All About Animals: 2 Legs, 4 Legs & Fins

Gone, gone, gone...

2010-09-05T17:34:00.000-04:00

All About Animals has evolved and is now "If it breathes..." The title 'All About Animals' didn't quite encompass all the things that we wanted to post on here. We like our fish, reptiles, and other breathing types that don't technically fall under the "animal" category. We hope you'll follow our new blog. We've moved all the great stories from this blog into our new blog. We plan to hang onto this one until everyone is used to the new one even though we won't be updating it. Check it out: If it breathes...

Doggie Exercises...

2010-09-04T13:59:00.000-04:00

Having a hard time getting motivated to do your exercises? Involve your dog .

Sept. 1st Deadline for Quota Deer Hunt Applications

2010-09-01T09:12:00.000-04:00

The window of opportunity is closing for those interested in applying for a quota deer hunt on select public land and at select State Parks. If you want a chance to hunt, you need to be sure to get your online quota application in before midnight September 1. A total of 35 quota deer hunts on public land and six State Park quota deer hunts are scheduled.

“The Wildlife Resources Division offers hunters of all ages the opportunity to experience deer hunting in every region of the state, including unique opportunities on Sapelo and Ossawbaw Island,” says Division Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. “Deer harvest during these public land quota hunts are tagged by the Division and do not count toward the hunters statewide season limit.”

Georgia’s online quota hunt application system provides hunters an expedient, easy and customer friendly means to apply for alligator, deer, state park, turkey and waterfowl quota hunts. Additionally, the systems customer accounts afford applicants not selected for quota hunts a convenient method to accrue and maintain preference points that can be applied to future applications.

To learn more about quota hunts and the quota hunt application process, interested hunters should visit the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division website at www.gohuntgeorgia.com . Select “Hunting” and then “Quota Hunts” for more information. How do you know if you are selected? Applicants can check their application status through their customer account after the deadline.

For more information on 2010 quota deer hunts, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 760-3045.

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States Make Headway Conserving Sandhills

2010-08-30T12:08:00.000-04:00

In June 2009, Georgia and three neighboring states received a $1 million federal grant to increase the quality, quantity and connectivity of prime sandhill habitat. The three-year project was aimed at benefiting gopher tortoises and as many as 54 other sandhill species that need significant conservation measures.

Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and groups such as Project Orianne, The Nature Conservancy and the Gopher Tortoise Council provided $1.66 million in matching money and work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant, part of the State Wildlife Grants Competitive Program.

Plans called for increasing prescribed fire, removing non-native sand pines and overgrown hardwoods, and thinning pine plantations. These efforts are critical to the open canopy and diverse herbaceous groundcover typical of healthy longleaf pine, turkey oak-dominated sandhills.

The overriding goal: Restore nearly 40,000 acres of priority public and private sandhill sites, rebuilding habitat for the tortoise and other priority species. The project could help keep gopher tortoises off federal endangered or threatened species lists and set the stage for long-term conservation of sandhills species, from hognose snakes to Bachman’s sparrows.

One year in, the states and partners have made excellent progress.

Teaming with The Nature Conservancy of Georgia, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources conducted prescribed fires on 4,700 acres at high-priority sandhills sites across the Coastal Plain, including Yuchi Wildlife Management Area, Ohoopee Dunes Natural Area, Fall Line Sandhills Natural Area, and private lands in Marion, Taylor, Talbot and Bryan counties. Also, non-native sand pines have been removed or sold for cutting on nearly 1,000 acres of state and private lands.

At Ohoopee Dunes in Emanuel County, prescribed fire was conducted on more than 1,000 acres. Many of the areas had not seen fire in many years, leading to buildups of woody underbrush and suppression of grassy groundcover. Shan Cammack with the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section planned and led the prescribed fires.

“Careful planning and execution produced successful entry burns at Ohoopee Dunes this year,” Cammack said. “With strategic ignition, drier sparse areas were burned hotter while sensitive areas with heavy fuel loads and duff were burned cooler.”

In Florida, the Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership, a land management public-private cooperative, did prescribed burning on more than 8,400 acres of state lands. Sand pine and hardwoods on another 265 acres were cleared.

In Alabama, The Nature Conservancy of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ State Lands Division burned about 2,500 acres of sandhills on state lands, planted 186 acres of longleaf pine, thinned pine plantations on 122 acres and removed hardwoods on 76 acres.

During the project’s first year, ecological restoration was initiated on more than 15,000 acres in Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

The grant also included monitoring to track progress. This component involved baseline gopher tortoise surveys on a subset of properties, plus vegetation sampling and breeding bird surveys.

All pre-treatment vegetation, bird monitoring and tortoise surveys are either completed or in progress. The work has provided some interesting stories.

Florida is surveying gopher tortoises on the Hutton Unit of the Blackwater Wildlife Management Area in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Burrow densities have been low, about 0.1 burrows per acre surveyed. Comparatively, densities on the sand ridges of Townsend WMA in Georgia are about one per acre. At Ohoopee Dunes, they are about 0.7 per acre. In sandier soils on some more-regularly burned longleaf-wiregrass ecosystems in southwest Georgia, densities may reach two to three burrows an acre.

The low densities at the Hutton Unit may be attributed to several factors, including human predation, which was historically higher in northwestern Florida than other parts of the tortoise’s range, and fire suppression before the state acquired the property in 1998.

Yet, despite fewer burrows, the search at Hutton is anything but boring.

According to Barbara Almario with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “Florida’s tortoise survey crew encounters snakes on an almost daily basis. One of the tortoise survey technicians accidentally stepped on an eastern diamondback rattlesnake one day.

“Fortunately, the snake was a little slow that morning and (the technician) escaped without injury.”

For the coming year, Georgia DNR is developing restoration plans for several private sites. Federal funding for longleaf planting on state lands has freed some sandhills grant funds. DNR is also considering burning even more acres at Ohoopee Dunes and Townsend, Yuchi and Penholoway WMAs. The hope at Ohoopee is to collaborate with adjacent private landowners on restoring sandhills.

Sandhills conservation is a priority in the Georgia Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that guides DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity. For more, go to www.georgiawildlife.com/conservation/wildlife-action-plan.

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Tiger Rattlesnake Found

2010-08-30T12:01:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, August 27, 2010, zoo officials coordinated last minute efforts with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to transport confiscated rattlesnakes to Zoo Atlanta. On Friday, August 28, 2010, an adult female rattlesnake was discovered missing from its cage in the quarantine facility. Zoo officials have been working around the clock to locate and capture the snake.

Early Monday, August 30, 2010, zoo officials received a phone call regarding a snake sighting. A member of the reptile staff responded to the call on Atlanta Avenue (a vacant home that is being remodeled). Upon arrival the snake was found dead on the front porch of the vacant home.

“We are grateful the snake was found,” said Raymond King, President and CEO. “We are conducting a thorough review of the incident to ensure all appropriate adjustments to procedures and protocols occur.”

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National Zoo Successfully Grows Two Species of Anemones Using Coral Techniques Learned in the Field

2010-08-27T10:52:00.000-04:00

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo has become the first in the zoo and aquarium community to use coral larvae settling techniques to successfully grow two species of anemones—an accomplishment that will provide the Zoo a unique opportunity to learn how anemones grow.

“We have many questions about how to care for these animals as they grow from larvae to adults,” said Mike Henley, an animal keeper at the Zoo’s Invertebrate Exhibit who applied the technique to the anemones after they had spawned. “The oceans are not an infinite resource and so anything that we can learn about the captive management of coral and anemones will go far in our ability to conserve them.”

The anemones—both of which are commonly called Tealia red anemones under the species of Urticina—spawned in late April and early May, just days apart. Hours after they spawned, Henley collected the eggs and sperm from the more than 2,000-gallon tank and put them together in smaller tanks to increase the chances of fertilization. After fertilization, the larvae settled and metamorphosed into a polyp. Henley put some of the developing larvae in a circular tank—called a kreisel—that automatically stirs the water to prevent the larvae from binding to one another, which would kill the animals. The kreisel is the same tank Henley and others use in the field in Puerto Rico to hold coral larvae. Other free-swimming larvae went into a regular tank with aeration and rocks to settle on. Now the Zoo has hundreds of thriving anemones behind the scenes, all smaller than the tip of a pencil.

“Sometimes we take the lessons we learn with animals in captivity and apply that to conserving them in the wild,” said Alan Peters, curator of the Zoo’s Invertebrate Exhibit. “But here we were able to apply what we’ve learned both in the field and from ex situ work and it is yielding some exciting results.”

While anemones and coral are both in the Anthozoa class of animals, they differ in a few notable ways. Anemones metamorphose into a single polyp, while coral will divide into a second polyp and a third and so on, to form a colony. In addition, anemones have a muscular foot they use to attach to rock, while stony corals make their own calcium carbonate rock that they live on. But both can sting and are carnivorous, feeding on crabs, shrimp, fish and zooplankton. More than 1,000 sea anemone species inhabit the world’s oceans at various depths, from the sandy seashore up to the surface. Visitors to the Zoo can see six different species of anemones, including cold and warm water anemones. Although anemones are not endangered, ocean habitats around the world are in decline as the result of pollution, runoff and sedimentation, climate change, acidification and poor fishing practices.

Henley will continue to observe the anemones to learn about their growth rate and the conditions that are necessary to rear these species in captivity, including the food, light and water temperature they require.

“In the past if the anemones spawned in the tank, it’d be a big headache,” said Henley. “You’d have to do frequent water changes because when the gametes—or reproductive cells—get too concentrated and deteriorate, it causes the water quality to crash. That’s the common experience among many of our zoo and aquarium colleagues. But this was different—so far it’s amounted to young anemones that we will continue to learn from for months, even years, to come.”

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Newswise: Scientists Bring New Species of Turtle Out of Its Shell

2010-08-25T15:01:00.000-04:00

Newswise — When scientists announce the discovery of a new animal species, we often imagine exotic, difficult to reach locations—the untouched shore of a distant island, the forests of the rain-drenched Amazon or the darkest depths of the Arctic Ocean.

But the recent announcement of a new species of turtle in the southeastern United States proves that even in a country considered to be well-explored, perhaps more awaits discovery.

In June, Jeff Lovich, NAU adjunct faculty member in biology, and Josh Ennen, NAU affiliate, published the discovery of a new species of turtle in Chelonian Conservation and Biology International Journal of Turtle and Tortoise Research.

Found in the Pearl River, which flows through Mississippi and Louisiana before it meets the Gulf of Mexico, the newly named Pearl Map Turtle, or Graptemys pearlensis, had been mistaken for a turtle native to the neighboring Pascagoula River. Ennen found it odd that the Pascagoula Map Turtle was found in both rivers and wanted to further investigate.

Ennen was completing his dissertation at University of Southern Mississippi when he decided to take a closer look at the inhabitants of the two rivers. His research led him to Lovich, who had found, described and named the last turtle species in the same region in 1992.

“I was familiar with Jeff’s work when questions started coming up,” Ennen said. “Based on the genetics, morphology and geographic isolation, I was considering classifying the turtles as distinct population segments when I decided to contact Jeff.”

Lovich, a research ecologist with U.S. Geological Survey’s Colorado Plateau Station at NAU, shared his findings and insight as the scientists built their case for classification of the new turtle species. His access to geologic and geographic data with the USGS assisted in their developing theory that the turtles had evolved into separate species.

“You’d expect to see similar aquatic species in these rivers due to their proximity,” Lovich said. “However, with sea level changes associated with glacial and interglacial periods in the past, animals in these rivers were periodically separated for tens of thousands to millions of years.”

Ennen and Lovich observed pattern variations between turtles in two rivers, and examining their DNA verified that the turtle endemic to each river was a different species.

The announcement of the Pearl Map Turtle, “Genetic and morphological variation between populations of the Pascagoula Map Turtle (Graptemys gibbonsi) in the Pearl and Pascagoula Rivers with description of a new species,” brings the number of native turtle species in the United States to 57, including six in Arizona, with approximately 320 species documented worldwide.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/nau-scientists-bring-new-species-of-turtle-out-of-its-shell

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Waterbuck born at Zoo Atlanta

2010-08-24T15:38:00.000-04:00

Kokopelli, a 9-year-old female waterbuck at Zoo Atlanta, gave birth to a calf overnight on August 22, 2010. The newborn appears to be healthy and has been observed nursing and following Kokopelli in their African Plains habitat.

The calf is the fifth offspring for Kokopelli and 8-year-old Arizona. Like giraffe calves, waterbuck calves are precocial, generally walking within an hour of birth.

Found throughout southeastern sub-Saharan Africa, waterbuck are among the world’s largest antelope species. The species name refers to the fact that waterbuck are often found near water sources, are good swimmers, and possess oily, “waterproof” coats.

Kokopelli’s youngster will make an interesting new neighbor for the 1-month-old giraffe calf born to Glenda on July 13. Voting to name Atlanta’s tallest baby continues online on zooatlanta.org through Wednesday, August 25 at 5 p.m. The winning name and contestant will be announced during a special naming celebration at Zoo Atlanta on Saturday, August 28 at 10 a.m. Stay tuned to zooatlanta.org for event details.

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Name The Healthy Bird And Keep Backyard Poultry Free From Disease

2010-08-23T13:32:00.000-04:00

(NAPSI)-The plucky rooster that is the mascot for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Biosecurity For Birds campaign needs a name. He's loud and proud. He has everything going for him: a nice home, a bevy of admiring hens and good health...everything but a name. From now through October 2010, bird enthusiasts can submit their name suggestions for the mascot, who headlines USDA's campaign that offers tips and information to poultry owners on how to protect their birds from infectious poultry diseases. The contest is sponsored by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Biosecurity For Birds campaign.

"I know all my chickens have names, and our mascot certainly should have one," said Andy Schneider, The Chicken Whisperer and national spokesperson for the campaign. "I urge all my fans and bird lovers to log on to the website, participate in the contest and give this healthy bird a name."

Contest Details

Contestants may submit their suggestions by logging on to http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov. A panel of poultry enthusiasts and marketing experts will review the nominations and select three top choices that will be posted on the Biosecurity for Birds website. Bird lovers will then have two weeks to vote for their favorite name.

The winning name and the person who submits it will be announced during Bird Health Awareness Week in November. The winning contestant will receive a deluxe duffel bag and will be interviewed and featured on the Biosecurity For Birds website.

Tips For Bird Owners

Biosecurity For Birds is a public awareness campaign that seeks to educate both new and experienced poultry owners about important steps to take to protect their flock. Poultry owners can help keep disease away from their farms and backyard pens by keeping things clean and watching for signs of infectious poultry diseases such as avian influenza, or "bird flu." Schneider reminds bird owners to "clean your shoes, clean your cages and equipment, and wash your hands before and after working with your birds." Plus, bird owners should not borrow or share bird supplies. If they must, items should be cleaned and disinfected before being brought home.

For more safety tips and to enter the contest, visit the Biosecurity For Birds website at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

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Squirrel Hunting Season Opened Aug. 15, 2010

2010-08-16T13:59:00.000-04:00

Whether still, stalk or squirrel dog hunting is your preference, the beginning of squirrel season is just around the corner. Often revered as a celebrated American fall tradition, squirrel hunting provides the perfect opportunity to introduce youth or a novice to the sport of hunting. Unlike some big game hunts, the pursuit of bushytails often involves more action for energetic youth, providing a greater level of interaction with the outdoors.

Beginning August 15, 2010 and lasting through February 28, 2011, hunters can pursue both gray and fox squirrels. The maximum daily bag limit is 12 per hunter.

“Prior to the successful restoration of white-tailed deer, pursuing squirrels in the fall became a significant cultural hunting tradition in Georgia,” says John Bowers, Wildlife Resources Division’s Game Management assistant chief. “Squirrel hunting provides one of our best opportunities to introduce youth to hunting, instill in them our responsibilities to wildlife conservation and provide exposure to the outdoors. Additionally, it’s fun, inexpensive and provides constant action.”

Squirrel hunting, especially with squirrel dogs such as feists, terriers and curs, is a great way to introduce youth to hunting and the outdoors. In terms of number of hunters and harvest, squirrels are the second most pursued small game species in Georgia, behind doves.

Georgia’s wildlife management areas offer access to nearly one million acres of hunting opportunity for only $19 a year, and squirrel hunting is allowed on WMAs at specified times during the statewide squirrel season. Hunters are advised to check the hunting regulations for specific WMAs and dates.

The two species

Both the gray and fox squirrels can be found throughout Georgia. The gray squirrel, abundant in both rural and urban areas is the most common species. Though mostly associated with hardwood forests, grays also can be found in mixed pine/hardwood forests. Predominantly gray, with white under parts, gray squirrels appear more slender-bodied than fox squirrels, weighing anywhere from 12 ounces to one-and-a-half pounds.

Fox squirrels have several color phases, varying from silver-gray with a predominantly black head, to solid black, to a light buff or brown color tinged with reddish-yellow. Generally larger than grays, fox squirrels range in weight from one pound to nearly three, and are more closely associated with mature pine and mixed pine/hardwood habitats and especially in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions.

For more information on the 2010-2011 squirrel hunting season or other small game hunting seasons, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com, contact a local Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416.

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Gator-Frenzy Video Creates Buzz About Stephen C. Foster State Park

2010-08-13T13:43:00.000-04:00

Gators galore! A Georgia fisherman’s video of a rare alligator “feeding frenzy” is bringing unexpected attention to the Okefenokee Swamp. Ray Cason of Homerville had just launched his boat at Stephen C. Foster State Park on July 10 when he documented hundreds of alligators feeding in a narrow canal. His short video was posted by the Clinch County News and has since been picked up by Southeastern media and viewed by nearly 50,000 people.

Imagining themselves in Cason’s boat, people tend to have one of two reactions: “Get me outta here!” or “Quick, where’s my camera?” For those eager to see alligators and explore the mysterious swamp, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is offering advice for a good visit. Rangers are reminding tourists that such massive gatherings of alligators is extremely rare, prompted by low water levels that force fish into small areas. Visitors are almost sure to see alligators, but not in a large gathering as shown in the video. Typically, alligators are solitary animals that slip under the black water when boats approach.

The footage was shot in the small canal that leads from Stephen C. Foster State Park’s boat basin into the main channel of the Okefenokee Swamp. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent them from the park when water levels are high. However, when water levels are as low as they are currently, boat rentals may not be available. Park staff encourage visitors to call before traveling to determine if canoes, kayaks or motorized jon boats can make it through the narrow canal. For their own safety, pets are prohibited in all boats.

“People don’t realize that alligators will go after dogs and other pets,” said Park Manager Travis Griffin. “They aren’t interested in adults in boats, but they have been known to go after fish on rods and poles. This is why we tell anglers to not put stringers or fish baskets in the water.”

Feeding any wildlife in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is illegal. Griffin emphasized the danger of feeding alligators because they learn to associate people with food. He recommends that visitors admire the giant reptiles from a distance and keep their hands and feet inside boats. Children should not play near the water’s edge.

The famous swamp is in a remote part of southeast Georgia, so visitors usually stay overnight. Stephen C. Foster State Park, which is the main western entrance, rents nine fully equipped cottages with kitchens, bathrooms, screened porches and grills. Campers can choose from 64 shaded sites nestled among Spanish moss and saw palmettos. Because the nearest grocery store is 18 miles away, guests are encouraged to bring all supplies.

Stephen C. Foster State Park also features three miles of nature trails and boardwalks, a small gift shop and museum. Park gates are open 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Spring and fall are the most popular times to visit, so guests are encouraged to make reservations in advance. Summer is the slowest season, due to heat and biting insects.

The Okefenokee Swamp is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. It is the largest blackwater swamp in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Visitors come from across the globe to paddle the still, tea-colored water that reflects blue sky and cypress trees. Birders can look for wood storks, white ibis, great egrets, green-backed heron, marsh wrens and more than 200 other species. Visitors might also see black bear, white tail deer, raccoon, red fox, bobcat, opossum, fox squirrel and other species.

Before You Go:
Stephen C. Foster State Park
17515 Hwy. 177
Fargo , GA 31631
(912) 637-5274
www.GeorgiaStateParks.org/StephenCFoster
www.fws.gov/okefenokee/

Park Hours:
7 a.m. – 10 p.m. (gate locks at closing; no late entry)

Office Hours:
Fall/Winter 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Spring/Summer 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Fees:
$5 Entrance fee per vehicle.
$25-$28 Campsites
$125 Cottages

Pets:
Visitors are encouraged to leave pets at home because they are not allowed in boats, even privately owned watercraft. Dogs are allowed in the campground and only in select cottages with advance notice. Never leave pets unattended in vehicles.

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Wilson's Plover Upswing - Census of these Birds Shows Surge in Nesting Pairs

2010-08-12T09:46:00.000-04:00

With more than 350 nesting pairs, Wilson’s plovers in Georgia are doing much better than 10 years ago, according to a survey led by the state Department of Natural Resources.

The survey in May and June found three times as many nesting pairs as in 2000. The increase for these shorebirds state-listed as rare in Georgia is credited mostly to improved habitat, according to wildlife biologist Tim Keyes of the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section.

Of 19 islands surveyed, Cumberland led with 106 nesting pairs, followed by St. Catherines and Ossabaw with 49 and 44 pairs, respectively. All accretional beach and dune areas considered potential nesting habitat, including terraced sand and wrack flats, embryonic and developed dune fields, and beach wash-over plumes not subjected to regular tidal flooding, were surveyed on foot.

“The high numbers of Wilson’s plover this year, coupled with observing many chicks at a number of locations, was an exciting find,” Keyes said. “Beach nesting birds face so many challenges, ranging from storms and high tides to avian and terrestrial predators and human and canine disturbances, it often seems remarkable that they ever successfully fledge young.”

Wilson’s plover is a medium-sized shorebird once numerous on south Atlantic and Gulf Coast beaches. Following declines, the species is now listed among high-priority animals in the Georgia Wildlife Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that guides efforts statewide to conserve biological diversity.

Apart from counting nesting pairs of Wilson’s plovers, workers placed signs in areas of high nesting concentrations to warn beach-goers of the birds’ presence. When faced with close human approach, adult birds will flush off the nest and, using distraction displays, attempt to lure people away from the nest. If the birds are kept from the nest too long, the eggs may overheat or be eaten by gulls, crabs and other predators.

Keyes said survey participants included Jen Hilburn of the St. Catherines Island Foundation, Scott Coleman of Little St. Simons Island and several volunteers who also help monitor sea turtle nesting. The National Park Service on Cumberland and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also provided assistance.

Keyes thanked all who helped. “This survey would not have been possible without the full cooperation and at times participation of people working on all of Georgia’s barrier islands, and we are very grateful to them for their assistance.”

His goal is to repeat the survey every five years, depending on manpower.

This year’s census of Wilson’s plovers follows estimates of 107 nesting pairs in 2000, 360 in 1980 and 200-250 in 1986-1987.

