Amazing Seahorses

Imagine yourself as a copepod floating in the ocean seagrass among clown fish, puffers, and dozens of other sea creatures, when you realize you’re being hunted by a delicate slow poke seahorse who only swims five feet per hour. Copepods can escape from their prey very fast, so fast that the reach speeds that are the same as a human jumping 3000 miles per hour. Do you think that would be fast enough to escape a hungry seahorse? Not quite!

Image result for seahorses

Best Ocean Predator

A seahorse’s favorite food to munch on is a copepod. Copepods are part of an animal group called crustaceans. Copepods are not only fast but they can sense vibrations from an oncoming predator and when they do sense those vibrations they get out of there speedy quick but seahorses can still catch those speedy copepods. Here’s why. Seahorses have a very unique shaped head with a feature above their nose that helps them make no waves and vibrations in the water when striking and then they suck up the copepod. This happens so fast that you cannot even see it without a very slowed down camera. If the copepods do sense the seahorse and try to bolt, the seahorse starts pivot feeding. Pivot feeding is where seahorse rotates their snout at high speed and then sucks in the copepod. This makes the seahorse one of the most successful predators in the ocean. I bet you thought it was sharks? Sharks are only successful at catching their prey fifty-five percent of the time. Seahorses are successful in catching their prey ninety percent of the time. Seahorses have to constantly eat to stay alive because food quickly passes through their simple digestive system. They have no teeth and no stomach. Since seahorses do not have teeth they have to suck in their prey and swallow it whole.

Courtship

We talked about seahorses unique ability to catch their prey very fast and how successful they are. Another unique thing about the seahorse is that the male gets pregnant, carries the eggs and gives birth instead of the female. Seahorse males and females have a courtship. This is like dating. Before

they breed they court for several days by dancing in sync for eight hours and swimming side by side while holding the same strip of seagrass with their tales. During this time they sometimes change color.

Seahorse Habitats

Seahorses are usually found in shallow, tropical, and mild saltwater. They live in secure areas such as estuaries, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. Seahorse species are found in the Pacific and the Atlantic waters all the way from North America to South America. Species are also found in the European and Mediterranean waters.

If you like seahorses as much as I do, go down to the Batiquitos or San Elijo Lagoon and you might see them. Seahorses, as slow and delicate as they are, are quite unique and skilled at catching prey. Some seahorse species are endangered because in some countries they are hunted by humans to eat and they are also hunted for aquariums. Seahorse does not do well or live very long in an aquarium. I saw one in a tank when I recently went to a seafood restaurant for dinner. I thought it was very neat to see them but now after reading more about them, I feel sorry for the ones in the fish tank. Pollution is another reason for the threat to seahorses. We should all be doing our part to keep nature clean. I am going to the beach clean-up soon. Ask me how you can join in on it! I guarantee that you learned something about seahorses that you never knew before. Seahorses are not only cute but very interesting and I hope my article was too.

Category: Animals, Ocean, Student Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 15

Cats or Dogs?

There’s no question that Americans love both dogs and cats. About 48 percent of people own dogs and 38 percent own cats. That’s according to the American Pet Products Association. But one thing many people can’t agree on is which animal makes a better pet.

Cat lovers say their pets are easier to care for than dogs. They point out that cats don’t bark or jump on visitors. Also, it’s cheaper to own a cat. Dogs often need training classes and eat more than cats do.

Still, dog owners say the money they spend is worth it. They argue that dogs are more social than cats. Plus, scientists who studied the brains of both animals determined that dogs are smarter than cats. Dog lovers also point out that canines help people in ways that felines can’t. For example, dogs can be trained as service pets for people who are disabled or have food allergies. What you think?

Category: Animals, Community, Current Events & News, Student Posts | 5 Comments

June 14

Let’s end factory farms

Many chickens are stuffed together in each cage just to get their eggs.

Have you ever heard about those factory farms that adults are always talking about? Well, I’m gonna show you why we should ban them. First of all the factory farms produce more CO2 than volcanoes and that is causing global warming. Also, It is one of the worst forms of animal abuse right next to keeping exotic animals as pets and Bullfighting.

To start it off, factory farms make about %86 of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That is like 8 times more carbon dioxide produced than volcanoes! Carbon dioxide traps heat inside the atmosphere and that is what has been causing global warming. The planet Venus’ surface is completely covered in carbon dioxide making it the hottest planet in the solar system! And it’s not even the closest to the sun! Would you like to boil alive like venus?

To make things worse it is a severe form of animal cruelty. Like in the picture above many animals are smushed together in order to get more eggs. This is very painful and uncomfortable to the animal. If you want this to stop you should say something.

