Spring Has Sprung

Chipmunks and squirrels dash across the road, leaves dot branches, and plants pop up in the garden. It's official -- spring has arrived. Along with all the action on the street and in the yard, we might see the newest crop of furry and feathered critters. So ... what do you do if it appears a fledgling or baby rabbit has strayed too far from the nest?

Fledglings without feathers should, if possible, be placed back into their nests. If you can't reach the nest, the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre recommends making another nest from an empty margarine container. Cut small drainage holes in the bottom, line with grass and twigs, then place as close to the real nest as possible. The adult birds will feed both nests. And don't worry about touching them as the parents have a very poor sense of smell.

Older fledglings will spend several days on the ground learning to fly. I always worry about these guys, but this is a perfectly normal part of their development. A few years ago, I found one on a busy sidewalk. I placed him on the grass, hoping he'd be out of harm's way.

Baby rabbits should be left alone. Unlike birds, rabbits have a keen sense of smell. Not wanting to draw attention to the nest, the mother will return only twice each day to feed the babies. If the rabbit is larger than a softball, it's already independent of its parent.

Most areas worldwide have wildlife rehabilitation organizations that will answer questions or take in injured or abandoned animals. If you're searching for one near you, check out this site: Wildlife Rehabilitator Locator

Pet Consumerism

I can never get enough of the weird and wonderful products available for pets:

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I wonder if this dog house comes fully landscaped?

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This is a great idea! I live two houses down from a walkway, and my next-door-neighbour's dog goes nuts every time someone walks along it. Although I'm not sure if being able to see what's on the other side would stop the dog from barking.

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Actually, this cat bed would make a great salad bowl.

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I don't know -- yes, many dogs are overweight, but shouldn't they be outside in the fresh air and open spaces?

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I know what my cat would be saying if I bought one of these Meowlingual Cat Translators: "You're an idiot."

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On Friday, I'm off to Vegas for four days with five of my girlfriends to celebrate our [gulp] 50th birthdays (that's a lot of numbers for one sentence). I've been friends with these women for 30 or more years. Despite knowing everything there is to know about me, they still love me. Go figure.

Cone Head

I need your advice. Actually, my friend, Dale, needs your advice. She has a wonderful Tonkinese cat. He's intelligent, affectionate, sensitive and, for the past few months, has had to wear one of those cones around his neck. Why? Because he's licks himself to the point where the wound becomes infected. Each time Dale removes the cone, he immediately begins licking the area again.

The cone (which is actually called an Elizabethan collar) makes the poor guy look pathetic, and I'm sure he feels humiliated and uncomfortable, but Dale has run out of options. The only thing she hasn't done is put the cat on drugs, but perhaps that would improve his quality of life.

Any thoughts?

Photo from Ilmari Karonen/Gallery

Crazy Cat Picture

A long time ago, I shared my life with a black and white cat named Strider. I always thought she was a perfectly normal cat -- until I picked up this photo of her (playing in a shoe box) from the developers way back in 1985. For a close-up of that crazed but cute furry face, click on picture to enlarge:


Strider

What They Say About Dogs

A few quotes about dogs:

"If dogs could talk it would take a lot of the fun out of owning one." - Andy Rooney

It would be so cool if dogs could talk. We'd finally discover what they thought about life and humans -- surprising, I'm sure.


"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

Yes, we're nuts, but dogs are far too loyal and loving to feel contempt. Of course, if they could talk then we'd know for sure.


"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater...suggest that he wear a tail." - Fran Lebowitz

Well, if you're a regular reader, you know how I feel about that.

Bunny Facts

It's Easter -- a perfect time to learn some fun facts about rabbits:

The female rabbit can conceive a second litter while pregnant with the first. That's pretty amazing, but not an ability I'd be particularly keen on sharing.

Rabbits can see behind them without turning their heads. Interestingly, my daughter believes I can do this.

Rabbits have one of five different eye colours -- brown, blue-gray, blue, marbled or pink. I've always found those pink eyes a little freaky.

Bunnies are weaned at eight weeks. Remember when I discovered that tennis ball-sized bunny in the yard last summer? Apparently, he'd already been kicked out of the nest and was on his own.

Rabbits can suffer from heat stroke. It was a very hot day when I took the above picture of the rabbit in my yard. Since it's unusual for them to be out in the middle of the day, I figure he was probably cooling off in the shade of the cedars.

Good news -- rabbit droppings make excellent garden fertilizer. This means that not only will my gardens flourish this summer, but I'll be able to make money selling the poop the bunny has left in my yard.

Domestic rabbits can live 8 - 12 years, so if you're thinking about buying a bunny this Easter, you're in for the long haul.

Working With Animals

I've decided to volunteer at my local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals -- if they'll have me. One reason I haven't done this before is I wasn't sure I'd be able to handle seeing the homeless animals on a regular basis, but I've visited quite a lot recently and survived. Did you know that you can volunteer to socialize with the cats? How purr-fect! Like a Walmart greeter of the animal world.

There are so many dedicated folks out there -- volunteers and those who have been trained and educated to work with both pets and wildlife. There's a North American website called AnimalWork.org. It’s a job-matching site for all jobs related to animals, like training, grooming, veterinary medicine, caretaking, retail and zoo positions. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be paid for doing something you love?

How Do They Know?

I recently came across some weird animal facts. What really makes them interesting is that these details are even known. I mean, who took the time and trouble (and, in some cases, put undue stress on the animals) in order to discover that:

A homing pigeon won't find its way home if a magnet is attached to its neck.

An ant always falls over on its right side when intoxicated.