The survey is an example of how buying a nongame license plate or donating to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund supports wildlife conservation. Contributions benefit the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state general funds for its mission to conserve wildlife not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as rare plants and natural habitats in the state.

How can you help?

Donate online at www.georgiawildlife.com. Click “Donate to the Nongame Wildlife Conservation Fund” and follow directions. The process is secure. Donations are tax-deductible.
Buy a license plate featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird, available for a $35 fee at tag offices, by checking the wildlife license plate box on mail-in registrations and through online renewals (http://mvd.dor.ga.gov/tags).
Contribute through the Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff. Fill in an amount more than $1 on line 27 of the long state income tax form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500EZ). Contributions can be deducted from refunds or added to payments.

For more information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com or call Nongame Conservation offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218). Call the Forsyth office or go to http://tern.homestead.com/ for details on The Environmental Resources Network. TERN is a nonprofit advocacy group for the Nongame Conservation Section.

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The HSVMA to Give 10 Trip Awards for Veterinarians Attending Equine Workshop

2010-08-12T09:39:00.000-04:00

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association is seeking entries for its Equitarian Workshop Trip Awards. Practicing veterinarians interested in attending the Equitarian Workshop in Vera Cruz, Mexico October 17-22 are encouraged to apply. Entries can be submitted online through Sept. 5, 2010.

The HSVMA has partnered with The American Association of Equine Practitioners and the AAEP Foundation, Universidad National Autónoma de México and the Donkey Sanctuary to help launch the Equitarian Workshop.

The workshop will be an opportunity for veterinarians from the USA and Mexico to meet and learn about the best ways to provide care for working horses, mules and donkeys. The unique format will include lectures by veterinary professionals with experience in delivering care in rural areas, and field experience in farming communities currently serviced by an established program of the veterinary school at Universidad National Autónoma de México.

Dr. Eric Davis, director of HSVMA Field Services and a presenting clinician said, "The curriculum has been specifically designed to make participants effective Equitarians and ready to help the world's working equines and the people who depend on them. For those of us who have struggled in this field without a road map, this workshop is a dream come true."

A panel of judges, including Drs. Eric Davis and Jay Merriam, another presenting clinician, will select the 10 award winners based on the quality of the essays submitted.

The 10 winners will receive a $500 travel stipend to attend the Equitarian Workshop.

Interested individuals should complete the online application and submit a 500-1000 word essay on the topic, "Why do you feel it is important for the veterinary profession to donate time and resources to help equines in need around the world, and what are your motivations to participate?"

For complete rules and to access the online form, go to hsvma.org/education.

Detailed information about the workshop can be found at aaep.org.

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IFAW and the USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Conduct Urgent Study of Endangered Whale Sharks in Oiled Waters

2010-08-10T11:27:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) scientists are concerned that the protected whale shark, the world's largest fish, may be a quiet victim of the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. IFAW is responding to an urgent appeal for assistance from the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (USM-GCRL) to conduct research on whale shark biology, behavior and movement patterns in the Gulf before it's too late.

The newly discovered essential whale shark feeding area may already be contaminated. It's been three weeks with very few sightings of whale sharks in what are usually normal congregate areas of the northern Gulf of Mexico, leading scientists to worry they may be the unseen victims of the Gulf oil spill.

Not only are whale sharks the biggest fish in the sea but they may also be one of the most vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Despite their large size, whale sharks feed on the tiniest of creatures -- plankton, fish larvae and small crustaceans. However, whale sharks in the northern Gulf may be adding oil and toxic oil dispersant chemicals to their diet as they have been found in areas within and surrounding oiled waters.

"These whale sharks are facing a lethal one-two punch," said IFAW biologist Jacob Levenson. "First is the impact on the animal's ability to breathe as a result of the oil physically coating its gills and secondly is the long term impacts of passively accumulating toxins from oil and liberal dispersant use."

Unlike birds, fish, mammals and other animals, because sharks are negatively buoyant and lack a gas-filled swim bladder, they quietly sink into the depths when they die, never to be seen again. Other than a few accounts of their occurrence, in aggregations, information is scant for whale sharks in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Levenson is joining scientist, Dr. Eric Hoffmayer of the USM-GCRL to conduct research that is crucial to understand how the toxic oil is impacting whale sharks and deciding what can be done to save them before time runs out. The information gathered by the team is also critical to ensure that government and oil companies have accurate information to best protect this species. Currently, there are no provisions in place in BP's spill response plan to protect these beautiful and rare animals.

Levenson and Hoffmayer will make several day trips offshore in boats with aircraft support to gather data and tag animals for future satellite tracking.

"Figuring out what happens to these goliath fish is not just good science, it's important to understand how this toxic cocktail moves through the food chain. Whatever happens to whale sharks is likely to be experienced by manta rays and other animals not normally tested as part of NOAA's Seafood Monitoring Program," added Levenson.

So far, Dr. Hoffmayer has been able to deploy a few satellite tags when he encountered an aggregation of over 100 whale sharks this past June. He is currently tracking one shark with a surface satellite tag in the offshore waters of the Gulf. So far the shark has stayed away from the area impacted by the oil spill. He is hoping to tag several others to determine their daily movements.

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Advanced Disposal Produces Gopher Tortoise Relocation Movie

2010-08-10T09:20:00.001-04:00

Editor's Note: This is a great story and video about gopher tortoises and the conservation efforts of a large company. Our only disappointment in our viewing of it was the video is quite small when it is clicked on at the home site.

Watch the video. It's educational value is terrific. Kudos to Advanced Disposal for their efforts on behalf of the tortoise!

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Advanced Disposal is looking to make a certain colony of gopher tortoises famous in an effort to bring awareness to the federally-protected species. The environmental services company today released its documentary-style film “Relocating the Gopher Tortoise at Turkey Trot Landfill.”

“Relocating the Gopher Tortoise at Turkey Trot Landfill.”

The film takes viewers through the unique process of relocating a colony of gopher tortoises and teaches them why this keystone species is such an important part of the south uplands ecosystem.

Advanced Disposal was awarded a contract to build a municipal solid waste landfill on a permitted and approved site in Washington County, Ala. During the assessment process, the company and its regulatory partners discovered a colony of gopher tortoises on the 300-acre landfill site.

The film tells the story of how the gopher tortoises were relocated to a preservation owned by South Alabama Utilities just 30 miles away from Turkey Trot Landfill. It documents the burrow identification processes utilizing GPS technology, two types of capture techniques, medical assessment process and release at the new location. Countless hours were spent by several companies and organizations including U.S. Army Corp of Engineers; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Alabama Department of Environmental Management; Board of Commissioners of Washington County, Alabama; Environmental Services, Inc.; South Alabama Utilities; Hodges, Harbin, Newberry & Tribble, Inc. and Advanced Disposal to ensure a smooth and successful transfer of the tortoises.

“Advanced Disposal strives to be a stellar corporate citizen in all of the communities in which we live and work,” said Mary O’Brien, chief marketing officer with Advanced Disposal. “When we learned that we would be relocating a colony of gopher tortoises, we decided to capture it on film and utilize it as a fun, engaging educational tool while showing our commitment to the environment. We think this film does just that and hope that others will help us build awareness for this special species.”

Projects like Turkey Trot Landfill assist in tortoise conservation actions that could not otherwise be developed without the scientific data collected during the relocation process. Taking specific measurements when collecting the species and conducting the long-term monitoring and research at the preserve help scientists understand more about the tortoises’ habitat needs, survival rates, and reproductive success. The information gained from relocating the tortoises from Turkey Trot Landfill will assist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in making long term conservation goals to protect the species in perpetuity.

Copies of the DVD are being sent to local schools, environmental and conservation groups, wildlife preservations and youth organizations to help grow an appreciation for the gopher tortoises. People can also watch the film by going to www.AdvancedDisposal.com and clicking on the gopher tortoise video link.

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Zoo Atlanta: Naming Contest Begins Today for Baby Giraffe

2010-08-09T10:04:00.000-04:00

Now that lucky visitors are being treated to sightings of Atlanta’s first giraffe calf, the next milestone in order for the city’s tallest baby is a name. Zoo Atlanta officials announced last week that a naming contest for the calf will launch online on zooatlanta.org on Monday, August 9.

Beginning today, voters are encouraged to visit zooatlanta.org to view and select from a final list of names submitted by Zoo Atlanta staff and Volunteers; the Zoo Atlanta Board of Directors; and local media outlets. Voting will continue online through Wednesday, August 25. The winning name will be announced during a naming celebration on Saturday, August 28. As an added incentive for voting, each participant will also be entered for a chance to win a Zoo Atlanta Membership and an exclusive behind-the-scenes animal encounter.

Stay tuned to zooatlanta.org for naming contest details.

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UGA researchers unlocking the secrets of cross-species rabies transmission

2010-08-06T12:23:00.000-04:00

Like most infectious diseases, rabies can attack several species. However, which species are going to be infected and why turns out to be a difficult problem that represents a major gap in our knowledge of how diseases emerge. A paper just published in the journal Science by a team of researchers led by Daniel G. Streicker, a Ph.D. student in the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology, has begun to close that knowledge gap.

The paper, co-authored by researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Western Michigan University, provides among the first estimates for any infectious disease of how often a disease can be transmitted across species in complex, multi-host communities and the likelihood of disease establishment in a new host species.

“Rabies happens to be an ideal system to answer these questions,” said Streicker. “Rabies occurs across the country, affects many different host species and is known to mutate frequently.” Although cases of rabies in humans are rare in the U.S., bats are the most common source of these infections, according to the CDC.

To determine the rate at which rabies infects multiple species, Streicker and his colleagues used an enormous dataset, unprecedented in its scope, containing hundreds of rabies viruses from 23 North American bat species. They used gene sequencing and tools from population genetics to quantify how many cross-species transmission (CST) events were expected to occur between each pair of species from any infected individual. Their analysis showed that, depending upon the species involved, a single infected bat may infect between 0 and 2 members of a different species; and that, on average, the probability of cross-species transmission occurs only once for every 73 transmissions within the same species.

“What’s really important about this is that molecular sequence data, an increasingly cheap and available resource, can be used to quantify CST,” said Streicker.

Associate professor Sonia Altizer, Streicker’s advisor in the Odum School, agreed. “This is a breakthrough,” said Altizer. “The team defined, for the first time, a framework for quantifying the rates of CST across a network of host species that could be applied to other wildlife pathogens, and they developed novel methods to do it.”

The researchers also looked at what factors allow diseases to move across species, such as foraging behavior, geographic range and genetics.

“There’s a popular idea that because of their potential for rapid evolution, the emergence of these types of viruses is limited more by ecological constraints than by genetic similarity between donor and recipient hosts,” explained Streicker. “We wanted to see if that was the case.”

They found, instead, that rabies viruses are much more likely to jump between closely related bat species than between ones that diverged in the distant past. Overlapping geographic range was also associated with CST, but to a lesser extent.

“CST and viral establishment do not occur at random, but instead are highly constrained by host-associated barriers,” Streicker said. “Contrary to popular belief, rapid evolution of the virus isn’t enough to overcome the genetic differences between hosts.”

Streicker believes that what he and his colleagues have learned about bat rabies will be influential in understanding the ecology, evolution and emergence of many wildlife viruses of public health and conservation importance. “The basic knowledge we’ve gained will be key to developing new intervention strategies for diseases that can jump from wildlife to humans,” he said.

Streicker is continuing his work with rabies and bats, with funding for a three-year study from the National Science Foundation. He and Altizer, in collaboration with investigators at the CDC, University of Michigan and the Peruvian Ministries of Health and Agriculture, will explore how human activities affect the transmission of the rabies virus in vampire bats in Peru and how those changes might feed back into altering the risk of rabies infection for humans, domesticated animals and wildlife.

“This kind of synthetic, interdisciplinary work is precisely what we aim for in the Odum School,” said John Gittleman, Odum School dean. “The success of this research hinges on bringing together the fields of genetics, evolution and disease in a large-scale ecological context. Big problems in ecology will be solved in this way.”

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"Simply Irresistible" - Proper Dog Guide Etiquette

2010-08-05T08:51:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- It is often hard to resist petting a cute, floppy eared dog when you see one. So, what do you do when you see a guide dog curled under a restaurant table, or walking along side a person who is blind or visually impaired? The Pennsylvania Association for the Blind encourages following these guidelines when encountering these specially bred and trained dogs;

-- Don't touch, pet, talk to, feed or otherwise distract the dog while
he/she is wearing a harness.

A guide dog is a highly trained dog that acts as a mobility aide to the blind and visually impaired. When a dog is in harness, they are "on duty or working" and must concentrate for the safety of his/her owner or handler.

-- Don't attempt to grab or steer the person while the dog is guiding, do
not attempt to hold the dog's harness or give the dog commands.

A dog or handler may be in an unfamiliar situation that requires their full attention. Grabbing a harness or leash can disorientate and confuse the team. The handler will give the dog commands when necessary and will ask for assistance if needed.

-- Don't walk on the dog's left side.

Walking on a dog's left side may distract or confuse the dog. Instead, walk on the handler's right side and several paces behind him or her.

-- Speak to the person, not the dog.

Many handlers enjoy introducing their guide dogs. Both owner and dog go through training to work as a team, and in most cases develop a strong companionship through the process. Ask the handler if you can pet the dog. If they say yes, do not pat the dog on the head, but stroke the dog on the shoulder area.

Guide dogs are the guiding eyes for people who are blind or visually impaired, and you can expect to see them anywhere the public is allowed. So, the next time you see those "Simply Irresistible" puppy eyes follow these few guidelines and you will insure the safety of both the handler and the dog.

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Black Bear Sightings Still Possible in Late Summer

2010-08-03T13:48:00.001-04:00

Each year the likelihood of bear sightings throughout the state, even in urbanized areas and suburbs, increases. Whether it’s a young male bear roaming across the metro Atlanta area or a hungry bear sifting through a North Georgia campsite for an easy meal, the possibility exists and residents should be aware.

“A black bear sighting is something that few people ever forget – especially when it is in your backyard. Human populations have grown and expanded into areas traditionally inhabited by bears and when conflicts arise the bear is often perceived as a threat or nuisance,” says Wildlife Resources Division Assistant Game Management Chief John W. Bowers.

Black bears most commonly are found in three areas of the state - the north Georgia mountains, the Ocmuglee River drainage system in central Georgia and the Okefenokee Swamp in the southeastern part of the state. However, black bears can and do range over larger areas; especially in early spring and late summer, when activity patterns increase. Young male bears also are known to roam larger areas in an effort to establish their own territory.

Black bears are omnivorous and opportunistic, and their diet consists of whatever food is readily available at any given time of year. Black bears may be attracted to the scents of human food, pet food, birdseed, beehives and even compost piles. When bears can easily obtain such foods, they begin to associate humans with food and as a result, lose their innate fear of people. Wildlife biologists with the Wildlife Resources Division encourage residents to heed the following tips in an effort to minimize bear conflicts and lessen the chance of wild bears becoming habituated to people:

·    NEVER, under any circumstances, feed a bear. Such activity is unlawful.

·    Keep items, such as grills, pet food or bird feeders off-limits to bears. Clean and store grills when not in use, keep pet food indoors and take bird feeders down if bears are in the area.

·    Make sure trashcans are bear-proof or kept indoors.

·    When camping or picnicking, keep your site clean. Never leave food or coolers unattended. Never keep food in or near your tent. Store food in properly sealed containers and whenever possible, store these containers in a vehicle. If camping in backcountry areas, hang packs or food bags at least ten feet off the ground and at least four feet from the trunk of a tree.

“All residents, especially those in known bear areas, are encouraged to be responsible and help prevent conflicts by making non-natural, human-provided ‘foods’ unavailable to bears,” says Bowers.

Though the American black bear (Ursus americanus) is now considered the most common bear in North America and the only bear found in Georgia, at one point the species was nearly eradicated from the state due to poaching and habitat loss. Yet, because of sound wildlife management practices Georgia’s current black bear population is healthy and thriving and is estimated to be about 5,100 bears statewide.

For more information regarding black bears, visit www.georgiawildlife.com, contact a Wildlife Resources Division Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416. The public also can visit their local library to check out a copy of an informational DVD entitled, “Where Bears Belong: Black Bears in Georgia.”

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Morris Animal Foundation Study Finds Veterinarians and Physicians Want More Dog Bite Prevention Training During Schooling

2010-07-31T11:03:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Morris Animal Foundation (MAF), a nonprofit organization that promotes longer, healthier lives for animals through humane research, recently funded a study to determine how educated veterinarians and physicians are about dog bite prevention techniques. Only 21 percent of veterinarians and 5 percent of physicians reported that they had acquired most of their knowledge about dog bites from medical or veterinary school. Most interesting, the study found that the vast majority of those surveyed would like to have more information about dog bite prevention during their schooling.

"We hope the information from this study can be used to develop better curricula for medical and veterinary training programs," said Patricia N. Olson, DVM, PhD, president/CEO of MAF. "This curriculum could prove to be of benefit to both people and dogs alike, helping us to better live side by side."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has collected some eye-opening statistics on dog bites. Fifty percent of dog attacks involve children under 12 years old. The rate of dog bite-related injuries is highest for children ages 5 to 9 years, and the rate decreases as children age. Almost two thirds of injuries among children ages four years and younger are to the head or neck region. Sixty-five percent of bites among children occur to the head and neck.

The CDC and other dog bite prevention experts offer these simple precautions to parents, veterinarians and physicians about the dangers of dog bites and how to avoid them. These precautions are particularly important during the summertime, when people and dogs are outside more and the bite rates rise.

Parents can take several precautionary steps:
-- Instruct your children never to approach and interact with dogs they
don't know.
-- Avoid contact with a chained dog unless the owner gives permission
that it is safe to approach the animal.
-- Never allow children to tease or pester any dog.
-- Adopt a zero-tolerance policy for any form of animal abuse, and
instruct children to treat all dogs in a humane and caring manner.
-- Teach your children how to interpret a dog's body language, such as
recognizing changes in posture or when a dog shows its teeth.
-- Never leave small children alone with a dog.

Dog owners can take steps to avoid potential dog bite situations:
-- Take your dog to obedience and socialization classes to decrease the
threat of biting.
-- Recognize the warning signs of aggression and act accordingly.
-- Choose a dog you are confident you can physically control.
-- Keep dogs that demonstrate strong predatory tendencies, such as
hunting and killing smaller animals, away from toddlers and young
children.

Following these steps can help ensure that you have a fun, safe summer with your children, and it can also significantly decrease the number of dog bite accidents. For more information, contact your veterinarian or family physician/pediatrician. You can also visit us at www.MorrisAnimalFoundation.org or on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter for up-to-date information.

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Zoo Atlanta: Giraffe calf takes first peek at the public

2010-07-29T10:27:00.000-04:00

Zoo Atlanta officials announced July 28 that Atlanta’s first giraffe calf may now be spotted in her African Plains habitat. Lucky guests may be treated to sightings of the new giraffe calf, who has been confirmed to be female, during select intervals until she is on exhibit full-time.

Born July 13, 2010, to 3-year-old Glenda, the calf is currently exploring the savanna-inspired yard with her mother and her aunt, Glenda’s 4-year-old sister Mona. Future milestones will include introductions to her father, 4-year-old Abu, as well as to the exhibit’s other residents, including ostrich and zebra.

Stay tuned to zooatlanta.org for exciting updates on the calf’s progress.

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Biggers & Callaham, LLC DBA Mice Direct Recalls Frozen Reptile Feed Because of Possible Health Risk

2010-07-28T16:50:00.000-04:00

Biggers & Callaham LLC., D/B/A Mice Direct of Cleveland Georgia is recalling frozen reptile feed (mice, rats, chicks), because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling contaminated pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

The frozen reptile feed was distributed in all states, except Hawaii, through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery.

Frozen reptile feed was shipped in plastic bags with the following product codes M-SP100, M-P100, M-PF100, M-F100, M-H100, M-W50, M-A50, M-JA25, R-P100, R-F50, R-PUP50, R-W50, R-S50, R-M20, R-L10,R-J5, R-C5, R-M3 followed by E9, F9, G9, H9, I9, J9, K9, L9 or A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10 and whole frozen chicks in 25 count bags.

Human illnesses that may be related to the frozen reptile feed have been reported in 17 states. The recalled product should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave oven, since the heating may not be adequate to kill Salmonella. The recall is based upon sampling by the FDA of frozen mice. The company continues their investigation.

Products shipped after 07/24/2010, will be irradiated in a similar manner as raw food for human consumption in order to address the Salmonella issue associated with these products.

Consumers who purchased reptile feed from Mice Direct are urged to contact Mice Direct by telephone at 888-747-0736 from 9:00a.m-5:00p.m EST Monday-Friday or by e-mail at sales@micedirect.com for instructions concerning this recall and for credits towards replacement of unused product.

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Big Season For Georgia's Smallest Turtle

2010-07-28T11:45:00.000-04:00

Drought in the mountains the past two summers dried up much up the suitable habitat for bog turtles, but thanks to wet weather, increased trapping and improved management efforts, 2010 is looking like a record season for the smallest of Georgia’s protected turtles.

Federally threatened and listed as endangered in Georgia, bog turtles are rare in much of their native range due to loss of habitat. Researchers know of only 67 turtles in the state, 16 of which were released from a “headstart” restoration effort. With increased trapping efforts this year, 40 percent of the known bog turtles in Georgia were captured and released during the monitoring season.

Trapping allows biologists to monitor populations, find new ones and collect egg-bearing females for the headstart program.

In the past, trapping was limited to 30 traps. Efforts were ramped up in 2010 when help from a State Wildlife Grant that provided funding for more traps and supported two bog turtle interns for the summer, Bryan Hudson and Theresa Stratmann. With the additional staff, Georgia Department of Natural Resources biologist Thomas Floyd was able to set 145 traps covering 12 sites in four counties.

“DNR’s recent bog habitat restoration efforts are a double-edged sword for bog turtle conservation,” Floyd said. While habitat improvements have been accomplished over the past three years, these efforts inadvertently made it harder to capture turtles that were previously concentrated in small pockets of suitable habitat. Yet, said Floyd, “The long-term benefits of these habitat improvements are well worth this added difficulty.”

Project Orianne joined the DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section in bog turtle conservation efforts this year. With 40 traps from DNR, staff at Project Orianne, an organization furthering conservation of eastern indigo snakes, trapped in multiple sites in northeastern Georgia.

There are three reasons for trapping bog turtles. Primarily, biologists trap in order to monitor known populations, collect data from individual animals on an annual basis and document previously uncaptured individual turtles. The second reason is to collect gravid females for the Bog Turtle Headstart program, which is why trapping is done from mid-May to mid-July. Turtles are also trapped to identify potential new populations.