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May 7

Exotically Cute But Not a Good Pet

ansel.ma via Compfight

Imagine you’re in a new home away from your mom and dad, and you eat werid food and drinks. That is what it’s like as an exotic pet. In my opinion exotic animals should not be pets! As far as I am concerned they can ruin an ecosystem, it’s bad for the animal, and the owner might not know how to take care of them

First of all, the exotic animal can ruin an ecosystem. For example, the ferret is banned in California because it eats the bald eagle. The bald eagle is needed. The exotic animals might do things they’re not supposed to do. Another reason it’s bad to keep exotic animals for pets is that if the pets are released into a new environment, they could give diseases to other native animals in the region.

Also, the animals can even get killed by some of the thing in your yard. In other words you have to watch them in when playing outside and with things in your yard. loris remove sharp firmt teeth painful to the animal. Some animals living conditons! Also gitter can hunt animals like tulers. One day they fonded a whale with paistic bags inside!

Furthermore, the owner don’t learn to take of them. The need a certain item like sheither, medicine, foods. And if the owner feeds it a type of food the owner can hurt or even kill the animals. Also its cruel with the wrong things and invermeant.

In conclusion, the reason exotic animals SHOULD NOT be pets is because they can ruin an ecosystem, it’s bad for the animal, and the owner might not know how to take care of them properly.

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 2 Comments

May 7

Exotic Animals should not be pets

Can you imagine a slow loris getting its teeth removed suffering screaming of pain and then being locked up in a cage depressed and hurt on a truck ready to be sold. That is how exotic animals are treated before being sold to people illegally or legally. I think you should not have exotic animals as pets. People don’t know how to take care of them, the exotic pets get released into different habitats, and the pet have to go through painful procedures.

First of all, people should not own exotic animals because they often don’t know how to care for them. 75% of exotic pets die in the first year. They need expensive equipment to survive and some people don’t have the money. Other exotic pets die because their owner don’t do the research before buying the pet. For example, if you’re going to get a snake you need to learn what it eats and what kind of cage it needs. If you don’t research you won’t have a clue what to do and the pet will most likely will die in a short time or In two or three months of the year.

Also, exotic animals get released into places where they don’t belong. If that happens the animals can ruin the natural food chain and in other cases, the animals can destroy it. Most likely the animal will die in the wrong environment because the food they eat is maybe not natural to them. The animals are also not used to the climate of that area. If it is a predator it can be really deadly or bad if the area has tourists.

Also Exotic animals have to go through painful procedures to be sold as pets. For example, the slow lorises get their sharp front teeth removed for the safety of owners because the animals get aggressive sometimes to show their anger. Others do not eat for several days which sometimes leads to death which is bad.

I think you should not keep exotic animals as pets. People often don’t know how to care for the animals, they can get release into local habitats, and they go through painful procedures. It does not matter if you are a good owner they will still not be happy because they are not in their natural habitat. I think it’s cruel. So next time you want a snake have a heart a just get a dog instead of a exotic animal.

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May 7

Exotic Animals Shouldn’t Be Sold As Pets

The slow loris may be cute but it does not make a good pet.

Imagine your a 2-year-old baby sleeping in your crib but then…..rah! Then you get eaten. That’s what happens when you have an exotic animal as a pet. Do you really want to get eaten by a tiger or snake? Then I suggest you don’t buy an exotic animal a pet. The pet could be dangerous or sad to be your pet. You shouldn’t be selfish to get a cool pet. They need proper care, or they can be dangerous, and it’s cruel to the animal.

Proper Care

To begin with, people don’t know how to properly take care of exotic animals, like reptiles, and let them go. For instance, owners don’t know what reptiles need like a big tank. In Florida, owners end up letting boa constrictor snakes go because they grow too big, sometimes more than 17 feet. As a result, it damages the natural ecosystem.

Wild Animals Can Be Dangerous!

Second, exotic animals can be dangerous. It could attack you. Also, the animal is from the wild so it can carry diseases to you. Another reason is when people sleep with wild animals the animal can wake up and wonder where it is and attack you by mistake. Lastly, when you go on a vacation you can’t bring your gigantic pet and it’s not like anyone will want to take care of a dangerous animal, like a tiger.

It’s cruel to the animal

Third, people have to alter exotic animals for you to get them as a pet. Let me start off by saying slow lorises have sharp teeth so when you buy them as a pet their teeth must be removed. It is very painful to the slow lorises. Also, slow lorises are not as happy as pets. Slow lorises could be living under unnatural living conditions when they live with owners. As a result, they can be distressed. Many die in the first year.

Movie To Reality

Additionally, do you like the movie Finding Dory? After the movie Finding Dory people wanted their own “dorys” or blue tangs. Blue tangs need a giant tank. You also need a blue tang that costs a lot of money. As a result, the bill costs more than $3000. Next, do you like the Harry Potter movies too? After Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone people wanted their own Hedwig. Owls are very messy. Owls also need a lot of space to fly.

