Kinkajous: Yes, They’re Cute — But How Difficult Is It to Care Them?

Kinkajous have long lifespans and curious dispositions. Learn all about caring for them in this article.

Kinkajous are small mammals that are native to the rainforest.

They’re intelligent, vocal and curious animals — and they’re among the latest in the growing trend of exotic pets.

Kinkajous grow to be 2–12 pounds, depending on their subspecies, and can live for roughly 20 years. In other words, this is not a short-term pet.

To read more on this story, click here: Kinkajous: Yes, They’re Cute — But How Difficult Is It to Care Them?

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Ferret Owners Warned: Avoid (And Don't Kiss) Your Pets If You Think You Have COVID-19

Ferret owners in Europe have likely shivered at the news that millions of animals looking much like their own animals are being put down across the continent as a dangerous COVID-19 mutation has spread among the mink population in fur farms. 

Just like mink, ferrets are also susceptible to COVID-19, which has a very similar effect on them as on humans, causing difficulties breathing that tend to be worse for older individuals.

Mink and ferrets belong to the same family of carnivorous mammals, which also includes otters, weasels and badgers – the Mustelidae family. Of all Mustelinae - a subfamily of Mustelidae - ferrets and mink are the most similar-looking, but the difference between them is significant.

To read more on this story, click here: Ferret Owners Warned: Avoid (And Don't Kiss) Your Pets If You Think You Have COVID-19

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Scuba Diver’s Strange Encounter With Seal Pup Goes Viral

This Encounter Captured Millions Of Hearts
When a videographer unexpectedly encountered a group of seal pups while scuba diving in the sea, their behavior completely took him by surprise. 55-year-old Gary Grayson loves nothing more than taking a walk (or a swim) on the wild side. However, when he ended up bumping into a seal just off the south coast of England, nothing could prepare him for the response he would receive after posting a video of the strange encounter online…

To read more on this story, click here: Scuba Diver’s Strange Encounter With Seal Pup Goes Viral


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This Woman Takes Her Pet Alligator Shopping (Video)

How would you react seeing an alligator walking around a store?









                                                 Click arrow twice to start video!

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Shark Experts Say the Coast of Florida Is Starting to Heat Up with White Shark Activity

Key West, Florida - Great white sharks are moving to Florida for the winter. A research group, OCEARCH, says the annual migration to warmer waters off the Florida and Carolinas coasts is underway. 

The Palm Beach Post reports that eight white sharks tagged by the Utah-based research group were spotted from New Jersey to Florida in the last week.

Three other sharks that had been tagged were detected Wednesday in waters on North Carolina beaches, and two more sharks —Helena and the 2,076-pound Unama’ki —made their presence known with toothy grins just west of Key West in September.

Unama’ki had been tagged off Nova Scotia in September. She’s a big girl —some 15-feet, 5-inches.

It’s not unusual for great whites to call southern waters home during winter and sightings are common near popular fishing and diving spots in Florida through spring.

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Meet Unama'ki, the 2,000-Pound Great White Shark Who Reached the Keys

A massive great white shark that weighs over 2,000 pounds made its way from Nova Scotia, where it was tagged, down to the Florida Keys in just over a month.

According to OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organization that tags sharks to keep track of their movement and activity, the 15-foot-5-inch adult female "pinged" just off the coast of Key West on Saturday morning.

She's been named Unama'ki, a term meaning "land of the fog" in the language of the indigenous Mi'kmaq people of Nova Scotia.

OCEARCH stated on its website that it hopes Unama'ki will lead them to the site where she gives birth, exposing a new white shark nursery.

To read more on this story, click here: Meet Unama'ki, the 2,000-Pound Great White Shark Who Reached the Keys

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An Anne Arundel County Woman Now Holds the State Record for Catching the Largest Common Dolphinfish

Ocean City, Maryland,  An Anne Arundel County woman now holds the state record for catching the largest common dolphinfish, also known as mahi mahi.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources said Kristy Frashure of Pasadena reeled in the 74.5-pound fish during a tournament in Ocean City Friday.