One such population was discovered this year at a Union County wetland. The find demonstrates why bog turtles, which are typically elusive, often go unnoticed by landowners. The new site had all the characteristics of bog turtle habitat. But it took a month before a turtle was captured -- a lone male. Since bog turtles are not known to travel great distances and the closest population is approximately three miles away, biologists assume this turtle represents a new population for the area.

In addition, three new turtles were trapped in a Towns County site that had not been monitored since 1997 due to a lack of resources, along with three new turtles within a known population in Fannin County.

Another development this season is Georgia’s entry into a cooperative effort with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Biological Resources Division. Genetic samples taken from every bog turtle captured will be sent to the Leetown Science Center in Kearneysville, W.V. In doing so, DNR has joined all other states with known bog turtle populations in supplying genetic samples that will help biologists begin to understand the relatedness among populations of turtles across different states, as well as among and within local populations in Georgia. Information gleaned from these analyses is expected to help guide Georgia’s headstart efforts in determining an appropriate genetic source for establishing new bog turtle populations within the species’ range in the state.

Of the 21 turtles captured and released so far in 2010, three were gravid. Starting this year, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, a long-time cooperator in Georgia’s Bog Turtle Headstart program, agreed to receive gravid females during this and subsequent seasons. Gravid turtles were held in captivity until eggs were laid. Although the collection of gravid females from the wild is an important source of hatchlings, in previous years more hatchlings have been produced from captive stock than from wild-caught turtles. Beginning next year, Chattahoochee Nature Center will also be breeding some 15 captive bog turtles produced from previous years of the Bog Turtle Headstart program.
To learn more about bog turtles, watch a short video here or visit the DNR Wildlife Resources Division’s website, www.georgiawildlife.com.

Georgians can help conserve bog turtles and other rare and endangered animals not legally hunted, fished for or trapped, as well as native plants and habitats, through buying wildlife license plates featuring a bald eagle or a ruby-throated hummingbird. They can also donate to the Georgia Wildlife Conservation Fund state income tax checkoff or contribute online and by mail. These programs are vital to the Nongame Conservation Section, which receives no state general funds.

Visit www.georgiawildlife.com for more information, or call Nongame Conservation offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

BOG TURTLES AT A GLANCE
Bog turtles are the smallest turtles in North America, averaging only 3.5 inches in length. Dark in color they are easily distinguished by a bright orange blotch on the head behind each eye. Like many turtles, they will bask in the sun when active but when it gets too hot these little guys burrow deep into the boggy soil to escape the sun’s rays. Females will lay two to five eggs and hatchlings emerge 52-60 days later, usually in mid-August.

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P&G Recalls Two Lots of Prescription Renal Diet Cat Food due to a Possible Health Risk

2010-07-27T16:45:00.000-04:00

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) (NYSE:PG), is voluntarily recalling two specific lots of its prescription renal dry cat food as a precautionary measure, as it has the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

The following products are included:

Product Name	Lot Code	UPC Code
Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs	01384174B4	0 19014 21405 1
Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5 lbs	01384174B2	0 19014 21405 1

This product is available by prescription through veterinary clinics throughout the U.S.

No illnesses have been reported. A FDA analysis identified a positive result on the lot codes listed above. Lot codes can be found in the lower right corner on the back of the bag.

Consumers who have purchased dry cat food with these codes should discard it. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-894-4458 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST).

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IFAW, NSALA Save Unwanted Dogs From Canada 'Dog Shoot'

2010-07-27T09:31:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) rescued 36 dogs from a "dog shoot" in Northern Canada that was scheduled to control the local dog population. IFAW worked with rescues and shelters across Eastern Canada to find homes for twenty-nine of the dogs. The remaining seven dogs will arrive at North Shore Animal League America (NSALA) in Port Washington, N.Y. today, where they will have a second chance at permanent homes in the United States.

IFAW's Northern Dogs Project team was in a remote Canadian community providing vital veterinary care and humane education when concerned community members alerted IFAW's team that due to concerns about the number of roaming dogs, unwanted dogs would soon be rounded up and shot. In many remote communities without access to regular veterinary care, this is often considered the only means of controlling the dog population.

"Once we heard about the dog shoot, we immediately collaborated with a vocal minority of community members who wanted to find a humane solution for these unwanted dogs," said IFAW's Canadian project manager, Jan Hannah. "It is a mark of tremendous progress for the community to move from dog shooting to considering transport as a humane alternative."

This community is one of eight in which IFAW has been working with since 2002, providing veterinary services, animal welfare education and outreach, assistance with animal control regulations and, in some cases, finding homes for unwanted dogs.

North Shore Animal League America's SVP of Operations Joanne Yohannan said, "The seven dogs that are being humanely relocated represent the hope for all of the roaming dogs in this area. It is an example that you do not have to shoot animals to combat an overpopulation problem."

In 2005, IFAW and NSALA teamed up during IFAW's Chinese dog rescue to find new homes for 30 homeless dogs from an overcrowded shelter in China, which could not be legally re-homed in Beijing due to local size and breed restrictions and strict dog ownership regulations. These high profile dogs helped raise awareness about shelter pets and led to increased shelter adoptions. To adopt a dog or cat, contact North Shore Animal League America at 516-883-7575.

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New Report Shows Sharp Declines in Populations of Wild Cats and Dogs

2010-07-26T14:44:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The Fading Call of the Wild, a report released today by the world's leading wildlife conservation organizations, details the increasing threats and plunging populations of big cats and rare canids living in the wild. Faced with a striking loss of habitat and prey due to over-development of land and direct killing by poachers and others who see them as a threat, wild cats such as lions, cheetahs and snow leopards, and wild dogs like the Ethiopia wolf and bush dog face an uncertain future.

Eighty percent of all wild cat species are experiencing population declines, as are 25 percent of wild canids - the family of foxes, wolves and wild dogs. The report looks beyond the raw numbers and delves into the plight of 15 of these species that are considered ecologically vital, detailing their current numbers in the wild, changes to the population in the last ten years, and conservation solutions for improving their status. The 15 species were chosen because they are considered umbrella species that, if conserved appropriately, protect their corresponding landscapes and other species dependent on those ecosystems.

A snapshot of the report's findings include:

-- A century ago there were as many as 200,000 lions living in Africa,
today there are fewer than 30,000. Lions are now extinct from 26
countries that they formerly occupied. The single greatest threat to
lions is killing by people who own livestock. Herders and ranchers
shoot, trap and poison lions across their range.
-- There are fewer than 500 Darwin's Fox living today. The animal are
found only in Chile and their restricted distribution makes them
highly vulnerable to extinction. The gentle and curious canids are not
fearful of people which contributes to their endangerment, however
timber exploration and land development are the two biggest factors
that have pushed the animals to the brink.
-- There are fewer than 7,000 snow leopards in the wild today. Snow
leopard poaching is rampant with their bones and hides frequently
confiscated in illegal shipments of wildlife parts bound for markets
in China and throughout Asia.
-- Fewer than 500 Ethiopian wolves remain with more than half found in
the Bale Mountains. The highly social animals live in packs which
makes them especially vulnerable when their populations decrease.
Entire packs are wiped out by rabies outbreaks, while those that
survive face rapid loss of habitat.
-- One of the most ecologically and genetically unique animals, African
wild dogs exist in less than seven percent of their historic range,
and are extinct in 22 countries that they formerly inhabited.
Accidental snaring and rabies have decimated populations throughout
Africa, and fewer than 8,000 of the animals remain.

The report calls for increasing conservation resources and swift policy changes, specifically passage of the Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Act that would provide conservation assistance to the 15 species highlighted in the Fading Call of the Wild report.

"Great cats and rare canids are currently suffering from a variety of threats and the positive impact from their protection will no doubt benefit them and many other species," said Jeff Flocken, DC Office Director, IFAW. "The Great Cats and Rare Canids Conservation Act offers viable and valuable methods to ensure a safe future for these majestic animals."

First introduced in July 2004, and set to expire this year unless the Senate takes action, the measure would provide wild cats and canids the same type of conservation assistance presently supporting tigers, great apes, elephants, sea turtles and other iconic species through the Multinational Species Conservation Funds, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The funds were designed to conserve species deemed by Americans to be of special global value, but simultaneously endangered with extinction.

Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are leading the charge to usher the bill through their chamber this Congress. The House passed the measure in April 2009 with a two-thirds majority and bi-partisan support led by Reps. Jay Inslee (WA-01), Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam) and the International Conservation Caucus. The Act is supported by more than 80 scientific, animal welfare, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos and aquariums.

Actress Glenn Close contributed the foreword for the report and noted, "Whether it is the iconic African lion or the shy Darwin's fox, these animals hold an important place in the landscapes they occupy. They are all ecosystem guardians. As predators, they maintain healthy functioning places, and their absence negatively affects wildlife and people. Not only would losing these species have drastic ecological and economic impacts, I believe their loss will impact us in ways we aren't event able to yet articulate."

The report was authored by Panthera, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and the Wildlife Conservation Society, in cooperation with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Canids and Cats Specialists Groups.

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Alligator Quota Hunt Application Window Closes July 31st

2010-07-23T15:49:00.000-04:00

The window of opportunity is closing for those interested in the 2010 alligator hunting season. If you want a chance to hunt, you need to be sure to get your online quota application in before midnight July 31. The 2010 alligator hunting season runs Sept. 4-Oct. 3 and 850 applicants will be selected to participate.

Applicants should check their application status through their account after the deadline. Selected hunters will receive a temporary harvest tag and information packet by mail in early August. Additionally, hunters have the opportunity to attend a voluntary training session during which wildlife experts provide information on safety, capture and handling techniques, processing and more.

In Georgia, alligators typically live south of the fall line (which roughly traverses the cities of Columbus, Macon and Augusta), occupying a variety of natural wetland habitats including marshes, swamps, rivers, farm ponds and lakes. Male alligators can reach 16 feet in length, while female alligators rarely surpass 10 feet. Large alligators could weigh more than 800 pounds. Opportunistic carnivores, they eat small mammals, aquatic insects, crayfish, frogs, fish, turtles, water birds and more.

For more information on the 2010 alligator hunting season, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 760-3045.

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paws4claws.com Kicks Off Paws N'Doodles Show & Tail Contest to Benefit American Humane Association's Pets and Women's Shelters (PAWS)® Program

2010-07-23T14:25:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the launch of its online social and e-commerce networking community for pet lovers, paws4claws.com is holding the Paws N'Doodles Show & Tail Contest. The contest, which solicits the best short story about a pet accompanied by a doodle illustrating it, will benefit American Humane's Pets and Women's Shelters (PAWS) Program, which promotes on-site housing of pets at domestic violence shelters.

paws4claws.com created the contest to help the PAWS Program raise awareness about the lack of domestic violence shelters that accommodate abused women with pets, and to help fund those accommodations at more shelters across the U.S. All net proceeds from the contest will go to the PAWS Program.

American Humane, the leading organization raising awareness about The Link® between animal abuse and other forms of violence, launched the PAWS Program in 2008. Because there are few options for safely housing pets from abusive homes, domestic violence victims often feel they have little choice but to stay and subject themselves, their children and their pets to further violence. In fact, up to 85 percent of women entering domestic violence shelters reported that a partner had threatened, injured or killed the family pet, according to a 1997 study.

How to Enter the Paws N'Doodles Show &Tail Contest

Entering the contest is simple and can be done online. Take a high-quality digital photograph or scan of your doodle, and save it in JPEG or PDF format. Save your story as a Word document or a PDF. Then fill out the Paws N'Doodles online entry form at http://www.wizehive.com/paws4claws.html and attach your artwork and story. The deadline for entries is midnight on Sept. 26, 2010.

Contest Entry Fee

The fee for a single entry in the Paws N'Doodles Show & Tail Contest is $5.00 U.S. per entry. You may submit as many entries as you wish, but each single entry must be accompanied by the corresponding $5.00 U.S. entry fee and a separate entry form. All entry fees will be donated to the PAWS Program.

First Prize

The first-prize winner will receive $500, and his/her artwork will be featured as the cover art of the Paws N'Doodles Show and Tail book to be published in 2011 to raise funds for the PAWS Program. A matching $500 donation with a framed copy of the first-prize doodle and short story will be presented to American Humane for the PAWS Program.

Voting

Entries will be posted at www.paws4claws.com, and viewers can vote online for their favorite entries beginning Aug. 15, 2010, through midnight on October 22, 2010.

For more contest rules, as well as second and third place and honorable-mention prize information, visit www.paws4claws.com.

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The HSUS and HSLF Praise U.S. House for Cracking Down on Cruel ‘Crush’ Videos

2010-07-22T15:16:00.000-04:00

The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund commend the U.S. House of Representatives for overwhelmingly approving H.R. 5566 by a vote of 416-3 to provide law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on traffickers of animal crush videos.

This narrowly crafted statute, introduced by Reps. Elton Gallegly, R-Calif. and Gary Peters, D-Mich., with 263 cosponsors, will ban interstate and foreign commerce in obscene videos showing the intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, and impaling of puppies, kittens, and other live animals for the sexual titillation of viewers.

H.R. 5566 was introduced in response to the April Supreme Court ruling in U.S. v. Stevens. The Court ruled that a l999 law on depictions of animal cruelty was "overbroad" because it might criminalize some Constitutionally protected speech. The Court acknowledged the long history of animal protection laws in the United States and left open a pathway for Congress to pass a more targeted law aimed at extreme animal cruelty.

"By enacting H.R. 5566, Congress can provide a top kill to a merciless subculture of animal crushing videos that have bubbled up in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on the subject in April," said Wayne Pacelle, president & CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "This legislation is narrowly tailored to address the Court's concerns, and the current legislation does not limit speech, but only conduct of the most abhorrent and vile kind."

"Violence is not a First Amendment issue; it is a law enforcement issue," Rep. Gallegly said. "Ted Bundy and Ted Kaczynski tortured or killed animals before killing people. The FBI, U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice consider animal cruelty to be one of the early warning signs of potential violence by youths. This bill is one step toward ending this cycle of violence."

"Animal torture videos are heinous, barbaric and completely unacceptable and we're going to stop them once and for all," said Rep. Peters. "It's hard to believe that this sort of thing even exists, and that a new law is needed to prevent it. Animal torture is outrageously disturbing and common decency and morality dictates that those engaged in it shouldn't be profiting from it, they should be in prison."

The HSUS and HSLF express their strong gratitude to Congressmen Gallegly and Peters for working to protect animals from malicious acts of cruelty. The groups also thank Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., Ranking Member Lamar Smith, R-Texas, and Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott, D-Va., for their leadership in addressing this problem swiftly, and Congressmen Jim Moran, D-Va., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., for their long-standing involvement on the issue, along with all the members who cosponsored and voted for this important legislation.

Facts

In 1999, an HSUS investigation uncovered an underground subculture of animal crush videos in which puppies, kittens and other small animals are stomped, smothered and pierced to death, often by women wearing high-heeled shoes, to cater to those with a fetish for viewing this cruel behavior.
Legislation originally introduced by Rep. Gallegly and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1999 banned the creation, sale, and possession for interstate or foreign commerce of depictions of illegal and intentional maiming, mutilating, torture, wounding, or killing of a living animal.
Before the 1999 law was enacted, there were approximately 3,000 horrific animal crush videos available in the marketplace, selling for up to $300 apiece.
That market disappeared soon after Congress enacted the 1999 law with overwhelming bipartisan support, but since a federal appellate court declared the law unconstitutional in July 2008, crush videos have once again proliferated on the Internet.
The House Judiciary Committee's Crime Subcommittee took expert testimony at a May 26 hearing, and the full Judiciary Committee unanimously approved H.R. 5566 by a vote of 23-0 on July 23.

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Black Rhino Passes at Zoo Atlanta

2010-07-22T11:48:00.000-04:00

Zoo Atlanta officials announced today that Boma, a 23-year-old male eastern black rhinoceros, passed away on July 22, 2010, despite two weeks of aggressive treatment by the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams.

“We are saddened by this loss. Bo was a special member of the Zoo Atlanta family for more than 20 years and was an important ambassador for a critically endangered species,” said Raymond King, President and CEO. “The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams exhibited extraordinary commitment and dedication to his care and treatment, particularly during the last few weeks as his condition declined.”

Boma had several periods of intermittent gastrointestinal problems that became severe earlier this month despite aggressive treatment. His condition went from guarded to grave since the week of July 12.

Born in 1986 at the Zoo Dvur Kralove in the Czech Republic, Boma has resided at Zoo Atlanta since 1989. He was considered part of the rebirth of the Zoo in the late 1980’s. Zoo Atlanta is also home to a female black rhinoceros, Andazi, 3. As is the case with all animal deaths, regardless of age, a necropsy will be performed at the University of Georgia through Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with the Department of Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
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Dogs need a little more love during mosquito season

2010-07-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

(ARA) - As a parent, you would never consider sending your child to school without the proper vaccinations. But did you know that according to the American Animal Hospital Association, about 50 percent of dogs in the United States go without preventative treatment for one of the most common diseases among canines?

Many people consider their dogs to be part of the family. And with mosquito season in full swing, dog owners should consider the best way to protect dogs against heartworm disease. Mosquito bites may be just a simple nuisance to humans, but they can spread heartworm disease without pet owners knowing, and dogs are most at risk of becoming seriously ill from the disease.

Heartworm used to be relatively contained in the American southeast, where warm, humid temperatures create good breeding grounds for mosquitoes. However, longer warm seasons in northern states and increased pet travel throughout the country have led to dramatic growth in the spread of heartworm over the past decade. Veterinarians in regions that were once considered low-risk now report heartworm outbreaks in their clinics, and the parasite can now be found in all 50 states.

Recognizing heartworm infection can be tricky. Symptoms include chronic cough and fatigue, but often the disease does not show any signs until it reaches an advanced stage. Eventually, heartworm can lead to lung, heart, liver and kidney failure.

Fortunately, heartworm prevention is simple, cost effective, and the best way to save dogs from the long, difficult and expensive treatment required once infection takes hold. Here are a few ways to keep dogs safe:

* The American Heartworm Society recommends getting your dog tested annually for heartworm. During these visits, talk to your veterinarian about the best method of prevention against the disease.

* Protect your dog with a monthly application of a heartworm preventative medication. Some topicals, like Advantage Multi for Dogs (imidacloprid + moxidectin) Topical Solution, also kill fleas and treat intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, roundworms and whipworms.

* During warmer months, keep your dog inside as much as possible during early morning and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.

Through annual testing and use of monthly preventatives, you can protect your dog from heartworm disease and help keep your dog healthy. If you haven't thought about prevention before, now is the time in the peak of mosquito season. For more information on heartworm prevention, visit advantagemulti.petparents.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Giraffe born at Zoo Atlanta

2010-07-15T13:25:00.000-04:00

Glenda, a 3-year-old female giraffe at Zoo Atlanta, has given birth to her first calf. Born on July 13, the newborn stands around 6 feet tall and is estimated to weigh between 100 and 150 pounds. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams will continue to monitor both Glenda and the calf, who will have an opportunity to bond indoors before exploring their African Plains habitat.

“We are extremely excited about the birth of the calf,” said Raymond King, President and CEO. “Giraffes have long been a very popular and charismatic part of the collection.”

As is typical of the species, giraffe mothers give birth standing up, and their offspring are usually born feet-first. Healthy calves are able to walk within two hours of birth.

The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams previously based their estimation of Glenda’s condition on weight gain and physical signs that she was expecting. “Glenda’s exact birth window remained uncertain. Giraffe gestation is 15 months,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, Senior Vice President of Collections, Education and Conservation.

Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in October 2006, Glenda and her half-sister, 4-year-old Mona, arrived at Zoo Atlanta in October 2007. The females share their habitat with the calf’s father, 4-year-old Abu.

The world’s tallest living land mammals, giraffes are native to grasslands and open woodlands in east Africa. The species is not currently endangered, although wild populations face decline due to habitat loss.

Mother and calf will bond off-exhibit for two to three weeks; stay tuned for exciting details on the calf’s debut.

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Alternative Evolution: Why Change Your Own Genes When You Can Borrow Someone Else's?

2010-07-09T11:36:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- It has been a basic principle of evolution for more than a century that plants and animals can adapt genetically in ways that help them better survive and reproduce.

Now, in a paper to be published in the journal Science, University of Rochester biologist John Jaenike and colleagues document a clear example of a new mechanism for evolution. In previous well documented cases of evolution, traits that increase an animal's ability to survive and reproduce are conferred by favorable genes, which the animal passes on to its offspring.

Jaenike's team has chronicled a striking example of a bacteria infecting an animal, giving the animal a reproductive advantage, and being passed from mother to children. This symbiotic relationship between host animal and bacteria gives the host animal a readymade defense against a hazard in its environment and thus has spread through the population by natural selection, the way a favorable gene would.

Jaenike provides the first substantial report of this effect in the wild in his paper "Adaptation via Symbiosis: Recent Spread of a Drosophila Defensive Symbiont," but he says it may be a common phenomenon that has been happening undetected in many different organisms for ages.

Aside from shedding light on an important evolutionary mechanism, his findings could aid in developing methods that use defensive bacteria to stave off diseases in humans.

Jaenike studied a species of fly, Drosophila neotestacea, which is rendered sterile by a parasitic worm called a nematode, one of the most abundant, diverse, and destructive parasites of plants and animals in the world. Nematodes invade female flies when they are young by burrowing through their skin and prevent them from producing eggs once they mature. However, when a female fly is also infected with a bacteria species called Spiroplasma, the nematodes grow poorly and no longer sterilize the flies, Jaenike found. He also discovered that, as a result of the Spiroplasma's beneficial impact, the bacteria have been spreading across North America and rapidly increasing in frequency in flies as they are passed from mother to offspring. Testing preserved flies from the early 1980s, Jaenike found that the helpful bacteria were present in only about 10% of flies in the eastern United States. By 2008, the frequency of Spiroplasma infection had jumped to about 80%.

"These flies were really getting clobbered by nematodes in the 1980s, and it's just remarkable to see how much better they are doing today. The spread of Spiroplasma makes me wonder how much rapid evolutionary action is going on beneath the surface of everything we see out there," Jaenike said.

He reasoned that the substantial increase in Spiroplasma infection was an evolutionary response to the recent colonization of North America by nematodes. As the nematodes invaded the continent, the bacteria proved to be a convenient and potent defense against the nematodes' sterilizing effect. Now, the majority of flies in eastern North America carry the bacteria, and the bacterial infection appears to be spreading west. Without any mutation in their own genes, the flies have rapidly developed a defense against an extremely harmful parasite simply by co-opting the genetic material of another organism and passing it on from generation to generation.

"This is a beautiful case showing that the main reason these Spiroplasma are present in these flies is for their defensive role," said Nancy Moran, the Fleming Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. Moran studies the role of defensive symbionts in aphids. "These heritable symbionts are a way for an animal host to acquire a new defense very quickly. One way to get a truly novel defense is to get a whole organism rather than mutating your own genes that aren't that diverse to begin with."

