But of all the mysteries and maybes surrounding the Dodo, there is one question that has intrigued me for years, and in the face of the tragedy of its demise it may seem callous or cruel, but--What did a Dodo taste like?

One thing is for sure, most reindeer don’t have glowing cherry schnozzes—but the Eurasian mountain variety living in the Arctic Circle have a magic trick not seen elsewhere in the animal kingdom. They can change their eye color from yellow to blue. //

In the summer, reindeer’s tapetum lucidum—a mirror-like layer at the back of their eye—is a luminous gold streaked through with turquoise, iridescent like a golden opal. But in the winter, that layer turns a deep, rich blue. //

Learn Something @LEARNS0METHlNG_
·
A Reindeer's eyes turn blue in the winter so they can see better in low light, blue eyed people can also see better in the dark than brown eyed people!
10:19 AM · Dec 19, 2022 //

“You add these things up and the sensitivity of their eyes is at least a thousand times higher in winter than in summer,” says researcher Nicholas Tyler at the Arctic University of Norway.

Jonathan the tortoise celebrated his 190th birthday as he extends his run as the longest-living land animal in the world.

Jonathan first arrived in his current home on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic in 1882 as a gift to the governor of the island, which is a British territory. At that time, he was thought to already be 50 years old. //

Locals speculated as to why Jonathan has lived so long, exceeding the expected life of his breed, the Seychelles Giant tortoise, which is 150 years old.

Jonathan was five years old when Queen Victoria – Britain’s second-longest reigning monarch – took the throne, and he outlived both World Wars. He is older than the first photograph and has lived through the administrations of 39 US presidents.

There ain’t no sleep with this counting!

Hundreds of sheep have been eerily walking around in a circle for 12 days straight in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. //

The sheep owner, identified as Ms. Miao, claimed the spectacle began with a few sheep before the whole flock joined, Metro reported. Although there are 34 sheep pens at the farm, only the sheep in one of the pens — number 13 — have been acting this way. //

Some have speculated the sheep’s behavior could be caused by a bacterial disease called Listeriosis — also known as “circling disease.”

“Initially, affected animals are anorectic, depressed, and disoriented. They may propel themselves into corners, lean against stationary objects, or circle toward the affected side,” according to the Merck Manual.

Outbreaks typically occur as a result of spoiled or low quality silage, according to the Merck Manual. In sheep and goats, however, death usually occurs within 24-48 hours after symptoms are observed.

Eye problems can be common in hamsters, like in most animals. Since hamsters are so small, it’s important to know how to help your furry friend. Not only with an infection, but with any other eye problems as well.

Read on to find out how to help your hamster when and if he develops eye problems.

Mice are breeding machines. They have a gestating period of 19 to 21 days. A female mouse gets pregnant about 5 to 10 times each year and can give birth to a litter of 3 to 14 pups. On average, the litter size ranges from 6 to 8 pups. On average, you are looking at least 32 to 56 pups each year from one female mouse.

The mice reproduce each year, and the mother can mate immediately after giving birth. So you could be looking at a new litter within 25 days. To make matters even more complicated, the female baby mouse is capable of reproduction at 6 weeks. So, they can start producing pups of their own and have about 10 litters of their own per year.

In a theoretical situation, two mice that sneak into your home could give birth to 60 in a year. Of these new mice, about 21 to 30 are female mice capable of having their babies within a month, which can theoretically lead to 5,082 mice in just one year. One mathematician calculated it to be 5 million mice per year, that is if it were a perfect world for mice. //

The average lifespan of a mouse is about 12 months in the outdoors. But when they take refuge in your house, they can live up to 2 or even 3 years.

'It is surprising that animals like meerkats, marmots and ground squirrels have high levels of mortality' caused by their own species, scientist says

The traditional remedy for removing the smell of skunk spray is a tomato juice bath. However, tomato juice, in conjunction with vinegar, only serves to reduce the stench, as it doesn’t neutralize the molecules that make skunk spray particularly pungent. Here’s a particularly effective remedy that’s safe for dogs and cats, as well as humans:

Mix together:

• 1 quart of 3-percent hydrogen peroxide (available at any pharmacy)
• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

Wearing rubber gloves, wash with this solution immediately after the spraying occurs. DO NOT get the solution in eyes. (If you don't have peroxide, baking soda, and liquid soap on hand, use vinegar diluted with water.)

Caution: Do NOT store this mixture or make it ahead of time, as the mixture could explode if left in a bottle.

Rub the mixture all over and scrub deep to neutralize the odor — however, if you’re washing your dog or cat, don’t leave the mixture on longer than you have to as peroxide can bleach fur. Rinse the solution off thoroughly, and the smell should be gone.

Is a Northern Mockingbird the right Bird for you? Northern Mockingbird owner reviews, health, training. //

Over-collected as a prized pet in the 1800s and early 1900s, it is now legally protected. Americans will need the right permits to keep this bird, which will usually only be for the purposes of rescue and rehabilitation for release back into the wild.

It's that time of year again in the desert when throughout the urban desert, mockingbirds start to defend their nests again, harassing just about every...