The oldest fossil of a modern bird, dating from the age of dinosaurs, has been discovered, a new study reports. The tiny fossil, nicknamed the "wonderchicken," includes a nearly complete skull hidden inside nondescript pieces of rock, and dates to more than 66 million years ago. That's less than 1 million years before the asteroid impact that killed off all the large dinosaurs. "The moment I first saw what was beneath the rock was the most exciting moment of my scientific career," said study lead author Daniel Field of the University of Cambridge in the U.K. in a statement. To read more on this story, click here:Oldest Bird Fossil Discovered, Nicknamed 'Wonderchicken'
Longtime readers of the site know my affinity for fish so this one hits home – thanks to Patricia for passing on from Penn Quarter Teaism: “Well friends… wanted to do a live video but wasn’t sure how to do it on Facebook and Instagram at the same time. If you’re stuck at home with kids who normally like to come watch the fish, you can entertain them with this. To read more on this story, click here: Save Teaism’s Koi!!
While there's no evidence that pets can catch coronavirus, some vets believe there's a way they can spread the virus through touching pet hair. POTOMAC, Md. — Veterinarians are taking unprecedented precautions in the age of coronavirus, such as not allowing walk-in appointments and meeting pet owners outside. It's all in an effort to protect people from fomites. The Centers for Disease Control says there is no evidence that pets can catch coronavirus. But some veterinarians believe that pets can pass it on. If a person doesn't know they have coronavirus, but has a virus droplet on their hands and then pets a dog in someone’s backyard, the virus could end up on the pet’s hair. To read more on this story, click here:How To Prevent Your Pets From Spreading Coronavirus
Most of us would do anything for our pets: we adjust our homes for them, buy them their favorite foods, and pay for expensive vet bills. Some of us would even put our lives on the line for them without expecting the favor to be returned. So, for all we do for them, it’s pretty amazing when our furry friends do make a sacrifice for us! And while it’s dogs that are often trained to be helpful and loyal, our feline family members are there for us, too! Just take a look at these incredible cats who saved their owners’ lives… To read more on this story, click here:Brave Superhero Cats That Saved People’s Lives
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
Let’s be honest: most of us could probably use a bigger paycheck. We work the jobs we do to makes ends meet, but there aren’t many people out there who think they’re compensated exactly as they should be for the hard work they put into their day-to-day routine. So what would you do if you found out there are certain animals who probably make more money than you do just for being animals? You’ve probably seen some of them in movies, on television, or online, and they bring in a hefty paycheck—even though they can’t even spend it! To read more on this story, click here:20 Famous Pets That Rake In Outrageous Amounts Of Money For Their Owners Each Year
Few constructions in nature evoke a sense of coziness and warmth quite like nests — treetop homes built with love and care by birds to raise their babies. But this particular mom-to-be found a rather ingenious way of making her place even cozier. Conservationist Bianca Caroline Soares is no stranger to seeing hummingbird nests perched on branches in the jungle near her home in Paraguay. But on a walk last Spring, she spotted one unlike any she’d seen before. To read more on this story, click here:Clever Little Hummingbird Builds A Home With A Roof
The signs of dogfighting can be hard to spot if you don’t know what to look for. According to the Humane Rescue Alliance, the key signs of dogfighting are:
Dogs kept outside on heavy chains and rotated throughout the yard
Dogs that leave and come back to the yard with injuries or scarring
Dogs frequently forced to run on a treadmill or use other conditioning tools for long periods of time
“If you see an animal that has scarring or open wounds around its legs, chest or around its face, those are usually indications it is involved in organized dogfighting,” HRA Humane Law Enforcement Officer Engel said. To read more on this story, click here:Dogfighting: How to Identify and Report It
Today, the six living species of sloths are usually found dangling from tree branches, or going viral on YouTube. But sloths used to be a lot more diverse—and a lot bigger. The extinct ground sloths pursued all sorts of different lifestyles and came in just about every imaginable shape and size. Some were cow-like grazers; others might have been accomplished burrowers; and, believe it or not, a few even dined beneath the ocean waves. To read more on this story, click here:10 Big Facts About Giant Ground Sloths
This VERY good boy is not very good at being a service dog, unfortunately Dogs are angels on earth in every discernible way. Some are great at being lifelong companions, others have talents in the service arena — as K9 police dogs, service dogs to those in need, etc. And some dogs have higher hopes and dreams than they’re capable of achieving, but that doesn’t make them any less Good. Take this guy, for example. In a video that’s quickly gone viral all over social media, a German Shepherd named Ryker can be seen trying so very hard to meet the standards of a service dog. But Ryker, like many of us out there of the human variety who can relate, falls short during his test. In every single way. Please enjoy the funniest, most adorable animal video you will see all day. To learn more about Ryker and see his video, click here:German Shepherd Hilariously Fails His Service Dog Training In Viral Video
It has to be a special connection between dogs and little babies, since it’s really hard to find a more heart-warming duo. Whenever a furry companion and a mini-human team up, the result is simply adorable. And nothing shows this better than the bond between Dilan – a newborn and Farley – a French bulldog. To read more on this story, click here:Baby and French Bulldog Born on the Same Day Think They’re Brothers and They Do Everything Together
The story of Romeo, the wolf who flirted with dogs, is an exceptional story of a wild wolf befriending dogs in the Alaskan city of Juneau. Many citizens of Juneau went to see this spectacle for many years until Romeo was killed by sports hunters. My wife, who did not exactly approve of this “miscegenation” because of the potential danger, was looking out the window one frosty morning and there was the wolf curled up out on the lake ice, waiting for Dakotah (our dog) to come out. With that arms folded, slightly protective tone of voice any mother with a cute teenage daughter would use, she said, “There’s that Romeo wolf again.” The name caught on because it fit. He was not only doing this with our dog, he was also flirting with others. But he certainly had favorites, just as people do: dog friends, dog acquaintances, and dog Best friends for ever. To read more on this story, click here:A Valentine Love Story: Romeo, The Wolf Who Flirted With Dogs (And Humans)
If there were any doubts about whether Joaquin Phoenix was sincere in his Oscars speech advocating for animal rights, this should clear them up. The Joker star rescued a cow and her baby from the Manning Beef facility in Pico Rivera, Calif., and took them to Farm Sanctuary in Acton, Calif., where they can live together in peace, without threat of being slaughtered. The move came a day after Phoenix spent his time at the podium, while accepting the Best Actor trophy for his turn in Joker, decrying the way humans treat all of the natural world. He specifically cited the plight of cows. “We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and when she gives birth, then we steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable,” Phoenix said. “And then we take her milk that’s intended for her calf and we put it in our coffee and our cereal.” Grassroots group Los Angeles Animal Save captured Phoenix’s efforts in a moving, 8-minute video. To read more on this story, click here:Watch Joaquin Phoenix Rescue a Cow and Her Calf After Advocating for Animals in Oscars speech
