Halloween thoughts: some heartwarming, nonthreatening facts about four "scary" animals

     In present day and extending far back into human history, there are certain species which inspire fear.  This fear is often rooted in predation and scavenging; an animal that may eat you or that scavenges dead bodies seems a lot more threatening than say, that bunny hopping around the yard.  Although fear serves an important evolutionary purpose in keeping us alive and away from predators, it has unfortunately often led humans to hate and kill "scary" animals without probable cause.  Infamous examples include efforts to eradicate Gray Wolves in the lower 48 states from the late 1800's to mid-1900's, trophy hunting of sharks following the 1975 release of Jaws, and annual Rattlesnake Roundups (which involve the killing of thousands of snakes) that began in the 1950's and continue today.  We also see this fear represented in culture through legends, fairy tales, media, and more.  Falsities surrounding these animals maintain fear and hate, while hindering compassion. This blog replaces a few incorrect myths with true, heartwarming facts about four "scary" animals- ravens, wolves, sharks, and rattlesnakes, in attempt to build appreciation and admiration in place of apprehension and disdain.

Ravens (and Crows):
     Ravens and crows, members of the family Corvidae, are often disliked because of their large size, loud, harsh calls, and proclivity towards thievery.  They are frequently powerful figures in mythology; representing wisdom but also mischief, death, war, and misfortune depending on the culture (note that a group of ravens is called an unkindness, and a group of crows a murder).  However, ravens, crows, and other members of their family are highly intelligent and social animals, arguably having a culture.  New Caldonian Crows not only build tools from twigs and leaves, but learn how to make these tools from each other. The tools have even become better over time and generations!  The most eerie thing about these birds is their perceptions of us; they recognize human faces.  A human that has hurt or killed a flock member will be met with alarm calls, while there are other anecdotes of humans that treat crows or ravens kindly being brought gifts of buttons, coins, and such.  Moral of this story: be nice to corvids; they do not forget.

New Caldonian Crows using tool.

(Source: http://www.sciencemeetsadventure.com/greetings-from-new-caledonia/)

Wolf:
     The wolf is perhaps the most controversial animal in human history; it has given rise to dogs, but is also the inspiration for scary fairy tales and monsters like Little Red Riding Hood and the werewolf.  Common false facts spread about wolves include that they have razor sharp claws, kill for fun, and howl at the moon.  To the contrary, wolves live in family groups and hunt in order to survive.  Wolves often mate for life, and a wolf pack is typically a nuclear family (parents and one or more generations of pups).  Wolves communicate through a diversity of facial expressions, postures, and vocalizations.  They howl to find other pack members, rally the pack together, and warn non-pack members to stay out of their territory.  Each wolf has a unique voice that others may recognize it by.  A wolf's howl can be interpreted as a beautiful sound and associated with wilderness rather than something scary.

(Source: http://wolf-fanfiction.wikia.com/wiki/File:Wolf-pack-howling-med.jpg)

Shark:
     Sharks are often misunderstood, being thought of as unthinking killing machines.  Researchers say sharks are actually extremely curious (a sign of intelligence), citing examples such as a Great White Shark sticking its head out of the water to look at each person on a research vessel in turn.  Sharks have a social dominance hierarchy communicated through body slamming, gaping, and light biting.  Captive sharks are able to learn commands such as "Roll over"from keepers.  Most shark species give live birth (rather than lay eggs), and are often long-lived.  The Greenland Shark may be able to live over 400 years!  Sharks take a long time to grow and reproduce, much like our own species.

Captive Leopard Shark receiving a belly rub.

(Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3090731/That-s-spot-Leopard-shark-rolls-like-dog-BELLY-rubbed-aquarium-technician.html)

Rattlesnake:
     Like the shark, this is another animal thought of as an unthinking, cold-blooded killer.  However, rattlesnakes give live birth and also maternal care.  Young Arizona Black Rattlesnakes stay with mothers for up to 12 days.  Often the mothers form groups, possibly increasing care for their young.  Baby rattlesnakes cannot see well during this time; adults alert the young to threats by rattling, upon which they may seek shelter.  Rattlesnake venom has evolved to subdue prey.  Individuals do not bite humans because they are ill-tempered, they bite humans because they feel threatened.  The rattlesnake's rattle and hiss serve to warn larger animals of its presence.  Even when these warnings are not heeded, 20-25% of bites are dry (do not contain venom).  Listen to the rattlesnake's warning, and leave it be.  It wants to avoid you as much as you want to avoid it.

Timber Rattlesnake with young.

(Source: http://snakesarelong.blogspot.ca/2015/11/snakes-that-are-good-parents.html)

     Fear of an animal is no reason to kill it.  Not only do ravens (and crows), wolves, sharks, rattlesnakes, and other "scary" animals serve important regulatory roles as predators and scavengers in ecosystems, they are living, feeling creatures like us.  The most scary species is perhaps our own, as we take up more and more resources and continue to struggle to coexist with other species.  Be part of the solution, not the problem, by showing compassion and respect to the other creatures we share the planet with.

Jess

Sources: 
Ravens and Crows:

• Mythology- http://www.perspectivesmagazine.sk/news/ravens-and-crows-in-mythology-folklore-and-religion/ 
• Tool usage and evolution- http://www.news.ucsb.edu/2015/015831/something-crow-about 
• Remembering faces- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/26/science/26crow.html
• The girl who receives gifts from crows- http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31604026

Wolves:

• Howling- http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130730-wolves-howling-science-animals-environment/
• Family groups- http://www.wolf.org/wolf-info/wild-kids/wolf-families/

Sharks:

• Curiosity and intelligence- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/forget-jaws-now-its-brains-48249580/?webSyncID=c6913d54-9bea-1db2-8138-d64873543720&page=2
• Training- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5428522/Sharks-can-be-cuddled-like-dolphins-say-scientists.html
• Greenland Shark- http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/08/greenland-shark-may-live-400-years-smashing-longevity-record
• Shark finning- http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-news/shark-finning-sharks-turned-prey

Rattlesnakes:

• Maternal care- http://precedings.nature.com/documents/6671/version/1/files/npre20116671-1.pdf
• Venom and bites- http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/venomous_snake_faqs.shtml 
• Rattlesnake roundup- http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/controversial-texas-rattlesnake-roundup-nets-largest-catch-date-180958575/

For the Love of Dog: How You and Your Best Friend Represent the World's Oldest Friendship!

