Great horned owl chicks by David Thompson, Orinda, CA

Gary:
My wife and I woke up this morning to see these three youngsters outside our bedroom window. How old do you think they are?
David L. Thompson, Orinda

David:
Beautiful great horned owl chicks. You can still see the down on them. They look to be about 4 weeks old. You have a GREAT yard! /Gary

Protecting your pets from heat stroke during summer heat waves

This video from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) offers advice on how to protect your pets from heat stroke during summer heat waves, like the one that’s hitting us right now.

Please take 2 minutes and 42 seconds to view this video. Seems like the life of your pet is worth 2:42. Thanks. /Gary

Gopher snake by Sue Miller, Livermore, CA.

Dear Gary:
A few weeks ago, while workmen were replacing doors in my Livermore, Calif.,  house, I was in my side yard and decided to go in to get my sunglasses. I walked in from the garage and into an internal hall leading to my bedroom.  As my eyes adjusted to the change of light I thought I saw a slight movement at the edge of the hall.

When I looked more closely, I saw a rather large snake, front part emerging from the sliding doors of my linen closet!  He was raised up and hissing. The shock elicited a scream from me and the snake went completely into the closet.  From the brief glance I had, I was afraid it could possibly a rattlesnake!
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Heavily oiled brown pelicans from Grand Isle, Louisiana. Photo by Flickr user IBRRC used under a Creative Commons License.

BP is beginning to test a new tighter-fitting cap on its gushing wellhead. They hope it will stop the millions (?) of gallons of oil that have been spewing into the Gulf of Mexico during our worst-ever oil spill.

“Cross your fingers,” I heard someone from BP being quoted as saying on the radio news station as I drove to work this morning.

The “Cross Your Fingers” containment system. Why didn’t they use that in the beginning? Maybe if they’d crossed their fingers back when they first discovered the spill the Gulf of Mexico wouldn’t have turned all gooey black by now.

I think we ALL better cross our fingers, this time. /Gary

Photo by Flickr user heatherbuckley used under a Creative Commons License.

TLC ENTERS THE WORLD OF DOG SHOW COMPETITIONS

Like to watch TV? Interested in dogs? Always wondered about dog shows and the people who enter them? You might want to check out the following new program on the TLC Channel. Looks interesting. /Gary

“Super Pooches” Premieres on July 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT

On Wednesday, July 21, TLC invites viewers to explore the fast paced, quirky, and often times stressful world of show competitions with the new special, “Super Pooches,” premiering at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
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Harbor seal pup

The Marine Mammal Center is a nonprofit veterinary hospital, research and educational center dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of ill and injured marine mammals – primarily elephant seals, harbor seals and California sea lions – and to the study of their health.
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Baby birds in nest

Just got this (below) from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Like wild birds? You might consider getting involved in Cornell’s NestWatch project. /Gary

Will the Gulf Spill Affect Backyard Birds?
Scientists ask bird watchers to monitor nests.

Ithaca, NY – As oil washes ashore along the Gulf Coast, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/netcommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1478) is asking birders to keep an eye on nesting birds — not just near water, but hundreds of miles inland.
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Hens on egg farm crammed together in battery cages. (Farm Sanctuary.org)

Condor. Photo by Flickr user IvyMike used under a Creative Commons License

Just got my July 1, 2010 “Endangered Earth Online,”  my weekly e-newsletter of the Center for Biological Diversity. And as usual, it contains an article (see below) I want to share with you about wildlife and lead poisoning. /Gary

New Bill Gets the Lead Out of California Wildlife Areas
In another victory in the transition to nontoxic ammunition for hunting, the California Assembly has passed a bill banning the use of lead shot in California’s 667,000-acre network of state-owned wildlife-management areas.
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Labrador retriever. Photo by Flickr user Kevin Rodriguez Ortiz used under a Creative Commons License.

We’ve got the 4th of July weekend coming up … a time where we humans are looking forward to some time off, maybe a picnic dinner or BBQ, and of course some great fireworks displays on Sunday evening of the 4th. Unfortunately, our pets don’t usually feel the same about all those bright flashes, loud explosions and the acrid smell of burning fireworks. This is the biggest freak-out weekend of the year for our pets … when more terrified dogs and cats get lost than at any other time.

To help you and your pets make it through the next few days, here are some handy tips for keeping your pets safe during the 4th of July by The Humane Society of the United States. Please read them carefully and do what they say. The lives and well-being of your family pets may depend on it. Thanks for caring. /Gary
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