Category: Animals & Nature

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15 Cute Snake Pictures That Might Help You Conquer Your Fear

Time for me to come clean: I don’t like snakes. In fact, they really scare me. I’m kind of like Indiana Jones in that way. I mean, I’m not quite as bad as Indy, but that doesn’t mean I’m good. See what I’m saying here?

But wait, these extremely cute snake photos might cure me!

I need this. You need this. WE NEED THIS.

1. Get a load of that

Snake with a unicorn hat from aww

2. Hello!

Happy Snek & Happy Human from aww

3. Cute

Baby Asian Vine Snake!! from aww

4. Good lookin’ creature

https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/752×49/a_snake_with_a_pumpkin_on_its_back/

5. TINY

Young Ground Snake in my wedding ring

6. Workin’ hard

Snakes Like Warm Computers Too from pics

7. Oh, come 0n!

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8. Noodle

Found this cute little noodle today! Caught the perfect picture! from snakes

9. Colorful

Baby snek

10. Saying hi

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#scalelesssnake #scalelesscornsnake #cutesnake

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11. Fetch

12. Congratulations!

You a dad, snek

13. Don’t be scared

14. Santa

15. Cute and happy

Cute and Happy Snek from aww

Okay, I think I’m cured. Mostly…

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Drop Everything! You Can Pay to Have Cuddle Time with Cows at This Farm in New York.

This might be a gamechanger.

Drop what you’re doing, because it’s officially cuddle time.

At the Mountain Horse Farm in Naples, New York, you, yes YOU, can cuddle with the cows for an hour (if you pay $75). Just think about what a great stress reliever that could be for all of us. Personally, I wish there was one of these cuddle farms closer to where I live.

Take a look at how soothing and relaxing this looks…

Ahhhhhh.

1. See what I’m talking about?

2. OMG

3. Up close and personal

4. Perfect

5. New best friend

6. Hello!

7. Gentle giant

8. Awwww

9. I could fall asleep right there

10. Mooooooo

11. Time for a quick bite

12. How could you resist?

13. A little baby

14. Bashful

15. Okay, I’m sold!

That looks like paradise…

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14 Adorable Pug Memes for People Who Just Love a Squished Face

I’m actually dog sitting a pug as we speak and I can go on the record and tell you that these dogs are hilarious. They have a ton of personality and they are a laugh a minute.

There’s a reason why people own multiple pugs throughout their lives…they’re so much fun.

And they’re just perfect for memes, aren’t they…?

1. Hahahahaha

2. Maybe…

3. Where am I????

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#pugmeme #meme

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4. Excuse me!

5. Uh oh

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PUG!! #meme #pugmeme

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6. Staring contest

7. I’m fine

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#meme #pug #dogmeme #pugmeme

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8. LOL

9. Pizza is life

10. Oh, really?

11. Don’t be a buzzkill

12. Not interested

13. Not an acceptable answer

14. I’m the main attraction

Pug Life!

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A Study Found That Great White Sharks Are Scared of Killer Whales

Sharks are pretty fearsome creatures – plenty of people are pretty scared of them. So you might not imagine that even one of the largest, fiercest predators in the world fears something else.

And no, it’s not human beings (though with the rate we’re demolishing the shark population, it probably should be – we kill between 100 million and 273 million).

According to new research published in Scientific Reports, the great whites off the Northern California coast turn tail when a pod of orcas show up – and then they avoid the area for up to a year afterward, says scientist Scot Anderson in a statement.

“These are huge white sharks. Some are over 18 feet long, and they usually rule the roost here.”

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Quero que assista esses dois vídeos e sinta a vibração depois, feche os olhos se puder, ouça os sons de cada um deles. Quando estão livres, consegue sentir a energia? Se conecte com o som, com o sonar. Por trás das risadas do segundo vídeo, consegue sentir? Existe um ser senciente, que de assassino não tem nada. Muitos não sabem, mas o filme que deu origem a esse nome, baleia, orcas são golfinhos, e assassina, é sobre uma orca que busca vingança dos pescadores que matam sua família. Sentem. Tem família. Se reconhecem. Sim. Mas vingança não. São seres evoluídos, desenvolvidos e infelizmente por isso foram colocados em tanques de cloro e sabem que se não fizerem o que comandam não irão se alimentar. Isso é ser? Não há ser em ser humano. E pessoas ainda continuam visitando, continuam rindo, mais lugares como esse são abertos. Pesquisa? Sim eles têm muitos dados, mas temos outro caminho e esse, eu não escolho. Fale por eles. Compartilhe 💙 #Tilikum #SaveOrcas #WildAndFree #EmptyTheTanks

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Every September and December, great white sharks migrate to the Farallon islands to hunt elephant seals – a meal that orcas also enjoy. And when the latter decide to show up for dinner, the former decline to share hunting grounds.