 It's no secret to those of us with dogs that these creatures are special.  With their love and loyalty to us coupled with their uncanny ability to read our emotions better than many members of our own species, they seem designed to be our best friends.  They live, play, work, herd, and hunt with us, and have done so for thousands of years.  In that time they have earned the title of "Man's (humankind's) best friend", and a special place in our hearts.  Where did our best friends come from?  How long have they been with us?  Just how special are dogs?  In this blog we will journey across time, space, and species in attempt to answer these questions.

The timeless quality of a campfire is even more tangible when sharing that experience with your dog(s).

Where did dogs come from?

     The domestic dog is a mammal and member of family Canidae (the Canids), which includes wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals, and more.  Its scientific name is given as either Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris, depending on the source.  Why?  Because its ancestor and closest living relative, the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), is so genetically similar (98.8% identical) that the domestic dog may be a subspecies of the wolf rather than a separate species.  Wolves and dogs exhibit similar behaviors and can even successfully breed (one definition of a species is that it cannot breed with other species), but alas have diverged due to their different associations with us.  

The physical and behavioral similarities between dogs and wolves is glaringly obvious.

How long have dogs been with us?

     Let's start with what we know for sure: dogs came from wolves in Eurasia at least 15,000 years ago.  Some studies have concluded as far back as 30,000 years!  Wow!  This was before cities, before farming, before any other animals were domesticated.  We used to imagine that someone long ago came upon a litter of orphaned wolf puppies and proceeded to raise and tame them.  In short, we domesticated wolves.  However, what if they domesticated us as well?  The more likely story may be that wolves began scavenging human campsites, the humans occasionally throwing a scrap of meat to the least cautious wolves.  The less fearful, more friendly wolves stuck around camp, bred, and passed on this disposition to their offspring, each generation becoming more docile.  The most recent research suggests this story may have played out twice; once in the east and once in the west.  Beyond this, it's still a mystery.  

Illustration by John James Audubon and John Bachman (1845-1848).

     Dog domestication remains such a mystery because dog genetics are messy; they've traveled around the world with us, breeding back and forth with each other and with wolves (whose range also extends around much of the northern hemisphere) along the way.  Dog genetics are also incredibly fascinating- hear me out before the eye roll.  Of course we've been able to create dog breeds by breeding dogs for certain physical and behavioral characteristics, this is known as artificial (as opposed to natural) selection.  However, this has only taken place over the past several hundred years.  Remarkably, the behavioral trait of "Tameness" evolves with certain physical traits, including floppy ears, curly fur, shortened and/or curled tails, and different coat colors.  Scientists are still working out the genetic underpinnings, but this process has been cleverly demonstrated in an experiment with foxes that has been ongoing since the late 1950's.  Dmitry K. Belyaev, a Russian geneticist, examined a group of fur-farm foxes and selected the friendliest, most touchable foxes to breed.  He exposed the pups to human contact, and with each successive generation he allowed only the friendliest 10% to breed.  By the fourth generation, the fox pups were acting like dog puppies, wagging their tails, whining for attention, and licking their handlers.  

One of my favorite National Geographic Magazine cover photos by photographer Robert Clark.  This highlights how amazing the evolution of dogs is.

Groups of purebred dogs arranged by original function bred for- Source: The challenges of pedigree dog health: Approaches to combating inherited disease - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/272764819_fig4_Figure-1-Grouping-of-purebred-dog-breeds-The-215-breeds-recognized-by-the-UK-Kennel [accessed 25 Sep, 2016].

Belyaev's experiment- Belyaev himself at the top left with some of the experiment foxes, a wild Silver Fox (morph of Red Fox that he started with) at the top right, and later generations showing different colors, a curled tail, and floppy ears below.  Images from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/, alfre.dk, http://thefanhitch.org/V14N3/V14,N3News.html, and themysterioussilverfox.weebly.com.

Just how special are dogs?

     Dogs behave in particular ways around us; they understand us better than any other species, including our closest living relative the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).  Dogs are empathetic, with examples range from catching yawns (when a human yawns, their dog might also), to responding to a human baby's cry similarly to how a human does, to responding to a stressed human by becoming showing the same symptoms of stress.  They're the only non-primate to look us in the eyes without misinterpreting eye contact as aggression.  Instead, we bond with eye contact.  Dogs not only respond to our gaze but our voices, smell, and even gestures (like pointing a finger).  

Dogs engage eye contact with us to bond.

     When our dog looks us in the eyes, sees a picture of us, hears us, or smells us, levels of the hormone oxytocin increase in his or her body.  When the tables are turned and we look our dogs in the eyes, pet them, or are just shown pictures of our dogs, our oxytocin levels also increase in response.  Oxytocin, known as the "love hormone", is so called because it is involved with familial bonding, romance, and friendship.  It plays a major role in the bonding of mother and child and romantic partners, being released when a mother nurses her child and when we hug, kiss, and cuddle with a loved one.  Chemically, the dog-human bond is like a parent-child bond, for both involved.  Behaviorally dogs share with children what is known as the "secure base effect", where the dog or child sees their guardian as a secure base under which they can safely interact with the environment.  This makes dogs more likely to explore novel objects and experiences with their humans present, and more likely to run to their humans when frightened.  