In conclusion, I think people should not have exotic animals as pets. The exotic animal can eat you, not have proper care or it’s cruel to the animal. Is it really worth having a cute or a cool pet for the animal to suffer? Next time when you are looking for a pet don’t look at the exotic animal and say “ I’d like this one.” Instead look inside it’s eyes and think about if you were that exotic animal not wanting to be a pet. So next time just get a cat, dog, hamster, or bunny so the animals don’t have to suffer.

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May 2

Should exotic animals be kept as pets?

Baboons are thought to be cute pets, but as soon as it’s huge teeth grow in it is abandoned.

Imagine being ripped from your home and sent to live in a cage with strange food and drinks. Find that hard to imagine? Exotic animals that are kept as pets have been forced to take that image and turn it into reality. Most kids think it is cool to have an exotic animal as a pet, but really it is bad for the animal that is being kept as a pet! From where I stand, I think that keeping exotic animals as pets is a bad idea. Keeping exotic animals as pets is a bad idea because they are not domesticated and can kill you or hurt you badly. Also, most people are unable to properly take care of the animal. Plus they could give you terrible diseases if you don’t vaccinate them properly.

First of all, animals like dogs and cats are domesticated, but exotic animals aren’t and can be dangerous to their owners. No one should be able to keep exotic animals as pets. When they are babies they might be cute but when they get older and mature their territorial instincts kick in and it gets more and more dangerous the older the animal gets. They belong in their natural habitats. It has taken thousands of years to domesticate dogs. So, saying that wild animals are house pet’s, is like saying a wolf is a dog, or a tiger or lion is an ordinary house cat.

They are completely different in the way they think. Tigers would attack and kill us if they could. House cats are not like that.

In addition, most people are unable to provide the natural environment of the animal, along with its natural prey or territory that it eats. All exotic animals are wild and need plenty of space to roam. This is another thing, another thing people, are unlikely to provide. Most people abandon the animals when they mature because they lose their cuteness, resulting in homelessness or death. This form of severe animal cruelty. For example, have you heard of the python outbreak in Florida? This is happening because people have a problem with letting them go loose in the everglades. Also, there is nothing in that environment that eats them.

Another reason, exotic animals have very dangerous diseases that can spread diseases to their owner. Exotic animals have many diseases that humans can catch like tuberculosis. Also, they can spread parasites and if they are not vaccinated properly then the animal will suffer. Do we really want to take the chance of getting very sick or hurting an animal just so we can say “I own a tiger”? I definitely wouldn’t.

There is no point in taking an innocent animal from its home just to put in captivity for our own amusement. How would you feel if someone took you from your family, put you in a cage and started calling you Fluffy? To make matters worse, it is very cruel to the animal because they don’t have their natural environment and probably won’t have proper care. To make it worse the animal endangers your health with parasites and diseases. Also, some animals would have no problem straight up attacking you. Why must we have such a thing just for our own amusement? Many people say that the exotic animals great pets because they can teach children about that species, but I say that is what zoos are for. So that’s what I think, exotic animals should not be kept as pets.

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 1 Comment

April 24

How to be a good dog owner

Sydney Petty via Compfight

Do you have a dog? Do you want to be a good owner to it? Well, I do. Start with giving it its own space to roam around in, Dogs need freedom! Feed it healthy foods and feed it twice a day, You don’t want an overweight dog, Do you? Walk it every day because dogs need exercise and they need to get out every once and awhile. And play with it as much as you have time for, Dogs need a lot of attention or else they will start to act wild and will not listen to you as much. Make sure to give it a checkup schedule and a good vet

Different dog breeds need different things, like some dogs like being with people and other dogs like to be alone, and how chihuahua are small and german shepherd is big.Depending on your age you should get either a puppy or an older dog.

You need to dog-proof your house, Put all shoes back where they belong or in a place where your dog can’t reach them, NEVER and i mean NEVER leave any prized possessions in a dog’s reach. Get a collar so you can attach its leash when you walk it and to put its tags onto it. And BUY TOYS so it won’t think your stuff is toys and so if it is alone it has something to play with and you can play with the toys with your dog. If you don’t want it sleeping with you or on your chairs or couch then buy or make it a bed to sleep on at night. And potty train it if it is a puppy so it will not make a mess in its sleep.

Use these methods to have a happy healthy and good dog.

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 3 Comments

April 12

African Ring Neck Parrot

African ring neck parrot.

Imagine you are an African Ring neck looking for fruit, seeds, and nectar for your daily lunch, joyfully munching and crunching on your delicious food. You may wonder why these beautiful animals are called African Ringnecks. Well, these birds come from Africa and when they grow older they develop rings around their necks.

Their lifespan is about 20-28 years. They are from West Africa. They live in palm tree when they are not breeding and they roost together in a flock and move to warm environments. They make loud calls when danger is nearby to warn their flock mates. They eat blossoms, fruit, and nectar.

