Why I LOVE my local zoo!

Currently I am seeing a large flood of anti-zoo and aquarium articles on my Facebook. Some of these posts are filled with so much ignorance that they infuriate me to the point of taking an internet hiatus earlier. Why do I feel that much of these articles contain ignorant points of view? Unfortunately in today's age A LOT of people take everything they read online or see in a movie as fact. They do not look at the source of information or the genre (non-fiction vs. fiction). Some people have agendas that strongly influence their point of view and often times distort the facts in misleading ways. When I was in college and having to write research papers my professors made it very clear to me that my paper needed to be based on all the facts and not be biases due to my opinion, I was even given topics that specifically made me play devils advocate and document not only the facts that alined with my personal feeling but also with things I did not agree with but were factual none-the-less. But anyway, I digress...I wanted this post to focus on why on earth we have zoos and aquariums and the debate as to if they are good or evil!

What is a zoo or aquarium? An old definition might say it is a place where wild animals are held in captivity solely for the purpose of displaying them for people's enjoyment. Today however they have evolved enormously. Now most are highly regulated and managed facilities where animals are provided with not only their needs to survive but, enrichment and social settings so that they may thrive. While yes people are still able to attend these facilities and enjoy viewing the animals their purpose is so much more. They are places where scientists can research and learn about animals in ways that are nearly impossible in the wild. They are also able to assist in breeding programs that help to strengthen wild blood lines and populations.

Where do zoos and aquariums get their animals? No one can deny that at some point in the long history of zoos (the first on record was in 1500 BC) animals were taken from the wild. At this point most animals are have been breed in a similar facility or have been rescued from bad situations. Yes, zoos and aquariums do trade animals and that is to continue to strengthen blood lines and prevent inbreeding.

What is the purpose of zoos and aquariums? When the first started they were most likely merely for entertainment and while millions of people do still enjoy going that is not their primary purpose. Most zoos and aquariums focus on science (mind blown right?). They facilitated research opportunities, collect data, rehabilitating injured animals and inspire young minds to peruse careers in science and conservation. As a matter of fact I remember many of my trips as a young child to where I was able to see up close fascinating creatures, such as orcas, that made me decide I want to save the planet! Without these experiences who knows if I would have ever been motivated to study anything related to science.

Do zoos and aquariums mistreat their animals? In the early days of zoos and aquariums little was known about animal behavior and punishment was often used as a training 'tool'. However, today things have changed. Accredited zoos and aquariums have veterinary staff to assure the animals health is maintained, nutritionists who verify that each individual receives proper diets, and a well trained team of trainers and keepers that maintain their habitats, provide daily care and create enrichment for their animals. All of these things are done voluntarily and using positive reinforcement.

I support my local zoos and aquariums! They do amazing things to help us learn about the natural world. With out them we would not know nearly what we do about animal life cycles, diets, social structures, medicine, or their importance and how we can protect them. When I visit my zoos and aquariums it jump starts my motivation to save the planet. It reminds me why I need to recycle, how I can help with the bush meat crisis, and what else I can do to help conserve the amazing world around me.

I ask that before you decide how you feel about any managed animal facility that YOU do your research. Look at first hand sources, see them for yourself, speak to their staff. Please do not pass judgment based on someone else's views, do your homework and form your own!

Trees with Knees- The Bald Cypress

When I am exploring the fresh water shorelines nothing stands out as being more iconic than the Bald Cypress Trees from the Redwood family. Although it is the state tree of Louisiana, these trees native range is from south Florida up to Delaware and as far west as central Texas. Their adaptations make them so unique and important.

At first glance you notice their sheer size. These magnificent trees can live around 600 years and in that time reach heights of up to 150 feet with a trunk diameter of 12 feet! They are EXTREMELY flood tolerate and will often times line the shores of fresh water rivers and even take root in the middle of the waterway. They are dedicous meaning that they drop their needles (leaves) in the fall. This variety of cypress drops their leaves very early in the season and does not begin to bloom until late in the spring which is how it earned its name as the 'Bald' Cypress. Most trees that are dedicous are not conifers eith er which is another aspect that is special in this tree. It is also monoecious, meaning that is produces both male catkins and female cones each year. The male catkins are 3 to 5 inches long, purplish in color and hang in clusters while the female cones are round and change from green to a purplish brown as they mature. The mature cones can hold anywhere between 2 and 34 seeds but average 16. Every year seeds are produced but every 3-5 years they will produce a larger abundance of seeds.

