Chinese rabbit-crushing

I was appalled when I first heard of this so called "rabbit crushing" for fun. I was even mad. No, I was furious would be more like it and I hardly ever get mad about anything. I first read about this act that some of the people in China were doing to my beloved rabbits and I knew I had to stick my nose into it in whatever way I could.

I began researching this vile act and would you believe I found videos of people crushing rabbits by placing a glass plate on them and then they sat on them until the rabbit died. I was horrified to see that! To make it worse, YouTube allowed this vile act to be posted on there website for all to see too, which has since been removed and banned by the way. I have a disgusted taste for YouTube right now, as them allowing it to be published in the first place had me wondering what kind of people were running that place. Turns out Google, which runs Blogger too, runs it. I think I burst a blood vessel knowing my host was allowed this to happen. What could I do about it? Hmmm......

It got me thinking alright and I wasted no time in contacting a few higher ups I know within the animal kingdoms chain of command. They banded together to get the videos taken down and eventually banned from YouTube, but it wasn't an easy matter to make it happen. I contacted my local chapter of the SPCA, then the House Rabbit Society, and so on and so on, and then they took it to the next level, and so on and so on it went up the ladder.

You have to understand my views on this. I love rabbits! I love them more than you know about and to witness the one video I saw, it made my heart hurt for weeks knowing they were dying for no reason at all. They were not wild rabbits, they were domesticated ones, pets! Killing innocent and helpless pets just so they could get a laugh out of it. That is plainly sick! I felt more had to be done. It had to be done to make the rabbits safer. Through the many wildlife agencies around the world, word got out fast about this cruel act, country by country lining up to get the videos and pictures taken down across Europe, up through Russia, and down to Australia.

I was invited to go to China this past spring, along with other animals lovers who needed to get the word out through that country and other hidden countries that seem to think animals are playthings for them to hurt for no reason at all. We got a three day Visa to visit China and even got the chance to voice our opinions about this rabbit crushing event that was sweeping through there country. They did know about it, the Chinese government that is, and they seemed to take a lot more interest in it as 15 countries were pressing them to do something more about it. Did the visit help any? I think it did, as there own news agency, which is governed by there own government, acknowledged there was a problem and that they were going to do what they could to make a difference.

Since that visit, a few rings have been broken up and arrested for cruelty to animals. I don't know what they do to people in China for abusing and killing animals at random, but I know it's more severe that what more free countries do. I'm hoping this gets stopped worldwide before it's gets to out of hand. If a communist country can stop, listen to what concerned people have to say and do something about it, then it shouldn't be a problem to handle anywhere else in the world either.

If you ever see or hear about an animal being abused, let someone know. Call the police if you have to. Thanks.

Happy Trails!

Bunny heaters and other stuff

Gosh, it's been 3 months since I was last here? How time flies...I had no idea it had been that long. I have been extremely busy with my new career choices, plus my rabbits keep me as busy as anything along the way.

Last week it got real cold here in Florida. 28 degrees is frigid to me so you know it was down right miserable for my rabbits. I knew it was going to be getting cold so two days before it got here, I checked the heaters in the Bunny Barn to make sure they were working. Would you believe they would not even come on. I went into panic mode as they were brand new. I called the company that installed them and they sent a repairman out to see what the problem was. Turns out, the breakers were off in the electric panel. Duh! I felt like a total idiot. While the repairman was here, he checked out the units to make sure they were working and they were. He didn't even charge me for checking them and believe it or not, he paid me. Yep, he left a donation for the rabbits and I tell you now, I was speechless and happy at the same time. I usually get charged for everything that needs to be worked on. Thank you Mr. repairman. People like him are rare to encounter. I'm glad I checked them in advance now or I might have had a lot of frozen bunnies, which means dead ones. If that had happened, I think I would have hung myself. It taught me to make sure things work beforehand though, and anyone reading this should do the same when in a similar situation.