Jaenike's work could also have implications for disease control. Nematodes carry and transmit severe human diseases, including river blindness and elephantiasis. By uncovering the first evidence of a natural, bacterial defense against nematodes, Jaenike's work could pave the way for novel methods of nematode control. He plans to investigate that prospect further.

Jaenike's coauthors on the paper are Robert Unckless and Lisa Boelio from the University of Rochester, and Steve Perlman and Sarah Cockburn from the University of Victoria in British Columbia. The work was funded by the National Science Foundation.

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Some of the Strangest Sights in the Animal World No Longer Live Only in Dreams

2010-07-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

Editor's note:

...and it's not cloning.

It's just so hard to imagine how all these new hybrids are working out in nature or in captivity by breeders. I just have to wonder about how a spider mixed with a goat really is an improvement in nature.

It used to be fun using our imagination as we dreamed up fantasy animal combinations.

This article from the Smithsonian caught the attention of our staff and we thought it might catch yours as well. At least, it should catch your imagination.

Animal Hybrids: Ligers and Tigons and Pizzly Bears, Oh My!

Let’s face it. Centaurs, chimeras, griffins, the Little Mermaid, the Thunder Cats and all those cool hybrid creatures from Avatar: The Last Airbender are just legends and fantasies. And Peter Parker remains the only human, as of yet, to gain super-powers from a radioactive spider. Sigh.
Read more: http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/science/2010/07/07/animal-hybrids-ligers-and-tigons-and-pizzly-bears-oh-my/

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What Does Your Dog’s Tail Say to You?

2010-07-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association is seeking entries for its Tales of the Natural Tail Dog Photo Contest. Dog owners or foster care providers are encouraged to submit photo entries that showcase the natural beauty or communication value of their dog's natural — as opposed to docked — tail. Entries can be submitted online through July 31, 2010.

The Tales of the Natural Tail Dog Photo Contest is part of the HSVMA's campaign to educate the public about surgeries performed on dogs and cats for cosmetic and convenience reasons. Those surgeries include tail docking and ear cropping of dogs, cat declawing, and devocalization of both dogs and cats to eliminate their ability to "speak." These surgeries are typically performed for aesthetic reasons or to solve what a pet owner perceives as a problem, such as barking or scratching. However, they aren't medically necessary and, like all surgeries, they carry some risk. HSVMA promotes solving behavior issues through training and other available alternatives.

"A dog's tail can illustrate every emotion from happiness to fear," said Dr. Gary Block, DVM, an internal medicine specialist who co-owns a veterinary clinic in Rhode Island. "It's an integral communication tool and our focus is to respect that natural canine attribute."

A panel of HSVMA judges will select a first, second and third place winner based on how well the photo and the caption illustrate the beauty and function of the tail. Judges include artist Ron Burns, author and radio show host Tracie Hotchner, and Dr. Gary Block, who serves on the HSVMA Leadership Council.

The three winners of the contest will receive gift certificates for $100, $50 and $25, respectively, to The HSUS's online store, Humane Domain. The store features a variety of pet products and gifts for pet lovers. Winners will also be presented with dog-themed prize packs perfect for any canine guardian. Winners will be announced in August and winning photos will be posted on the HSVMA website.

A flyer promoting the contest is available for download to post in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, adoption venues, dog parks and other locations frequented by dogs and their caregivers.

For complete photo contest rules and to access the online form, go to hsvma.org.

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Snakes of Summer Cause for Awareness, Not Fear

2010-07-05T08:31:00.000-04:00

Editor's Note: Who knew that killing a snake in Georgia could be a misdemeanor? Wow. Good thing I always keep a wide berth! No matter whether you adore the slimy creatures or want to shiver in distaste, it is most important to know how to identify a venomous species. Take the time and learn- after all, it could save a life!

As temperatures soar, don’t be surprised if you see more late-afternoon activity on your sidewalks and driveways, particularly activity of the slithering variety. Not to worry, though: Snakes can be a homeowner’s best friends, as long as you remember a few important tips.

First, snakes are best left alone. Most snakebites occur when a person tries to handle or corner a snake, prompting the animal to defend itself.

Second, of the 41 native snake species known in Georgia, only six are venomous. Although telling some species apart can be difficult, becoming familiar with the colors and patterns of venomous species can enable even novices to determine whether a snake is venomous or not, providing peace of mind.

The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division has several online resources intended to help the public identify venomous and non-venomous snakes and understand their natural roles. Some of these resources include the brochure “Is it a Water Moccasin?”, plus the guide to Georgia and South Carolina snakes at www.uga.edu/srelherp/snakes/index.htm. There is also the excellent reference “Amphibians and Reptiles of Georgia” available from the University of Georgia Press (www.ugapress.uga.edu/).

Non-venomous snakes such as the scarlet kingsnake and eastern hognose are sometimes confused with their venomous counterparts. Venomous snakes are often identified by their triangular-shaped head. However, many snake species flatten their head when threatened. Use caution when approaching any snake, and snakes in the wild should only be handled by an experienced person and after proper identification.

As reptiles, snakes are cold-blooded and rely on external sources to heat their bodies. In the fall and winter, you are more likely to see them warming themselves on rocks, sidewalks and paved roads. During summer, many snakes avoid open areas during the hottest part of the day and may become much more active during the evening.

About half of Georgia’s snake species give live birth. The young of all others are born from eggs, hatching within 40-80 days, depending on the species.

Newborn snakes can be seen from mid-summer to fall. Also, during summer, many snakes will leave their usual hiding spots looking for prey that may be found close to dwindling water sources.
Adults of many of Georgia’s smaller snake species are often mistakenly assumed to be newborns.

Although snakes in the state range from the eastern indigo, with recorded lengths up to 8 feet, 4 inches, to the crowned snake, which grows only 13 inches long, several non-venomous species commonly found in residential areas are small. These include worm, ringneck and brown snakes, which each average about 12 inches in length as adults.

All snakes are an essential part of Georgia’s wildlife resources. Fear or negative attitudes about snakes often stem from a lack of knowledge of their habits and role in the ecosystem. The majority of snakes found throughout the state are non-venomous, harmless and usually beneficial to man. A greater understanding of their importance as predator and prey often brings a greater appreciation for these admittedly not so “warm and fuzzy” animals with which we share our yards, gardens and forests.
If you spot a venomous snake in an area where it represents a danger to children or pets, you can contact Wildlife Resources for a list of private wildlife removal specialists.

Close Encounters
What to do when you see a snake in your yard:

Never attempt to handle any kind of snake. If you are unsure of the snake’s identification, keep your distance
A venomous snake will most often have a triangular-shaped head as well as elliptical pupils similar to cats’ eyes, rather than round ones.
Snakes are important predators that feed on rodents, insects and even other snakes. There is no need to fear a snake in your yard. Simply give them the space they need.
Despite the relatively low level of danger posed by venomous snakes many people consider their fear justification for killing snakes. In Georgia it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and a year in jail to possess or kill many of nongame wildlife species, including non-venomous snakes (O.C.G.A. §27-1-28).

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Endangered Sea Turtle Nests to Receive Special Transportation

2010-07-04T18:49:00.000-04:00

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is proud to announce that FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) is joining the efforts to protect sea turtle nests and eggs from potential impacts of the oil spill in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The company will be donating resources to transport hundreds of nests containing thousands of eggs to Florida’s Atlantic Coast, and its logistics experts are working with the Unified Command and its partner organizations to implement this complex translocation. The relocation efforts are scheduled to begin in mid-July and continue throughout the hatching season.

“In light of the imminent threat to sea turtles, we felt it was important to help move this extraordinary project forward”

FedEx is working closely with Unified Command Wildlife Branch scientists to create a safe and secure transportation solution for the relocation effort. FedEx will take great care to protect the sea turtle nests and eggs, which will travel exclusively in its FedEx Custom Critical air-ride, temperature-controlled vehicles.

“In light of the imminent threat to sea turtles, we felt it was important to help move this extraordinary project forward,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director of NFWF. “Given our strong relationship with FedEx and our long-standing relationship with the federal agencies, we were able to move quickly to develop an effective plan. We’ll continue to work with all parties so that this relocation offers the best hope for sea turtles’ survival.”

NFWF is supporting a number of wildlife projects in the Gulf region and is helping to coordinate the work of federal agencies, biologists and others who will be involved in the massive transport effort. The Foundation, established by Congress in 1984, is a non-profit conservation organization that works closely with federal agencies and private sector partners to protect wildlife and natural resources.

The FedEx commitment to NFWF is in support of the company's EarthSmart Outreach efforts, in which FedEx contributes to the community in environmentally-focused ways. FedEx also provides logistics expertise, in-kind shipping and funding for disaster preparedness, relief and recovery, working with organizations including the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Heart to Heart International. A FedEx-sponsored Salvation Army disaster response unit is in use to support responders to the oil leak right now. In 2006, FedEx donated its transportation services to deliver more than 1.2 million pounds of medical and other relief supplies to the Gulf Coast area in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

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Infant Orangutan Passes at Zoo Atlanta

2010-07-01T18:55:00.000-04:00

Sandar had been under round-the-clock care since birth

Sandar, a 3-month-old male Bornean orangutan at Zoo Atlanta, was euthanized on July 1, 2010, following multiple health complications since birth. The Animal Management and Veterinary Teams made the difficult decision based on a progressive deterioration in his condition over the last two weeks and no hope of improvement in his prognosis.

“The Zoo staff and the many dedicated nurses, doctors and specialists from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta went above and beyond the call in doing everything possible to combat Sandar’s many challenges and health complications. With his physical and developmental problems, he would never have survived this long in the wild,” said Dr. Dwight Lawson, Senior Vice President of Collections, Education and Conservation.

A critical care resident of the Zoo Atlanta Veterinary Clinic since shortly after his birth to 18-year-old Miri on March 30, Sandar had experienced a series of recurrent illnesses that left him reliant on supplemental oxygen provided by Cornerstone Medical and a nasogastric feeding tube. Despite round-the-clock care by Zoo veterinarians and nurses from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and ongoing efforts by pediatric specialists, Sandar’s prognosis had been recently downgraded from guarded to grave.

“The Zoo Atlanta family is saddened by the passing of Sandar, particularly given the daily acts of determination and commitment that went into his treatment,” said Raymond King, President and CEO. “The level of dedication and devotion that defined his care is unprecedented.”

Had Sandar’s condition improved, the Animal Management and Veterinary Teams were planning to reintroduce the infant to his parents, Miri and Sulango, and his brother, 6-year-old Satu. A future reunion with Miri or a surrogate orangutan parent would have been critical to Sandar’s development, as orangutan infants are entirely reliant on their mothers for critical life skills such as foraging and problem-solving. Orangutans have a longer dependent childhood than any other species, excepting only humans.

As is the case with all animal deaths, regardless of age, a necropsy will be performed at the University of Georgia through Zoo Atlanta’s partnership with the Department of Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Zoo Atlanta is deeply grateful to the nurses from Children’s, as well as to the specialists who devoted such energy and empathy to trying to help Sandar survive,” King said. “We are also deeply grateful for the support of the many members of the community who have followed his story.”

About Zoo Atlanta
An accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta inspires value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family fun. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with more than 1,000 animals from around the world. The Zoo’s newest attraction, Trader’s Alley: Wildlife’s Fading Footprints, featuring the debut of two new sun bears, opened in June 1010. Other highlights include the nation’s largest collection of western lowland gorillas, the nation’s largest zoological collection of orangutans and a global center of excellence. Zoo Atlanta is also proud to be one of only four zoos in the U.S. that giant pandas call home. The Zoo is open daily with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife shows, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, call 404.624.WILD or visit zooatlanta.org.

Wood storks nesting in restored S. Ga. wetland

2010-06-23T07:48:00.000-04:00

For more than 70 years, nearly 90 acres of a Mitchell County bottomland lay mostly dry, drained by a shallow ditch that cut through the heart of the cup-shaped tract.

Yet in 2003, owners James and Sue Adams applied to enroll the site in a federal wetlands restoration initiative called the Wetlands Reserve Program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service approved a permanent conservation easement. The ditch, dug in the 1930s to fight mosquitoes and malaria, was plugged in 2006. Water soon flooded the tall grass and cypress trees.

And this year, like last, endangered wood storks joined a growing throng of cattle egrets, anhingas and little blue herons that have adopted the reborn wetland as a rookery.

Earlier this month, Natural Resources Conservation and Georgia Department of Natural Resources workers eased small boats across shimmering green duckweed and around cypress trees crowded with stick nests and white chicks. One pond cypress no more than 25 feet tall held seven wood stork nests. In the tree, nine storks, their black heads bowed, eyed the boats. Across the pond, adult and young birds squawked and clucked in the afternoon heat turned thick by thunderstorms roaming the horizon.

DNR Nongame Conservation Section employees estimate the site has 125 wood stork nests. The count is part of an annual spring survey of the imperiled birds in Georgia. Biologists discovered the new Mitchell County nest site after a stork the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was tracking by satellite transmitter in Florida moved to south Georgia.

James Lee Adams Jr. is pleased. The former engineer retired from farming in 2000, the same year he was named Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year. But he still deals in land and has long kept close tabs on agricultural programs. Adams said it was obvious to him and his wife the property, part of a larger intact wetland covering about 200 acres and surrounded by cropland, should “never have been put into production.”

The Wetlands Reserve Program allowed them to take it out.

For wetlands degraded by urbanization and intensive farming, the voluntary program offers financial incentives for permanent or 30-year conservation easements, as well as cost-share agreements for restoration. Wetland protection and restoration are established as the main land-use for the duration of the easement or agreement. Wildlife benefit, and landowners still control access.

Commonly called WRP, the Wetlands Reserve Program had 2 million acres enrolled as of 2009. The goal is another 1 million in five years.

Keith Wooster, state wildlife biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, said Georgia has about 16,500 acres in 45 sites, all in the southern part of the state. Wooster rates the Adams’ property, owned largely by the couple’s AA Land Co., as the top “two or three site in southwest Georgia.”

James Tillman Sr., the agency’s state conservationist, said Georgia has “enjoyed tremendous success” helping landowners install wetland conservation practices through the WRP. The help from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and its partners continues after the habitat is restored, Tillman said.

“This assistance may be in the form of reviewing restoration measures, clarifying technical and administrative aspects of the easement and project management needs, and providing basic biological and engineering advice on how to achieve optimum results for wetland-dependent species.”

The option for permanent protection helped attract the Adams. “I think we have a responsibility No. 1 to look after the land,” James Adams said. “… We’re just holding this land in trust.”

Controlling access and receiving a financial return also proved important. James sees public support through programs like WRP as vital so small landowners can afford to set aside land for conservation.

Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan, a strategy that guides Wildlife Resources Division and DNR efforts to conserve biological diversity, emphasizes such technical and financial assistance, Nongame Conservation Section Chief Mike Harris said. “One of our top five areas of focus is working with private landowners, and I think this is a good example of a program that restored some valuable habitat,” Harris said.

What was a prairie-like field that soil conservation technician Dan Baker said “you could walk across” is now wet, rich habitat for a variety of wildlife, from eastern kingbirds and black-bellied whistling ducks to common gallinules and American bullfrogs.

Plus a lanky wading bird struggling to regain its foothold in the U.S.

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International Whaling Commission Fails to Find a Way Forward for Whales

2010-06-23T07:07:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Dr Susan Lieberman, director of international policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to the International Whaling Commission's (IWC) Annual Meeting concluding without any results from the three-year effort to reconcile the impasse between pro-whaling and anti-whaling countries.

"We are deeply disappointed that the governments present here, after more than 3 years of intense work, could not reach a solution that will benefit whale conservation. In particular, the lack of sufficient flexibility shown by Japan to phase out its whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary prevented a decision from being adopted. Continuation of the impasse here may retain the whaling moratorium on paper, but unregulated whaling outside of IWC control, by Japan, Norway, and Iceland, will now be able to continue.

"We had hoped that for the first time since World War II, the waters of the Southern Ocean--the fragile waters off of Antarctica--would finally be free of high seas whaling vessels. The key reaching that positive outcome at this meeting was always in Japan's hands--and now only Japan can decide if the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary will exist in reality, or only on paper.

"This year has seen the failure of international efforts to guarantee the future of Atlantic bluefin tuna, several species of sharks, coral species, and now whales, at the CITES meetings earlier this year, and now IWC. Japan, the country with the most active role in defeating all of these marine conservation measures, is hosting the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity this October. The conference will give Japan the opportunity to finally reverse course and show leadership in marine biodiversity conservation."

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As Interest In Backyard Poultry Grows, So Does Need For Healthy Birds

2010-06-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

(NAPSI)-Raising "backyard poultry" has become increasingly popular all over the U.S. these days. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds both new and experienced poultry owners it's important to keep your birds healthy by practicing backyard biosecurity.

While "biosecurity" may not be a common household word, for poultry and bird owners it can spell the difference between health and disease. Practicing biosecurity can help keep disease away from farms and backyard pens and keep birds healthy. By using biosecurity practices, poultry owners can help reduce the chances of their birds being exposed to infectious poultry diseases such as avian influenza.

According to Dr. Fidelis Hegngi, senior staff veterinarian with USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, backyard biosecurity means doing everything needed to protect birds from disease--similar to what people do every day to protect themselves from human infections--essentially good hygiene.

"That's what protects us from germs-we wash our hands, avoid contact with people who have colds and flu, and we cover our mouths and noses when we sneeze," says Dr. Hegngi. "If you follow basic hygiene activities with your birds, you'll go a long way to keeping your birds safe from disease."

By taking a few simple steps, you can protect your birds. Dr. Hegngi recommends bird owners wash their hands thoroughly with soap, water and disinfectant before and after handling birds. When you're through working with your birds, disinfect your shoes and equipment. Cages, food and water should be cleaned daily. Poultry owners should remove feed from bags; place it in clean, sealed containers; and throw the bags away. Finally, bird owners should not borrow or share bird supplies. If they must, items should be cleaned and disinfected before being brought home.

Be sure to isolate new birds you bring in from your other birds for at least 30 days. You should restrict access to your birds, especially from people who own birds that are housed outside. Keep your birds away from other birds whenever possible.

Look your flock over regularly so you can watch for signs of illness or unexpected deaths among your birds. Report sick birds or die-offs to the local cooperative extension office, a veterinarian, State Veterinarian, State animal diagnostic laboratory or USDA Veterinary Services toll free at (866) 536-7593.

For additional recommendations, poultry owners are encouraged to visit the USDA's Web site at http://healthybirds.aphis.usda.gov.

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Dog-Fighting DNA Database Breaks New Ground in Crackdown on Animal Cruelty

2010-06-15T13:38:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire -- The nation's first criminal dog-fighting DNA database has been established by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) and the Louisiana SPCA (LA/SPCA), and will be maintained at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Known as the Canine CODIS (Combined DNA Index System), the database is designed to help the criminal justice system investigate and prosecute dog fighting cases and address the growing problem of dog fighting using 21st century technology.

"Dog fighting is a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise that leads to the cruel treatment and deaths of thousands of dogs nationwide every year," said Tim Rickey, the ASPCA's Senior Director of Field Investigation and Response. "This database is an unprecedented and vital component in the fight against animal cruelty and will allow us to strengthen cases against animal abusers and seek justice for their victims."

Rickey, the former Animal Cruelty Task Force Director at HSMO, Kathryn Destreza, the ASPCA's Southeast Regional Director, Field Investigation and Response and formerly Director of Humane Law Enforcement for the Louisiana SPCA, and Dr. Melinda Merck, the ASPCA's Senior Director of Veterinary Forensic Sciences and the nation's premier forensic veterinarian, collaborated to create the database, working with Dr. Randall Lockwood, the ASPCA's Senior Vice President of Anti-Cruelty Initiatives and Training.

"This database will connect investigations across the country and internationally, creating multi-jurisdictional collaboration," said Ms. Destreza, who presented on the Canine CODIS at the recent Veterinary Forensics Conference in Orlando, Fla. "It's another tool we can use toward the elimination of dog fighting."

Dr. Merck, who testifies as a forensic veterinary expert for animal cruelty cases around the country, added, "Juries expect forensic science to support the evidence that's presented to them, and animal cruelty cases are no exception. This database breaks new ground in supplying that evidence for dog fighting investigations."

The Canine CODIS contains individual DNA profiles from dogs that have been seized during dog-fighting investigations and from unidentified samples collected at suspected dog-fighting venues. The HSMO provided the 400 original and initial samples of dog DNA collected from dogs that were seized last July during the nation's largest dog-fighting seizure ever, a multi-state raid led by Mr. Rickey that followed an 18-month investigation by federal and state agencies.

The database is similar to the FBI's human CODIS, a computerized archive that stores DNA profiles from criminal offenders and crime scenes and is used in criminal and missing person investigations. DNA analysis and matching through the database will help law enforcement agencies to identify relationships between dogs, enabling investigators to establish connections between breeders, trainers, and dog-fight operators. Blood collected from dog fighting sites will also be searched against the Canine CODIS database to identify the source.

"The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory has one of the largest sample databases in the world," said Beth Wictum, Director of the Forensics Unit of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory in UC Davis' School of Veterinary Medicine. "This is important for estimating the rarity of a DNA profile. The Canine CODIS database is unique because it includes many more DNA markers than are normally tested, and that provides greater power when calculating match probability or assigning parentage."

"When these cases come to trial, it's important to make your strongest case," she adds. "DNA evidence not only establishes links between owners, breeders, and dog fighting sites, it tells a story. We can tie blood spatter on pit walls and clothing, or blood trails found outside of the pit, to a specific dog and tell his story for him. We become the voice for those victims."

How the Canine CODIS Database Works

DNA samples from animals have been used in forensics investigations for over 15 years to help solve criminal investigations. In some cases, the animal may be related to the suspect, the victim or the crime scene. In other cases, the animal itself is the victim or perpetrator.

In dog-fighting investigations, the dogs' inner cheeks are swabbed to collect DNA in their saliva at the time they are seized. These swab samples are then submitted to UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory for DNA testing. Law enforcement agencies also collect DNA at suspected dog-fighting venues in samples of blood, saliva, tissue, bones, teeth, feces and urine. These unidentified DNA samples can be submitted to the laboratory at UC Davis for analysis and archiving in the database.

When an agency submits a sample to the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, the DNA is analyzed and the Canine CODIS database is then searched for corresponding DNA profiles. In the event the database search locates a match for the submitted DNA, the lab will notify both the agency that submitted the new sample and the agency that submitted the existing sample. The Canine CODIS database is only available to law enforcement agencies; analysis is part of the cost of testing.

Dog Fighting Statistics

Although there are no official statistics, the ASPCA estimates that there are tens of thousands of people involved in dog fighting in the United States. Dog fighting is a federal crime, as well as a felony offense in all 50 U.S. states. For more information, visit http://www.aspcapro.org/dog-fighting-faq.php.

