Tragedy

The image above isn't of some kind of swamp creature. It's an oil-soaked Gull in the gulf, struggling to break free of the muck that it's covered in. Click the image to see other photos of how the Gulf oil spill is affecting the animals in that region. Scientist anticipate the problem to not go away anytime soon-these birds and sea creatures will be threatened by this spill for years to come. And the birds and fish photographed aren't the only animals in danger; The oil is a major threat to the animals that even live on or near the sea floor such as mussels, clams, crabs, eels, jellyfish, shrimp and deep-sea corals. The oil depletes the oxygen in the water, and scientist say that the ocean water stops or drastically slows down the oil from rising. What this means is that some of the oil will never reach the surface where it can biodegrade faster.

I know that this far inland we may not be affected by the oil spill physically, but if you're on this site you obviously care about animals, and by viewing the pictures of the poor animals covered in oil, not understanding whats happeneing to them, you can't help but be affected emotionally. The Gulf has been a part of many of our lives, and it's almost an "extended backyard" for us in South GA. Over 1,350 animals have been found affected as of June 8, and that count is definately not over. There are many organizations asking for donations for the relief effort, however only 2 non-profit organizations are officially designated to respond to the crisis, the Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research and International Bird Rescue Research Center, both of which are being completely funded by BP and are not accepting donations for their efforts in the Gulf (however you can donate to them for future relief efforts). All other organizations are on "stand-by", waiting for their call to help.

Oh, 'possum!

"Hello, ladies!"

This lovely guy is the Opossum, North America's only marsupial, and they can be found all over the place heres in Southwest Ga! These animals get a bad rap, but they are really quite fascinating! For instance, a lot of people think the Opossum is a "stupid animal", but they've actually placed higher than dogs on learning tests! They have thumbs on their hind feet! They're also a very old animal, living in the times of dinosaurs! As fearsome as the above picture looks, the Opossum tries everything it can to avoid a confrontation. When cornered it will put on a very impressive show by showing all 50 of it's sharp teeth, giving the impression that it's really good at defending itself, but it's actually very bad at defending itself. Although they can bite(and those teeth would do some damage), they're more likely to "play 'possum"; an involuntary action in which the animal goes into a shock-like state and gives off the smell and look of being dead, which is enough to deter some predators that would rather have a fresh meal. Contrary to popular belief, they do not hang from trees by their tails as adults like they do in cartoons. While as juveniles they may hang from branches for short periods of time, adults are far to heavy for their tails to support them. Instead, the tail is used to help stabilize them while climbing.
They are a very quiet animal that like to keep to themselves, which is why they generally only come out at night to do their hunting. They will eat just about anything that they can find, including insects, rats, fruits, frogs, snakes, roadkill, cat food, dog food, people food, etc. They typically don't put a lot of effort into building a home, instead they keep moving and occupy spaces that are already available like abandoned burrows and even under houses. Unfortunately they have a very short life span (only about 2-4 years), and a LOT of predators, one of the biggest being man. Because they are so misunderstood, many people resort to killing them/removing them from their habitat and placing them in one in which they won't survive. But the Opossum does a lot of good for our areas, helping to rid them of unwanted pests like cockroaches, spiders, rats and mice, dead animals, and even over-ripe fruit on the groud! They're like nature's own little sanitation crew! They are about 8 times less likely to carry rabies than wild dogs (only about 1 in 800 Opossums are infected with the virus). They don't dig holes or destroy property. Opossums are a harmless animal, and the removal of them in an area can result in the increased population of other unwanted mammals in that spot, like rats, skunks, and raccoons. So to coexist with these animals, you can pick up your pet food at night, keep your garbage lid on, and close off any axcess points they may have into/under your home. By following these precautions, you can eliminate any nuisance they may cause you and let them do what they do best, waddle around at night taking care of pests! However, if you find it necessary to remove an Opossum from your yard, call an Animal Control or widlife removal specialist who can make sure they are transported to an area where they will be able to survive and thrive!

Fact Vs. Fiction

TRUE or FALSE?

Chocolate is poisonous to dogs.

TRUE! You thought I was gonna say false, didn't ya? Well this one is actually fact! Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which is similar to caffeine, and is toxic to a dog when its ingested at 100-150 milligrams per kilogram of it's body weight. For instance, 20 ounces of milk chocolate would be fatal to a 20 pound dog.Of course, the average house doesn't have 20 ounces of chocolate lying on the floor (unless you're a certain Mr. Wonka). Usually consumption of a little milk chocolate will cause irratibility/diarrhea 12-24 hours after ingestion. This can be treated by inducing vomiting/keeping the animal hydrated. However, different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine, which makes them more dangerous in smaller amounts. In the same 20 pound dog, 6 ounces of semi-sweet(dark) chocolate would be fatal, and only 2 ounces of bakers chocolate! So, while you're dog finding an M&M under the couch may not be a reason to utterly freak out, you should always contact you're Vet immediately if you suspect chocolate has been consumed by your pet to help determine the proper treatment!

On that note, do you have the number to your Vet posted in your home or saved in your cell? We know to call 911 when we're in trouble, but its important to have the emergency number to call when your four-legged family member needs care. Here is a handy link to the Veterinarian listings in our area. Make sure you're prepared!

Fact Vs. Fiction

TRUE or FALSE? Dogs can only see in black and white.

