It amazes me when people take the time to write. In most cases, I receive warm letters of how my books or work have impacted the lives of the people writing.

Often my publishers delay sending the letters sent to them addressed to me–but some people look up my address on the Internet.

Recently we sent out a call for pets for filming a new educational series I am hosting. So, when I saw the hand scrawled letter in my private box I assumed it was pictures and information submitted for the new series.

It was not.

There was no return address. The package was stuffed with lots of different cartoons, bizarre pictures of human babies, and a rude letter calling me a freak and other such nonsense because of an alleged article I wrote.

First, I didn’t write an article but instead was quoted in several articles such as this one talking about the phenomena of pet ceremonies sweeping the nation.

What amazes me is that someone would take the time to be so hateful. Gone is the old training where people taught their kids, “If you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything.”

Funny, the illiterate letter also did not include a return address–only a Las Vegas postmark.

I think the person needs more to do. Better to channel that energy into constructive stuff.

Blogging Power Outage

Sorry to have been so scarce. I have been dealing with severe fatigue and so lack the energy to do much. Fortunately, we just pinpointed the reason and I am under treatment for it. Ever hear of something called Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome? It goes undiagnosed and is often dismissed by many health practitioners.

Hopefully I’ll start seeing a shift in energy pretty soon. Until then I might remain a little inconsistent.

Catting Around

This week we took a jaunt down to a feline specialist down in Yorba Linda. The long drive allowed me to work on the incessant yowling and fit pitching by my friend’s cat.

Needless to say she stopped her bad behavior after some behavior modification on the way down the hill. So we only endured about 30 minutes of bad behavior instead of two hours of it. My progress was also helped by Feliway Spray.

Anyway, the veterinary clinic had a few comments about the slightly wet cat–until they got to experience the wrath of the kitty. My pal’s cat is a pistol and made no bones about her unhappiness. Really good to have savvy cat professionals handling her.

An hour later, we concluded our session with a tour of the facility. Ultimately, we were happy with our experience and the professionalism and care of the staff.

We loaded ourselves back into the car for the two hour trip with Miss Kitty–who continued to show good behavior on the way back–which was a relief to my friend.

My pal and I discussed behavior because he unknowingly had reinforced some of her habits and thought he had to tolerate bad behavior. Such is the case with most people.

Some how people think bad behavior is okay. They would rather not discomfort the animal…like the clinic staff or person who raises an eyebrow if they think the animal has been inconvenienced.

Personally, I think the real inconvenience to be concerned about is the bad behavior that lands those misbehaved animals into shelters and a life of homelessness.

But hey, that is just me.

I can hear the ahhhhs over the above kitten picture but my reaction this week is not so fuzzy.

I have been getting cranky over all of the people dumping their animals or trying to re-home them. This may have something to do with my not feeling up to speed (no filters) but it irks me that they don’t think about the animal’s emotions, the human-animal bond, and most never seem to give it a second thought.

In some ways living here is like being back in the dark ages of animal husbandry and care.

In fact, I am going down-the-hill with a friend because his cat has ongoing issues–and at the last visit to a clinic–the vet didn’t draw any blood to double check. It was my complaining that made him ask for a blood test after the first visit in the first place. Liver issues–let me just say that I found him a cat specialist down the hill and I’ll leave it at that.

Anyway, because I work with animals everyone thinks I am a good source to approach about finding new homes for their pets–some how I might be the answer to their problem.

I have news–nobody I know is looking for another pet and with kitten season in full bloom I am really not too happy about getting calls or getting asked if I can help them find a new home for their pet.

Guess I should be happy they are not getting dumped in the woods…

One of the stories I will share is from just last week. Someone came to help move her elderly parents out of town. She locked the animals in the house, gave the keys to the landlord and said, “By the way, the animals are in the house you’ll need to handle that.”

Grrrrrrr.

Kitten season is such a problem that groups such as the Humane Society of the United States address kitten season on their website. Outdoor cats breed which is why cat colonies grow.

Some surprise their owners with a litter. Whoops, did they not spay or neuter their animals?

Every February there is a push for spay and neutering during Spay Day USA and there are low cost spay and neuter clinics around California. If people check locally many vet clinics offer discount days for such procedures. There are also private parties who gather spay neuter lists to help stop the problem.