     Dogs can reduce our fear and stress as well.  Talking to and petting a dog lowers blood pressure.  Interacting with dogs can relieve depression and help children with autism develop greater social skills.  Dogs can further support our help with their abilities to smell chemicals associated with cancer in the body, changes associated with low blood sugar, and predict seizures.  We undoubtedly have a unique and powerful relationship with our canine companions that benefits us both.  

Dogs and humans- a partnership that changed the world

     Humanity would arguably not be where it is today without dogs.  Humans are slow and have a weak sense of smell; dogs' speed and strong sense of smell helped us to find prey and surround and hold it in place.  Our weapons helped humans and dogs avoid injury during the hunt.  Together we made a deadly combination; we may even be the primary cause of the Woolly Mammoth's (Mammuthus primigenius) extinction.  Dogs have played important roles in hunting, farming, transport, and security as human society has evolved.  Today they continue with the above as well as vital roles in the police and military, search and rescue, disability services, and more.  

Dogs and humans hunting a mammoth, image from https://www.psychologytoday.com/.

Duck hunting, image from https://www.greenhead.net.

Herding dog, personal photo.

Service dog, image from https://www.petfinder.com/.

     In this blog we've seen that our roots with dogs run deep; we've been together for a very long time and we've shaped each other into who we are today.  Dogs and their human guardians have a strong love for each other.  If you are in a position in which you can adopt a dog, and you are prepared for the commitment and responsibility of caring for one, I highly recommend that you do so and experience the world's oldest friendship for yourself.  

Thank you for reading,

Jess

Sources:

On dogs and wolves, and the origins of dogs:  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/17/dogs-wolf-ancestors-domestication_n_4616796.html

http://www.canidae.com/blog/2011/01/new-research-explains-why-dogs-arent-wolves/

http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/06/the-origin-of-dogs/484976/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130302-dog-domestic-evolution-science-wolf-wolves-human/

On dog breeds and Belyaev's fox experiment:

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetics-of-dog-breeding-434

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20160912-a-soviet-scientist-created-the-only-tame-foxes-in-the-world

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/mans-new-best-friend-a-forgotten-russian-experiment-in-fox-domestication/

On dogs' special abilities and oxytocin: 

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/we-really-do-love-dogs-as-if-theyre-our-furry-children-and-the-feeling-is-mutual-according-to-hormone-study

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275795.php

http://www.businessinsider.com/special-abilities-that-show-how-smart-dogs-are-2016-6/#5-and-they-interact-with-us-as-if-they-were-children-5

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262477.php

http://pets.webmd.com/features/pets-amazing-abilities?page=4

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3236382

https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/autism-and-pets-more-evidence-social-benefits

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/05/19/6-ways-pets-relieve-depression/

On humans and dogs hunting woolly mammoths:

http://siberiantimes.com/science/casestudy/features/did-dogs-help-drive-the-woolly-mammoth-to-extinction/

Lions, Wolves, and Bears OH MY! Preparing Yourself for Wildlife Encounters.

****Disclaimer: I am not an expert in wildlife safety or on wildlife encounters.  While I believe that my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology (Which included education on the natural history of all vertebrate classes), experience living and working in the Alaskan bush, and travels through the American West qualifies me to write this blog, readers are strongly encouraged to research these topics in much greater depth.****

     I crouched over the edge of the dock, carefully cleaning the Sockeye Salmon I'd caught earlier.  It was around 22:00.  The summer solstice had passed and although there was plenty of light to see by, twilight was descending upon the river.  I heard movement in the bushes at the loading dock nearby, and suddenly a mother bear and her two yearling cubs came into view.  She stood up, sniffed in my direction, and then began to wade into the water towards me.  I yelled "Hey bear!  Get back bear! Go on!" and prepared to jump into one of the boats at the dock and move away as fast as possible.  She changed her mind, however, left the water, and headed back into the bushes with her two cubs in tow.

     It was my second summer living in bear country, but I hadn't seen a bear in town for a while and accidentally put myself in a dangerous situation for myself, the mother bear, and her two cubs.  I shouldn't have been cleaning a fish so late in the evening, when bear activity is heightened.  I began with this anecdote to show how easy it is to become complacent, and that accidents can happen.  The purpose of this blog is to give an introduction to staying safe when around dangerous wildlife.  Seeing recent tragic accidents on the news gave me the idea for this blog, but I want to make it very clear that I am not implying any blame.  There is never any guarantee of safety even if every precaution is taken, and every wildlife encounter is different.  I do truly believe, however, that preparing yourself for wildlife encounters lessens your chances of injury, and I hope readers find this blog helpful.  

     What follows herein is a list of steps you can take to prepare yourself when visiting a new area and when exploring The Great Outdoors in general, followed by details on a few of North America's largest and most powerful animals.

1.  Read up on the ecology of the area you are visiting. 

     From the deserts of the southwest to the Arctic, anywhere you venture to is going to be unique with a unique set of preparations needed.  Read about both typical and extreme weather that may be expected for the time of year you are visiting, and pack accordingly.  For example a summer in Alaska should include reliable raingear (Jacket with a hood, pants, and boots) and plenty of warm layers (Including those for winter weather).  Look at a map and familiarize yourself with major landmarks.  This will come in handy if you become lost, and allow you to navigate faster either way.  Finally, learn about any potentially hazardous landscape features and wildlife.  By hazardous landscape features I am referring to geysers, bogs, rivers, and other unstable and unpredictable natural areas.  By hazardous wildlife I am referring to any large animal that can kill a human by sheer force.  

