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Responsible pet ownership

11/9/2013

 
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I love my pets! I have had all types of pets from dogs and cats to a horse and donkey. 

Part of being a good owner and friend to your pets is making certain that you are keeping your pets happy and healthy. At the same time, you want to make certain that your pets do not harm or disrupt the native plants and wild animals around you.

First, be sure to choose your pets carefully. Always adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue. There are far too many pets that are euthanized every day simply because people wanted a puppy, kitten, or other young pet of a specific color or breed. My best pets were those that were rescued. They seem to know that you saved their lives, and they already have a set personality; you know exactly what you're getting. It should go without saying, but never take an animal from the wild, and never purchase a pet from anyone who in engaging in pet trade that is illegal or harmful to a species. Be especially aware of the origins of the pets, like exotic birds and tortoises.

Once you have adopted a pet, make certain you know how to care for that pet in a manner that is best for your pet and safe for the environment. Take cats, for instance. Cats without responsible ownership are wreaking havoc on nature. According to the New York Times, "Scientists from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the Fish and WIldlife Service estimated that domestic cats in the United States - both the pets that spend part of the day outdoors and the unnamed strays and ferals - kill a median of 2.4 billion birds and 12.3 billion mammals a year." 

Many people are under the mistaken impression that cats are happier if they are permitted to roam. However, male cats are under constant pressure to defend their territories. The most common cause of injury in cats is fighting. In addition, highly contagious diseases are easily caught by cats that are allowed to roam, such as feline FIV (the cats' version of HIV) and feline leukemia. Many cats are struck by cars, and some are even poisoned by their owners or their neighbors; people set out poison to kill mice in the mistaken belief that the mice die instantly underground. Instead, the mice tend to wander off in a topsy-turvy fashion and become easy but deadly prey for cats, raptors and other predators. In other words, that little bit of freedom you may think is so wonderful for your cat is really gambling with your cat's life. 

What any pet really wants and needs is your time and attention. Spend some time each day playing and interacting with your pet. Yes, even cats that seem so aloof benefit from your willingness to enrich their lives. Chasing a feather on a string can wear my cats out in no time. Chasing a bit of reflected light will also entertain them for long stretches of time. The toys don't need to be fancy or expensive; you'll find that the main component of a successful toy is your participation.

Choose your pets responsibly, house them in a manner that is safe for your pets and the environment, and devote some time and attention to your pet to enrich its life. You'll find that you'll develop a stronger relationship with your pet, and you'll be proud of the way in which you and your pet are respecting nature.

Citizen Science by Jacob Gorneau

11/3/2013

 
I’m Jacob Gorneau, a 15-year-old nature enthusiast with a strong passion for the environment. I have lived in rural New York for all of my life and an early connection with the outside world greatly contributed to my love of science and wildlife. My parents always pointed wildlife out to me for as long as I could remember, and I was always fascinated and in awe with every facet of the natural world. My mother told me about Project Noah after she heard about it through the national news. She knew about my curiosity of the natural world through the endless photos I took while outside. I was always interested in finding out what I had "discovered," but I wasn't really sure where to find the identifications of them. My entrance to the wonderful world of citizen science began when I joined Project Noah on January 21, 2012. I was instantly hooked by the amazing concept. Someone could find an organism in Alaska, and it could be identified by someone else in Australia.

This global interaction truly provides a unity in worldwide environmental advocacy and citizen science. My fascination with moths, which was sparked in 2009, when I saw a Black Witch Moth while visiting Florida, and a Polyphemus Moth my father found at our house. I was amazed by their subtle beauty and their cryptic presence. Even then, I was bothered when people referred to them as pests. I combined this interest with my new obsession of Project Noah, and created a mission. Missions on Project Noah provide spotlights on organisms or specific organisms, usually within a specific range. My mission first covered northeastern North America, and with an increase in popularity, it was expanded to include the Americas. With a collaboration between Project Noah and the National Moth Week in sight, I was asked to be the "moth ambassador" for Project Noah. I was featured on the National Moth Week blog, and helped select members and spottings to feature on the Project Noah blog. After the end of the first National Moth Week in 2012, which became more of an International Moth Week due in part to Project Noah's global database, a global total of 684 moths were spotted on Project Noah. Moths were spotted from Bhutan to Brazil! According to a poll done on the National Moth Week website, a majority of the submissions were through Project Noah. Project Noah is a huge step forward for young conservationists looking to contribute to ecological surveys, conduct surveys of their own! I truly have learned more than any textbook could ever teach me! I wasn't fully immersed into science until I realized how much wasn't known in science. Sure, we do know a lot of things about science, but there is a huge amount that we don’t know, which provides an endless learning opportunity.

I believe that citizen science is the most vital element in a worldwide database with data accessible for everyone, whether it is tracking medical trends or counting cicadas! Citizen science will save ecosystems in threat of destruction because as people document wildlife, they become interested in the preservation of such habitats vital to many forms of life. Citizen science coincides with conservation, as the single most important thing in conservation is education and such an education lies in citizen science. Citizen science has led to discoveries of new species, range extensions, and more accurate population estimates.

Currently, conservation action imperative to the preservation of species. At a time where some of the most biodiverse places on Earth are being destroyed due to non-sustainable farming techniques, and drilling for oil, among other things, action needs to be taken before these areas are destroyed. Species in such bio-dense places are fantastic examples of evolutionary prowess, provide possible pathways for medical advancements, and simply leave one awe at the complexity of nature.




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Jacob Gorneau
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Spiny Oak Slug Moth Larva (Euclea delphinii)
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Indian Pipes (Monotropa uniflora)
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Anna's Hummingbird young (Calypte anna)
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Crab Spider (Xysticus sp.) feeding on Multicolored Asian Ladybeetle larva (Harmonia axyridis)
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Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

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