Recently in Nature Category

Valentines Day - And they call it Puppy Love!!!!

By Steven P on February 13, 2010 8:40 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks
One quarter of young people would rather spend Valentine's Day with their pet than their partner, according to a recent study by Reuters.

The study surveyed 24,000 people in 23 countries, and found that our love for our pets is a worldwide phenomena, although the French were least likely to choose a furry friend over a human, with only 10% of French respondents taking that option. Over 27% of Americans chose their pet!

Men and women were equally split in their love for their animals - apparently a night on the couch cuddled to our kitten or dog beats date night for both partners!  (Takeout food and a nice glass of wine makes the couch a winner every time!)
Continue reading Valentines Day - And they call it Puppy Love!!!!.

Well Trained Dog Survives Deadly Snake

By Steven P on January 18, 2010 9:07 AM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks
I know it's cold out in most of the USA, but it's mid-summer here in Australia and we are seeing alot of snakes in some areas! I wanted to share a photo that's in today's local (Australian) papers. Victorian labrador Bronson had a very close call with a deadly snake!.

According to news reports, Bronson, a champion obedience dog returned home from a run on the family property on Jan 4, with a deadly Copperhead locked firmly in his jaws and coiled around his snout.

Bronson's quick thinking owners found a chaff bag and lowered the snake to the ground, pulling the bag up and over the snake while at the same time releasing its body which remained wrapped around Bronson's snout. The well trained dog did not release the snake until commanded to "drop" by his owner.

 Blood tests at the near by West Gippsland Veterinary Centre (Victoria) confirmed Bronson had received a bite but thankfully after four days of treatment in hospital  Bronson is now happily at home.

Symptoms of snakebite include seizures, vomiting, bleeding around the bite, weakness in the limb and paralysis. The animal may collapse with laboured breathing. In cases of snake bite, urgent treatment is needed but make sure you call ahead to your veterinarian or emergency veterinarian centre, so they have antivenene on standby.

Platypus - The Shy Guy

By Robyne Page on October 19, 2009 2:23 PM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Turtle&Platypus1.jpgI recently had two weeks vacation at Airlie Beach, Queensland  which is one of the stopovers for visiting our beautiful Great Barrier Reef. Though I didn't actually go to any of our islands this trip, (years ago I spent a great deal of time exploring the Great Barrier Reef islands while cruising on a 40 ft yacht with my husband and two young children),  I did visit the Mackay region hinterland which boasts beautiful waterfalls and great walking tracks. Eungella National Park has a lovely river called Broken River that meanders through it. Whilst visiting Eungella National Park, I was fortunate to see one of the resident platypii  up early one morning searching for his breakfast. I thought I would like to share this with you  as platypii are very shy animals and not many Australians have had the opportunity to see them in the wild. It was very exciting seeing him fossicking around. I managed to get a good shot of him swimming and check out the photo above of him surfacing with a lazy ole turtle sunning himself on the log.

Platypus Information

Bill like a duck, tail like a beaver, it has fur and lays eggs. The Platypus is certainly one of the most extraordinary animals found in Australia. It lives in burrows dug into the banks of lakes and streams in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. Although its bill resembles that of a duck, it is quite different - it is pliable, like soft, moist rubber and very sensitive. The Platypus feeds mainly on tadpoles, small fish, larvae and water snails which it sucks up like a vacuum cleaner. When at the surface, the Platypus opens its nostrils and eyes, both of which are closed under water. This shy creature has very sharp eyesight. It is rarely seen in the wild and some have suggested that is because it doesn't like to be laughed at - but the truth is it prefers a quiet life.

Owners that Look Like Dogs

By Steven P on August 23, 2009 7:00 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks
Proving something a lot of us had suspected for a long time, scientists from Bath Spa University (UK) have proven that people are drawn to pets with similar looks.

blonde.jpgIn the study, participants were shown pictures of dog owners and asked to guess whether that person owned a labrador, poodle or staffordshire bull terrier. The participants got the answer right almost twice as often as would be expected by chance.
Continue reading Owners that Look Like Dogs.

Children Understand Dogs from Early Age

By Steven P on August 4, 2009 4:51 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks
So do dogs and very small kids really have a special affinity? If you ask my wife, she would say they do. I myself wasn't so sure - as dog lovers, maybe it's just us seeing what we want to see. I wanted scientific proof. It looks like now we have it!

dog-and-baby2.jpgNew research from Brigham Young University shows that children as young as  6 months old do understand dogs. The research shows that 6 month olds can match the sounds of an angry snarl and a friendly yap to photos of dogs displaying threatening and welcoming body language, even if they have little or no previous exposure to dogs!
Continue reading Children Understand Dogs from Early Age.

Dog reunited with owners after four-month lost at sea

By JoeK on April 13, 2009 12:15 PM | 1 Comment | 0 TrackBacks

Owner Jan Griffith said her family were devastated when their cattle dog, Sophie Tucker, fell off the side of their boat in choppy waters off the Mackay coast in north Queensland in late November. A fortnight ago she was reunited with Griffith family thus completing a touching and wonderful tale about strong bond between man and his best friend.

The dog swam five nautical miles to St Bees Island, where she survived until last week by hunting baby goats.


Continue reading Dog reunited with owners after four-month lost at sea.

Tragic Losses in Victoria Bushfires

By JoeK on February 11, 2009 4:24 PM | 0 Comments | 0 TrackBacks
Australia was hit by the worst bushfires in its history, with more than 330,000 hectares destroyed, and more than 700 homes razed to the ground in Victoria. Several towns were affected and the death toll is rising fast as firefighters and aid workers make the most of the recent cooler weather in the affected areas.

victoria-bushfire.jpg


Continue reading Tragic Losses in Victoria Bushfires.
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