CATS • DOGS • EQUESTRIAN • EXOTICS • HOMESTEADING • WILDLIFE
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Vol 1 editiOn 6 - FEB MAR 2017 ……………………………………………………
PriCelesS
of
SHELVING
BUNNIES PG 7
A Piece of the
OCEAN An Introduction to the Saltwater Aquarium
Pg 11
S
isterhood
of the
Traveling
PETS pg 17
Hangin' Out
Tree boas
with
pg 21
CONTENTS
3
Friend Me | Adoptions - Sponsored by Ligato's Fine Jewelry
7
The Art of Shelving Bunnies - Jessica Humphries
10
Kids' Corner | Crested Geckos - Morgan Caudle
11
A Piece of the Ocean | An Intro to the Saltwater Aquarium - Josh Kirkland
14
Working Dog: Abby of the Burton Fire Disctrict - Justin Smith
15
The Easiest Reptile You'll Ever Keep - Rebecca Werner
17
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pets - Hannah Seigworth
19
Upcoming Events
20 Q & Animal with Andy Grossman 21
Hanging Around with Tree Boas - Justin Smith
23 Barking Bluffton | Business Share Page 24 Declining Sperm Count in Men and Dogs - Janice Elenbaas 25 Kittens - Jane Payne 26 Books for People who Love Animals & BOOKS | Alex the Parrot - Linda Burton 27 Swans: More Than Just a Symbol of Love - Nicole Moore 29 Critter Collage Photo Page 31
Coloring Pages
33 Squawk | Local Animal-Related Business Directory 34 Contributors and Classifieds
CATEGORY KEY CATS
DOGS
EXOTIC
WILDLIFE
EQUESTRIAN
HOMESTEADING
PEANUT GALLERY
VOLUME 1
07
The Art of Shelving Bunnies
11 17
-
FEB MAR 2017
A Piece of the Ocean | An Intro to the Saltwater Aquarium
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pets
21
Hanging Around with Tree Boas
Publisher Ande Nehila Managing Editor Joe Nehila Editor Hannah Seigworth Creative Direction Nosoco Designer Two Rivers Creative: Vivian Hansen Cover Photography Jo Rackliff T.O.C. Photography Jo Rackliff Contributors Justin Smith, Hannah Seigworth, Linda Burton, Nicole Moore, Morgan Caudle, Jane Payne, Jessica Humphries, Josh Kirkland, Janice Elenbaas, Rebecca Werner Photography Credits Jo Rackliff Community Liaisons Justin Smith, Nicole Moore Nosoco dba Tails of the Lowcountry 175 Boardwalk Dr. Suite H Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-882-7803 info@tailsofthelowcountry.com www.tailsofthelowcountry.com
Copyrighted. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Tails of the Lowcountry magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Tails of the Lowcountry retains the right to refuse any advertisement. For questions of animal health, wellness, and safety, readers should consult professionals.
Cover Stories
EDITION 6
Atwater
Bunny
Colt
Emmie
Johnny Cash
Mona
Yanah
Vanish
Esteban
Gryphon
Little Girl
Eadie
Emelene
Sosa
Hilton Head Humane Association - hhhumane.org
Ellie
Selenium
One Love Animal Rescue
Confetti
The Tabby House
Ashi
- oneloveanimalrescue.com
Tang - tabbyhousebeaufort.com
Desi
Palmetto Animal League - palmettoanimalleague.org
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Note from the Publisher
G
reetings! Faithful readers will recognize my name as the “Associate Publisher,” but you will now note that I have assumed the mantle of Publisher. The outpouring of support and interest in Tails of the Lowcountry has been very uplifting. This issue, focused on “Exotic Animals,” is the last in our sixissue cycle. Our next issue will mean that we have been creating Tails of the Lowcountry for one full year. Those that read each issue know that we always have material on cats, dogs, horses, exotic animals, homesteading, and lots of other unique, animal-friendly topics. What have I learned in a year creating Tails? First, our team is very talented. We routinely receive compliments on the design work, and most like the writing. There may have been a few stray dashes, a misspelled word (or even title!), but the quality of the creative work that goes into Tails and our contributing authors are outstanding.