Shelter staff don’t look forward to the influx of cats and kittens–and I certainly hate seeing the signs all over town for “free kittens.”

Most of the animals in the local shelters won’t make it out.

Those that live outside often become food for the local predators (coyotes, cougar, bobcats) or are exposed to a variety of illness and other threats.

When I was in San Diego I met Gerri Calore and some of the gang at the Feral Cat Coalition and Alley Cat Allies. Feral cats are those that live in colonies and to control the growth.

Most feral cat groups Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) the animals in the colony. This prevents the colony from growing and is an effort that has been found to work well.

If you are looking for tips and hints I like Carol’s Ferals website. Shows what one person can do if motivated!

So, please encourage anyone you know with a new pet to make a lifetime commitment and to get that pet into the veterinarian for spaying or neutering soon…and don’t ask me to help you place a pet…at least not this week!

I believe I mentioned this before but to make sure you didn’t miss the news, I wanted to post this…

Scientists at the University of California, Davis, have spent five years collecting swabs and samples of feline saliva, collating and comparing the DNA from 1,100 cats from around the world. They focused on 22 breeds of pedigreed cat and other feral and pet cats from countries including Korea, China, Kenya, Israel, Turkey, Vietnam, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Egypt, Italy, Finland, Germany, the United States and Brazil. By looking closely at 39 genetic markers in the feline DNA, they were able to ascertain which breeds were most closely related and where they were likely to have originated.

This research confirmed findings in earlier studies indicating that the Fertile Crescent, which stretches from Turkey to Northern Africa through the Middle East, witnessed the appearance of domestic cats around 10,000 years ago. Leslie Lyons, one of the leading scientists on the project, said, “Our data support the Fertile Crescent, specifically Turkey, as one of the origin sites of cats.” Cats from Turkey were found to have the most genetic diversity of all the animals studied. DNA accumulates more changes over time, and this led the University of California group to deduce that cats had been in Turkey longer than anywhere else.

Read the whole article on cat domestication here…

Leslie A Lyons of US Davis is researching genetic markers for felines. If you want to participate and find out just what your cat’s DNA connection is to other feline breeds just visit this page for directions and on how to submit a cheek swab to the project. I believe the deal for participating is still valid–you will receive a DNA profile on your cat, a comparison of your cat to the breed and your breed to other cat breeds.

Lyons research was published in Genomics in January of 2008 but you can read more at Science Daily.

Fellow swimmers got together for a memorial swim to honor their friend who was attacked by a Great White Shark–and to perhaps work through some of the lingering post trauma.

Shark attacks are nothing new. In fact, the oceans have been so abused by man it seems that perhaps we have successfully pissed off Mother Nature so that she is retaliating–crying out for our attention.

The past week has reported shark attacks in Monterey, San Diego, and off the Coast of Mexico.

I quit surfing and going into the waters of the Pacific Ocean here in So Cal after I noticed the tidepools were disappearing and diseases (skin, ear, and who knows what else) began to plague the water sports enthusiasts here in Southern California.

It always seemed strange that the locals would get the notice about the bacteria levels and stay clear of the water while the tourists never seemed to get the message. There was even skin eating bacteria found in the So Cal area sometime back.

As someone who grew up on the coast on the cliffs above the ocean and who surfed, dove, swam, and worked as a marine naturalist–this change from my ocean going habits was hard. But more disturbing is the impact on the sea and sea creatures.

Even where I live now, near the lake shore on the edge of the forest, most locals will not go into the lake to swim…

This year I didn’t do an Earth Day specific post. In the past I have–but I’d rather encourage “Earth Day, Every Day.” Some how we have become a throw away, abusive society instead of one searching to conserve. When a recent office changed from large bottles of water to individual bottles–it saddened me.

On the other hand, I always manage to forget to take my cloth bags to the grocery store…guess I need to move them into my car now. I generate little trash and recycle most everything…but there is always more to do.

We are not paying attention to how abusive we have become to the earth and what a burden we put on it. The increase in human-animal encounters has led many to believe that nature is retaliating. I’d say screaming for attention is more like it.

Even Oprah recently dedicated a show to “going green” but changes in habits are something that need to be a serious, consistent effort. Not just a one day event.

