Wild animals need to sleep somewhere. Your house is the perfect place!

Most people would take exception to that statement. Yet when I look at some of the ways that animals (such as squirrels and raccoons) gain access to a house, it makes me wonder what people are thinking!

Take a few minutes and follow these steps to help discourage the wild animals in your neighborhood from calling your home “Their Home.”

1. Do you have trees or branches that will allow an animal to climb up and onto your roof? A little creative trimming and cutting will go a long way to prevent a rooftop visitor looking for a warm attic.

2. Each year I remove animals from someone’s attic that got in through a roof vent. Check your roof vents to make sure that the screening on them is intact. If there is one that has loose or missing screening, have it fixed right away.

3. Does your chimney have a cap? Each year I remove birds, squirrels, raccoons, and a few other species that have gotten into a chimney and cannot get out. If an animal dies in there, you will have an odor problem that you do not want! A simple preventative measure is a chimney cap. They are fairly easy to install and inexpensive.

4. When you see a loose shingle, you think “I need to fix that someday.” When a raccoon finds a loose shingle, it thinks “I wonder if the water has softened up the wood enough for me to get in that warm house?!” I have trapped and removed several raccoons from attics that got in by chewing and clawing a hole in the roof where the rain had softened the wood. It’s a quick fix or an expensive repair. Your call!

5. When the trim on the overhang of a house starts to separate, it provides an excellent entryway for squirrels. I have seen raccoons and birds take advantage of that gap as well. The soffit is a great little living area for these animals. At least that’s what they think! When you see a small gap between the trim and your overhang, it’s time to take action. It’s a quick and easy repair that can save you money and eliminate the threat of wild animals that decide to make your home their home!

By following these five easy steps you will be securing your home and perhaps saving yourself some trouble and money.

Jack Ammerman has been a nuisance wildlife control operator for over ten years. He has been featured in articles in the Flint Journal Newspaper and on television news reports in Genesee County Michigan. He owns and operates Advanced Wildlife Removal in Flint Michigan and is an advisor to http://www.Advanced-Wildlife-Control.com in Genesee County Michigan.

The Dyson ‘Animal’ vacuum cleaner ranks as one of the most powerful uprights you can currently buy. For general carpet care it is difficult to beat in terms of cleaning abilities and ease of use. One thing you will notice right away when you purchase a Dyson is the suction power, especially since they do not clog during use. They are designed by using centrifugal forces to filter dirt particles out of the airflow so that there is no clogging anywhere in the unit. The final result is a constant flow of air, even after vacuuming many rooms.

Which Dyson Animal Is The Right One?

That really depends on your situation. You can start by looking at their DC07. These vacuums come with a mini turbo tool to remove stubborn pet hair from such places as your couch, your vehicle, and even the stairs. They also have what’s known as a low reach tool for vacuuming under furniture, which is quite handy since there aren’t many upright vacuums that can reach there.

The next Dyson model is the DC14 which combines all of these features plus what’s dubbed ‘brush control’. The brushbar will turn itself off when using on delicate floors, which can save your expensive flooring from damage caused by a spinning brush.

Finally, their DC15 vacuum cleaner has something additional to offer. These vacuums are named ‘The Ball’ and will work quite differently than other uprights. You may have guessed figured it out by the name, but what Dyson did is to replace the wheels with a ball. Some vacuums are heavy and can be tough to move around. Your arms and other muscles may start to ache, making the job even more difficult than it has to be. Dyson figured they could solve this by making a vacuum cleaner that can tilt and pivot in any direction. With a simple flick of your wrist you can steer this machine around just about any obstacle in your way. This will result in easier operation and less tiring, allowing you to finish the cleaning in record time.

The Animal lineup was designed to tackle many different cleaning jobs easier than its’ rivals. That’s precisely where the name came from. These powerful upright vacuums just won’t lose their suction power at all. Your floors will be clean when you are finished, leaving you with fresh air for your family members.

About the Author

For more information regarding dyson vacuum cleaners, visit totalvacuums.com. You can find information on several top brands of vacuums as well as informative articles.

Effects of global warming are already being felt on plant and animal species across the world; although the most dramatic effects may not be felt for decades, according to studies.