Murray
Second, animals are getting adopted, important causes are being highlighted, and people everywhere love animals. As a result, people want to support the businesses that are supporting our publication. We thank those that have made efforts to do this and keep the publication free. Finally, there is so much more to do. Highlighting businesses and people that care is a full-time job, but our team produces Tails as a labor of love between other work. We look forward to expanding our team in 2017 and touching even more lives. In our hearts, we cannot help feeling that a family-friendly, community-focused, furry, fuzzy, creepy, crawly magazine is important. Now let me get off my high horse! Happy Tails Ande Nehila Publisher
Mahi
Ryder
Dorothy
Tabby Tales Rescue - tabbytalesrescue.org
Cinna
Diamond
Beaufort County Animal Shelter
Goliath
Kaiya
Peanut
- bcgov.net
Ado andpt R es todcue ay! Cricket
H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue
Hope
Sage
- hopeacresrescue.org 4
Shadow
february
SD GUNNER FUND
You can make a difference in our “Like the Love” campaign! Each month, we select a charity who will benefit if you like our Official Tails of the lowcountry Facebook page: Facebook.com/ TailsoftheLowcountrY. Tell your friends & help these two charities win if we reach 250, 500, and 1,000 new likes!
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J ess by ow ica Hu n m ph Wo er of r i es n de rla Carol , i nd R ab na b its
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SHELVING
BUNNIES “Shelving”: the act of storing live baby rabbits away from mom. It takes patience and commitment. It takes work and time. But the payoff is worth it. If everything is going perfectly fine with the way you do things, I’m not telling you to change it, or that you need to shelve your litters; I’m just sharing my experience and the benefits I have found - oh, and how I do it!
M
any have seen a picture of my nursery on Facebook and asked me for more info. Some people immediately think I’m torturing my rabbits, and the responses get quite comical: ”OMG, how can they breathe?” or “Why would you take them from mom? That’s abuse!“ and so on. So I decided to write up an informational article on the subject. Bear with me as it will be a continuous work in progress. Like art, my method is not going to be perfect for everyone, but it works perfectly for me. Also like art, everything can be adjusted, and there are numerous variations of materials available. I will paint my picture for you, and you can decide how you would like to paint your own.
7
Shelving 101 helving means that you, the breeder, remove the kits (baby rabbits) from the nest as soon as they are born. You house them indoors, and mom feeds them two times a day. In our barn we use clear Tupperware style totes for houses. All of our rabbits get a house 24/7/365, even the bucks (male rabbits). Not only is this their safe haven from boogie men, it also works as an area for a nest for our does (female rabbits) which we breed selectively. Dates are notated at all times, as we use this calendar to track when kits should arrive. Generally, about a week before they are due to kindle (a.k.a., give birth), we give the does a pile of pine or aspen shavings in their house and a large pile of hay so they may stash and nest as they please. Because we use permanent housing setups for nests, we do not remove the nests when kits are brought in. Instead, we use our drawer system, which I will touch on later.
