Classic photo. Just a hunch, but maybe this is why researchers aren't keen on having their personal information published?
Members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) from the University of Washington have sued their own institution to keep their names from being released to PeTA. PeTA claims that the IACUC is attempting to hide that it is not constituted in accordance with federal law; they say committee member names must be released in order to gain more oversight.
But the IACUC members weren't born yesterday. They know it is a near certainty that if PeTA's request is approved, their personal information will find its way to groups and individuals who will harass them at their homes and/or work.
The leaders of the IACUC are using the lawsuit to protect its members and keep them safe. PeTA, no doubt delighted at finally receiving attention for something other than the kill rate of their Virginia shelter, is not backing down. They claim their protests are legal and that their members are told to only use polite language. PeTA can still appeal the federal judge's injunction if it becomes permanent.
It has long been observed that biological systems evolve into symmetrical beings. But why is this?
Researchers from a university in Norway think they have the answer, and try to prove it in a new report: simplicity. It's as simple as that. Using computational modeling and dipping into the infinite monkey theorem, they show that symmetry requires far less information, leaving room for fewer mistakes - creation a situation that favors evolutionary success.
Hi. I'm a little scared, but otherwise doing fine.
Spring has sprung and that means it is baby season for our native wildlife. Squirrels, deer, raccoons, opossums, and birds, oh my! If they haven't had their babies yet, they're about to. Sometimes that happens in our yards or parks right next to our homes. It is important that we not disturb the delicate balance of our urban ecosystems by interfering with wildlife trying to raise their young.
There are times when a licensed wildlife rehabber must be called, but certain requirements must be met: the animal's parents are dead, there is a visible injury, or it is obviously too young to be alone and there is no known nest nearby. Local licensed rehabbers can be found through your state's parks and wildlife department.
Some helpful tips for your own backyard are as follows: baby rabbits can be on their own when they are the size of a lemon. If their nest is accidentally disturbed, cover it back up and the mom will not abandon them. The mom only comes back to nurse at night and early morning. She is doing her best to not be seen.
Baby birds covered in feathers are fledglings and are practicing flying. Their parents are nearby watching, keeping a look out. If you find a helpless fledgling on the ground and there is a cat or fox you know of nearby, locate their nesting tree, put a shallow basket on the trunk, and put the baby bird in it (this also works if a storm knocks the nest out of the tree). That way, the parents can still attend to it and it is out of harm's way. The parents will not abandon the baby.
A baby opossum is ready to be on its own even when only 10 - 12 inches long from nose to tail. And if you see a mom carrying her young on your property, be thankful: she is there to eat ticks and snails!
A fawn will stay in the same spot all day while mother is away. They are lying down to remain unseen, not because they are hurt. It is likely not abandoned, though if the mom does not show up for longer than 24 hours, then it is time to find a rehabber.
The Asian giant hornet, colloquially referred to as the "Murder Hornet," was first spotted in late 2019 in Canada and the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This wasp, native to Asia and parts of far-eastern Russia, can grow to be over two inches - about the size of your thumb. While the hornet's nickname is admittedly sensationalistic (it is not necessarily murderous toward human beings), it can be utterly devastating to native insect populations. And unfortunately, one of the insects on the hornet's menu includes native honeybees, a species we depend on for pollination. Unlike Japanese honeybees, who have developed clever defenses against their much larger predators, North American bee populations are extremely vulnerable to its attacks.
So what do we do? Now that they're here, are we stuck with this invasive, potentially devastating hornet? Perhaps not. Using the main chemicals found in the sex pheromone of queen hornets, researchers are hoping to use the power of love (or perhaps, lust) to attract and trap male hornets, locate their nests, and hopefully remove this invasive insect before it gets a foothold in the region.
Animal control officers have always served as more than "the dog catcher," but some misconceptions - especially if they are simple and memorable - are hard to shake. However, some Virginia animal control officers are doing their part to show the public the wide variety of invaluable services they provide the public.
First off: dogs and cats? Sure, animal control cares for them. All kinds of cats and dogs. But did you know they also care for pigs, bunnies, chickens, and countless other types of stray or surrendered animals? It's a zoo out there. Now that that's out of the way, here's a big one: Animal control services are here to work for the people in their community. While their focus is on animals, they are there primarily for the public. Animal control helps people who need assistance taking care of their animals, people who can no longer take care of their animals, and they also take a role in education, training, and other forms of outreach. It is an important fact to remember: support structures and education for the individuals who care for animals foster safer, healthier communities, and ultimately, better and more stable lives for the pets we love.
