Category: Animals

What’s flowering now – Cornwall, April 2022

Kiki,
Some photos of the flowers I’ve seen out and about in Cornwall and in my garden over the last couple of weeks. I like to see what’s in flower and available for the bees. Below is my miniature apple tree. I mainly see hoverflies and bumbles visiting this. Honey bees tend to favor large collections of one type of flower, so this wee tree is probably not worth it for them. One of the first bees of the year I saw in my garden was the enchantingly named female Hairy-footed flower bee. I always see them on the deep blue…
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Abandoned micropigs were rescued after being tied to a lamp post by roadside

Kiki,
Two micropigs have been rescued after a motorist found them tied by their necks to a lamp post by the side of the road. The distressed animals had been tied up using a baling twine in New Romney in Kent, England. Their rescuer, who was on his way home from work, noticed the animals needed saving and took them home. The man brought the two pigs back to his house, where he kept them overnight, before handing them over to The Lord Whiskey Sanctuary in Stelling Minnis, near Canterbury, where staff believed the pair were micropigs. It is the first…
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The arrival of the bees

Kiki,
A couple of months ago, I put a bait hive out in my garden. An empty National brood box, apart from a dark old brood comb pushed to one side and some lemongrass oil smeared on the walls. Then I waited. At first… nothing. But then… I saw some bees coming in and out, inspecting the empty premises. The next day, it was clear something was afoot. More and more bees could be seen around the entrance, until the water in my garden was filled with masses of humming bees. I went and stood outside, looking at the sheer number…
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2 Dead Humpback Whales Seen Floating Off the Coast of New York

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Two dead humpback whales have been spotted floating in waters not far from New York City, the federal authorities said on Thursday, in another worrying sign for a species that faces a number of threats. The sightings were reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a New Jersey nonprofit that helps whales and other animals in distress. Neither group respondent immediately to overnight requests for comments. One dead whale was seen in Raritan Bay, off Staten Island, and the other in Wainscott, NY, near East Hampton on Long Island, the groups said in…
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Eight-year tires for Sheffield owner after inspectors find emaciated XL bully dogs

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The owner of two dogs found in an emaciated state in what an RSPCA inspector said was one of the worst cases she has seen has been banned from keeping animals. The American XL bullies, a male called Tyson and a female called Lola, were discovered at Ricki Haywood’s property in New Cross Walk, Sheffieldlast December. While the inspectors were there, Tyson stumbled down his steps and collapsed. He later had to be put to sleep. Lola survived and is recovering. Haywood, 40, pleaded guilty to three animal welfare offenses and appeared to be sentencing at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court. Lola…
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Back to beekeeping | Adventuresinbeeland’s Blog

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It’s been a long time. A lot has happened. I’ve moved house. I’ve sold my bees, caught a swarm, given that away, nearly given up on bees completely, and then started going to meetings at my local association apiary, about twenty minutes drive away in mid-Cornwall. Back in my suit! I miss my bees and it’s been fantastic watching the bees being inspected. Two weeks ago I spotted a new queen and one of the tutors marked her in this year’s color, red. I’ve now been asked to become a tutor myself and show complete beginners inside a hive, taking…
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Farm animals, crops suffer from extreme weather affecting China

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Hong Kong CNN — With parts of China experiencing record high temperatures and heavy rains, reports of farm animals and crops suffering from extreme weather patterns are dominating headlines in the country, raising concerns about food security in the world’s second largest economy. China experienced its worst heat wave and drought in decades during the summer of 2022, which caused widespread power shortages and disrupted food and industrial supply chains. This year, extreme heat has ravaged many parts of the country even earlier than last year. Pigs, rabbits and fish have been dying from the searing temperatures, and wheat fields…
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Raw Food Diets

Kiki,
With the advent of holistic and alternative practices in human nutrition, the trend has found its way into the domain of pet care too. One such nutrition trend that has gained considerable momentum in recent years is the raw food diet for pets, particularly cats and dogs.  Advocates for this diet argue it is more natural, aligned with the evolutionary feeding habits of cats and dogs, and can result in numerous health benefits. Conversely, detractors voice concerns over nutritional balance and the risk of bacterial contamination.  Let’s delve into the raw food diet, exploring its pros and cons and examining…
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