Climate variability and change can affect plants and animals in a number of ways; birds are laying eggs earlier in the year than usual, plants are blooming earlier and mammals are coming out of hibernation sooner than in previous decades. Distribution of animals is also affected; many species are moving closer to the poles as a response to the global temperature increasing. Birds are migrating and arriving earlier at their nesting grounds, and the nesting grounds that they are moving to are not as far away as they used to be and in some countries the birds don?t even leave anymore, as the climate is suitable all year round.

These changes are not to harmful as long as the happen in a synchronized way, for example if butterflies emerge before the flowers they depend on for survival, then we could see many of the rarer, regional species being wiped out.

Geographic ranges of some plants and animals have shifted northward and upward in elevation. A good example of this is the red fox; this species has moved north and is now getting close to the arctic fox?s range, threatening its survival. Similar range shifts have also been observed within the United States in birds, mammals and plants.

The case of the red fox is interesting, but what if these animals can?t move to cooler climates ? huge safari parks in Africa home some of the rarest animals on the planet, including African Wild Dogs which are already close to extinction ? where do these animals go? Are we in our efforts to protect then, really killing them?

All over the globe and most noticeably within the recent decade, a slow and steady mass human awakening regarding the value of the ‘consciousness’ of the plant and animal kingdoms has been unfolding. This awakening is a perceptual shift that has occurred in the minds of so many, that now a public meta-educative movement has begun to take hold in our societies.

Whether we witness celebrities jumping onboard to support pioneer Koko the gorilla’s new Maui preserve or just want to see what latest bling a certain hotel heiress dons her dog in; a very deep shift between humans and animals is taking place. This deeper desire to understand ‘animal consciousness’ is not just occurring in isolated instances. It is happening in back yards across the globe. Pet stores now house doggie wardrobes, TV pet psychics have graced the airwaves and household pet websites abound. Humans are beginning to slowly pay attention to what their pets desire, think and feel.

On a quieter, more serious note and for several decades now, psychic animal communicators and researchers have always innately understood that humanity’s inability to audibly hear the voices and thoughts of their animal companions has greatly affected our behaviors toward animals in general. Were we to realize that each species carries significant energetic essence that specifically holds the physical balance of our world stable and intact, we would not be so quick to ruin the natural habitats that surround us.

There are very specific evolutional reasons humans cannot hear animals at this time and yet in recent years, scientists, psychic researchers and animal communicators all over the globe have begun to collate fascinating information that forces us to re-examine our very dominant yet ?close minded? view of our world. Earth is a very unique planet that now commands our collective attention and respect, for she mirrors back to us, our own state of consciousness. As psychic-retrieved data from the animals is culled, studied and combined, researchers and scientists all over the world are beginning to more clearly see how human thought and behavior directly affects the environmental conditions of our world.

Examining the Planet-Animal-Human Meta-Physical Connection

For each planet in every galaxy there are cosmic designs that enable the many inhabiting species to share knowledge of their beingness with one another. Planet Earth resides in a cosmic location that enables it to be a gateway to several other solar systems. That’s why there is such interest for human souls and certain animal species to take physical form here. There is much information exchanging by many species occurring on planet Earth.

The human confusion regarding this greater galactic reality occurs because humans have not the ability to audibly hear the frequency levels in which most of this multi-species communication is exchanged. Many of the planet’s animals have the ability to share thoughts with one another. Humans in fact, are the only species that cannot readily tap into these frequency levels. Much in the way that many of us do not understand how our cell phones actually enable us to talk to another person a few states away, most people don’t realize that millions of different animals are constantly conversing on simply a different frequency than we can hear. The world, on a different vibration range, is quite noisy with animal chatter.

Humans believe that they are the most evolved species on the planet. From a metaphysical perspective however, humans are the most limited species on the planet. Humans do not understand their vibrational or energetic heritage. They cannot relate to the value of a cricket’s vibrational contribution to Earth. They do not understand it. This non-understanding keeps humanity from truly understanding it’s co-creative role on the planet.

Without the ability to hear the voices of many other species, humans are forced to function at a rather elementary level of consciousness. Simply imagine for a moment, a blind, deaf and lone child who plays every day in a sandbox, while at that same time many other children play and interact with one another on the playground beside him. As the children interact, they expand themselves via a unique unseen energetic sharing process.

As time goes by, the children grow and mentally, emotionally and spiritually evolve. They learn many social and relationally interactive skills. They learn how to cohabit together so that everyone ‘feels’ important and significant within a group. The lone child continues to play in his sandbox, oblivious that he is alone. His preoccupation with the sand prevents him from exploring outside of his box. Though he builds sand castles, paves roads and continually recreates new sand designs, he does not learn how to ‘consciously’ evolve via direct relational co-habitative interaction with other forms of intelligence. What evolves around him energetically is what causes him to ultimately evolve as well.