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Willie B. Conservation Center Closed at Zoo Atlanta

2010-06-14T21:09:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, June 13, 2010, Taz, a 20 year old male silver back gorilla at Zoo Atlanta charged a glass barrier at the Willie B. Conservation Center resulting in cracks in the panel. Taz exhibited this behavior most likely because he had undergone a routine medical exam the previous day and was concerned about the presence of veterinarians in the viewing area. “Gorillas often associate their veterinarians as the ones giving vaccinations and can react nervously – much like many people do with a visit to the doctor or dentist,” said Dr. Hayley Murphy, Director of Veterinary Services.

The animal management and veterinary teams immediately initiated safety procedures by quickly evacuating the Willie B. Conservation Center and bringing the gorilla group (including Taz) into their overnight holding area. “World-class animal care and the safety of our guests and staff are of the utmost importance at Zoo Atlanta,” said Raymond King, Zoo Atlanta President and CEO. “We have many drills to prepare Zoo staff for various incidents and that preparation allowed us to safely return Taz to his secure holding area with no injuries to either the public or to the animal.”

The gorilla exhibit is designed with a moat barrier with electric wire between the yard and the public viewing areas. The Willie B. Conservation Center where the incident occurred has several glass viewing panels that allow guests an unobstructed view. Neither guests nor staff was ever in any danger.

Taz was born at Zoo Atlanta in July 1989 and is the son of Shamba (age 51) and Rann (deceased). His surviving offspring are Kali and Kazi (age 4, by Kuchi); Macy Baby (age 4, by Kudzoo); Gunther (age 3, by Sukari); and a newborn male infant (3 weeks old, by Kuchi).

The Willie B. Conservation Center will remain closed until repairs have been completed.

Iams Cat Food Recalled for Possible B1 Deficiency

2010-06-12T21:46:00.000-04:00

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin is alerting cat owners to the Proctor & Gamble recall of some of its Iams canned cat food because of possible low levels of thiamine.

The company issued the recall of all varieties of 3-ounce and 5.5-ounce cans of Iams ProActive Health Cat and Kitten Food with the dates 09/2011 to 06/2012 stamped on the bottom of the cans. Diagnostic testing indicated that the product might contain low levels of thiamine, Vitamin B1. Cats fed these canned products as their only source of food could develop signs of thiamine deficiency.

Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include loss of appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, signs may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

Consumers who have purchased canned cat food with these codes should discard it. For further information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-340-8826 (Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 7 PM EST).
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As Hurricane Season Starts, The HSUS Urges Americans to Include Pets in Plans

2010-06-04T11:05:00.000-04:00

With The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other forecasters predicting a fierce hurricane season this June to November, The Humane Society of the United States urges coastal residents to take some simple – but critical – steps to keep their pets safe and healthy in the event of disaster. More than 35 million people, many of them pet owners, live in areas threatened by Atlantic hurricanes.

With pets in more than 60 percent of American households, weathering a major storm requires an evacuation plan that includes pets. If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for them. If you are ordered to shelter-in-place (not evacuate), bring your pets inside with you. Make sure you have adequate supplies.

The HSUS Animal Rescue Team has seen a rapidly increasing number of calls for disaster animal rescue assistance during the past few years — rescuing more than 10,000 animals from natural and man-made disasters in 2009. Pet owners can reduce their animals' chances of being at risk during a disaster by following the suggestions below.

Things you can do right now:

Put a collar with visible identification on your pets, including indoor-only pets.
Keep pictures of your pets on hand for identification purposes.
Create a pet emergency kit (see below) and refresh the items every few months.
Talk to your neighbors about how they can help your pets if you are not at home when disaster strikes.
Create a list of hotels that allow pets. Plan on evacuating about 100 miles inland.
Pet emergency kits should include:

Three-or-more-day supply of food in airtight, waterproof containers, and drinking water.
Bowls for food and water.
Current photos and physical description of your pets, including details on markings.
Medications, vaccination records and first aid pet supplies.
Comfort items such as a toy and blanket.
Small garbage bags.
For dogs include: leash, harness and a sturdy carrier large enough to use as a sleeping area.
For cats include: litter and litter box and a sturdy carrier large enough for transport and for your cat to use as a temporary "apartment" for several days.

A Zogby International poll after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast found that 61 percent of pet owners will not evacuate if they cannot bring their pets with them. In 2006, Congress addressed this issue by passing the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, which requires state and local emergency management agencies to make plans that take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. It is crucial that all pet owners reach out to their local government to understand their community's existing human and pet evacuation plans.

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Fall Alligator Hunting Season Set; Permit Opportunities Increase to 850

2010-06-02T15:37:00.000-04:00

For each of the past eight years, the number of applicants wishing to participate in an alligator quota hunt continues to grow. In 2009, almost 6,000 hunters submitted applications. Beginning this year, 850 applicants will be selected to participate – an increase of 150 permits – in the 2010 alligator hunting season which runs Sept. 4-Oct. 3.

“The alligator is a renewable natural resource that scientific data indicates can sustain a regulated harvest on an annual basis,” says WRD Assistant Chief of Game Management John Bowers. “This population stability creates additional flexibility in the areas that can be hunted and the number of animals available for harvest. This has allowed our agency to periodically increase the number of permits available while continuing to ensure the long-term conservation of the alligator population.”

Interested hunters must complete and submit a quota hunt application online at www.gohuntgeorgia.com before midnight July 31 (the application period opens June 1, 2010). Hunters receive their selection status by e-mail and those selected get a temporary harvest tag and information packet by mail in early August.

All hunters have the opportunity to attend a voluntary training session. During these sessions, wildlife experts provide information on safety, capture and handling techniques, processing and more.

Alligators General

In Georgia, alligators typically live south of the fall line (which roughly traverses the cities of Columbus, Macon and Augusta), occupying a variety of natural wetland habitats including marshes, swamps, rivers, farm ponds and lakes. Male alligators can reach 16 feet in length, while female alligators rarely surpass 10 feet. Large alligators could weigh more than 800 pounds. Opportunistic carnivores, they eat small mammals, aquatic insects, crayfish, frogs, fish, turtles, water birds and more.

For more information on the 2010 alligator hunting season, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact a WRD Game Management Office or call (770) 760-3045.

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Avoid 'lost' signs by tagging your cat

2010-05-26T09:38:00.000-04:00

(ARA) - You've seen the posters decorating mailboxes, telephone poles and trees in your neighborhood. The picture of a cat - usually curled up in the sun or giving a curious look to the camera - with "LOST" in bold, capital letters and a contact number underneath. Sadly, less than 5 percent of lost cats make it home.

Many of these lost cats end up in animal shelters, some are adopted by new families and others unfortunately, aren't so lucky. An estimated 70 percent of all animals euthanized each year are cats who enter shelters without identification tags, according to the North Shore Animal League America (NSALA), the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Many shelters are full, and can only hold cats for a few days or less, giving grieving owners limited time to locate their lost pet.

Cat owner and author of "Oh My Dog," Beth Ostrosky Stern is passionate about saving the lives of animals and providing them to loving families. "Through my work with North Shore Animal League America, I have seen firsthand how many cats enter the shelters. I'm a firm supporter of cat tagging to help ensure a safe return home. I would be completely devastated if my cat, Apple, were lost. Having her wear an identification tag is a simple step, but gives me peace of mind that if she were to be lost she can be identified and returned home."

Whether your cat stays inside or roams the outdoors, tagging is the best way to keep him safe. Even indoor cats may sometimes slip through an open door or window for some fresh air so it's important to remember they need identification tags as well. Special cat collars are available also, so that your cat won't get caught on any objects when he's playing inside the home or exploring the great outdoors.

Many cat owners may not know how simple it is to get a tag for their cat. The maker of ARM & HAMMER Super Scoop and Multi-Cat litter products is even offering cat owners the opportunity to receive customized identification tags via mail with the purchase of two ARM & HAMMER cat litters. Visit www.pettagoffer.com for more information.

Tagging cats is just one safety tip. Other tips from NSALA to keep cats healthy, especially during the summer months include:

* Never leave a cat in a car - cats can quickly overheat and die from heatstroke.

* Keep cats inside during a thunderstorm - cats are easily frightened by loud noises and are more at risk of being struck by lightning.

* Check cats daily for fleas and ticks, and talk with a veterinarian about prevention products to keep cats safe.

* Change litter regularly to maintain a fresh and healthy litter box for cats.

* Watch for signs of heat stress, including glazed eyes, a rapid heartbeat, excessive thirst, restlessness, lack of coordination, unconsciousness, deep red or purple tongue and vomiting.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Western lowland gorilla born at Zoo Atlanta

2010-05-25T15:13:00.000-04:00

The great ape whose name has become synonymous with motherhood has a new outlet for her considerable parenting skills. Kuchi, a 25-year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth to an infant overnight. The newborn is the third offspring for Kuchi and 20-year-old silverback Taz, who is also the father of fraternal twins Kali and Kazi, 4.

“Kuchi has demonstrated over the years that she is a truly remarkable mother,” says Dr. Dwight Lawson, Senior Vice President of Collections, Education and Conservation. “We’re excited about seeing her demonstrate those qualities with another new baby, and particularly about seeing Kali and Kazi interact with their new sibling.”

With the births of Kali and Kazi in 2005, Kuchi achieved national attention as the only known gorilla in captivity ever to rear twins independently – a distinction she still holds. She also has two adult offspring, Stadi, 19, and Lulu, 10.

Home to the nation’s largest collection of gorillas, Zoo Atlanta has an international reputation for social and behavioral research on the critically endangered species. Kuchi’s infant is the 18th western lowland gorilla born at the Zoo since the opening of The Ford African Rain Forest in 1988.

Kuchi and her new infant are on exhibit now.

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A wag is worth a thousand words

2010-05-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

(ARA) - Ever get the feeling that your dog knows what you're thinking, without saying a word? Many canine parents report that they've had an entire conversation with their dogs despite the obvious language barrier. From "can I have a treat" to "let's go for a walk," dogs have a special way of sharing their feelings. According to a new survey, it's the wags, not words that tell the story when it comes to canine communication.

The survey, conducted by Kelton Research for Pup-Peroni dog snacks, revealed that most canine pet parents believe that they can communicate with their dogs even though they don't speak the same language - giving a new twist to the old adage, "silence is golden."

Pet owners feel confident that they know what's on their pups' minds, even without the benefit of words. Almost three in four (74 percent) respondents believe their dog's body language or facial expressions better indicate how their pet is truly feeling than barks or other sounds. They also estimate that they know what their dog is thinking nearly half (49 percent) of the time.

Seven in 10 (70 percent) respondents say there have been times when they shared a meaningful look with their canine companions.

"Dogs have an uncanny ability to pick up on even the subtlest cues from their owners, enabling them to 'read' humans like few other animals can," said body language expert Patti Wood. "Even something as minute as a glance from their owner has meaning for a dog."

Wood also points out that our modern dogs' ability to communicate with us seems to be a product of millennia of interaction. "Research shows that, over time, there has been a deliberate selection of dogs with the ability to pick up on cues from humans," she said. "It shows just how important nonverbal communication between dogs and people has always been."

For many pet parents, the special bond they share with their pooch is one of the most important relationships in their lives. Without ever having to say a word, their pups are there for them through the good times and the bad, acting as confidants, therapists and most importantly, their best friends. Maybe it's because of that unspoken connection between canines and humans that people feel their dogs are just as good a source of comfort and companionship as their human friends - or maybe even more so. With a smile and a wag, dogs just know - how many people can say that about their best friend or significant other?

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Warthog Piglets Debut at Zoo Atlanta

2010-05-11T10:11:00.000-04:00

The warthog piglets born to Shirley on April 7, 2010, have made their official debut. The precocious new arrivals were recently reunited with their father, Vern, and are sure to delight Members and guests as they explore the Georgia Power sponsored warthog exhibit Kalahari Connections with their parents.

Warthog piglets are typically weaned by the time they are 6 months old, although older siblings may reside with their mother until her next litter is born. While wild warthog fathers tend to have little or no association with their young, Vern has proven himself a protective and interested parent.

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USAID Works With Private Sector To Encourage Sea Turtle Conservation Efforts

2010-05-07T17:34:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) hosted a diverse group of private sector representatives in San Salvador today, encouraging them to join the sea turtle conservation effort. Sea turtles, which are an endangered species, nest along the Salvadoran coastline.

U.S. Embassy Charge d'Affaires Robert Blau and representatives from USAID participated in a breakfast with business leaders and members of environmental conservation groups, along with two special guests: Biologist Wallace J. Nichols and Oceanographer and Environmental Economist Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques Cousteau, the celebrated French sailor and researcher).

"The U.S. Government is pleased to support the efforts to protect and restore these important natural and economic resources," Blau said. "With the financial support of USAID, studies have been carried out which reveal that this country is the most important country in all of Latin America for the survival of the Hawksbill turtle."

The goal is to establish public-private partnerships to finance both the management of marine resources and the conservation of the turtle species, by raising $1.2 million over the next five years. These funds will aid in the collection, incubation, and release of at least 80 percent of the sea turtle eggs laid on the beaches in El Salvador.

Even just two years ago, human beings had consumed more than 95 percent of the turtle eggs in El Salvador. In February 2009, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources established a complete and permanent ban on the sale and consumption of sea turtles and sea turtle products. As a result, diverse sectors of society are working together more effectively to increase the number of hatcheries in the country. These USAID-supported actions have resulted in the incubation of more than one million turtle eggs. Nevertheless, the challenges continue. Experts estimate that the species remains on the brink of extinction.

Within the sea turtle conservation component of the USAID Improved Management and Conservation of Critical Watersheds Project, USAID has supported the setup and operation of more than 30 hatcheries on beaches which are crucial for sea turtle reproduction. The program's achievements include: the protection of over 120 kilometers of coastline, the release of 900,000 newborn turtles, the development of ecotourism, and the awarding of a $400,000 direct economic incentive to tortugueros (poachers) who now work as beach keepers and are paid for egg collection and beach protection services. Additionally, the project has contributed to diminishing the demand for turtle eggs though a mass media campaign and has promoted a national strategy for the conservation of El Salvador's sea turtles.

It is because of these efforts that Fabien Cousteau is visiting the country. He forms part of the third generation of explorers in his family. Cousteau has proposed innovative solutions to achieve a balance between regional environmental problems and market realities. Together with his father, Jean-Michel Cousteau, he works to explore the oceans and raise awareness about the need to conserve the planet. Cousteau has also launched the Nature Entertainment program to share conservation efforts via the media. This year, he will support sea turtle conservation, motivating various countries to participate in order to release one billion baby turtles into the ocean. El Salvador will be the starting point of this effort, beginning with the inauguration of the hatchery season that is planned for May 7 at San Diego Beach, La Libertad.

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Online again: Atlanta's nesting peregrine falcons!

2010-05-07T11:09:00.000-04:00

Atlanta’s highest-flying falcons are parents again, and the world is watching. A Web camera at www.georgiawildlife.com provides frequent updates on the two adult peregrine falcons and their nest outside the 51st-floor offices of the McKenna, Long & Aldridge law firm in downtown Atlanta.

The inside look at these protected raptors is unique, said Jim Ozier, a Nongame Conservation Section program manager with the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. “The public wouldn’t have any other opportunity to view a (peregrine) nest in Atlanta, and in prime time,” he said.

Peregrines typically mate for life. The pair nesting on the high-rise balcony has two young this year. The eggs hatched in mid-April. The nestlings will leave the nest at about 5 weeks old.

Jeff Haidet, chairman of the law firm, said the hatching of the falcons is “a sure sign of spring.” “I have a bird's-eye view of the nest from our offices, and am always fascinated to watch the progression of the babies from birth to flight,” Haidet said.

Peregrines were removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species because of a successful population recovery effort, but Georgia still lists the birds as rare. Historically, the only known nest in the state was at Cloudland Canyon in the early 1940s. Peregrines were apparently absent for several years during and after the DDT era. Now, there are two known peregrine pairs nesting in Georgia, both in Atlanta. One of the adults at the second nest fledged from the nest on the law firm balcony, said Ozier, who bands the nestlings.

Peregrines are possibly the fastest animal in the world. Their dives, used to catch birds in flight, have been clocked at more than 200 mph.

The public has watched falcons nest at McKenna, Long & Aldridge for six years, thanks to the law firm and a grant from The Garden Club of Georgia. One of the first birds nesting there was released in Atlanta by the state, in partnership with Georgia Power Co. and Zoo Atlanta.

The new falcons will face an urban environment plump with pigeons and other winged prey but also packed with hazards such as traffic and windows. Two of the three peregrines hatched in 2008 were later treated for injuries. One of last year’s peregrines died from injuries, Ozier said.

To see this year’s nest, go to www.georgiawildlife.com and click “Conservation," then “Species of Concern” and the peregrine falcon Web cam link under the “Bird Conservation” label. (Or, go directly to the site at www.georgiawildlife.com/node/615.) The view shows the planter where the birds nest. Images are updated every 30 seconds. Frequently hit your computer’s refresh, or reload page, button.

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Co-existing With Coyotes

2010-05-06T14:31:00.000-04:00

The distinctive call of the coyote or “song dog” echoes across our state, from the more welcoming rural areas of wooded forests and open fields, to the less inviting backyards of metro Atlanta neighborhoods. Rapid human population growth across the state coupled with the coyote’s unique ability to adapt and thrive, contributes to today’s increased observation of coyotes in urban settings.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages residents to educate themselves and take the proper precautions essential to co-existing with coyotes.

“Historically, coyotes were most commonly found on the Great Plains of North America. However, their range has expanded greatly. They are one of the most adaptable species on the planet. In fact, coyotes have adapted quite well to living in suburbs and cities like Los Angeles, New York and Atlanta,” says John W. Bowers, Wildlife Resources Division assistant chief of Game Management. “Preventive actions are the best solutions for residents to reduce the potential for human-coyote conflicts,” explains Bowers.

Though the coyote’s principal diet typically consists of small rodents and fruit, they are characterized as opportunistic and will prey on small, domestic animals if given the opportunity. Because of this, small house pets (such as cats), young or small livestock and poultry are vulnerable and susceptible prey. The Division advises landowners and homeowners to heed the following precautions to ensure the safety of their animals:

- Take pets indoors during the night, as this is the coyote’s primary hunting time. (In addition to coyotes, small pets may fall prey to free-roaming dogs and great horned owls.)
- If the pet must be kept outside, install fencing and motion-activated flood lights to discourage predators.
- Small livestock or poultry should be kept in an enclosed or sheltered area. Coyotes rarely bother larger livestock although they are often blamed for such nuisance instances. (It should be noted that free-roaming dogs, rather than coyotes, are notorious for harassing, injuring or killing livestock.)

The Division encourages residents to also heed the additional following tips in an effort to minimize coyote habituation to humans and ensure public health and safety:

- NEVER, under any circumstances, feed a coyote.
- Keep items, such as grills, pet food or bird feeders off-limits. Clean and store grills when not in use, keep pet food indoors or feed pets indoors and refill bird feeders infrequently and in small amounts.
- Make trash cans inaccessible. Keep lids securely fastened or store trash cans in a secured location until trash pick-up.

Additional solutions for managing coyotes and the problems they may cause include trapping and/or hunting. Coyotes are not native to Georgia and may be hunted/trapped year-round. The Division does NOT provide trapping services, but maintains a list of licensed trappers permitted to provide this service across the state. To access this listing, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (Select “Permits and Other Services” and then select “Nuisance Wildlife Trapper List”).

“The Division receives numerous calls each year. Most callers report the sighting of a coyote or request coyote relocation,” says Bowers. “Relocation is not a solution. Relocating coyotes only moves the problem into someone else's backyard. It also may result in a slower death from the stress of being released into unfamiliar territory. Trapping and killing habituated or problem coyotes is the only reasonable way to keep them out of backyards.”

While coyotes closely resemble a small dog in appearance, the distinctive characteristics that set the species apart are upright, pointed ears, a pointed snout, low forehead, a mottled color fur pattern ranging from black to reddish-blonde and a bushy tail that is generally carried straight out below the level of the back.

For more information regarding coyotes, visit www.georgiawildlife.com , contact a Wildlife Resources Division Game Management office or call (770) 918-6416.

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Don't Rescue So-Called "Orphaned" Wildlife

2010-04-22T10:27:00.000-04:00

Concern for ‘orphaned’ wildlife is simply human nature. Most people who come across a deer fawn, a young bird or a newborn rabbit will initially watch in amazement and then immediately wonder if the animal is in need of help. Probably not, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages residents to resist the urge to ‘rescue’ these animals.

"Despite good intentions, young wildlife taken into captivity lose their natural instincts and ability to survive in the wild,” explains John Bowers, Wildlife Resources Division assistant chief of Game Management. “In most instances, young wildlife that appear to be helpless and alone are only temporarily separated from the adults. This natural behavior is a critical survival mechanism. Adults spend a significant amount of time away from their offspring to minimize predation,” explains Bowers.

Additionally, handling such animals and bringing them into the home poses health risks for both people and domestic pets. Despite the fact that they make look healthy, wildlife can transmit life-threatening diseases such as rabies and can carry unhealthy parasites such as roundworms, lice, fleas and ticks. Certain ticks are especially known to transmit diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness to humans.

Individuals who are not trained in wildlife rehabilitation should not attempt to care for wildlife and additionally, Georgia law prohibits the possession of most wildlife without a permit. Residents that encounter a seriously injured animal or an animal that clearly has been orphaned should first try to contact a local licensed wildlife rehabilitator. A list of rehabilitators is available at www.georgiawildlife.com (select “Find A Wildlife Rehabilitator” from the home page). People also can contact their local Wildlife Resources Division office to obtain a contact number for a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to provide proper care for the animal until it can be released into the wild.

Residents that encounter an animal such as a bat, fox, skunk, raccoon, coyote or bobcat during the daytime that appears to show no fear of humans or dogs, or that seems to behave in a sick or abnormal manner (i.e. weaving, drooling, etc.), should avoid the animal and contact the local county health office and/or a Wildlife Resources Division office for guidance. The animal may be afflicted with rabies, distemper or another disease. Residents should not attempt to feed or handle the sick animal. Pets, livestock and humans should be kept away from the area in which the animal was observed.

The two most important steps people can take to protect themselves and their pets from rabies is to 1) get pets vaccinated and 2) avoid physical contact with wildlife. As another precautionary step, adults should instruct children to NEVER bring wildlife home.

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American Humane Association: Cruelty to Animals Is NOT Free Speech or Entertainment

2010-04-21T11:19:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Humane Association urges Congress to act immediately to protect animals from abuse, in light of Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision to invalidate federal law that prohibited videos, photographs and other depictions of acts of cruelty to animals for commercial gain. The law, the Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act, was intended to prevent the creation and sale of dogfighting, other animal fighting, and "crush" videos that show real and intentional harm to animals for "entertainment" purposes.

