Harapan the Hairy Rhino (And Hero!) (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
There are only about 100 Sumatran rhinos, also called Hairy rhinos, left in existence and only nine of them are cared for in captivity. Of those nine, there is only one … Continue reading
Sentient Sandra and a Landmark Ruling on Animal Rights (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
Last month, amid the holiday hustle and bustle and with little fanfare, a landmark legal ruling in the world history of animal rights occurred in Argentina. The ruling concerned an … Continue reading
Being Human, Being Caribou, and Being Wild (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
The Wilderness Act was signed into law in 1964 by Lyndon B. Johnson. Therefore, this year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of a law which created the National Wilderness Preservation … Continue reading
Extinct in the Wild: Père David’s Deer
Scientific Name: Elaphurus davidianus Historic Range: Native to China. Fossils have been discovered in regions east of Xi’an and south of Harbin. Père David’s deer evolved in the Pliocene period … Continue reading
Eastern Gray Squirrel
All text and photos by Maymie Higgins At no time was my commitment to wildlife more clear to me. There he was, an orphaned tiny squirrel, eyes having just opened … Continue reading
How Saving Orangutans Can Lower Your Cholesterol (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
In my work as a nurse coach, I often explain to my patients the finer nuances of blood cholesterol laboratory results and how changes in nutrition can improve their numbers. … Continue reading
Sun Bear
Scientific Name: Helarctos malayanus Helarctos is Greek for “sun” and “bear”. Malayanus is Latin and refers to “located in Malaysia.” Where Sun Bears Live: Sun bears live in mainland Southeast … Continue reading
Evolutionary Bears: Giants and Cave Dwellers
The earliest bear was about the size of a fox terrier dog and is known as the “Dawn Bear” (Ursavus elemensis) and its remains were found in subtropical Europe. By … Continue reading
American Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus americanus. Ursus is Latin for “bear.” Americanus is Latin for “American.” Where American Black Bears Live: Black bears live in most of North America from Alaska, across … Continue reading
Sloth Bear
Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus Melursus means “dark (hair) honey bear.” Ursinus is Latin for “bear.” Where Sloth Bears Live: Throughout India, Sri Lanka, and further north into Bangladesh, Nepal, and … Continue reading
Polar Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus Ursus is from Latin ursinus “of or resembling a bear”. Maritimus is from Latin maritimus “of the sea or near the sea”. Where Polar Bears Live: … Continue reading
Brown Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus arctos Ursus is Latin for “bear”; arctos comes from Greek arktos, meaning bear. The double meaning here may suggest that brown bears are the archetypal bear. There … Continue reading
The International Trade in Bear Parts and Bear Bile
As you are reading this, there are an estimated 12,000-20,000 bears confined to tiny cages throughout Asia, primarily in China, Malaysia and Thailand. These bears are victim to the barbaric … Continue reading
Asiatic Black Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus thibetanus Ursus is from Latin ursinus “of or resembling a bear”. Thibetanus is Latin for “located in Tibet”. Where Asiatic Black Bears Live: Fossil remains of the … Continue reading
Giant Panda
Scientific Name: Ailuropoda melanoleuca “Ailuropoda” means black and white panda foot. “Melano” means black or darkness of hair. “Leuca” means white or colorless. Where Giant Pandas Live: Giant pandas prefer … Continue reading
How Twin Bear Cubs Influenced My Travel Plans
On December 12, 2012, the National Zoo posted on Facebook that their Andean bear, Billie Jean, was showing signs of labor. Thanks to web cams, many of us watched nervously … Continue reading
Andean Bear
Scientific Name: Tremarcto ornatus Tremarctos is a combination of Latin words that translate to “tremendous bear”. Ornatus is in reference to the ornate design on face and around the eyes like … Continue reading
Bear Evolution 101
I am beginning Bear Month at The Whisker Chronicles with a fairly technical blog in order to elaborate on how very long bears have existed. There are now only a … Continue reading
Day Twelve of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Moose
Scientific Name: Alces alces is the Eurasian moose. Alces americanus is the American moose.
Day Eleven of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Walrus
Scientific Name: Odobenus rosmarus Odobenus rosmarus is Latin for “tooth-walking sea-horse”. Walruses use their tusks to haul out onto pack ice and it looks like they are walking on their … Continue reading
Day Ten of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Arctic Fox
Scientific Name: Vulpes lagopus Vulpes is from the Latin vulpinus which means “of or pertaining to a fox”.
Day Nine of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Beluga Whale
Scientific Name: Delphinapterus leucas The word beluga comes from the Russian word “bielo” meaning white. Beluga whales are actually born dark gray and are not white for up to eight … Continue reading
Day Eight of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Wolverine
Scientific Name: Gulo gulo “Gulo” is Latin for glutton and French for gullet or throat.
Day Seven of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Polar Bear
Scientific Name: Ursus maritimus Ursus is from Latin ursinus “of or resembling a bear”. Maritimus is from Latin maritimus “of the sea or near the sea”.
Day Six of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Narwhal
Scientific Name: Monodon monoceros Scientifically named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, Monodon monoceros means “one tooth, one horn”.
The Sacred Place Where Life Begins (Written for The Ecotone Exchange)
In the developed world, we are accustomed to grocery stores, drive-through windows and internet access providing instant gratification and an abundance of resources at our beck and call. Modern conveniences are fantastic … Continue reading
Day Five of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Dall Sheep
Scientific Name: Ovis dalli Dall sheep were scientifically named in 1884, “Ovis” is from the Latin word ovinus, meaning sheep. Dalli is derived from the name of scientist William Healey … Continue reading
Day Four of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Arctic Hare
Scientific Name: Lepus arcticus Where Arctic Hare Live: Arctic hare live in mountainous tundra, rocky plateaus and treeless coasts along the northernmost regions of Greenland, the Arctic Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Day Two of Twelve Days of Arctic Animals: Muskoxen
Scientific Name: Ovibos moschatus. The prefix “ovi” is Latin for sheep, “bos” is latin for ox. “Moschatus” is New Latin for musky and refers to the preorbital glands that
$53 Billion of Organic Pest Control is not Spooky (Written for the Ecotone Exchange)
My street is a typical rural North Carolina subdivision with ecological features that influenced my home purchase. The narrow road
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