Review of the Northern Lights Wolf Center

The Northern Lights Wolf Center is located between Golden, BC, and Revelstoke, being closer to Golden. It is about a 10 minute drive off the highway. 

While driving from Golden to Revelstoke this past summer (July 2012) we saw signs "Wolves", and "Wolf Puppies" and made a plan to stop there on the way home (we were on vacation to Vancouver).

To be honest were expecting something different so were slightly disappointed in the Northern Lights Wolf Center however overall we were still glad we stopped. We expect to see wolves moving around in a more wild setting but it was hot summer day and they were snoozing in cages. The cages themselves were not too bad. 

They did have wolf puppies but the puppies were a few months old when we saw them, actually we only saw one and it was asleep. I would suggest anyone looking to see younger puppies to visit earlier in the year, perhaps May or June.

We were impressed with the interpretive displays, they had lots of information on wolves and other Canadian wildlife. They also had lots of information regarding various petitions supporting protection for wildlife.

Additionally the Northern Lights Wolf Center had information on the Karelian Bear Dogs, and owned a couple of such dogs too. These dogs are used to teach bears to stay away from human areas and as such the goal would be to avoid fewer bear problems which sometimes result in bears being shot and killed. 

Apparently they do also have “walks with wolves” available in which a person could get better pictures than we got. They are open daily, even in the winter, but I would advise you check the weather and road conditions before making a trip in the winter.

As far as roadside zoos and attractions go, I would rate this one as fair. I would say it is worth stopping at if you are driving through the area and like wolves. The enclosures were pretty good, they had trees, shade, shelter, and interesting areas for the wolves. Had I seen any signs of cruelty or suffering I would not encourage any visitors to this wolf center. The people are clearly trying to do what they think is right; offering education, and are not just in it for the money.

I want to add that keeping wolves as pets is not a good idea.  If you are somebody who wants a wolf for this reason you should have a proper facility similar to the one at the Northern Lights Wolf Center, allowing the wolves to live at least somewhat naturally.

White Tigers, Cruel Man Made Mutants

Did you know that there are no wild white tigers?  Although zoos often refer to white tigers as Royal White Bengal Tigers, this is not actually a species of tiger.  The white tigers you see on display in zoos today are not even purebreds, they are crosses between Siberian Tigers and Bengal Tigers.  They are also greatly inbred, the gene for white is recessive so white tigers are often created by breeding father to daughter, mother to son, and brother to sister. 

As with most inbred animals there are always more genetic health problems.  The gene that makes them white is linked to eye problems.  White tigers always have poor vision, making them more dependent on their handler.  In some cases this is easy to see as they may be cross eyed, in other cases the problem is in regards to how their eyes are wired to their brain.   Some tiger trainers prefer white tigers because their poor vision makes them easier to train, they are more dependent on their handler than a tiger with normal health vision.

photo source

White tigers are often born with spinal deformities, cleft pallets (a mouth deformity), and organ problems.  It is not uncommon for them to die shortly after birth.

Although not all zoos in the United States are members of the American Zoological Association (AZA), this group passed a ban in 2011 prohibiting members from breeding white tigers.

Although I realize many of you might want to see these beautiful animals it is best to not support the zoos that have white tigers.  There is no ethical reason for breeding them.  In fact many of the people who try to breed white tigers "dispose" of the tiger cubs born with normal orange colored fur.  The only reason they breed white tigers is for greed, vanity, and profit.  It must be stopped.

If you see white tigers in your local zoo be sure to express your displeasure with the intentional breeding programs that some zoos have adopted to make more of these sickly animals.

Further Reading on White Tigers

Breeding White Tigers does not Help Tigers

Big Cat Rescue - White Tigers

Costs of Owning a Pet Tiger

Released Pet Turtles Living in Stanley Park

Red-Eared Slider Turtles are native to the southern United States, so what are they doing in a pond in Canada?  On a recent trip to Vancouver, we saw several of these turtles swimming and resting on rocks and logs in Vancouver's Stanley Park.  Although they looked quite at home in the Lost Lagoon, they did not belong there.

Red-eared sliders got their name because of the red marking behind their eyes (which can also  be yellow), and the fact that when scared they just “slide” off the rock or log and disappear into the water.

When we were at the Lost Lagoon we saw several, if we had a better camera we could have taken a picture of at several turtles piled up on a log together, but as it happened we were still able to get a few pictures of the turtles closer up. As cold blooded animals, reptiles need to rest in the sun to get warm and to digest their food.

Red-eared slider turtles need water to eat, and are omnivores, often eating more meat as youngsters, and more plant matter as adults.

Red-eared slider turtles are sometimes kept as pets, but it is illegal to catch one in the park and take it home, as it is also against the law to release an unwanted pet turtle into the park. They are considered an invasive species and should never be released anywhere into the wild.  Again these turtles are not native to the area, or Canada in general, so the only reason they are in the Lost Lagoon in Vancouver's Stanley Park is because at one point they would have been introduced, either by pet owners who discarded unwanted animals in the park, or having somehow escaped from captivity.

