses and protects an kitten found in a ravine (Video)

2013-05-18T02:21:00.002-07:00

WATCH: Dog Protects And Nurses Trapped Kitten

Last Monday a South Carolina police officer got a call to check out a dog that was trapped down in a ravine. A local person had reported hearing a dog barking a lot in the area near Anderson, S.C.'s North Pointe Creek.

Officer Michelle Smith reported to the creek area and was quite surprised with what she actually found. There was the dog of course but she was nursing a baby kitten at the bottom of the ravine.

It turned out that the dog was actually barking for help on behalf of the small kitten that she was protecting.

Officer Smith surmised that the dog had likely only stayed in the ravine to care for the homeless kitten. "I'm thinking that she just couldn't get back up with the kitten, and I don't think she was willing to leave the kitten," Smith said.

Both the dog and the kitten were taken to the Anderson County P.A.W.S. facility where they are being kept together while waiting for the dog's owner to come and claim her.

The little dog is continuing to try and nurse the kitten but her milk is not sufficient to sustain her so additional bottle feedings are being given at the shelter also.

Although it is not uncommon for dogs to play the role of mom for babies that are not their own, this dog took it a step further by calling for help when she refused to leave the kitten behind. Be sure to watch the video below to see the little duo in action together at the shelter.

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FOX Carolina 21

Endangered Species Day 2013 (Video)

2013-05-17T04:22:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Endangered Species Day on May 17, 2013!

Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people young and old to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and everyday actions that people can take to help protect our nation’s disappearing wildlife and last remaining open space. Protecting America’s wildlife and plants today is a legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren, so that all Americans can experience the rich variety of native species that help to define our nation.

Started by the United States Senate, Endangered Species Day is the third Friday in May. Every year, thousands of people throughout the country celebrate Endangered Species Day at parks, wildlife refuges, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, libraries, schools and community centers. You can participate in festivals, field trips, park tours, community clean-ups, film showings, classroom presentations, and many other fun and educational activities.(Source)

5 Ways to Celebrate Endangered Species Day:

TAKE ACTION - Tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that reviewing the environmental risks of large scale projects is critical for wildlife.

Update your Facebook Timeline pic - Show your support for endangered species with a photo of your favorite wildlife species. Let us know you did it by including @National Wildlife Federation in your status message.

Help spread the word via Twitter - Share an Endangered Species Day story or wildlife message with your friends and family. Make sure to include #speciesday in your tweet.

Attend an Endangered Species Day event! Events are held across the country to highlight endangered species stories.

Help Kids Learn About Biodiversity! NWF's Eco-Schools has resources to get students ready to celebrate biodiversity and conservation.
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VIDEO

Mohawk Ironworkers Help Raise Spire for Freedom Tower at One World Trade Center (Video)

2013-05-17T04:04:00.004-07:00

From beginning to end, from rise to fall to rise again, the noble Mohawk ironworkers have shepherded the sky-scraping towers of the World Trade Center in New York City into existence.

“I worked on the building for four years,” third-generation ironworker John McGowan, Kahnawà:ke, told Kahnawake411, the newspaper for the reserve just outside Montreal. He was recalling his role in building the new One World Trade Center, which stands on the site of the original Twin Towers that fell in the horrifying terrorist attack of September 11, 2001. “It was a great honor to bring back the height to New York.”

The 408-foot-tall, 758-ton spire for the new tower was raised on May 10 and awed many, from the workers themselves to passing tourists, the Associated Press reported.

McGowan was on cleanup duty back when the first two towers fell, and he is part of the team building the 1,776-foot-high “Freedom Tower,” as the now-tallest building in the Western Hemisphere is dubbed.

“It was very sad,” he told the newspaper of the attacks’ aftermath. “Families would come to the site still searching or asking questions. There’s a lot of things that the media never showed that were horrific.”

American Indians and Canadian First Nations were instrumental in raising many of New York's tallest buildings, coming proudly from a tradition that adapted itself well to the work. McGowan is one of about 20 men from Kahnawà:ke working on the trade center job site, according to Kahnawake411.

These videos taken from the spire itself, on cameras installed by McGowan on behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, capture the ascension of the spire in all its dizzying, vertigo-inducing glory. This is what the iron workers see as they toil to help New York rise above tragedy and reach for the stars once again.