Another amazing feature of these trees are their root systems. Each tree has a series of three different kinds of roots, each with a specific task. One type of root that most plants have in common is the taproots. Taproots are the roots that shoot straight down in search of water. They also have anchor roots which move down and out helping them firmly establish themselves in the saturated soil. They third kind of root is my favorite! They are lateral roots that travel straight out near the surface and send conical protrusions up past the surface of the soil and water. These protrusions are pneumatophore meaning air bearing, but are more commonly called knees. It is thought that these roots' knees help anchor the tree and also allow it to draw fresh air down to the root system.

There are numerous things that make these trees such an incredibly important part of their ecosystems. From their crowns to their roots here is a list of what they do that makes them amazing!

• Many raptors such as bald eagles and osprey use the tops of these trees as nesting locations.
• Limbs draped with Spanish moss make great nesting locations for other wading birds and well as some song birds.
• The seeds produces are a source of food for a long list of critters including wild turkeys, ducks, squirrels and many more. This also helps in distribute seeds to other areas. When animals ingest the seeds not all of them are fully digested and can pass through their digestive track and are 'deposited' at other locations.
• Inside the trunks of older trees (200 years+) they begin to develop heartwood which is decay resistant and can be used after the tree has died for building many different types of things.
• The bark which peels off the trunk in thin strips was once used by Native Americans to make rope.
• They roots make these tree nearly hurricane proof making them able to shield nearby structures from some harsh winds.
• The roots also provide shelter and breeding grounds to crawfish, warblers, and a large variety of amphibians.  
• Roots also form a sort of dam system that slows flood waters allowing for more water to be absorbed by the ground and minimizing damage to the surrounding area.
• The final terrific task I will mention today is the roots ability to capture sediments in order to prevent erosion and pollutants so that they aren't spread further throughout the water way.

How can we make sure that these fabulous trees stick around so that they can continue to protect and contribute to their ecosystems?

When purchasing any product made from cypress we should verify it was harvested legally and in a sustainable way. Even though trees are a renewable resource it is important to think about the time it takes to renew it. Since heartwood takes at least 200 years to form these trees are not easily renewable. Some products are made from cypress farmers which are a responsible source, however others are harvested from waterways.  

Sources:

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/baldcypress/

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr152

http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/taxodium/distichum.htm

http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/plants/bald-cypress.aspx

Backyard Birding

Northern Cardinals

Birds play a major role in all ecosystems. Many birds have a number of very important jobs that keep our earth healthy. Some assist in the growth of new plants by acting as pollinators, seed dispersers and fertilizers. Others prevent over population of smaller animals (insects, rodents, fish, etc) by being predators. A few are responsible for preventing the spread of diseases by being consuming carrion (dead and decaying animals). And the list of benefits could continue.

Tufted Titmouse

Birds are an inspiration to people. Birds have given us the thought to fly. They have been muses for artists around the world. They majestically serenade us and brighten our spirits. These reasons combined have lead to birding becoming a popular hobby around the world. Many people wonder how to start bird watching. Whether you want to just relax at a park or go on backpack adventures through many habitats you can easily start in your own yard.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Birds needs are quite similar to ours. In order to survive birds need the same basics as all animals; food, water, shelter, and a safe place to raise their young. Adding these basic bird needs to your yard is simple! You can either landscape your yard in order to make it the most bird friendly or purchase/build the necessary components to fit your space (including an apartment balcony).

Suet feeder.

Selecting the right feeder(s) is easy. If you are like me you will see that there are a wide variety of types of feeders and foods you can choose from and begin to over think it. I recommend visiting a site like Project FeederWatch where you can play with combinations of feeders and foods online to see which kinds of birds you could attract based on your region. If you prefer a more personal way of determining the best combination for your yard you can visit a local wild bird store, mine is Wild Birds Unlimited, where you can speak one on one with someone to help you decided. I currently have three different styles of feeders in my yard, a hopper, a tube feeder and a suet. Once you select your feeders it is extremely important that you know where to put them. Birds often times suffer injuries and/or die due to window strikes. These window run ins can be prevented by proper feeder placement. When placing your feeder(s) try to keep them either close (3 feet or less) to your windows so that startled birds will not have enough speed for an injury or further away (at least 10 feet) so that birds have enough time to notice the hazard and avoid it.

