Category: Animals & Nature

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A Beekeeper Turned Thieving Bears into (Unpaid) Honey-Tasters

If you’re a person of a certain age, then there’s a good chance the characters from Winnie the Pooh are near and dear to your heart.

Which also means that you’ve been aware for basically your whole life that bears really, really love honey.

Like Pooh, giant bears will go to great lengths to get to honey they’ve sniffed out – and even though the ensuing videos may be adorable to the masses, for to bee farmers…not so much.

The bears can cause damage to hives that can cost thousands of dollars to repair, so most keepers work hard to keep them away. But when Ibrahim Sedef’s ideas of putting up metal cages and leaving out different bear-fare like bread and fruit didn’t work, he had a rather adorable lightbulb moment.

Maybe the bears could be brought on as quality control.

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Beekeeper turns honey-stealing bears into taste testers #FACTS AUG. 29, 2019 – These #bears just wanted a little smackerel from the honey pot. And #beekeeper Ibrahim Sedef is using their honey-loving palates to his advantage Sedef, an agricultural engineer in #Turkey, is constantly trying to protect his hives from the many sweet-toothed bears in his neighborhood, on the country’s #BlackSea coast. His efforts got downright scientific when he began experimenting with various tactics to divert their paws away from his liquid gold Ever the scientist, Sedef eventually decided that if he couldn’t beat them, he could at least learn from them — particularly their expert taste for #honey So he set up a night-vision camera on his bee farm, and laid out a table with five varieties of honey for the bears to taste test Sedef told Turkish outlet DHA that the bears, in fact, had a very refined sense of smell that led them first to the rare Anzer honey from the Ballıköy plateau region, which they slurped up the most. According to Ahval News, the Turkish honey goes “1,000 liras ($171) per kilo,” and is considered “among the most expensive honeys on the market.” #Anzerhoney is the most famous of all Turkish honeys, said to be, of course, the best honey in the world Of course, New Zealanders say manuka honey is the best, Australians say it’s berringa honey, Indians say it’s Maharishi honey, Russians say it’s Bashkir honey, Arabs say it’s sidr honey, Malaysians say it’s gelam honey or tualang honey and the list can continue. Basically each country can pretend it produces the best honey in the world #FOODNINFO #FOODNETWORK #FOODANDWINE #TASTY #TOPCHEF #LEFOODING #huffpostgram #HUFFPOSTTASTE #EATER #LAEATS #EATERDENVER #NETFLIXFOOD #CHEFSROLL #chefsofinstagram #SAFOODIE #EATERLA #DISCOVERY #NATURE #ANIMALPLANET

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He installed photo trap cameras that could track the bears roaming his farm, mostly at night, and then set up a table topped with labeled bowls of different kinds of honey.

It worked.

The bears didn’t disturb the hives, since the honey was ready and waiting, and now Sedef – and the rest of us – know which honey a true connoisseur would prefer.

It turns out bears have expensive taste, because they devoured the Anzer honey first – it goes for around $150 a pound in Turkey – while leaving the cherry blossom honey untouched.

Now you know that the “good” honey really does taste much better – even the bears agree that you get what you pay for (even if they’re not technically paying).

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Kitties Photoshopped onto Other Animals Make Hilarious Cat-Creatures

Some people out there have a lot of Photoshop skills…and a lot of time on their hands.

A person on Instagram really, really likes to Photoshop pics of cats mashed up with other animals, and the results are some hilarious-looking creatures that you can’t unsee.

Take a look…

1. I think that’s a bunny?

2. Looking for honey, no doubt.

3. The elusive cat/hedgehog.

4. Flying weiner dog/cat!

5. Panda cat strikes again.

6. Would you like to play with me?

7. I’m a big fan of this one.

8. Pugamese?

9. Wow. Can’t unsee this one.

10. Looks kinda mean. Approach with caution.

These kitties are freaking me out!

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10 Interesting Facts to Help You Get Through This Loooooong Week

Will this week ever end.

It feels like it’s taking FOREVER.

But, wait! I have a good idea about how to fix this.

Facts! Great facts that will challenge your brain and soothe your soul.

Let’s get started!

1. It’s mostly water weight.

Photo Credit: did you know?

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2. Rejection leads to later problems.

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3. That’s totally disgusting! Yay humans!

Photo Credit: did you know?

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4. Oh, it’s real…

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5. Typical male behavior.

Photo Credit: did you know?

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6. Are you good at this?

Photo Credit: did you know?

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7. This is amazing.

Photo Credit: did you know?

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8. Be on the lookout…

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9. A symbol of grace and poise.

Photo Credit: did you know?

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10. Wow…that’s really something…

Photo Credit: did you know?

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That’s a little better, right?

Now let’s power through the rest of this damn work week together!