At my last count, I had 285 rabbits. That's 32 less than last month which means someone is getting early Christmas presents. I hate when they have to leave, but I'm also happy at the same time as they are getting healthy and happy rabbits either for themselves or as gifts. They make great gifts for someone that is used to being busy and want a great pet. I don't recommend them as a gift to lazy "don't want to do anything people" though, as the rabbits need a lot of care and love.

Happy Trails

Wildlife Fun

How is college life, you might be wondering? I have no idea as I have not started yet. I was suppose to start at the end of last month but I let that slip by on purpose. Dumb decision? Maybe, maybe not.

I was offered an internship with the Wildlife Dept., working with wild animals. I really did think it over a lot and sat down with my family and friends as they poured out concern over this new adventure I was offered. It's one of those decisions that can either make you or break you, as one family member put it. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision at all, and I can always go to college next year and I will have much more knowledge as well for the veterinarian course. This to me was an opportunity to not let slip away. I love animals, wild or not, and I think I've made the right decision.

I did accept the program and I'm having a blast with it so far. What can be better than spending a couple days out in the wild with wild Florida panthers? Not many people can say they have done that. I think the ones in charge of this program are rather shocked, as most girls I know would never walk up to a snake and pick it up. lol I knew what it was before I picked it up, then I showed it to everyone with a big smile. lol They call me "snake charmer" now. lol If it were a diamond back or something, I would have never even gone near it. I wonder what they would be calling me then? haha

Does this internship give out homework? Yes they do, but not like you might think. All I do is read a lot mostly and they ask you questions while out with the group in nature. I'm loving it so far and it only keeps me away from my loved ones a couple days a week. I do have a link to my bunny cams while I'm away, so don't get any bright ideas about trying to take them....lol

Happy trails! :)

Ireland Bound & Oiled Turtles

Ireland

Tomorrow morning we leave for Ireland for a month!! Woohoo!!  It's about time too. We have been wanting to go for the last 6 months and the time to go is about here. It's about 10 hours flying time total with a 1 1/2 hour layover in Atlanta. I'm sure we will sleep most of the trip being the only thing out the windows will be water, which is what I usually do on long trips. As excited as I am right now about going, I doubt I will sleep much tonight, on the plane, or even when we get there until like 2 days later. lol

I will be updating my blog while in Ireland.

Turtles in Gulf of Mexico

Megan and I, along with our friends Nick and Brad, did some volunteer work with the U.S. Wildlife Department in Mississippi since last week. I called them to see what we could do for them through my grant for my bunnies, being I'm sponsored thru the Florida Wildlife Dept. and they gave me a list of needs, info on obtaining access, etc., and when we got there, I cried. Oh my gosh! I had never seen so many turtles covered in oil like what we saw in front of our eyes. They were so helpless. The workers put us to work, first showing us how to clean them, handle them, etc., and we spent 5 days cleaning countless turtles. I still have oil in my skin (I had gloves on too) from the many turtles I cleaned and got to know real well. Each turtle that came my way, I named myself as each one were like little friends thanking me for taking the time to help them out. I enjoyed every last minute of what I did for them.

Being this trip to Ireland has been planned for the last 6 months and everything has been paid for in advance, that is the only reason we are going. If not for that, I would stay where we were in Mississippi cleaning and cleaning until every last turtle was spotless, then move on to the many birds and other mammals in the area that need our help too. I do plan on returning after our trip, but it will have to be a short stay being my own bunnies need me too.

The oil problem in the water is not going away with a blink of an eye, so maybe you can help out to if you have some free time. Call your local wildlife depts and fisheries, and help out our little friends of the world.

Happy trails!

Jacques Cousteau Friday

Do you even know who Jacques Cousteau is? You should! He was the man of the deep sea and oceans to me. He was also a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, inventor, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher of all ocean life. He was born in 1910 and died in 1997.

Starting on Friday the 11th, TMC (Turner Movie Classics) is having an all day marathon of his 1 hour specials he did back in the '70's. Way before my time but I have seen most of them that I got from the public library for school projects and just for myself, as he was very interesting to watch and learn about.