Frashure told the DNR it took 20 to 30 minutes to reel in the fish.




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Nearly Extinct Pink Dolphin Gives Birth To Pink Calf

Rare pink dolphin mom gave birth to a cute baby dolphin. People call her Pinky, and the animal has been spotted in the Calcasiey river in Louisiana. The pink calf was there, too.

The pink mammal became popular 12 years ago. Captain Erik Rue was the first to spot her.  The video of Pinky and her baby was posted on Pinky’s Facebook page. The dolphins were swimming in front of a big boat in the Calcasieu Ship Channel.

According to experts, Pinky is a Rare River Dolphin who got the pink color from a rare genetic mutation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed river dolphins as endangered. It’s population is decreasing.


The birth of the calf gives us hope that calves have inherited their mother’s genetic mutation which would help in the effort of increasing the population of rare species.

To read more on this story, click here: Nearly Extinct Pink Dolphin Gives Birth To Pink Calf

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Does Your Ferret Stink?

One complaint of new or non-ferret owners is ferret smell. Remember that ALL animals, even humans, have their own unique smell. Mammals have musk glands that produce scented secretions which allow animals to identify and communicate with each other. Humans are used to the smells of some other animals, such as people, cats, and dogs; but to the uninitiated nose, natural ferret aroma may be an unusual surprise.

This article will focus on two parts of controlling ferret odors. First, we will examine how to manage odors from ferrets themselves. Next, we will look at keeping the environment around the ferret clean.

Eau De Ferret
Ferrets are born with anal scent sacs. They also have musk glands concentrated around their face and lightly spread throughout the rest of the body. The anal scent sacs do not contribute significantly to the smell of the ferret. The natural ferret odor comes from the other musk glands in the skin. Smelling a ferret face will give you the best idea of what the natural ferret aroma is. Some people love the natural ferret smell, describing it as a sweet musk, curry, or a corn-based smell (tortillas, corn chips, or popcorn). Other people dislike ferret aroma at first, describing it as skunky or otherwise unpleasant. As with any animal, it may take people awhile to get used to new smells. Note that each ferret will have an "individual" smell unique to that animal, and that smell varies by the age and health status of the ferret.

Fixing Your Ferret
The strongest contributor to ferret odor is not the scent sacs or glands, but the hormones. A whole (unfixed) ferret will have a much stronger odor than spayed or neutered ferrets. When whole males (hobs) come into breeding season, they can be positively stinky. Not only do they produce more musk during this time, but they will also groom themselves with urine to make them smell more "attractive" to ferret females.

The best way to reduce odor is to spay or neuter your ferret. "Altering" your ferret will take care of 90% of ferret odor. Most pet store ferrets are already fixed because major pet store suppliers routinely spay and neuter ferrets at six weeks before they are shipped to the pet store. You may receive a certificate from the pet store indicating your ferret is fixed. However, with mass-production surgeries at a young age, it is possible to "miss" a few things. If your "fixed" ferret has an unusually strong odor, particularly at sexual maturity (around six months of age), the neuter or spay may be incomplete. Male ferrets may have retained testicles that should be surgically removed. Female ferrets may still have ovaries or other hormone-producing tissue. Contact an experienced ferret veterinarian to investigate this possibility. Ultrasound may be able to detect an incomplete fix.

If you own a whole ferret, most ferret experts recommend spaying or neutering around five to seven months of age. Ferrets can be fixed at any time after this as well; there is no problem with neutering or spaying an older ferret. However, it takes about 30 days for the hormones (and the smell) to calm down after the ferret has been altered, so you must be patient.

