Peacock Babies

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

Here's a video that we got while we were up in Duluth at the Lake Superior Zoo. This wasn't an exhibit though; these guys were just walking around the park. Lots of fun.

R.I.P. Clerra Ferret (2002-2007)

Clerra died on Wednesday night.
She had lymphoma, and probably an adrenal tumor. Jen and I miss her very much, and we're both very sad, but Ferra seems to be getting along just fine.

Rest in peace little Weasel; you will be missed.

Once again, now it's personal!

Unless you are in serious denial or unfamiliar with the data that has been recorded, you know that the planet is experiencing a worldwide climate shift, and all of the science points towards human causes and responsibility. The last direct effect that climate change was when that poor little hedgie lost his spikes and almost died.
Now it's the poor little beardies that face the trauma.

Scientific American has an article on a study being done in Australia on Bearded Dragons. The results show that increased temperature while beardies are developing inside the egg results in changing of sex.

Between temperatures of 22 degrees C (72 degrees F) and 32 degrees C (90 degrees F), the eggs hatched an equivalent number of males and females. But once temperatures climbed above 34 degrees C (93 degrees F), the majority of hatchlings were female.
...
At high temperatures, only two males were born out of 35 eggs that hatched. Furthermore, 17 would-be males had been transformed by heat into females.

So what does this mean? Basically this study shows that prolonged exposure to above-average temperatures during prenatal development will affect a Bearded Dragon's sex if they are male. Application? If the Earth's climate continues to increase, beardies will lose sexual diversity in the wild and will face some serious endangerment issues.

Let's all stop for a minute and hope for Godzilla's sake that this doesn't happen. Godzilla's not actually in any danger. He lives in a controlled environment, he's already hatched, and he's not making baby lizards, but I'm sure that he'd be sad to find out that some of his wild siblings are affected by global warming.

Repost: This is a repost from Reeding and Writing.

Walk for Animals 2007

It's almost here...
the 2007 AHS Walk for Animals!

If you've never been there, or you need a refresher, just watch this (AHS Walk 2006). It's a great time, and it's so much fun. They have free food -- vegetarian options of course -- and the best part is that you are supporting the Animal Humane Society.

If you live in Minnesota, come on down.
You can expect to see both of us there again.
The mystery is who will we bring --
Spike? The Weasels? Zilla?

Anointing of the Spike: Part 3 "The Sh*t-eating Grin"

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

So this is the final installation
of the "Anointing of the Spike" series.
As the title hints, Spike does a nasty little thing.
You have to see it to believe it.

These three videos were supposed to be posted in 3 days, but I got so busy with school and work that it spanned 3 weeks. I also started a new blog: Reeding and Writing.
-Dan

Anointing of the Spike: Part 2

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

This is round 2 of Spike's anointing.
He did all of this in one 10 minute period.
As gross as it looks, it's kinda cool to think about how
different animals evolve different mechanisms for survival.
Enjoy the gooey goodness and rolling hog-hilarity.

We should also mention that Jen smelled Spike after his anointing fit, and she said that it smelled like curdled milk.

Anointing of the Spike: Part 1

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

This is a video of Spike anointing.
It's one of those unique things that hedgies do.
It's so funny when he does it because his belly looks crazy.

The screenshot is green because Dan changed the theme
on the computer, so the windows look a little different.
A little change in scenery is nice from time to time.

Now it's personal!!

I just saw this story today. This is very sad,
and I thought it was bad when the flowers were blooming.
Luckily for us, Spike doesn't hibernate -- he also lives indoors.
I think it's time to stop fighting climate change efforts
because your pastor votes republican.

If not for the entire world,
at least for the hedgies?

Carpet Sharks

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

(or play wmv version here)

Dan had to give Clerra a bath, so he gave Ferra one too,
and we all know how the weasels act after a bath.
Clerra was sharkin' while Ferra was goofin'.

He's So Slow

Click here to download (or on pic to stream)

(or play wmv version here)

This cute little guy is a Slow Loris.
We met him in Duluth on Dan's Birthday.
He's kinda like a sloth spliced with a monkey.
Jen LOVED him, but it's good that she didn't touch him --
with the toxic saliva and all.