Nature and Wildlife 
on 12/15/2008
"Will you teach your children what we have taught our children?
That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.
"This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth.
All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. "One thing we know: our god is also your god. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator."
Chief Seattle
The Falcon Research Group
The Audubon Society
The 109th Christmas Bird Count:
Citizen Science in Action
From December 14, 2008 through January 5, 2009, tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas will take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations. Families and students, birders and scientists, armed with binoculars, bird guides and checklists will head out on an annual mission - often before dawn. For over one hundred years, the desire to both make a difference and to experience the beauty of nature has driven dedicated people to leave the comfort of a warm house in the middle of winter.
Each of the citizen scientists who brave snow, wind, or rain, to take part in the Christmas Bird Count make an enormous contribution to conservation. Audubon and other organizations use data collected in this longest-running wildlife census to assess the health of bird populations - and to help guide conservation action.
From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds and the excitement of friendly competition -- and with the knowledge that their efforts are making a difference for science and bird conservation.
12/19/08
Miracle ,The White Buffalo
Great Valley Nature Center
CRITTER GUARD
The Critter Guard is a Patented Small Animal Rescue Device for Swimming Pools, Fishponds and Water Gardens,
The Critter Guard is intended for use while the Pool is Unoccupied by Humans. (Critters usually fall in at night.)
After Installing a Critter Guard on our Pool, we have been Animal free for over Four years.
I have also received Pictures of little animals climbing out of the Pool using the Critter Guard and saving thier lives!
Our Intention is to provide Pool Owners, Fishpond Owners and Water Gardeners
with an easy to Install Device that will allow Small Animals such as mice, moles, frogs, Chipmunks,
Geckos, Squirrells, etc., to escape the Water when they fall in and needlessly Drowning.
Thereby eliminating the need to remove the Carcass and
Treat the Water to Eliminate Bacteria from the decomposing body.
American Forest
ARBOUR DAY
Friday, April 24, 2009
Earth Day April 22
ANIMAL RESCUE TV
NAME THE SIFAKA CONTEST!
The Philadelphia Zoo would like your help in naming our new baby.
The keepers have narrowed the choices down to three,
but simply can't choose the perfect name for our new arrival.
The names are:
"Loka" (loo-ka): a Malagasy name meaning "Prize" "Kapiky" (ka-PEE-kee):
a Malagasy name meaning "nut" "Eko" (eh-KO): a character name from the television show "Lost"
Which one do you like the best?
Vote now to see which is the most popular so far,
and vote as often as you want for your favorite name!
Choose now, and help us name our baby Sifaka!
THE VITAL GROUND FOUNDATION
THE ARK TRUST
ANIMAL PLANET
WOLF CAM
LAKOTA WOLF PRESERVE
How To Locate a Wildlife Rehabilitator
THE WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
INFORMATION DIRECTORY
How to Build a Backyard Pond
How to Dote on Toads
By putting up the right kind of abodes in the proper places on your property,
you can help make these insect-gobbling amphibians feel right at home
PROMISES of princes notwithstanding, you don’t actually want to kiss a toad.
When it’s startled or upset, a toad’s skin oozes a gooey substance that’s
irritating and bad tasting. But toads do have plenty of charming qualities, including a
voracious appetite for such garden pests as slugs, gypsy moth caterpillars and earwigs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that a single adult toad
can eat 10,000 insect pests over the course of an average summer.
Depending on your location, if there are toads living in other yards in your neighborhood,
when their offspring hatch and begin to hop around, there’s a chance
some of them may disperse onto your property. In summer, you may see
several fingernail-sized toadlets hopping. You can welcome them to your yard
not with a kiss, but with a castle: a so-called toad abode.
Most lawn and garden stores carry premade toad abodes.
The first time I saw one—it was a miniature terra-cotta cottage—
I thought it was a just another too-cute lawn ornament, strictly nonfunctional.
Still, I bought the thing; it seemed like the perfect accent for my herb garden.
Imagine my surprise when, a few days later, my kids breathlessly announced that our little cottage was occupied.
About 21 different species of toads live in North America. The ones most at home
in a backyard environment include the American toad (the Northeast and Canada), 
western toad (Pacific Coast states inland to the Rocky Mountains), 
Fowler’s toad (southern New England and Mid-Atlantic states south to Florida and west to eastern Texas),
Woodhouse’s toad (Great Plains states south to central Texas), 
and southern toad (Florida and adjoining states). 
Now, in case you’re wondering: How can you tell the difference between frogs and toads?
At the most basic level, the animals we call frogs tend to have smooth skin and spend more time in water.
The animals we call toads generally have bumpy skin and spend more time on land.
Toads do need a ready source of water—not to swim in, just for a daily soak.
Your garden will be most appealing to toads if you put a mini-pool near a toad abode.
At my house, we use a 16-inch terra-cotta saucer, but you could use a birdbath
without a stand or even a garbage can lid.
Choose a shady location, nestle the container in the dirt and fill it with water.
A daily spray with the hose keeps the pond fresh; scrub with a wire brush if algae builds up.
