Wild Animal Wednesday! Let's Talk Vernal Pools

Vernal pools are an essential part of Connecticut's ecosystem. They provide habitat critical to the survival of certain wildlife species like toads, frogs, salamanders, and turtles who use them for mating and breeding. 

According to CT.gov - "In 1995 the Connecticut General Assembly passed legislation that gives municipal inland wetlands agencies explicit regulatory authority over vernal and other intermittent watercourses as part of Connecticut’s Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Law. Further efforts to protect vernal pools will depend upon improving public awareness of these unique, fragile ecosystems."  (vernal pool photograph courtesy of ctaudubon.org)

Vernal Pools are small bodies of standing fresh water that can typically only be found in the Springtime.  The pools form due to snow melt, precipitation, and high water tables in the Spring months.  Because the pools are temporary they don't support populations of fish, which is actually crucial for the other species to thrive there.  Vernal pools are also characterized by a lack of a permanent outlet stream, and they dry out by late Summer. 

Vernal pools are a great place to see wildlife (but don't disturb them!).  Amphibians flourish here because there are less predators than there are in permanent water bodies.  Some of the species that can be found in the pools in Connecticut are Spotted Salamanders, Jefferson’s Salamaders, Marbled Salamanders, Wood Frogs, Eastern Spadefoot Toads, and Fairy Shrimp.  To read more about the different species, or to learn how you can protect our Connecticut Vernal Pools visit CT.gov. 

If you hear frog calls all night long during the Springtime, or if you see frogs, toads and salamanders crossing the road near your house in the Spring, chances are you have a Vernal Pool in your neighborhood.  Enjoy the wildlife and be lucky that you live in CT!!

Help Save Jaeger!

Jaeger is a beautiful pittie mix boy who is being fosted and rehabilitated by one of our employees Sarah. Jaegar was diagnosed with Heartworm. Bully Breed Rescue was told of an alternative treatement, but it unfortunately only made it worse. Jaeger became very sick this past week and had to be rushed to the vet where he had to be hospitalized due to his deteriorating condition. Jaeger's vet bill is very high, so we have been trying to raise some money to help defray some of the costs. Please consider helping this sweet boy out!!

Bully Breed Rescue is a 501(c)3 rescue (non-profit)and all donations are tax deductible.

Click this link to donate toward Jaegers treatment!
http://bullybreedrescue.chipin.com/jaegers-treatment

Monday's Funny Video of the Week! Cat Playing "I Spy"

By now I'm sure that you have noticed my love of funny cat videos.  I especially love the videos where the cats talk like humans.  This is one of those.  I was cracking up when I watched it, I hope you have the same reaction to this cat playing the game "I Spy". 

Belated Wild Animal Wednesday! Wild Core Volunteer Program

Have you ever heard of Wild Core?  They are actually a great group right here in Connecticut who foucs on local environmental and conservation issues.  Here is a little information about them from their website:

"Wild Core is One of Connecticut’s largest and most respected environmental / conservation organizations. The organization works to protect and conserve Connecticut’s beautiful Wildlife and Wild Places so our future generations have a healthy place to raise their families. We operate a environmental volunteer program, we host many special events for families and offer schools, youth groups and adults premium educational programming."

If you are interested in getting involved read about their wonderful volunteer opportunities:

"Wild Core’s Environmental Volunteer Program, places individuals all over the state of Connecticut, into their local community to make a difference in the environment and for wildlife. Wild Core is virtually changing the way volunteers well…. Volunteer! Our volunteers enjoy working with Wild Core because of our flexible schedule and laidback program structure. Our volunteers are able to make most of their decisions on their own. After all volunteering is something that should be fun and rewarding, not your average 9-5 job. Volunteers in our program choose: When, Where, How and for How Long they want to volunteer. There are no minimums, and no maximums or other deciding factors; with the exception of any health and safety factors that may be the only limiting culprit to our program. Our volunteers enjoy working in a work environment that is set by their own pace/speed.

Volunteers work on many projects for the organization. Wildlife Rehabilitation, Hiking Trail Maintenance, Gardening, Administrative Work, Interpretive Work, Research Assistant for one of our affiliated Biologist/Scientists, Even Kayaking and Camping are just a few of the many ways our volunteers are making a difference.

Wild Core also has partnered with other environmentally oriented organizations that do not have the technologies or other abilities to recruit volunteers for their projects or programs. In this case volunteers are still working for Wild Heart, but are lending a helping hand to one of our affiliated partners. Becoming a volunteer is awfully easy and is a very rewarding step in the right direction.

For more information on our volunteer program, to see a list of current opportunities or to become a volunteer, click here."
(photo courtesy of wildcore.org)

Monday's Funny Video of the Week! Dog With Human Hands!