This is the schedule I got from the TMC website. All times are Eastern Time.

6:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: The Nile - Part One
7:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: The Nile - Part Two
8:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Calypso's Search For Atlantis - Part One
9:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Calypso's Search For Atlantis - Part Two
10:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Time Bomb at Fifty Thousand Fathoms
11:00 AM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Mediterranean - Cradle or Coffin?
12:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Calypso's Search for the Britannic
1:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Diving for Roman Plunder
2:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Blind Prophets of Easter Island
3:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Clipperton - The Island That Time Forgot
4:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: Lost Relics of the Sea
5:00 PM - The Cousteau Odyssey: The Warm Blooded Sea - Mammals
6:00 PM - Jacques Cousteau: The First 75 Years (2 hr. special)
8:00 PM - Sharks
9:00 PM - Whales
10:00 PM - Sunken Treasure
11:00 PM - The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau: Mystery of the Hidden Reef
12:00 AM - The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau: The Sound of Dolphins
1:00 AM - The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau: The Flight of the Penguins

I plan on watching a few of them and will most likely record the rest of the them for a later time. Anyone else interested in this type of nature? I find it very interesting and always have.

Happy trails!

Gulf Oil Spill - Wake Up!

I'm really concerned about this oil spill in my neck of the woods. I never thought I would see the day where our white sandy beaches would maybe turn black one day. Our neighbors to the north of me are experiencing this black crap that is washing up on their shores though. Why? Why has it even been allowed to progress that far? I thought they had booms out catching it. I guess not when I see it on the news and from my friends who live near Pensacola, as they both show tar balls and black crap washing in with nothing keeping it from doing just that.

I feel worse for the poor little animals and fish that can do nothing about it. They are dying! Does anyone even recognize that word? Dying! They are dying!! Wake up you money hungry thieves and politicians! What does it take to wake them up? If people were dying, which I'm sure some will, will that wake them up? I doubt it being money is all I hear about this crappy oil slick. I don't get paid to go out and help animals. I do it because I love and care about them. Do any of our politicians care? I don't see it. Put me in charge of this oil cleanup and I guarantee I will take action no matter what the cost is. Atleast I will do more than what has been done, which isn't much or not enough to please me or anyone else living near this crap.

All my whys:

Why is a British oil company drilling in our neck of the woods anyway?
Why doesn't our President kick BP out and we do the cleanup?
Why are there no booms stretching from the Keys to Louisiana?
Why are so many brown pelicans being shown drenched in oil?
Why are turtles being shown dead and dripping in oil?
Why are the marsh lands in Louisiana shown covered in oil when booms are out?
Why? Why? Why? I could go on forever.

It's sad. It's sad that we are so advanced in technology that we can't even stop a leak. Didn't anyone think of this before they drilled the hole? Again...No! Money was on their mind only. Our government spends billions and billions of money on an army that tramples around the world looking for a man that can't be found, but they can't do the same for poor animals that can't defend for themselves. It's just sad!

I have called the wildlife dept in north Florida to see if they need help in cleaning the birds and all the other animals being affected by this disaster and they said come on up at anytime. I will be doing just that real soon. If anyone reading this cares about animals as I do, you will do the same and volunteer your time to help these helpless animals that the money hungry oil people have hurt. It's not the cost. It's care. Do you care? The animals need our help. Please help them! Please!

Happy trails!

Great Canadian Beaver Dam

Has anyone read or heard about this monster of a dam some beavers have been building since the 1970's? I heard something about it earlier this week and didn't pay too much attention to it right away, that is until I heard it was over 3 football fields long! I decided to do some research on it when I heard that, as it seemed far fetched when I first heard it.