This natural evolutionary process of all things occurs because energetically, human beings are connected to everything that exists and to everything that surrounds them. What causes a void of growth in this natural process is that much of humanity functions like a child in the sand box.

Most people cannot interpret the messages of animal voices, therefore, most ‘believe’ animals cannot really think, feel, speak or have much planetary value. Because perceptual human consciousness has been stunted through lack of galactic education for so many generations, they know not what truly surrounds them, nor what they miss. They continue to create with only themselves in mind when the very planet they exist on is by design, intended as a living library, where all species can share and grow.

Because human beings are endowed with unusual physical dexterities and can create complex and unusually detailed physical things; combined with the lack of ability to ‘hear’ the co-existing species that surround them, they have dismissed the ‘living values’ of the other species and have forgotten the significant roles these other species hold in terms of keeping our world in physical balance.

Consequently we as a collective species, have created societies that serve strictly humans and have endeavored for many civilizations in such a manner that now the entire planetary’s eco system exists in a state of imbalance. Yet ironically, we remain perplexed as to how this has actually happened. As long as humans on a mass level remain in a limited perceptual slumber, a perceptual wall shall remain erect between humans and all other species. A void on non-understanding shall continue to perpetuate ignorant human behavior.

Each species in fact, has a ‘living reality’ just as each human being experiences a day to day experience. Each species carries an energetic value or frequency that adds to the whole. The human five sense system is rather limited in comparison to the abilities of all of the other species. Many of the psychic senses that humans are actually capable of utilizing lie presently dormant within the body. This blocking off of the natural and innate psychic receptors disable most human beings from receiving greater understanding of their Universe.

The pioneering steps of bridging this communicational gap between species lies at present in the hands of the very few who will choose to follow their soul promptings to step out of the human box that most live within. This work is not intended to emerge on a widespread level for many more decades. Those who will find themselves intrigued by animal communication and similar psychic venues are those who’s soul impulses are triggering rather early in the overall mass human evolvement process.

Since the growth of each species is an extremely slow process, the animals estimate that it will be approximately another 100 years before humanity on a mass level will be able accept, understand and implement into their every day living reality, the dreams, values and voices of all other species inhabitant on planet Earth. Until then, the awakening process will seem slow to those who are already awakened. Thus is the nature of the evolution of humanity.

Metaphysical researchers and psychics, along with several millions of other awakening humans, are endeavoring globally to create the foundational road to greater understanding. It is intended to be a slow unfoldment as each human being will awaken in his or her own time. This is the only manner in which a stable evolutionary process works. All animals understand this. All animals who work with humans at this time have made agreements to work silently beside us until we can consciously accept the idea of true co-creatorship and merge it into our general social behavior.

About the Author:

Viva Dana is the founder of The Starkitty Global Interspecies Communication Project. For those who desire to begin working with your pets in advanced ‘co-creator / animal communicative’ ways, we encourage you to check out the several psychic resources at http://www.starkittys.com or http://www.bluechakra.blogspot.com

Photographing people remains sensitive issue in Kenya. Some tribal groups request money for you to take their photo.

You should never get your camera out at border crossings or near government or army buildings; even bridges can sometimes be classed as sensitive areas.

Availability of Film and Equipment for your camera in Nairobi Kenya

You?ll find Kodak and Fuji 100, 200, and 400 ASA (ISO) print and slide film widely available in Nairobi, but even 100 ISO slide film is hard to find in Mombasa. If you plan to use 64 or 800 ASA film, bring it from home. As an indication of price, 36-exposure slide film in Nairobi is about Kshs 400; 36-exposure colour print film is cheaper at Kshs 250 to Kshs 350 but again, only 100,200 and (less frequently) 400ASA are available. Watch out for out ?of-date batches.

Video animal photography

Both VHS and Hi-8 video film is available in Nairobi and Mombasa, but it?s relatively expensive. You may also be able to find memory cards and other accessories for digital and DV cameras, but again prices are high and quality is not guaranteed. If you don?t have the inclination or resources to buy expensive equipment but do know abit about photography, it?s possible to hire SLR cameras and lenses in Nairobi.

