Wild Life Article: April 2011

There are so many small animals, birds and insects native to North America. Learning more about them and why they call your area of the States home may help you control their population in an effective and harmless way. Educating yourself on your community's wildlife control policy could help you and the animals calling your yard home.

Most cities, communities and even neighborhoods have policies in place to deal with animals considered a "nuisance". Most of these animals are essentially harmless and merely seek out your porch, basement or trash barrels for food and shelter. However, because they can transmit rabies they have to be dealt with.

Dealing with these animals in a humane and careful way is the ideal of most communities. For example, if the bats in your elm tree can be removed carefully and harmlessly then everyone involved can view the situation happily. Raccoons, bats, opossums and even feral cats can all be a problem for homeowners.

It is important to find out the wildlife control policy for your city, community or neighborhood. Taking the situation into your own hands could be dangerous and even illegal. Some communities have specific guidelines for dealing with wild animals. A veterinarian, local police officers or fish and game officials may need to be involved. Trying to capture a raccoon your self could lead to receiving a vicious bite from an animal with rabies. Likewise, killing an animal could lead to a fine.

There are many resources that can provide you with information on your area's wildlife control policy. Contact institutions of higher education, like community colleges and universities. Often a college or university will have a biology department expert that can answer questions. Occasionally, these same institutions will have rehabilitation facilities for wild animals.

You may be able to find information through your city and county. Generally, there is a standard set for an entire area. Perhaps you can go online to your city's website for information or look for resources at city hall or the courthouse.

Local veterinarians can also be a resource. If you have a wild animal inhabiting your yard, they may be just the business to contact. Vets have a variety of cages, leashes even tranquilizers available for wild or vicious animals. They may also be able to tell you where to take baby animals or incapacitated ones.

Finally, your local or county sheriff's office is a good resource. Discuss the situation with them. They may decide to come right over and capture the animal for release in the wild. The sheriff may also be in close contact with the area veterinarian, getting them involved as well.

Regardless, there is information available to you and you should seek it out if you have an issue with wild animals at your home. The wildlife control policy of communities can vary so being aware of discrepancies is important.

Facts From the Shark Cage: How Big Is the Great White Shark?

Great white sharks are some of the most infamous inhabitants of the ocean. They are portrayed in folklore and Hollywood as giants of prehistoric proportions. This has left many people wondering, out of curiosity and/or fear, how big these marine leviathans really are.

While many young land animals (including humans) are born as cute, awkwardly proportioned examples of their species, the white shark comes into the world as a perfectly proportioned miniature replica of the adult it will become. Pregnant female whites have been caught with pups inside measuring 2.5 -3 feet long, and the smallest sharks found in fishing nets have been around 4.5 feet. This has led many to believe that whites are born at a length of 4-5 feet.

An adult white shark is typically between 13 and 17 feet long and weighs 1,500-2,500 pounds. Like most other shark species, the females are most often larger than the males. A fully mature female averages 15-16 feet long, and mature males average 12-14 feet.

Anyone who is a fan of the movie Jaws, recalls Quint the shark hunter stating with certainty that the monster shark terrorizing the waters near Amity Island was 25 feet long. Can these sharks really get that big?

Game fishers and shark hunters for over a century have reported seeing/catching white sharks over 20 feet long, but almost all of these claims have been either unconfirmed or later disproven. As any fisherman will tell you, it is not uncommon to overestimate the size of a prized catch - due to prideful exaggeration and wishful thinking. Scientists and shark experts use the teeth and jaws of these deceased animals to retroactively estimate the actual size of "record breaking sharks," and almost always find them to be several feet shorter than advertised. This is often also true when "official measurements" of the shark at the docks differ from the initial claims of the proud angler who landed it. More than a few indignant shark fishermen believe the theory that a dead fish shrinks after a period of time out of water, and that their great white trophy had gotten considerably smaller between the time it was caught and the time that someone official had gotten around to measuring it!

Some of those record-length white sharks weighed well over 3,000 pounds, yet even this is a source of controversy and debate. Great whites have been caught with several hundred pounds of meat in their stomachs. Scientists and fisherman still argue amongst themselves as to whether or not the final recorded weight of the shark should include stomach contents.

The largest great white sharks that have been accurately and reliably measured have been between 19 and 21 feet long. These are fairly rare, and often the most impressive white sharks seen by researchers on boats and during shark cage dives are most likely close to 17 feet. Even at a "mere 17 feet," great white sharks hold the distinction of being the largest predatory fish in the modern-day seas.

Friday, 15 April 2011

Bird Control - The Ferral Pigeon

The Feral Pigeon (Columba Livia)

In recent years as people have become more and more urbanized, birds have taken refuge in our buildings and homes, they can and often are a pest to humans. Under normal circumstances birds are protected but under the Wildlife and countryside Act 1981 (amended 1995) states that thirteen species of birds are recognized as public or agricultural pests of economic importance, which may be killed in certain circumstances by owners or occupiers of premises or their authorized agents, however in this article I shall shed some more light on the Feral pigeon.

Reproductive Biology of Pigeon

They lay two eggs and on average have 2-3 broods per year, the incubation period is anywhere between 17-19 days and they can spend between 35-37 days in the nest, depending on food availability and how favorable the conditions are they can produce more offspring.

Nesting and feeding habitats

Feral pigeons prefer to make their nests on ledges, as long as it is flat surface protected from the elements, they make their nests out of twigs and use there droppings as cement to hold the nest together, they will often only build one nest and return to it. Feral pigeons prefer a diet of seeds, green feed and domestic scraps from humans and tend to feed near cities or roosting sites, wherever food is abundant.

Controlling the birds

General proofing: This consists of sealing holes in the building to prevent entry places for birds, proofing can be achieved by using expanding foam, chicken-wire, eaves-filler.

Avistrand: A system of wires and springs attached to the ledges of buildings to provide an insecure landing spot for birds which prevents them from settling, this system is particular suited for pigeons and gulls.

Bird repellent: a non-setting gel applied to ledges, which presents an insecure landing site, preventing birds from settling, this system will work for a period of a year.

Netting: Nylon netting used to net off access to roosting areas such as light wells, pipe runs, ventilation shafts, net sizes for feral pigeons should be about 50mm

Trapping: Specially designed cages can catch birds and they can moved away.

Shooting: The use of specialized air rifles by a fully trained pest control officer trained in the methods of humane shooting of birds.

Why they are a nuisance?

The close association of birds and people and animals is likely to spread diseases such as Salmonella, Ornithosis and Fowl pest.

When birds settle on buildings they leave their droppings down the side of buildings which very unsightly.

In factories their droppings and feathers may contaminate food production and may be a health risk.

The Venoms of Snakes and Their Local Reactions

The Venom
Snakes in general are known for one very important feature they possess asides crawling uniquely on the floor as their means of movements. That particular feature is their venom. What is the venom all about? How and why is it poisonous and deadly to their victims? These, we will all consider.