"Congress must take immediate action to pass legislation that protects animals from the type of horrific cruelty this law was meant to prevent," said American Humane's interim president and CEO, George C. Casey. "Deliberately killing animals for entertainment has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Americans are within their right to keep blatant animal torture and killing out of the marketplace, and the Supreme Court should have made that the priority over the supposed protections of those who take sick pleasure in this material."

"We are extremely disappointed that the Court felt it necessary to throw out a law that so obviously was intended to stop criminals from using the First Amendment to defend their horrendous and illegal behavior," Casey said. "Now we call on Congress to act quickly to remedy this unacceptable situation."

American Humane's deep concern about this ruling directly relates to the organization's mission to protect both children and animals. The connection between violence to people and violence to animals is undeniable, and many studies indicate that animal maltreatment is part of a complex constellation of family violence. While not all children who harm animals go on to become violent adults, and not all adult animal abusers necessarily harm their partners or children, there is compelling evidence to view animal abuse as a signal for potentially more, and even more violent, antisocial behaviors.

American Humane urges Americans to learn about The Link® between violence to people and violence to animals at www.americanhumane.org/link and to demand that Congress pass new legislation making it unlawful to produce, sell or own videos and other entertainment materials showing illegal acts of animal cruelty.

The case addressed by the Supreme Court's ruling is the United States of America v. Robert J. Stevens. Stevens was convicted of selling videos of dogs fighting each other and attacking other animals. The section of the law in question states: "Whoever knowingly creates, sells, or possesses a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years or both." The exceptions are "any depiction that has serious religious, political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical, or artistic value."

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D.E.L.T.A. Rescue Vet Advises on Keeping Dogs and Cats Safe in Rattlesnake Season

2010-04-20T08:42:00.000-04:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Rattlesnake season is here, and the veterinarian of the 501(c)(3) non-profit D.E.L.T.A. Rescue, the world's largest no-kill, care-for-life sanctuary, is offering critical advice on rattlesnake bite prevention -- and what to do in the event a pet tangles with a rattlesnake.

"As the temperature warms and days get longer, accidental encounters with rattlesnakes increase in the Southwest," explained D.E.L.T.A. Rescue veterinarian Gaylord Brown, D.V.M., who in his former private practice saw countless rattlesnake bites. "Dogs, due to their inquisitive nature, are more at risk of being bitten. However, people may not know that cats are also at risk."

Typically, a dog will blunder into a rattlesnake, causing the snake to strike in self-defense. As a result, most rattlesnake bites in dogs occur on the nose. Cats, being naturally more cautious and prone to striking at a threat with their claws, are more likely to be bitten on the front paw or leg.

The prospect of a beloved pet getting in a dust-up with a rattler can be terrifying. The good news: People can protect cats and dogs from being bitten in the first place. According to Dr. Brown, who answers questions on the "Ask the Vet" section of DeltaRescue.org (http://www.deltarescue.org/ask-the-vet), avoidance is the best way to prevent a rattlesnake bite. Dr. Brown cautions people to keep their dogs close when hiking, stay on well-marked trails and to make their presence known. If the snakes are closer to home, Dr. Brown advises homeowners to consider installing snake wire on the bottom two or three feet of fence around their yards -- as D.E.L.T.A. Rescue does at its sanctuary -- and to be particularly watchful at dusk and dawn, when rattlesnakes are most active.

But what if an encounter between a pet and a rattlesnake is unavoidable? Signs of a rattlesnake bite, says Dr. Brown, include acute swelling, pain, and dark, bloody drainage from the fang sites. A bite to the pet's face will almost always cause excessive drooling; with any rattlesnake bite, the pet will likely be depressed and begin panting. Once bitten by a rattlesnake, a pet must be kept quiet and still. Dr. Brown discourages tourniquets and says lancing or suction at the fang marks should only be done with mechanical suction devices by those trained in the technique.

"A person whose pet shows signs of having been bitten by a rattlesnake should seek medical attention with a veterinarian immediately," said Dr. Brown. "With treatment, survival rates are high, and most veterinarians in endemic snake areas have antivenin."

Those with further questions about snake bites or any other questions about veterinary health can register for free and post their questions directly to Dr. Brown at http://www.deltarescue.org/ask-the-vet. To learn more about D.E.L.T.A. Rescue and its work, visit http://www.deltarescue.org/.

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Response Products Voluntarily Recalls Advanced Cetyl M Joint Action Formula for Dogs Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk

2010-04-14T09:08:00.000-04:00

Response Products, Broken Bow, NE is voluntarily recalling Cetyl M for Dogs, lot numbers 1210903 and 0128010, due to a possible Salmonella contamination from the hydrolyzed vegetable protein component provided by Basic Foods of Las Vegas, NV. Tests conducted by Basic Foods to detect Salmonella produced negative results; however, Response Products has determined to recall the above-referenced lots.

People who handle dry pet food and/or treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the chews or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Cetyl M for Dogs was distributed nation-wide through direct sales, retail stores, veterinarians and online retailers.

The above-referenced lots of Cetyl M for Dogs were distributed in either a 120-count bottle (shipped between January 8, 2010 and April 2, 2010) or a 360-count bottle (shipped between February 11, 2010 and April 2, 2010). The affected lot numbers are as follows: #1210903 and 0128010. The lot number can be found directly above the bar code on the label. These lots were sent out in the time periods as set out above. This product is in tablet-form, is approximately the size of a dime and is light brown in coloring.

To date, Response Products has received no reports of illness associated with the use of this product. Response Products recently learned that the FDA and Basic Foods of Las Vegas, NV, the producer of one of the components of the affected product’s vegetable beef flavoring, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, had detected Salmonella in Basic Food’s facility and had issued a recall on said component. The manufacturer of the vegetable beef flavoring used in Cetyl M for Dogs, tested the hydrolyzed vegetable beef protein for Salmonella and the results were negative. However, due to the concern regarding Salmonella in Basic Foods’ facility, it decided to recall two lots (only one lot affected our product) of said vegetable beef flavoring. The finished product manufacturer of Cetyl M for Dogs had tests performed on both the raw materials used to make our product and also the finished product, and all tested negative for Salmonella, however, it has issued a voluntary recall on two lots (see lot numbers listed above) of Cetyl M for Dogs.

Response Products requires that testing for Salmonella and other harmful pathogens is completed during the manufacturing process. Even though the testing performed at each level of the process showed negative results for Salmonella, in an effort to produce the highest quality product for our customers, Response Products ceased distributing the dog product in the above-referenced lots and is issuing a voluntary recall on its Cetyl M for Dogs in the affected lot numbers. In addition to the testing listed above, Response Products sent samples from said lots, as well as from lot produced after those lots, to an independent laboratory, and all samples received a negative result for Salmonella.

Response Products continues to investigate the cause of the problem and continues to be committed to producing a high-quality, effective product for dogs.

Consumers who have purchased the listed lots of Cetyl M for Dogs are urged to contact Response Products or the place of purchase for further direction. Consumers may contact Response Products at 1-877-266-9757, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST.

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Bring on the birds - Simple solutions to turn your backyard into an avian oasis

2010-04-12T14:15:00.000-04:00

(ARA) - Who doesn't love spring? Flowers bloom, trees bud and bright songbirds return to the area. The renewed resurgence of radiant life may make you want to get in on the action.

But if gardening's not your thing and you just don't see yourself as the type to go on a long outdoor hike, you can still engage in spring's revelry and bring beautiful birds to your own backyard. Convincing songbirds and favorites like hummingbirds to visit your yard is as simple as providing them with plentiful sources of food, water and nesting material.

The avian experts at Songbird Essentials, a leading provider of accoutrements and food for outdoor birds of all species, offer a few tips for attracting some popular, picturesque feathered friends to your neighborhood:

Birds need to eat a lot to survive every day. While natural food sources are plentiful in warmer months, they're just as happy to dine at your backyard buffet. You can attract delightful birds like yellow goldfinches, orioles and hummingbirds with the right mix of food and feeder types.

Start out by overlooking a few dandelions when you're weeding your yard. Goldfinches love dandelion seed. They also like company when they eat and will dine in large groups. Look for feeders, like the Three Tube Finch Feeder, that allow 24 or more birds to perch and dine at the same time. The Three Tube Finch Feeder certainly sets the stage for a spectacular show!

Orioles, with their glossy black coats trimmed in bright orange or yellow, will fill your backyard with distinctive whistles and songs. They migrate at night and arrive in your neighborhood tired, cold and hungry, so if you wait until you actually see them to put out food, you might miss them altogether. Set out oranges, sliced in half with the juicy side out, before you see the first oriole of the season. Or try feeding them all new BirdBerry Jelly, a human grade product that's better for the birds. It's all natural - no preservatives - and is lower in sugar content than most jellies. The unique grape/blackberry flavor attracts orioles and other species and keeps them coming back for more.

Try using a feeder like Songbird Essentials' Grand Slam Oriole Feeder made of recycled plastic. It holds four orange halves and has two serving bowls for jelly. Other birds that love jelly include woodpeckers, robins and warblers.

Hummingbirds, while not great singers, are among the most intriguing and adorable birds to watch. Nearly every region of the U.S. has at least one native species of these tiny, speedy little birds. There are several ways you can tempt them into your yard; try these tips:

* Provide plenty of nectar feeders - the more the merrier. Dr. J.B.'s Hummingbird Feeder is a good choice; it is dishwasher safe and easy to clean, has an extra wide mouth for easy filling and is bee resistant. Bob Sergeant, president of the Hummer Bird Study Group, the world's largest association dedicated to the study and preservation of hummingbirds, simply says; "This is the best hummingbird feeder ever!" Plus, the hummers love it.

* Be sure hummers see red. Plant red open-throated plants. Or, if planting is not possible, tie a big red bow in your yard near your feeder.

* Let the water flow. Hummingbirds prefer moving water sources like sprinklers, fountains, waterfalls, misters or drippers. Attract hummingbirds by keeping water sources fresh and clean and positioning them near food sources.

* Provide natural nesting material. Hummingbirds won't nest in birdhouses or nesting boxes, they build their cup-shaped nests in trees. Encourage nesting by providing materials like Hummer Helper Nesting Material, recommended by the Hummingbird Society of North America. An all-natural product, Hummer Helper comes in an open wire frame that allows hummingbirds easy access to natural nesting material.

For more ideas on how to attract hummingbirds and songbirds to your backyard this season, visit www.songbirdessentials.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Act Now to Reduce Nuisance Canada Geese Problems This Summer

2010-04-08T11:32:00.000-04:00

The Canada goose is an adaptable bird and can live in a variety of locations, including open farmland and rural reservoirs to suburban neighborhood ponds, office complexes, parks and other developed areas. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, as the goose population increases and they become more common in urban areas so does the increase in nuisance complaints.

“Geese that have adapted to people, either because they are being fed or because they are so close to humans on a daily basis, can become an aggressive pest,” says WRD State Waterfowl Biologist Greg Balkcom. “Additionally, when you have a resident goose population that continues to grow unchecked – you exponentially increase the amounts of feces and feathers found in the area.”

Landowners who don’t want geese on their property can first try a variety of “harassment” techniques, including chemical repellents, mylar balloons, wire/string barriers and noise makers. These methods are proven to help reduce goose problems. However, they do require consistency from the property owner and are not always 100 percent effective.

In response to these concerns, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued regulations that allow for additional control measures, apart from harassment techniques and traditional hunting, to help address nuisance goose problems. One of those regulations is a permit for reducing goose reproduction through nest and egg destruction OR egg addling or oiling which prevent the eggs from hatching.

“These permits are easy to attain, and can be useful in certain situations – such as a homeowner that may have geese nesting close to home” says Balkcom. “Additionally, it is a way to keep a minimum number of adult geese on the property without the population growing too large through years of unchecked reproduction.”

The permits are available at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s website at www.fws.gov/permits. The website also contains useful information on the methods for addling or oiling the eggs or destroying the nests and when each method may be appropriate.

The nesting season for geese is underway now, and landowners and land managers who have problems with geese (homeowners, golf course managers, city/county managers, etc.) - especially during the summer molting season - may be able to act now and reduce their nuisance problems later this year.

It is important to remember that Canada geese are a protected species under state and federal law. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgia's migratory bird regulations.

For more information, visit the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at www.fws.gov/permits. For a brochure on a variety of methods of dealing with nuisance geese, visit www.georgiawildlife.com (Select “Hunting”, “Game Management” and “Nuisance Canada Geese”).

Commercial Fishing Estimated to Kill Millions of Sea Turtles

2010-04-08T11:26:00.000-04:00

The number of sea turtles inadvertently snared by commercial fishing gear over the past 20 years may reach into the millions, according to the first peer-reviewed study to compile sea turtle bycatch data from gillnet, trawl and longline fisheries worldwide.

The study, which was published online April 6 in the journal Conservation Letters, analyzed data compiled from peer-reviewed papers, government reports, technical reports, and symposia proceedings published between 1990 and 2008. All data were based on direct onboard observations or interviews with fishermen. The study did not include data from recreational fishing.

Six of the world’s seven species of sea turtles are currently listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
“Direct onboard observations and interviews with fishermen indicate that about 85,000 turtles were caught between 1990 and 2008. But because these reports cover less than one percent of all fleets, with little or no information from small-scale fisheries around the world, we conservatively estimate that the true total is at least two orders of magnitude higher,” said Bryan Wallace, lead author of the new paper.
Wallace is the science advisor for the Sea Turtle Flagship Program at Conservation International and an adjunct assistant professor at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment. Most of his co-authors are researchers at Duke’s Center for Marine Conservation.
Their global data review revealed that the highest reported bycatch rates for longline fisheries occurred off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, the highest rates for gillnet fishing took place in the North Adriatic region of the Mediterranean and the highest rates for trawls occurred off the coast of Uruguay.

When bycatch rates and amounts of observed fishing activity for all three gear types were combined and ranked across regions, four regions emerged as the overall most urgent conservation priorities: the East Pacific, the Mediterranean, the Southwest Atlantic, and the Northwest Atlantic.
“Although our numbers are estimates, they highlight clearly the importance of guidelines for fishing equipment and practices to help reduce these losses,” Wallace said.
Effective measures to reduce turtle bycatch include the use of circle hooks and fish bait in longline fisheries, and Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in trawling. Many of the most effective types of gear modifications, Wallace noted, have been developed by fishermen themselves.
Wallace said the Hawaiian longline fishery and the Australian prawn fishery have significantly reduced bycatch through close working relationships between fishermen and government managers, use of onboard observers, mandatory gear modifications and innovative technologies. TurtleWatch, a real-time database that provides daily updates on water temperatures and other conditions indicating where turtles might be found, has guided fishermen to avoid setting their gear in those areas.
Other approaches, such as the creation of marine protected areas and use of catch shares, also reduce bycatch, preserve marine biodiversity and promote healthy fish stocks in some cases, he said.
“Fisheries bycatch is the most acute threat to worldwide sea turtle populations today. Many animals die or are injured as a result of these interactions,” Wallace said. “But our message is that it’s not a lost cause. Managers and fishers have tools they can use to reduce bycatch, preserve marine biodiversity and promote healthy fish stocks, so that everyone wins, including turtles.”
The study stems from work Wallace began in 2005 as a postdoctoral research associate at the Duke University Marine Lab, where he helped develop the first global bycatch database for longline fisheries. That work was part of a three-year initiative called Project GloBAL (Global By-catch Assessment of Long-lived Species).
Co-authors on the new study – all of whom were part of the Project GloBAL team – are Rebecca L. Lewison of San Diego State University; Sara L. McDonald of Duke’s Center for Marine Conservation; Richard K. McDonald of the Center for Marine Conservation and the University of Richmond; Connie Y. Kot of the Center for Marine Conservation and the Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment; and Shaleyla Kelez, Rhema K. Bjorkland, Elena M. Finkbeiner, S’rai Heimbrecht and Larry B. Crowder, all of the Center for Marine Conservation. Crowder is director of the center and the Stephen Toth Professor of Marine Biology at the Nicholas School. Lewison formerly was a research associate at the Duke Marine Lab.

By Timothy Lucas

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Get Turtles Off the Hook

2010-03-16T15:39:00.000-04:00

Kate Walsh Wants to Save Sea Turtles from Oceana on Vimeo.

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Zoo Atlanta Wins Two AMY Awards

2010-03-13T17:53:00.000-05:00

Give So They Stay campaign awarded for excellence in marketing and public relations

Zoo Atlanta has been honored with two Atlanta Marketer of the Year (AMY) Awards for the Give So They Stay campaign. Presented by the Atlanta Chapter of the American Marketing Association, the AMY Awards recognize excellence and outstanding performance in results-driven marketing programs.

Zoo Atlanta was a finalist in two categories, General Advertising and Integrated PR Campaign, and won both honors during an awards gala hosted on Thursday, March 11, at the Fox Theatre. Entries were judged on program strategy; tactical execution; creative artwork and video; audience impact and achievement of quantifiable results.

“Zoo Atlanta is delighted to have been recognized by the AMY Awards,” said Marcus E. Margerum, Vice President of Marketing and Sales. “Give So They Stay was a great example of a team effort between Zoo Atlanta’s Marketing and Public Relations and Communications divisions, and these awards exemplify the hard work and commitment that made the campaign so successful.”

Launched by Zoo Atlanta officials in June 2009, Give So They Stay ultimately raised over $400,000 in support of keeping giant pandas in Atlanta. The campaign, managed in part through creative collaborations with TG Madison and media partner WXIA-11Alive, generated an overwhelming amount of local, national and international interest in the Zoo’s giant panda program.

About Zoo Atlanta
An accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Zoo Atlanta inspires value and preservation of wildlife through a unique mix of education and outdoor family fun. From well-known native wildlife to critically endangered species on the brink of extinction, the Zoo offers memorable close encounters with more than 1,000 animals from around the world. An all-new carnivore complex, featuring the exciting debut of two new sun bears, is scheduled to open in summer 2010. Zoo Atlanta is also the proud home of Xi Lan, the only giant panda cub born in the U.S. in 2008, and the popular Boundless Budgies: A Parakeet Adventure, the largest interactive experience of its kind in the Southeast. Other highlights include the nation’s largest collection of great apes and a global center of excellence for the care and reproduction of vanishing amphibians and reptiles. Zoo Atlanta is open daily with the exceptions of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Keeper talks, interactive wildlife shows, education programs and special events run year-round. For more information, call 404.624.WILD or visit zooatlanta.org.

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Public Meetings Scheduled Regarding Lake Chatuge Sport Fishery

2010-03-13T11:48:00.000-05:00

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (GAWRD) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) will hold two public meetings in March to discuss the Lake Chatuge sport fishery. Fisheries biologists from both agencies will provide management updates and will also give the public an opportunity to comment on proposed hybrid striped bass stocking in Lake Chatuge. Those interested are encouraged to bring these meetings to the attention of others that also may be interested in participating.

Lake Chatuge is located in north Georgia and the fishery is managed cooperatively by GAWRD and NCWRC. Lake Chatuge was stocked with hybrid bass from 1981 to 1996. In 1995, the state and former world record hybrid striped bass (25 lbs. 8 oz.) was caught in Lake Chatuge. GAWRD and NCWRC are proposing to re-establish the hybrid striped bass recreational fishery by stocking in spring 2010. Stocking rates and hybrid striped bass population growth will be evaluated annually.

The meetings will take place on the following dates and at the following locations:
March 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville, North Carolina
March 23, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Hiawassee Court House Grand Jury Room in Hiawassee, GA

Public comment is welcome. Statements should be concise to allow all interested attendees an opportunity to speak. Those unable to attend a meeting are welcome to submit written comments by March 26, 2010 to:

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
Attn: Nick Jamison
2150 Dawsonville Hwy.
Gainesville, Georgia 30501

These meeting sites are accessible to people with physical disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids should be directed to Nick Jamison at the above address or at (770) 535-5498 no later than March 12, 2010.

For more information on these scheduled public meetings, call (770) 535-5498.

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Return Tags from Toccoa Trout by April 9th Deadline for Chance at FREE Lifetime License

2010-03-12T09:26:00.000-05:00

The deadline to turn in trout tags is approaching – so anglers fishing the 15-mile stretch of the Toccoa River (between Blue Ridge Dam and the Tennessee state line) should get busy and make sure all tags removed from tagged trout are sent in by April 9, 2010. Why? Because thanks to the Blue Ridge Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited, one lucky person will win a lifetime license at the drawing to be held on Sat. April 10!

The Fisheries Section of the Division tagged almost 4,000 trout, including hatchery-raised rainbow, captured resident rainbow and even a few brown trout, in the Toccoa River (effort began in March 2009) as part of a study of trout population dynamics. By reporting these tags, anglers will help biologists learn more about survival, growth and movement of stocked trout in the Toccoa River.

These small, green tags, each with a unique number, were attached to the fish just below the dorsal fin. Each tag reported and returned will be eligible for a drawing to win a lifetime sportsman’s license. One angler will be chosen at random on April 10, 2010 (entries must be received by close of business April 9, 2010). Anglers may report and return multiple tags, increasing their odds of winning.

What anglers should do if they catch a tagged trout while fishing the Toccoa River:

Remove the tag by cutting it with a knife, scissors, nippers, etc. as close as possible to the fish's body (if you plan to release the fish do not pull the tag out, as this is likely to injure the fish).
Keep or release the fish as normal in accordance with the 2010 Georgia Sport Fishing Regulations.
Call the Calhoun Fisheries office at (706) 624-1161 to report the tag number.
Mail the tag to the specified address. (Only tags physically received by the office will be eligible for the drawing for the lifetime sportsman’s license.)
If the winner of the drawing is not eligible for a lifetime license (i.e. not a Georgia resident or otherwise not eligible), they will be allowed to give the license to someone else that is eligible (family member, friend or other drawing entry).

Anglers who catch a tagged trout after the drawing deadline are encouraged to continue to report these tags, as the data will still be useful in the study.

For additional information regarding the Toccoa River trout study, contact Fisheries Biologist John Damer at john.damer@dnr.state.ga.us or (706) 624-1161.

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Not too Late to Register for Youth Birding Competition!

2010-03-12T09:24:00.000-05:00

The registration cutoff for the 2010 Youth Birding Competition is near! Teams have only until March 31 to sign up for the statewide conservation event, set for April 23-24.

Competition coordinator Tim Keyes urged would-be participants to turn their interest into action.

“It’s not too late but the deadline is rapidly approaching,” said Keyes, a wildlife biologist with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Nongame Conservation Section.

The Youth Birding Competition is free, and open to teams from kindergarteners to high school seniors. Everyone from experienced birders to first-timers is welcomed.

