The photographer Sasi Smith, captured these owls in all of their splendor and the pictures are breathtaking. The birds are magnificently expressive and photographed in their natural environment. Owls are somewhat difficult to photograph since they are nocturnal, mysterious and have a spectacular camouflage. So when we saw these adorable Owl photographs, we couldn’t help but share them with you guys. Below are pictures of Sasi’s most adorable owls.
Mother's milk from the marsupials known as Tasmanian devils could help the global fight against increasingly deadly "superbugs" which resist antibiotics, Australian researchers said Tuesday. Superbugs are bacteria which cannot be treated by current antibiotics and other drugs, with a recent British study saying they could kill up to 10 million people globally by 2050. Scientists at the University of Sydney found that peptides in the marsupial's milk killed resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant golden staph bacteria and enterococcus that is resistant to the powerful antibiotic vancomycin. The researchers turned to marsupials like the devil -- which carry their young in a pouch after birth to complete their development -- because of their biology. The underdeveloped young have an immature immune system when they are born, yet survive growth in their mother's bacteria-filled pouch. "We think this has led to an expansion of these peptides in marsupials," University of Sydney PhD candidate Emma Peel, who worked on the research published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports, told AFP. "Marsupials have more peptides than other mammals. In the devil we found six, whereas humans have only one of this type of peptide. "Other research in other marsupials has shown that tammar wallabies have eight of these peptides and opossums have 12," said Peel, adding that studies into koala's milk had now started. The scientists artificially created the antimicrobial peptides, called cathelicidins, after extracting the sequence from the devil's genome, and found they "killed the resistant bacteria... and other bacteria". They are hopeful marsupial peptides could eventually be used to develop new antibiotics for humans to aid the battle against superbugs. "One of the most difficult things in today's world is to try and find new antibiotics for drug-resistant strains of bacteria," the research manager of the university's Australasian Wildlife Genomics Group, Carolyn Hogg, told AFP. "Most of the other previous antibiotics have come from plants, moulds and other work that's been around for close to a 100 years, so it's time to start looking elsewhere." World Health Organisation director-general Margaret Chan warned last month some scientists were describing the impact of superbugs as a "slow-motion tsunami" and the situation was "bad and getting worse".
This is Daniel. He is no ordinary duck. Daniel is an emotional support animal, AKA a pet who has been prescribed by a mental health specialist as providing necessary comfort for their human’s psychological disorders. An emotional support animal needs to come with a license, but once they do you can take the pet on a flight without being charged a pet fee and can live in an apartment that doesn’t otherwise allow pets. Usually, emotional support animals come in the form of dogs or cats, which makes Daniel very special. Author Mark Essig spotted him on a flight from Charlotte to Asheville, North Carolina, and couldn’t resist posting some photos of him, because he is so darn cute. Look at his shoes! And his Captain America diaper! Essig told BuzzFeed that Daniel is a 4-year-old Indian Runner, and his owner bought him at a yard sale (which seems like a whole other story, if only ducks could talk!?) Also, Indian Runner ducks technically can’t fly, but Daniel’s here to prove that ~anything is possible~ when you believe, and get the proper certification etc. He said his owner kissed Daniel’s beak on the flight several times, but also held it down when he quacked too much because, you know, other passengers might have been trying to watch the inflight movie or something. According to the National Service Registry, any "domesticated animal" can qualify as an emotional support animal. If you want to potentially make your little buddy an emotional support animal, you’ll need a letter from a licensed mental health specialist stating that you have an emotional or mental disability, and then register the animal HERE.
When anthropologist and animal lover Gordon S. “Grover” Krantz died in 2002, he made plans to have his body donated to the Smithsonian. But he had one stipulation: the remains of his beloved Irish Wolfhounds must remain with him. So when his body went on display in 2009, his dog Clyde appeared alongside him.“I’ve been a teacher all my life and I think I might as well be a teacher after I’m dead, so why don’t I just give you my body,” Krantz told Smithsonian anthropologist David Hunt. “But there’s one catch: You have to keep my dogs with me.” Though the Washington resident was recognized as a Sasquatch researcher, everyone who knew him understood the great fondness he had for his dogs. He did not have a funeral following his death from cancer at age 70, rather, his remains were sent to a body farm to have tissue removed, and then onto the museum. His and Clyde’s bones were arranged to replicate a photo that had been taken many years earlier in an exhibit called “Written in Bone.”“Wow… you had really [an] impossible last wish,” said his wife, Diane Horton. “And it’s been granted.”Though Krantz and Clyde’s bones were only on display for two years, they were marveled over by thousands of visitors.