To Descent or Not To Descent?
In the United States, most pet-store ferrets are routinely descented at the same time they are altered. In many European countries, descenting is illegal and is considered mutilation. If your ferret is already descented, that is fine. Deborah Kemmerer, DVM points out that a descented ferret will not be at risk for later anal sac infections or even cancerous tumors. On the other hand, Susan Brown, DVM warns that there is the danger in kits of rectal prolapse due to damage to the sphincter muscles around the anus when the anal glands are removed. Mike Dutton, DVM also points out that the descenting surgery is delicate, and it is common for some anal sac tissue to be left behind if ferrets are descented at an early age. Just because your buy a ferret kit that is supposed to be descented does not mean you will get one. Although anal sacs do not regrow, the leftover tissue will start producing odors. If this is the case, you must have your ferret re-descented. The leftover tissue can cause serious infections if left intact.

If your ferret has not been descented, you will most likely have no need to do so. Descenting a ferret has no significant impact on overall body odor. A ferret with intact anal sacs does, however, retain the ability to "poof" or "blow bombs" which means releasing some musk from these anal sacs. Ferrets cannot spray like a skunk, and unlike a skunk musk, ferret poofs dissipate within a few minutes. This natural defense mechanism will assert itself if your ferret is hurt or suddenly frightened. Additionally, ill ferrets with intact anal sacs will smell worse because they may not groom themselves, so the odor is an excellent indicator of a health problem.

Undescented ferret kits may poof while at play or when waking up. Some "leak" while asleep and dreaming. Others may seem to poof for no reason at all. Generally, this behavior subsides by one year of age. There are two reasons that you may elect to have a ferret descented. The first is medical, and the second is behavioral. Undescented ferrets may have a problem with impacted anal glands or recurring anal gland infections. In these cases, the anal sacs must be removed. There are also some ferrets who blow bombs constantly or seem to have no control over their anal sacs, even when they are mature and fixed. If your ferret is unbearable to live with because of this behavior, you may need to descent your ferret.

According to Karen Purcell, DVM, the risks of descenting surgery include death from anesthesia reaction (rare); incontinence, either temporary or permanent, from the procedure (possible); and small retained pieces of the glands that can lead to infection/abscess/problems down the line (common). It is extremely important that your veterinarian is experienced with this procedure, and has had a good success rate. I know of ferrets who have had multiple surgeries due to poor descenting technique the first few times.

Ferret Bathing
Many new ferret owners bathe their ferrets as often as possible in an effort to reduce odor. Unfortunately, if you bathe your ferret too frequently, it will actually smell worse. Bathing strips the ferret’s skin and fur of essential oils, and "dries the ferret out." Dry skin is itchy skin, which is uncomfortable for your ferret. Additionally, skin that cracks from dryness allows infections to enter the body. Dry fur becomes brittle, dull, and porous. All this dryness causes the ferret to overcompensate by producing extra musky oils that are absorbed and stored by the porous fur, which only results in a smellier ferret. Bathing your ferret as often as every two weeks can cause skin and odor problems. Many experienced ferret owners advocate bathing only when necessary (such as when your ferret digs up a plant or plays in fireplace ashes), or during coat changes (twice a year). Others bathe their ferrets every two or three months.

Use shampoos that are designed to be safe on ferrets or kittens. Do not use human shampoos or dishsoaps; the ph-balance is incorrect for ferrets. Shampoos with added scents should also be avoided because these perfumes may cause allergic reactions or respiratory upsets in your ferret. Make sure you rinse your ferret thoroughly (or twice!) so there is no evidence of soap left. You can use a conditioner (again, designed for ferrets or kittens), but make sure it is also completely rinsed out. Do not use leave-in conditioners on a ferret. A few drops of baby oil in a sinkful of water can be used as a final rinse. Many ferret owners advocate putting a teaspoonful of apple-cider vinegar (NOT white vinegar) in a sinkful of rinse water. This helps restore the natural ph-balance of the skin and leaves a clean scent.

Smelly Ears
A common contributor to strong ferret odors is dirty ears. Ferret ears produce a significant amount of wax, which can be odor producing. You should clean your ferret’s ears every few weeks. If your ferret’s ears have a particularly strong odor, and the wax is almost black, your ferret may have earmites.