This fifth annual bird-a-thon starts at 5 p.m. Friday, April 23, and ends at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 24. Teams, competing against others their age, can use as much or as little of that time to count as many birds as possible throughout Georgia. But all must arrive at Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center near Mansfield by 5 p.m. Saturday. A banquet and awards ceremony packed with prizes is held that evening at the wildlife center.

The competition is sponsored by DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division and The Environmental Resources Network Inc., or T.E.R.N., the friends group of the Nongame Conservation Section.

Goals include focusing children on birds and cultivating a deep interest in wildlife and conservation.

About 140 birders ages 4-18 took part last year. The event has grown each year. As part of the competition, teams can raise money to support organizations. There is also a bird journal option and a T-shirt Art Contest (the submission deadline for the art contest has passed).

For registration details, check out the event links at www.georgiawildlife.com or contact Lacy Mitchell at the Charlie Elliott Conference Center, (770) 784-3152 or lacy.mitchell@dnr.state.ga.us. Tim Keyes, at (912) 262-3191 or tim.keyes@dnr.state.ga.us, can answer questions about the competition.

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Study Shows How Sea Turtle Hatchlings Move Quickly on Sand

2010-03-02T10:54:00.002-05:00

Life can be scary for endangered loggerhead sea turtles immediately after they hatch. After climbing out of their underground nest, the baby turtles must quickly traverse a variety of terrains for several hundred feet to reach the ocean.

While these turtles’ limbs are adapted for a life at sea, their flippers enable excellent mobility over dune grass, rigid obstacles and sand of varying compaction and moisture content. A new field study conducted by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology is the first to show how these hatchlings use their limbs to move quickly on loose sand and hard ground to reach the ocean. This research may help engineers build robots that can travel across complex environments.

“Locomotion on sand is challenging because sand surfaces can flow during limb interaction and slipping can result, causing both instability and decreased locomotor performance, but these turtles are able to adapt,” said Daniel Goldman, an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Physics. “On hard-packed sand at the water’s edge, these turtles push forward by digging a claw on their flipper into the ground so that they don’t slip, and on loose sand they advance by pushing off against a solid region of sand that forms behind their flippers.”

Details of the study were published online on February 10, 2010 in the journal Biology Letters. This research was supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, National Science Foundation, and the Army Research Laboratory.

Click here to watch a video of a loggerhead sea turtle on the beach running from its nest to the water.

In collaboration with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, biology graduate student Nicole Mazouchova studied the movement of sea turtle hatchlings of the species Caretta caretta at Jekyll Island on the coast of Georgia. She and research technician Andrei Savu worked from a mobile laboratory that contained a nearly three-foot-long trackway filled with dry Jekyll Island sand.

The trackway contained tiny holes in the bottom through which air could be blown. The air pulses elevated the granules and caused them to settle into a loosely packed solid state, allowing the researchers to closely control the density of the sand.

In addition to challenging hatchlings to traverse loosely packed sand in the trackway, the researchers also studied the turtles’ movement on hard surfaces -- a sandpaper-covered board placed on top of the sand. Two high-speed cameras recorded the movements of the hatchlings along the trackway, and showed how the turtles altered their locomotion to move on different surfaces.

“We assumed that the turtles would perform best on rigid ground because it would not give way under their flippers, but our experiments showed that while the turtles’ average speed on sand was reduced by 28 percent relative to hard ground, their maximal speeds were the same for both surfaces,” noted Goldman.

Click here to watch a video showing how a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling moves on granular media.

The researchers’ investigations showed that on the rigid sandpaper surface, the turtles anchored a claw located on their wrists into the sandpaper and propelled themselves forward. During the thrusting process, one of the turtle’s shoulders rotated toward its body and its wrist did not bend, keeping the limb fully extended.

In contrast, on loosely packed sand, pressure from the thin edge of one of the turtle’s flippers caused the limb to penetrate into the sand. The turtle’s shoulder then rotated as the flipper penetrated until the flipper was perpendicular to the surface and the turtle’s body lifted from the surface.

“The turtles dug into the loosely packed sand, lifted their bellies off the ground, lurched forward, stopped, and did it again,” explained Goldman.

To extend their biological observations, Goldman and physics graduate student Nick Gravish designed an artificial flipper system in the laboratory. The flipper consisted of a thin aluminum plate that was inserted into and dragged along the trackway filled with Jekyll Island sand. Calibrated strain gauges mounted on the flipper provided force measurements during the dragging procedure.

“Our model revealed that a major challenge for rapid locomotion of hatchling sea turtles on sand is the balance between high speed, which requires large inertial forces, and the potential for failure through fluidization of the sand,” explained Goldman. “We believe that the turtles modulate the amount of force they use to push into the sand so that it remains below the force required for the ground to break apart and become fluidlike.”

Goldman and his team plan to conduct further field studies and laboratory experiments to determine if and how the turtles control their limb movements on granular media to avoid sand fluidization. They are also developing robots that move along granular media like the sea turtle hatchings.

“These research results are valuable for roboticists who want to know the minimum number of appendage features necessary to move effectively on land and whether they can just design a robot with a flat mitt and a claw like these turtles have,” noted Goldman.

This material is based on work supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award at the Scientific Interface. Work related to physics was supported by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) MAST CTA under Cooperative Agreement Number W911NF-08-2-0004 and the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Award Number CMMI-0825480. Any opinions, views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the researcher and should not be interpreted as representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of ARL, NSF, or the U.S. Government.

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ASPCA Rescues 25 Dogs from Horrific Conditions in Georgia

2010-02-17T16:10:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), under the authority of the Washington County, Ga. Sheriff's Office, today removed 25 alleged fighting and breeding dogs from a 25-acre property near Sandersville, Ga.

Working in conjunction with teams from United Animal Nations and Sumter DART (Disaster Animal Response Team), the ASPCA's Field Investigations and Response team removed 25 dogs from the property at 1750 Ohoopee Church Rd., approximately 130 miles southeast of Atlanta. At least 25 emaciated dogs were discovered, chained to tire axles and posts that dotted the property, and another 27 were found dead and in various stages of decomposition.

"It's bad enough that these dogs were treated cruelly and raised in horrible conditions," said Tim Rickey, the ASPCA's Senior Director of Field Investigations and Response. "But to leave them like this to starve is incomprehensible and speaks exactly to the kinds of heinous crimes the ASPCA fights day in and day out."

Washington County authorities intend to arrest the caretaker of the animals, who claims that the original owner of the dogs did not provide them with adequate food and other necessities. Other arrests and animal cruelty charges are anticipated.

"This has been going on for much too long," said Washington County Sheriff Thomas Smith. "We are committed to fighting animal cruelty in all its forms."

"We are grateful to be able to respond to this situation, and for the agencies assisting us," said Deputy Lynn Schlup of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, who contacted the ASPCA approximately three weeks ago for assistance. She said none of the dogs were current on vaccinations.

The dogs were transferred to an emergency shelter at an undisclosed location in Washington County provided by Vanguard Associates. They will be triaged by ASPCA veterinarians Dr. Melinda Merck and Dr. Robert Reisman, along ASPCA veterinary technicians, and assisted by Dr. Jason Byrd, Associate Director of the Center for Forensic Medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville. The dogs will be cared for at the temporary shelter by volunteers of United Animal Nations until a forfeiture hearing.

All of the dogs are emaciated and undernourished; some are suffering from untreated injures, respiratory problems and open wounds. Tethered by log chains, the dogs were discovered without food, water or adequate shelter, shivering in the freezing temperatures.

Authorities believe that the dogs rescued were used for fighting. "They bear the battle scars consistent with those of fighting dogs," Rickey said. ""Being on log chains 24/7 is no way to live," he added. "These dogs have lived a miserable life, and are just as starved for human contact."

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Rare Rhino Pregnancy Gives Hope to Species

2010-02-17T11:30:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Conservationists across the world are celebrating a pregnancy in one of the world's most endangered species, the Sumatran Rhino. The pregnancy of female Ratu, born in Indonesia, and male Andalas, the first of only three Sumatran rhinos born in captivity in more than 112 years, is giving hope to international rhino biologists. The breeding occurred at Indonesia's Sumatran Rhino Sanctuary (SRS) in Way Kambas National Park following months of gradual introduction by scent, sound, sight and physical proximity. The calf is expected to be born in May 2011.

This is no ordinary pregnancy. Ratu wandered into a village just outside Way Kambas National Park in 2006; Andalas was born at the Cincinnati Zoo in 2001, raised at the Los Angeles Zoo and then transferred to SRS in 2007. With help from Dr. Robin Radcliffe of the International Rhino Foundation's (IRF) Rhino Conservation Medicine Program, the then-5 1/2-year-old Andalas journeyed more than 10,000 miles on a 63-hour trip by plane, truck and ferry.

"A combination of sound science, international collaboration among government, non-profits, and zoos, as well as timing and personal chemistry, has led to this groundbreaking event," said Dr. Susie Ellis, IRF executive director. "Sumatran rhino numbers have decreased by more than 50 percent over the last 15 years in the wild."

The Sumatran rhino population is estimated at approximately 200 individuals in the wild and 10 currently in captivity worldwide. Ratu's pregnancy represents the hope for a future generation.

Dr. Terri Roth, director of Cincinnati Zoo's Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) and vice president for IRF's Asia programs, has used her extensive training in reproductive biology to produce three Sumatran rhinos beginning with Andalas in 2001.

"Sumatran rhinos are very solitary by nature and aggressive towards one another except when a female is in estrus," said Dr. Roth. "Through science, we can determine when the female is ready to ovulate so she is paired with a male at the right time and fighting is minimized while the likelihood of conception is optimized. It is wonderful to see the science developed at CREW help our Indonesian colleagues achieve success in Sumatra."

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For Pet Owners, Share Valentine's Day Love With Hugs, but Skip the Hearts and Flowers for Fido and Tabby

2010-02-13T08:29:00.000-05:00

PRNewswire -- On Valentine's Day we profess our unconditional love to those who mean the most, lavishing them with affections and confections. For animal lovers, expressions of adoration and devotion can easily extend to our pets.

However, there are some pet hazards associated with the traditions of the holiday, explains veterinarian Dr. Kristie Souders of North Shore Animal League America, the world's largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Dr. Souders offers these tips on how to keep pets safe from potential Valentine's Day hazards.

Chocolate

The number one belly ache for pets on Valentine's Day is chocolate since it's so readily available. Depending on the amount ingested, chocolate is potentially poisonous to many animals. A good rule of thumb to remember is the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. These particular chocolates contain theobromine, which is a substance similar to caffeine. Even in small, non-toxic doses, chocolate can still cause stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, hyperactivity, dehydration and seizures. It's best not to tempt fate with tempting chocolates. Leave the sweets for your human sweetie.

Candy and Gum

Many sugar-free candy, gum and baked products today contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sweetener found in plants that is used as a sugar substitute and is highly toxic to dogs, so be sure not to leave these snacks where your pet can find them. Dogs ingesting significant amounts of gum or candies solely or largely sweetened with xylitol may develop a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures and even liver failure. Symptoms come on very quickly. If you suspect that your pet has ingested any amount of xylitol, call your veterinarian immediately.

Plants, Flowers and Candles

Many flower and plant varieties are poisonous or harmful to pets. Different plants and flowers have varied effects. Some of the more popular varieties that may be found around Valentine's Day are: Baby's Breath, Chrysanthemums, Daffodils, various Lilies, Ferns, Hyacinth, Hydrangea, Impatiens, Lily-of-the-Valley, Rubber plants, and Tulips. Cats, especially, find grass-like plants irresistible and have access to just about everywhere. There are many more flowers and plants that can cause upset and even death to your pet, so please be aware to keep all varieties of flora and fauna away from them. Candles are also popular on holidays. Be mindful that pets, especially cats, can be attracted to the flicker and have the potential for being burned or knocking over a candle that could cause a fire. Keep burning candles out of reach and never leave them unattended when your pet is in the area.

Pamper Your Pets This Valentine's Day

While traditional Valentine's Day goodies are not good for animals, there are plenty of pet delicacies you can use to pamper your pet so he doesn't feel left out. An extra long walk or a special brushing can be just what Cupid ordered. Exercise and grooming have infinite benefits for both of you. Treats of the non-edible kind are equally as satisfying. A new bed, toy, catnip or bone can help express that special place in the heart saved for our furry friends.

This Valentine's Day, if you are an animal lover, think about opening your heart and home to a shelter animal. You will be saving a life. If you don't have a pet, consider the Valentine's gift of sponsorship. For more information on pet safety and well-being, to learn more about North Shore Animal League America, or to send a Valentine's e-card visit www.AnimalLeague.org .

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Will the Year of the Tiger Be Good for the Tiger?

2010-02-12T11:23:00.000-05:00

PRNewswire-- February 14 marks the arrival of the Chinese New Year -- the Year of the Tiger. While communities around the world celebrate this auspicious year on the lunar calendar, IFAW (the International Fund for Animal Welfare) warns about an upsurge in illegal trade in tiger parts and products, that is driving this endangered species, already on the brink, towards extinction.

"Wild tigers once numbered around 100,000 across Asia, today there are fewer than 3,500," said Grace Ge Gabriel, IFAW's Asia Regional Director. "Tigers face threats from loss of habitat and prey. But the greatest threat to wild tigers is poaching to supply an illegal trade driven by the demand for tiger parts and products."

With a listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) all international commercial trade in tigers and their parts is banned. As a range and a consumer state, China also has a domestic ban on the use of tiger bone.

"These bans are 'toothless tigers' in the face of a growing illegal market for tiger parts fueled by a few large scale tiger farms that speed-breed tigers for commercial trade of their parts," said Gabriel.

Recent investigations in China have found an increase in the illegal sale of products claiming to contain tiger parts from these farms, both online and in stores. While there are fewer than 50 wild tigers left in China, tiger farms collectively have over 6,000 tigers and boast an annual reproduction rate of 800. Operated also as safari parks for tourists, these tiger farms openly sell products such as 'tiger bone wine' as health tonics.

"Any reduction of demand for tiger parts in China thanks to the government's trade ban is undermined by this illegal trade," warned Gabriel. "These tiger farming businessmen are cultivating a new demand for dead tigers, fueling the illegal trade in wildlife and stimulating the poaching of wild tigers."

A total of 175 countries will have the opportunity to vote for improved protection of wild tigers at the upcoming CITES meeting in March, by supporting an EU proposal urging for strengthened control of the tiger trade and stopping the farming of tigers for the trade of their parts and products. Visit www.ifaw.org for further information.

To make the Year of the Tiger an auspicious year for the tiger, IFAW urges all governments and especially consumer countries to reduce demand and prevent any trade in dead tigers from any source, and focus on protecting live tigers in the wild.

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Georgia Aquarium to Debut Four Harbor Seals

2010-02-12T07:24:00.000-05:00

Animals will reside in the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest Gallery

The Georgia Aquarium will soon add four new harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina), two males and two females, into the Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest Gallery. Beginning Saturday, guests will be able to see the harbor seals at the Georgia Aquarium.

These unique looking animals range in color from silver-gray to black or dark brown and can double their weight in four to six weeks. The new pups, born last year, are between 3.5 - 4 feet in length and weigh between 86-114 pounds. Harbor seals, known for their large size and prominent face whiskers, can detect their prey in low light conditions by touch, vibration or water movement.

“We are thrilled to have four new harbor seal pups residing at the Georgia Aquarium,” said Billy Hurley, senior vice president of husbandry and chief animal officer. “The new additions add a unique and diverse experience for guests. Everyone will love them.”

Harbor seals spend about half of their time in the sea and half on land. They are born with oil glands in the skin that help waterproof the fur and can remain under water for 40 minutes. Harbor seals are the least vocal of their kind, primarily “talking” to each other underwater. Predators of the harbor seal include sharks, polar bears, killer whales and eagles.

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Fulton County, Ga. Explosives Detection Canine Helps Miami Prepare for Super Bowl XLIV

2010-02-05T18:53:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Not everyone participating in this year's Super Bowl is a football player. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have fielded their best players to help prepare for a safe and secure Super Bowl XLIV. These pros include ATF K-9 explosives detection teams that have been deployed to Miami from around the country. The K-9 teams are working side-by-side with other federal, state and local law-enforcement officers to keep the football teams and fans safe throughout this event.

"The K-9 teams that are here in Miami for the Super Bowl are the best of the best," said Hugo Barrera, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Miami Field Division. "Like the football teams that will be playing in the Super Bowl, these handlers and their K-9 partners have been training and preparing all year for this event," Barrera further stated. "We are proud to say that the only thing the fans have to worry about is whether their team wins or loses."

One of the K-9 teams working in Miami is ATF Canine Handler Sergeant Kirk Markham and his black Labrador retriever, "Mokey." Sergeant Markham and ATF K-9 Mokey have been partners for six years and are detailed to Miami from the Fulton County Sheriff's Office. This is their fourth trip to the Super Bowl. Sergeant Markham and Mokey routinely work together in criminal investigations and at high profile security events where their expertise is needed detecting the presence of explosives, firearms and ammunition. Word has circulated in the law enforcement community about how adept Mokey is at detecting shell casings, weapons, and other evidence. Many investigators from other agencies in Fulton County regularly request the assistance of Mokey and Sgt. Markham at major crime scenes. They were called to assist at this year's Super Bowl to help locate any type of explosive, which may be in close proximity to the Sun Life Stadium or any other venues relating to the big game.

ATF has used its explosives detecting canines at other special events including the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, the Presidential Inauguration, the G-8, the World Series, NASCAR, the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and of course, the Super Bowls.

ATF's program, which began in 1986, uses only Labrador retrievers. The dogs are supplied by the Guiding Eyes for the Blind, the Guide Dog Foundation, and Canine Companions for Independence. These specialty canines attend a 10-week training program with their handlers that are conducted at the ATF Canine Training Center in Front Royal, Va. Upon completion of this course, the canines are trained to detect a variety of explosive compounds and materials that could be used in an explosive device. The canines can also detect firearms and ammunition and are used in the more traditional protective search and sweep operations. Once the canine and the handler complete the ATF basic training course, they begin their field work and continue to train on a daily basis.

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And She’s Off!

2010-02-05T15:02:00.001-05:00

Mei Lan, a 3-year-old female giant panda from Zoo Atlanta, departed for China on February 4, 2010. Transportation for the world-famous bear was generously donated by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX).

Zoo Volunteers and Docents lined the sidewalks of Cherokee Avenue for a parting glimpse as the FedEx truck transporting Mei Lan left Zoo Atlanta at 6:30 a.m. Her vehicle was escorted by an Atlanta Police motorcade on the trip to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Mei Lan’s aircraft, a custom-decaled FedEx Express 777F christened the FedEx Panda Express, was waiting at the airport for its precious cargo at 7:00 a.m. Officials loaded an enormous FedEx box packed with farewell cards signed by hundreds of fans as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed; Mike Ducker, Chief Operating Officer, FedEx Express; former Zoo Atlanta President and CEO Dennis Kelly; and Ben De Costa, General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, delivered opening remarks. The jet received a ceremonial washdown salute before taking off at 8:15 a.m.

The FedEx Panda Express was en route to Washington’s Dulles International Airport to retrieve Mei Lan’s fellow passenger, 4-year-old male Tai Shan from Smithsonian’s National Zoo, for a nonstop flight to Chengdu, China. Mei Lan is accompanied by Zoo Atlanta Giant Panda Keeper Heather Roberts, who will spend the next 10 days with her at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

“This is a bittersweet moment for the Zoo Atlanta family and for fans around the world, but it’s a wonderful moment for giant pandas,” said Zoo Atlanta Curator of Mammals Dr. Rebecca Snyder. “We’re very proud to have shared Mei Lan’s life to the point where she can now begin making her own contributions to the world’s population of giant pandas.”

Thousands of local, national and international fans paid tribute to Zoo Atlanta’s firstborn giant panda cub during her last weeks in Atlanta, even braving a particularly cold and rainy Saturday to attend her Farewell Celebration on January 30. Following an exclusive raffle drawing offered during the celebration, Zoo Atlanta Docent Lynne LaVallee won the coveted opportunity to witness Mei Lan’s final exit from outside the giant panda building Thursday morning.

Mei Lan’s many admirers can find updated information about the pandas’ journey at news.fedex.com/pandas. As they become available, updates on Mei Lan’s progress in China will be posted on zooatlanta.org.

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Anheuser-Busch Answers the Call of the Wild

2010-02-03T21:07:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Encountering an alligator or black bear on work property may be unusual, but employees at several Anheuser-Busch locations find such animal encounters completely normal. In fact, many look forward to seeing their wild neighbors when enjoying the wildlife sanctuaries Anheuser-Busch developed to promote conservation to employees and residents in the surrounding communities.

Anheuser-Busch's efforts to conserve the lands around its facilities have once again been recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) Wildlife at Work(SM) certification program. In total, eight Anheuser-Busch operating facilities received this certification for various projects creating a healthy and biodiverse natural world.

"One of the responsibilities of being a good corporate citizen is protecting the natural habitats of the plant and animal species that call our facility lands home," said Peter Kraemer, vice president Supply for Anheuser-Busch, Inc. "This includes animals such as the peregrine falcon that built a nest on the top of the malt house in Manitowoc and the bullfrogs creating entertaining sounds at the Baldwinsville brewery."

The following Anheuser-Busch operations became WHC-certified Wildlife at Work(SM) programs.

-- Jacksonville Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm (Jacksonville, Fla.) -
certified since 1997
-- Elk Mountain Farms (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) - certified since 1998
-- Manitowoc Barley Malt Plant (Manitowoc, Wis.) - certified since 1999
-- Ft. Collins Brewery (Fort Collins, Colo.) - certified since 2006
-- Ft. Collins Nutri-Turf Farm (Fort Collins, Colo.) - certified since
2001
-- Cartersville Brewery (Cartersville, Ga.) - certified since 2004
-- Merrimack Brewery (Merrimack, N.H.) - certified since 2007
-- Baldwinsville Brewery (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) - certified since 2008

"The Wildlife Habitat Council believes collaboration among all stakeholder groups is critical to addressing the complex issues facing the sustainability of the planet," said Robert Johnson, WHC President. "WHC members take a leading role in connecting community stakeholders through wildlife habitat enhancement, community outreach and conservation education. Congratulations to Anheuser-Busch for their commitment to a healthy natural world and connected communities."

Three Anheuser-Busch facilities also maintain certified Corporate Lands for Learning(SM) (CLL) programs. CLL facilities serve as educational resources for local educators and wildlife researchers. CLL certified Anheuser-Busch facilities include:

-- Cartersville Brewery - certified since 2006
-- Fort Collins Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm - certified since 2007
-- Jacksonville Brewery and Nutri-Turf Farm - certified since 2008

Since 1990, WHC has certified 560 programs worldwide, of which 113 have been designated CLL programs. The certification program recognizes outstanding wildlife habitat management and environmental education efforts at corporate sites, and offers third-party validation of the benefits of such programs. Certification requirements are strict and require programs apply for periodic renewal.

