Frogs: A Species in Peril

Amphibians are the most endangered group of animals on our plant and for the last 15 years, their numbers have been declining at an alarming rate.

Nearly one-third of the 6,485 species are now on the brink of extinction. Since 1979, close to 200 species have disappeared forever, victims of an amphibious assault that continues to decimate entire populations and ecosystems.

Habitat destruction, invasive species, pathogens, climate change, over-harvesting for the pet and food trade, and pollution and pesticides are all contributing factors. However, a fungus called chytrid seems to be a major cause and to date, scientists have been unable to stop it from spreading.

Amphibians are both vital predators and prey in the structure of many ecosystems. Due to their position in the middle of the food chain, their decline affects both the species that depend on them for food, and the insect populations they control.

Entire ecosystems are slowly unraveling as frog calls are replaced by silence, and the species who depend on them begin to disappear too.

In May 2008, SAVE THE FROGS! was founded by Ecologist, Dr. Kerry Kriger. Comprised of a team of international scientists, educators, policymakers, and naturalists, STF is America’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to amphibian conservation.

Their goal is to prevent extinction of the world’s frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians through environmental education, legal defense, land acquisitions, lobbying for necessary environmental protections that currently do not exist, and conducting and funding scientific research.

You can connect with them via their website or Facebook page. Their website is a great resource of facts, photos, contests, and ways you can help. While you’re there, sign up for their free newsletter and stop by The FrogBlog for frequent updates on all things amphibious.

The 2009 50-minute PBS Documentary, Frogs: The Thin Green Line, takes a candid look at what’s being called “the greatest mass extinction since the dinosaurs.” In a web-exclusive video, filmmaker, Allison Argo discusses the making of the documentary and calls the disappearance of the worlds frogs, “probably the most important environmental story of our time.”

According to the film, “frogs may seem small and insignificant, but their bodies may hold the key to future medical miracles” particularly as it relates to pain management, the prevention of infections, and HIV treatments.

Medical miracles or no, a world without frogs will be a much smaller, sterile, and silent place.

My name is Forrest and I approved this message

“Many people ask ‘what does it matter if we lose a species?’ Only one species, Homo sapiens, has the capacity to eliminate other species on the planet. Unique among the animal world, we are accountable for our actions and future generations will hold us responsible. The question we should be asking ourselves is: “how can we justify eliminating even a single species from this planet?” -Dr. Jean-Marc Hero

Deer Befriends Mother Goose

Photo by CNN

“There is in all animals a sense of duty that man condescends to call instinct.” -Robert Brault

A different kind of Mother’s Day story is playing out in a Buffalo, NY cemetery. A female Canada goose who apparently lost her lifelong mate, has chosen to build her nest in one of the cemetery’s empty urns. With no mate to assist in guarding the nest or providing protection, both mother and eggs are more vulnerable to predators.

Enter an unlikely hero; an adult deer who has befriended the mother-to-be and assumed the role of protector. The deer spends its days grazing near the nest and putting itself between the incubating brood and any possible danger.

Much is being made of this unusual interspecies friendship. The newscasters call it highly unusual because “there’s no known way that deer and geese can communicate.” Yet they have clearly formed a close-knit bond that goes beyond instinct or mutual need. Does the deer sense her vulnerability and through empathy, take measures to protect her?

Science will likely say I’m anthropomorphizing by “attributing human personality to things not human” yet what benefit does the deer derive from its protective behavior towards the goose?

Henry David Thoreau said: “The language of friendship is not words but meanings.” True friendship isn’t measured by verbal communication. Our truest and most trusted friends are those who choose to be present in moments when words are meaningless; to share our pain through presence, offer solace and support in silence, and accept our moments of unknowing and powerlessness.

Christine Dell’Amore, senior writer for National Geographic Magazine has written a book titled Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom, featured in an article Weird & Wild Q&A: Unlikely Animal Friendships. While the book contains 47 stories, she says she was initially pursuing between 80-90. Many didn’t make the final cut due to the unavailability of photographs or other logistical issues that couldn’t be resolved prior to deadline.

Are unusual animal alliances really all that unusual? Might this behavior seem out of the ordinary because it’s rarely captured in photos and videos? Perhaps the wonder is to be found in our gift as witness. The magnificence of life lies not in the known or explainable, but rather the mysterious and miraculous moments which defy it.

“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mythical concept of animals … We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not breathren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the earth.” -Henry Beston

Misadventures of a Porch Possum

An opportunist is defined as “one who adapts his actions to take advantage of opportunities or circumstances.” I didn’t have this word in mind when I named our nightly visitor Opie, but in hindsight the name seems appropriate.