                                                                                Providing a water source does have some maintenance. You will want to select some sort of shallow dish or bowl similar to a bird bath or a drain plate that you would place under a terra cotta pot. The two things you will need to make sure to do regularly with your water source are clean it and keep it full! If the birds are using your bath it will begin to gather dirt and seed by products. It my also begin to become home to pests such as mosquito larvae, so cleaning out your bath frequently is necessary. Keeping it full speaks for itself as we all remember from elementary school water evaporates and therefore will need to be replenished.

Hanging pot bird nesting. Photo by Kritsy in Houston.

Shelter and a safe place to raise young go hand in hand. If you have a yard trees, bushes and scrubs can be favorite spaces for your feathered residents. If your space is limited you can use potted plates on your porch or balcony for some varieties of birds. Whatever your habitat size you can also purchase or build a nest box to encourage more permanent residents. The NestWatch website is an excellent resource for figuring out which boxes will work best for you!

Limpkin

The more elements you add the greater your chances are to have amazing experiences in your own backyard. Here is a list of the birds I have had visit my home habitat. I hope the inspire you to create your own. Backyard birding really is Worth Wild!

(Not all birds pictured use my feeders, some visit for the natural insects and landscape.)

White Ibis

Blue Jay

Carolina Wren
Limpkin
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Pileated Woodpecker
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
White Ibis

International Tiger Day 2014

It seems that one of the most loved animals in the world today is the tiger. These beautifully majestic cats however, may not be around for my grand children to admire. In the last 100 years their numbers have dropped drastically and if we do not take a stand and make a change they could very well go extinct in our lifetime. International Tiger Day was started in 2010 (the last year of the tiger) in order to take a stand and help fight for the change that will protect the few thousand tigers that remain in the wild.

There are several reasons why the tigers populations have dropped so quickly. In some cultures it is believed that by ingesting a part of the tiger one will inherit the power and strength of the tiger. Tiger meat, skins, and other parts are also status symbols and therefore have a high demand on the black market. These fascinating predators are also harvested for sale in the underground pet trade. Another large contributing factor is deforestation. Tigers are suffering from major habitat loss not only from the development of the human population but also from mining of the natural resources in the area such as wood for paper products.

Even though the habitats that are being destroyed are more than 10,000 miles aways there are things you can do to help. 

• Donate to an organization such as the World Wildlife Fund whose mission is to help educate and protect the tigers.
• Lobby locally for strict restrictions and requirements for those wishing to keep tigers in captivity and verify that those not in the wild are in reputable managed facilities (such as AZA Zoos and Aquariums, etc.).
• Being an educated shopper! When purchasing paper products make sure that the paper used is either recycled or harvested from sustainable sources.

For more information as to how you can protect the tigers check out the World Wildlife Fund's Save the Tigers site.

* All tiger images were taken at Busch Garden's Tampa. For more information on their tigers click the link below.

Busch Garden's Tigers

Intro- Conservation

               The world we live in is a delicate puzzle with MILLIONS of pieces that depend on each other. You may not understand why a certain plant or animal is so important to you and it may not be directly, but indirectly each living thing is a link in out chain of life. If we do not take care to conserve and preserve all of the unique things around us they will be gone before we know it. The little choices we make every day effect the survival of the wild. It is my goal to help you understand what simple things you can do to SAVE THE WORLD. Whether you are going grocery shopping or brushing your teeth the little actions you take can add up. I believe that the wild is worth saving and hope that when you are making decisions that could effect the survival of our planet as it is today you ask yourself first, "Is it worth (the) wild?"

Intro- Plants

               There are hundreds of thousands of plants on the planet. Even when I am exploring an area that is not new to me I notice new flora that I may not have seen before. Sometimes what I think is a different plant is just one that I have seen in a different stage. Plants play a crucial role in our ecosystem and different plants have special skills to offer. Some plants even have the potential to help heal our aliments. I will never pretend to know everything about anything. When it comes to plants I will be honest I am no where near a genius, but as I learn new and interesting thing I will share them with you. Because each plant does play such an important role they are most definitely worth saving. 

Intro- Animals

                With literally MILLIONS of animals on the planet it is amazing that each species has different adaptions that make them unique. It is impossible for any one person to be an expert on all of these awesome creatures and even specialists generally focus their studies on a certain grouping of animals (for instance an herpetologist may focus primarily on reptiles from a specific region or with a similar characteristic such as venom). I will never pretend to know everything about anything. Everyday that I spend exploring I learn new things and discover interesting facts from those who work with these animals on a daily basis. It is my goal to help you understand why I think each specific animal is AMAZING and worth saving. Every animal on this plant plays an extremely important role in their ecosystem and has some feature or function that makes them worth saving.