S
The Nursery Safety is key for a nursery. Choose a place in your home with a somewhat steady temperature (no extreme highs or lows) and that is protected from other household pets and toddlers. One of the reasons we like our system is we can lock it as needed. Some breeders simply line a shelf with nest boxes for a nursery. There is no right or wrong. Our nursery, the “3-drawer Sterilite” system, was fashioned to make it easiest on me. These sets of drawers average $17 each, and I use three, as I usually have 8-9 litters at a time. I pop off the top section and stack each set into one unit. (I advise not to put wheels on the bottom as it makes the tower unstable.) I then drill holes in the sides for ventilation. It is a trial and error in finding my favorite style/pattern of vent holes. Note: you can drill a hole in the front of each drawer and its upper shelf structure lip and lock it shut with zip ties. Or you can use the appliance locks found in the baby section of Walmart. This helps if you need to secure from toddlers, etc. These drawers can be used as a nest box, but I wouldn’t. I’ve found that does tend to be notorious chewers and will gnaw the side rims. These boxes fit perfectly through the doors of the typical DuMOR cages from Tractor Supply. I’m not sure about other brands, but my cages are homemade and they fit through my doors with no trouble. Now you have another “artistic” choice. One option would be to pull the nest as a whole, put it in the box, and carry the box to and from to mom. The
drawers typically do not need a cleaning while the kits are in it, but it will need to be cleaned prior to a new litter using the same box. If you find some kits to be dirtier than others (large breeds pee a little more), simply empty the box and refill. The second option was the one I picked. My drawers are set up simply to house my kits. First, I add a layer of shavings to each drawer. This layer is spread out and “banked” up the sides. I then add a fabric bedding of some sort: a washcloth, an old T-shirt strip, or a square of flannel or fleece. The fabric should be washable but will need to be brushed before going in the machine to remove the shavings stuck to it. I prefer the fleece blankets from Walmart. They cost $2.50 and make 6 squares when you fold in half and cut, then cut into thirds. I take one square (well, rectangle) and fold that in half, laying it over the shavings in the drawer. Then I tuck the edges between and under the shavings. This makes a sort of “fleece donut”: the edges make a nice bunker of shavings with a hollow area in the center. At this point your drawer is set up for kits. Now it’s mom’s turn! Once kits are born, remove them from her. Yes, you can touch them. (The whole “don’t touch them because mom will eat them” is the biggest myth out there.) Place the kits in their nice cozy donut, and cover them with mom’s fur from her nest. As I do not remove the nestbox/house and carry kits out, I do not remove her nesting materials, etc., and I leave some fur in there. I want her to still have her nest for later use.
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My barn has some really crummy stairs, as well as other poor features. Because of those, I do not have the ability to carry nine shelf boxes of kits out to the barn. This is where my secondary box comes in: a large, shallow, double-handled plastic box with a lid, used as a safety in case I trip, etc. That way, the kits all stay secure. Inside the box I fit six plastic Ziploc bowls, or a few bowls and a shoe box, or none at all. It all depends on how many litters and what ages I need to take outside. Newborns go into the bowls, but this is functional for only about a week. Babies grow crazy fast, so you’ve got to keep up. They then transfer up to the shoe box, followed by completely loose in the big box. I line mine with paper towels, but newspaper will do as well. Litters are identified by marker on the bowls and by tags on the drawers. Because I transport them to and from the barn using this method, I need moms to have their nests. I pour each set of kits into their mom’s box. When mom is done I scoop them back into their bowl, and back in the house they go. When they get old enough that I can combine them for transport, I use a marker and color the bottom of a foot for each litter: #1 is Right Front, #2 Back Right, and so on. If I have to mark the solids (dark feet), I typically use bodypaint of some sort. Some use fingernail polish in the ears, but personally, I don’t like that. I have seen ears not grow properly due to not being able to stretch from the polish, and if they do grow, they appear stunted and shriveled. This may have simply resulted from the brand I used. (Who knows?) I like the regular kids’ bodypaint.
training the does When you first start shelving, it can be overwhelming. My biggest suggestion is to make sure you always breed multiple does at a time and that one is a matriarch-proven doe. It is also ideal to house these does side by side while you are working. This method helps train the young or nervous doe, and it may take some time for the does to “get it.” Does feed babies two times a day: early morning and late evening. If your does don’t feed right away, don’t panic. Milk can take up to the second day to come in. Every doe is different. I have some that will feed 24/7 and some that will only feed one time a day. Some prefer mornings and some evenings. But as long as baby has a full tummy, you’re good. My girls are so used to the practice, they would try to feed a turtle if I put it in their nest and will feed any baby I give them, regardless if it is their own or not. This, in my opinion, is one of my favorite side effects of shelving. That being said, still use caution: some moms are protective at first and may attempt to nip you when you're in and out the nest. Many breeders say that shelving doesn't make good mommas. Because breeders cull for maternal skills, they would be unable to tell who’s gonna make the cut. Plainly stated, if a doe is gonna suck as a mom, she's gonna suck no matter what you do. Make three attempts to let her feed them on her own. If she refuses or is just confused, you can put them back in the drawer and set her in it (or in the nest), pet her head, give her treats, and basically keep her occupied. The kits know what to do. Often, this first time of assistance is all that is needed. Her instincts will kick in, and she will begin cleaning and tending to them. If at first she wants to jump out, let her, and then just pick her up and set her in again. If you try to hold her there, she could stomp the kits out of frustration. If she still has not caught on after five attempts, I label her as a crummy mom. I give the kits to another doe for a good feeding, then try their own mom again the next day. Three strikes and she's out. This is why it's important to breed multiples so that you have another mom to help feed any babies that start to lag behind.
