What Does It Mean When Animals Suffer a Vast Die-Off?

Are die-offs occurring more often?  To the casual reader, it can certainly seem that reports emerge on a regular basis of thousands of animals of a species suddenly dying.  The latest victims are common murres in the Northeast Pacific. They have been dying for months, but estimates of the toll jumped sharply when David Irons, a retired United States Fish and Wildlife Service biologist walking a beach in Whittier, Alaska, found close to 8,000 dead birds in early January.

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New Law Protects Animals From Extreme Heat and Cold

Dogs might seem to have more fun in the cold than people do, but long term exposure can be dangerous for them.  Betsy Larson owns a small dog, a Pomeranian named Chester.  She says, "I don't want to stand outside in the cold for 30 minutes.  I wouldn't make my dog do it unless we were outside doing something and having fun."  The Humane Care for Animals Act was amended in August to include a line that says no cat or dog owner can leave their pet in extreme heat or cold to the extent that the animal is injured or killed.  The law took effect at the start of 2016.

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Sunshine Vitamin Linked to Animal Fertility

High levels of vitamin D are linked to improved fertility and reproductive success, a study of wild sheep has found.  The study, carried out on a remote Hebridean island, adds to growing evidence that vitamin D - known as the sunshine vitamin - is associated with reproductive health.

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Animals in 2016: What's Ahead

Less than two weeks into the new year, big changes are already in the works that could dramatically change the fate of many animal species. Some will benefit, others won't, and still others will be a hot topic of debate for months to come.  Manatees fall into the last category. On January 7, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that the West Indian manatee should be downlisted from endangered to threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. Public comments can be submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service until April 7 of this year.

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13,000 Animals Stranded At Sea Right And Nobody Is Talking About It

They have been stranded for over 11 days, and some are starting to die.  Thirteen thousand sheep and cows aboard the Ocean Outback — a ship involved in the live export industry, which sends countless animals thousands of miles every year just to be slaughtered when they arrive at their destinations — hang in limbo. Engine problems have forced the vessel to stay at the port in Henderson, Australia.

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Little Girl Who Lost Arm Adopts Kitten With Missing Limb

Since their daughter Scarlette, 2, lost an arm to cancer as an infant, Simone and Matt Tipton have wanted to get her a pet with similar physical challenges. When the Trabuco Canyon, California couple heard about a kitten that lost its front leg, they knew they had found the next member of their family.

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Scientists Discover How Animals Develop Patches

Scientists have solved what shall henceforth be known as the piebald mystery: by discovering the origins of the broad white patches that can adorn the belly and head fur of cats, dogs and farm animals.  The distinctive patterns were known to be caused by a mutated gene, but how the faulty DNA produced the signature white bellies and other splashes of light on animals’ coats was far from clear.

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2015's Online Animals of the Year

Animals can melt the human heart, tickle the funny bone or bring us to tears. And thanks to Instagram, YouTube and other online options, you can enjoy their antics simply by following, liking or pinning them.  Dr. Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a professor at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says two things make animal photos and videos so popular.

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How Do Animals Communicate?

There’s little doubt that animals communicate very well both between themselves and with humans. But how exactly do they do this? A closer look reveals an amazing and sometimes hidden side to our fellow animals that we don’t always see.

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Online Animals of 2015: Cute Faces and a Rat’s Resolve

Animals can melt the human heart, tickle the funny bone or bring us to tears. And thanks to Instagram, YouTube and other online options, you can enjoy their antics simply by following, liking or pinning them.  Dr. Bonnie Beaver, executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and a professor at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine, says two things make animal photos and videos so popular.

http://tinyurl.com/h3h2da7