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People Share What They Think Are the Worst Legal Things You Can Do

You can do a lot of terrible things in this world that are totally legal.

Things that most of us would never dream of doing. And they might infuriate you…

AskReddit users shared their thoughts on the subject.

1. That’s pretty infuriating.

“You can leak the names, addresses, email addresses, social security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and payment card details of nearly half of all Americans (and more than half of all American adults) and then settle for about $5/person.”

2. Makes my blood boil.

“Permanently destroying huge swaths of land.

There’s a development corporation in my hometown that has bought up virtually all of the remaining woods, meadows and wetlands in the area, paved them, and built retail spaces that go vacant just a few months later.

Businesses aren’t even moving into these “office parks”, but the group just keeps spreading out and “developing”. It seems like every month, I drive past another leveled tract of land.”

3. Whoa, that’s kind of intense.

“Groom your stepdaughter for over a decade, then when she’s 18, divorce her mom and hook up with your stepdaughter.”

4. It is pretty bad.

“I think it’s pretty shitty to claim bodily harm from a very minor car accident just to get 10k, and make the other person pay more for their car insurance. I’m looking at you, lady I hit going 3 mph.

Probably not the worst thing, but it’s pretty bad.”

5. Who the hell does this?

“Take custody of a pet in a divorce and the. Put the pet down out of spite.”

6. Ouch…

“Recruit people to join Scientology.”

7. If not…that…

“Is it illegal to leave your shopping cart in the parking lot instead of returning it to the corral? If not, that.”

8. People are pretty sh*tty.

“Sue your poorer ex spouse for child custody so repeatedly that you drain their finances and can’t fight it anymore.”

9. A lot of this out there.

“Steal people’s money through fine print conditions.”

10. Not a good idea.

“Ruin the world economy by handing out subprime loans.”

11. That’s not cool.

“Nestle claiming rights to water and then selling it back to the public at exorbitant prices all while polluting the earth with the production of single-use plastic bottles.”

12. Sign of the times.

“Fire all your employees and move your business to East Asia so you can essentially use slave labor.”

13. Does this sound familiar?

“Start a pharmaceutical company.

Develop a drug that people need to live.

Raise the price just because you know they’ll pay for it if they don’t want to die.”

14. Bullying and abusing.

“Bully someone. Mentally abuse someone. Making them feel bad about themselves their whole life.”

15. Vaccines do not cause autism.

“Not vaccinating your kids.”

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Here Are the 20 Companies That Produce over 1/3 of the World’s Total Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Many people and governments and companies around the world are doing their best to mitigate some of the effects their lives and business dealings have on the planet, so that hopefully we can have a future that doesn’t include a complete apocalypse and the extinction of human beings.

These 20 companies, though, appear to not give a rat’s a** how much they harm future generations, as long as they’re still making the big bucks.

 

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According to the Climate Accountability Institute, a handful of oil, gas, and coal companies are responsible for 480 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide and energy-related methane pumped into Earth’s atmosphere since 1965 – that’s 35% of all greenhouse gas emissions since then.

The report also states that half of all greenhouse gas emissions in recorded history have been released into the atmosphere since 1990, with 1.35 trillion tonnes of carbon dioxide (or equivalent GHGs) emitted since 1965.

 

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The CAI had this to say about their findings in a recent press release:

“Although global consumers from individuals to corporations are the ultimate emitters of carbon dioxide, we focus on the fossil fuel companies that, in our view, have produced and marketed the carbon fuels to billions of consumers with the knowledge that their use as intended will worsen the climate crisis.”

Here’s a list, from worst to…less worse.

20. Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) — 4.38 percent
19. Chevron (USA) — 3.2 percent
18. Gazprom (Russia) — 3.19 percent
17. ExxonMobile (USA) — 3.09 percent
16. National Iranian Oil Co. (Iran) — 2.63 percent
15. BP (UK) — 2.51 percent
14. Royal Dutch Shell (The Netherlands) — 2.36 percent
13. Coal India (India) — 1.71 percent
12. Pemex (Mexico) — 1.67 percent
11. Petroleos de Venezuela (Venezuela) — 1.16 percent
10. PetroChina/China Natl Petroleum (China) — 1.15 percent
9. Peabody Energy (USA) — 1.14 percent
8. ConocoPhillips (USA) — 1.12 percent
7. Abu Dhabi (UAE) — 1.01 percent
6. Kuwait Petroleum Corp (Kuwait) — 1 percent
5. Iraq National Oil Co. (Iraq) — 0.93 percent
4. Total SA (France) — 0.91 percent
3. Sonatrach (Algeria) — 0.91 percent
2. BHP Billiton (Australia) — 0.72 percent
1. Petrobras (Brazil) — 0.64 percent

If we hope to achieve the goals set by the Paris Climate Change Agreement in 2017, all of these companies would have to recognize their current levels as a “peak” and immediately begin to taper them. The report says that these fossil fuel giants, and others like them, have “a significant moral, financial, and legal responsibility to help curtail and compensate for the runaway effects of climate change.”