Venom is modified saliva and 0.25 to 1 ml of it is injected into the victim when the snake bites. Enzymes such as phosphatidases, proteases, cholinesterases, hyaluronidases, ribonucleases, deoxyribonucleases, ophioxidase, lecithinase and erepsins are present in the venom. In addition, the venoms of Cobra and krait also contain non-ensymatic components like basic polypeptides which are highly neurotoxic. These toxins produce neuromuscular block.

The viperine venoms contain hemorrhagic, necrotic, coagulant and hemolytic substances leading to extensive damage to several tissues. Lesions are due to intravascular coagulation, fibrinolysis, damage to the vascular endothelium and extensive necrosis. The venoms of sea snakes are neurotoxic and they also cause extensive necrosis of the muscles.

The speed of action of the venom depends upon the site of injection and the amount of venom injected. If the venom directly enters the blood stream, the effect may be rapid and lead to sudden death. In most of the cases, the absorption of venom is slower and especially in viperine bites with extensive local reaction, considerable amount of venom may remain locally to be absorbed into circulation in due course.

The severity of en-venomation depends upon the circumstances of the bite. Bites sustained during the early part of the night are generally more serious since the poison sacs of the snake are full at this time. Bites through clothes are less dangerous. Children and underweight persons suffer more than normal adults since the concentration of the venom is relatively higher in them. Violent physical activity helps in disseminating the venom rapidly and thereby worsens the prognosis.

Clinical features: Severe fright and mental agitation leading to tachycardia, sweating, hypotension and even vascular collapse are prominent features soon after the bite. These nonspecific symptoms may be seen in all snake bites.

Local reactions: Local reactions are more prominent in the case of viper bites and less so in others. Intense pain, swelling and violaceous discoloration develop within minutes and often serosanguinous (bloody) fluid exudes from the fang marks. The edema and discoloration spread proximally and in a few hours vesicles and hemorrhagic blebs may appear. Rarely, gangrene may supervene.

Thursday, 14 April 2011

Systemic Effects of the Venom of a Snake

First of all, the general effects of venom should be noted. The general effects vary with the nature of the snakes. Cobra and Kraittes venom are predominantly neurotoxic, while those of vipers are histotoxic and hemorrhagic. Some degree of overlap does occur, especially during certain seasons of the year, cobra bites producing moderate or severe tissue necrosis and viperine bites leading to mild neuroparalysis.

Cobra and Krait bites: Soon after the bite, the patient complains of a sinking feeling. Drowsiness, blurring of vision, diplopia, dysphagia and dyspnea. Extra-ocular palsies and paralysis of palate, pharynx, tongue and respiratory muscles supervene. The limbs show flaccid paralysis. Coma and death due to respiratory failure or shock may occur within 6-48 hours. In some cases, the clinical features may resemble acute myasthenic crisis. In the cases that survive, recovery starts in 12-24 hours and may be complete in 48-96 hours.

Viper bites: Within 3-4 hours the bite, the hemorrhagic manifestations appear in the nature of extensive bruising, bleeding from the bitten part and injection sites, bleeding from the gums, epistaxis, blotchy purpura, hemoptysis, hematuria, hemetemesis and malena. Bleeding may exsanguinate the patient and produce shock.

The blood is unoagulable when taken in a test tube and estimation of coagulation time provides a fairly reliable side room test for the severity of en-venomation and requirement of antivenin. Cardiac manifestations include tachycardia, myocarditis and cardiac failure. Electrocardiogram may show abnormal T-waves and disturbances of conduction. Pulmonary edema and haemorrhage may develop. Rarely, optic neuritis may develop leading to partial or complete blindness in 2-7 days. Delayed onset of optic atrophy ha also been recorded.

Renal changes: Proteinuria and hematuria may develop within a few hours after the bite. In the majority of cases, these subside with treatment. The most frequent and dreaded complication is anuric renal failure developing as a result of direct nephrotoxicity of the venom. Lesions include acute tubular necrosis. Hemorrhagic interstitial nephritis, and even glomerulonephritis. Shock aggravates the renal damage. In 10% anuria may supervene and persist demanding peritoneal or hemodialysis. In survivors, renal sequelae are rare but salt losing nephritis, renal parenchymal calcification and membranous glomerulonephritis have been reported.

Death in viperine bite is due to shock, haemorrhages, secondary infection, renal failure or cardiac failure. Long term sequelae like panhypopituitarism may manifest 3-5 years after severe viperine en-venomation.

Krait venom is the most lethal on weight for weight basis. Manifestations are similar to that of a cobra bite but the local reaction at the sire of bite may be minimal. Sea snake bites are identified by the victims as sharp pricks. The local reaction may be insignificant. Signs of envenomation occur within one hour and initial symptoms consist of pain and stiffness of the muscles of the neck, back and proximal parts of the limbs but rapidly becoming generalized. Trismus, ptosis, external ophthalmoplegia and paralysis leading to respiratory failure may follow. Proteinuria and myoglobinuria are seen 3-6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Death is due to respiratory paralysis or renal failure. If the victim survives, muscle weakness may persist for months. The overall mortality of the poisonous bites is 10-15%. Diagnosis must be done from the history, and description of the snake.

Distinction between poisonous and non-poisonous bites
Co-operation of the local inhabitants is very helpful in identifying the species. Poisonous snakes have only one fang; there is the occurrence of local reaction and evidence of systemic en-venomation is as well present. For the non-poisonous species; there are multiple teeth marks; no local reaction and only fright reaction is present.

The Solitary Cat Leopard - (Panthera Pardus)

By Fred Ogilo Fred Ogilo
Level: Basic

I am an ambitious and resourceful Kenyan, laid back and sociable. I have great passion for hospitality and human resource in general. i have critical ...

Leopard is among the big five found in Masai Mara National park. It is the most graceful and agile of the large cats. African Leopards found in Kenya parks have great variations in skin color depending on location of habitat, they vary from pale yellow to deep golden color with black spots. They are powerfully built animals with an average weight between 55-60kg for males and 35-40kg for females.

Leopards are very elusive animals, its qualities of being secretive, shy, and nocturnal have made it succeed and adapt to man dominated environment, the fact that they only come out at night and spend most of the their day time in thick forest and high branches of trees above the ground makes it the most difficult animal to observe.

They have varied diets which includes insects, rodents, reptiles and large mammals like antelopes and occasionally come into conflict with man by stealing domestic livestock like goats, sheep and poultry. They usually use their cunning ability to hunt, they stock their prey closely and pounce on them, killing is always suffocation by holding the prey's throat. Their hunts are eaten up on trees tops, to protect carcass from scavengers like hyenas, lions which may contest for the kill, the left overs are always kept safely for another meal. Leopards are very strong and climb up to the tree tops with their preys whose weights exceed their own weight, this strength lies in their strong muscles.

It is said that Leopards are solitary cats that live alone in a specified marked territory except for the mating period when the male is seen with the female, and after mating they part ways again. Females also are only accompanied with the cubs when she still nurses them after short period when they can fend for themselves they part ways to look for their own territories.