To clean your ferret’s ears, moisten a cotton swab with an ear-cleaning solution (such as Oti-Clens) or miticide (such as Nolvamite) designed for kittens or rabbits. Gently wipe the swab through the crevices of the outer ear. Ferret ears have many folds and pockets in their outer ear, and it may take several swabs to remove all the debris. Only clean the part of the ear you can see! Do not push the cotton swab into the ear canal, even if you see wax in the canal. Ferrets generally dislike this procedure, and they may need a distraction of a ferret treat, or require a second person to hold the ferret.

Bad Breath
If your ferret has bad breath that seems unrelated to diet, your ferret could have dental problems. Ferret teeth should be brushed regularly with a special pet toothbrush and pet toothpaste. If this is not done, tartar can quickly build up. Tartar by itself can be smelly, but long-term tartar buildups can cause serious gum and tooth infections. Infections and abcesses cause bad breath, as well as some kidney diseases. Your ferret veterinarian can diagnose kidney problems, infections, or dental problems.

Odor-control Products for Your Ferret
Never spray your ferret directly with human perfume, cologne, or air fresheners in attempt to mask odors. These products can damage skin and fur, cause allergic reactions, exacerbate respiratory problems, and damage mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and mouth. There are many spray products marketed specifically for ferrets or other pets. These are not necessarily a good solution, especially if alcohol-based. Look for products that neutralize odors, not cover them, such as Ferret Kleen. The point is not to mask odors with a stronger, alternative scent, but to reduce these odors by attacking the smells themselves. Some people sprinkle a little baby powder on their ferret’s backs and brush it into their fur. This solution should not be used regularly, because baby powder dries out the skin and causes respiratory problems.

The best ways to control odors is to fix your ferret, be sure it is in good health and properly groomed, and keep the ferret’s environment clean. Let us turn now to aspects of the ferret environment that can be managed to control ferret smell.

Cages
Cages made out of wood will absorb ferret odors, both from body oils and urine, and the smell cannot be removed. Be sure your cage is made out of washable materials, such as plastic or coated wire. Non-coated wire may rust, and the rust will also trap odors. Items in the cage should also be washable or disposable. For example, if your ferret sleeps in a cardboard box, replace it with a new one every month. If there are plastic playtubes or balls in the cage, run them through the dishwasher. Line cage floors with linoleum that can be wiped clean, or put washable bath mats on the floor. Carpet is not such a good alternative, as it will quickly absorb ferret smells and is difficult to clean.

Note that many cleaners such as Lysol, Fantastic, and Pine Sol are poisonous to ferrets. Avoid these, as many ferrets find the smell of soaps and cleaners attractive and will lick the residue. Even small amounts can be fatal. A weak bleach solution (2%) is the best cleaner and deodorizer for a ferret cage.

Diet
Animal waste causes odors. You can control the both the strength of the smell and the amount of the waste with a proper diet. Ferrets fed a poor-quality diet will let you know, both in their general health, and also in their eliminations. Preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, and low-quality fats (such as beef tallow) will produce extra-stinky eliminations. Foods high in vegetable fiber, cereal grains, water, and other fillers will result in unnecessarily large stool volumes, as the ferret has to eat much more food to get adequate nutrition.

Ferrets should eat a dry food that is low in fiber and high in fats and meat-based protein. Look for a food that is a minimum of 32% protein and 18% fat, and a maximum of 3% fiber. The first ingredient should be some sort of meat (usually poultry), and the other ingredients should not have too many grain products. Avoid dyes and preservatives as well. Do not feed your ferret canned food (unless they are ill), or dog food of any sort.

Litterboxes
Keeping the litterbox clean will significantly reduce odors. Clean the solid waste from a litterbox at least twice a day -- morning and evening. Completely change out all litter at least once per week. These guidelines apply to one or two ferrets using one litterbox in a cage. For more ferrets, more frequent cleanings will be necessary to keep down odors.

Litter
Different kinds of litter perform differently at absorbing moisture and controlling odors. Never use cedar chips or shavings in the litterbox (or anywhere else in the cage). Cedar has strong oils that cause respiratory problems in ferrets. In fact, most wood shavings and chips carry aromatic oils that are problematic for ferrets. In any case, shavings do not make the best litter because they do not do a very good job of absorbing either moisture or odors compared to other available litters.