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Without action now, climate change will exacerbate the inequalities that children already face, and future generations will suffer. On our 5th anniversary Pressman's pledges to donate 50% of the total Dine-in Sales at all outlets to Emirates Nature WWF towards the cause of Climate Change. Join us on 3rd November. #pressmansforenvironment #pressmansanniversary #youthforclimate #climatejustice #climatechangeisreal #globalwarming #strikeforclimate #connect2earth #environment #voicefortheplanet #ourplanet #naturealert #makeahealthyplanet #savetheplanet #climatechange #climatecrisis #lowcarbonfuture #saynotofossilfuels #saveenergy #savetrees #savewildlife #supportemiratesnature #emiratesnature #saveourplanet #zomatouae #deliveroo_ae #talabatuae #ubereats_uae #dubai #uae

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It’s time for people to stop plowing ahead like horses plodding a field with blinders on, eyes on nothing but the row of money to be reaped ahead. If the world wants to survive long enough to leave something other than smoking ashes for our kids, the time is nigh to stop, look around, and start to take several million steps back.

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Check out the Air-Breathing Snakehead Fish That’s Invading Georgia

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s going to look like when nature finally rises up to finish off human beings once and for all, well, this air-breathing fish that’s able to trade water for land seems like a good candidate.

It’s called the Northern Snakehead, and wildlife officials in Georgia are advising residents to kill them on sight.

 

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The fish, which can breathe air long enough to traverse short distances on land, is not native to North America. That means it’s invasive, and can easily upset local ecosystems by outcompeting endemic species for food and habitats if it is allowed to reproduce and spread unchecked.

There are several varieties of snakehead fish – this particular one is native to East Asia, not in privately owned ponds in Gwinnett County, Georgia, where the first one was spotted.

 

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The fish is nightmarishly long – it can reach up to 3 feet in length – and a mottled or splotchy brown color. If you catch or see one, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division would like you to kill it and then freeze it until someone from the agency’s fisheries office can come and collect it.

 

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No one knows for sure how it first arrived in North America, or in Georgia specifically, but the aquarium trade or the food industry are the most likely culprits.

Georgia is not alone in this battle – varieties of snakehead have been spotted in 14 states so far.

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15 Cats That Are Really Rude

The kitty cats in these pics are just flat-out rude. And guess what? They’re not gonna apologize for it, either.

Rude, crude, unrefined, and bordering on the out of control, these cats are.

Be prepared to shake your head at this mischievous kitties.

1. I “knead” you to stay out of the kitchen.

I just thought it needed more kneading from CatsAreAssholes

2. Diesel up to no good.

My wife and I are on our way to a wedding in Vermont and we pulled over on the highway to switch drivers and as soon as we got out our cat Diesel stepped on the lock button and locked us out. from CatsAreAssholes

3. Wasn’t having it.

4. That’s why you can’t breathe.

5. Not yours anymore.

6. Just go ahead and ignore it.

Glad I Bought Nacho a New Cat Bed… from CatsAreAssholes

7. Doesn’t seem like he cares.

I’ve been told this belongs here, and I’m inclined to agree. from CatsAreAssholes

8. Rampage in full effect.

She looked guilty for a split second, then continued on her rampage from CatsAreAssholes

9. Make yourself at home.

This is our kitchen. This is not my cat. from CatsAreAssholes

10. Don’t mess with Olivia.

My wife and our cat Olivia are in a constant battle for control of my wife’s pregnancy pillow. Yesterday, the cat won. from CatsAreAssholes

11. Now you know why.

So that’s why my kitchen floor is always wet. from CatsAreAssholes

12. Almost gave the friend a heart attack.

friend called me hysterical thinking my cat she was sitting had escaped… a few hours later he reveals himself (from a spot she checked) from CatsAreAssholes

13. He’s definitely taunting you.

This is why you dont tell your cat no from CatsAreAssholes

14. Bring those back!

Stealing my slippers every day from CatsAreAssholes

15. Thanks for nothing.

“Clean black work clothes? Don’t mind if I do!” Fluffy cats everywhere from CatsAreAssholes

Do you have a rude cat roaming your house and making a mess of things?

Share a pic or a story in the comments!

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Heartwarming Videos of Dogs Getting Picked up from Daycare

I mean, come on… this is one of the best posts of all time. Because you KNOW what’s coming next.

These dogs are going to be so god damned happy to see their owners… you just KNOW it!

Get ready for the most cute you’ve seen in one post. Ever.