“When confronted by orcas, white sharks will immediately vacate their preferred hunting ground and will not return for up to a year, even though the orcas are only passing through,” confirms Dr. Salvador Jorgnsen, a scientist at Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the lead author of the study.

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Morbidity and Mortality of Orcas Living in Captivity: Causes of Illness and Death (Part 6) – A 1979 review of the causes of death of 17 captive orcas in North America who had died since 1965 revealed that infectious diseases were the primary cause of death. Published statements and records from the US National Marine Mammal Inventory and USDA Inspection Reports demonstrate that, between 1971 and 2017, there have been 35 documented orca deaths at SeaWorld facilities alone. Regarding the causes of death, the most commonly implicated conditions were viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, gastrointestinal disease, and trauma. Despite “world class" veterinary care and therapeutic intervention, at least 15 of the 22 orcas who have died in US marine theme parks between 1990 and 2010 succumbed to infectious and inflammatory diseases, including eight who reportedly died of pneumonia; three of encephalitis; three of bacteremia; and one of leptomeningitis. – Many of the infections captive orcas succumb to are opportunistic infections – infections by pathogens that are usually harmless but can cause disease under certain unnatural, unhealthy, or compromised conditions. These include a weakened immune system, chronic exposure to chemical irritants or trauma to the skin, excessive or improper use of antimicrobials, and an imbalance in the microbiota of the body or environment (which may exist in tanks). Jett and Ventre found that another common cause of death of captive orcas was gastrointestinal ulceration. Gastric ulceration is typically caused by prolonged stress, as well as being associated with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Gastric disorders such as ulcers have also been associated with behavioral stereotypies in other captive animals. – Although unreported – and unlikely, due to their kinetic nature and time spent below the surface – in free-ranging orca populations, mosquito-transmitted diseases have killed at least two captive orcas in marine theme parks. – Continued Below “The Harmful Effects of Captivity and Chronic Stress on the Well-Being of Orcas” edited by @cetacean.inspiration

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Everyone is afraid of something, I suppose, and from what I know of orcas, I wouldn’t be hanging around while they were eating, either!

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Gorillas like to Sing “Little Food Songs” When They Eat

Now this is a story we can all get behind!

A German scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology who was working in the Republic of the Congo recently reported that gorillas hum and sing while they eat.

Yummy songs, if you will.

Photo Credit: Flickr

Eva Luef, primatologist from the institute based in Seewiesen, Germany, studied two families of western lowland gorillas in Congo, and identified the two types of sounds.

While calls regarding food have been observed from chimpanzees, this behavior has never before been officially recorded in gorilla study.

Two different types of sounds have now been observed coming from dominant silverback males at meal time. One is a low hum that may show contentment or happiness. You can listen below:

The other sound–a short series of notes like a song–may be used to call other members over to the food. You can listen below:

Since the males are the leaders, they are the ones that call family over for dinner. It appears to be the males’ way of holding on to their females and keeping them fed and happy. Luef also observed the songs are made up by the big males for each meal time, rather than being the same tones repeated.

More chimps make the nom-nom sounds–not just the dominant males. This may be because chimpanzees have a much more fluid society when it comes to who hangs with whom.

Photo Credit: Pixnio

Researchers think they may have found a clue into how language among humans evolved. Because of the variation in the songs, food calls may have been a start to the way early humanity communicated.

Because no species can evolve on an empty stomach.

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10 Facts to Sharpen Your Intellect

Let’s get smart! Now!

With facts!

And not just any facts…these 10 quality facts!

1. Not sure if I want to know that

Photo Credit: did you know?

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2. Badass

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Source

3. Fascinating

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4. Faker!