Most ferret owners recommend some sort of pelleted litter. Alfalfa pellets (rabbit food) is highly absorbent and inexpensive. A safe wood-based alternative is wood pellets. These are compressed pellets that have had the dangerous aromatic oils removed. These wood pellets absorb much liquid and help control odors. Products include Pine Fresh, Feline Pine, and All Pet Pine. My personal favorite is Gentle Touch, which is a compressed aspenwood pellet. Aspen is the safest wood for ferrets, and these pellets do a superior job of controlling odors. A less expensive alternative is Stove Chow, available in hardware stores that supply wood stoves.

Other pellets that can be used as litter are made out of recycled newspaper. Yesterday’s News and Nature’s Fresh do a good job of absorbing moisture. Newspaper pellets may not do as good a job of controlling odors, but they are often less expensive than wood pellets and are more economical for frequent litterbox changes. Another plus is that these pellets are often flushable. Check less expensive brands of recycled pelleted newspaper carefully; some may have bits of plastic and rubber mixed in, which could cause intestinal blockages.

One other type of litter that could be problematic for some ferrets is corn cob pellets. These inexpensive ground corn cobs do an adequate job of controlling odors, but have caused serious intestinal blockages in ferrets that accidentally ate the pieces. Oat hulls are another inexpensive source of litter, but be careful of dust levels, especially for litter-burrowing ferrets. A brand new alternative on the market is Citra-Fresh litter, an all-natural citrus litter derived from orange peels. The litter does a great job of absorbing both moisture and odors.

Traditional clay litters can also be used for ferrets, but also have drawbacks, such as being quite dusty. The clay litters that promise additional odor control are often heavily perfumed and cause respiratory problems for ferrets. Never use a clumping litter. Although clumping litters may allow you to clean litterboxes more easily and completely, thus reducing smells, these litters can be fatal to ferrets. Ferrets can either get intestinal blockages, urinary tract infections, or fatal lung conditions. Remember that these particles expand under damp conditions, so if a ferret breathes in some clumping litter particles, the results can be disastrous.

Laundry Time
One of the most effective ways to keep your ferret smelling fresh is to keep the ferret’s bedding clean. Frequent laundering of hammocks, sleep sacks, snuggle tubes, cage mats, or rugs will do a great job of keeping odors down. Don’t be tempted to buy a nifty ferret bed or tent unless you can wash it. Your ferret will appreciate freshly laundered items. However, don’t use strongly perfumed detergents or fabric softeners, which may cause allergic skin reactions or respiratory problems. Soaps that are free of dyes and perfumes are preferable for ferret laundry. The goal is to have ferret bedding that does not smell at all, instead of ferret bedding that smells like soap or special scents. Do your ferret laundry at least once a week, depending on the number of ferrets you have concentrated on the bedding.

Air Fresheners, Filters, and Cleaners
In general, air fresheners should not be used around ferrets. Many ferrets are allergic to spray propellants and heavy perfumes. Stick-on and plug-in deodorizers can be fatal to your ferret if ingested. Scented candles may be a good alternative when company is about to arrive. Keep candle flames away from ferrets! There are some odor neutralizing fluids, such as Odo-Ban, that can be effective in neutralizing odors on floors or carpets. Avoid using carpet powders, as these cause lung diseases and footpad rashes.

Although air filters can help reduce allergies in both humans and ferrets (especially HEPA-filters), they are not particularly effective against odors. To neutralize odors, ionizers can be effective. Although expensive, the unit I have seen most often in ferret shelters and multiple-ferret households with many ferrets is the Alpine XL-15S ( This unit effectively reduces odors by sensing levels and emitting ozonated ions by radio wave.)

Conclusion
A happy owner results in a happy ferret. Keep those odors down by spaying or neutering your ferrets, cleaning their litterboxes, and doing their laundry. You probably do not need to descent your ferret. A proper diet, clean ears and teeth, good health, and an occasional bath can also help keep your ferret and your home smelling fresh.