As pets, these birds are so smart and unique they can be taught to talk. First, they start mimicking then they start talking by themselves. These birds can be mixed up with their cousins the Indian Ring neck. You can tell the difference by looking at the beaks. African ring necks have smaller plum colored beaks and Indian ring necks have larger red beaks. Indian ring necks are bright green and African ring necks have more lime colored feathers. These birds are great pets and are really friendly for families.

Image result for african ringneck parrots eating in the wild

These birds are very unique because they can do lots of interesting things and are very friendly.

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April 12

Animals and Rabies

A wolf.

Do you know the difference between an animal that has rabies and one that doesn’t? This is going to show you lots of things about animals that have rabies and about taking care of them. Rabies is an infection and it can be spread through an animal’s saliva and blood.

If an animal is acting strange or is trying to bite you then it may have rabies. To test an animal for rabies the test must include tissue and they need to work on two parts of the brain, the stem, and the cerebellum. If an animal with rabies bites you it only spreads through their saliva so you don’t have to worry if your next to the animal while breathing the animal will not infect you.

A bobcat.

To help an animal with rabies you’ll need to scrub any bite or wound immediately with soap and water. The most common animals that have rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes, and coyotes. Rabies also spreads to cats, cattle, and dogs. When you get bitten by an animal with rabies you get a fast acting shot to prevent the virus from infecting you and get the shot right were the bite was.

All mammals are able to have rabies but birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians can not. Humans may be able to survive rabies without a treatment because some animals that have rabies survive without a treatment. Animals get rabies from having a large virus in the saliva which contacts with mucus, membranes, or open fresh wounds.

Next time you see a wild animal try to see if it’s acting strangely because if it is then you know it may have rabies. You will want to be careful if you get close to a wild animal because it might bite you.

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 3 Comments

April 11

Precious Pufferfish

Pufferfish

If you think the octopus is the only animal in the ocean that can transform, think again. There are other amazingly deceptive sea creatures. At first glance, they are slow-moving, gentle and beautiful. But beware. When threatened, these fishes can transform themselves into weapons and turn into one of the deadliest creatures in the world. What are we talking about? Pufferfish, of course. Want to find out more about them, well keep reading.

Diet

The puffer fish is an omnivore so the diet of a puffer fish includes mostly invertebrates ( an animal without a backbone) and algae. Large puffer fish will even crack open clams, mussels, and shellfish with their hard beaks. Poisonous puffers are believed to synthesize their deadly toxin from the bacteria in the animals they eat.

Life and Reproduction

Although some baby puffer fish cannot be seen without a magnifying glass, their body shape resembles those of the adult animals. The average lifespan of the puffer fish is around ten years. There are more than 120 species of puffer fish which live mostly in the warm waters of the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, with only 30 species that are living in the freshwater. Some species move from marine to brackish or fresh water during the breeding season. Did you know: After leaving the egg, young puffer fish swim toward the reef’s community.

Escape Artist

Pufferfish can inflate into a ball shape to evade predators. Also known as blowfish, these clumsy swimmers fill their elastic stomachs with huge amounts of water (and sometimes air) and blow themselves up to several times their normal size.

Fun facts

Almost all species of puffer fish contain a toxin (called tetrodotoxin) that can be 1200 times stronger than poison. One puffer fish contains enough toxin to kill 30 adult men. The toxin is not located in all parts of the puffer fish, and certain cultures prepare puffer fish as a delicacy. Also, did you know that about 100 diners die each year after eating puffer fish?

Pufferfish are amazing creatures and have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, other than puffing up to scare away predators. To most people, they are some of the most fascinating creatures on this planet. They can do many other cool tricks like turn sand into symmetrical artwork, but unfortunately the current will still wash away its beautiful artwork in minutes. Now I hope you love these amazing creatures as much as I do.

Category: Animals, Ocean, Student Posts | 10 Comments

June 15

Bum the Dog: San Diego’s Famous Town Dog

By Jake

Bum, San Diego’s Town Dog.

Did you know that one of San Diego’s MOST famous “celebrities” had four legs and a tail?! I had no idea that San Diego even had a town dog until my Grandma and my Mom told me about “Bum the Dog”!

When I heard that San Diego had a famous town dog, I wanted to find out more about “Bum” and what made this Half-St. Bernard/Half-Spaniel dog an important historical figure in San Diego’s history!

I wondered…how did Bum get to San Diego? How did he get the name “Bum” & what made him become so famous? Is there a memorial to Bum in San Diego? I had SO many questions that I decided I needed to do some investigative research to find out all the answers… and share them with… Y-o-u!