How Long? The most common question I get is, “How long do they stay indoors?”. The answer varies from litter to litter. Smaller litters I keep indoors a tad longer than larger litters simply for temperature control. I put my babies out with their mom full time when they can get in and out of the plastic bowl on their own - a.k.a., the point at which they would be able to get in and out of the nest box/house if they were originally raised outdoors. It is at this time that many breeders that use wooden nest boxes choose to set the box on its side. At this age - an average of two weeks old - a kit has the ability to avoid predator intrusion. However, if a large predator simply tore into a cage, none is safe, but the kits have a greater chance of getting away from critters like raccoons and rats when they have the cognitive skills to move away from the threat. This is also the age when they start feeding on mom’s cecotropes and begin nibbling on hay and pellets. Again, smaller litters I keep indoors a touch longer but no longer than three weeks. No right or wrong here.
9
When you put kits out to stay full time with mom, do this during an evening feeding. They will settle into the nest to sleep after eating instead of exploring and later not figuring out the safe home. If you use the houses like I do, placement is key. Be sure to secure them to the floor (we use zip ties), and make absolutely certain that they do not butt up against the walls. Why? For one thing, it's easier to clean, but more importantly, when kits begin to explore they will travel behind the house and attempt to climb onto it. They can slip and get stuck in the wire, and if not noticed right away, they can break a leg. This is another reason why I prefer the clear houses to the grey ones. Also, the hay piled in front of the box is like natural signage for the kits. It aids them back into cozy land after they begin to edge out and explore. Now for the biggest benefit, in my personal opinion. When the kits are indoors 24/7 for those first two weeks, they get loved on and handled more often. People are also the very first thing they see other than their littermates. This, in turn, makes for super friendly rabbits when they become adults. I always have to warn friends that come over to not put their hands in the grow-out cages, as they will get swarmed for attention. If you’re thinking about breeding or are already in the breeding business, I hope my somewhat comprehensive guide to shelving proves helpful to you. Again, you don’t have to follow these steps to the letter. Do what works for you, and have fun!
' s d Ki r e n Cor
Crested Geckos By Morgan Caudle
Crested geckos live on an island named New Caledonia. There was a rescue team. It took 4 flights to go to New Caledonia to see crested geckos, and they landed on the isle of pines. They thought the geckos had all died, but in 1994 they discovered they were still alive. That’s why they chose that spot. Isle of Pines is about 22 degrees below the equator. This island is about 20k long and 15k wide. The island was given its name by captain James Cook. The tips of the crested geckos' tail and toes have small little hairs on them. Crested geckos don’t have eyelids, so they lick their eyes. Crested geckos love to jump all the time. Their tails are very strong. They use them to hang onto trees and other things. If a predator comes they hang onto something or hide. They are very good at hiding from predators, and they are very smart. Crested geckos are reptiles, and yes, they do shed. The reason why I like reptiles is because they are cute and interesting to learn about. I think they are awesome and cool. There are so many different kinds of reptiles. Some are so brightly colored, and there are so many different colors that they can be. I have a bearded dragon named B.D. The reason why I named him B.D. is because B stands for "bearded" and D stands for "dragon." I feed him crickets. He will not eat fruit or vegetables yet because he is a picky eater. He is very fun to watch, especially when he eats. I like putting him on my shirt and holding him. He loves to jump. He is a good pet to have. Here are some pictures of him and me.
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A Piece of the
OCEAN An Introduction to the Saltwater Aquarium, by Josh Kirkland
T
he process of setting up and maintaining a saltwater aquarium can be overwhelming just to think about. However, nothing compares to having a small piece of the ocean in your very own home. Whether you are a long-time freshwater aquarist or just starting out as a “salty,” following simple guidelines can make the journey with a saltwater aquarium much easier for you and your livestock.
