Q: How big a fence do you need to keep out an elephant?
A: What time is it when an elephant sits on your fence?
I know that’s answering a question with a question, but, point is, looking for something bigger and stronger than an elephant to keep out an elephant is a problem. Besides, […]
Archive for the 'animals' Category
As Dr. Irene Pepperberg put him into his cage for the night last Thursday, Alex looked at her and said, “You be good, see you tomorrow. I love you.”
He was found dead in his cage the next morning, at age 31, apparently of natural causes.
This is the first parrot I can recall who’s […]
Make mine a mutt: designing the perfect dog in the DNA age
Published August 7th, 2007 in animals and human world. 11 CommentsWhippets are racing dogs – bred to be sleek and lithe. But every now and then, amidst a litter of perfect whippet puppies, championship breeders get what’s called a “bully whippet.” It looks more like a long-nosed pit bull.
Here, pictured in the New York Times, is bully whippet Wendy (right.) Some of us […]
We helped 2 whales (maybe) but didn’t do much for the rest of the world’s whales.
Published June 4th, 2007 in animals, human world and Science. 9 CommentsUnbeknownst to the Earth’s whale population, it’s been a big week for whales. Above the ocean’s surface, we humans have been determining their fate.
First off, it seems that Delta and Dawn are back at sea. When the two wayward humpback whales, a mother and her calf, were sighted 90 miles inland, up the […]
Want to eat? Then we need to heal the honeybees.
Published May 14th, 2007 in animals, human world and Science. 28 CommentsIn the past few months, U.S. beekeepers have lost a quarter of their honeybee colonies. If you’re thinking “Good, less bee stings on the playground,” you’re thinking way too small.
“About a third of the American diet can be traced back to bees,” said May Berenbaum, professor and head of the department of entomology at […]
Conservation dogs
Published April 27th, 2007 in animals, nature, human world and Science. 3 CommentsDogs and people. We’re two species that like each other. Thrive together. We’re both highly social animals. We’ve been partners for maybe 12 thousand years
Besides our mutual affection, we help each other out. We feed our dogs, give them a place to live, protect them. And dogs do what we need - whether it’s guard […]
Hello, I’m Eleanor Imster of Earth & Sky.
I was one of those kids who liked animals better than people. And what about now, at age 47? They’re about even. It’s not that I like people more, I just love animals a little less. And having children changes things. But always, I find observing and thinking […]