I am an ambitious and resourceful Kenyan, laid back and sociable. I have great passion for hospitality and human resource in general. I have critical and important information about Kenya and Tanzania and ready to help friends and travelers from all over the world especially those who would like to visit Kenya and Tanzania parks and game reserves. Currently I work with Adventure Panorama Safaris, a reliable and affordable Kenya and Tanzania tour company with offices in both Nairobi and Arusha.
For more information, see this: http://www.adventurepanoramasafaris.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fred_Ogilo

This article has been viewed 11 time(s).
Article Submitted On: February 23, 2011

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Facts From the Shark Cage: Special Senses of the Great White Shark

The words, "special senses," typically call to mind comic book superheroes and cheesy television psychics - very rarely does one immediately think of sharks. Nonetheless, sharks (such as the great white) are among many animals on the planet with fascinating sensory capabilities beyond those familiar to humans. In addition to sight, taste, touch, and an extremely strong sense of smell, great white sharks have two other sensory receptor systems: mechanoreception and electroreception.

Mechanoreception is a sensory system by which an animal detects the energy changes from varying pressures and movements in the environment. Sharks can sense the wave disturbances made by other animals and objects in the water from quite a distance, greatly aiding them in finding prey. The erratic thrashings of a wounded seal or fish are like the loud PA-system announcements we all remember from grade school, calling everyone to the cafeteria for lunch! Sharks are quickly aware of new objects introduced in the surrounding water, such as boats or shark diving cages, and often come to investigate. Scientists also believe that sharks use mechanoreception to navigate, sensing the direction and movement of changing currents.

Anyone who sees a photo of a great white shark (or is lucky enough to safely see one in person!) is able to notice the ridge that runs lengthwise along both sides, from the gills to the tail fin. This is called the "lateral line." Like eyes and noses are to the senses of sight and smell, the lateral line is largely responsible for the shark's mechanoreception abilities.

Great whites can not only sense movement in the water, but also minute electrical impulses. This type of sensory system is called electroreception. Easily visible on the underside of the shark's snout are a sprinkling of pores called the ampullae of Lorenzini. Named after the Italian researcher who first commented on them in 1678, these pores resemble numerous blackheads or a 5 o'clock shadow. Each pore is filled with conductive gel and sensory cells, giving the great white the ability to detect the weak electrical signals given off by all living organisms. The small amount of energy generated by the heartbeats and muscle contractions of other animals are easily picked up by the ampullae of Lorenzini. Certain metals, when introduced into seawater, give off an electrical signal that is picked up by sharks. Researchers, fisherman, and those who dive with sharks have noticed that great whites occasionally bump or bite metal parts of their boat to investigate these new electric impulse sources. Responsible researchers and great white cage divers build their cages out of metals with very little electrical ion reaction to seawater.

Extensive study of the great white's "special senses" has not been possible thus far, due to our inability to keep one in captivity for the length of time necessary for comprehensive observation and testing. One juvenile white shark, kept for 3 days in the San Francisco Steinhardt Aquarium in 1980, showed sensitivity to a tiny section of her aquarium with a miniscule electrical differential of 0.125 millivolt. From this and other calculations, marine biologists estimate that the great white shark can detect the electrical equivalent of a D-cell flashlight battery at a distance of almost 1,000 miles away!

Diet: What Do Raccoons Eat?

By Bentley L. James

Bentley L. James
Level: Platinum

Bentley James is very experienced when it comes to wildlife. All of his facts and information comes straight from his hands on experience and observations ...

Raccoons are not particular on their diet. Raccoons eat a numerous variety of foods. Raccoons are considered Omnivores, (ones that eat plants and meat.) Raccoons eat and scavenge for food all night, and it depends a lot on where they live.

For example: If a Raccoon lives in a heavily populated area like a city, they tend to eat out of dumpsters, trashcans, will eat pet food, can eat fish out of a backyard pond, and also have been known to eat road kill. A Raccoons diet in this particular location is not healthy, and Raccoons can get sick and be very unhealthy. On the other hand, if a Raccoon lives in Rural areas (country) they tend to have a healthier diet and will eat berries, crawfish, insects, small rodents, fruits, poultry, eggs, small snakes, frogs, and fish. Raccoons have an amazing survival instinct, which means they will rarely starve to death. (Which is not surprising with the amount of junk and waste there is)

Raccoons eat and scavenge mainly at night because they are nocturnal, which means they sleep during the day and are awake at night. Raccoons have much determination when it comes to food and will do anything to get it. Raccoons usually scavenge and feed alone, but occasionally have friends join every now and then. They are notorious for making messes and destroying most anything to get what they want. If you have ever seen a Raccoon eat, you will notice how they use their hands. They are very touchy/feely with most everything. If Raccoons have a source of water nearby they have a habit of washing their food. It's almost as if they are playing with it in the water.

Bentley James is very experienced when it comes to wildlife. Most of his facts and information comes straight from his studies and experience with wildlife. He is an avid trapper, hunter, and fisherman. Bentley knows the outdoors and the amazing creatures that lurk all around it. Bentley also can identify an animal by just a few pieces of hair. Bentley hopes these articles can help you learn more about nature and what creatures are all around us every day. Check out my blog at http://knowyourwildlife.com/
http://theworldofgymnastics.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bentley_L._James

This article has been viewed 29 time(s).
Article Submitted On: February 08, 2011

Tuesday, 12 April 2011

3 Things About Animals You Know That Just Ain't So

Will Rogers once said about some Yahoo, "It's not what he don't know that bothers me. It's what he knows that just ain't so."

The following 3 things you know probably wouldn't have upset ol' Will, but nonetheless, they just ain't so.

Lemmings Commit Mass Suicide

The idea of lemmings committing suicide by running in packs off of cliffs goes back at least 100 years but didn't really enter popular culture until 1958. The interesting thing is who put it there -- our buddies at that money factory known as Disney.

In their supposed "documentary", White Wilderness, Disney had dozens of lemmings shipped to Alberta, Canada, where they have never lived, then herded them off of a cliff. They then passed this off as nonfiction.

Truth is lemming are not suicidal - just dumb. They occasionally do fall off cliffs while running. But so do other animals and people.

When Elephants Die They Go to the Elephant Graveyard

No, sorry. When elephants die they fall down right where they are, just live everything else.

This popular myth stems from the fact that early explorers in Africa never saw an elephant carcass. They could not fathom that such a large beast could just disappear so assumed that they were going to some hidden place to die. What they didn't realize is that the scavengers in sub-Saharan Africa can make very short work of even the largest beast.

Throwing Rice at Weddings Will Cause Birds to Explode

Please. How can anyone believe this? There are many birds whose primary food is uncooked rice. Throw rice at a wedding gives other birds something new and good to eat.

This myth is fairly young. It was spread or maybe even started by Ann Landers in 1988. The USA Rice Federation immediately debunked the story but to little avail.