The Tank The first and most important step: decide for which size tank you have the space and extra time to maintain. In the saltwater aquarium hobby, it is much easier to maintain a larger tank but more costly. The Equipment Once you have decided on the tank you prefer, you need to pick out equipment. Though this part seems mechanical, it can actually be quite fun, as there are limitless options and combinations. Most marine aquariums will require a heater, thermometer, sump or hang on back filter, protein skimmer, return pump, powerheads, lights, live rock, substrate, test kits, and, of course, saltwater. Explore and find what combination works best for you! Cycling Before any aquarium can support livestock, whether fish or invertebrates, it must be completely cycled. “Cycled” is another way of saying that biofiltration must be fully established in the system. After initial setup, just monitor the process with quality ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate test kits. As the cycle progresses, you will measure spikes and declines in ammonia and nitrite
levels followed by the presence of nitrate as evident with water testing. When ammonia and nitrite are no longer measurable and nitrate begins to build up, the system is considered cycled. Now you can safely, albeit very slowly and incrementally, begin adding livestock. The Livestock Picking livestock is, perhaps, the most exciting part! Different factors should be considered when deciding on livestock, including diet, maximum size, and compatibility with tankmates. Many fish - tangs and anthias, for example - require more than one daily feeding because of their metabolism. Some species are particular in their diet and will only eat certain foods. As far as size, any livestock purchase should be based on that subject’s maximum size to ensure compatibility with your tank size. And concerning tankmate compatibility, do your research to make sure that the livestock you’re considering can cohabitate peacefully. 11
Quarantine Tank The quarantine tank (QT) is one of the smartest investments you can make in the saltwater aquarium hobby. An independent, supplementary aquarium that can be set up or broken down quickly, the QT can act as temporary housing for new arrivals to recover from shipping, observe behavior and signs of illness or parasites, and to make sure they are eating
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us on prepared foods. It is a lot less difficult and problematic to deal with issues in a quarantine tank versus the main tank, especially if medications need to be administered. A 20-55 gallon aquarium kit or an allin-one system makes a great QT. The size of the tank should be based on the size of fish you plan on keeping. As far as equipment, you will need a thermometer, heater, hang on back filter, powerhead, ammonia test kit or ammonia detecting badge, inexpensive light, and a few coffee mugs or PVC pipes to serve as hiding places. Tank Options There are basically two types of tanks in the saltwater aquarium hobby. A “fish only with live rock” (FOWLR) and a reef tank. A FOWLR contains no corals and a very careful selection of invertebrates. With a FOWLR only nitrates, phosphates, and salinity need to be monitored to prevent excessive algae growth. A reef tank contains corals,
10% e n t i r e
OFF p invertebrates, and “reef safe” fish. It must have the proper lights for coral to thrive. You must also test and adjust nitrates, phosphates, calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, and salinity in order for coral to grow and remain healthy. A reef tank definitely requires more time and attention than a FOWLR. Water Quality Your water quality is another important part of the saltwater aquarium hobby. Water changes with freshly prepared salt water are done quite often. You can either purchase pre-mixed salt water at your local fish store, or you can make it yourself. Your city tap water contains many chemicals that are harmful to the inhabitants of a saltwater aquarium. If you decide to make your own salt water, a reverse osmosis deionization (RODI) system must be purchased. This system will strip tap water of anything harmful to a saltwater aquarium. After you have made RODI water, add your preferred salt mix to the water. This way you know the only additives in your salt water are what you have put into it.
u r c h a s e
Nothing good happens fast in the saltwater aquarium hobby, so it is best to take your time and have a fair share of patience. In the end the sense of accomplishment and enjoyment of having an entire ocean ecosystem under your care make it all worthwhile. Aquariums have helped soldiers cope with PTSD, educate children, and people deal with various mental disabilities. All in all, the benefits far outweigh any negatives. Happy reefing!
