Friday, August 17, 2012

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly

I was out in the yard doing some yard work today and I noticed a butterfly I had not seen in a long time. I couldn't put my finger on what the name of it was so I looked it up in my butterfly book and going by the colors of it, I found it rather quickly. I double checked online to make sure and sure enough, I had the right one.

It's called a Spicebush Swallowtail and it's one of four Florida butterflies that mimic the toxic Pipevine Swallowtail to gain protection from predators. I never knew that before today. Adult Spicebush's are strong agile fliers with a wingspan of 3 to 5 inches, but this butterfly rarely strays far from its preferred woodland habitat. A true lover of flowers, the Spicebush Swallowtail readily ventures out to nearby open areas in search of nectar. These butterflies continually flutter their wings while feeding. Larvae create shelters by curling up the edges of leaves with silk. They rest motionless inside when not actively feeding. At maturity, the larvae turn yellow and search for a site to pupate.

I was going to take some pictures of it but you know how that goes, if you want something bad enough and you run inside to get the camera, it will be gone by the time you get back and sure enough, it was gone. Once I found what it was, I just grabbed a picture of it from a nature site I often visit. I hope they don't mind. lol

Happy trails!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

20 Facts About Rabbits

20 facts you need to know about rabbits if you were planning on getting one or just curious about them:

- A male rabbit is a buck.
- A female rabbit is a doe.
- A baby rabbit is a kit.
- They aren't rodents by any means! The are Lagomorphs.
- The gestation period is 30 days, gave or take a day.
- Their teeth never stop growing.
- They can be litter trained.
- Pet rabbits can live as long as 10 years.
- They purr much like a cat does.
- Domesticated rabbits can't breed with wild rabbits.
- Domesticated rabbits are born without fur.
- They require hay to assist the digestive system.
- They eat their own night droppings. (yuk!)
- The droppings make for a great garden fertilizer.
- They have 28 teeth.
- They love to chew.
- They groom themselves.
- They start breeding as early as 3 months of age.
- They sweat only through the pads on their feet.
- Never leave a rabbit in full sun as they can have a heat stroke.

Happy Trails!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Back From The Wild

I can't believe it's been over a year since I was last on my own blog. That's embarrassing! I have been very busy though and not one minute of that time away from here was wasted. Time to turn over a new leaf on here and get back to what I used to love to do, that being this blog. :)

Since my last post, I have traveled to China again for 4 days, been back to Ireland for 10 days, spent 6 months in South Africa, and about to start another round of classes in college at the end of this month. Oh joy......

My time in South Africa was spent at a wildlife refuge and I plan on returning there one day as I learned a great deal about what my future is going to be. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian and that dream is almost complete. I'm working part time as a veterinarian assistant and along with my classes and my time at the wildlife refuge, which I got credit for, by this time next year, I will be free of the learning phase and venturing out on my own. I look forward to that very much.

My freedom will only last so long, as my ultimate goal is to be a wildlife surgeon. I want to be able to travel the globe and help wildlife animals that are in need of help, no matter what it is. Far fetched? Maybe, but I was always told to follow my dreams and that is what I'm doing. The animals need me and I need them. :)

More soon......Happy trails everyone! :)

Sunday, July 10, 2011

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!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Calvin & Hobbes - Best Buds

This became my favorite of all time when I first saw it and it should become yours too. I made a copy of it and have it pinned on my bulletin board in the Bunny Barn.

Pet Reversal

A day in the life of a rabbit. Have you ever wondered what it might be like? I sure have. I know what they do, what they eat, how they act, there moods, and so on, but what would it really feel like? Would you be miserable, happy you could sleep all day if you wanted, or maybe something else? Think about it though, is changing places with your pet, (in a fantasy type world), a good idea?

Let's say you got to change places for a day. You are laying in a pile of hay, on your back with your paws stuck outward and feeling like a king or queen of the bunny world. So relaxing! Then, you get an itch on your back and you can't reach it. Oh crap! You rub and rub your back against the cage but the itch is still there. Misery! Your owner comes in and see's you are acting funny and thinks you are either hungry or need some love, like most owners do and think. You wag your butt at your owner hoping he or she will scratch your itch, but no, they instead insert a pile of food into your feeding bin that looks more like rabbit poop than what you were used to eating. You poke your nose up at your owner begging for a scratch of relief and all you get is a tap on the head a few times, then he/she walks way. You are screwed as your itch is still there!


You continue your scratching against the cage, wagging your butt harder and harder trying to reach the itch, but all it is doing is getting the attention of the other rabbits and they could care less about your itch. lol You stop and take notice of the other rabbits staring at you, most with that rabbit gleam in there eyes, and now you know you are really up a creek without a paddle. First the itch, now a bunch of, let's say...horny...rabbits wanting you.

It's not looking to well now, now is it? lol Do you really want to be your pet? I doubt it. I mean, what would you do if in that position? Think about it the next time you might want to be your pet for a day. Imagine mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks having a field day in your fur. The thought of it gives me shivers.

If I had to put a "moral to a story" here, it would be to scratch and love your pet all over and not a couple pats only on there head. They can't speak and I know they have itches they can't reach, like many of my cats, and when I scratch them all over, they love it and give me love back, just as my rabbits do. Make there day with some much needed love and you will be rewarded.

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

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

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! :)

The Bunny Thief

I know it's been two months since my last post but I have been super busy this summer.

After Megan and I got back from our fabulous trip to Ireland, in which we stayed an extra week, my to do list grew from 20 things to over 80 things to do before college started. To make things short, I never got any of those things done that I wanted to do being a certain person wanted to make my life interesting.

I will back up a bit. While I was away for 5 weeks, 15 of my rabbits up and went missing. Not all at one time either. No one even realized it until I arrived back home and I counted them. I was frantic for the first time in my life being I had never had a miscount like I had. I counted them 10 times and came up with the same number each time. I checked the receipts of the adopted ones and still the count was off. I began looking around the bunny barn to see if there was a hole of some kind where they might be getting out, Nope. No holes, no nothing. I was puzzled!