Being Ojective About Binoculars

Here's the remainder of the information you might need to have in order to buy those new binoculars you have been wanting.

Brightness

You've got your bird in your binoculars, but just what color is he?

Brightness is given in that second number in the details, 8x40. This number is called the objective. The larger the objective, the more light will be allowed in and the more detail you can see on the birds.

So do you need the biggest number you can get? No. Think about the times you will normally be looking at birds. If you look at them in bright sunlight fairly close, then binoculars with an objective lens of 35 will be fine.

If you like to go out at dusk or into the shady areas with deep shadows, the difference between 30mm and 50mm will be very apparent. Many different coats of compounds on the lens do improve visibility, but can make your binoculars cost the moon. Forget any pair that a company tries to sell you on their wonderful "relative" brightness. That's just a scam.

Other factors

You also need to be aware that putting binoculars close to your eyes will cause you to blink and can cause eyestrain. They make eyecups from 10mm to 15mm and of different widths that will help relieve this. You should try the binoculars on for size to see if the eyecups are comfortable. Also people with glasses, be sure the eyecups retract or roll down.

Next comes the weight of the binoculars. These things can get heavy to hold up to your eyes and even heavier to wear around your neck for hours on end. Check to see how they feel in your hand and put them around your neck. If necessary you can get a special strap to wear around your neck. But check the weight. It should be listed.

Then comes durability. First of all waterproof binoculars are very expensive. Binoculars are not waterproof unless you spend a fortune on ones full of nitrogen, which has no latent water vapor to condense on the internal optics or foster the growth of mold or fungus. (Yuck.) Anyway, that means don't drop non-waterproof binoculars in the water. However, you can get water-resistant ones for less. This is supposed to be a good compromise.

Finally, you might unexpectedly drop them or fall wearing them. To make sure you have a good pair look for the ones that are well sealed and say they are cushioned. This is worth the extra price.

So what do you want?

The bottom line is that there isn't just one right pair of binoculars out there, just like there aren't just one right pair of shoes for everyone. You have to try on each pair and compare for yourself.

I found prices ranging from $1 to $1,000 for binoculars on the Internet; but remember that you get what you pay for, at least up to maybe $200-$400. I think you could get a nice pair for around $35- $75. Check Wal-Mart and Radio Shack.

When you get that pair of binoculars, you will really begin the adventure of seeing what all there is in our own backyard. But remember, don't put them away in your bedroom with your field guide. Put them both near your backdoor.

Monday, 11 April 2011

Let's Help Feed Those Backyard Birds Returning From Their Winter Migrations!

It's onto March! Let's hope the 'In like a Lion, out like a Lamb' comes true!

For those birds that have wintered 'up nort', they must have had quite a time of it. Record snowfalls and bitter cold sure makes it hard on them. But for those birds that migrate south during the winter, March is the start of their migration back 'up nort'. Here are a couple of neat ideas you may want to consider throughout the month of March to help their migration out.

First, try putting out fruit Apple halves, browning bananas, even overly ripe grapes will all work. Fruits are not typically found outdoors in March (at least not in the upper midwest), so the early arriving tanagers, grosbeaks, and orioles will find them a great treat They may even be willing to stick around a few days later if they know you are serving up their favorites.

Secondly, here's an interesting tip we have used. Take an old cupcake baking pan and attach it to your deck rail or other feeding platform. Either nail or screw it in place, or better yet, wrap it with small bungy cords to secure it in place(that way you can easily remove it or move it, and you wont leave holes in your decking). Next, place different foods in each cupcake bowl. Then watch the activity! You can see which bowls get emptied the quickest and which birds enjoy each treat. You may just discover that a ripe grape is preferred over a brown banana or that a piece of an old donut beats any fruit you offer up.

And to combine 2 wild bird food favorites into 1 (Berries/Cherries and Peanut Butter), here's a popular and effective homemade recipe:

This is a great project for 3 year olds or older - with supervision

Complexity - Easy

Time to Complete - just 5 to 10 minutes

Needed - Bargain-brand granola bar (your backyard friends wont know you bought generic), Peanut Butter (with our without nuts is fine) and Chopped Berries or Cherries

Step 1 - Spread peanut butter onto a granola bar.

Step 2 - Roll the bar over a plate of chopped berries or cherries, pressing them in place.

Step 3 - Place the bar in your open roofed, platform feeder. Watch the enjoyment begin!

Stay Warm, Spring is just around the corner, and Enjoy your backyard birds!

Nature's Largest and Most Dangerous Reptiles

Reptiles are not the most cute nor cuddly creatures on earth. Their size is no indication of their risk or safety. The most venomous snakes on earth are not the largest. However among the largest reptiles are Crocodiles, Cobras and Pythons and these are the most dangerous reptilian predators on the planet.

Crocodiles

Crocodiles are arguably the largest living reptile in the world and adult males can grow to over seven meters long and weigh in at four hundred kilograms.

Estuarine crocodiles comb the brackish waters from Northern Australia through Indonesia, Malaysia to Eastern India. They are just as comfortable in fresh water rivers and swamps and that can place them dangerously close to towns and villages.

Despite their size the estuarine crocodiles are stealthy as most hunt from below the surface of the water. Only their eyes and nostrils are visible while the rest of their bodies remain hidden and then with just one thrust of their muscular tails they reveal themselves and launch out of the water on top of their prey. Even the largest of prey like bullocks are no match for these ambush hunters and their death roll.

Cobras

The king cobra is one of the our largest reptiles. They can stretch up to the five to six meters making them the longest venomous snake on the planet. To put this in perspective, the Cobra stretches longer than a car and can stand higher than a human.

It injects a torrent of toxins with just one bite. The cobra's neurotoxic venomous bite is not as toxic as other snakes but what it lacks in toxicity it makes up in volume. It can inject 200 to 500 milligrams per bite. Only 12 mg are needed to kill a human. The toxins immediately attack the nervous system, shutting down to respiratory function and killing in just minutes.

The Cobra has the reputation of being one of the world's smartest, most intelligent snakes. Instead of biting it will bear its fangs like a dog to scare off any adversary. When threatened, it can lift the top third of its body and look a man in the eye. Those undeterred can suddenly find themselves staring into the serpents eyes. Fortunately it is smart enough to avoid humans. Encounters a rare and recorded deaths are low.

The Cobra is a fierce predator and can be found in North Eastern India and South East Asia. It is active day and night preying upon birds lizards and small mammals.

Surprisingly, the favorite food of the Cobra is other snakes. As a matter of fact its scientific name translates into snake eater. The giant Cobra consumes its meal whole, capable of stretching its jaws far enough apart to swallow prey larger than itself.

Pythons

Pythons are the biggest and most powerful serpents in the world. Two giant pythons are the Indian Rock and the Burmese Python.

The Indian Rock is four meters long and weighs one hundred and fifty kilograms. This snake thrives in jungles from India through to China and throughout South East Asia. The Burmese Python is six meters long and has a diameter equal in size to a man's waist.

