Just a light blog for fun with photos of  twosomes from moths to moose and ambush bugs to baby goats. Pairs of lovers, friends, foes, mother/child, and siblings; it's all here! Enjoy :)

If you want some more moose photos with the male, click here. I captured some last year almost exactly one year ago.

I received a copy of the NatGeo book where you'll find my 'cutsie' photo of two chipmunks. The book was published before Rupert Murdoch took controlling interest. I have been inspired by National Geographic since I was a young child when I dreamed of being a photographer for them. It's tragic that their long legacy of standing for science, research, and investigation is now over, for Murdoch’s companies have long stood against all three. ​

​​On page 46 in the book of Friend's Forever, a National Geographic publication, you'll find the adorable soul mates, Albert & Alberta. They also debuted in the French version of this book last year. 

Albert is seen below on the window ledge contently walking past my cat at my cabin!

Back in 2010, I designed a book with all my furry wild friend called You're Not Alone. It's the perfect gift for a friend or relative who needs a hug and warm thoughts. 

Albert and Alberta were mates. They did everything together and I enjoyed their company in the wild for several summers in the mountains around my cabin.

by Dominique Mosbergen of the Huffingtonpost

It was late evening. The skies were dark and dogs were howling. Into the BOS Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rescue Center on the island of Borneo rushed a rescue worker cradling a tiny bundle in his arms.

He handed over the precious package to the manager on duty. Inside, with a face as small as a mouse’s, was a 3-month-old orangutan.

Those who were there that day say there are two things they remember most about their first meeting with the baby ape: her intelligent eyes, big and bright; and her fragile left arm -- half of which was conspicuously missing. 

The baby’s hand had been hacked off.

“Infant orangutans, who ride on their mothers’ stomachs by holding onto their long hair, have incredibly strong grips. They do not let go,” Richard Zimmerman, whose organizationOrangutan Outreach helps facilitate the rescue and rehabilitation of wild orangutans, told The Huffington Post. “The baby’s hand was chopped off -- most likely to pry her off her mother.”

Rescuers believe that the infant and her mom had been driven out of their forest home when it was destroyed to make way for a palm oil plantation. Starving, disoriented and too weak to climb, the mother ape was likely walking on the forest floor in search of food when she encountered the humans who would kill her and maim her child.

Rescuers named the baby orangutan “Kesi,” Swahili for “child born in difficult times.” That name is apt for many a wild orangutan living today.  READ FULL ARTICLE

Credits:
www.onegreenplanat.com
www.mirror.com
www.dailymail.com
www.bbc.com
www.independent.com
www.nytimes.com

I headed out to a very dry field of weeds today to discover some tiny life.

I've spent hundreds of hours in the field exploring tiny life. I've learned a lot about many tiny creatures. It's not the kind of stuff you read about in books. It's hands on things from interacting with my subjects. I have often blogged about my personal experiences with them. 

I've witnessed brawls, curiosity, fear, happiness (bees diving inside flowers and bathing in the pollen) and fatigue. I would describe them as having personalities, and quite different even within the same species. Others would call it simply their nature. I don't know which it is.  I think all this time and observation is what has helped me feel so connected to my bees. 

By: Sarah

        A big problem in America and many foreign countries is animals being tested for cosmetics. This is not safe because all of these new products have never been tested before so no one knows if it has dangerous chemicals or not. These chemicals could injure or kill the animals they are being tested on.

            The most common animals that are used for testing are rabbits, mice, rats, guinea pigs.  Monkeys are also used because they carry 94% of human genes so they tend to have the same reactions as people. All of the animals are tested for different things; for example, genotoxicity mutagenicity tests for the beginning stages of cancer. There is also developmental toxicity which is a test for birth defects.  Some more common ones include eye irritation, skin irritation, and the most popular makeup.