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A Germophobe Gorilla? Philadelphia Zoo Primate Walks Upright So He Won't Get His Hands Dirty

An 18-year-old gorilla named Louis hates to get his hands dirty. That’s why he sometimes walks upright like a human -- especially when food is involved.

Louis, a 500-pound, 6-foot tall gorilla that lives at the Philadelphia Zoo, walks upright when he’s carrying tomatoes and other snacks, The Associated Press reported.

He also walks upright when the ground is muddy, according to the Philadelphia Zoo, which recently posted a video of Louis walking on two legs.

To read more on this story, click here: A Germophobe Gorilla? Philadelphia Zoo Primate Walks Upright So He Won't Get His Hands Dirty




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Rescued Baby Bat Stuffs Her Cheeks With Banana After Being Hit By Car, And This Video Will Make Your Day

Has life got you down today? We’ve got exactly what you need to turn it around – a baby bat going absolutely HAM on a banana until her tiny cheeks are stuffed to the brim.

The young flying fox, lovingly named ‘Miss Alicia,’ was rescued in Queensland, Australia, after a scary encounter with a car left her in need of urgent care. She was taken into the loving arms of bat conservationist Denise Wade (Batzilla The Bat), and is poised to make a full recovery with no major injuries sustained. She’s also still managed to look adorable as hell in the aftermath, if you haven’t noticed.

While little Miss Alicia was resting and recharging, swaddled in a cozy blue towel, Wade shot a video of her feeding time. Given the fact that flying foxes have a known sweet tooth (their diet consists mostly of fruit and nectar), you can imagine how Alicia reacted when a fresh banana was presented to her. Scroll down to see the precious clip for yourself, and tell us in the comments if you’ve actually ever seen anything cuter.

To read more on this story, click here: Rescued Baby Bat Stuffs Her Cheeks With Banana After Being Hit By Car, And This Video Will Make Your Day

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Heartbreaking: This Video Shows the Techniques Used by SeaWorld to Capture It’s First Orcas

In the wake of the documentary Blackfish, SeaWorld has had to account for their questionable business practices and the ethical questions surrounding cetacean captivity.

This video features the techniques used to capture SeaWorld’s first orcas. It is both stunning in its depiction of killer whale intelligence and the relentless cruelty the capture teams used to take calves from their mothers. In fact, during this particular raid, several whales died as a result of the chase.

Watch this clip from Blackfish:

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A Rare Pygmy Hippo Calf Was Born at the San Diego Zoo

A rare pygmy hippo calf was born at the San Diego Zoo on Wednesday—the first surviving hippo birth at the zoo in over a decade.

The little hippo weighs about 12 pounds and was born to its mother, Francesca.

The significant birth adds to the world's smallest species of hippo which is currently on the endangered species list. There are approximately 2,000 pygmy hippos left in the world, according to the San Diego Zoo.

"Bringing species back from the brink of extinction is the mission of San Diego Zoo Global," the zoo said in a press release.

As of now the sex and name of the calf is unknown. Francesca and her baby will be alone in a private barn until the calf is ready to swim in the larger pool on exhibit, the zoo said.

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Elusive Albino Dolphin Changes Color, from White to Pink When it Gets Emotional

Stunning images have surfaced of an elusive albino dolphin that can change color from white to pink when it gets emotional.

The rare mammal has been making waves at the Taiji Whale Museum, in southern Japan, where it draws vast and fascinated crowds.

While bottlenose dolphins are typically grey, the mammal is completely white– apart from the quirky tendency to turn pink when it's feeling angry, sad or even embarrassed.

The phenomenon results from the animals thin skin, which means its blood vessels can cause a change in skin tone depending on their emotional state.

Essentially, they blush in the same way as humans.

The rare specimen is believed to be only the second one ever put on display in an aquarium after it was purchased from fishermen last year.

The animal was controversially captured during the annual dolphin hunt in the town of Taiji in January.