Film Processing in Kenya

Shops and booths offering film processing are popping up in small towns and villages all over Kenya. In addition, there are plenty of one-hour film-processing labs in Nairobi and at least one in all other major towns. They can handle any film speeds, but results can vary.

Depending on the print size, processing and printing costs about Kshs 480 to Kshs 650 for a 36-exposure film.E6 slide processing can only be done in Nairobi and costs around Kshs 450 for a 36-exposure film.

Taking Pictures of wildlife

As the natural light in Kenya can be extremely strong, morning and evening are the best times to take photos. A plain UV filter can also be a good idea to take the harshness out of the day light pictures.

For serious wildlife photography an SLR camera that can take long focal length lenses is necessary. Zoom lenses are best for wildlife photography as it is easier to frame your shot for the best composition. This is especially important because the animals are almost constantly on the move.

The 70mm to 210mm zoom lenses are popular, and 200mm is really the absolute minimum power you?ll need to get a good close up shots. The only problem with zoom lenses is that they absorb about 1.5f-stops of light, which is where 200 and 400ASA film starts to become useful.

Best animal camera lenses

Telephoto (fixed focal lengths) lenses give better results than zoom lenses, but you?re limited by having to carry a separate lens for every focal length. A 400mm or 500mm lens brings the action right up close, but again you need fast film to make the most of it. Another option is to carry a 2x teleconverter, a small adapter that doubles the focal length of your lens.

Using zoom Lenses in Wildlife photographic safari

When using long lenses, you?ll find that a tripod can be extremely useful, and with any lens greater than about 300mm it?s a necessity. Within the confined space of the hatch of a safari minibus, you may be better off with a folding miniature tripod, which you can then rest on the roof. Remember to ask your driver to switch off the engine to avoid vibrations affecting your photo. If you?ve got a large lens but no tripod, lying your camera on a small bean bag or cushion can help reduce camera shake.

A decent bag is essential to protect your gear from the elements and the rough roads-safari dust gets everywhere, particularly in parks like Samburu and Tsavo. It?s also vital to make sure that your travel insurance policy covers your camera gear should it get stolen or damaged.

The African elephant is the largest land mammal alive. Its Latin name is loxodonta Africana. It may reach a length of six to seven meters; trunk included, and may weigh up to seven tons. Gestation period; 22 months; may have a young every four years. Twins are rare. Longevity; 70 to 85 years.

Size of the African elephant

The African elephant differs from the Indian one in having a bigger head and larger ears, besides a larger overall size. The cow of the Indian elephant has no tusks while the African variety boasts of formidable specimens in both sexes. The known record is a weight of 102.5kg and 3.2m in length.

African elephant trunk

The trunk may be defined as an all purpose hand. It tears off foodstuffs and brings it to the mouth. It sucks, like a huge syringe, a few gallons of water at a time to squirt it through the mouth in the throat. It is used to scratch the body, to smack the young ones when they are not keeping up with the adults on the march, it serves as a blower as the elephant loves to spread over its body soil and dust to clear out the numerous parasites inhabiting the folds of its thick hide.

Scratch my back I scratch yours

The parasites? problem is diligently solved also by a bird sitting on its back all day to pluck out insects all over the place.

A tree a day keeps African elephant full

The elephant?s diet is quite varied; from the toughest grass to tree barks and even whole baobabs, chewed as if they were licorice sticks. The whole of it wetted with about fifty gallons of water.

Nature has worked out a few special features for the elephant. Besides having provided the cow with udders between the front legs to avoid the danger of crushing the young ones under its huge feet, it has also seen to it that the molars (the only teeth) in its mouth, be replaced by others growing along side the older ones.

Two teeth need no brush for an African elephant

This happens four times in its life. Moreover, the animal with a hide 2 cm thick has of course refrigeration problems under the hot tropical sun, so it switches on its enormous ears with their close network of veins. On moving the huge fans the blood cools a bit and the pachyderm can bear with temperature, which sends all other animals searching for cover.

The elephant does not have many friends in the animal kingdom, but not many enemies either, apart from some more enterprising or famished lions, who may attempt to grab a baby elephant. The big danger is man, with his age greed for ivory; a source of trouble, far from being eliminated in spite o all protective laws.

The Hyrax

Perhaps you may wonder why in the same article together with the mighty elephant I have put the hyrax (procavia capensis), this short fellow that looks rather like a short-eared rabbit or marmot. This hoofed mammal is the animal most closely related to the huge elephant and rhinoceros.