Female red-eared slider turtles grow slightly larger than males, reaching just over one foot in length (30 cm). They can live up to 30 years, a major consideration for anyone thinking of getting one as a pet.

Although often seen for sale it is illegal in the United States to sell a turtle with a shell under 4 inches in length.  If you see somebody with turtles of this size for sale please report them, as most will not survive and we should try to stop people from putting the lives of animals at risk just to make a few dollars.

Click here to see more pictures of these turtles.

Feeding Wildlife in Stanley Park, the Raccoons

We recently took a holiday to Vancouver, Canada. Our hotel was within walking distance of Stanley Park, a 1,000 acre park, surrounded nearly all the way by ocean. On our first night we walked to the Aquarium, and on the way we saw a family of raccoons, a mother and her two youngsters, raiding a garbage can.

The following day we walked around Stanley Park and sure enough we encountered more raccoons, including another mother with three youngsters and an adult who was missing a tail. There was a man feeding them what appeared to be fried chicken. A short time later a woman arrived to feed them grapes and cat food. Other people fed them cookies. 

To note, I am aware that grapes can be toxic to dogs, but not sure how they affect raccoons.

We spoke to many of the people who were feeding the raccoons and many said they made daily trips to feed the raccoons and other animals in the park. The people said that the park's people did not like them feeding the animals. They also told us that the parks people trapped and killed many animals every year.

Raccoons normally would eat fish (there are ponds in the park), crabs (from the ocean), insects, worms, as well as nuts, berries, and eggs.

We did not confirm if the parks people did trap and kill raccoons or not, but clearly there was a dilemma.

The parks people want the animals to be “wild” and to fend for themselves, feeding them can cause problems as their fear of people can turn them into pests. Normally raccoons are nocturnal but these were out in the day. 

If one bit a person there would be a rabies panic. The people felt terrible that the animals were being killed to control their populations, so were thinking that feeding them would mean animals would not be killed.  One persons said they thought the raccoons were being killed to stop them from eating the goose and duck eggs, but we also heard that duck and goose populations were being controlled too (supposedly people were shaking their eggs so they would not hatch).

Additionally a problem was occurring in that some people were feeding very unhealthy foods (cookies) to the animals. The people said they have gotten in trouble many times for feeding the animals but refused to stop.

I am not suggesting people do feed wild raccoons, however clearly some people are not going to stop doing so. It would be better if the people simply fed the animals a better diet, and did so later in the day so the animals could live more naturally.

Raccoons can eat cat food, ferret food, most vegetables (not onions, garlic, avocados), eggs, and fish. They should not have cookies, greasy foods, salty foods, and so forth.

Maybe the park's people could do the same as is done in some areas to control feral cats, they could trap the animals, spay or neuter some, and release them. Perhaps this is already being done and people are just not aware. Or the park's people could arrange for the raccoons to be relocated to wild areas, or to zoos.

As tourists we enjoyed seeing these animals, and hope they continue to inhabit areas of Stanley Park.

Click here to see more pictures of the Raccoons in Vancouver's Stanley Park.

Facts about Domestic Cats

Cats are common house pets, having been domesticated over 9,000 years ago. In most modern cities the domestic cat is a common sight and they are often considered members of the family. In other areas cats are seen as helpful farm animals, killing mice and rats who would eat and contaminate food. Feral cats can be tamed though kindness, and food.

One of the reasons cats are so common, is there fast breeding rate.  Cats come into heat frequently, they are pregnant for about 57-65 days and can have 6 (or more) kittens per litter.  Unlike dogs, cats usually have no problems delivering their kittens and rarely require caesarian sections.  The biggest exception being cat breeds (such as the Persian) which have large round heads.

 

Kittens can be weaned at 6 weeks, but it is better to wean kittens at 8 weeks.  Homes should be kitten proofed before getting a new kitten.  There are many common household dangers to cats owners should be aware of.

You should have your kitten checked by a vet before bringing it home, it should be vaccinated and wormed too.  Note that it is not uncommon for cats to have heart murmurs - not all are severe.

Kittens usually know how to use their litter box with no problems, however kittens from a farm might not have used a litter box before so some additional training may be needed.  Kittens should not be allowed outside until they are older (or should be kept indoors always). 

When it comes to selecting a new cat, most people want kittens, and sadly few adult cats, and even fewer senior cats, find homes.  There are some concerns with adopting an older cat, but there are also many reasons why people may want to adopt a senior cat.

Many people worry if their cat can make them sick.  In general the answer is "no" but kittens can spread cat scratch disease.  Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that cats can catch from mice and this is a concern mostly to pregnant women.

Another concern among cat owners is that cats enjoy being awake at night, so it is a good idea to try to train them to sleep when you sleep.

Cats sometimes do not drink enough water and as such are sometimes prone to having urinary tract problems.  It is important that owners find ways to encourage their cat to drink more water to keep its urinary tract system healthy.  Pay attention to the magnesium content in dry food, select a food with a low magnesium content.  If your cat is not getting enough to drink it can get a urinary tract infection - a clue that your cat may have an infection is if it starts peeing around the home, not in the litter box.