I was surprised to discover that Bum arrived in San Diego as a…stowaway! Bum was a stowaway aboard a steamship called the Santa Rosa. He traveled on this steamship all the way from San Francisco to San Diego way back in 1886! I couldn’t believe it! This was proof that Bum was a very adventurous, independent, and brave dog.

I also found out that Bum even had a couple books written about him! In the book: The Dog That Belonged to No One, the author Gerald A. Schiller wrote about how Bum got his name. I read about how Bum liked to hang out with the local “newsboys” (the town boys who sold newspapers on the streets of downtown San Diego).

In this story about Bum, the author wrote that one of these newsboys said:

“Well, I’ll be darned. You don’t seem to need my help in bummin’ some food – or maybe stealin’ it. Hey, there’s a name I can call ya. Bum. You’re just a bum, with no home or owner. But ya sure can bum food if ya need it, I guess. Then I think I’ll call you Bum!”

Also according to the journalist Richard Schulte, “His name suited him because he arrived as a town stowaway, befriended everyone and “bummed” quality food from the local eateries.” (Can you believe that some restaurants even put up signs in their windows that said: “Bum Eats Here”!?)

So, that was how Bum got his name, and it stuck with him his whole life! From that moment, he was forever “Bum”.

The townspeople of San Diego adopted Bum and he became San Diego’s first (and only!) town dog! Bum enjoyed many adventures during his life in San Diego. Some of his adventures included racing along with the horse drawn fire engines on the way to a fire, traveling by himself to Los Angeles and back to San Diego by train, officiating at town parades, and even greeting visiting dignitaries, such as U.S. President Benjamin Harrison! Bum even survived being hit by a train while he was fighting another dog on the train tracks! (Sadly though, Bum lost his right forepaw and part of his tail in this fight.)

Bum also survived a serious injury, after he was kicked by a horse!

When I visited the Gaslamp Museum at the Davis-Horton House, I found the special memorial to Bum, and also a lot of interesting facts about Bum!

I found out that Bum was so beloved by the citizens of San Diego that the city gave him a lifetime dog tag…Bum didn’t ever have to pay a dog license tax!

Bum was also declared “San Diego’s Official Town Dog”, and they even put his picture on “Dog Tax Receipts” of 1891.

When I was reading the plaque about Bum that is located next to the statue of Bum in the pocket park next to the museum, I noticed that pennies were left on the plaque and I wondered why. The lady at the museum told me that the pennies were symbolic of when Bum died on November 10, 1898, and the children of San Diego collected pennies for a proper funeral for Bum.

(I also left my own pennies for Bum on the lower left corner of the plaque!)

She told me that although Bum’s actual grave is not really known, this memorial statue of him is the first memorial to a historic animal in the State of California!

Bum was a remarkable street dog who won the heart of San Diego. Bum’s personality, survival skills, and independence brought San Diego together.

It’s no wonder that Bum the dog became San Diego’s famous first (and only!) town dog! Make sure to visit the memorial to “Bum the Dog” the next time you visit the Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego…and remember to leave a penny for Bum!

Category: Animals, Community, History, Student Posts | 5 Comments

June 8

Top 3 Ugliest Animals

The ugly blobfish.

Did you know that more people have been to space than to the deep sea? The deep sea is the lowest level of the ocean and some parts are about 7 miles below the ocean’s surface. It has been largely unexplored because of its harsh environment. There is little oxygen, light, and nutrients, and the water temperature is slightly above freezing. The animals came up with creative adaptations in order to survive in these environments. For example, they can not have air pockets or they would be crushed because of the underwater pressure, some have large eyes to help see in the dark, and some even have no eyes at all so they rely on their other senses.

I’ve picked my top three choices for the ugliest deep sea creatures, and in third place is the Blobfish. In my opinion, the Blobfish looks like a mad, old lady. The Blobfish has a big head and it’s about 1 foot long, pinkish in color, and has eyes that bulge out of its head. It lives near New Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia at depths of about 3900 feet under the sea. An interesting fact about the Blobfish is that out of the water it looks like a blob because it has no muscles or skeleton, but at home, in the deep sea, it looks like a normal fish.

Abyssal sea cucumber.

My pick for second place is the abyssal sea cucumber, also known as the sea pig. It has no face, no eyes, and it eats mud. They live at the bottom of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It lives more than 3000 feet under the sea in the Abyssal zone. The abyssal sea cucumber is so ugly that a predator wouldn’t want to eat it.

Dumbo octopus.

My pick for the number 1 ugliest deep sea creature is the dumbo octopus, because it’s so ugly it’s cute. One of its interesting features are the big eyes it has, however it can barely see. The dumbo octopus lives between 9800 and 2300 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean. The dumbo octopus gets its name from its big ears. Strangely these ears aren’t actually ears at all, they are fins. These fins allow it to save energy and change direction while swimming in the deep ocean.

