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TGIF and For This Adorable Baby Otter Video

PetSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:20 -0800

TGIF! If you're already in need of some cute to get you through the day, here's Sidney to the rescue. This lil otter was temporarily living with a professional animal caretaker and enjoyed a wide range of dog toys. But, the best part comes when he finds the car keys - watch and enjoy!

What a Pair: Baby Otters Welcomed in New Zealand

PetSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0700

A pair of snuggly baby Asian otters were welcomed into the world last month in New Zealand and made their public debut yesterday at the Auckland Zoo. The babies are still very wiggly and clumsy (being too young for much coordination), and are small enough to fit in your hand! I used to have a baby otter toy when I was younger but thinking back, I realize my toy was nothing compared to the cuteness of the real thing!

Asian otters are closely related to ferrets and skunks, and are the smallest of all 13 species. You can't see these little guys up close (unless you live in New Zealand, of course), but you can check out a video of Asian otters in action via the Monterey Bay Aquarium's exhibit here in California.

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Too Cute For Words!

PetSugar — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 08:00:57 -0800

It’s time to get clever! A picture is worth a thousand words, but those messages vary from person to person. I think this group of otters look like they're watching something pretty special or maybe about to stage a revolt at the zoo - what do you think? Suggest quotes or captions for this photo in your comments below, and I’ll do a roundup next week of some of my faves.

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The Scoop: Deadly Cat Poop for Sea Otters

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:30:18 -0700

While not many of you were instantly on board with composting dog poop, I thought I'd mention some important information for those feline owners. A common parasite that kitties can get is actually very deadly to wildlife, like these adoro sea otters, when cat litter is not properly disposed! Cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that commonly gets into feline systems from eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals. When kitties later expel these parasites in their droppings - sometimes hundreds of millions at a time - each can survive in soil and water for over a year!

Although many different kinds of animals can serve as intermediate hosts for the parasites, cats are the only animals known to shed the parasite's eggs in their droppings. (In fact, this cat-parasite link is the reason pregnant women are advised against cleaning cat litter boxes.) Because of this danger, cat poop should not be flushed because it can then be carried via storm drains and sewage outflows into near-shore ocean waters. But, what about those indoor cats? Find out when you read more.

Even cats who don't make it outside could still be at risk from a mouse in the house, for example. In fact, California’s legislature passed a bill in 2006 to protect sea otters, in part by requiring that all cat litter sold in the state carry a warning label advising cat owners not to flush cat litter or dispose of it in storm drains. They recommend that litter always be discarded in trashbags so it will end up in a landfill where precautions are taken to prevent environmental contamination.

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Creature Features: Sea Otters

PetSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 07:00:05 -0700

We already know that kitty poo is bad for these sea faring guys, but what else do you know about them, other than they are totally cute?

Take my quiz about the sea otter – hey, you may learn something!

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Out and About: Virginia's Peaks of Otter

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:20:02 -0800

One of my favorite drives – second only to California's Highway 1 – is the meandering trail down the Blue Ridge Parkway. This path totals 469 miles from Shenandoah National Park in northern Virginia to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina.

Dogs are welcomed on over 100 of the trails along the way, and the walks can vary from casual strolls over mostly flat ground to demanding hikes up mountain summits. While walking your leashed pup, you'll see a wide variety of wildlife – 54 different mammals and 59 species of birds live along the parkway, more than the entire European continent!

Around the 75-mile point, check out the three mountains – Sharp Top, Flat Top, and Harkening Hill – that make up the Peaks of Otter. You'll find days' worth of hikes for you and your furry friends, ranging from the light 1.6-mile loop of the Fallingwater Cascades National Scenic Trail to the hike up a 4.4-mile trail to the Flat Top Summit (4,004 feet).

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Results: You Made It Quotable!

PetSugar — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 08:00:44 -0800

Great job captioning this silly photo! You made it quotable with these clever ideas:

After the success of "Meerkat Manor" the otters decided they must film their own "Otter Mansion"! - flyingroo
You otter take the picture while we're young! - Ellenora
Hi everybody. My name is Oliver the Otter and I'm addicted to shellfish. - sweetpeabrina
Holy Freakin' Cow! Did you guys see that? What was she thinking wearing that? - wackdoodle

Check out the rest of your suggestions here.

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Five Fun Zoo Cams to Keep You Occupied!

PetSugar — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:00:54 -0700

I looooove webcams, and I've got some time to kill before the Fourth of July fun gets started. If you're also sitting around waiting for the food to be grilled, now's a great time to check out some live zoo action. To be fair, I've included a variety of creatures as well as three cams with baby animals . . . ummm, adoro. Go ahead, blow kisses at your screen, I'm not telling.

Lions! My current zoo cam of choice, I love to check in to see what the baby lions are up to. Nevermind that I can't understand a single word on the site except for "live" (as this zoo is all the way in Norway), my glimpses of mama lion canoodling and caring for her four cubs are too precious to pass up.
Giant Pandas! Classic cam with lots of action, check out the Giant Pandas live from the San Diego Zoo. There are seven pandas there which makes spotting at least one fairly likely. And don't forget the other cams of the Apes, Polar Bears, and Elephants afterwards.

See three more webcam suggestions when you read more.

Ferrets! I already mentioned the ferret cam because of the adorable lil one, Georgia, now visible . . . she's an endangered Black-footed Ferret. This is just one of the many great action capturers at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.
Beluga Whales! I couldn't forget our underwater pals. Because I'm a sucker for baby animals, I love watching Qila the Beluga and her new calf born June 10. They're both super cute (and swim a lot) so see these two (and their Sea Otters) for some splashy laughs.
Penguins! I adore penguins and the Penguins' Rock webcam has some of the most active birdies I've seen. Check out Macaroni and Gentoo penguins live from Chattanooga's Tennessee Aquarium – if you're lucky, you'll see them take a dip, too!

Out and About: Tennessee's Radnor Lake

PetSugar — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 13:00:30 -0800

Nestled in the Overton Hills, the beautiful sanctuary of Radnor Lake is a great escape in urban Nashville. The 747 acres of land were preserved in 1973 as Tennessee's first natural area and protected ecosystem. The lake area often offers close-up glimpses of herons, turtles, and deer just to name a few - and is a popular spot for nature studies from local university researchers. Because of its important natural habitats, you can hike on the various trails for animal observation, but save those walks with your pup for Otter Creek Road, the only part where pooches are permitted.

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group - and stay tuned as our week of Tennessee continues.

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