2.  Read in more detail on the habitat and behavior of potentially dangerous animals.

     Where does this animal typically live?  Forests, open areas, lowlands, highlands?  What does it eat?  Should you be extra wary in a berry patch?  On a mountain trail?  Learn to recognize signs of the animal's presence such as tracks, scent and claw markings, scat, and more.  Is this animal diurnal (Most active during the day), crepuscular (Most active around dusk), or nocturnal (Most active at night)?  Is it this animal's breeding season?  How might this alter your activities?  How might you avoid an encounter?  Typically this involves making a bit of noise as you walk, such as frequently saying "Hey bear!" when traveling in bear country.  How might this animal behave in an encounter with humans?  Is it more likely to run, charge, stalk, jump, or other?  A vast majority of the time, the animal will run- It is likely as frightened as you!  However, if it does not, you should know what it might do instead.  How should you behave in an encounter should one occur?  Other species use social cues like we do, and just as in humans you do not want to use the wrong one in the wrong way and trigger an aggressive response.  For example, you never want to turn your back on an animal and/or run.  This may trigger a charge or chase either predatory or defensive in nature.  

How do you tell a predatory over a defensive interaction and what do you do?  

Predatory: Ears will be forward, animal will approach with an intense focus and may stalk, disappear, and reappear.  Your goal in this situation is to intimidate and convince the animal that you are not food!  Be prepared to fight!  An approach by a cougar or wolf should be assumed to be predatory.

Defensive: Animal will either run away or charge.  The charge may be a bluff where the animal veers off at the end.  If contact is about to be made, lay down on your stomach, cross your hands behind your neck, and use your elbows and toes to avoid being rolled over.  Protect your abdomen.  Try to be as still and quiet as possible, and do not get up until you are sure the bear has left.  Defensive approaches are most common in Grizzly (Brown) Bears.

3.  Check out visitor centers.

     I'm not just saying this because I've worked at one!  Visitor centers offer so many great resources- from natural and cultural exhibits to maps, brochures, and most importantly direct contact with staff that know the area you are visiting intimately as they live and work there.  Staff are present to answer your questions and inform you about what you should look for and what you should look out for.  Confirm what you've already researched through these interactions, and learn more before continuing on your adventure.  

4.  Stay vigilant; do not become complacent.

     OK, so you've done your homework, you've been by the visitor center, and you're enjoying a hike.  Even if there are lots of people around and you haven't seen any sign of a bear/mountain lion/wolf/other, stay vigilant.  Do not become complacent.  Keep children and pets near at all times.  Keep up with the "Hey bears!" or talking among your group.  If you camp, keep a clean camp; don't leave food or garbage around.  Be sure to still have fun, just don't forget where you are and who else may be around!  

5.  Always respect wildlife; never approach.     

     When you are exploring parks, wilderness, or other natural areas, think of yourself as a guest in someone's home.  Try to leave things as you found them, and don't intrude on a wild animal's space.  Just as you would be alarmed if approached by a bear or other large mammal, they would likely be alarmed if you did the same.  Animals deserve respect and privacy just as we expect of others.  Follow the Thumb Rule- If you are watching an animal, outstretch your arm and put your thumb out.  If the animal does not fit behind your thumb, you are too close and should back away.  I see too many news reports now of people getting mauled or gored by Bison, Elk, etc. as they were trying to take a "Selfie" (And I've watched people trying to take selfies with wildlife).  Again, DON'T BE THAT PERSON!

Specific Species Examples 

Please note that although these examples are of carnivores (Species with a meat-only diet) and omnivores (Meat and plant diet), large herbivores (Plant-only diet) can be just as dangerous.  Respect wildlife and give them their space!

Cervids (Deer, Elk, Moose, Caribou) are particularly dangerous during the rut- Their mating season in which males have fully grown antlers, are less cautious, and more aggressive than normal.  

Photo Credit: Steve Pemble.

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)
Range: 

Map from nhptv.org

Length: 5-9 ft
Weight: 300-1200 lbs.
Habitat: Brown bears utilize a diversity of habitats, from open tundra and river valleys, to mountain sides and forests, to ocean shores.
Diet: Omnivore- Berries, grasses and sedges, roots, insects, carrion, fish, oysters, small to large mammals, etc.
When most active: Dawn and dusk.
Warning signs: Fresh scat, fresh tracks, or a kill site may warrant either a change in direction and/or being on higher alert and making more noise.  Yawning, jaw popping, huffing, salivating, and head and ears down mean a bear is stressed and may charge.
What to do in an encounter: Do not run, do not turn your back, and do not look the bear directly in the eyes.  Raise and slowly wave your hands above your head and say "Hey bear" to help the bear recognize you as human.  Slowly back away.  Be prepared to use bear spray (A highly potent pepper spray), which has an extremely high effectiveness rate.

Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
Range: 

Map from hww.ca

Length: 50-75 in
Weight: 130-660 lbs.
Habitat: Forested areas.
Diet: Omnivore- grasses and sedges, fruits, nuts, insects, honey, fish, small mammals, carrion.
Time of Day most active: Dawn and dusk.
Warning signs: Fresh scat, fresh tracks, or a kill site may warrant either a change in direction and/or being on higher alert and making more noise. Pursed lips, huffing, lip smacking, jaw popping, ears and head down, paw swat.
What to do in an encounter: Do not run, do not turn your back, and do not look the bear directly in the eyes.  Raise and slowly wave your hands above your head and say "Hey bear" to help the bear recognize you as human.  Slowly back away.  Be prepared to use bear spray (A highly potent pepper spray), which has an extremely high effectiveness rate.

How to tell Brown and Black Bears apart.  Graphic from adirondackwildlife.org.

"Staying Safe in Bear Country", an excellent video used in both of the Bear Safety courses I have taken, showing real encounters, and one which I highly recommend.  It is also available in parts by searching YouTube by its title.  