The Blobfish, abyssal sea cucumber and the dumbo octopus are my top 3 picks for the ugliest sea creature. There are many other ugly deep sea animals out there so you could even come up with your own top 3. Just remember, the things that make these animals ugly are also what makes them amazing because these features help these animals survive in the deep, dark, and harsh ocean environment.

For more information check out these references:

The Deep Sea: http://marinebio.org/oceans/deep

Life in the Deep: http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3748096

Weird Animals: http://www.allanimalsfacts.com/weird-animals-2/

Deep Sea Creatures: http://ipfactly.com/category/amazing-animals/deep-sea-creatures-amazing-animals/

Category: Animals | 7 Comments

May 16

Endangered Elephants!

Elephants are endangered because poachers kill them for their ivory tusks.

AmberBrooke. via Compfight

Did you know that about 100,000 African elephants are killed in just 3 years by ivory-seeking poachers? If the poachers keep hunting and killing the elephants just for their ivory tusks, the number will go down and the African elephants will be endangered of becoming extinct.

The reason the poachers are killing the elephants for their ivory is to make it into jewelry, ornaments, statues, and chopsticks. Ivory is seen as a symbol of wealth in countries in Asia. The most demand for the ivory is in China and Asia countries. The U.S also buy ivory from outside the country.

Many countries have laws against poaching and ivory trade. But why don’t the poachers follow the law? The poachers don’t follow the law because it is a weak law and the poachers always find a way to get out of it and there are a lot of corruption in most of these countries. Another reason people still want to buy ivory is because they are willing to spend a lot of money.

We can help save the elephants by spreading the words or to take action to stop the illegal ivory trade. We should stop buying ivory and new ivory is strictly banned. We can make a stronger law to protect the African elephants in the wild. We can also help by donating to world wildlife foundation or any other wildlife protection.

Elephants must be saved!

Arno Meintjes via Compfight

Ivory might be beautiful and valuable to all of us but it comes from dead elephants we would all rather have African elephants instead of ivory chopsticks or jewelry. We should stop the poachers from killing the elephants so we can make them go back into the millions like they used to be.

Links:

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/elephants/african_elephants/afelephants_threats/

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140818-elephants-africa-poaching-cites-census/
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140425-hong-kong-ivory-trafficking-elephants-china-world/

Category: Animals, Current Events & News, Student Posts | 1 Comment

May 15

Dogs and Other Cool Facts

Eric.Ray via Compfight

by Allie

Did you know that basset hounds have long floppy ears help them smell better? Or that poodle means puddle in french? First that poodles love water and in french poodle means “puddle.” And dogs whiskers are much like our fingers.

Basset hounds have the longest ears and their ears fan the scents toward their nose. And the basset hound has an extra sharp nose. Basset hounds are also really good to watch dogs they have a deep bark which alarms them to stay away from who they are protecting. They were originally used for hunting and trailing. But they do have a lot of energy so they might need a daily walk.

Border collies are very curious and they live 12-15 years. Border collies are so curious that a border collie named Laika was so curious that she the was the first mammal ever to go into outer space! Border collies are very intelligent they were originally used to herd sheep or cows. They are so intelligent they can do many tricks such as flips and they take orders.

Beagles are very loyal and there are different breeds like the pocket beagle they are smaller than the normal beagle

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 3 Comments

May 15

Littering should be stopped

Ingrid Taylar via Compfight

Littering is damaging the environment. The problem with littering is that it’s poisoning the environment. Garbage is making its way into rivers and oceans, which is hurting animals like sea life birds and more. It seems like trash is thrown everywhere but a trashcan! Do you know how big the problem is? Have you ever seen pictures of the Pacific Garbage Patch? It is literally a floating island of plastic trash. It swirls around the sea, and surprisingly, it’s 2 times the size of Texas!

Animals are choking, getting trapped in trash and eating plastic and other garbage. Populations of fish are dying because of trash harming them, which is affecting the food chain. If the little fish dies, the big fish can’t eat it, and it ends up not finding food, and passing away. Some trash can be wrapped around an animal, and the animal chokes and dies

Carelessness of trash getting into bad places is NOT okay. Just by letting a small piece of trash, you could cause the death of a sea animal. It sounds like that’s crazy, but it could happen. Sea animals are so innocent, you don’t want to let a turtle die? Do you?

I think littering shouldn’t be done at all no matter what. Trash you throw on the ground could be blown into the sea where a bird or an animal could choke on it, So it should be stopped. It’s already illegal to do it, so don’t! It’s meaningless to drop trash on the ground when there’s literally a trash can 15 feet away! And that’s why you should never litter… EVER.

Category: Animals, Environment | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 15

Penguins

What’s black and white and waddles around… it’s a penguin! You are probably thinking of lots of questions. You might think of why are penguins black and white? Or why don’t penguins fly? They are birds right?! And What penguins eat rather than fish? Well, I am going to answer all of those questions!