They do not kill with venom but with strength. They hunt on land and in the water. Their prey include deer and monkeys. They thrive in marshy aquatic habitats where they can remain hidden beneath the surface as they stalk their prey from beneath the water.

On land, the python hone in on their prey using another adaptation, a heat sensing organ located on the upper lip. This enables the python to lock in on its prey before its attack. Its strike is lightning fast. It seizes its prey with razor sharp backward facing teeth to hold the captured animal in place.

The teeth of the python are designed so that the more the captured animal tries to pull away, the deeper the python teeth sinks in. Once secure the python coils its body around its victim constricting its grip tighter and tighter until the life is literally squeezed out of it. The creature dies of asphyxiation. The giant reptile then devours its meal whole.

These three creatures are the largest and most dangerous reptilian predators found anywhere in the world. All kill with their extreme size and strength. Writing about these powerful freaks of nature reminds me of a joke. What does a two thousand pound canary eat? Answer... anything it wants!

Sunday, 10 April 2011

Interesting and Fun Facts About Tigers

By Linda Aviles

Linda Aviles
Level: Platinum

Linda Aviles enjoys reading, writing and giving advice on many different subjects. She enjoys writing about Home Improvement and Interior Design.

Tony the Tiger was nothing compared to the power and strength of a real life tiger. They weigh around 720 pounds and measure 6 feet in length. The tail alone measures 3 feet alone, now that's a big cat! They are considered to be Obligate Carnivores because they depend on animal meat for nutrition and survival. Their powerful jaws are able to bring down prey such as deer and antelope. They hunt alone unlike the lion. Hunting alone gives them the advantage of catching its prey because it is much easier for one tiger to sneak up on a prey rather than a group of tigers.

The tiger symbolizes strength, power and invisibility. In Japanese Tattoo, a tiger with a dragon symbolizes heaven and earth. According to Shaolin Martial Arts, tigers are known to have a "hard" form of martial arts while the dragon has a "soft" style of fighting. Together they represent the balance of power. This beautiful wild cat is also one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals. Those born under this ferocious animal sign are said to be born leaders. To see this large cat in a dream can actually be a wake up call telling you to discover a new passion, start a new adventure or even take more of a leadership role. It can also mean female sexuality, aggression and seduction.

Tigers are considered to be one of the five largest cats in the world, which includes the African Lion, Jaguar, Puma and Leopard. Tigers can live 10 to 15 years in the wild and 20 to 25 in captivity. Unfortunately, this beautiful wild cat is classified as an endangered species, which means they are endangered of extinction. There are only 2,500 tigers left in the world and it is so sad to think that we humans are there only known enemies and the main cause of the extinction.

This article has been viewed 35 time(s).
Article Submitted On: February 04, 2011

Choosing a Birdwatching Guide

Now that the spring migration is around the corner, it's time to start thinking about how to identify birds. I think the first thing to talk about is your field guide. We will work on bird identifications in the next few blogs.

Sheila Buff in "Complete Idiot's Guide to Birdwatching" has a section on field guides. I wish I had known some of the things I learned from her before I jumped into bird watching. I hope this helps you newbies and gives you old hands a new idea or so.

In the beginning

First a little history. While the idea of identifying plants and animals is older than the Bible, field guides for birders didn't exist until Roger Tory Peterson published A "Field Guide to the Birds: Eastern Land and Water Birds" in 1934.

Peterson's book only covered birds of the eastern portion of North America. He organized the book by bird families so it covered all the birds in a systematic, concise way with illustrations pointing out the most important identification clues. The book was small enough to carry into the field and cheap enough for anyone to buy.

There are now Eastern and Western editions of Peterson's book with the dividing point located east and west of the Rockies.

Another popular book is A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America by Chandler S. Robbins, Bertel Bruun and Herbert S. Zim. It is published by Golden Press and is often called the Golden Guide.

My favorite field guide is National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. It has the best drawings and descriptions and room for note taking. But, as Sheila points out, it is bigger than the others and doesn't fit into a pocket. It is also more expensive.

Guides with Photos

All the books I mentioned above have drawings of the birds. I also have "Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region" by Donald and Lillian Stokes. I got this book after getting their CDs of birdcalls. There are fewer birds in this book, the pictures are photos that usually give only one view, but the Stokes' deliver more "personal" information on the birds.

I also like "Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of Texas" by Fred J. Alsop III. While this book has only one bird per page and it's a photo of a bird at that, there is also a page worth of information including a shadow picture showing the size of the bird in relation to the book. Clever.

Digitally enhanced photographs, a smaller-sized field guide with about the same information as the much larger "National Geographic" is Kenn Kaufman's "A New Focus on the Field Birds of North America." Kaufman does have a slightly different way of organizing the birds into groups. This is a good, if also expensive book.

I recommend any of these books. It would be a good idea if you are at all serious about birding to take a look at these different books and see which one you think would be the biggest help to you. A good field guide is worth its weight in gold.

Photos or Drawings-You Decide

Sheila suggests going with the books containing drawings rather than photos. Within any bird species there will be variation in colors and markings. Paintings average out the differences and give a slightly idealized version. I do tend to use my National Geographic more for this reason. But I also use Alsop a lot, too.

Which do you prefer?

Saturday, 9 April 2011

Save The Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle

The Kemp's Ridley Sea turtle is on the edge of extinction. This species has been declared as critically endangered by IUCN (World Conservation Union) and CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). The main reason behind the decrement of their number is over harvesting of their eggs. During the last century their eggs have been harvested in huge amount for feeding human beings.

To harvest their eggs, human beings used to catch them in great numbers from the sea. As they were taken away from their natural environment and put in an unfriendly environment, they could not cope up with this unfriendly environment and their number started decreasing. As their meat is very tasty and liked by many people, poacher still hunt them for making money without thinking about the impact on them and the environment.

Some natural facts are also responsible for their declination. Erosion of sea beaches is one of the vital reasons. As sea beaches are being eroded their nesting ground is declining and they can not come to the shore to lay eggs. Besides, if they lay eggs on the sea shore, sometimes those eggs are washed away by sea water when the beach is being eroded.

Other human created reasons are: reclamation of sea lands, unplanned forestation in sea beaches, using artificial light sources near sea beaches etc. To attract the tourists from around the world, many countries are filling the sea beaches and making new lands to build hotels and other types of entertainment centers. As a result the nesting area is decreasing, so are the turtles. Artificial lights distract the hatchlings from heading towards the sea. After coming out of the eggs the hatchlings move towards sea by watching the reflection of moon light on the sea water. But if we use artificial lights, it will misguide them and they won't survive. Predators will eat them before they reach their destination.

Now-a-days, steps like protecting their nesting ground and using turtle excluder fishing fleets while fishing have been taken. Many countries have made treaties among themselves to stop poaching. But due to the lack of proper co-ordination these laws are not being enforced in a proper way.

The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle is a small but wonderful creation of the nature. Their importance in keeping the balance of ecology is vast. So their nesting ground should be protected and laws should be enforced properly to stop hunting them.