A reward totaling $20,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a poacher responsible for killing a federally protected gray wolf in south-central Oregon. OR-28, a 3-year-old female wolf that recently had her first pup, was found dead Oct. 6 in Fremont-Winema National Forest near Summer Lake, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act to kill a gray wolf in the western two-thirds of Oregon, punishable by a fine up to $100,000, one year in jail or both. The incident is being investigated by the Oregon State Police and USFWS. The wolf’s carcass is at the National Forensics Laboratory for a necropsy. “The illegal killing of wolf OR-28 is heartbreaking," said Amaroq Weiss, west coast wolf organizer for the Center for Biological Diversity. "She was a pioneering animal that was one of the first wolves to make it from northeastern to western Oregon as wolves reestablish territory in lands these majestic animals historically called home. "OR-28 was also a first-time mother, who leaves behind her mate and single pup to fend for themselves." The reward, for information leading to the capture of the poacher, comprises $5,000 from USFWS, $10,00 from the Center for Biological Diversity and $5,000 from the Humane Society. At least five wolves were poached or died under mysterious circumstances in Oregon in 2015 — including OR-22, OR-34, OR-31 and two wolves known as the Sled Springs pair. Around 10 known wolves have been poached in Oregon since 2007. "We only knew about most of them because the animals had radio collars," said Steve Pedery, conservation director for the environmental group Oregon Wild. "The reward is nice, but the state's track record of actually prosecuting wolf poaching cases is pretty abysmal. I have some hope that USFWS' involvement will mean the prosecution is taken more seriously." Anyone with information about this case can call the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at (503) 682-6131 or Oregon State Police Tip Line at (800) 452-7888. Callers may remain anonymous. Wolves are protected under the federal ESA in the western two-thirds of Oregon, but were delisted in the eastern third of Oregon. All wolves were removed from the Oregon Endangered Species Act last November.
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Wisconsin bear hunters achieved a typically high success rate during a monthlong season that concluded last week, but experts are still trying to determine why a record number of hunting dogs were killed in the process. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, at least 40 dogs were preyed upon by wolves during a hunt that allowed the use of dogs to pursue and tree black bears. That’s nearly double the previous record of 23 hunting dog deaths, in a phenomenon that might be attributed to a growing wolf population in the Badger State. “We don’t have much to go on except speculation,” said Dave MacFarland, carnivore specialist with the state Department of Natural Resources. “[But] everybody can agree that we hope we don’t see a repeat of what we saw this year.” To read more on this story, click here:40 Dogs Killed by Wolves During Wisconsin Bear Hunt; Experts Puzzled
Oh hello! My name is Russet and I am a older dog looking for a calm and easy going home. As you can see from my picture, I LOVE to eat! I've been told I am a bit on the hefty side and am currently on a diet (NOOOOOOO!) to try to slim down a bit. I came to WHS/WARL when some nice lady brought me to shelter after finding me hanging out downtown. I am a pretty easy going dude and would rather snuggle up with my new family than go on a long hike. That sounds exhausting! I wouldn't mind having a brother or sister, as long as they let me do my own thing. I am a wise old man and would love to find a special family to call my own. I'm only 7, so I still have a long life to live and would love to spend it with YOU! Please email my foster momma to meet me - ayoung@washhumane.org To learn more about Russet, click HERE!
Russet Animal ID:33613871 Species: Dog Age: 7 years 19 days Sex: Male Color: Brown/White Declawed: No Site: Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League If you have room in your heart and home, please contact ayoung@washhumane.org Remember the Washington Humane Society-Washington Animal Rescue League has other animals available for adoption! Please share Russet with friends, family and co-workers!