And with a family tree that dates back some 30 million years! The habitat of these creatures is mainly the Kopjes (a South African term for small rocky hills) where they hide in cavities, protecting themselves from the many enemies they have everywhere and where they bask peacefully. There is furthermore a species called a tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax arboreus) that has a special skill in climbing by means of the long upper incisors, which grip the branches firmly.

Recently i felt the need in my life for a little more companionship in my life from an animal of some type. I was then left with the decision, what animal would best suit my personal circumstances and be the best companion for me in my circumstances. As a person who works full time i decided to opt that a dog was not suitable for me and also the animals welfare so i decided to opt for a cat instead. I was then left at the crossroads in my morals either to buy a cat from a breeder or give a stray or abandoned animal a home. I decided to opt for a cat from an animal sanctuary which i have never looked back on since. I visited a local animal sanctuary and was shown many different abandoned or stray cats which made me sad in a way as i could only house one animal. All the staff at the sanctuary were extremely helpful in assisting me in choosing the correct animal for me. I finally made my decision on a lovely tabby white cat which had been abandoned and had been in the home for a year. The animal had been left on a residents doorstep one night in a cardboard box and was handed into the sanctuary when found the next morning. I was required to fill in some short documents about myself and we arranged a home visit for the home to observe my surrounding and ensure that that the animal would get a loving home. I had the home visit which only took twenty minutes of my time and i was left the cat so we could start getting to know each other straight away. It was lovely to see the animal accustom itself to my home and get to know me and i would never do without him now. To anyone wanting a pet i would strongly recommend giving a home to a stray or abandoned animal, read my article on my experience and see for yourself how this could be you in the same circumstances.

About the Author

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1. Hyrax

Hyraxes (or dassies) occur nearly everywhere there are mountains or rocky outcrops. They are sociable, living in colonies of up to 60. Yellow spotted hyraxes are distinguished by the presence of a prominent white spot above the eye. Hyraxes spend much of the day basking on rocks or chasing other hyraxes.

If accustomed to humans they are often approachable, but will dash off if alarmed, uttering shrill screams. Rocks streaked white by hyraxes? urine are often an indicator of a colony?s presence.

Distribution: Both species are widely distributed through out Kenya.

2. Burchell?s Zebra

Thousands of Burchell?s zebras (one of the three species in Africa) join blue wildebeests on their famous mass migration. Larger herds are usually temporary aggregations of smaller groups. Stallions may hold a harem for 15 years, but they often lose single mares to younger males, which gradually build up their own harems.

When pursued by predators, zebras close ranks as they run off, making it hard for any individual to be singled out for attack. And yes, it?s true-a zebra?s stripes are as individual as a humans finger prints.

3. Black (Hook-lipped) Rhinoceros

In many countries rhinos have been exterminated and the white rhino is now very rare in East Africa (it remains numerous in southern Africa). The smaller of the two species, black rhinos are more unpredictable and prone to charging when alarmed or uncertain about a possible threat.

They use their pointed, prehensile upper lip to feed selectively on branches and foliage. Black rhinos are solitary and aggressively territorial, usually only socializing during the mating season; however, they may form temporary associations. Distribution: Restricted to relict populations in few reserves; black best seen in Nairobi National Park; white best seen in Lake Nakuru National Park.

4. Giraffe

There are several distinctly patterned subspecies of giraffe, including reticulated giraffes and the more common masai giraffe. The ?horns? (skin covered bone) of males have bald tips; females? are covered in hair. Giraffes form ever-changing groups of up to 50; females are rarely seen alone, while males are more solitary.

Giraffes exploit foliage out of reach of most herbivores-males usually feed from a higher level than females. Juveniles are prone to predation and lions even take adults; giraffes are most vulnerable when drinking. Distribution Reticulated giraffe occurs in northern Kenya; masai giraffe widespread southwest of Nairobi extending into Tanzania; Rothschild?s giraffe is restricted to western Kenya near lake Baringo.

5. Bush Bucks

Shy and solitary animals, bush bucks inhabit thick bush close to permanent water, where they browse on leaves at night. Bush bucks are chest-nut to dark brown in colour and have a variable number of white vertical stripes on the body between the neck and rump, as well as a number of white spots on the upper thigh and a white splash on the neck.