Mountain Lion (Cougar) (Puma concolor)
Range: 

From Smithsonian National Museum of
Natural History- North American
Mammals

Length: 6.5 ft (Female), 7.9 ft (Male)
Weight: 64-220 lbs.
Habitat: Mountains, forests, swamps- not in open areas.
Diet: Carnivore- deer as well as smaller mammals such as porcupine, raccoon, etc.
Time of Day most active: Dawn and dusk when deer are most active.
Warning signs: Fresh scat, fresh tracks, or a kill site may warrant either a change in direction and/or being on higher alert and making more noise. Mountain Lions normally stay hidden, so seeing one should raise a red flag.  An approach by this animal should be considered predatory.
What to do in an encounter: Give the lion an escape route.  Do not turn around or crouch down.  Pick up small children and bunch up in a group.  Your objective will be to make yourself appear as large and intimidating as possible to show that you are not prey.  Do this by raising your arms, yelling, and clapping.  Throw rocks and sticks and fight back if approached and attacked.  Bear spray may also be utilized (Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpB7jrJ7Zds for an example).

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Range: 

Gray Wolf range from wild.enature.com,
also shows Red Wolf range in the southeast.
Note that Gray Wolf range is expanding
in the lower 48 and this map may be a bit
outdated.

Length: 49-83 in
Weight: 40-175 lbs.
Habitat: Highly diverse in habitat- Tundra and open lowland valleys to forests, mountains, grasslands, and deserts.
Diet: Carnivore- Ungulates (Hooved mammals such as Deer, Elk, Moose, and Caribou), smaller mammals such as beaver and rabbits, and carrion.
Time of Day most active: Dawn and dusk.
Warning signs: Fresh scat, fresh tracks, or a kill site may warrant either a change in direction and/or being on higher alert and making more noise.  Intense focus, snarling, sharp barks and snorts, stalking.
What to do in an encounter: Do not run or turn your back.  Like the Mountain Lion, you need to make yourself appear large and intimidating.  If the wolf is aggressive, be aggressive- lunge at the wolf while clapping and yelling or back away slowly while clapping and yelling.  Stare directly into the wolf's eyes.  If more than one person and wolf are present, stand back to back each facing a wolf.  If the wolf attacks, fight back with sticks, rocks, and whatever else you have or can find.  Bear spray may also be utilized.  Wolves cannot climb trees, so climbing a tree is another option.

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Range: 

American Alligator range from www2.
southeastern.edu

Length: Average- 8.2 ft (Female), 11.2 ft (Male), but can reach over 14 ft long.
Weight: 790 lbs on average, but can be over 1,000 lbs.
Habitat: Slow-moving or stagnant bodies of fresh or brackish water such as slow moving rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and other wetlands.
Diet: Carnivore- fish, birds, frogs, and mammals that swim or come to the water's edge.
Time of Day most active: Dawn and dusk and night.
Warning signs: Alligators in water or at water's edge, tracks, nests.  Hissing.  It is safe to assume that alligators may be present in any freshwater body in their range- Stay away from water's edge and do not swim.  
What to do in an encounter: Keep 30 ft away from alligators.  Back away slowly if you accidentally find yourself too close.  If an alligator becomes aggressive, run as fast as you can in a straight line away from it (It is a common misconception to run in a zig-zagging line).  Alligators can move fast on land, but not for long distances.  If you are attacked, fight back and target the alligator's eyes.  Alligators will often bite and release or readjust- use that time to escape.

     In concluding, I hope you've found this blog informative and helpful for your future travels.  What I do not want is for readers to become too afraid to explore, or to think of these animals as monsters.  Conflicts are extremely rare- They seem more common than they are because these events always make news.  Be informed, be aware, and understand the reality that we share the Earth with other species.  These are intelligent, emotional, sentient creatures that deserve our respect and compassion- Appreciate them from a distance, understand how they interact with the world, and do everything you can to prevent an encounter.  

Feel free to ask questions (I will do my best to answer them) and start productive, respectful conversations in the comments section.  

Thank you all,

Jess

Sources:

Bears:
Ecology- www.defenders.org/grizzly-bear/basic-facts
www.defenders.org/black-bear/basic-facts
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/brown-bear/
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/black-bear/
Signs of stress- http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_037587.pdf
Safety- www.env.gov.yk.ca/publications-maps/documents/BearBooklet2013_ENG_WEB.pdf

Mountain Lion:
Ecology- www.defenders.org/mountain-lion/basic-facts
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/mountain-lion/

https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Mountain-Lion.aspx

Safety- https://www.nps.gov/care/learn/nature/cougar.htm

http://www.mountainlion.org/portalprotectstaysafe.asp

www.training.colostate.edu/proctor/mountain-lions.pdf

Gray Wolf:

Ecology- www.defenders.org/gray-wolf/basic-facts

animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/wolf/

Safety- https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/static/species/.../pdfs/wolf_safety_brochure.pdf

Alligator:

Ecology- http://tracker.cci.fsu.edu/alligator/about/where/

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/.../Americanalligator.cfm

animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/american-alligator/

www.defenders.org/american-alligator/basic-facts

Safety- http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-information/alligator-safety

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/10/nation/la-na-nn-alligator-attacks-rare-20120710

Year of the Monkey? Why you should not own one.

     I meant to post this back in late January/early February, as the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Monkey (which is my Chinese Zodiac Animal Sign) hit.  I'd read an article about how the Pygmy Marmoset, also known as the "Thumb Monkey", is quickly becoming a popular pet in China.  The exotic animal trade is an issue I often think about, especially as there are increasingly more viral videos of exotic pets being spread around social media, normalizing and condoning the trade.  So, what exactly is the exotic pet trade, and why is it bad?  I'll share the stories of two primates, the Pygmy Marmoset and Slow Loris.  I'll also discuss what to consider when choosing a new pet, and how you can help to stop the exotic pet trade.

