Today I learned: Exotic support animals are a thing. See ya later, alligator.
Support alligator goes missing
Brighten up your smile
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Free smiles: Check out Explore.org’s beluga cam. That smile is so dang cute! They have live feeds of other animals and places, too. There’s a bald eagle cam, an aurora borealis cam, a cat rescue cam and lots more.
All I want for Christmas is a capybara: No, not me! The semiaquatic rodents that live up to 12 years and weigh up to 150 pounds have stolen the internet’s heart with viral videos. In a Reddit post, a 24-year-old brother asked if he was a jerk for thinking it’s just a TikTok phase his 16-year-old sister will grow out of. Spoiler: She will.
115,000 years old
Age of footprints found in Saudi Arabia. These are the oldest ones ever uncovered on the Arabian Peninsula. They turned up in a dried-up watering hole in the Nafud Desert, right next to animal tracks. The area was wetter back then, and early humans were likely taking a water break alongside other animals, like a prehistoric rest stop.
82%
How much a new gold-based drug slowed cancer tumor growth in animals. It even outperformed traditional chemotherapy, selectively targeting cancer cells with fewer toxic side effects. I hate cancer.
🐻 Wild bear chase: Drones (hit this link for the video) are chasing grizzly bears and other predators from ranches in Montana. They’re proving a safer and more humane option than firing rubber bullets, which require you to get too close for comfort. I know this firsthand. A huge bear was right behind me on the Snake River years ago. People were screaming, “Bear! Bear! Bear!” I grabbed my son, Ian, like a football and ran up the hill. Only when I reached the top did I turn around. It scared the crap out of me! Well, not really, but you get my drift.
43 monkeys
Escaped from a research facility in South Carolina, and only one has been captured so far. They broke free after a caretaker failed to lock the doors. Staff have been trying to lure them back with food, but they’re too busy enjoying their freedom. If they join Amazon while they’re out, they’ll be Prime mates!
🐿️ RIP(eanut): Peanut the Squirrel, a rescue with over half a million Instagram fans, was euthanized. New York authorities raided his owner’s home last week after anonymous complaints. It’s illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet in NY. An online petition got over 50,000 signatures, but that didn’t make a difference. Farewell, little guy.
This is a crazy story: A jaguar cub spent the first few months of its life passed between an OnlyFans model and drug dealers. The adult creator rented him out for $1,000 an hour for photo ops, then sold him for $25,000. The full story is a long one that’s worth reading. Spoiler: The cub eventually found a forever home at a sanctuary in California, thank goodness.
🐶 Don’t fall for it: Fake animal rescue videos are the new way scammers are making money on social media. They show kittens, puppies or monkeys in horrible situations. In reality, it’s these sickos putting the animals in danger. The accounts look like genuine organizations asking for legit donations. Report these posts to stop the engagement.
🐬 33% of them smile back: New research shows bottlenose dolphins “smile” at each other to signal playtime. In science speak, it’s a “prolonged open-mouth expression,” and it only happens when their friends are in view — never in other contexts. The video is adorable.
🙏 What heaven’s really like: A brain surgeon fell into a deep coma and says he saw what heaven looked like. Guided by a beautiful woman, he described seeing a world filled with vibrant trees, rivers, animals and angelic chants more intense than anything on Earth. His proof? He was adopted and had been searching for his biological family. Four months after coming out of his coma, he received a picture of his late sister. It was the woman who guided him in heaven.
Calling all cat owners: There’s a line of self-cleaning litter boxes that could put your furry friend in danger. A sensor issue means cats can get stuck inside during the cleaning process. The litter boxes are sold under generic names and haven’t been officially recalled. More details and pics here.
This is awful: The Washington Post found Google Trends offers an unsettling peek into what people are trying to kill. Top targets? Bugs like ants, fleas and flies. Grass, mold and weeds are also on the hit list. It gets darker. Cats and dogs are among the most searched-for “how to kill” animals. The most popular search, though, is “How to kill yourself.” If you ever think that, call or text 988, please.
🧒🏼 Thank goodness for drones: A 3-year-old boy went missing in a 100-acre cornfield in Wisconsin. As night fell, deputies turned to a thermal imaging drone to spot the toddler’s body heat. The drone found him about half a mile from home. The reason for his adventure? He was chasing a cat.
😸 Meow you’re talking: Earn $50 and contribute to scientific research just by playing with your cat. I’m not kitten you. Researchers at the Animal Welfare Epidemiology Lab at the University of California, Davis, are looking for two-minute videos. Apply here.
🐻 Moo-ve away: A new Instagram filter, Selfie Control, warns when you’re too close when taking pics of wild animals. Right now, it’s exclusive to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and comes preloaded with distance requirements for bison, bears and moose. I mean, really, if you need an app for this, you’re just an idiot.
🐰 Bunny speed-dating: Rabbits are social animals and face health risks when left alone (paywall link). The hot, new way to find a match: Let your bunny loose and see how it interacts with other furballs. Signs of good chemistry? Eating, sniffing and lying down together.
🦁 “Cat” scan: A quick-thinking conservation vet used her Apple Watch to measure a lion’s heart rate in the wild. How? By wrapping the watch around its tongue. Didn’t have that one on my 2024 bingo card. You’ve gotta see the pic. Roar-some!