Animal of the week fun!

Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft.

There are more than 60 different species of opossum, which are often called possums. The most notable is the Virginia opossum or common opossum—the only marsupial (pouched mammal) found in the United States and Canada.A female opossum gives birth to helpless young as tiny as honeybees. Babies immediately crawl into the mother's pouch, where they continue to develop. As they get larger, they will go in and out of the pouch and sometimes ride on the mother's back as she hunts for food. Opossums may give birth to as many as 20 babies in a litter, but fewer than half of them survive. Some never even make it as far as the pouch.Opossums are scavengers, and they often visit human homes or settlements to raid garbage cans, dumpsters, and other containers. They are attracted to carrion and can often be spotted near roadkill. Opossums also eat grass, nuts, and fruit. They will hunt mice, birds, insects, worms, snakes, and even chickens.These animals are most famous for "playing possum." When threatened by dogs, foxes, or bobcats, opossums sometimes flop onto their sides and lie on the ground with their eyes closed or staring fixedly into space. They extend their tongues and generally appear to be dead. This ploy may put a predator off its guard and allow the opossum an opportunity to make its escape.Opossums are excellent tree climbers and spend much of their time aloft. They are aided in this by sharp claws, which dig into bark, and by a long prehensile (gripping) tail that can be used as an extra limb. Opossums nest in tree holes or in dens made by other animals.These animals are widespread and are sometimes hunted as food, particularly in the southern United States.

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal. Diet: Omnivore. Size: Length from nose to tail, 2.5 ft (76 cm) Weight:8.8 to 13.2 lb (4 to 6 kg)Group name: Passel. Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Humming birds... B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L.

Kittens in the flowers... A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

All of these photos come from, http://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/gal1100/1/flower-cats-cute-dogs, They also have puppies... If you want to see more awesomely cute kits and pups, go there, like immediately! I mean it! NOW! You will practically faint at the sight of these sweethearts.

Animal of the week fun!

All adult meerkats—male and female—pitch in to help educate the young in hunting and survival

techniques.

These gregarious animals are often seen in groups, and several families may live together in a large community. Squirrel-sized meerkats are mongooses famed for their upright posture. They often stand on their rear legs and gaze alertly over the southern African plains where they live. Mothers can even nurse their young while standing. Meerkats (also called suricates) work together in numbers. A few will typically serve as lookouts, watching the skies for birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles, that can snatch them from the ground. A sharp, shrill call is the signal for all to take cover. While a few individuals guard the group, the rest busy themselves foraging for the foods that make up their varied diet. Meerkats will eat insects, lizards, birds, and fruit. When hunting small game, they work together and communicate with purring sounds. Meerkats are good hunters and are sometimes tamed for use as rodent-catchers.Meerkat groups utilize several different burrows and move from one to another. Each burrow is an extensive tunnel-and-room system that remains cool even under the broiling African sun. Females give birth to two to four young each year in one of the group's burrows. Fathers and siblings help to raise meerkat young, teaching them to play and forage and alerting them to the ever present danger from above. Young meerkats are so fearful of predatory birds that even airplanes will send them diving for cover.

Fast Facts

Type: Mammal. Diet: Omnivore. Size: Head and body, 9.75 to 11.75 in (25 to 30 cm); tail, 7.5 to 9.5 in (19 to 24 cm)Weight: Less than 2.2 lbs (1 kg)Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man:

Okay, guys...

I know that this is supposed to be an animal blog. But seriously? This is a very important post. I was looking at a blog I follow and I saw a link to a blog that looked interesting and I clicked it. {Okay, Claire, stop beating around the bush!} Well, I saw another link on that blog about a family who wants to adopt a little girl but they don't have enough money yet. So they are having a drawing and if you donate you are automatically are in the drawing, I think that's what they said! {Ha ha!!} And if you have a blog/website/face book etc you can go to her blog, http://theresoneless.blogspot.com/ and if you want share it on your website you will be entered in a giveaway until the 31st, or something like that. BUT you have to leave a comment.

Puppies!

Did anyone even notice these angels?? I found these on the Web. I know that those who stay with me and look at my blog constantly know by now that when it comes to animals--especially cute ones--I get a little crazy. But this time even I know that they are beyond just my opinion. A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E. Every single one of them! Who agrees with me? Let me know on comments.

The Dog Races...