Why are penguins black and white? Because when they are cold they face their back black side to get warm and when hot face their white up to reflect the sun. And another reason is when they are swimming their white side up and black side down they are camouflaged and hard for their predators to see them.

Why can’t penguins fly? They are birds right?! Because Along time ago the penguins could fly (we think that they did fly long ago cause they are birds) but they started to do more swimming than flying so now they can’t fly. Did you know that the emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest penguin ever?

What food do penguins eat rather than fish? The diet of a king penguin is mainly fish and squid and a small amount of krill and other crustaceans. Fish is 80-100% of their diet, except in the winter it is 30-100%. Lantern fish is the main fish they eat.

It’s practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry. – Joe Moore. Did you know that Emperor penguins are endangered?! Penguins face his black side towards the sun to get warm, and when hot faces its white side to reflect the sun. Penguins don’t fly because they swim more than fly a long time ago. Penguins eat mainly fish and squid and krill. Imagine that you are in Antarctica and a shiver goes down your spine, and you see a little thing waddling towards you, IT IS A PENGUIN!

Penguin Cam | San Diego Zoo laikolosse via Compfight

Category: Animals, Student Posts | 1 Comment

May 15

Let’s Save Elephants

So you’re at zoo and you’ve just finished looking at the fearsome polar bears, you proceed past the baboons, the porcupines, and lions, and you stop where the elephants always are with their pride in their trunks and ears flopping super cute in the air. But guess what? There not there.

Imagine that. Here’s some 🔣 math about elephants. If every 11 hours 50 elephants get poached then about how many will be left in the next 2 years or 730 days? 73,000. If there are about 100,000 then in 2 yrs it’d be 27,000 and in the next three… none!

If an elephant had no tusks would you really call that an elephant? Think you would call an elephant this, “The largest land animal in the world, with big tusks and floppy ears.” But if you take away the tusk part of it here’s all that is left.” The largest animal in the world with floppy ears.” That’s basically just describing a really big dog. Plus that’s pretty boring. Would you like to see a really, really big dog instead of the elephant that’s been around for generations? We should protect animals.

Did you know that even elephants go through the awkward age? Well only Male ones, and it’s a bit different. When the male reaches a certain age they leave their family and go live alone or with others. Another fun fact about the life stages and ages of elephants is that when one is fully grown the elephant usually only familiar groups while it’s looking for a mate.It also is more aggressive to more animals which increase its power and success.

Let’s talk about the necessities of the elephant and all of it’s regular and well-known facts.

Its family is the Elephantine. In Spanish elephant means elephants and African elephants spread their ears out as a threat or (rarely) if they’re rarely interested n something.

flowcomm via Compfight Elephant scurry free!

Category: Animals, Current Events & News, Student Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 9

Jellyfish

Wayne Hsieh via Compfight

Imagine you are a jellyfish. You are drifting along in the current when suddenly, you are captured in a net, you start to shrivel up. What do you do? Stop imagining. I’m Donovan, and I’m going to tell you about jellyfish.

What are jellyfish?

Actually, in spite of the name “jellyfish” They aren’t even fish, but cnidarians. They are also invertebrates. This means they have no bones or shells. They are related to coral and sea anemones. The weird substance that builds the jellyfish isn’t jelly. It’s called mesoglea a.k.a ectoplasm.

What are some kinds of jellyfish?

The Atolla jellyfish, also called Coronate medusa, is a deep-sea jelly found around the world. Like many species of animals dwelling in the deep, it has bioluminescent abilities. But unlike many species that use bioluminescence to attract prey, this species uses it to keep from becoming prey. When an Atolla jellyfish is attacked, it will create a series of flashes that spin like the lights of a police siren. This draws in more predators that will hopefully be interested in the original attacker more than the jellyfish, giving the jellyfish opportunity to escape.

This strategy has given the species the nickname the “alarm jellyfish.”

It’s Darth Vader! Oh, wait… That’s just a Narcomedusae. This unusual looking species of jellyfish has not one but two stomach pouches. To fill those pouches with plenty of prey, it will hold its long tentacles out in front of it while it swims. Researchers think this makes them a more effective ambush predator.

According to Creature Cast, “Some species of Narcomedusae (affectionately called narcos by the people that study them) can grow inside their own mother, who provides nourishment and a safe environment for her. The narco babies can then leave their mother, find another jellyfish of an entirely different species, attach to its flesh, and thrive on the nourishment and safe environment it provides.”

The lion’s mane jellyfish is not only the largest jelly species in the world, but it also harbors a powerful sting that it uses to catch its prey. Most humans have little to fear from this ferocious jelly, but its poison is more than enough to scare away enemies, thus creating a safe space for both the jelly and other species that are lucky enough to be immune to the toxin.

If I saw a jellyfish at the beach or bay, what species is it?