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D
WO RKI NG
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ust in S mit h
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G
et ting to write for Tails has led me to see some pretty cool stuff in the short time the magazine has been around. This working K-9 article being one of my favorites to do, I get to meet dogs that perform pretty impressive feats on a daily basis. This issue is definitely no exception. Abby, with the Burton Fire District in Beaufort is this issue’s working dog! Abby has a job that I never knew existed in the K-9 industry: an arson detection dog. I was fortunate enough to get to hang out with Abby and her handler Lt. John Perry to see just what being a fire hound is all about. As it turns out, State Farm Insurance provides arson dogs in select parts of the country and has for the last 25 years. In hopes of cutting back on fraudulent claims, State Farm invests in dogs like Abby to help determine if a fire was intentional since arson is one of the most underreported crimes. A lot of the dogs that end up working as arson dogs
Ab
by of th actually e
Bu
began their training to become disability dogs, but for one reason or another, they didn’t make the cut. With the arson dog program, they’re given a second chance to put their skills and training to use. While a lot of police or military dogs are typically Malinois, arson dogs are often labradors. Abby is a black lab who’s put in the time, and job-wise, she’s a rare breed!
rto n
Fir e
Di s tr ict
Abby started her career at a young age, with a rigorous 30-day, 200-hour class with her handler. In her training, Abby was trained to sniff out 250+ accelerants! Six years later, she’s one of only four dogs in the entire state of South Carolina that can do what she does. Lt. Perry had his own training to do as well. The basic requirements to be an arson dog handler mean at least 10 years as a firefighter, in addition to the dog training program to be completed in Maine. In her time as the area’s only arson dog, Abby has investigated 60+ fires - a number of those being arson cases that would have gone unnoticed otherwise. She has the uncanny ability to detect accelerants long after a fire has engulfed a structure and cooled off enough for her to check it out. Her reward? Every time she detects an accelerant, she gets to eat. This separates her from the police K-9s: they train to play, but Abby trains for her meals. Her skills have been used all over the Lowcountry. From Hampton to Jasper and from Allendale to Hilton Head, Abby finds accelerants better than the computers can that are built to do the same thing. If one of the other arson dogs in the state is out of commission or they need help, Abby is called upon to come to their aid. But even when she’s not working, she’s still a busy dog. When she’s not digging through ash and rubble, Abby is training every day to hone and maintain her skills. The company who trains all the arson dogs also requires Lt. Perry and Abby to recertify every year, and State Farm requires the pair to make regular public appearances as well. When I was researching for this article, Lt. Perry was kind enough to show me a demonstration of Abby’s skill set. It became clear very quickly that Abby was accustomed to having an audience. When it was time to train, she didn’t mind having a camera in her face as she kept her laser focus on getting the job done. Beaufort should be proud of this hound. Abby is dog who does a job that few know dogs have. Thanks to canines like her, more crimes are discovered and solved, and justice is served as a result. Seeing her skills first-hand was an incredible experience, and it’s no wonder why she’s the chosen one for fighting fire with fur. 14
The
Easiest
REPTILE You'll Ever Keep In the world of exotic pets, there are quite a few different species to choose from. From small and furry pocket opossums to large species of snakes and everything in between, each has a varying degree of difficulty when it comes to care. When choosing an exotic pet, it’s important to extensively look into care requirements to see what fits your abilities and comfort zones. To me it’s best to start out with an exotic that may be on the easier side of the spectrum. You’d be surprised at the amount you still have to choose from. In my eyes, it was an easy decision; I chose to look into keeping crested geckos, and I’ve never looked back.
A
s a kid I would often be found looking for anole eggs to hatch out and small ringneck snakes to keep for a few days and observe. I have always found myself fascinated with all species of reptiles, but crested geckos stood out to me. Something about the way they looked drew me in. I wanted to know more about them. After getting one, I was hooked. I did research for a good two years before I finally got my own. I was determined to learn everything I could to make sure the care I would be giving was right. Much to my surprise, they were fairly easy to care for. But just because they’re easier didn’t mean there wasn’t anything that could be messed up. They still have their sensitivities that need to be closely monitored: temperature, humidity, and diet are the main things to pay special attention to.