If a tiny amount of liquor is placed on a scorpion, it will sting itself to death.

A pig's orgasm lasts for 30 minutes.


Then there's the more mundane facts about animals:

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

A crocodile can't stick out its tongue.

Butterflies taste with their feet.


I have no idea if any of these are true. After all, I found them on the Internet -- not exactly a reliable source. If animals were able, what weird human facts do you think they'd list?

Matilda, the Algonquin Cat

I've attended two Backspace Writers Conferences that were held at the Algonquin Hotel in New York. The annual conference is a must-do for all writers -- an opportunity to meet other writers, editors and agents, and learn so much about the craft. Being at the Algonquin also gave me the chance to meet Matilda, the hotel's current resident feline.

In the 1930's, a rather tattered cat wandered through the front doors of the hotel. Given food, shelter and the name Hamlet, he opted to stay. Since then, all the male cats have been so named, and all the females have been called Matilda. Except for the dining area and kitchen, she has the run of the hotel, but seems to prefer the lobby area. That's where I found her.

Matilda liked to sleep on the baggage cart instead of her own miniature chaise lounge in the lobby. She wasn't all that interested in chatting, seeming far more keen on watching the comings and goings of staff and guests. However, she did allow me to take her picture.

Considering the price of a room at the Algonquin, I'd say that Matilda is getting a great deal. All she has to do is look good -- a job she does very well.

UPDATE: Click here for information on Matilda's birthday bash.

The Cheese is Mine, Cat!

Last year, a Canadian television commercial for Armstrong Cheese showed an elderly woman feeding her cat all sorts of tasty human food, but when she pulls out the cheese, the woman shoves the curious cat off the table, and hisses, "The cheese is mine, cat."

I emailed the company, telling them I found that 'shove' a bit brutal. The company responded, saying I wasn't the only one offended, and they assured me the cat wasn't harmed during the filming of the commercial. They didn't pull the ad, but cut out the shove. Now, the cat appears to simply fall from the table.

I don't know why I'm sharing this with you. Perhaps just to say that if a few raised voices can make a change to an obscure and probably harmless commercial, think what we can do when it comes to something that really matters.

Can You Stand It? Another Happy Ending

Last November, two-year-old Bear, a black lab mix, disappeared from his Nova Scotia home during a snowstorm. His owners, Arie and Jackie Levering, searched the area; and notified neighbours, animal control and the veterinary hospital.

Ten long weeks passed without Bear, and the couple soon gave up hope, believing the dog had either been hit by a car or attacked by coyotes. On January 23rd, the vet phoned with news that Bear had been found.

David Lewis, a government employee, was in his truck when he spotted a dog crawl out from the woods. Mr. Lewis figured the dog was lost, so opened the door and Bear jumped in. At the veterinary hospital, it was discovered Bear had two broken legs, a crushed pelvis, and lost two-thirds of his body weight. Some of the fractures had fused, so there may be surgery in Bear's future.

The Leverings believe Bear may have been hit by a snowplow, but have no idea how the injured dog survived for two months in the dead of winter. One thing they do know for sure -- they're glad to have Bear home with them.

Caught in the Headlights: Wildlife on Our Roads

The other night, my headlights flashed on a deer at the side of the road, but she'd been hit and was quite obviously dead. Since her head was still in the way of traffic, I called 911. Because of that scene, and so many others like it, I thought I'd post something from last summer. I believe the message is important, so instead of calling it re-posting, let's call it re-gifting.


On Sunday, I drove past three dead raccoons--one large, two quite small--grouped together at the side of the road. Whenever I see roadkill, I imagine a possible scenario: After foraging for food, a mother raccoon makes her way back to her children only to be struck by a car. But on that particular Sunday morning, it was the entire family of raccoons who lost their lives. It makes me incredibly sad to see wildlife so senselessly killed (although it's hard to think of a senseful killing).

According to a study by L.P. Tardiff & Associates for Transport Canada, motor vehicles may be the number one predator of wildlife. Some statistics from Wikipedia:

"Merritt Clifton, editor of Animal People Newspaper estimated that the following animals are being killed by motor vehicles in the United States annually:

41 million squirrels
26 million cats
22 million rats
19 million opossums
15 million raccoons
6 million dogs
350,000 deer"

Often, there's not much a driver can do to avoid hitting animals that venture onto the road, especially at night. Animals react differently--a rabbit's frozen bewilderment as a car barrels toward it; a deer's unexpected jog to the left when we expect it to go right. So it's up to us to take precautions.

What drivers can do:

Ease up on the gas pedal when driving through wildlife areas. Look for the yellow, diamond-shaped warning signs.

Watch for movement at the roadside, and slow down when you see any. It's far better to use your brakes than to use your wheel as swerving may result in the loss of control.

Be aware that wildlife is most active at dawn and dusk.

Watch for the car's headlights reflecting off the animal's eyes. Often drivers will see the shining eyes before they see the animal.

Anticipate unpredictable behaviour from all wildlife.

What governments can do:

Build wildlife underpasses and overpasses. On the Trans-Canada Highway, through Banff National Park, 24 underpasses and overpasses have been constructed--the largest scale wildlife passage in the world. Since 1996, more than 50,000 large mammals have used them, and animal-vehicle collisions have dropped by 80%.

Erect animal crossing signs on high-risk stretches.

Invest in heat-seeking cameras that detect animals and warn drivers when one is ahead, or wildlife warning systems that use alternating sounds and lights to scare animals when vehicles approach.


For more information on reducing the risk, check out this site:

Wildlife Collision Prevention Program

Let me know if there are other measures we can take to keep our wildlife safe and alive.