Have you ever had a time in your life where you felt like you were being followed? It can be pretty unsettling, especially if you're by yourself. You look back and there's nobody there, and then that unsettling feeling gets even stronger for some reason. Well, it might not be so bad if you turned around and found out you were being followed by this adorable miniature horse. That's the situation Sterling Bartow found himself in when he was walking through a barn. He turned around and realized that his stalker was this cute little baby horse. Just wait until you see how small it is in comparison to the dog.
Leonardo Da Vinci changed his mind twice while painting one of his best-known works, Scientists claim that after he left out the animal which has made it famous. The Italian master's 1490 work The Lady with an Ermine features Milanese mistress Cecilia Gallerani cradling a stoat in its white winter coat, a powerful symbol of purity. But a three-year study has shown the artist initially painted the woman without an animal at all, then added only a spindly gray creature, before settling on the final version. The discovery was made by French optical engineer, Pascal Cotte, who has previously analysed the original colours of the now-faded Mona Lisa, Da Vinci's best-known portrait. He invented a technology called the Layer Amplification Method (LAM) to analyse each addition to the oil painting, from the wood on which the canvas was mounted to the visible pigments on top. He and his team projected intense lights onto the painting, which normally hangs in Krakow, Poland, and analyzed the way in which they were reflected. By taking these microscopic measurements they were able to decode how the painting had been built up over time. Mr. Cotte told the BBC: “The LAM technique gives us the capability to peel the painting like an onion, removing the surface to see what's happening inside and behind the different layers of paint. We've discovered that Leonardo is always changing his mind. This is someone who hesitates - he erases things, he adds things, he changes his mind again and again.” His findings have now been published in a 300-page book about the painting and how its secrets were uncovered. The Lady with an Ermine was one of only four paintings of women by Da Vinci, but historians had found it odd that a 1493 poem about it did not mention the animal for which it is famous. Mr. Cotte believes the work began as a far more conventional portrait of Miss Gallerani, who was a mistress of his patron, the Duke of Milan. He said his findings suggest the Duke - who was nicknamed the 'white ermine' - may have suggested the animal's inclusion in order to reference himself in the painting. Or his mistress, who was thought to be just 16 when Da Vinci painted her, could have requested the animal in order to make her relationship with the Duke public. The ermine, which is another name for a stoat in its brilliant winter coat, was also a long-standing symbol of purity. Da Vinci wrote a catalogue of animals in which he said, “The ermine out of moderation never eats but once a day. It would rather let itself be captured by hunters than take refuge in a dirty lair, in order not to stain its purity.” Its soft, unblemished coat was also prized for use in ceremonial robes, making the animal a sought-after statement of luxury and courtly wealth. The painting was the star turn in a Leonardo exhibition at the National Gallery in London in 2011, which attracted hundreds of thousands of art lovers. It was one of the first to use oil paint, a technique which had been introduced to Italy just a few years earlier. Mr. Cotte co-founded the Multispectral Institute (LTMI), an expert body on scientifically analyzing paintings, and has used his technology to digitize The Lady with an Ermine and the Mona Lisa. He has already digitized more than 2,000 masterpieces, allowing them to be studied in great depth without being removed from gallery walls.
Changing his mind: A study has shown Leonardo Da Vinci painted now-obscured versions of his masterpiece The Lady with an Ermine - first leaving out the animal (left) before including only a thin gray creature (right).
Finished work: The final painting, pictured, includes the white ermine as a powerful symbol of the lady's purity.
Painstakng: French optical engineer Pascal Cotte, who has also studied the Mona Lisa (left), said Da Vinci (right) was “always changing his mind. This is someone who hesitates, erases things, then adds things”.