From what I have found out, this beaver dam is located in Wood Buffalo National Park which is in Alberta Canada. It's being called the worlds largest beaver dam as it's 2,788 feet long (850 meters). That is HUGE in my department! The only way to see the dam is by air, as there is nowhere to land by plane near it, and it's so far out in the middle of nowhere, that no one can get to it that easily, as most of the land is wetlands.

The dam had been constructed from thousands of trees, and if you know anything about dams that us humans have built, it's twice the length of the Hoover Dam, which is on the Nevada/Arizona border. The beaver dam can also be seen from space.

Finding pictures of this dam has been difficult and that proves it's hard to get to it. I have found a few small pictures of it using Google search and that's the best I have found so far.

These pictures might not look like much, but you have to remember that this is a wetlands dam. They are a little different than river dams, but still, look at all the trees the beavers have taken down to make this dam of theirs.

I think it's awesome looking, but it's bad news for anything downstream of it though.

We Got Rain!

Oh my gosh, it is pouring down rain outside and it has been that way since I got up this morning. WooHoo! We need it too as it has not rained here in almost 10 days. So far we got a little over two inches and that's a lot of water when draining into barrels. I hope it rains all day long!

We made some modifications to the rain barrels by running some flexible 4" plastic tubing from the gutters into the top of the barrels, then connected them all together as each gutter gets a different amount of rain, and then a friend of ours added a check valve of some kind in each barrel in case they get full, which drains to the nearby holding pond. Awesome huh?! It was worth all the work to get it done too. No more wasted water! No more moving barrels like I used to do either. I am excited about that!

I have only seen our rain barrels full one time in my short life. It was a few years ago when we had 8 days straight of rain, mostly downpours. They were overflowing! Florida is tropical, but that was too tropical for me. We had to move the bunnies up to the second level as water was coming in under the doors and flooding the lower levels. Sink holes were popping up all over the neighborhood and county too. They are scary! In that 8 days of rain storms, we had over 12 inches of rain. Can you believe that? 12" in a week! I don't mind rain, but that is too much. A couple inches of rain I can handle.

Thanks to all my readers and followers. I love you all for reading my jibberish and leaving great comments. They make me smile each time I see them. :)

Happy trails everyone!     

Busy Week

Where do I start? My gosh this has been the busiest week of the year so far.

I had to get a report done for school and turned in by today which took me 3 weeks to research and complete, so that took up most of my nights. The report is 32 pages long and it's about different kinds of propulsion systems. You read that right. I knew nothing of them before I did the report as we were assigned different subjects by our teacher, which meant taking notes from each place we found the information, designers, technicians, company names, you name it I had to write it down, then when I had that complete I had to type it all. By the time I finished with the notes and typing everything, I had 42 pages of information. I do feel smarter now though. lol

In between the report and my chores, we had the wildlife people here today for the wild bunnies and the fire dept was here this week too for inspection of the Bunny Barn's fire system, which passed by the way. Yea! The Health dept was here yesterday for some kind of inspection which passed as well. Busy, busy!

The wild rabbits that I got last week have been taken south to be released. I hated to see them leave, but I knew they would have to leave sooner or later anyway. They healed up fast too as both were hopping around this morning with ease. I was planning on taking them back myself, but the wildlife dept said they were responsible for releasing them in the same area they were taken from, being they were the ones who found them. I still could have done it as I've done it in the past before. It did save me a gas trip though.

Not much else going on really. I was suppose to go out tonight but I postponed it until tomorrow night as I had some unfinished chores that needed to be done. I know I'm hard on myself but the chore list in mine, one that I made, so I do them no matter what plans they might interfere with, even if that event is a date. He understands. He always has. That's what I love about him, he understands! lol Love you Nick! Thanks!

Happy trails everyone!

Weatherman Blues

Hello everyone! Happy Monday!

