Wild Creations Frog Blog

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.

Sizzling Hot New Products come to wildcreations.com

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 19:47:00 +0000

Kicking off the summertime season are firecracker new products arriving to the Wild Creations website! Three new products, that have proved popular on their own, are now ready to purchase on our online store.

Roll-Up R oads, the floor & table friendly road tapes are now available in six different colorful styles. Turn any floor or table into a cityscape, railway yard, airport or a busy highway. Available in single rolls or City-planner six-packs.

A little new technology, a dash of imagination, and a whole lot of excitement, and you end up with the E-BIRDS RC Flight Series flying toy. The Radio Controlled Bird,flies like the real thing with it's amazing opposing dual wing design, only that you are in control as it climbs, dives & turns it's way in flight both indoors & out.

Quickly becoming a national phenomena, we're going to help it along by bringing it to the Wild Creations webstore. We're talking about FLIPOUTZ, interactive funwear! The kid-invented bracelet & trackable coins have started to take the country by storm as more & more have fallen under FLIPOUTZ FEVER and begun collecting, trading & tracking the colorful coins. Now you can buy them right here!

It's a sizzling summer of new products now available at the Wild Creations On-line Store!

Creative Child Awards come to more Wild Creations Products

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:38:00 +0000

Wild Creations recently garnered more Toy Industry Awards, as Creative Child Magazine's 2011 Awards Program held a number of Wild Creations Products in high regard. Creative Child Magazine's Awards Program is unique in that all products submitted are reviewed by parents, educators and professionals alike. Products are not reviewed by any one person. They are reviewed by many people-the very people who purchase them.

Most noteworthy is the Product of the year award given to Flipoutz®, the interactive funwear product designed by kids for kids. Since it's inception, and most recently it's debut on the popular ABC TV show Sharktank, Flipoutz is gaining a tremendous following, showing all the signs of becoming a major hit. "Flipoutz Fever" is catching on as more stores are stocking the Flipoutz® coins & Bracelets each day. Check out the growing list of retailers on the Flipoutz Google Map.

Another new toy that has captured the imagination is Roll-Up Roads, the long-lasting, reusable roadway tape. As long as there has been toy cars, trucks, trains, & airplanes, children have often designed imaginary roadways of travel. Roll-Up Roads takes it one step further with it's tacky-back tape that can transform a tabletop into a downtown cityscape, a railway terminal or a busy jetport. And parents can rest easy knowing that the family dining table won't end up with permanent strips of tape all over. The tacky-back tapes leaves no mess, no "goo". UPDATE:Roll-Up Roads is coming to stores & on the Wild Creations website July 1st.

Take modern RC technology, lightweight & durable materials, and a spark of inspiration, and you end up with a RC Toy that will delight and amaze. You get Wild Creations RC Skybird, a remote controlled toy that flies like a real bird under your control, this years Toy of the Year in the RC Toy Category. UPDATE:Look for the RC Skybird in stores & on the Wild Creations website July 1st.

You can experience the thrill of discovery by uncovering the bones of a long lost animal ancestor with the Ice Age Excavation Kits by Geoworld, this years Preferred Choice Award winner for the Educational Science Kits category.
Encased in a block of soft chalk stone is the faithful replica bones of a Woolly Mammoth, Cave Bear, or Saber-tooth Tiger. It's your task to uncover the bones just like a real palaeontologist with the included hammer & chisel, and assemble them together into a museum quality skeleton replica.

It is our mission at Wild Creations to provide products that Inspire, Educate, & Entertain. We're proud to receive these awards, but we're equally proud to bring a level of quality to the products we provide.

Wild Creations - Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Wild Creations is proud to be awarded a finalist of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year. Peter Gasca & Rhett Power launched Wild Creations on it's path 4 short years ago as a prominent company in the toy industry. From it's entry to the national market with it's EcoAquarium line, Wild Creations has expanded it's product line-up to include a popular string of toys that inspire play, imagination, and exploration. Today, Wild Creations continues it's growth with more products like the imaginative Roll-Up Roads™ road building tapes, that can turn a tabletop into a bustling cityscape, as well as the kid-inspired Flipouts® Interactive Funwear, with it's collectable trading coins & innovative, child-friendly social networking website. Being a Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist is a honor that Wild Creations shall hold dear, and will continue to treasure for years to come. Finalists for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year line the stage at the recent Awards Gala

WCTV connects a smart way to Inform, Educate, & Entertain

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:37:00 +0000

Wild Creations foray into streaming video, Wild Creations Television, has been established to give free access into interesting science & nature based programming. It is our intention to offer exposure to science, nature, & exploration to everyone. This week we kick things off with one of the most informative historical documentary series ever presented... Episode 1 of Connections by James Burke.

Connections is a ten-episode series created, written and presented by Burke, and was produced and directed by Mick Jackson of the Science & Features Department and first aired in 1978 (UK) and 1979 (USA). Connections explores the surprising and unexpected ways that our modern technological world came into existence. The entire ten-episode series is available to view online, as well as the web-based incarnation of the series with the Knowledge Web by the James Burke Institute. If you wish to purchase the entire series on DVD, you can do so here.

We're honored to present this historical series, and bring programming of this caliber to Wild Creations Television.
ALSO ON WCTV THIS WEEK: 2 featured shorts... The Nature of Light & Squeaky the Squirrel. Enjoy WCTV!

Another New Blog on the Block!

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:45:00 +0000

We're proud to introduce a new blog to the blog-o-sphere...The Flipoutz Blog! The new interactive funwear coins & bracelets are gaining momentium. They're growing so fast, we needed a blogsite as new stores start carrying Flipoutz products and public interest starts to "Flipoutz!" Of course the Flipoutz® website is the center of all trading and Flipoutz social interaction, and Flipoutz can be found on Facebook, Twitter & Youtube, but adding a blog goes a long way toward posting news and announcements to an ever growing audience. Take a peek...we're sure you'll Flipoutz® too!

Pardon our Dust!

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Time for some Spring Cleaning & Maintenance on our wildcreations.com website.

We have scheduled an Update for Wednesday, May 11th. around Noon Eastern Standard Time. It may require a SERVICE INTERRUPTION that could take around 2 hours or more.
Once we're done you'll find some added improvements like improved Customer Checkout, Search Engine Optimization and some neat-o goodies that make it easier for us hard-working stiffs to work behind the scenes.
DON"T WORRY if you find our wildcreations.com website offline this Wednesday, It'll only be temporary as we do a bit of maintenance.
(A nod to Norman Rockwell for the wonderful illustration of "Rosie to the Rescue")

An Eye on Bugs with the BugsWorld 12 pack

noreply@blogger.com (BullFrog Bob) — Thu, 05 May 2011 15:38:00 +0000

Heather Sanders of OMSH has written another wonderful review for The Pioneer Woman, of one of our new products from Geoworld, the Bugs World Collection of 12 Real Insects. One of our new Science & Exploration products, Geoworld has taken twelve (12) insects of many different orders and species, and mounted them within clear Acrylic blocks for upclose examination. It's a wonderful starter collection of insect specimens for any budding Entomologist.
Be sure to check out her review, "It's a B u gs World" at thepioneerwoman.com.

Oh yeah... check out the Bugs World Collection of 12 Real Insects on our website too!