People laughed when Oprah squirmed over the earthworms–but I hope that they got the main message instead. It made me sad to see someone of such influence showing her followers such an example–or maybe it was a good thing–who knows?

In case you have not heard, many countries outside of the United States have already banned plastic bags. For crying out loud–even China has banned or taxed their use!

We need to do the same thing–and also to move back to repairable and endurable products. If we quit supporting the nasty plastic packaging and individual bottles of water and sodas we can prevent further problems in the ocean. Check out this plastic pollution article from Santa Cruz or this one on the “Eastern Garbage Patch.”

You can check out more on the lethal litter at these links:

Charles Moore (Marine Biologist) article from Natural History

Greenpeace Ocean Trash Vortex

Plastic Plague from LA Times

US News & World Report on Ocean Plastic

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Just a quick note to say that I am out of the office.

I was down at the marina for a short time yesterday and since the water has warmed up the carp are now at the surface. Local animal signs often indicate what is going on–in this case it means the water has warmed up and that it will soon be time for kayaking.

Above: Photo by Miguel Trefaut Rodrigues/USP Universidade de Sao Paulo. This species of lizard of the genus Bachia is one of the new species discovered during the expedition. Although there are other species of the genus in the Cerrado (almost all discovered and described only recently), this new species has only been recorded in the Ecological Station. The absence of legs and the sharply pointed snout help in locomotion over the surface layer of sandy soil, predominating in all the Jalapao, formed by the natural erosion of the escarpments of the Serra Geral plateaus.

Researchers discovered a legless lizard and a tiny woodpecker along with 12 other suspected new species in Brazil’s Cerrado, one of the world’s 34 biodiversity conservation hotspots.

The Cerrado’s wooded grassland once covered an area half the size of Europe, but is now being converted to cropland and ranchland at twice the rate of the neighboring Amazon rainforest, resulting in the loss of native vegetation and unique species.

An expedition comprising scientists from Conservation International (CI) and Brazilian universities found 14 species believed new to science – eight fish, three reptiles, one amphibian, one mammal, and one bird – in and around the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station, a 716,000-hectare (1,769,274-acre) protected area that is the Cerrado’s second largest.

Above: Photo by Paula H. Valdujo/USP Universidade de Sao Paulo/Pequi. Other species such as this horned toad believed to be new to science of the genus Proceratophrys occupy very restricted areas. Protected areas like the EESGT are fundamental, because they shelter large populations of the species, reducing the threat of extinction from destruction of the habitats outside the reserves.

The lizard, of the Bachia genus, resembles a snake due to its lack of legs and pointed snout, which help it move across the predominantly sandy soil formed by the natural erosion of the escarpments of the Serra Geral. Other suspected new species include a dwarf woodpecker (genus Picumnus) and horned toad (genus Proceratophrys).

“It’s very exciting to find new species and data on the richness, abundance, and distribution of wildlife in one of the most extensive, complex, and unknown regions of the Cerrado,” said CI biologist Cristiano Nogueira, the expedition leader. “Protected areas such as the Ecological Station are home to some of the last remaining healthy ecosystems in a region increasingly threatened by urban growth and mechanized agriculture.”

Above: Photo by Agustin Camacho/USP de Sao Paulo. Some of the recorded species are relatively rare and little known, like this small fat-tailed mouse opossum of the genus Thylamys, registered for the first time in the Jalapao. Although this species was described from a Cerrado enclave within the Caatinga region, recent surveys have shown that the range of this species is concentrated in the northern portion of the Cerrado savannas

The team also recorded several threatened species such as the hyacinth macaw, marsh deer, three-banded armadillo (tatu-bola), the Brazilian merganser, and the dwarf tinamou among more than 440 species of vertebrates documented during the 29-day field expedition.

Comprising 21 percent of Brazil, the Cerrado is the most extensive woodland-savanna in South America. Large mammals such as the giant anteater, giant armadillo, jaguar and maned wolf struggle to survive in the fast-changing habitat also know as Brazil’s breadbasket.

The expedition included 26 researchers from the University of São Paulo and its Museum of Zoology; the federal universities of São Carlos and Tocantins; and CI-Brazil. It was funded by the O Boticário Foundation for Conservation of Nature, with the support of the NGO Pequi–Pesquisa e Conservação do Cerrado (Research & Conservation of the Cerrado).