Numerous wild creatures find their way to our yard and front porch to share in the feral cat buffet served daily. Opie was a scrawny, emaciated, worse-for-wear possum on his first visit, but a nightly diet of Meow Mix and left-over fruit and veggies courtesy of the bird in residence, has expanded his girth and done wonders for his demeanor.

He no longer walks, he waddles – a distinct side to side sashay worthy of any catwalk. There’s no hissing, showing of teeth, or displays of aggression. His innate shyness toward humans disappeared with his ribs as they vanished beneath layers of insulating fat.

He now fancies himself part of the cat family and they seem to accept him as one of their own. If he arrives to find the buffet empty, he’ll sit or stand in front of the storm door, curiously peering inside and patiently waiting. His imploring Oliver Twist look clearly says: “Please sir, I want some more.”

One cold night in February, he arrived in complete disarray. He’d clearly had a run-in with something larger and hungrier than himself. His face was covered in lacerations and a third of his tail missing, although he seemed unaware of his injuries. A bloody path marked his progress from porch steps to food bowl as he settled in for his nightly bout of fine dining.

On closer inspection, I wondered if this might be his last meal with us. But he continued to return night after night and each visit showed marked signs of healing and improvement.

Possums are not only hardy and resourceful, they’re apparently talented athletes as well. Ratatouille of Liberty Mountain Resort in Carroll Valley, PA is considered the world’s greatest snowboarding opossum. He regularly wows visitors with his skill on the slopes and even has his own lift pass.

If Opie wants a Burton Riglet snowboard and a chance to be king of the mountain, he’s clearly going to have to get off the porch and into the gym.

Do you have any unusual animal visitors that bring a smile to your day? If so, please share their stories in the comments section.

Tiny Dogs Will to Live Inspires Thousands

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

On April 11, 2012 the Facebook animal community and the world mourned the loss of a tiny Chihuahua named Mia. If you haven’t followed Mia’s story, you might wonder why the passing of a dog would garner so much media attention and such an outpouring of love and loss from around the world.

Mia was no ordinary dog. She was born June 26, 2010 with a cleft palate, a disability that prevented her from nursing from her mother. Unable to ever eat or drink, she required tube-feeding five times a day throughout her 22 months of life. Despite the recommendation of doctors that she be euthanized at birth, her owner, Sue Rogers of Hilton, NY, chose to give Mia a fighting chance at life, and the world is a better place for her decision.

Photos courtesy of Sue Rogers

Mia weighed a mere 1 pound 6 ounces when fully grown; so small some of her outfits were fashioned from children’s socks. She underwent six surgeries in an attempt to repair her cleft palate, all of which were unsuccessful, and all of which doctors said she would never survive.

But survive she did. She had an amazing will to live and what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in strength, smiles, and sheer tenacity. Her two year fight for survival was perhaps a more difficult fight than any of us will ever experience.

When doctors said she was out of options, her owner never stopped searching for them, just as Mia never stopped fighting for life. Mia was on a mission and clearly had her own plans. She enjoyed helping her owner supervise the foster dogs and cats in her home, and her numerous trips and adventures touched thousands of human hearts and lives.

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

Her smiles, animated expressions, and sheer joy of living are a testament to a life well lived in the face of astounding adversity. To smile in the midst of struggle, to find joy in the gift of each day, and to never give up are ideals we should all aspire to.

A famous Zen proverb states: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” It’s not so much about the physical form of the teacher as it is about the message, and clearly, Mia had a message to share with the world. Her owner said: “I have no words. How one little dog could bring so many people together from all over the world. Mia is here for a reason.”

A history of respiratory infections that weakened her lungs led to a severe case of pneumonia in early April 2012. Mia continued to fight but her prognosis was disheartening. She left the hospital for home on April 11, 2012 where she passed in the arms of her owner, surrounded by those she loved most.

It was Abraham Lincoln who said: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” Although Mia passed away ten weeks shy of her second birthday, she filled those 22 months of life with more joy, hope, and determination than many will ever equal.

But Mia’s passing is not the end of her story or her message. Her web page contains a host of information along with pictures and videos, while her Facebook page has swelled to 7,241 likes, composed of thousands of fans from countless countries. Her owner continues to post updates to the page as Mia’s message clearly did not leave with the passing of her physical body.

Photo courtesy of Sue Rogers

Her legacy is The Mia Foundation, an organization created by her owner, Sue Rogers. The mission statement reads as follows: “The Mia Foundation was developed to give animals born with birth defects a fighting chance. So many animals born with birth defects, such as cleft palates or missing limbs, are euthanized at birth. With a little work and a lot of love, these animals give back so much more than anyone could possibly imagine.”

The Foundation is committed to helping breeders and owners with support and care of animals born with birth defects, educating the public on special needs cases, and assisting with costly surgeries, care, and treatment that might not be affordable for the owner.