I’ve seen jellyfish at the bay, and I poked them with a stick let me tell you, there were a lot of them.They are moon jellies. Also, sometimes you can find sailor jellyfish at la jolla shores. I wouln’t be surprised if they were planning an invasion.

Category: Animals, Student Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 8

Invasive Species Take Over

A red eared slider are invading rivers and lakes.

Nicholas LabyrinthX via Compfight

Imagine having a new roommate move in with you, that you knew nothing about and just starts invading your home. How would that make you feel? Would that make you feel uncomfortable? Well, that is what an invasive species can be like. Invasive species are animals or plants from another region of the world, that don’t belong in their new environment. They can be introduced to an area by ship ballast water, accidental release, and most often by people. Invasive species can lead to the extinction of native plants and animals; destroy ecosystems and permanently change habitats. Three invasive species that have invaded other habitats are known to be the European Starling, Red-Eared Slider, and the Feral Pig.

Caroline Johnston via Compfight

The European Starling, invited or not? The European Starling is a bird that invaded North America in the late 1800s. A man known as Eugene Scheiffelin released sixty European starlings into New York’s Central Park because he hoped to beautify the city. Also, many European settlers freed starlings from birdcages to fill their new gardens with birdsong from home. The Starlings homeland is Eurasia, North Africa. Starlings are known as alien invaders because they come from another region, and invaders because they are taking over. In cities, starlings spread diseases by fouling on cars, balconies, handrails, and playground equipment with their droppings. In spring, they chase away shyer birds like; bluebirds and swallows out of their nesting holes. They eat the eggs and then lay their own. In Autumn, starlings fly in huge flocks and swarm farmlands, eating up all the grains, corn, and ripe fruits. Today starlings are called dirty, noisy, and disease-spreading pests.

A wild pig.

Cloudtail the Snow Leopard via Compfight

The Red-Eared slider is a cute little water turtle but is also known to be a bully. Their home waters are in the Mississippi River in the United States. In the 1970s, turtle farmers have raised red-eared sliders for international pet sales. These turtles have invaded areas like Southeast Asia, Islands in the Caribbean Sea, France, and Israel. Softhearted owners release their sliders into the wild when they outgrow their tanks. When released into nature, these turtles gobble up water plants, dragonfly larvae, crayfish, frogs, toads, salamanders, and small fish. They bully water-birds off egg-filled nests and then spread out their reptile legs, neck, and tail to absorb the warm rays of the sun. Sliders weigh more than adult waterbirds, so they press the bird eggs underwater and drown them. In France and California, red-eared sliders threaten endangered native turtles by outcompeting them for food and by staking out the best basking spots.

Hawaii, can it be the paradise lost land for the Feral pig? The first pigs trotted off Polynesian ships onto the Hawaiian Islands in about 400 A.D. In 1778, Captain James Cook released a pair of European pigs onto the Islands. Now large hybrid wild pigs are the most serious invasive species on the Hawaiian Islands. The homeland for the feral pigs is Eurasia, North Africa. Invading feral pigs, along with other mosquitoes, and parasites show no respect for glorious Hawaii. Feral pigs scarf down anything from snails, grain, nesting seabirds and their eggs. They eat fruiting or flowering plants and spread seeds in their poop. The pigs make a hole by digging entire trees but eat only the roots. These pigs have definitely made themselves at home in the Hawaiian Islands.

In conclusion, are all invasive species bad? No one can really confirm that invasive species are all good or all bad. Some species are clearly harmful, while others may have benefits. For example, the feral pig might eat anything and everything in sight but can also spread seeds in their poop. By the feral pig doing this, it can help the habitat with growing more vegetation. Another example is the European starling which can be a little harmful to its habitat because it can easily spread diseases. So the next time, you see an animal nearby; you should ask yourself where did it really come from.

Category: Animals, Environment, Student Posts | LEAVE A COMMENT

Bloggin Frogs

Mrs. McKelvey's 3rd Grade

Amazing Seahorses

Best Ocean Predator

Courtship

Seahorse Habitats

Cats or Dogs?

Let’s end factory farms

Exotically Cute But Not a Good Pet

Exotic Animals should not be pets

Exotic Animals Shouldn’t Be Sold As Pets

Proper Care

Wild Animals Can Be Dangerous!

It’s cruel to the animal

Movie To Reality

Should exotic animals be kept as pets?

How to be a good dog owner

African Ring Neck Parrot

Animals and Rabies

Precious Pufferfish

Diet

Life and Reproduction

Escape Artist

Fun facts

Bum the Dog: San Diego’s Famous Town Dog

Top 3 Ugliest Animals

Endangered Elephants!

Dogs and Other Cool Facts

Littering should be stopped

Penguins

Let’s Save Elephants

Jellyfish

Invasive Species Take Over