Normally only males grow horns, which are straight with gentle spirals and average about 30cm in length. When startled, bush buck bolt and crash loudly through the undergrowth. Distribution: Through out the region, favoring denser habitats.

6. Kudu

Greater kudus are Africa?s second tallest antelope; males carry massive spiraling horns (the largest of any antelope). They are light grey in colour, with six to 12 white stripes down the sides. Males are blue-grey and females are a bright rust colour. One to three females and their young form groups, and are joined by males during the breeding season. Kudus find their diet in woodland ?savannah with fairly dense bush cover. Distribution Greater kudus can be found through out Kenya, except in the driest areas; lesser kudus prefer the arid regions of northern Kenya.

7. Eland Africa?s largest antelope, elands are massive. The horns of both sexes average 65cm, spiraling at the base then sweeping straight back. The male has a distinctive hairy tuft on the head, and stouter horns. Herds consist of adults, or adults and young or sometimes just young-group membership and composition change often.

The most common large groups consist of 10 to 60 females and young. Males are less gregarious, coming together more sporadically and in smaller numbers, but one or more often join female and young herds. Distribution Patchy distribution in arid zones; best seen in Nairobi and Tsavo National Parks.

8. Hartebeest

Hartebeests are red to tan in colour medium-sized and easily recognized by their long, narrow face and short horns. In both sexes, the distinctively angular and heavily ridged horns form a heart shape, hence their name, which comes from Afrikaans.

Dominant males defend territories, which herds of females and their young pass through; other males move in bachelor groups. Herds aggregations of hundreds an (in the past) thousands also occur. Distribution Wide ranging; coke?s hartebeest, also known as ?Kongoni? is common in Kenya; Jackson?s hartebeest is confined to areas near Lake Victoria.

9. Topi

Topis are reddish brown, with glossy violet patches on the legs and face. Their social system is highly variable. In grassy woodlands, males hold territories with harems of up to 10 females. On floodplains with dense populations, nomadic herds of thousands may form, males establishing temporary territories whenever the herd halts.

Elsewhere, males gather on breeding-season display grounds; females visit these ?leks? to select their mates. Both sexes often stand on high vantage points (commonly termite mounds) to view their surroundings and as territorial advertisement. Distribution Widespread throughout medium-length grasslands, common in the Masai Mara national reserve.

10. Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest often form herds in association with zebras and other herbivores. Wildebeest are grazers, and move constantly in search of good pasture and water, preferring to drink daily-this gives rise to the famous mass migration in the Serengeti ?MASAI Mara ecosystem.

Elsewhere, especially where food and water are more permanent, groups of up to 30 are more usual, with larger congregations being less frequent and more temporary. In both situations, males are territorial and attempt to herd groups of females into their territory. Distribution Through out parks in Southern Kenya.

11. Klipspringer

Small sturdy antelopes, klipspringer are easily recognized by their tip-toe stance-their hooves are adapted for balance and grip on rocky surfaces, enabling them to bound up in impossibly rough and steep rock surfaces. Klipspringers normally inhabit rocky outcrops; they also sometimes venture into adjacent grasslands, but always retreat to the rocks when alarmed.

Klipspringers form long-lasting pair bonds and the pair occupies a territory, nearly always remaining within a couple of metres of each other. Distribution Rocky outcrops and mountainous areas throughout the region.

12. Steenboks

Steenboks are pretty and slender antelopes; their back and hind quarters range from light reddish-brown to dark brown with pale under part markings. The nose bears a black, wedge-shaped stripe. Males have small, straight and widely separated horns.

Although usually seen alone, its likely that steenboks share a small territory with a mate, but only occasionally does the pair come together. Steenboks are active in the morning and afternoon and by night; they may become more nocturnal where frequently disturbed. Distribution Restricted to central and northern Kenya.

13. Kirks Dik-dik

Dik-diks are identified by their miniature size, the pointed flexible snout and a tuft on the forehead; only the males have horns. Dik-diks are monogamous and pairs are territorial. If one is seen, its mate is usually nearby, ass well as that years young.

Both members of the pair, and their young, use dung piles to mark their territory, placing their deposits as part of an elaborate ceremony. Dik-diks feed by browsing on foliage and, being well adapted to their dry environments, don?t drink. Through out Kenya. Status: Common but wary and easy to miss; active by day and night.

For the Minnesota owners who found their therapeutic riding horse Poco shot to death in the pasture, some solace might be found with the recent passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on November 13, the bill, supported by the American Horse Council, increases the criminal and monetary penalties for crimes against animal owners and requires that restitution be made to owners who suffer particular economic losses.