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a nonprofit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 48 states, the District of Columbia and nine other countries. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org.

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch is the leading American brewer, holding a 49.2 percent share of U.S. beer sales. The company brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch ranked No. 1 among beverage companies in FORTUNE Magazine's Most Admired Global Companies list in 2009. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the leading global brewer, and continues to operate under the Anheuser-Busch name and logo. Anheuser-Busch is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and one of the world's largest recyclers of aluminum cans. For more information, visit www.OurPledge.com.

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Nominate a 'Kind Kid' in American Humane's Be Kind to Animals(R) Kid Contest

2010-02-01T12:43:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Humane Association is already preparing to celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week®, which will take place May 2-8, 2010. A highlight of the event is American Humane's Be Kind to Animals(TM) Kid Contest, which recognizes humane leaders of tomorrow by honoring kids who make a difference for animals today.

The Be Kind to Animals initiative began in 1915 to recognize and promote compassion, empathy and the bond between people and animals. The event is the oldest animal-related event in the nation that fosters humane principles by encouraging adults and children to maintain compassionate attitudes toward animals.

American Humane is seeking nominations of kids, ages 6 to 17, who are working hard in their communities to improve the welfare of animals. The 2010 winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week®, May 2-8, 2010.

During the first week of May and always, American Humane urges people to be kind to animals. Suggested activities include:

-- Volunteer at a local animal shelter or support a shelter financially.
-- Get informed about policies and legislation that can impact the
animals in your community and throughout the country.
-- Register to receive legislative Action Alerts from American Humane at
www.americanhumane.org -- and speak out for animals with just the
click of a mouse.

Anyone nominating a young person for the Be Kind to Animals(TM) Kid Contest must be 18 or older and the child's legal guardian or have written permission from the child's guardian. No purchase is necessary. Contest rules and nomination forms can be found at www.americanhumane.org/bkaw. Nominations must either be submitted online or mailed and received between Feb. 1 and April 15, 2010. Nominees must be between the ages of 6 and 17 at the time of nomination and will be divided into two age groups: 6 to 12 and 13 to 17. One Grand Prize winner and one runner-up will be selected from each group. Grand Prize winners will each receive $1,000. All winners and runners-up will be featured in American Humane press materials and on American Humane's website. Winners will be announced during Be Kind to Animals Week®, May 2-8, 2010. For more ideas about celebrating Be Kind to Animals Week® and for the complete contest rules, visit www.americanhumane.org/bkaw.

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American Kennel Club Reveals Atlanta's Top Dogs

2010-01-27T16:12:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Kennel Club® (AKC) announced today the "Top 5" most popular AKC-registered dog breeds in Atlanta for 2009.* Once again, the Labrador Retriever took Atlanta's top spot.

"Atlanta has remained loyal to its favorite dogs over the past two years, with the same breeds remaining in the top five," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "The German Shepherd Dog and Boxer have also tussled playfully in their rankings since 2007, but this year, the German Shepherd Dog triumphed."

Atlanta's Top 5 breeds for 2009 compared to 2008:

Atlanta's Most Popular Breeds 2009 Atlanta's 2008 Ranking
1. Labrador Retriever 1. Labrador Retriever
2. Golden Retriever 2. Golden Retriever
3. German Shepherd Dog 3. Boxer
4. Boxer 4. German Shepherd Dog
5. Yorkshire Terrier 5. Yorkshire Terrier

* Registration data pulled from Atlanta zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service

The AKC also announced their nationwide registration statistics today, revealing that for the 19th consecutive year the Labrador Retriever is the most popular purebred dog in America. But, the AKC notes that this year the German Shepherd Dog made a move for the top spot by overtaking the Yorkshire Terrier and is now ranked second most popular in the nation for the first time in more than three decades.

Most Popular Breeds Nationwide 2009
1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Golden Retriever
5. Beagle

Dog lovers can see and learn more about all of their favorite breeds on Saturday, February 6, 2010, when the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship -- where the country's top dogs compete for $225,000 in prize money and the title of "National Champion" -- airs on Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel, 8-11 p.m. (ET/PT). You can also catch the AKC Humane Fund Awards for Canine Excellence honorees, which include the Golden Retriever "Robin" in the Law Enforcement category.

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American Humane Association Joins On-the-Ground Animal Response Team in Haiti

2010-01-27T12:54:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Humane Association's program manager for Animal Emergency Services has deployed to Haiti to assist in an international effort to help animals affected by the earthquake. Tracy Reis, an expert responder who has participated in the rescue and sheltering of more than 12,000 animals, will arrive in Port-au-Prince Thursday as part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti, which is jointly led by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

Reis will join ARCH team members in the Dominican Republic and Haiti to begin implementing a feeding program for the community dogs and to assist with immediate veterinary aid to animals in Haiti. That effort will be conducted in cooperation with the Haitian government and, in particular, with the Ministry of Environment.

"We had not considered including animals in the plans we're working up now, but after meeting the ARCH team, we can see that it would be good to do so," said Jean Marie Claude Germain, the Haitian Minister of Environment. "In addition to preventing deforestation and protecting our water reserves, we are also discussing the need for a vaccination program in order to prevent the spread of diseases amongst the animal populations."

ARCH received an official request from the government of Haiti (made to WSPA on Jan. 21) asking for immediate assistance and that human resources be deployed to help with the emergency relief operation "as soon as possible."

Efforts by American Humane include:
-- Deploying Tracy Reis, program manager for American Humane's Animal
Emergency Services, to join relief efforts in Haiti, at the urgent
request of ARCH's lead agencies. Reis will arrive in Port-au-Prince on
Thursday, Jan. 28.
-- As the coalition's U.S.-based resource unit leader, American Humane
has responsibility for identifying volunteers from each organization
in the coalition and gathering skill and resource information on each
of them, in order to send the most highly effective teams to Haiti for
animal response.
-- American Humane was the first professional animal welfare organization
to join the coalition, has donated an initial $25,000 to help fund the
coalition's efforts, and expects to provide additional funding to this
response.
-- American Humane's Red Star Animal Emergency Services(TM) volunteers
are preparing for deployment to Haiti by updating their vaccinations
and receiving other medical assessments to ensure that they are fully
prepared to respond.
-- American Humane has notified more than 200 trained and FEMA-certified
animal rescue responders on its response roster. A smaller subset of
highly qualified responders will be hand-picked and may join teams on
the ground in Haiti, once long-term mission objectives are determined.

ARCH's activities to date include:
-- ARCH team members arrived in Port-au-Prince on Jan. 23 and spent the
day meeting with governmental authorities and local animal welfare
agencies.
-- ARCH members on the ground have begun assessing the state of health,
well-being and needs of the animals.
-- ARCH members expect to begin missions focused on vaccinating street
dogs and assisting with the care of livestock.
-- More than $150,000 has been raised to support the work of the
coalition, including the funding donated by American Humane and other
animal welfare groups that have joined the coalition.
-- A vehicle has been purchased and outfitted as a mobile veterinary unit
to support the response effort.

Many challenges face the team in Haiti:
-- According to a veterinarian who lives and works in Port-au-Prince, the
walls around many of the yards have fallen, and dogs that usually
return to their owners' homes are now displaced.
-- A rough estimate, according to the veterinarian, is that about 150,000
dogs live in the Port-au-Prince area, many of which are now wandering
the streets.
-- He also confirmed there was a substantial population of livestock in
the areas affected; most of them housed in "backyard" farms.
-- A lack of security has hindered some efforts to aid animals.
-- Securing a suitable site for food, water, medical supplies, etc., for
animals may take time while the needs of human consumables are
addressed first.

Statistics and Information:
-- About 150,000 dogs live in the Port-au-Prince area.
-- An estimated 600,000 head of cattle, believed to be mainly in rural
areas.
-- Livestock includes goats, chickens, swine, donkeys, horses and mules.
(FAOSTAT, © FAO Statistics Division 2010, 21 January 2010)

"Many partners in the coalition, and those of us who were aiding animals after Katrina, are well aware that the issues the Haitian people and animals face will be long term," said Debrah Schnackenberg, vice president of American Humane's Animal Protection Division and director of its Animal Emergency Services program. "It is our hope that the experience we all gained after Katrina, and the partnerships we have been building since then, will be demonstrated in the number of animals' lives we save and the Haitian families we help in the coming weeks and months."

American Humane, in addition to more than a dozen of the world's leading animal protection agencies, brings extensive experience in handling and rescuing animals after disasters. Animal rescue teams on the ground in Haiti are prepared to provide everything from direct rescue and veterinary care for injured animals to longer-term vaccinations to prevent outbreaks of disease, such as rabies and leptospirosis. For information on what leptospirosis is and how it affects animals, go to http://ahavod.com/watch_video.php?v=ce973dde9dcae75.

People who want to support these vital efforts and help other animals in disasters can donate at www.americanhumane.org/aes-donate. For more information, and to read our frequently updated blog on our efforts to help in Haiti, please visit www.americanhumane.org/haiti.

Animal welfare organizations formed the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH) to work together to bring aid to as many animals, and in as short a time, as possible. At present, ARCH partners include: International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), American Humane Association, Best Friends Animal Society, RSPCA (UK), In Defense of Animals, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Foundation, Antigua & Barbuda Humane Society, ASPCA, United Animal Nations, Kinship Circle, One Voice, Swiss Animal Protection, Palo Alto Humane Society (PAHS), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Finnish Federation for Animal Welfare Associations, and Animal Medical Care Foundation (AMCF).

American Humane will be actively updating its website and social networks to inform people on the status of the coalition and how to be of help. Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/americanhumane and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/americanhumane. The information contained in this release can be reused and posted with proper credit given to the American Humane Association.

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Hawkinsville Horse Auction to be Held Sat., Feb. 6

2010-01-25T22:26:00.001-05:00

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin has rescheduled the horse auction in Hawkinsville that was postponed in January due to freezing temperatures.

More than 24 rehabilitated horses will be sold to the highest bidder beginning at noon, Saturday, February 6, at the Lawrence L. Bennett Harness Training Facility in Hawkinsville. Prospective buyers will be able to inspect the horses at 10 a.m.

The horses to be auctioned include grade mares, fillies, geldings and one AQHA registered gelding.

Proceeds from the auction will go to the care and rehabilitation of impounded horses. The Department of Agriculture -- which is mandated to care for neglected horses -- receives no state funds to provide this service. The care is funded through donations, volunteer support and the proceeds from periodic auctions.

“These auctions are a win/win for everyone,” says Irvin. “The public is able to purchase a healthy horse, the impounded horse gets a fresh start at a new loving home and our rescue program obtains much needed funding to continue its efforts.”

For photos of horses to be auctioned and for additional information, visit www.agr.georgia.gov or call (404) 656-3713.
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Help Mother Nature Network Find the Green Dog of the Year

2010-01-25T06:51:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Is your dog the most eco-friendly dog in the country? Can you prove it? The environmental website Mother Nature Network http://www.mnn.com/ is looking for the fabulous photos of four-legged environmentalists - from Akitas to Yorkies to pound pups and every breed in between - doing their part to minimize their carbon paw prints.

The winner will be named Green Dog of the Year, be featured on the home page of MNN.com, and win a year's supply of Eukanuba's Naturally Wild Formula dog food. "Pet lovers are always taking photos of their furry friends," said Emily Murphy, Managing Editor at MNN, who finds creative ways to reduce her own pup's impact on the Earth. "Green dogs enjoy the outdoors, use natural toys and pet-care products, and, if they are so inclined, sport organic clothing. Some of the greenest dogs are adopted from animal rescue groups and shelters."

Send in your best dog pictures no later than February 12, showing MNN how your pup is a friend to the environment. Still not sure what that means? Check out the Green Dog of the Year galleries at http://www.mnn.com/green-dog-of-the-year-contest for some inspiration and direction.

Atlanta-based Mother Nature Network, launched in 2009 by celebrated environmentalist and dog-lover Chuck Leavell, longtime keyboardist for the legendary Rolling Stones, offers the latest in environmental news and encourages ecologically responsible behavior. MNN is intended to help the average person - whether you're going green or have been there for years - figure out which choices to make, a one-stop guide to greening your daily routine as big or as small as you want.

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SPAY DAY 2010 Launches Annual Pet Photo Contest

2010-01-22T10:27:00.001-05:00

The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection organization, and its global arm, Humane Society International, are pleased to announce that the 2010 Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest has begun. Presented by Visa Inc. and Zazzle, the Spay Day Online Photo Contest has proven to be one of the most popular features of Spay Day, the organization's annual campaign to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets. Participants can upload digital photos of their beloved companion and tell the world how their pet has improved their lives.

Entrants are encouraged to share their pet's photo and story with their friends and family and ask them to vote for their pet (each vote is just a $1 donation toward the eligible organization of the entrant's choice). Every vote their pet receives will help spay and neuter animals around the world — and increase their chances of winning the Fundraisers Category. More than 600 pets with the most votes will win stellar prizes. The Grand Prize winner of the Fundraisers Category — the entrant that raises the most money for spay/neuter efforts — will win a four-night trip for two to Hollywood, Calif. for the 2011 Genesis Awards.

Even without votes, entrants will be in the running to win big. A panel of four professional photographers will award prizes to their favorite 36 entries. The judges will choose one Grand Prize winner to receive a studio session with Amanda Jones, one of the country's premier pet photographers; a $500 shopping spree at Humane Domain, The HSUS' official online store; and a copy of "Pet Photography 101: Tips for taking better photos of your dog or cat" by Andrew Darlow.

Darlow is also one of four professional photographers who will judge the contest this year. Joining him on the panel will be Nigel Barker, renowned photographer and judge on "America's Next Top Model," and pet portrait photographers Lori A. Cheung and David Sutton.

For detailed information about these prizes and prizes for international winners, see our contest rules. To enter the contest, please visit: humanesociety.org/photocontest.

The HSUS and HSI coordinate Spay Day by working with shelters, humane organizations, veterinary clinics and individual volunteers around the world to offer special spay-neuter events, deploy mobile spay-neuter clinics, raise money to subsidize spay-neuter surgeries, and increase awareness about the importance and benefits of spaying and neutering. Spay Day 2010 will take place on Feb. 23. For more information about the event, please visit: humanesociety.org/spayday.

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Canine Disaster Search Team Finds Three Children Alive Under the Rubble

2010-01-17T09:22:00.001-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- A firefighter and his Search Dog located three girls trapped alive since Tuesday in the rubble of Haiti's devastating earthquake. Bill Monahan and his Border Collie, Hunter, were searching a neighborhood near the Presidential Palace, concentrating on a large bowl-shaped area of rubble which was all that remained of a 4-story building.

After criss-crossing the area, Hunter pin-pointed the survivors' scent under 4 feet of broken concrete and did a sustained "bark alert" to let Bill know where the victims were. Bill spoke with the survivors, then passed them bottles of water tied to the end of a stick. As they reached for the water one of the girls said, "Thank you." Highly trained rescue crews from California Task Force 2 pulled the girls from the wreckage and provided first aid.

Bill and Hunter were trained by the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation -- the only non-profit in the nation that recruits rescued dogs, partners them with firefighters, and trains them to find survivors buried in the aftermath of disasters. The teams and their ongoing training are provided at no cost to Fire Departments throughout the country.

In his report this morning from Haiti, SDF Handler Bill Monahan stated, "It would have been a reward to find one person alive. Finding multiple survivors is a huge victory for everyone on the Task Force. It's a giant team effort. From the canines, to the logistics team, to communications, everyone is working at full capacity, using everything we've been trained to do to find survivors. It's an honor to be here."

At Search Dog Foundation headquarters in Ojai, CA, SDF Founder Wilma Melville received the news with quiet gratitude. "This moment is what SDF Search Teams train for -- week in and week out -- throughout their careers together. When one SDF team succeeds, ALL of our teams succeed. Our thoughts are with our teams in Haiti, who continue to comb the rubble into the night. Their perseverance, skill, and strength in the face of extreme challenges make us all proud, and give us hope."

Added SDF Executive Director Debra Tosch: "All our handlers are experts in reading their canines, pacing them throughout their shift to ensure the dogs are kept safe, healthy, happy and motivated. The canines are literally the Task Force's most precious tool in the hunt for survivors: their well-being is mission-critical."

Bill and Hunter continue to search, as do all seven SDF Search Teams on the ground in Haiti with California Task Force 2 and Florida Task Force 1. Follow their progress at www.SearchDogFoundation.org, twitter.com/searchrescuedog, facebook.com/NationalDisasterSearchDogFoundation.

About the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF)

SDF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen America's emergency response network by producing the most highly-trained canine-firefighter disaster search teams in the nation. SDF recruits rescued dogs and partners them with firefighters, providing the canines and the training at no cost to their departments. The organization receives no government funding and relies solely on support from individuals, private foundations and companies to produce these highly-skilled teams.

Since its founding in 1996, SDF has rescued hundreds of dogs, many on the brink of euthanasia. They have trained 105 Search Teams, 72 of which are currently active. SDF Teams have been deployed to 66 disasters including the World Trade Center attacks and Hurricane Katrina and state and local emergencies such as earthquakes, mudslides, building collapses, train derailments and missing person searches. Eight of SDF's teams are members of CA-TF2 and are ready at all times for immediate deployment overseas when called upon by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.

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Dallas-Based Philanthropist Teams Up with The Humane Society of the United States to Save Haitian Animals

2010-01-17T09:19:00.002-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- Vice Chairman and CEO of ATI Career Training, Arthur Benjamin, announced on Friday a $50,000 challenge grant through his animal rescue organization that will help bolster and bring awareness to the donations needed to aid domesticated animals affected by the Haitian disaster.

American Dog Rescue, a Dallas-based non-profit group, is supporting The Humane Society of the United States, by matching donor contributions dollar-for-dollar for up to half of the $100,000 initial goal.

"The devastation is so great as is the need that the animals - as in Katrina - are being lost to the greater needs," said Benjamin, who hopes to achieve $1 million in support.

"Someone needed to step forward, to 'prime the pump,' to help these animals and the people who love them -- the Haitian people," he said.

All funds raised will be made available to Humane Society International, the international arm of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which is currently in contact with veterinarians on the ground in Port-au-Prince to begin the process of assessment. A lead veterinarian with disaster certification has been dispatched to the Dominican Republic and will join a humanitarian convoy as soon as it is cleared to enter Haiti.

"We are grateful to American Dog Rescue for devoting funds to the crisis in Haiti," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "Whenever people are in this kind of distress, you can be sure that animals are suffering, too. We hope to be able to put boots on the ground to help the people and animals in their greatest time of need."

Any donations submitted to ADR, or its website, www.americandogrescue.org by clicking on the "Help The Animals of Haiti" button, can participate in the match.

"HSUS is a national and international established relief organization with the knowledge and know-how to deploy the funds raised to the greatest benefit of the animals as soon as logistics make this possible," said Benjamin. "They are working with partner groups in Haiti and the Dominican Republic in an effort assess the situation to determine the best way to begin saving lives and averting pain and suffering by our four-legged friends there."

Benjamin's efforts to build additional support for the Haitian animals is evidenced in his professional networking as a senior executive North Richland Hills-based ATI Career Training, a 24-campus, 16,000 student education company. Benjamin has reached out to other senior executives in the adult education and training community to campaign for additional aid.

"I wake up each morning excited in supporting two personal initiatives- adults seeking to improve their lives through education; and homeless animals that deserve a second chance at life," said Benjamin, who spends his time between Dallas, Boca Raton, and Salt Lake City operating a series of businesses and philanthropic efforts.

American Dog Rescue (www.americandogrescue.org) is a tax-exempt, non-profit 501(c)3 organization committed to finding a home for every adoptable dog in the United States. In instances of international tragedy, its support transcends national borders. American Dog Rescue is committed to placing healthy dogs in permanent homes that are the right fit for the animal and its family. Donations can be made by visiting www.americandogrescue.org/donate or calling 801-944-3023.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization -- backed by 11 million Americans, or one of every 28. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- on the web at www.humanesociety.org .

ATI Schools and Colleges (www.aticareertraining.edu) is a multi-campus institution offering specialized training in a variety of skilled career programs within such areas as automotive repair, business, electronics, English as a Second Language, fitness, health and wellness, HVAC/refrigeration, information technology and welding. ATI offers more than three decades of training experience and commitment to individuals aspiring to better their lives through career education.

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American Humane Association Supports Animal Relief Efforts in Haiti Through International Coalition

2010-01-15T16:22:00.000-05:00

/PRNewswire/ -- The American Humane Association is part of the Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti (ARCH), an international group of professional animal welfare organizations committed to aiding animals in the earthquake-stricken region. American Humane is the first organization to join and commit significant resources to ARCH, which was created by the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

Currently, this international coalition is preparing a mobile animal clinic and staff to perform outreach work in Haiti, with training provided by ARCH. The coalition also will be assessing and assisting with the needs of animals belonging to people displaced by the disaster, as they move into temporary camps. Plans include providing food and clean water, as well as vaccinating companion animals against rabies.

As of today, coalition personnel are not on the ground in Haiti, due to restricted access in the country. The coalition expects to have professional animal rescue responders arrive in Haiti in the coming days to begin assessments of animal needs and provide initial assistance. Naturally, the situation may change quickly, and the coalition will adapt its plans and efforts to best meet the needs of the animals.

People who want to support these vital efforts and help other animals in disasters can donate at www.americanhumane.org/aes-donate.

American Humane will be actively updating its website and social networks to inform people on the status of the coalition and how they can help. Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/americanhumane and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/americanhumane. The information contained in this release can be reused and posted with proper credit given to the American Humane Association.

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FDA Health Alert for Merrick Beef Filet Squares Dog Treats Packaged and Distributed by Merrick Pet Care

2010-01-15T12:04:00.000-05:00

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use Merrick Beef Filet Squares for dogs distributed by Merrick Pet Care with a package date of “Best By 111911” because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The product was distributed nationwide through retail stores and Internet sales.

Although no illnesses associated with these products have been reported, the FDA is advising consumers in possession of these products not to handle or feed them to their pets.

In December 2009, the FDA conducted routine testing of Merrick Beef Filet Squares and detected a positive finding for Salmonella. A follow-up inspection found deficiencies in the packaging and manufacturing processes.

Salmonella can affect both humans and animals. People handling dry pet treats can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the treats or any surfaces exposed to these products. Consumers should dispose of these products in a safe manner by securing them in a covered trash receptacle.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Although rare, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care provider immediately.

Pets with Salmonella infections may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may experience only a decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed any of the affected product or is experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

The affected Merrick Beef Filet Squares were packaged in a 10-ounce green, red and tan re-sealable plastic bag. The “best by” date is imprinted on the top portion of the bag, which is torn off when the bag is opened. The FDA recommends that consumers who are unable to determine the “best by” date discontinue use of the product.

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