Washington, DC - Eighty Duck/Ducklings Have Allegedly Died in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

Eighty ducks have allegedly died in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool within a matter of two days, the National Park Service reports.

From May 20th to May 21st, approximately 80 ducks were found deceased in the Reflecting Pool, a press release reads.

National Park Service (NPS) says a necropsy performed on the ducks revealed their death was caused by "high levels of parasites that developed and grew in snails that live in the pool." 

Chemicals alone are not sufficient enough to fully reduce the parasite and snail population, so the pool must be drained and cleaned, NPS says.

NPS says humans who come into contact with the parasite could develop a "swimmer's itch:" an allergic reaction in the form of a skin rash. They say it is not contagious and rarely requires medical attention.

It will take around two days for the pool to be fully drained, NPS says. Crews are set to clean the pool on Tuesday, June 13 and the pool is expected to begin refilling on Friday, June 16.

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Wildlife Officials Are Trying to FIgure Out How a Shark Got into Swimming Pool at a South Florida Condo Complex

Wildlife officials are trying to figure out exactly how a shark got into the swimming pool at a South Florida condo complex.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers responded to the Mariner's Cay condominium in Hypoluxo last week after a woman found a live five-foot blacktip shark in the pool.

The woman told officers she saw two young men running from the pool, which is located near the shoreline of the Intracoastal Waterway. The officers removed the shark from the pool and returned it to the ocean.

Blacktip sharks are among the most common species in coastal South Florida.

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A Wild Sea Otter Swam into Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Great Tidepool and Gave Birth to a Healthy Pup

Monterey, CA - A wild sea otter that swam into Monterey BayAquarium’s Great Tidepool gave birth Saturday to a healthy otter pup, according to aquarium staff.

The mother and baby are doing well and were caught on the aquarium’s Otter Cam cuddling and grooming. The pup weighs just a couple pounds, staff said.

Wild sea animals are able to gain entry to the Great Tidepool because it serves as an outflow for the aquarium's sea water. Staff often use the pool during underwater explorer classes.

The otter and its pup will not be tagged or kept at the aquarium because they are wild. The furry pair are free to swim back into the ocean from the tidepool whenever they please.

This is not the first time a pregnant sea otter has swum into the aquarium to give birth. In fact, it happened just two years ago, and schools of fish and other sea critters have been known to come with the tide, staff said.

Trainers have theorized that pregnant sea otters may seek refuge at the pool because it is quieter and less populated than its vast oceanic counterpart.

The sea otters that live in the aquarium are all rescues that are unable to survive in the wild, according to the aquarium website.

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Hero Dog Saves Puppy From Drowning

A Golden Retriever mother rescues a puppy from potentially drowning in the swimming pool.

Seeing her helpless pup in distress, the dog jumps into the pool and, using her nose, tries to lift the puppy out of the pool. When that fails, however, she runs out of the pool, ultimately lifting up and dragging her pup to safety.

While many are praising the Golden Retriever as a hero, there are also people condemning those filming the video for failing to take action to save the puppy, which may have been much quicker than having the mother dog save her pup.

Comments on the video raise the question of whether the puppy was in fact thrown into the water at the start of the video in order to set up footage of our hero dog. Such an act could severely traumatize the puppy, not to mention, place a damper on the seemingly heartwarming nature of the video.

The divide amongst viewers is clearly illustrated through the top comments on Youtube as the top ranked comment notes how the video borders on animal cruelty, while the next highly rater comment deems any calls of animal cruelty unwarranted.

Regardless of the motives behind the video, however, it is clear that this Golden Retriever exhibited fierce courage and natural retriever intelligence in her quick actions to save the pup. The fact that she is a hero is not even debatable.

What do you think about the video? Do you find it adorable or does the filming of the video disturb you? Is there any doubt that the Golden Retriever is a hero? Share your thoughts in a comment.

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