The Addo Elephant Park South Africa: An Example of Wildlife Conservation That Worked

Wildlife conservation in South Africa and all over the world has its success stories and its failures. One of the greatest conservation success stories is the Addo Elephant Park in South Africa. It has become a popular destination attracting tourists from all over the world staying in some of the many Addo guest houses that are found on or next to the park. Some are privately owned, through a system of concessions and some are owned by the Addo Elephant Park itself. The accommodation ranges from the luxurious to the basic across all price ranges, much of it a far cry from the parks humble beginnings as a place primarily for the conservation of the areas dwindling elephant population.

Founded in 1931, thanks in large part to Sydney Skaife, the Addo Elephant Park in South Africa, named for the village of Addo which sits on the outskirts, started off with just eleven elephants. The area of the Eastern Cape in which the Addo Elephant Park is situated was once home to massive herds of them, including the legendary Knysna Forest elephant. Due to the popular trade in ivory combined with the relatively poor rural communities in the area the elephants were hunted to near extinction. In 1915 the Eastern Cape farmers made a request to the government to have the remaining Eastern Cape Elephants culled due to the nuisance they caused to the farming activities. Major P.J. Pretorius was given the task of exterminating the remaining Addo Elephants and between 1919 and 1920 shot 114 of them capturing two others and selling them to the circus.

In 1929 Sydney Skaife established the Wild Life Protection and Conservation Society now called the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa. It was his concern over the decimation of the wildlife in the KwaZulu Natal area caused by the tsetse fly control campaign that led him to form the society. He helped establish several game reserves, the most prominent being the Addo Elephant Park South Africa. It started with just the 11 elephants remaining in the surrounding area and no real accommodation or guest houses to speak of and covered an area of just 5000 ha. Over the course of the twentieth century the park underwent a massive expansion.

Today the Addo Elephant Park South Africa covers 164 000 ha and there are plans to expand it to 360 000 ha. It currently includes a marine reserve which makes it one of the only places in the world where you can see the "big 7," the original big 5 with the Southern Right whale and the Great White shark added to the list. The expansion was achieved largely through buying up farms from willing sellers around the reserve and setting up concessions which allowed the private sector to open Addo guest houses and semi-private game reserves within the park boundaries. These Addo guest houses have played a large role in helping the conservation efforts of the Addo Elephant Park South Africa by bringing in foreign revenue and, more importantly, interest to the park. This is helping to educate the world about the necessity of conservation such as that being practiced at the Addo Elephant Park in South Africa.

Friday, 8 April 2011

Bird Aviary Guide

Whether you enjoy watching birds in the park on a Sunday morning or you like to research them yourself in depth, a visit to a bird aviary should be number one on your list of priorities. Also known as "flight cages", these beautiful creations are typically structured like a green house and their main purpose is to provide a large living area for birds. You will find several different species of all shapes and colors, and are likely to run into a few that you have never even heard of. A visit here is similar to going to your local zoo, and can be a wonderful idea for a bonding experience or learning opportunity for you and your family.

If you have never been to a bird aviary, you should prepare yourself for an amazing, garden-like atmosphere as well as a moving experience walking amongst the birds. In these structures the birds fly freely so you must also prepare any small children you may bring as they may be frightened at first. You will be astonished by the variations of plants and flowers inside and I highly recommend bringing a camera to capture this truly remarkable experience. Before departing for your trip to a local bird playground you may want to go online or stop into your local library to find the nearest one in your area, get driving directions and check entry fees.

When packing for a fun family trip, or even a relaxing day alone in an aviary you should try to bring the essentials and limit unnecessary items. You are probably going to want to bring a video or regular camera in order to capture your adventure, so you can look back on it in the future and share it with friends and family. I also recommend bringing a few bottles of water and some snacks of your choice if you want to save money, rather then buying such items in a local gift shop or concession stand. Lastly, you may want to dress lightly because the aviary may be humid and a bit warm inside.

Many bird aviaries will have a specialist on site monthly, weekly or even daily so it is a good idea to plan ahead accordingly if you would like to make your experience more enjoyable. These bird lovers may assist you with any questions you may have and offer insightful and interesting facts on different bird species. You can find out what their appearance schedule is by simply calling the aviary or even checking online on their website.

Monday, 4 April 2011

Wild Boar: A Relative of Domestic Pig

Wild boar is species of pig kept under the genus Sus and Family Suidae. The species shares many subspecies also. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig and hybridization between the two species occurs very frequently in nature. They are native to Northern and Central Europe, Mediterranean region, Asia as well as Indonesia. The populations had including Americas and Australasia for hunting purposes. They also survive well when kept in captivity.

In general predictions the term boar is used for males of the domestic pigs but the term wild boar is used for whole of the species. They are known by different names like wild hogs or simply boars. In North America they are known as razorbacks or European boars. They have a slightly compact body with large head and short legs. The fur is demarcated by stiff bristles and fine fur. The colour of the fur may vary from grey to blackish brown but the central Asian species are somewhat white in colour. The colour of the fur becomes denser during the winters. They may be 120-180 cm in length and weigh about 50-90 kg but it may be variable depending upon the geographical conditions. The adult males develop characteristic tusks that protrude from the mouth. They are actually canine of both upper and lower jaws. Upper tusks are slightly bent in males. They measure 6 cm in length but may reach a length of 12 cm also in some. The females also bear smaller but sharp canines which are without tusks and are not protruding as found in males.

The wild boar piglets are somewhat different in colour as compared to the adults. They are characterized by ochre, chocolate and cream coloured stripes over their bodies. The stripes diminish when the piglets become 6 months old and they acquire body colouration resembling like that of the adult. The litter size is strictly dependent upon the geographical conditions. The males tend to live solitary when breeding season is not prevailing but the females and the young ones tend to live together in the so called groups sounders. Sounders may include 20-50 individuals with 2-3 sows and one dominant female. They are crepuscular or nocturnal animals feeding during the early morning and late evening or night hours and resting during both periods of day and night. They are omnivorous in their diet eating almost anything ranging from grass, nuts, berries, carrion, roots, tubers, refuse, insects and small reptiles. Wild boars of Australia are even known to be the predators of deer and young lambs.

The male lowers its head, charges, and then slashes upward with his tusks in order to defend itself. The female also charges with her head up, mouth wide, and bites in defending herself. Their attack on humans is although not fatal but may result in severe trauma, dismemberment, or blood loss. The sexual activity and testosterone production in male increases when the day length decreases and the reaches its peak during the mid-autumn. The sexually active solitary males the move towards the female groups and fights for the females the dominant one mates with her. Sows attain sexual maturity at the age of 8-24 months which is largely dependent upon the environmental factors as well as nutritional intake. The gestation period lasts for about 115 days and before giving birth to the young ones the females prepares a mound-like nest for them. The process of birth of the litter continues for about 2-3 hours and both the mother and the child remain in the nest for about 4-6 days. Each litter may be having 4-6 piglets but the number may be even smaller. The piglets may weigh about 750-1000 g at the time of birth. Weaning continues for about 3-4 months and they start taking solid food when they are 2 weeks old.

