Wild Boar (Suindae)

Wild boar ... or suindae!


Wild boars are typically found in Northern and Central Europe, though they can be found as far as Asia sometimes.  Wild boars have been bred in the U.S. for hunting purposes, but after escapes from captivity, have been repopulated. Boars have large heads and short legs, and when piglets are born, they have stripes down their back. These stripes, however, fade by the time they are 6 weeks old.


Pregnancy periods will last about 115 days, and 3 days before birth, the female will make a strong nest for her and her piglets. Birthing takes about 3 hours, and when the youngsters are born, they and the mother will stay in the nest for up to 6 days to get used to their surroundings.


The Celtics believed that the boar was a sacred token to the goddess Arduinna. 

Skunk (mephitidae carnivora)

Skunk ...or mephitidae carnivora!


Never pet a shaggy black and white cat, or you  might get a little more then you bargained for. Skunks may be small, but  they pack a stench if they get scared.  They will eat berries, small mammals, nuts, and in towns and cities, garbage. During winter, they will hibernate. While up to twelve females can sleep in one den, males prefer to den alone.

Skunks have very poor vision, and can't see objects more then 10 feet away. Usually a female skunk gives birth in May, and after three weeks, the babies (sometimes called kits) can see. They will stay with their mom for about a year, and then they leave to go on their own.

Skunks can be found all over the world, but are commonly found in North America.

Akita (canis lupis familiaris)

Akita ... or canis lupis familiaris!


Akita dogs were originally bred  in Japan, but now can be found all over the world. An Akita's coat comes in only 5 colors, but only the American Akita can come in all five. The coat can be long or short, depending on how it is cared for.

The Akita is a loyal and intelligent breed. A faithful Akita named Hachicko waited for his master for 10 years at Shibuya  station, to greet him from the train. After his death, a statue was erected for him to show his loyalty, and he also saved the Akita from extinction.

Bulldog (canis lupis familiaris)

Bulldog... or canis lupis familiaris!

Bulldogs, though they may look grouchy, are actually gentle giants. They are easy to please, and have a good temperment with children. A standard male bulldog will weigh 55 pounds, while a female weighs 50 pounds. It has been said that on average a bulldog lives for about 8-12 years. The bulldogs who die of old age are usually 11 years old.

Bulldog health risks include cherry eye, allergies, and hip problems. If a bulldog is not exercised properly, weight, joint heart, and lung problems can set in. In most countries, bulldogs are symbolized as mascots for sports.

Though bulldogs originated in England, they can now be found throughout the world.

Pelican (pelecanus)

Pelican ...or pelecanus!

Recognized for their large throat pouch, a pelican can weigh up to  33 pounds, though the smallest on record is only 6 pounds. A pelican will mainly eat fish, but have been known to occasionally eat other birds.  Pelicans will usually dive to get their food, but will also steal food from other birds.

Pelicans will hatch eggs both in trees and on land. At ten to twelve weeks a young pelican will start hunting for it's own food, but will still live in the nest. The most common species of pelican is the Australian pelican, and the rarest breed is the Dalmation and the Spot-billed pelican.

Pelican environment was spoiled by the 2010 petroleum disaster, and dead pelicans were found all along raccoon island.  The island had been home to more than 60000 pelicans, but since the oil spill pelicans have had a decline in population.

Extra Special Article! English Labrador Retriever! (Canis lupis familiaris)

Labrador Retriever .... or canis lupis familiaris!

Labs are very good house pets. They are soft mouths, and are good  in water. They can carry a raw egg in their mouth and not break it, and are preferred to beagles for bringing back water kill. As of 1991, they were the most popular house pet in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.

Labs are agile and love retrieving balls and Frisbees. They have a good temperament and make good family dogs. I have a 2 month old puppy lab named Lucky, for whom this article is being written. He is a tired dog, and will sleep in the day, but at night he is a bundle of energy. Lucky has been with me for 3 days now, and is being house and crate trained. House training is hard. He has had 4 accidents so far, but whenever he does, I will bring him to the door and tell him go out there. This method works with most dogs, and he is learning quickly.

When you are training your dog, you need to be firm with your commands. I train Lucky by using dog biscuits, but as he gets better, move to verbal praise. Never give ANY dogs chocolate, grapes, raisins, or any type of human medicine. If you have a puppy, make sure you put away cleaning supplies for accidents, so your pup cannot get poisoned.

The very first commands to teach your dog are 'come' and 'sit'. Only use one word commands, so your dog does not get confused. Whenever your pup does something good, give it verbal praise, as too many dog biscuits can make your dog sick, and as everyone knows labs are chow hounds. Keep posted on the Weekly Lucky Report!   

Beaver (Castor canadensis)

Beaver ...or castor canadensis!!!

The beaver population was once about 60 million, but as of 1988 was around twelve million. The population decline was due to fur hunting, and also the use of their glands as medicine. Beavers tend to live along streams and rivers, and make dams as their homes. Dams provide safe shelter and easy access to food in winter. Beavers are industrious, and can build a sturdy enough dam to keep a wolf or coyote out in one night.

Beavers knock down trees to help build their dams, and also small trees for food. Two year old beavers will not only help their parents repair their dam, they will watch over younger beavers too. Beaver families find each other by sense of smell.