Above: Photo by Agustin Camacho/USP de Sao Paulo. The skin of amphibians often has chemical defense substances that can contain important raw materials for new medicines. Research studies of species of the genus Phyllomedusa are investigating an active property potentially effective in combating chagas disease. Without knowing and adequately protecting biodiversity, many possibilities for curing important diseases could be lost forever. This species, Phyllomedusa azurea, is found in riparian areas close to water bodies and palm marshes (veredas) in the Cerrado.

“The geographic distribution of some of the species registered is restricted to the area of the ecological station; thus their survival depends on the good management of the protected area and its immediate surroundings,” said Luís Fabio Silveira, of the Department of Zoology of the University of São Paulo. “From the survey we can obtain data concerning the anatomy, reproductive biology, life cycle, and distribution of the species, all of which help us in future conservation programs.”

Final results of the study, including the formal description of new species, will be used to support the development of a management plan for the Ecological Station, which was created in 2001.

“We need to know our protected areas better, especially the ecological stations whose principal objective is to generate scientific knowledge of Brazilian biodiversity, so little studied and already so severely threatened,” Nogueira said.

“Unfortunately, extensive areas of the Cerrado, like the Ecological Station, are becoming increasingly rare, thus making the data collected even more important. Above all, it is necessary to know to conserve.”

I am short on time this morning but found it interesting that several articles came across my desk–a disturbing elephant attack video of a temple elephant attack in Kerala has graphic video of a tusker that went on a rampage–killing three people.

Locally, a woman is claiming that a mountain lion attacked her dogs–killing one. However they did not see the animal nor were there any pug marks to substantiate the claim. They want to blame the attack on a mountain lion because they saw a cougar near the property last year.

Usually it is the urban coyotes that pick off the pets. Not to say that a mountain lion wouldn’t (we had one jump into a yard after two large dogs up here in the mountains not too long ago) but the probability is much lower than that of coyotes.

In the meantime, not too long ago a cougar was killed on the North Side of Chicago by police and a DNA analysis is being done because the theory is that the animal is thought to have migrated some 1,000 miles from South Dakota.

I suspect that it is probably a local animal that they were not aware of–animals do move into new territory or over long distances if they have the motivation but I doubt this is the case in this situation.

Cougar territories have been known to maintain a range from 13 to 124 miles with one instance of the range being over 1134 miles.

Anyway, just thought you might find these incidents of interest. One reader said that his friend was killed by an elephant during a safari. I wrote about the rise in elephant attacks a couple of years ago–and so did the New York Times.

National Geographic did a documentary called, Elephant Rage and estimates (in 2005) are that at least 500 people per year are killed by elephant attacks. 

It is no longer as rare as it once was. I think the reasons behind it are complex and include many influencing factors.

Here are a few other news stories:

Elephant attack on jogger 

Wendy Martin has something to say about safari elephant attacks 

Veronica & Charlotte Parker 

Elephant Charge in the Congo 

 National Geographic (Search Elephant Attacks)

The following is a guest post by my pal Chris McCormick, founder of Califauna and a passionate artist. The project is currently targeted to launch in late 2008. I hope you will support it.

There are many ways that we learn. A method used increasingly by forward thinking schools is “arts integration.” The belief is that by integrating the arts into other studies there is a better understanding of the lessons taught. To this end I have started a nonprofit called “Califauna.”

The goal of Califauna is to bring art education and eco-awareness to the students of California. By integrating art lessons with information about our wildlife I believe we can have an impact in helping people understand the need to care for our forests, deserts and beaches and all the animals that live there.

By picking an animal then discussing its habits and habitats we can educate on that animal and our effects on them, then by transitioning the lessons to some form of artwork based on that animal we can better help the student understand the need to care for and help our wildlife to survive.

Can art be integrated into animal careers? Of course it can, you can partner with local artists and develop programs of your own.

I believe we each have a responsibility to do our part, to share information to help people make better choices. Whether done through animal careers or art careers or a combination of both, if children are informed on the need to care for our native animals and what they can do to help, they will then share that information with their friends and family. Kids are always eager to share what they learn!

About the Contributor: Chris McCormick is an artist and animal lover. He runs a variety of blogs including Southern California Potters, and Califauna. He was recently interviewed as a featured artist in the Fawnskin Flyer.