Tigers are their natural predators. Wolves and even the spotted hyenas are seen to prey upon them. Young piglets easily fall in the hands of reticulated python, large birds or prey and wild felids. The hairs were used for making toothbrushes but this practice has declined with the introduction of artificial products. The hairs are detached from the neck region of these animals.

The Olive Ridley Sea Turtle

The Olive Ridley Sea turtle is one of the smallest turtle species like its sister species Kemp's Ridley Sea turtle. They were named after Mr. H.N. Ridley who discovered this species on Fernando de Noronha Island in Brazil in the year 1887. It is called olive Ridley because of the greenish color of its skin and carapace. Its binomial name is Lepidochelys olivacea and it is also known as the Pacific Sea turtle.

Olive Ridley Sea turtles can weigh up to 100 pounds (45Kilograms) and are about 2 feet (65 centimeters) long. Their head and shell is a bit smaller than Kemp's Ridley Sea turtle. Size of these turtles differs from region to region. Their carapace is usually of greenish color but sometimes it looks reddish because of red algae growing on the carapace. Olive Ridley turtles have unique lateral scute. Male turtles have bigger tail than female turtles which is used males during copulation. Enlarged claw enables male turtles to have a good grasp of the females. Their expected lifespan is 50 years.

They are found mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. They prefer warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. They range from Australia, southern Africa and New Zealand to Arabia, Japan and Micronesia in the Indian and Pacific Ocean and in the Atlantic they are found in the western coast of Africa, northern Brazil, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana and French Guyana. Olive Ridley turtles have been considered as the most abundant turtles in the world. But a case study from 1982 to 2008 shows that the number of turtles has been decreased about 28 to 32%.

They are carnivorous in nature. They feed on especially invertebrates and protochordates which are easily available in marine waters and estuarine. Sea urchins, bivalves, crabs, shrimp, tunicates, bryozoans, jelly fish, snails, sipunculid worms, rock lobsters etc. are their main food. They have been found to eat filamentous algae where there is deficit of other preys. Scientists have found cannibalistic behavior too in olive Ridley sea turtles.

The female members of this small and beautiful creature arrive at their nesting sites in large groups which are called arribadas in Spanish. They take the help of the tide and the wind to reach their destination. Females can lay up to hundred eggs while nesting and they can nest three times per year. They usually nest from June to December.

These turtles have been declared as 'Vulnerable' in the conservation status by IUCN and enlisted as an endangered species. The reason behind the dramatic decline in the number of olive ridley in the last few years is the massive collection of turtle eggs and hunting of adult female turtles during nesting period. They are hunted for fertilizer, food, bait, leather etc. Extensive harvesting of this species is another reason for this decline. Some are eaten up by predators. Especially juveniles are killed by raccoons, crabs, fishes, Iguanas, birds, coyotes and snakes and adults are usually eaten up by sharks. Besides, gill nets, trawling, ghost nests, pot fishing and long line have also affected the number of olive green sea turtles significantly.

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Wildlife Removal Keeps the Roads Safe

Try for a moment to imagine strolling aimlessly through your backyard, admiring the luscious green scenery as a bandit marked critter scurries your way. Upon instinct your manner of reaction is that this cute, cuddly mischievous looking creature is friendly and wants to play! Well I am sorry to say that you are sadly mistaken and this black-eyed critter is the perfect host for a dreadful disease called Rabies. Now of course not every stray animal you see is going to have rabies, however, there are many tell telling signs that you can associate and use to avoid such encounters.

First off, Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system of humans and other animals. It is mostly transferred by saliva entering a wound which in turn travels through your blood stream to your brain causing inflammation and swelling. The most common hosts for rabies in the United States are bats, though worldwide, dogs are the dominant source for transmission. Other animals that could carry rabies are raccoons, skunks, foxes and any other stray mammal.

Keeping these carriers away from society has become quite a task. Animal Wildlife Removal experts pride themselves on keeping the streets safe from rabid mammals. They will come to your home, business or property and remove any animal deemed unfit for its surroundings. They are of course regulated by state regulations to trap and relocate this animal appropriately.

The largest issue face by wildlife removal experts is educating others on how to deal with potential rabies exposure. If you are bitten by an animal it is very important to immediately call 911. It is also important to attempt capture of your enemy to use for testing to make sure that the animal is or isn't a host for rabies. If unable to test the animal you could be in for a wild ride of month long treatments costing up to two thousand dollars.

It is important to never handle a wild animal: dog, squirrel, skunk, or raccoon that you are unsure of. Making sure that your children are aware and to inform an adult if they see a sick or injured animal and to not touch is also very important. The most common deaths from rabies exposure are in children.

So when it comes to admiring and handling cuddly stray creatures, think twice. Call your local wildlife removal experts for advice on how to handle any wildlife in your area.

A Whole Lot of Ostrich Facts

1. Ostriches can not fly.

2. They are native to the African continent.

3. There were once Arabian Ostriches. Unfortunately, they were hunted to extinction in the mid-twentieth century.

4. Ostriches can run at a maximum speed of 45mph (70km/h) making them the fastest two-legged animals in the world.

5. They use their wings like 'rudders' of an airplane to change direction whilst running.

6. It is the largest living bird with males reaching up to 9 feet!

7. Ostriches can weigh up to 130 kilograms (20 stone).

8. The ostrich has a diet of plants and insects.

9. They are group birds. Flocks vary between 5-50 ostriches.

10. If in danger an ostrich will either run away or lay flat on the ground. However, they can also attack with a powerful kick. Strong enough to kill a lion!

11. They do not bury their heads in the sand. This is a myth!

12. Their feathers are used for dusters. The barbules in the feathers act like 'fingers' to collect dust particles.

13. Ostriches have the largest eyes of any land animal. Very useful for spotting predators in the distance. Their eyes are bigger than their brains!

14. They have three stomachs.

15. The ostrich has a lifespan of up to 45 years.

16. In a communal nest, a female ostrich can still spot her own eggs. The dominant female gets to lay her eggs first.

17. The incubation period for their eggs varies between 35-45 days.

18. The bird has ancestry of at least 40 million years. Evidence comes from a fossil found in Europe.

19. Males control a territory of up to 20 square kilometers (8 square miles).

20. Ostriches have no teeth. They swallow pebbles to grind down food in their gizzards. There are around 1kg of pebbles inside an ostrich stomach!

21. Ostriches raised by humans will often try to court them!

22. Apparently, the taste of ostrich meat is similar to beef.

23. In some cultures people have ostrich races where they ride them like horses.

So, there you have it. A whole lot of ostrich facts that you realised you wanted to know!