Its quirky coloration meant the fishermen would get more money selling it to an aquarium than as meat.

The Taiji hunt was made notorious by the 2009 Oscar-winning documentary 'The Cove,' which depicted fishermen capturing hundreds of dolphins for aquariums or to be killed for meat.

Japan's Wakayama Prefecture, which includes Taiji, reported that 1,218 dolphins and small whales were captured there in 2011, though it did not specify how many of those captured were killed.

Environmental activists filed a lawsuit against the Taiji Whaling Museum in May 2014, claiming it had refused experts to check on the safety of the elusive dolphin.

But the museum claims the creatures health has been monitored through periodic blood tests, and that they are keeping it 'physically and mentally healthy' for further research.

It was also reported the museum did the animal a favor - albino dolphins are easy prey at sea as they unable to blend in like their grey colored relatives.

Experts claimed it was remarkable that the animal had survived so long before being taken to the museum.

Taiji Whaling Museum, along with the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology and the Institute of Cetacean Research, published a study about the dolphin in Mammal Study March 2015.

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What is this Cute Furry Ball with the Teddy Bear Face? It's Called a 'Ili Pika', An Endangered Mammal that Was Recently Photographed for the First Time in 20 Years

This furry ball of cuteness is an endangered mammal closely related to rabbits and hares. The species was first discovered in 1983 and individuals have rarely been seen since.

It was first spotted in the Tian Shan Mountains in China, where it makes the holes and cracks of the cliffs its home. Despite other family of pika living across the Northern Hemisphere, these mountains are the only place this Ewok lookalike seems to feel at home.

Although scientists know where to find the Ili pika, it's still extremely hard to get on camera. For example, between 2002 and 2003 two researchers, Andrew Smith at Arizona State University and Li Wei-Dong at the Xinjiang Academy of Environmental Protection in Beijing, completed seven trips to twelve different sites to study population status of the animal. After 37 total days of attempted spottings, the two men came up completely empty handed.

Then, last summer, the man who originally discovered the species in '83, Weidong Li, had a chance encounter with the elusive creature. He and a group of researchers were out in the Tianshan Mountains for, what else, Ili pika spotting, when around noon they saw one and snapped the iconic picture above.

Only 29 of these individual animals have been seen alive. A rare find, indeed!

The Ili pika was not always endangered.

In the early '90s scientists estimated that about 2000 Ili pikas thrived in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Although Smith and Wei-Dong did not see a live Ili pika during their expedition, they found the animal's characteristic fecal deposits and distinctive snow tracks.

From this, they concluded that the population is not nearly as robust as it used to be. In their paper, published in 2005 in the journal Oryx, Smith and Wei-Dong, suggested the animal be added to the endangered species list.

We recommend that the Ili pika's Red List status be changed from Vulnerable to Endangered," they wrote in the paper.

Recent years have not shown any improvement. Over the last decade, the Ili pika population has continued to decline by an estimated 55%.

The reason for their dwindling numbers isn't clear, but Smith suspects it's related to disease, increased nearby human activity, and/or climate change.

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Opossum, the American Marsupial That Dines on Ticks: Where Lyme Disease Goes to Die

They come out at night, they have scary teeth, they have a weird name with an extra vowel most people don't pronounce…and they are where Lyme disease goes to die.

Say hello to the opossum, the American marsupial with a pointy nose and prehensile tail that dines on ticks like a vacuum dines on dust.

Most people drop the first vowel when speaking of 'possums, but possums actually belong to a different species native to Australia.

Tiny adolescent ticks that carry Lyme disease bacteria are most active during the late spring months, typically May and even as early as April during warmer years.

But whereas these ticks can be found in large numbers on mice, shrews and chipmunks, they are eaten in large numbers by opossum.

Research led by scientists based at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook placed different species into cages, covered them with ticks and waited for the biting arachnids to jump off.

The scientists then counted how many survived.

Opossums can eat or remove as much as 96 percent of the ticks that land on them.