Sue is auctioning many of Mia’s belongings on eBay to raise money for the foundation, and fans around the world are donating items for auction in support of the cause. Through the legacy of her life and the foundation established in her memory, Mia will continue to inspire, educate, and save the lives of countless others who might not survive otherwise.

Hebrews 13:2 tells us: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Who is to say some of God’s angels don’t come to us with four paws, fur coats, and cleft palates?

Photos courtesy of Sue Rogers

Senior Dogs: A Gift for Life

Photo by Ken Gantz / Flickr

When people decide the time is right to add a dog to the family, usually the first thing that comes to mind is a fuzzy ball of fur and the sweet smell of puppy breath. But before you buy or adopt, take time to consider your lifestyle, work schedule, and future plans. A dog should be considered a family member and lifetime commitment, not a fashion accessory or an impulse buy.

Photo by Kathy Doucette / Flickr

Millions of dogs are destroyed each year in shelters because their owners don’t take this commitment seriously. They’re abandoned for many reasons, but the most popular are: moving, having a baby, allergies, children leaving for college, can’t afford the expense, new significant other doesn’t like the dog (or vice versa), or they’ve grown too old.

Senior dogs are not broken or defective. They’re the innocent victims of people who have no regard for a sentient life they’ve chosen to cast aside. No dog will love you more or show more appreciation than an abandoned shelter dog.

Before you grab the cuddly puppy in the first kennel, walk the aisles and look in the eyes of the adult and senior dogs. They are the eyes of wisdom, hope, and joy remembered. These dogs have been around the block and if they could talk and write, they’d be the Hemingway’s of the canine world.

There are many advantages to adopting an older dog over a puppy. The following are just a few:

• Older dogs no longer have sharp baby teeth or the constant need to chew (whether it be on bones or the leg of the kitchen table).
• Most older dogs are already housetrained and know that indoors is for relaxation, and outdoors is for exercise and elimination.
• The majority of older dogs have already been socialized and are easier to introduce into an already established pack or household with other pets and/or children.
• Most adult dogs already know the meaning of the word NO.
• Older dogs are more predictable. You don’t have to guess how big they’ll grow or what their personality will be like.
• Senior dogs don’t require as much exercise and know the beauty of nap time. They also enjoy sharing it with their favorite human.
• Adult dogs are actually easier to train as they have longer attention spans.
• Dogs are ambassadors of forgiveness. Those that have been abused, abandoned, or neglected are oftentimes more loving and appreciative than their pampered counterparts.
• Adult or senior dogs are more mellow, laid back, and a what-you-see-is-what-you-get proposition.
• They make great therapy dogs and excellent companions for the elderly.
• Older dogs have already learned most of life’s lessons and if you’re receptive, are eager to share them with you.
• Senior dogs are like an old bedroom shoe: a good fit, easy to love, and impossible to part with.
• Make a statement for caring and compassion. You will have saved a life that most likely would have ended far too soon and your adult or senior dog will more than repay you with a lifetime of love and devotion.

Never underestimate a dogs ability to teach, guide, and instruct. Senior dogs are canine zen masters; the embodiment of wisdom and soul. They’re elder statesmen and survivors of all life has thrown at them. If you take time to find a quiet place and connect, an old dog may have a few important life lessons to teach you.

Have you ever learned new tricks from an old dog? Please share in the comments section. I’d love to hear about them!

Don’t Hurry, Be Happy

Photo by bokkema / Flickr

Do you sometimes feel life is moving in fast forward? Is it difficult to accomplish the day-to-day necessities of living, let alone find time to enjoy the simple things that make life so meaningful? Perhaps Charles Bruxton said it best: “You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.”

One of nature’s best teachers for learning to adopt a slower pace is the zen-like sloth; an arboreal mammal native to the rain forests of Central and South America. These placid, slow-moving tree dwellers remind us that a life of contentment doesn’t require constant activity and motion.

With a maximum ground speed of 6.5 feet per minute, sloth reminds us to slow down the pace of our life so as not to miss that which is most important. You’ll eventually reach your destination, but the journey will be richer, deeper, and more meaningful for having chosen the steady approach of taking life one conscious, deliberate, measured step at a time.

The Sloth Sanctuary is a 300-acre reserve located in Limon, Costa Rica. Their mission is “to rescue, research, and rehabilitate sloths and provide sanctuary for those that are unable to return to the wild.” If you’d like to learn more about the sanctuary, apply to volunteer, take a tour, or adopt a sloth, visit their website at The Sloth Sanctuary.

Is your daily life filled with the chaos of constant activity? What actions, if any, have you taken to reduce the pace, and what added richness has it brought to your life?