Hey there,
The Scientist magazine is accepting nominations for favorite life science blog. Vote this blog as your favorite life science blog and help spread the word about this blog to others!
Thanks so much.
DNLee
Monday, September 24, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
Two scoops please. Arctic Ice is melting, too!
Related to yesterday's post, The North Pole is melting, too. This is very said. I hope there's enough of it left to celebrate International Polar Year until March 2009, when it ends. If you thought those heart-breaking pictures of the polar bears swimming and dying were bad....it's sure to get worse.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Antarctic Ice: hurry up and get a scoop before it's gone!
2007 is International Polar Year celebrating the beautiful, complex, and woefully not-fully comprehended ecosystem of the the Poles. But unfortunately our planet's largest continent and most frozen land mass is loosing its character. Antarctic snow is melting as reported by LiveScience, the matter of climate change is altering our entire planet and the most unique ecosystem.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
More Cute Stuff
Okay, I like small rodents - microtines to be exact. Why? Well, because I've worked with them for nearly ten years. So, I couldn't help but share this with you all - the British Vole Appreciation Society. I've worked with meadow voles and prairie voles, so I'm quite partial.
Also, the Missouri Department has a blog now - Fresh Afield. I thought I had a blogroll, but I don't. Sorry about that. I'll add one and include MDC's blog in the line up.
Keep having fun outside!
DNLee
Also, the Missouri Department has a blog now - Fresh Afield. I thought I had a blogroll, but I don't. Sorry about that. I'll add one and include MDC's blog in the line up.
Keep having fun outside!
DNLee
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Urban Wildlife Watch - Coyotes
Coyotes conjure up a lot of different images: Wil E Coyote of Looney Toons or evil bandits that attack sheep and other livestock. But the Coyote, scientific name Canis latrans, are a mixed bag. We typically think of predators species like coyotes as living in rural or big open area nature areas (like pasture ranges, national parks, deserts) but they are capable of living in almost any environment. Coyotes have made a tremendous comeback and populations are spreading far and wide. But interestingly coyote populations don't grow as well when their ranges overlap with wolves - a bigger, badder predator. Coyotes live everywhere, throughout the entire North American continent. They even live in cities, and are sometimes regarded as a nuisance. They are opportunistic. They are great hunters, but they will scavenge a cheap or free meal like trash, road kill, or unsuspecting family pets.
Even in very large, dense urban areas coyotes can survive - well. You may have even have seen one. Doubt it? Although, coyotes look alot like German shepards, there are some differnces. For one, coyotes are much smaller. In fact, coyotes usually weight only 35-40 pounds. Second, coyotes are pretty much light in color all over - a mix of grizzled gray and buff; they don't typically have a dark colored back like most German shepards. But one of the best ways you can you tell the difference between a coyote and dog is to look very closely at how it runs. When a coyote runs, its tail sticks out straight so that the tail is not curled or curved. Second, the tip of the coyote's tail is black. German shepards are not only bigger, but have a curved tail and the tip of the tail is buff color.
Keep your eyes open for these 'top predators' in your neighborhood. But be careful. Never attempt to pet or approach any wild animal, especially a smart predator like the coyote. And keep your pets safe and avoid leaving unsued pet food (or any food) out. Remember, coyotes are in the dog family - so being wild animals, they are likely to carry dog diseases that could make your family pets very ill. Plus, it's best to see these great animals from afar.
photo credit: www.thegeminiweb.com
Keep having Urban Science Adventures! (c)
Even in very large, dense urban areas coyotes can survive - well. You may have even have seen one. Doubt it? Although, coyotes look alot like German shepards, there are some differnces. For one, coyotes are much smaller. In fact, coyotes usually weight only 35-40 pounds. Second, coyotes are pretty much light in color all over - a mix of grizzled gray and buff; they don't typically have a dark colored back like most German shepards. But one of the best ways you can you tell the difference between a coyote and dog is to look very closely at how it runs. When a coyote runs, its tail sticks out straight so that the tail is not curled or curved. Second, the tip of the coyote's tail is black. German shepards are not only bigger, but have a curved tail and the tip of the tail is buff color.
Keep your eyes open for these 'top predators' in your neighborhood. But be careful. Never attempt to pet or approach any wild animal, especially a smart predator like the coyote. And keep your pets safe and avoid leaving unsued pet food (or any food) out. Remember, coyotes are in the dog family - so being wild animals, they are likely to carry dog diseases that could make your family pets very ill. Plus, it's best to see these great animals from afar.
photo credit: www.thegeminiweb.com
Keep having Urban Science Adventures! (c)
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Cool science articles I wanted to share
Okay, these are some really cool science articles - about everything from hunting eels to mental health, to environmentalism.
Check them out!
Moray eels
Diversity & the U.S. Environmentalism Movement
The Cause & Cure of Nail biting
Schizophrenia Genes may also provide developmental advantages
Check them out!
Moray eels
Diversity & the U.S. Environmentalism Movement
The Cause & Cure of Nail biting
Schizophrenia Genes may also provide developmental advantages