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5. Yikes

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6. Choose your friends wisely

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7. Hmmmm

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8. A happy accident

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9. Freaky-deaky

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10. Shunned!

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I feel smarter already…

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15+ Wholesome Posts About Dogs

Ahhhh, our beloved four-legged friends.

I’m sure you’ve seen this popular opinion on social media, but it keeps popping up because it’s true: We don’t deserve dogs. They’re the best. And it’s not up for debate.

So, to put you in a much better mood than you were in before you clicked on this link, I present to you, 20 Wholesome Dog Posts!

Enjoy.

1. I love this!

A Puppy Saved From A Fire Becomes A Firefighter from aww

2. BFF

I volunteer for a dog rescue, we love seeing updates of the dogs in their new homes. This one made me smile! from aww

3. Good job, Stanley!

Stanley my medical alert pupper got to call 911 for the first time when I had ignored his alerts and fell into a seizure. He followed every step and tasked perfectly until medics arrived. from dogswithjobs

4. Comfort

5. Hello!

I haven’t met my new neighbor yet, but her dogs love me from aww

6. A warm place to sleep

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There are heroes out there.

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7. She loves it

My little girl who is 15 years old wanted to go to the park today, she’s a bit too old so I carried her down there, when we got there this is how she sat enjoying the sunshine. Love her to bits! from aww

8. Fitness plan

My 90yo neighbor hasn’t walked her dog in years so I volunteered to do it for her. So proud of Buddy’s weight loss!!! from aww

9. He might be your dog now

Hig will sit on my steps and howl until I open the door and acknowledge him. Also Hig is not my dog. from aww

10. Another rescue

My daughter has a huge heart for dogs and begged for months to get another rescue. She even used all her money to pitch in for the fees. Here she is with our third rescue pupper, Daisy. from aww

11. Time flies

Where does the time go? from aww

12. You have a new member of the club

A local farm where I live had trouble with their flock all wanting to sleep in the same house, each night they have to go break them up. The other night they found their dog had joined in from funny

13. Can’t say no

14. I just miss him

15. Walter

This is Walter. Walter waits by the front gate every Monday for his friends the binmen, who always shower him with love and treatos. 11/10 patient boy from aww

16. In love

My husband-to-be and my doggo have this great thing going on. from aww

17. Together again

My boys were separated for two years due to a divorce. My ex agreed today that I can keep my 9 year old boy!!! from aww

18. Oh, Ralph

19. New dog

Headed to a concert last night when something ran in front of my car. Needless to say I missed the concert and now have a new dog. from aww

20. Two of a kind

My dog Curtis (left) with his best friend Simon at doggy daycare from aww

About as wholesome as it gets!

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A Woman Wanted Her Pet Buried with Her, so the Healthy Dog Was Euthanized

This is pretty messed up.

We all love our pets like family, but this story makes my blood boil. It reminds of when some billionaire leaves a ton of money to their cat or something.

I mean I know we all love our pets like family, but this is absurd.

And cruel.

A woman in Richmond, Virginia, had it clearly stated in her will that her beloved dog Emma, a Shih Tzu mix, was to be put to sleep and buried with her at the time of her death. Workers at the Chesterfield County Animal Services were heartbroken that they had to honor the recently deceased woman’s wishes, but they still euthanized the healthy dog. They actually tried to appeal to the woman’s estate, but to no avail. The dog’s owner was 67-year-old Anita Cullop-Thompson.

The manager of the animal care facility said, “We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions — because it’s a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home. But ultimately, they came back in on March 22nd and redeemed the dog.”

Emma was taken directly to a vet’s office, euthanized, and then cremated. Her ashes were returned to the deceased woman’s estate. As you can imagine, this story went viral and greatly upset many people, including big-time celebrities.

The Humane Society of the United States is clear on where they stand on the issue. Vice President Amy Nichols said, “It is a heartbreaking situation. While we don’t know the specifics of this case, as a general matter, we don’t support the euthanasia of healthy and adoptable animals when other alternatives exist, such as re-homing of the pet.”

Share your thoughts about this story in the comments. We’d like to hear from you!