About Califauna: Califauna is a nonprofit project and operates under the guidance of the Pasadena Arts Council, a 501(c)(3) Organization. Califauna seeks to integrate arts education with Eco Awareness for the youth of today in hopes that they will take with them a better understanding of the need to care for our environment, from their own backyards, to our local beaches, mountains and deserts.

Cats are becoming the pet of choice here in the United States. Unfortunately many people still subscribe to the dark ages of thinking when it comes to those fabulous felines.

In a recent pet magazine I read all about young animals but when it came to kittens–they were given only a measly mention instead of a full section on the topic.

Socializing cats should no longer be an option–it is a crucial piece to creating a calm and well adjusted feline.

Many people today send kittens or puppies away from the birth home too quickly. In fact, some behavior problems (such as inappropriate suckling) are thought to be a direct result of early removal of kittens.

Although kittens will wean around six to seven weeks of age, many will continue to comfort suckle. The queen (female cat) gradually leaves the litter for longer periods of time.

Ideally, kittens will remain with the queen and litter for at least 12 weeks–and in some breeds 14 would be better.

As kittens grow it is important to have human contact. Talking, handling, and playtime helps them to acclimate to humans. If you can invite kids, friends, and other family members to help you in this process your kittens will develop a good well rounded foundation that will serve them well later.

When young kittens are orphaned or separated from the queen and litter mates they usually fail to develop good social skills with others of their kind.

This is because during day-to-day interactions they learn body language signals, clawing and biting inhibition. Play and interactions also help them to develop physical coordination and understanding of fluctuations in social status.

Brain development is though to be enhanced by handling and environmental enrichment if provided for regularly for the first seven weeks of life. Most of my clients are encouraged to give quality time to their pets at least 30 minutes twice a day–if not more.

Many of my breeder pals often hand me their animal babies (birds, cats, and dogs) even asking me to pet them when their eyes are closed (some believe that they should not be handled until after two weeks of age) because they think that it makes them more resilient, able to handle change more readily, and habituates them to strangers–and any changes (stress) in the environment.

Today, you can enroll in kitten kindergarten classes to learn how to help your kitten become a good citizen and social beast.

Classes are still not as common as puppy preschool but my belief is that these courses, along with pet parenting schools, are going to make long term differences in the life and behavior of the animal.

The big PLUS is that these lessons will help keep them in the home…because early education prevents the problems that land cats and kittens in shelters or abandoned to a cruel fate.

General guidelines on kitten development:

Neonate Period (0-2 Weeks)

*Stay close to mom and litter mates.

*Orient toward noise.

*Root (squirmy movement) to feed.

*Low level competition for territory (nipple) and rank.

*Learning skills and socialization to others is thought to come from separation from mother and litter mates during this phase. Critical for developmental learning to be in a stable group.

Social Period (2 to 7 Weeks)

*Week Two: Eyes are usually open.

*Week Three: Both smell and sight is developed enough for them to find their mother.

*Week Four: Smelling skills mature and hearing is good. Interactions with siblings increases. Teeth begin to erupt and they can walk fairly well.

*Week Five: Sight is mature and kittens can run, right themselves when turned over, avoid obstacles, begin to stalk and pounce, and step precisely.

*Begin to groom themselves and participate in social grooming with others.

*Week 6 & 7: Refine motor abilities, social interaction, and develop more regular sleeping patterns

Active Social Period (7-14 Weeks)

*Observational Learning: During this period kittens are refining their social skills and physical coordination. Learning in this period comes from observation (and interactions) with the mother, litter mates, humans, and other cats.

*Object Play: Grabbing objects and toys, pawing, tossing, and holding or carrying.

*Social Play: Pouncing, leaping, tail chasing, grabbing with paws, ambushing, licking.

Hierarchical Period (3-6 Months)

*Adolescents begin to establish their place within the household (cats, humans, other animals) in subtle or overt activities.

*Testing the limits of rules or established patterns may contribute to squabbles.

*Neutering or spaying is advised prior to the exhibiting of sexual patterns.

Adolescence to Maturity Period (6-24 months)

*Sexual behavior ( if not spayed or neutered) exhibited.

*Escalated exploration and challenges for rank (which includes testing limits and rules with humans).