1. Come on! We’re going home!

2. Sugar is so sweet!

3. She remembers her leash!

4. Hey Lucy!

5. Not a mutt anymore!

6. Aussies get excited!

7. I love that name!

8. Archer is a jumper!

9. Look at that tail wagging!

10. Hey Aunt! Hey Aunt! Hey Aunt!

11. Arthur is one happy doggo!

12. Well, not all of them are happy…

Alright kids… what did you think? Most heartwarming, wholesome roundup of tweets ever?

Let us know what you thought in the comments!

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A New Study Finds That Lop-Eared Rabbits Are Mostly Deaf and in Pain

I hate to read this news about those adorable, floppy-eared rabbits. I had one as a kid, and it was one of my favorite pets ever – he was funny and sweet and loved to snuggle as much as he enjoyed a well-timed nip.

The sad truth, though, is that lop-eared rabbits aren’t natural – they only exist because of intentional human breeding, and they suffer multiple health problems and not-insignificant discomfort because of it.

A new study compared the aural and dental health of lop-eared rabbits with that of erect-eared rabbits and found that floppy-eared bunnies are more than 15 times more likely to show signs of being in pain during examinations.

15 times!

Researchers discovered that their discomfort is likely due to their warped skull shape, a narrowing of the ear canal, and the resulting build-up of ear wax. It leads to a condition called otitis externa, an inflammation of the ear canal.

Most lop-eared rabbits examined were also hard of hearing, if not completely deaf.

None of the erect-eared rabbits had any of these issues.

The alterations that allow for their ears to flop also affects the rabbits’ teeth, making them 12 times more likely to have oversized molars, and 23 times more likely to suffer from diseased incisors.

Study author Charlotte Burn hopes the findings from this study will be supported by more like it in the future, and that people looking to own rabbits will take note.

“People now need to weigh up whether those cute floppy ears are worth the risk of pain, deafness, and difficulty eating for the rabbit, not to mention the extra vet bills.”

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Linus is j ust a sweetie #miniloprabbit #lopearedbunny

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I hope that people care more about the health of their pets than the way they look, but the fact that pugs and French bulldogs are still so popular don’t give me much hope.

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Scientists Captured Rare Video of Deepstaria, a Bizarre Jellyfish That Changes Shape

Even among all of the strange and mysterious group of ancient animals known as the jellyfish, the Deepstaria jellyfish is unique. A fact that has now been recorded on video by the Nautilus, a Pacific Ocean research vessel.

Fun fact: the Nautilus has also captured footage of a googly-eyed stubby squid and a weird purple orb.

Live Science reports that, halfway between the U.S. and Australia, the Nautilus spotted a jellyfish that appeared as a ghost….at first.

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#Repost from @mbari_news with @regram.app … The scyphomedusa Deepstaria is certainly odd, with its bag-like appearance, and bell that can open more than a meter wide. Speculation on the identity of a mystery blob has become a sensation online, sparking heated and entertaining debates over its identity. We've seen this unusual jellyfish with MBARI's ROVs around 30 times in 30 years from depths of a few hundred meters to about 2,000 meters deep! Surprisingly, according to morphological and genetic studies, its closest relative is one of the most commonly observed jellies in our area — the moon jelly, Aurelia aurita.⠀ ⠀ #deepstaria #jellyfish #jellies #pelagic #midwater #ROV #scyphomedusa⠀ #deepsealife #deepsea #ocean #oceanlife #sealife #plankton #mesopelagic #MBARI #underwaterphotography #marinebiology

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Then, it unfurled and they got a glimpse of the geometric mesh membrane that revealed its identity: Deepstaria. That, along with its distinctively flowing bell and lack of tentacles, are its most distinguishing features.

The rest of the video is the jellyfish changing shape, from what looks like a crumpled plastic bag to a blanket.

The jellyfish was first discovered by a submersible called the Deepstar 4000 (designed by Jacques Cousteau) in the 1960s, and since then it has only been spotted about a dozen times. Most of the details of its existence remain a mystery to researchers.

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Deepstaria enigmatica. This jellyfish was named after the research submersible Deepstar 4000, which collected the first specimens of this genus in 1966. This species is the home to another species, namely an isopod called Anuropus, which can be seen through the mantle of the jellyfish (on the upper right side of the bell). These animals probably form a symbiotic relationship, perhaps eating food captured by the jellyfish. ⠀ ⠀ Watch a video about this unusual jelly on MBARI's YouTube channel: http://ow.ly/JTf6u⠀ ⠀ #jellyfish #stragethings #deepstaria #MysteriesoftheDeep #MBARI #expedition #midwater #MontereyBay #deepsea #deepsealife #ROV #MarineTechnology #Technology #Robot #MarineBiology #Ocean #oceanlife #oceanscience #sealife #underwaterphotography #Nature #wildlife⠀⠀

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That’s not likely to change anytime soon, which makes this video all the more spectacular.

Science is so cool, y’all. Images like these make it pretty darn hard to disagree.

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