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This Is Why Cats Can’t Get Enough of Cardboard Boxes

Cats and cardboard boxes go together like PB&J, right? Cats are drawn to those brown cubes like white on rice – or in this case, brown on cardboard. But why? Trying to decode cat behaviors may seem nearly impossible, especially when this obsession is universal in felines. But let’s explore anyway…

Cats crave security

Mark Freemen, DVM and an assistant professor at the VA-MD College of Veterinary Medicine told Readers Digest,

“Cats are, by nature, cryptic animals, meaning they prefer to have a safe hiding spot from which they can observe the world around them. Cats are both hunter and prey, so having a secure space from which they can monitor for threats from predators as well as for appealing prey is ideal.”

Pretty neat. We cat owners tend to humanize our kitties, making us forget they have their own instincts for survival.

Photo Credit: Pexels, FOX

Kitties want to be warm

Cats need to maintain a certain temperature to remain comfortable. Wired quotes a 2006 study by the National Research Council as saying that “the thermoneutral zone for a domestic cat is 86 to 97 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s the range of temperatures in which cats are ‘comfortable’ and don’t have to generate extra heat to keep warm or expend metabolic energy on cooling.”

It would make sense that our furry felines find comfort within boxes. Corrugated cardboard is a type of insulator which can help regulate their inner temperature, ensuring the cat is comfortable. This can also help them preserve body heat when cold.

Cats may be searching for stimulation or an escape from anxiety

Have you found your cat loves to scratch, bite, and chew on cardboard? Some cats need to be stimulated more, and so find this activity fun. “You’ll often find them scratching, chewing, and otherwise mangling the cardboard, which is a great source of entertainment and pleasure for the cat,” said Freeman.

Photo Credit: Pexels, Peng Louis

But that’s not all! Felines have scent glands on their paws, so scratching leaves behind their signature mark – it’s part of how they mark their territory.

Cardboard can also be a great escape, particularly for cats that suffer from anxiety. “When a cat is over-stimulated, tired, or just in need of a break, a box gives them the ability to recharge until they’re ready to come out and play again,” Daniel Rotman, CEO of PrettyLitter, told RD.

 

Before you give your cat a box, make sure sure to remove any objects that may cause harm, such as staples in the seams. After that, let them enjoy their new space – and have a good time watching them.

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8 Weird Facts About Animal Sex

Ahhhh, sex makes the world go ’round, doesn’t it? Without it, few species would survive. And while humanity’s getting pleasure from procreating is unusual, with many animals it gets way weirder than that.

Way. Weirder.

Below are 8 of the more bizarre ones we’ve come across.

8. Water bugs make quite a racket while in search of a partner.

Micronecta scholtzi are the loudest animal in the world relative to their size. They can reach nearly 100 decibels by rubbing their penis against their abdomen – a very loud, very penis-y mating call.

7. Turtle mating sounds make for good sound effects.

Filmmakers used the loud, distinct mating sounds of tortoises to create the velociraptor sounds in Jurassic Park.

6. Duck vaginas have defense mechanisms.

Duck penises are long and corkscrew-shaped, and can be used like a lasso to pull in females trying to escape unwanted advances.

Yeah. Terrifying.

In response, female ducks have evolved vaginas that twist in the opposite direction – what Discover magazine refers to as “organic chastity belts.”

5. Sharks can reproduce asexually.

A female zebra shark named Leonie has laid eggs both with and without male involvement, and she is not the only one – when the circumstances call for it, sharks are capable of asexual, virgin births.

4. Only 3% of bird species have penises.

Ostriches and ducks have them, but eagles and penguins do not. Also, when birds get erections, their penises fill with lymph fluid instead of blood.

Birds without penises transfer sperm via a cloacal kiss – meaning the male just kind of squirts sperm from his cloaca into the female’s cloaca without any sort of penetration.

3. Big cats love a good cologne.

Synthetic colognes have sex appeal to tigers and jaguars, who have shown signs of stimulation after being exposed to the scents. Forest rangers have even used Obsession for Men to lure tigers out of the wild!

2. Animals have reproduced in space.

Humans have never had sex in space (according to NASA), but we know animals have.

Rats, frogs, and even geckos have gotten it on – and procreated – in space.

1. Barnacles have adaptable penises.

Barnacles have penises that can stretch up to 8x the length of their bodies, and they can also adapt to their environment by altering their shape.

Those definitely qualify as weird in my book.

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