The bill?s goal is to provide the Justice Department with the authority to apprehend, prosecute and convict individuals committing animal enterprise terror.

An animal enterprise, as defined by the bill, includes academic and commercial institutions that maintain or sell animals for profit, agriculture, education, research, testing, food and legal equine events such as horse shows and rodeos. The bill also protects zoos, aquariums, animal shelters, pet stores, breeders, circuses and furriers. The protection also extends to fairs that ?advance agriculture arts and science,? according to the bill.

The bill states that it is a crime to ?damage or interfere with a legitimate legal animal enterprise.?

The act defines the potential fines and imprisonment for such related crimes. For example, the guilty party can be fined and imprisoned for five years or less if he or she inflicts between $10,000-$100,000 in damages or if there is reasonable fear for serious human bodily injury or death.

The black and white Pinto Poco was a therapeutic riding horse and belonged to a family with two autistic sons. The family was planning to open a therapeutic riding summer camp for children with autism. The horse was found shot three times in the leg, and investigators do not believe the shooting to be an accident.

When it is time to go for hunting, e need to learn to read the tracks or traces of the animals. As we need to discover if we are on the food trails or on danger trail. Find some tips to recognize the animals in this article.

The Fox Tracks: Four-toed prints. Oval paw about 13/4″ long. Nails visible. Prints are clearly long as compared to a dog’s pawprint. Leaves tracks either in a straight line or a “rabbit jump.” Droppings: Gray, sausage-shaped, about 3/4″ thick and 3″-4″ long. Found on rises in the woods or fields. Full of mouse hairs. Burrow: Earth thrown up in leafy woods. Tunnels are up to 15″ in diameter, many openings. Remains of feathers and bones in front of the burrow. The tracks of a young fox have a certain similarity to those of a cat. However, the imprint of the cat’s toes is less distinct; instead there is the print of the whole hairy paw. The most important distinguishing feature of the pawprint of a house cat is that it shows no claws. The dog’s prints are wider than those of the fox and the toe pads are more distinctly formed. The cat leaves prints in a straight line or in sets of four. The dog leaves prints with cross traces or in sets of four.

The Rabbit Tracks: Short and long pawprints, the long ones up to 3″. The long prints are next to each other, the short ones one behind the other. The long prints often appear in a zigzag or curved form when the rabbit has jumped several feet to the side. Droppings: Brown (yellow, if old). Flattened on top and beneath, up to 5/8″ thick. Found on meadows, paths, and the edge of the woods. Traces of Feeding: Tree bark gnawed off from about 8″ to 16″ over the ground. Pairs of toothmarks. Longish strips of bark ripped off.

The polecat Lives in the woods and near watering spots and farms. Eats snakes, frogs, mice, fowl, and eggs. Tracks: The prints appear in pairs. See those of the badger. Pawprint: Four-toed, round to oval pawprint up to 11/8″ long. The claws are faintly visible. Droppings: Black, spiral form about 11/8″ long and 1/4″ thick, smeary. Found on paths through the fields, in the bushes, and along streams.

The Porcupine Pawprint: Five-toed print with definitely visible claw marks. Droppings: Bluish-black, cylindrical form about 1/4″ to 3/8″ thick. Found in the bushes, full of bits of insects and berries. Tracks: Leaves tracks with cross traces like the badger.

The Badger Tracks: Five-toed, broadly oval paw prints about 11/4″ long and 2″ wide. The claws are clearly visible and are long, the paws being broader than they are long. Leaves tracks with cross traces. Droppings: Gray to blue cylindrical forms, pasty consistency, about 3/4″ thick. Found buried in holes in the woods near the burrow, full of bits of insects and berries. Burrow: Burrowed through the earth with an obvious furrow. Tunnels up to 16″ in diameter. Many exits.

The Squirrel Tracks: Long and short pairs of five-toed paw prints next to each other. Long prints about 13/4″ long. The tracks start and stop suddenly because the squirrel jumps from or into trees. Visible claws. Droppings: Brown, perfect balls up to -3/16″. Found in the woods, parks, etc. Traces of Feeding: Pine cones are gnawed down to the core by squirrel.

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Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for http://www.best-scopes-n-binoculars.com/, http://www.mycampinghub.info/, http://www.goodbudgetholiday.info/