What do I mean by the exotic pet trade?  
     
     Just one part of the larger exotic animal trade in wild animals and animal parts, the exotic pet trade involves the collection and sale of live animals to and from all over the world.  These animals differ from what most think of as traditional pets in being non-domesticated or wild animals often captured and taken from their natural habitat.  The exotic pet trade is a powerful force, behind only the drug and weapons trades by illegal activity and money involved.  The exotic animal trade as a whole is valued at $10 to $20 billion a year.

Tiger cubs rescued from smuggling.  More tigers are kept in captivity as pets than there are in the wild.

(Photo Credit: BBC News Asia, statistic from National Geographic)

     Now, what is the problem with this besides that red flag of illegal activity?  At the base there is the underlying philosophical issue of taking an animal out of its habitat and home, confining it to a cage, and taking away its freedom to roam and wander as it chooses.  Besides that, there are very serious animal welfare and ecological implications that are inherent in the trade.  Over 50%, and sometimes over 90% of animals in the trade die before being sold as pets.  This happens due to the stress of capture and transport, which can involve crowded, tight spaces, intentional mutilation (discussed below) of animals to make them 'safer' for humans, and lack of care leading to dehydration, starvation, and disease.  Animals that survive to sale often lead short lives, as owners are frequently unable to meet the nutritional, mental, exercise, and health care needs of wild animals.  From an ecological perspective, the exotic pet trade is both a causal factor in the declines of many species as animals are trapped and removed from the wild, and in the spread of invasive species and diseases (some of which are communicable to humans) when many owners lose interest or are unable to care for their exotic pets and release them into the wild.

Rare Yellow-crested Cockatoos discovered in the process of being smuggled on a passenger ship in Indonesia.  

(Photo Credit: AFP/Getty, found in article http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160226-animal-trade-animal-welfare-exotic-pets-cites-wildlife-trafficking/)

Protected Burmese Star Tortoises found in an international mail package labeled as containing toys, entering the US.

(Photo Credit: US Fish & Wildlife Service, found in article http://www.cnbc.com/2012/05/16/12-Seized-Shipments:-The-Exotic-Animal-Trade.html?slide=2)

A tale of two primates in the pet trade....

     With over 5,500 species involved in the exotic pet trade, it isn't difficult to find examples,but the two I'm presenting here are currently highly coveted, being seen almost universally as cute.  First, back to the Pygmy Marmoset introduced at the start of this blog.  This is the world's smallest primate (an adult could sit in your hand), native to rainforests in the western Amazon Basin, and living in family groups of up to nine.  This species is currently declining largely because of the exotic pet trade; hundreds of thousands are trafficked in Peru each year alone, and individuals are being sold for $4500 in China.  Babies are especially prized for their usage in social media "Selfies", and are taken from the wild and from their parents.

Baby Pygmy Marmoset in a typical social media post.

 (Photo Credit: Weibo, found in article http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/no-pygmy-marmosets-are-not-cool-new-accessory)

Top/suggested searches that came up when I typed pygmy marmoset into Google Search.

     The Slow Loris is another animal suffering under the exotic pet trade.  This animal is likely familiar to you from viral videos that frequently circulate Facebook.  Slow Lorises are actually several species that are distributed across southern Asia and western Indonesia, live high in rainforest trees, are nocturnal (active at night, sleeping in the day), travel long distances to find food, and are the only known venomous primate.  This species is difficult to learn about because of its large distribution and nocturnal lifestyle, but it is known that these species are facing habitat loss to logging and agriculture, hunting for fur and use in traditional medicine, and most significantly, capture for the exotic pet trade.  In addition to inhumane transport and housing, before being sold their teeth are typically clipped or pulled to avoid venomous bites.  As pets, they are forced to live under bright lights and are additionally stressed by owners tickling them.  Videos of lorises being tickled frequent social media, but rather than experiencing pleasure, the loris' is raising its arms in fear and as a defense mechanism (the loris' armpit secretions are combined with its saliva to produce venom).  

Slow Loris (Photo Credit: Frans Lanting).

Slow lorises found illegally for sale in Bangkok's Chatuchak market.

(Photo Credit: Mark Leong, Redux.  Found in article http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160226-animal-trade-animal-welfare-exotic-pets-cites-wildlife-trafficking/)

This viral YouTube video shows Sonya the slow loris being 'tickled' by her owner.  Sonya is not raising her arms because she is enjoying the activity, she is raising her arms because she feels threatened and afraid and is exposing venomous glands in her armpit.  Also notice the bright lighting of the room.  Sonya's eyes are adapted for darkness, she is very uncomfortable.  Also notice that she is overweight; her nutritional needs are not being met.

 

This video is by International Animal Rescue, which works to stop the trading of the slow loris.  It talks more about the defense mechanism shown in the viral videos, the practice of teeth clipping, the animal's ecology, and how you can help.

How you can help: Be a responsible consumer and pet owner and do not share viral videos of exotic pets like the slow loris.  