Admired: The work was the star turn in a major Leonardo exhibition at London's National Gallery in 2011
While many people look at shelter websites only when they’re looking to get a companion animal for themselves, there are others who will look at these sites frequently to lend a hand as a foster parent. These foster homes become a place for pups to escape euthanasia on their quest to find forever homes. A woman by the name of Stephanie is one of these people. After successfully finding a family for her first foster dog, Kane, Stephanie decided to try the endeavor again. As she was scrolling through the Secondhand Hounds shelter website, one particular dog caught her eye: a Pit Bull with incredibly expressive and bold, black eyebrows. This goofy-looking pup was so uniquely adorable, Stephanie and her friend Kristy decided to co-foster him. They went and picked him up, ushering him into a new chapter of life. Considering all of the wrongful stereotypes against Pit Bulls and the fact that they sadly have a 93 percent euthanasia rate at shelters, this kind act was the difference between life and death for this pup. This is Simon, likely one of the most unique Pitties you have ever seen. Simon is a very lucky pup who was a part of a litter of 13 that escaped euthanasia in the nick of time when he was picked up by Secondhand Hounds, along with the rest of his family. Stephanie and Kristy aren’t Simon’s first parents. This adorable pup was returned by his former adopted family because of housing complications. Since his parents spoke a different language, Simon arrived at Stephanie’s home unable to understand basic commands or his name in English. However, slowly but surely, Simon was able to pick up some of these commands and started getting along swimmingly with Stephanie’s other dogs. Unfortunately, when Simon arrived at Stephanie’s house, he began coughing. After the sickness was diagnosed as kennel cough, Stephanie knew that getting him adopted would take a little longer than she anticipated. He would have to stay in quarantine for a few weeks. Since all Simon had learned about life was from within a kennel, he didn’t have many house manners. He’d jump onto tables, steal food from counters, and barked at anything he saw outside. A few applications were submitted to adopt Simon, but none of them were a right fit. Eventually, Stephanie decided to adopt Simon herself! Now, Simon is getting better at behaving and even participates in dock diving, a sport where dogs get to jump, swim, and play in water and then are scored based on their jumps. Simon loves this activity immensely and spectators always recognize the “dog with the eyebrows.” Stephanie knew that handling and training Simon would be a big project but after fostering him for several weeks, her love for him outweighed all of the work that lay ahead of her. It can be extremely easy to see a difficult-to-manage dog and deem them as “too big of a burden” to welcome into your home. However, dogs are just like children. Just like it would be wrong to go into an adoption agency and try to pick and choose the perfect human child, it is wrong to go through a kennel and completely ignore all of the dogs with behavioral imperfections. Simon may have started off as a somewhat unruly dog who did not know how to follow commands and did not know any manners. However, as Stephanie proves, with a little patience and a whole lot of love, any dog can be turned into a wonderful companion animal. Not to mention, Simon has become an unofficial ambassador for Pit Bulls and illustrates that this breed of dog is just as loving and playful as any other dog. Simon’s adorable face allows people to see past all of the negative stereotypes this breed has and see Simon for who he really is, just another dog who wants love and has tons of it to give in return.
A massive 14-pound lobster was caught during a fishing trip in Bermuda following a powerful category 4 hurricane that barreled through the region recently. The lobster was caught “by accident” with a hook a line while the Sanctuary Marine Bermuda charter boat was out fishing for snapper. After taking photos of the mammoth crustacean, the lobster was released safely back into the ocean. While appearing massive in size, the lobster is far from the bigger one ever caught; the Guinness Book of World Records lists a lobster weighing more than 44 pounds that was caught off of Nova Scotia, Canada, as the largest ever recorded, according to multiple reports. Lobsters typically grow to be about 3 feet or longer in length, according to the University of Maine’s Lobster Institute. And while there is no way to determine the exact age of a lobster, experts say they can live to be up to 100 years. Hurricane Nicole passed over Bermuda on Thursday and moved out to sea. The storm hit Bermuda with plenty of wind and rain but never officially made landfall. “Bermuda did get into the eye,” he explained, “but when it involves an island, the center of the eye must go over the island.” Nicole attained Category 4 status Wednesday night on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the center said, but lost wind strength Thursday. A storm surge was expected to raise water levels by 6 to 8 feet above normal tides, and 5 to 8 inches of rain are expected to fall over the island through Thursday evening, the hurricane center said. Nick Warren of Boston and his wife, Nicole, told CNN they were spending the week at Tucker’s Point 5 resort when the storm hit. He said the weather changed from fierce storm to calm in a matter of about 15 minutes, apparently when the eye of the storm passed over, then picked up again. To see the live interview with fisherman that caught 14lbs lobster, click HERE.