Talk about anthropomorphizing!  There is something so human about this dog... hmm what could it be?  Oh yeah, he has human hands!  This is such a silly and lighthearted video where a yellow lab has a snack, and it's not out of a food bowl.  Enjoy :)

"It's Reigning Cats & Dogs" Art Display in Stamford

The annual sculpture display in Stamford for "Art in Public Places" is back this Summer.  I really loved the Cow Parade and am looking forward to this year's theme of..... "It's Reigning Cats & Dogs"!!!!  There will be sculptures of 20 cats and 20 dogs out and about in downtown Stamford (5 feet tall no less!).  Local artists are still being asked to submit their designs for this years display.  I can't wait to see what they come up with this year!  The exhibit runs from June 15th 2010 until August 22nd 2010 (aww why so short?).  I will definitely be making a trip to Stamford once all of the sculptures are painted and finished.  Come Summer time I will post the photos... and share my favorites.  I'm sure they will be amazing and I recommend checking them out for yourselves.  I've included a photo from the Cow Parade winner in 2000, Nina Bentley.  I wonder if she will be partaking in "It's Reigning Cats & Dogs", I sure hope so!  To read more visit Stamfordadvocate.com. 

Wild Animal Wednesday! Tigers Need Your Help!

Tigers are in serious danger of becoming extinct.  There are fewer than 50 wild tigers left in China and the global wild tiger population is at an all time low of about 3,200 (down from 20,000 in the 1980's!).  According to Discoverynews.com "Degradation of the animal's habitat and poaching of the tiger and its prey are blamed for its rapid disappearance."  These creatures are so beautiful, we can't let this happen to them! 

The Wildlife Conservation Society is busy working to help the tigers... but they need our help.  "WCS's Tigers Forever initiative, a collaboration with the Panthera foundation, aspires to boost tiger numbers by 50 percent by 2015 across a dozen WCS field sites in Asia, from 800 to approximately 1,200 cats. Innovative programs and partnerships throughout the tiger’s remaining range are helping us to achieve this goal."

Do you want to help the tigers and want to get in shape but can't find the motivation?  Let the tigers motivate you!  This Spring at the Bronx Zoo, The WCS is hosting a 5K run/walk to help with the Tiger initiative.  Run for the Wild and "Make Tracks for Tigers" in 2010.  We can all make a difference, and get in shape during the process.  I'll be there, will you?  Sign up today!!

Double Dose of Funny Video's! Kitty Half Time Show!

I completely forgot about the Puppy Bowl this weekend, so I just checked out a few clips from Animal Planet.  The puppies and kittens are to die for!  So cute!!!  Enjoy this clip of the Kitty Half Time Show!  And don't forget that all of the kittens and puppies are for adoption! 

Monday's Funny Video of the Week! Kitty Dance!

This video is a little more adorable than laugh out loud funny, but I think you will still find it amusing.  I got a chuckle out of it!  Watch this cutie little kitten dance along to the music in this video :)

Wild Animal Wednesday! Rodents in Dissagreement over Groundhog Day!

Yesterday February 2nd was Groundhog Day.  The classic weather man Punxsutawney Phil out of Pennsylvania predicted six more weeks of winter when he saw his shadow.  Beardsley Bart (from the Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo) has a different prediction.  Read the story below from the Connecticut Post about this little disagreement.  I love Phil and all, but this time, I really hope Beardsley Bart is right!  Bring on the sunshine!  (Beardsley Bart photo courtesy of Shannon Calvert)

"BRIDGEPORT -- Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter weather Tuesday morning, but a ground-dwelling rodent at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo begs to differ.

The zoo doesn't have a groundhog -- known more commonly in these parts as a woodchuck -- but it does have a colony of their close relatives, the prairie dog.

Beardsley Bart, the Prognosticating Prairie Dog, failed to see his shadow at the zoo Tuesday morning, thanks to a bank of clouds that rolled in before zoo workers could awaken Bart from his long winter's nap, according to Gregg Dancho, the zoo director.  This means there should be only two or three more weeks of cold weather, Dancho said.

"Beardsley Bart, the Prognosticating Prairie Dog -- he insists we use his full name -- has a much better record of accuracy than that groundhog in Pennsylvania," Dancho said. "He's been doing this for the last 10 years."

Dancho said that Bart, the oldest and wisest of the prairie dogs at the zoo, "likes to sleep in," so it was difficult for the zoo's team of animal experts to get him out of his den in time to upstage Punxsutawney Phil, the much more highly publicized groundhog in Pennsylvania, who saw his shadow Tuesday morning, forecasting the lengthier winter.

"By the time he got up, he had no shadow, so we're saying that spring's just around the corner," Dancho said of Beardsley Bart. "No white Easter this year. We're just lucky he's not an early riser."

Bart is one of about 25 black-tailed prairie dogs at the zoo. The animals typically live in large colonies, or "cities," on the High Plains.  While woodchucks typically weigh between 4 and 9 pounds, Bart tips the scales at about 3 pounds.

Phil's appearance in Gobbler's Knob, Pa., about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, was witnessed not long after sunrise Tuesday by more than 1,000 curious onlookers and members of the news media.  It's a tradition that dates back to 1887.

But only a few Beardsley Zoo employees were on had to witness Bart's sleepy-eyed crawl from his cozy subterranean den, Dancho said."

Love-A-Bull 2010 Valentine's Adoption Day & Fundraiser

Check out a preview of a few of the Bullies that will be available for adoption on Saturday February 13th from 10-4 at Best Friends!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More Details Can be found at . . .
Love-A-Bull 2010 Valentine's Adoption Day & Fundraiser

Monday's Funny Video of the Week- Invisible Dog Experiment!

This is a very silly video involving an improv group, a large group of people, and "the invisible dog".  Have fun :)