Seeing Spots 3

Spotted Pigs, and even those that aren’t, are friendly creatures who communicate with each other constantly and love to snuggle nose to nose when they sleep. Contrary to popular belief, pigs don’t really “pig out” when they eat. Instead, they prefer to chew slowly and savor their food. They are extremely intelligent and have been known to find their way home over surprisingly long distances. They easily learn tasks and tricks but would rather spend their days playing with friends.

Aside from delightful spots that tend to fade a bit with age, another distinguishing characteristic of Leopard Geckos is that they have eyelids, whereas, most reptiles do not – not even other geckos! Curious and friendly, Leopard geckos can be interesting pets that can live for 20 years if they’re treated well. In the wild, they survive on insects such as scorpions and spiders, but have been known to sample anything their powerful little jaws can chew to swallowing size.

As the world’s tallest living land animal, Giraffes are often called ‘Gentle Giants’ of the dry savannahs they call home. In addition to their sky-high advantage in looking out for encroaching predators, their exceptional eyesight allows them to see and choose the very best leaves to eat from the treetops. Giraffes are highly sociable and travel in groups of a dozen or more, appropriately called ‘Towers’, and once again, their lofty vantagepoint comes in handy if a member of the group ever gets lost. Because, just like most people, giraffes don’t like to be alone.

In fact, there’s an uplifting new (young reader) book due to release this summer about new friends in new places and a giraffe named “Geraldine”, by Elizabeth Lilly.

For middle grade readers “The Boy, the Boat and the Beast”, by Samantha M. Clark will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last enthralling page is turned!

So, what’s on your summer Bucket List? Will you read 100 books? Learn a new language? Hike a new canyon, or try a new activity? If you’re wondering what to do, here’s an idea I’m sure you won’t regret:  Chelsea Kay

Happy Summer!

Seeing Spots 2

Better known as Firehouse mascots, Dalmation dogs are easily identified by their spots (even in their mouths!), though they are born without any.  It takes about 4 weeks for spots to appear on their little snow-white bodies.  Dalmations are excellent companions for hunters, or as trail hounds, and are energetic retrievers with exceptional memories. While a great many Dalmations can’t hear very well, their good looks and friendly personalities keep them in spotlights such as circus acts, movies and TV commercials. You might never guess that coaching is their favorite thing to do as they run alongside teams of horses pulling coaches. They’re quite good at keeping stray dogs and other obstacles away. And it’s easy to see that Dalmations are very good friends with horses, such as the Appaloosa.

Definitely show-worthy horses and one of the most popular breed in the US (State horse of Idaho), Appaloosas have appeared in old Western movies, cartoons for children, and TV commercials. Their vision is not good at night but that has not stopped the beautiful Appaloosas from racing and even winning in Kentucky Derby races.

While they might not win any races, Spotted Turtles are incredibly active during the day and their shiny black shells with bright yellow spots (females have yellow chins!) are always amazing to look at. The Spotted Turtle can be found in swampy regions of Florida and similar areas in Canada. They enjoy foraging in leaves on land sometimes, though most of their hunting is done underwater where swamp mud is also a great place to hide from predators or when hibernating.

Are you seeing spots at your house?

Seeing Spots

Smallest of the ‘Big Cat’ family, Cheetahs are often mistaken for Leopards, but Cheetahs have round, solid black spots and black ‘tear’ tracks from the corner of their eyes to the top of their mouths, on either side of their noses. This helps deflect the sun from their eyes as they hunt during the day. Exceptional eyesight allows the Cheetah to see its prey 3 miles away! Lanky and built for speed; they are the fastest land mammals on earth.  Cheetahs cannot roar. Instead, they purr, and chirp, churr, yowl – and growl. Non-retractable claws and rubber-like paw pads prevent the Cheetah from climbing trees but provide excellent traction for quick turns during high-speed chases. Ancient Egyptians once kept Cheetahs as pets and hunting partners, though they are now considered an endangered species.

Leopards have brown/black blotches that some describe as ‘roses’ or ‘wings.' These blotches offer optimal camouflage and allow the leopard to easily sneak up on his prey. Occasionally, the Leopard’s dark blotches are so numerous as to appear one solid color and he is mistaken for a Black Panther. Though not as fast as the Cheetah, the Leopard is much more powerful and can drag his lunch all the way up a tree and stash it there for later enjoyment. Though Leopards do indeed roar, they usually bark when they have something to say. Some folks believe the bones and whiskers of the Leopard can heal sick people, which may have contributed to their dwindling number. They can be found in many environments, including wetlands, rainforests, deserts, and coastal scrubs.

Could you tell them apart (without reading the sign at the zoo)?