     As discussed above, the exotic animal trade involves serious animal welfare and ecological issues.  Fortunately, there are some very easy ways to help stop this terrible trade.  First, you as a potential consumer have a certain amount of control over the industry through your purchases.  Whenever you are looking to buy any pet, do your research first.  Make sure you can answer:

1. Where did this animal come from?  Was it captive bred or wild caught?  Do not purchase wild caught animals.  
2. Is the breeder reputable?  Are you purchasing your pet from someone who cares for and treats his/her animals with respect and does not overbreed them?  Does he/she have a good understanding of the animal's ecology and care needs?  
3. What is the animal's conservation status in the wild?  Is the animal declining in its native range?  Is this in any part due in part to the exotic pet trade?  The IUCN is a great starting source.  
4. Has the trade of this animal resulted in any ecological issues?  Is this animal currently an invasive species in your country?  Has it contributed to the spread of disease in native species and/or humans?  
5. What regulations are in place that pertain to this species?  You don't want to purchase and own an animal illegally!  If an animal you are considering as a pet is banned in certain areas, that is typically a red flag (I am saying typically out of disagreement with most dog breed-bans, a discussion for another day).  
6. Are you prepared to be the primary caregiver of this animal?  Having any pet is a commitment.  Make sure you understand the animal's care needs and are prepared to meet them.  

You might be tempted to buy a pet in order to rescue it from bad conditions.  Although this may be true on the individual level, your purchase will go towards the continuation of more animal suffering.  A more productive decision is to report any animal cruelty or illegal exotic sales to your local police department, animal control, animal shelter(s), or humane society.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Office of Law Enforcement are in charge of regulating the exotic animal trade and ensuring compliance.  Public vigilance is a major help, as ports of entry where exotics are smuggled into the country are significantly understaffed (Example: 2010 at John F. Kennedy International Airport- 15 agents for inspecting 46,514,154 passengers and 1,379,733 tons of cargo). 

     Another way you can help is by not sharing viral videos and photos of exotic pets.  Although these videos are often cute and funny, they normalize and condone exotic pet ownership, and encourage further purchases.  A much better alternative is to share posts spreading awareness about the dangers of the exotic pet trade, and politely and respectively educate others about this important issue.  

In closing....

     The exotic pet trade is causing animal suffering and ecological damage worldwide.  Although viral videos are condoning exotic pet ownership, wild animals belong in the wild.  The desire to connect with other species is a part of human nature that I understand very well.  However, that connection can be achieved by going out and exploring parks and wildlife refuges, traveling to exotic places and ecosystems, and visiting accredited zoos and nature centers, rather than bringing a a Pygmy Monkey/Slow Loris/Tiger/Wolf-dog/Box Turtle/etc./etc./etc. into your living room.  Pets enrich our lives greatly, and there are a variety of sustainable, ethical options for choosing a companion animal.  There is no need to purchase a wolf, when there are millions of dogs, which have been shaped from wolves into the perfect companion animal through thousands of years of coevolution with humans, in need of homes.  Similarly, instead of risking life and limb by buying a wild cat, you could adopt one of the millions of cats in shelters.  Researchers have found that lions and domestic cats have incredibly similar psychologies, and cats were incidentally domesticated anyway; you can have a miniature lion in your living room, without harming anyone.  

Thank you for reading,

Jess

Sources/Additional info:

Exotic Animal Trade and Exotic Pet Trade: 

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/02/160226-animal-trade-animal-welfare-exotic-pets-cites-wildlife-trafficking/
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-bekoff/the-exotic-pet-trade-horr_1_b_9175608.html
• http://www.spca.bc.ca/animal-issues/wildlife/exotic/about-exotic-animals.html?referrer=https://www.google.ca/
• http://www.cnbc.com/2012/05/16/12-Seized-Shipments:-The-Exotic-Animal-Trade.html?slide=1

Pygmy Marmoset:

• http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/pygmy-marmoset
• http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/no-pygmy-marmosets-are-not-cool-new-accessory
• https://news.mongabay.com/2016/02/the-dangers-of-chinas-thumb-monkey-trend/

Slow Loris:

• http://lemur.duke.edu/discover/meet-the-lemurs/slow-loris/
• http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/truth-behind-slow-loris-pet-trade

Reporting and legislation:

• http://www.fws.gov/international/travel-and-trade/illegal-wildlife-trade.html
• http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/abuse_neglect/tips/cruelty_action.html?credit=web_globalfooter_id85539248

On dogs and cats:

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/03/130302-dog-domestic-evolution-science-wolf-wolves-human/
• http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/no-your-cat-isnt-plotting-kill-youbut-it-has-lions-personality

5 New Year's Resolutions you can make to help wildlife this year!

     Happy New Year everyone!  As 2016 starts, many of us are undoubtedly continuing the tradition of New Year's resolutions.  Whether this includes hitting the gym or reading a book, we're hoping to improve ourselves.  In a less formal sense, we all start the New Year with goals; to grow, gain a better perspective, learn more about the world, help others, etc.  Regardless of where you fall on this custom, I'd like to ask you: How about making greater wildlife awareness and conservation a resolution this year?  With over 7 billion people on the planet and counting, massive resource consumption and pollution, increasing development and habitat destruction, overharvesting and poaching of fish and wildlife, climate change, and extinctions happening every day, awareness of these issues as well as productive conversations and cooperative actions are necessary if we have any chance of solving these problems.  Below, I've listed 5 potential resolutions you can take to help wildlife.  These range in scope and are by far not inclusive of all you can do, but they are a start towards a better 2016 for you, me, and the other species we share the planet with.

1.  To consume less, reuse, and recycle.  

     This is probably the most obvious way to help wildlife.  I'll start with water, of which there are some very simple ways to conserve.  Take a shorter shower, don't keep the water running while you brush your teeth, and run only full loads in your clothes and dishwashers (for more, visit http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm).  You could save thousands of gallons this year!  While you're running your washers less, you're also saving electricity.  Other ways to save include unplugging your phone, computer, etc. chargers when you aren't using them, turning lights off during the day and when you leave a room, turning down your thermostat when you are leaving the house for an extended period, line-drying your clothes, and sweeping instead of vacuum when possible (find more at http://urbannaturale.com/21-eco-friendly-ways-to-cut-down-on-electricity-in-your-home/).  Turn everything off and go have fun outside!  