I guess the weather people just had a brain freeze or something as now they say we wont get any rain for maybe another week or more. Yesterday they said we would definately get some rain in all parts of the county and we got nothing. Then they said it would rain today and still nothing. Now they say no rain until next week. Now watch, it will rain now that they say it wouldn't. lol Oh well, we got a pond nearby that I can "borrow" some water from. I do this every year anyway. hehe

I went ahead and moved the rain barrels back to where they were last night, that way I didn't have to do it this morning before school. I only moved four by the front door as they kind of block the way in and out. All the others can stay in place until it rains so I don't have to keep moving them back and forth. It's not as wet around here like it is during the summer months, so they will most likely stay in place until the fall. Once the barrels by the front door get near full, then I load them on the hand-truck and cart them to the "holding pond" that we keep all the rain water at. It usually gets near full by around mid July. Usually by August we don't need anymore and it just rains and rains until it overflows, then it drains down to the pond where I "borrowed" that water from earlier. lol It all works itself out in the end, even if the weathermen have the blues and brain freezes. lol

Happy trails!

Rain Barrels

I set out our rain barrels today to catch the rain from the gutters and wouldn't you know, it didn't rain. The weather channel said it was suppose to rain this morning and this afternoon and again tonight. Still nothing! I don't mind dragging them 10 big and heavy 50 gallon drums around if it's going to rain, but when it don't rain at all, it doesn't make me happy because now I have to move them back and out of the way. I can leave them in place until in the morning, but if I do that, then I will have to move them in the morning as they sort of block the walkways in and out of the house.

I just checked the weather and now they say it's not going to rain until tomorrow night. I wish they would get the days right as we were told it would rain today. A 60% chance of rain usually means it rains here, but nooo, we don't get a drop. I guess this means I should move the barrels tonight. Shucks! I will try again tomorrow after school and move them in position again, and hopefully it rains tomorrow night as we need the water for the plants. We don't usually use county water for the plants if we can help it. Plants do better with natural water, plus it saves us money.

Happy trails!

Injured Wild Rabbits Update

The two rabbits I went to get yesterday are doing good. The vet checked them out last night and we found out they don't have broken legs. That's good news! They both have severely bruised legs and are resting comfortably in their own little area of the Bunny Barn. They can't have any contact with humans, except to feed them and even that they are being fed rubbish from the wild. The one thing to remember about wild rabbits is to not feed them regular domestic food pellets or grains, or they will get accustomed to it and want it all the time. That is something that can't happen or they could possibly starve themselves to death looking for that same food. We keep a supply of wild nuts and other goodies for the wild rabbits to feed on here.

Other than that, it's been a quiet day around here. We had a couple people stop by and look at a couple bunnies they might want next weekend, and that's about it all day. I kept busy breaking sticks for the rabbits to gnaw on, picked up four bales of fresh hay, restocked the feed, and other normal things I do each weekend. I was going to go out tonight but changed my mind not long ago as I'm pooped. Two of my friends decided to come my way instead, so we are going to watch a movie and just relax! I need it too.

Happy trails! 

Rabbits vs. School

Hello everyone! I have had a busy day today.

Last night I received a phone call from a wildlife officer down in Everglades City who needed me. Wow, I felt special too. I have never had an officer from the wildlife dept. call from that far away before. He wanted to know if I could come down and pick up two wild rabbits that needed help. Usually they take care of this themselves and don't have outside help, but this was a special case as he put it. He said he contacted his office and they gave him my phone number as the closest place that could care for the rabbits. Again, I felt honored. It was a 3 hour drive down there though and I had school today too. I asked if I could come down on Saturday, but he said they needed help now! Turns out both rabbits have broken legs and that made up my mind to call the school and tell them I'm not coming in today.

I jumped in my truck this morning and drove down and picked them up. I called the vet that handles our rabbits on the way back to the Bunny Barn and he is due here soon. For being wild rabbits, they sure are tame to me. I have had each one in my arms and neither has tried to get away. It's almost like they know I'm here to help them. Both were injured in a trap of some kind that the officer found after getting a phone call from someone who had found them. Once the vet sees them and tells me what to do to care for them, they will stay here until they are healed. It will be up to the wildlife dept. on what happens with them next. Usually they are released back into the wild, as most don't live long in captivity. I will have to limit the time they are around humans as I don't won't them getting to used to me being around.