FALSE! This is one I've heard all my life, and chances are you have too. Truth be told, even Veterinarians believed this to be true for a long time! While its true that dogs see much more grey than we do, they do see in some color! The parts of the eye that enables us to see the color spectrum are called cones. Humans have 3 types of cones in our eyes that make us percieve different shades of blue, red, green & yellow. Dogs, however, only have 2 types of cones, which makes them able to only perceive hues of blue and yellow, and reds and greens are indistinguishable.

Before you start to become saddened that dogs will never be able to know when it's safe to cross at a stoplight, this type of vision does have some advantages! For instance, because dogs are able to perceive gray hues better they are able to see in much dimmer light than us! They also are able to detect motion much better than humans. They can also see flickering light better than us, which means when they watch TV they see a series of moving frames instead of the continous movement on screen that we see (which could be a benefit; look how happy dogs are not watching TV! They don't have to stress over how much better than them the dog on TV looks!). Below is an image of that humans see compared to what dogs see. To a dog the paired images would look exactly alike!

Dinosaur!

This monster is the Alligator Snapping Turtle! Despite the prehistoric looks of these turtles, I didnt have to go back in time to find him. The US has 2 kinds of snapping turtles: the Common Snapper and the Alligator Snapper. The Common Snapper is pretty...well, common, and can be found in many ponds on rivers in the area. Alligator Snappers are far less common to find, but we do have them right here in our area in lakes and rivers! The Alligator Snapper has only one natural predator: People. The turtles are sought after because of their distinct spiny shells, meat, and market for exotic pets. Therefore it is listed as a "threatened species", and even endangered in some states. In the picture below you can see a curvy pink piece of flesh that resembles a worm in the turtle's mouth. This is used as a lure! The turtle wiggles the lure underwater and snaps down on any curious fish that comes close enough. These turtles will eat pretty much anything they can get ahold of, including dead fish, snakes, frogs, and even other turtles! In captivity they're known to eat anything thrown at them, including chicken, beef, & pork. The average weight is around 175 lbs for an adult male, and the record was 249 lbs, although there was an unverified report in 1937 of a 409 pounder!

MYTH: The Alligator Snapper has the 2nd most powerful bite force of any animal.

FALSE! The turtle's bite actually has less power than some other species of turtle, and is about on par with a human's bite force. Which still isn't too shabby, as they can easily amputate a finger with one of their powerful bites. While the Common Snapper is known for it's aggressive behavior, the Alligator Snapper is known to be a tad more docile, and will usually try to run/swim away to avoid an altercation. It's small neck prevents it from reaching very far (again, unlike the Common Snapper who has a long reach), however, if you're thinking of picking one up, let me remind you about the finger thing! Better to be safe than sorry. If you see one of these creatures in the wild, it's best to leave them alone unless it's in danger of being crushed by a car, in which case call a professional to assist the animal. The turtle pictured was rescued from a street in a residential area, far away from any body of water, which probably means the turtle fell victim to it's one natural predator and was intended to be kept as a pet, but now it's back in the wild where it belongs to live out the rest if it's long life (which can last up to 100 years!).

Fact vs. Fiction

True or False?

The "Daddy Long Legs" spider is the most venomous spider in the world, however it can't bite people because it's mouth is so small!

FALSE! This is an urban legend that I've heard all my life, and while the myth has been debunked many times, it refuses to stop! Here's the facts: The name "Daddy Long Legs" is used for at least 3 different species in different parts of the world. In many countries the nickname is given to the Crane Fly, or what we affectionally call the Mosquito Hawk. The name is also given to an Austrailian spider also known as the Cellar Spider. However, here the term is used for the Harvestman, which unlike it's Austrailian mate (mate, get it?), isn't technically a spider, however it is an arachnid.

The Harvestman has no venom sacks at all, which pretty much counts it out in the "most venomous" competition. It poses no threat to humans, and it's diet normally consists of small insects and plant matter, fungi, and even bird poop. The Cellar Spider does have venom sacks, and it's fangs have been proven to be able to penetrate human skin, however the toxicity of the venom is relatively weak even when used on insects. So, theres nothing to fear when it comes to these long-legged crawlies! The title for the most venomous spider actually goes to the Brazilian Wandering Spider, which is found in South America. So while the Daddy Long Legs poses no threat, you'de be keen to avoid other spiders around these parts, like the highly venomous Brown Recluse and Southern Black Widow.

Grey Rat Snake

This guy was found curled up inside of a shoe bin in a garage! Meet the Grey Rat Snake! The guys are very common here in south Georgia. They are active during the day in Spring and Fall, but in the Summer they come out during day and night. These snakes can be found almost anywhere, from trees to old houses, ponds to grassy areas, or even garages! Anywhere rodents can be found, these guys love to set up shop.


The primary diet of the Grey Rat Snake is (SURPRISE!) rats and mice. They can also feed on birds and bird eggs, and when young will even dine on small amphibians and lizards. So, having a Rat Snake around isn't the worst thing in the world if you have a rodent problem (if you dislike mice more than snakes, that is.) They are great climbers, so don't be surprised to see them in high places (i.e. rafters, trees, or even attics). They range in length from 3'-6', with the largest recorded at 84.5 inches (almost 7.5'!). This one that I captured was about 3.5-4ft.



This snake is non-poisonous. Typically a Grey Rat Snake will sit still if it feels threatened, and may bluff a strike. It will bite if handled, and wounds normally require a simple bandage. Even though it is non-venomous, it is advised that you call a professional (Animal Control or wildlife removal) to remove any snake. After this one was captured it was transported to a wooded area, where it will be able to live a happy life with all sorts of prey!