Cats are obligate carnivores, they need meat.  People often debate about how to feed cats correctly.  Many agree they should have good quality dry food available at all times and be given small helpings of canned food as per their age and health needs.  Although many people think of tuna as being a favorite, it is a food cats should not have.

Cats can suffer from diabetes, as such, unless you want to be giving your cat insulin injections daily, it is important to keep your cat's weight under control.  Cats have many risks related to being obese.  It is a myth that spaying or neutering causes a cat to be lazy.  In general this is related to a lack of stimulation by owners who sometimes expect cats to exercise themselves. 

Be aware that many human medications are toxic to cats.

Cats sometimes vomit; in some cases this is related to hairballs (see below) in other cases this is related to food or health problems.

Cats generally prefer to live alone, not with other cats, however if selected correctly, and introduced correctly, cats can get along.  Cats can even get along with dogs too, but certain dog breeds are better with cats than others
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Other Tips for Cat Owners

Not all cats like catnip; kittens rarely notice it, but you can try it for your cat after it is 6 months of age.

Hairballs are not "normal" but are common, try brushing your cat more to remove loose hair, feed a better quality cat food, and reduce stress to reduce shedding.

Polydactyl cats are cats with extra toes, and are considered to be lucky.

While most cats look somewhat similar there are a few unusual breeds, such as the Manx and Siamese cats.

Most cats you see are not specific breeds, in order for a cat to be called a Purebred, it must be registered.

Adopting a cat from an animal shelter is often cheaper than taking a "free kitten" to the vet for a check up, vaccination, and worming.  Animal shelters often have health guarantees and may give out many coupons and deals.

Where is the Environmentally Friendly Transportation

I remember as a kid (I was born in the 1960's) being told that one day soon gas and oil would run out. While many people lived in fear of this day, I was excited! I looked forward to the day when we would return to the horse and buggy. That day has still not arrived and cars are becoming slightly more efficient (although, as mentioned, still not as efficient as one would think). 

Well, time has passed and we are using cars (oil, and gas) more than ever. In fact, when I was young it was usually one car per family, now many families have two, or more, cars. It does not look like we will be going back to the horse and buggy anytime soon. 

Horses are very environmentally friendly (more so than cattle). They are a renewable resource. They need only grass (hay) and water. If worked hard some need oats or other grain too. While people often replace their car every 6 to 10 years, a well cared for horse can last much longer. Their waste is good for the soil. If you want to be blunt about it their remains can be used too, either as pet food, or to return to nature in a natural way to fertilize the soil.

On the other hand, horses were not always treated particularly well when they served exclusively as forms of transportation.  It was seeing cruelty to horses (and other humans) that inspired Anna Sewell to write her famous book "Black Beauty".  Even now improvements could be made to how carriage horses are treated when used to pull tourists around various cities.

What do you think, are horses the environmentally friendly transportation of the future?  Do you think there will be a time when we go back to the horse and buggy?

Mosquitoes are Beneficial to Humanity

There seems to be a war on the mosquitoes. Some people have erroneously referred to them as the most dangerous animal in the world, the leading killer of humans. In general you will find very little love or sympathy for mosquitoes.

I want to clear up the misconception that mosquitoes are dangerous killers. Female mosquitoes bite to get blood to raise her young. Not all mosquito females do this, and not all bite humans; some prefer birds, her goal is not to kill the animals she bites, her goal is to raise her young. Humans kill pigs, cattle, chickens, and so on to feed themselves, and feed their young, with the intention of killing. If we are to think of the diseases spread by mosquitoes we must remember it is the diseases that kill, not the mosquito who happens to be the carrier, it simply picked up the organism that causes the disease from an infected source.

People need to be honest, the mosquito is not a killer, the things it carries is.

Mosquitoes are very valuable to our planet, the are a food source to many animals (and even a few plants if you think about the carnivorous plants). Frogs, birds, bats, and even other insects, eat millions of mosquitoes every day (brown bats eat hundreds every night). These species will struggle without mosquitoes and many are dying even now, the result of toxins use on mosquitoes.

One animal which we must realize depends on mosquitoes for its survival is the fish! We eat fish. Fish eat mosquitoes, particularly mosquito larvae. Young lake fish feed on mosquito larvae (so do tadpoles which fish also eat), take away mosquitoes and you take away their larvae and what do fish feed on then? 

Mosquitoes are part of our food chain, we need them, so why are we so determined to kill them?

We can protect ourselves from mosquito bites, or from diseases (in many cases there are shots we can take if going into a risky area). Some people, like myself, are lucky, we can get bit and not get a reaction, and I do have sympathy for those who do get itchy bumps, but this is no reason to hate an animal that is basically doing the same thing we do; just trying to survive and raise its young.

If we must control (not eliminate) mosquitoes, we need to do it naturally without pesticides or chemicals which could harm the animals which eat mosquitoes.