Saturday, 2 April 2011

The Incredible Agarwood Oil

Agar wood or Oudh as popularly known is a dark resinous wood that are mainly found in Gyrinops and Aquilaria trees when they become infected with mold. Before it gets infected, the wood is generally pale colored and light. However, once the infection starts setting in then tree starts to produce dark colored resins. This wood is known by many names including aloes wood, jinko, oud, gaharu etc. The oil from the tree is valued by a lot of cultures and religion for its distinctive fragrance and is used in perfumes and incense.

Agar wood oil is usually of high cost, as it is rare to find. The depletion of wild resources is behind its rareness. Though this tree is listed in Appendix II, i.e. potentially threatened species by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, still many countries are involved in its cutting and have got reservations about the listing.

The odor of agar wood is very pleasing but at the same time complex, it has got similar or almost no similar analogous. As a result of which agarwood oil gained great religious and cultural significance in ancient civilizations all around the world. Even in ayurveda, agar wood is highly prized. This wood is digestive, deodorant, bitter, anti inflammatory, cardiotonice, anodyne etc.

Agarwood oil is astringent, bitter, thermogenic, acrid, depurative, alexeteric and anti-leprotic. It is also useful in vitiated condition of rheumatoid arthritis. This oil is produced by Aquilaria malaccensisabd some related species of Indomalesian tree genus Aquilaria. The wealth of the names for this heavy and dark wood reflects the varied and widespread use for few thousand years.

This oil is known for calming the nervous system. It also expels the negative energies a, relives anxiety and brings alertness. It helps in invoking a sense of peace and strength and enhances cerebral functioning. If you are suffering from neurosis and obsessive behavior, it helps in creating harmony in your home. Agarwood oil is highly psychoactive and is used for enlighten, clarity and spiritual journey. It helps to ring the deep price which is required for meditation. This oil is also recommended by experienced practitioners for providing necessary devotion and motivation. It brings communication with the spirit, body and mind. Some people believe that prayers arise with fragrant smoke of agar wood incense carry the prayers of the followers to the creator.

The process of extraction of Agarwood oil is also complex. For extraction, the fungus infected tree should be at least one hundred years old, in order to produce the oil. The extraction process that is usually adopted for oil extraction is steam or water distillation. Once it is done, the wood is then soaked and placed in huge burners to evaporate water and dissolve resins. You will then see oil floating to the top. Lastly, make sure that you buy only pure and genuine agarwood oil.

Two Ways To Survive A Mountain Lion Encounter

For millions of Americans going into the back country is at least an annual ritual for hunting, camping, fishing or just hiking. An encounter with a black bear is much more common and black bear attacks are much more common than a mountain lion encounter.

Bear attacks are much more prevalent two times a year-in the spring and fall when bears are looking for food. Bears are not going to sneak up on you. If they see you they will either turn around and leave or come charging at you. While they are fast they make no attempt to hide from you.

Mountain lions on the other hand use much different tactics than bears. Mountain lions can get up to 120 pounds or so. Mountain lions stalk their prey and frequently can be upon a victim before they know it using stealth and speed.

There's two ways to fight off an attacking mountain lion. The first is to use bear pepper spray that creates a wall of mist between you and the attacking animal. They have extremely sensitive noses much like bears. When they walk into the pepper spray they will turn around and run.

The second technique is to appear as big as you possibly can. Stick out your arms. If you're wearing a coat spread the coat out as big as you can. Find anything nearby that you can throw at the animal.

And if worse comes to worse and the lion does attack-fight back for all you're worth.

A woman recently was getting out of her car in a parking lot up in the mountains when one attacked her. She only had her purse and her car keys but she fought like crazy until the mountain lion gave up. She ended up with a few scratches but got away with her life.

Whatever you do, don't go into the back country without some Bear Pepper Spray.

To learn more click the links below and Save 10 % off your first purchase using discount code FTV at checkout.

FREE shipping on orders $50 or more and cheaper shipping options. Get two valuable E books FREE.

Take action TODAY and get yourself some Bear Pepper Spray before you go into the back country

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jack_Krohn

Friday, 1 April 2011

5 Tips That Will Help Attract Bats And Why You Should

Why would you want to attract bats? One big reason to attract these small flying mammals is that they eat a lot of insects. Some of the insects bats eat include mosquitoes, beetles, centipedes, scorpions, ants, flies, leaf hoppers, root worm larva, moths and grasshoppers. In fact just one bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes in a night.

Using the following tips will help attract bats.

1. Have water close. Bats need to have water within 1/4 mile. It can be natural source like a spring, creek, and pond or something as small as a bird bath. Insects also are drawn to the water, giving the bats another food source too.

2. Set up your bat house. Bat houses can be either bought or built but make sure it was designed for bats. The house should be mounted at least 12 feet high and in a southerly direction. You can mount the house on either a pole or building.

3. A woods or tree line within 100 feet is also great. It gives the bats another food source with the insects that the trees attract. These trees also give the bats another place to escape to and hide in case of predator attack.

4. Put in plants to attract insects. Highly scented and any night blooming flowers do well in attracting insects that bats will eat.

5. Last but not least use lights at night to attract insects. With all the nearby insects clustering around the light, bats will like coming around just to get the easy meal.

As you can see it is pretty easy to attract bats to your yard or garden. It is also a great step to keeping insects in your garden in check naturally. One more thing to that needs to be said is that bats can live for up to 20 years. Mature females will have one baby a year for most of their adult life, so adding a few more houses could very well be in order after your first house is well established.

Bird Watching - Start in Your Own Backyard

Bird watching is the fastest growing hobby in the country. This is, probably, because it is the most economical pastime around. You can start in your own backyard for a minimal amount of expense. For backyard bird watching, instead of looking for a lone bird, you can start out by attracting multiple species. It's all in the food and water that you lay out.

The main staple for birds is water and food. By providing these necessities in your yard you are sure to have a swarm of guests. To provide water you will need a birdbath or a water fountain. You should place the birdbath in an open space so you can engage in your new activity with an unobstructed view. To bring hummingbirds to your site, a little sugar in the water will do the trick. If you live in an area with harsh winters, you will be rewarded for a heated birdbath with excited chirping.

As for food, birds love eating seeds from numerous types of fruit and flowers. Numerous plant species planted in your yard is a wonderful way to entice numerous bird species. But a well-stocked birdfeeder will, definitely, bring the wild birds to your yard instead of that of your neighbors. Various books and articles online will help you decide what kind of seeds and food will give you the best results. Another point to keep in mind is the placement of the birdfeeders. They should be placed at a height away from walls, bushes or hedges to keep the dining place away from the reach of predators. This will give the dining birds a clear view of the surroundings and the opportunity to fly away in the case of approaching danger.

Whatever you decide to install you need to remember to clean them regularly to remove bird droppings and moldy seeds before replenishing them with a fresh supply. A clean environment will entice the birds to keep coming back and leaving healthy and refreshed. Finding innovative methods to keep squirrels out of the bird food will also make the birds want to come back.

By following some of these ideas you will insure that the birds will keep coming back and that you have a reoccurring show anytime you want. Bird watching will not only be an economical recreation. It will become an interesting and rewarding show.