            An animal being tested for cosmetics leaves the animal with horrible conditions; many suffer both internal and external damages. The slightest drop of an eye cosmetic has melted several rabbits’ eye corneas. This is very dangerous yet people continue to do it. Luckily we have many contributors who have helped animals being tested like Congressmen Jim Moran who is working on making the entire U.S free of animals being tested for cosmetics and even some foreign countries.

            An animal being tested for cosmetics is not safe for animals because they have no chance of quitting their jobs like humans can.  Humans have different reactions then animals so most of the time is wasted because most animals are more sensitive to products than humans.

"The Beagle Bill"

In Nevada, a bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Mark Manendo, a huge friend to animals, was very recently signed into law by Governor Sandoval that requires private labs and those run by colleges and universities to offer animals up for adoption before euthanizing them as long as they are healthy enough to go to a new home. It's a small step in the right direction. Prior to the bill, beagles and other dogs were killed after they suffered through horrendous product testing.

1.   AVON
2.  LOREAL
3.  GARNIER
4.  OLAY
5.  NUTRIGENA 
6.  M.A.C. COSMETICS                                       

                                                                      Types of Raccoons

There are seven species of raccoons. The most common is the North American Raccoon. Another species is the cozumel “pygmy” raccoon. These raccoons are adorable. They are tiny, fluffy, big-eyed raccoons that are sadly endangered. They are only found on one island in the entire world, off the Yucatan peninsula. Also there are only about 500 pygmy raccoons left in the world. The reason for this is that people have been taking their habitat from them and they have no way to get off the island, also they are prey to many animals from cats to cobras. They are also prone to diseases. Nothing has been done to save these poor helpless creatures. Other species of raccoons include the crab-eating raccoon and the cacomistle raccoon. 

                                              Why people consider Raccoons to be Pests

Raccoon are sometimes seen as pests. They maraud through trash, hide, attack and occasionally chew through walls. According to Quora.com, raccoons are hated because they are smart and so they can break into garages and dig in yards. They are clever and know how to survive. They are also disliked because they are aggressive, challenging other animals and humans. But other than aggressively searching for trash and chewing, people also don’t like them because they can be very destructive. They can do a lot of damage to a lawn, garage, or even inside a house.  However, this is not a reason to hate them!  

Sadly, raccoons are being hunted for their fuzzy fur and even their meat. People wear thick, warm hats made from raccoon fur. Most upsetting is the fact that these precious animals are being hunted for sport all over the United States. Raccoon hunters like hunting raccoons because it gives their dogs a real challenge when hunting.  The raccoons will lead the dogs all over the forest by sneaking all over and sometimes even going into a stream or river to block their scent.

April 2, 2015
Chicago Zoological Society
3300 Golf Rd, Brookfield, IL 60513

 Dear Chicago Zoological Society Members,

My name is Sarah and I am 10 years old.  I really enjoy visiting the Brookfield Zoo and I love animals. I have an idea that will save the endangered species of the Cozumel Raccoons. These adorable raccoons are not surviving on their island because of many things, habitat loss, being fed junk food by tourists, not being able to escape hunting on their tiny island and more. 

The Cozumel Raccoons (or as most know them The Pygmy Raccoons) could have their own exhibit decorated like the Cozumel Islands, their natural habitat. Not only will it help save the Pygmy Raccoons, many people will want to visit the Brookfield Zoo seeing you will be the only zoo in the world with Pygmy Raccoons.

 I have come up with a fundraiser idea to help pay for the exhibit, “Pizza for the Pygmy Raccoons”. People could pay a certain amount for pizza at the Brookfield Zoo, and after pizza they could check out all of your other fascinating exhibits. If you would like to know more about the Pygmy Raccoons you could see my article about Pygmy Raccoons at www.foralltheanimals.com.  If you are interested please contact me at [email protected].

Thank you!

Sarah 

References:

www.backyardnature.net
www.archive.org
www.mnn.com
www.blogsmonroe.com
www.quora.com
www.kids.nationalgeographic.com
www.wdfw.wa.gov
www.peta.org