Research also suggests the immune system of opossums is fairly effective at fighting off the disease.

So even the ticks that do survive a visit to an opossum are less likely to acquire the disease.

Cary scientists are continuing to examine the correlation between the frequency of different types of mammals, and the infection rates of ticks found in the same area.

The initial thought? Where foxes thrive, Lyme doesn't.

That's because foxes are good hunters of the small mammals that serve as the most effective reservoirs of the Lyme pathogen.

Ongoing research is also looking at the role opossums play.

All of this points to why Lyme is a particularly inscrutable disease.

There are so many complex interactions that govern its prevalence — from human land-use development, to shifting climate patterns, to the abundance (or lack) of certain mammals.

And that doesn't even address how the disease behaves once it is in the body. The Lyme bacterium is apparently one of the only things on earth that doesn't need iron to survive.

Opossums are your friend in the fight against Lyme.

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Watch This Video And Fall Otterly In Love With These Adorable Critters

Some animals are known for embodying certain personality traits: Dogs are loyal, lions are brave and foxes are sly. Otters so thoroughly embody love that it’s a wonder they haven’t become the mascot of Valentine's Day sooner.

Consider the following otter facts: Many otters mate for life and sometimes they hold hands while sleeping in the water to avoid drifting apart.

To read more on this story, click here: Watch This Video And Fall Otterly In Love With These Adorable Critters FOLLOW US!

Pacific Marine Mammal Center Receives $10K Donation to Help Sick Sea Lions

Laguna Beach, Calif. (KABC) -- Staff at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach released a sea lion, named Holly, back into the ocean after taking care of her for more than a month.

Holly was found in December on a beach in Corona Del Mar. She was dehydrated, emaciated and had parasitic infestations.

But now she is 81 pounds heavier and was able to go back home. Now the focus is on 25 other sick sea lions at the center. The staff said this time last year there were only four sick sea lions needing care.

To read more on this story, click here: Pacific Marine Mammal Center Receives $10K Donation to Help Sick Sea Lions 
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Top Dogs: Australian Predators Can Provide 24-7 Feral Cat Control

Feral cats are devastating our wildlife, so we need a long-term, sustainable solution. This is where Australia's natural predators come in.

A few moments on the internet will reveal that, as companion animals, cats are rivalled only by dogs. Our love affair with them is hardly surprising: they are elegant, graceful and affectionate animals. But they are also highly adaptable and successful hunters. Sadly our soft spot for them brings with it disastrous consequences for smaller wildlife species, particularly mammals, birds and reptiles.

To read more on this story, click here: Top Dogs: Australian Predators Can Provide 24-7 Feral Cat Control

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It's Raining Bats in Australia - Thousands of Bats Killed in Queensland Heatwave

As most of the U.S. freezes and the UK drowns in floods, a blistering heat wave in Australia is so bad 100,000 cooked bats have fallen out of the sky, dead.

Southern Queensland is being gripped by furnace-like temperatures, said the local Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

This has in turn caused mass deaths with at least 25 separate colonies wiped out since the weekend, including at Mt Ommaney, Redbank, Boonah, Palmwoods, Laidley and Gatton.

As many as 100,000 of the winged mammals fell from the sky and died, the result of an incredible heat wave, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports.

Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals spokesman Michael Beatty told ABC that the heat wave, with temperatures close to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, was "basically a catastrophe for all the bat colonies in southeast Queensland."

'That's obviously going to have a pretty disturbing impact on those colonies and those colonies are vital to our ecosystem."

Hundreds of bats also lie dead in trees and nearby bushes, and are being eaten by maggots.

The council today advised local residents it will not send workers into nearby bushland to collect the remaining bat carcasses, as it could cause further disruption to the nearby colony.

One resident has told ABC she is receiving anti-viral treatment after being scratched by a baby bat while clearing the dead animals out of her tree with a rake.

All told, massive deaths at 25 separate colonies have been reported, according to ABC.

In the aftermath, one person recorded the numbers of fallen bats in a nearby forest. Warning: Some may find the video below disturbing.




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