The average American uses 70 gallons of water a day (Eartheasy).  Source: Google Images

     Reuse and recycle your plastic; plastic grocery bags and water bottles can take 1,000 years to decompose, and plastic is toxic to wildlife (for some shocking stats on plastic bags, see http://www.reusethisbag.com/25-reasons-to-go-reusable.php).  Glass can basically be recycled indefinitely, and there are also plenty of Pinterest crafts to help you find nifty ways to reuse your glass. 

Plastic bottles and bags are unfortunately a common sight along many shorelines.  Source: Google Images

2.  To know where the things you buy come from, and what they are made of.  

     In today's world we have unlimited access to millions of products from all over.  It's important to realize that different countries and companies have different environmental and ethical standards of production.  You may be inadvertently contributing to rainforest destruction and the exotic pet trade by buying certain palm oil products, including peanut butter, toothpaste, candy bars, and many other items.  The exfoliating Microbeads found in some of the facial cleansers and beauty products many of us use were recently found to clog the gills of fish and aquatic invertebrates and poison their predators.  If you're like me, you LOVE your jeans, however, the production of jeans involves heavy pesticide usage, high water consumption, and water and air pollution.  Wear your jeans out, try to buy used pairs, and research eco-friendly brands.  If you're a crafter like me, be aware that feathers, furs, and other wildlife products, unless otherwise stated, likely come from animals that lived their entire lives in tiny cages without proper nutrition and medical care, rather than sustainably hunted and ethically treated wildlife.  If you're buying an exotic pet, do your research and make sure it was captive born, and that the pet trade isn't contributing to its species decline.  If you travel abroad, read about wildlife products to avoid before buying them as souvenirs.  Seashells, pelts, and other parts may have been taken from threatened species.  How do you like them apples?  Buy organic when possible, as over 45 pesticides have been found on this fruit.  Pesticides have been correlated with the decline of honey-bees, aerial insectivores (those fast-diving birds that you can watch catch insects in flight), and more (for more on fruits, see http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/news/g168/dirty-dozen-foods/?slide=2).  

Source: http://www.ucsusa.org/

3.  To eat some more rabbit food!  

     Also falling under resolution #2, many meats at our supermarkets come from CAFOs (Confined Animal Feeding Operations, also known as Factory Farms), where animals are kept in crowded, tight enclosures.  The animals here produce 500 million tons of manure annually, which pollutes water, soil, and air, causing toxic algal blooms, fish kills, and more.  Livestock production also involves high water consumption (~1,850 gallons per 1 pound beef), high production of the greenhouse gases Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrous Oxide, and is heavily dependent on fossil fuel energy.  How can we lessen this environmental impact?  Try eating vegetarian a few times a week.  Although monoculture crops carry some negative environmental impacts, growing vegetables consumes less resources (Ex. ~39 gallons of water per pound vegetables).  Think about this: If we fed all of the grain we use to feed livestock to people, we could feed approximately 840 million.  Meatless Monday (the website for which is where I am finding these statistics) is a growing movement that is exactly what it sounds like.  The Environmental Defense Fund states that if every American ate vegetables instead of chicken for one meal a week, it would be energetically equivalent to taking 500,000 cars off the road.  By eating less meat, you can help the environment, animal welfare, and your own health.  For more info, check out the video below:  

4.  To stay up-to-date on wildlife issues.

     2016 is a big year for wildlife issues.  The US will elect its 45th president this year, and it is important for us to take the candidates' stances on climate change, EPA regulations, protection of water bodies and wetlands, and other environmental concerns into consideration as voters.  How will the Greater Sage Grouse do after the US Fish & Wildlife's decision to not list the bird under the Endangered Species Act back in September, and what is the future of the Act itself?  What species will be declared endangered this year?  What species will go extinct?  In 2014 it was Kendall Jones, in 2015 it was Walter Palmer; what trophy hunters will become infamous through social media shaming this year, and is trophy hunting a valid form of conservation?  On June 19th, 2015, the USFWS made a bold statement by crushing one ton of seized ivory in Times Square.  Illegal wildlife trade cannot be tolerated, yet ports of entry into the US are significantly understaffed.  What will this year bring in the arenas of wildlife trafficking and the exotic pet trade?  As suburbs continue to sprawl and human-wildlife conflicts inevitably continue, what will be the fate of large predators like Gray Wolves and Mountain Lions?  These are just a few of many uncertainties.  By reading news articles, following conservation groups like Defenders of Wildlife and Center for Biological Diversity, and sharing and discussing what you read and learn with friends and family, you can help bring attention to these issues and help solve them. 

In 2015, the USFWS crushed 1 ton of ivory they seized back, a bold statement declaring that illegal wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated.  Source: Google Images

The Amur Leopard is one of the many species that may be extinct by the end of 2016.  Source: Google Images

5.  To join, or even help organize, a community conservation effort.  

     A final New Year's Resolution you can make for wildlife and conservation is to take part in community conservation efforts.  This can include volunteering for a clean-up of a local park, participating in a tree or native grass planting, participating in a bird count, donating supplies to or volunteering with a local wildlife rehabilitation center, and more.  These are rewarding experiences and a way to connect with others.  You can grow, learn, encourage others to become involved, and become a conservation leader in your community.  

Adopt-A-Park is an annual clean-up event put on by the Five Rivers MetroParks in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio.  Source: Google Images

     I hope you've found this blog inspiring rather than overwhelming.  There are a plethora of issues facing wildlife today, but I remain optimistic in our ability to solve them.  We must work together, and the start of a new year is a perfect time to make or strengthen a commitment to help wildlife.  Biodiversity is beautiful and must be preserved; if we continue to allow other species to fall, eventually ours will too.  Remember, we are all connected.  

Wishing everyone growth, inspirations, and adventures in the New Year.

-Jess