Below is the shortened, time-lapse Cliff Notes version of the hoisting of the spire. It’s a condensation of the original video that’s underneath it, the latter showing the nine-minute version, in what is presumably real time.
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Related The Mohawks Who Built Manhattan (Photos)

Golf-course workers rescue coyote pup covered with cactus spines

2013-05-17T01:03:00.000-07:00

Coyote pup rescued after being covered with cholla cactus (Photos - Video)

A coyote pup covered with cholla clumps and facing an agonizing death was rescued this week by two Sun City West golf-course workers.

The pup apparently ran headfirst into a cactus Tuesday and was stumbling around in pain when Jose Soto, a Pebblebrook Golf Course maintenance worker, and Assistant Superintendent Shawn Bordine came to the rescue.

Cactus spines pierced at least a quarter of an inch into the pup, its face entirely hidden by the prickly plant, a hand-sized cholla joint clinging to its tail.

“I was shocked to see this little one tumbling over and over and over, covered head to foot with these little chunks of cholla,” resident Gwen Maxwell said Wednesday. “On my goodness, it put me in shock it was so horrible to see.”

The 86-year-old retired school teacher first spotted the pup during her usual 6:30 a.m. walk Tuesday.

At first, she thought it was a lost pet but quickly realized it was a coyote as it scampered under bushes in her back yard to hide.

Maxwell didn’t see the cactus covering on the pup until later that morning when it finally came out from under the bushes as she went outside.

“I don’t own a pet,” she said. “But I love animals and I was distressed seeing this little coyote in so much misery.”

She waved down a man who was walking by her house and implored him to call for help. He began calling the fire department, Fish and Game and his wife, who arrived and also began calling on her cell for help.

“I wept and cried and wished someone would come here quick and take care of it,” Maxwell said. She said she then saw the mother coyote approach her pup, lay down and watched it helplessly.

“I didn’t think anyone would come and help,” she said.

She followed the pup as it struggled onto a nearby golf course and she began waving off golfers fearing they might run over the animal or accident hit it with a golf ball.

She was relieved when Bordine and his foreman Jose Soto arrived to the scene.

“He was right there, he could hardly move,” said Bordine. “He was covered. It was life-threatening and he would have died within hours.”

While Soto held onto the pup with heavy-duty gloves, Bordine used a variety of different sized pliers to pull out the cactus clumps. A Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputy stood guard because the mother coyote was nearby watching them.

“For a little animal like that that it would have been pretty deadly and painful,” said Bording, who was alerted to the animal’s plight by an employee.

Bordine said the pup didn’t make any noise and didn’t nip at the two because it instinctively knew “we were there to help.”

Bordine extracted seven large cholla clumps and about 20 to 30 smaller ones from the pup.

The pup had cactus spines in its nose and mouth but luckily none penetrated its eyes, said Bordine, who owns an Australian Border Collie. It took him 10 to 15 minutes to remove them. Subsequently, Soto let the pup loose, which quickly ran to its mother.

Neither Maxwell nor Bordine have seen the pup or its family since Tuesday.

“I could not stand by and do nothing and let homeowners watch it die in misery,” Bordine said.
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Video: Coyote pup rescued after being covered with cholla cactus

Baby Owl and Duckling become Best Friends! (Photos- Video)

2013-05-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Duck, Owl Photos Show The Most Adorable Friendship Ever

It is not uncommon for animals to cross the lines of specie's differences and form friendships. Many unusual and sometimes almost unimaginable bonds have been formed between animals.

And the best friend bond is something that can last a lifetime.

In northern England, at the Kirkleatham Owl Center one such friendship has been formed when Chop-suey, a baby white-crested runner duck, and Larch, a baby long-eared owl, met each other. The two have since become inseparable, sleeping and cuddling with each other.

While they are enjoying each others company now, in this case it will not be forever. A spokesperson for the center said the pair will eventually need to be separated due to "differing needs as they develop." But for now, the cuteness of their feathered friendship can continue.

A word of caution from the Center for those considering keeping ducks as pets. "While they may be adorable, make sure to keep baby ducks outside as they don't make for good pets. The average duck poops once every 15 minutes and the CDC recommends washing your hands after coming into contact with them as they 'often' carry Salmonella."

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