It would seem I'm the only rabbit wildlife rehabilitator between here and Everglades City. I find that hard to believe. I don't mind traveling to pick up any rabbits, but there has to be someone else in the area, or I would hope there is. I need to do some calling around and see who else is licensed to work with wild rabbits. My dad is, but he is here with me, so that's no help. I could have sworn there was another place down there somewhere. Anyway, they are safe for now and now I have chores to do. Oh fun!

Happy trails!

Rabbits: World Total

"How many rabbits are there in the world," asked a friend of mine?

That's a good question and I had no idea when this was asked of me last month by one of my curious friends. All I said was millions. I got to thinking about it more and decided to do some research on it and it has not been easy finding out the true number. I really don't think anyone knows the true total except the one who created them all, being many are in the wild and we don't keep track of them all.

From what I have found out so far, rabbits range from 20 to 500 individual species per square mile. The land area of the Earth is 57,500,000 square miles. Being no one really knows the exact number of rabbits per square mile, you can do the math above and see that there are more than most would have ever known about, including me, even if there were only 20 per square mile. That's alot of rabbits! Being rabbits do not populate the polar regions of the Earth, the land area would be reduced dramically, but still, that is alot of rabbits even without the polar regions included.

Now you know, or atleast to the best of my research and knowledge you do. lol

Happy trails!

Eyeing Nature

For the ones reading this that can go out into the woods or maybe a forest or even a nature trail, what is the first animal you usually see first? From my own experiences in many forests and nature related places I've been to, one animal has always been in each one and it's usually the same cute animal I see first. That one animal is none other than the squirrel. They seem to be everywhere. Most call them rodents, but unlike most other rodents, squirrels are cute to me, so I call them animals. lol Rats are rodents. They are ugly. Squirrels may look like a rat at times, but they are not ugly to me. Back to the point of this. Do you see squirrels the most in the wooded areas near you, or something else, like maybe blue jays, cardinals, hawks, or even the rarely seen eagle or rabbit?

I have rarely seen that many rabbits in the wild. I have on occasion come upon them in open prairies and have seen them in neighborhoods around here where I live. They are more common here in Florida than most people think. Squirrels though, I think we have around 3 in every tree and we have 15 trees in the backyard alone. Do I feed them? Yes I do. I feed them in the wild and in the parks. I know I'm not suppose to feed them, but I do it anyway as most of us do. I feed them nuts only. They wait on me each afternoon at the door too. I'm serious. They are so cute.

Fact: Squirrels live in almost every habitat from tropical rainforest to semi-dry deserts, avoiding only the high polar regions and the driest of deserts.

I have often wondered if squirrels existed in jungles where monkeys rule the kingdom of trees. From my research they do exist, just they dont roam as freely as they would in any other wooded area. If I were a squirrel and had a monkey in the same tree or in the tree across from me, I dont think I would be roaming around that much either. Would you? lol

Feel free to comment and any of my posts. Thanks for reading more of my jibberish. (I love that word).

Happy trails!

Nature Sounds

Listen......can you hear them?  We got birds and running water and bugs and crickets and bees and flies and animals here. WooHoo! A friend of mine suggested adding some birds here to make it seem more real. She was joking of course. I on the hand got to thinking about it. I knew someone who could possibly make that happen. As you can hear, it did happen. I knew he could do it. He can do anything with a blog. Thank you!

I have been told by this "anonymous" friend of mine that I can change the music whenever I please and listen to what I want, or what we want. Maybe add some rain or thunderstorms? Yeah! I was told I could play 2 songs at once and mix the birds and other animals with the rain. How cool is that? Pretty awesome if you ask me. This is all turning out better than I had planned. I'm going to go listen to this music I can mix together and see what it sounds like. It does sound very interesting.

Thanks for reading and happy trials to everyone. I will be back later with more jibberish. :)