Designer toad abodes can be pricey. If you’re on a budget, you can improvise.
For instance, half-bury a large flowerpot on its side in a shady spot.
Or take the same pot, drill holes at the rim in the shape of a door,
tap gently with a hammer to remove the chip, invert and decorate to your heart’s content (nontoxic paints, please).
Another option: Arrange flat rocks with a toad-sized space underneath.
Situate your toad abode in the shade—say, under a bush—
and in the dampest spot in your yard, near a gutter downspout,
air-conditioner drip or in a low spot that collects rainwater.
Check that the door of the abode is large enough to actually admit a toad.
American and Fowler’s toads can be 3 inches long and very plump.
Also, don’t buy a toad abode with a floor; toads usually like to dig in the soil to customize their daytime retreat.
Garden soil, well amended with compost, is especially attractive to toads;
it’s easier for them to dig into and it supports plenty of sow bugs and earthworms.
Pesticides and lawn chemicals are deadly to toads—their permeable skin takes up toxins all too readily.
Avoid using them. With a garden toad on pest control, you’re less likely to need pesticides anyway.
Don’t try to relocate an adult toad into your yard—it has already chosen where it wants to live.
Just put your toad abode out early in the growing season. Over the summer, young toads will be
looking for a place to establish themselves, and one day, your prince will come.
Writer Cynthia Berger attracts toads to her yard at her home in Pennsylvania.
For more information about attracting wildlife to your yard,
To learn more about toads and other amphibians, and
A Winter Retreat for Toads
Toads in cold regions hibernate in the winter. They dig deep down into loose soil,
which insulates them from freezing temperatures. You can offer toads a safe and
comfortable winter retreat by constructing a hibernaculum (place to hibernate).
You will need a 14-inch section of 4-inch plastic drainage pipe.
Choose a place in your yard with well-drained, loose soil and dig a trench.
Position the pipe in the trench so that one end protrudes about 2 inches
above the soil (forming an entrance hole) and the rest of the pipe slants down
into the trench at a 30-degree angle. Backfill with soil to support and cover the slanted pipe.
Then pour in loose sand to fill the pipe halfway. Fill the rest of the pipe with composted leaves.
A toad may use the hibernaculum as a summer retreat, burrowing into the leaf mold.
When winter comes, it will dig deeper, into the sandy layer.
After the toad tucks itself in for the winter, you can bury the protruding pipe end in
compost or leaves for extra insulation. Remember to remove
this layer before spring arrives so the sun can warm the soil.
Please help us to protect our natural resources, reuse or recycle this paper when you are done.
© 2006 National Wildlife Federation, All rights reserved. - Read more great stories online at
RIVER KEEPER.ORG
RIVER KEEPER.ORG:
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PENNSYLVANIA GAME COMMISSON
Pennsylvania Licensed
Wildlife Rehabilitators
ASPCA
ANIMAL ADOPTION
Updated 4/06/08
WILD ANIMALS,HAWKS,SQUIRRELS,
BIRDS,DUCKS
PICTURES OF WILDLIFE
The National Birds of Prey Centre
Northern Prairie Wildlife
Research Center
CARE 2 .COM
WHALE NET
WATER MAMMALS
ARTIC SCIENCE
JOURNEYS
ELECTRIC ZOO
E NATURE.COM
FRIENDS OF THE
NATIONAL ZOO
The Boreal Forest of North America is one of the largest unspoiled forests left on earth.
It accounts for 25% of the remaining intact forests left on the planet.
This critical ecosystem provides breeding grounds for up to 3 billion birds.
Nearly 50% of the bird species found in North America regularly use or breed in the Boreal.
The Boreal Songbird Initiative (BSI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating
Americans about the importance of the Boreal Forest of North America to migratory birds.
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors -
The American Museum of Natural History's frog website features fascinating facts,
audio clips, images and a poison frog cam.
tag, or simply enjoy monarch butterflies during their annual
fall migration.
- Have a peek (and a listen) into the adventures of Ward and June,
a pair of Northern Barred Owls, as they raise their family in an eastern Massachusetts nest box.
This site from the Canadian Peregrine Foundation
offers video monitoring of four nest sites and their growing broods of chicks.
To aid in conservation efforts, this website is hoping to create a web page
or each of the world's amphibian species. Learn about worldwide declines
in amphibian populations and search the database to take a look at the current listings,
which include profiles, photos and audio clips.
- Brighten your day with a visit to this website, packed with wildflower photos,
data on over 5,200 native species, an event calendar,
resource lists and a "Mr. Smarty Plants" to answer your questions.
"Watchable wildlife" programs from the U.S. Forest Service and a host of nature and wildlife organizations.
Promotes the conservation, protection and
study of the 33 different species of pinnipeds (seals, sea lions and walruses).
- Featuring facts and photos about marine mammals and the dangers
they encounter, this site includes actions you can take to protect whales and dolphins.
Eagle's Nest
WEBCAM
World Wildlife Fund
SIERRA CLUB
WILDLIFE FOREVER
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
Assateague Wild Pony Tours
Assateague Island Wildlife Cruises
