wild animals
Animals the way nature intended it; explore the world of wild animals and the controversies surrounding domestication and hunting of feral beasts.
How did my Home Become a Sanctuary for Random Creatures?. Top Story - February 2021.
Perhaps the title should read: How did my home become an involuntary sanctuary for random creatures? I certainly didn't send out invitations. Oddly enough, this is not a complaint. Each unique encounter has been either intriguing, entertaining, or at the very least educational. Only one of our visitors cost us money to remove. Perhaps I'll file that one under complaints.
By Erica Roberts 5 years ago in Petlife
I have a pet mole...
I have a pet mole. His name is Armie. He lives in his burrow underneath my garden. I adopted him when I noticed the little mounds of earth emerging in the grass on the lawn, like tiny adorable volcanoes. I just couldn’t resist the little guy when he eventually popped his iddy-biddy snout out of the dirt. His taupe, velvety fur and the inconspicuous eyes were, quite frankly, irresistible to me. I nearly missed the sighting of him but as fate would have it, I was gazing out of my kitchen window at the time, warming my hands on a comforting cup of tea. We had a molement—see what I did there, ha!—But seriously, we had a moment. I expected him to retreat but he remained above ground and I found his curiosity intriguing. It’s not often you get to look upon a mole, let alone for more than a few seconds. And this rarity was not something I could let pass by.
By Jess Averbeck5 years ago in Petlife
Animal Traning In The Time of COVID-19: Words of Wisdom By The Welfare and Husbandry Innovative Training
The COVID-19 Pandemic has not been kind to the zoo and aquarium community, for it has seen many facilities be forced to either furlough or layoff their staff members. Meanwhile, some facilities have begun to experience some serious financial problems to the point where they were forced to shut down for good. Those facilities are currently struggling to re home their animals at surviving facilities, who would otherwise be euthanized if such facilities were not found.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
#WeLoveYouTrainers: A Personal Story
People across social media are standing up for zoo and aquarium professionals by sharing some of their very own personal stories of how we empowered them to know and love animals through our love for the animals we care for daily and how we educate them on the same species they love so dearly. There were even a few posts by the actual trainers themselves as they share how grateful they were for the love and support of their fellow patrons and how much it meant to them, especially during these times of uncertainty.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Almost Home
Snowflakes spun in the wind, dancing across the headlights on their journey to the ground. The road was turning deceptively white with powder, hiding the slick patches of sleet that had fallen earlier in the day. I studied my mom as she hunched forward, hands gripping the wheel, eyelids heavy. “We’re almost home,” she said.
By Erika Seshadri5 years ago in Petlife
Adventures with Orgone
A caged barn owl, I pondered. What sense does that make? Growing up I dreamed of being an owl because they seemed so wise and free. They didn’t need materials to define their identity. They were on their own schedule. Sleeping when most are awake and feasting at night when most least expect. I’d hear their hoots from a far, and If I was lucky, I’d find the culprit. So much mystery- too much to be locked away and stripped of their game with prey. Maybe it was my love for them that brought me here. Or maybe she cried out to me hoping I’d set her free. I was always an adventurous girl, but even I was stunned that I was trekking through the woods alone at night. It was as if something was calling me; a call that I couldn’t ignore. An hour passed and I was covered in dirt and twigs. This area was unfamiliar to me, but my swift and sure moves said otherwise. In all this darkness, shined a light. Suddenly, I knew that was my beacon. There was a window to a house I’d never seen before. I had no idea where I was or whose land I was trespassing on. I didn’t care; I followed my gut. I looked in and big, beautiful eyes pierced through me. The fire behind them set a flame to my heart.
By Tierra Idelis 5 years ago in Petlife
Everyone Can Save the Bees
Unless you have been living under a bridge, and if you have please share with me how it's going as I have often considered moving to that less domestic lifestyle, you know that bees are not only our life source, but that they are very much in danger.
By Amberlisa Aufdemberge-Shearer5 years ago in Petlife
The Barn Owl
Streaks of light beam from the horizon over a forest of deep green trees, the sun radiating the last of its’ warmth and brightest of its’ light for the day. Deep below the horizon and the canopy of branches and greenery, a six week old baby squirrel sits on the ground atop the soft soil and decaying foliage. Barely having opened its’ eyes for the first time two weeks earlier, the squirrel enjoys indulging its’ curiosity of the terrain outside of the nest for the first time. As the young squirrel looks around searching for anything that catches its’ attention, it hears the chirps of other squirrels sounding off from every direction throughout the forest. Suddenly something catches the little squirrels’ eye, a small piece of a broken acorn. Curious, the squirrel excitedly scampers over to it and pokes at it with its’ little paws. After a few moments, the squirrel picks it up and takes a tiny bite of the fibrous substance layering the inside. It happily emits a squeak after the first bight, never having tasted anything like it before yet somehow feeling as if it was an incredibly familiar flavor. The young squirrel gleefully begins nibbling at the remainder of the acorn.
By Chris Lora5 years ago in Petlife
Olivia's Story Part One
The haunting screech of the female barn owl had drawn Samantha outside. She watched as the heart faced owl swooped silently and swiftly out of the barn loft. Samantha couldn't help but smile as she watched the owl effortlessly glide over the meadow on the hunt for mice and other small rodents. She was so focused on the beautiful bird that she didn't realize her uncle and his girlfriend had pulled up beside the farm house until their raised voices frew her attention. Charlene screamed at her uncle, "I don't give a damn anymore! Flirt with whoever you want, dance with whoever you want to you drunk fool. I'm DONE dealing with your ass." "Get back here!" slurred her Uncle Lenny as he stumbled around the front end of his supped up fire engine red Ford F150 pick up truck. His feet got tripped up on each other as he was stumbling towards the house and he fell flat on his face. Samantha rushed forward to help him back up as Charlene just stood on the porch laughing at him. "Leave me alone," Lenny angrily slurred as he struggled to his feet. Charlene just turned on her heel and went into the house leaving Samantha to deal with the drunken mess that was her Uncle Lenny. She shook her head as she lifted her Uncle up by pulling him up by his left arm.
By Jamie Lynn Price5 years ago in Petlife
Fowl Play
“And and,” Brynn's young voice said over her family’s hushed table, “the T-rex would eat ANY of us in one bite!" "Really?!" Her father said, lifting his fork for Brynn to see, "Well how would it reach its fork with its tiny arms?" He stabbed the utensil into the vegetable on his plate, brought it to his mouth and extracted the fork, baring his teeth as he chewed, growling like what Brynn knew was an attempt at a dinosaur.
By Jesse Erickson5 years ago in Petlife
Adventures with Orgone
A caged barn owl, I pondered. What sense does that make? Growing up I dreamed of being an owl because they seemed so wise and free. They didn’t need materials to define their identity. They were on their own schedule. Sleeping when most are awake and feasting at night when most least expect it. I’d hear their hoots from a far, and If I was lucky, I’d find the culprit. So much mystery- too much to be locked away and stripped of their game with prey. Maybe it was my love for them that brought me here. Or maybe she cried out to me hoping I’d set her free.
By Tierra Idelis 5 years ago in Petlife