{New
15
Caledonia
by Rebecca Werner Crested geckos come from a small island called New Caledonia, which is just east of Australia in the Pacific Ocean. They were actually believed to be extinct until 1994, when a small group was brought into a breeding program and established into the pet trade. New Caledonia is a tropical island with comfortable temperatures and relatively high humidity. Because of this fact, crested geckos need to be kept within a temperature range of 7080 degrees Fahrenheit. Long periods of extended heat can cause major stress for these guys, so investing in an accurate temperature gauge is important. Unlike some species of lizards (e.g., bearded dragons, who like it upwards of 100 degrees Fahrenheit), cresteds like to be kept at most people’s average room temperature, which is one aspect that drew me to them. It was awesome knowing that there was no need to heat up my house with an overly hot basking bulb, which you need for some reptiles. I know some people don’t mind the extra heat, but it’s not for me. Now, don’t get me wrong: I still love the lizards and snakes that need heat, but I’ll leave those to my other reptile-loving friends. Not only is temperature a major factor to pay attention to but so is humidity. Because these geckos hail from a tropical island, humidity is something they one-hundredpercent need on a daily basis. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to maintain their humidity levels with a small, storebought spray bottle filled with water. If you live in a drier climate, they’ll need to be sprayed a little more often than if you live somewhere where humidity is higher.
WE
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LOCAL 843.757.4414
1011 FORDING ISLAND RD. C-106 | BLUFFTON, SC 29910 It’s important to find a good quality hydrometer to keep a close eye on the percentages throughout the day and evening. During the day the geckos should receive a dry-out period to prevent bacterial infections on the skin, shedding issues, and upper respiratory infections. I try to keep it as close to fifty-percent humidity during the day as possible. At night, they need a spike in the levels. Crested geckos are thought to be crepuscular, which means that they wake around dusk and get more active as it gets dark. They will spend most of their time eating and finding water sources at dusk and throughout the nighttime hours. In the wild they would be drinking the dew off leaves, which is why it’s so important for them to get a good misting at night. They’ll be up to get a drink, and you want them to have those “dew drops” ready for them. Nighttime humidity should be right around 80 percent. Feeding time … what do you feed your crested gecko? When they get the opportunity, crested geckos will munch on a bug or two that happens to hop by them, but their natural diet consists mainly of rotten fruit. Doesn’t sound very appetizing to me but, hey, that’s what they like. Now, in case you’re wondering, you can’t just feed them your old, mushy strawberries you forgot you bought at the grocery store a few weeks ago. All too many times, I’ve seen new keepers be misinformed about their dietary needs, and it has
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led to horrible bone deformities that would have been completely avoidable. Many vitamin-balanced commercial diets exist that contain everything cresteds need nutritionally. Every keeper and breeder has a preference, and every gecko has a flavor they like better than others. It’s extremely important, however, to find a complete diet for these guys. The diets come in powdered form that you mix with water, turning it into their very own gecko smoothie. It never hurts to join forums and reptile groups with other keepers. By doing this, you can find different opinions on what works best for the majority of their animals. As experience has taught me, though, never take anything word-for-word from one source. Ask multiple experienced keepers for advice, and if someone tells you it’s okay to feed them fruit baby food, RUN! Find helpful sources with accurate and current information to give. To sum it all up, exotic pets are super cool and fun to keep, but always start out with something that fits into your comfort zone. If you live in a small space, a sixteen foot reticulated python may not be your best choice, but a crested gecko may be
per fect. Do research, see what jumps out at you, and window shop for a while. Go to reptile shows and see them in person, talk to breeders and keepers on internet forums, and most importantly, don’t buy a living animal on impulse. They can live a long time and require constant care, and it’s up to you to check and double-check that the care you are giving them is right!
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isterhood of the
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Y
ears ago when Sarah was in elementary school, I remember asking her what she wanted to be when she grew up. “On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I want to be a vet,” she said. “And what about Tuesdays and Thursdays?” “I think I’ll be a chef.” “Well, I’m not coming to your restaurant.” “Why not?” “Because if animals go missing from your clinic, I’ll know what happened to them.” I don’t remember what happened after that, but I’m sure that remark earned me a slap on the arm.
Oh, yes. My little sister had big plans. A lover of both cooking shows and the Emergency Vets program that used to air on Animal Planet, she had a hard time deciding which she loved more. In the end, though, I think the vet program won out. The beginning Her dreams may not have seemed the most conventional, but neither was she. Sarah was born with a condition known as alopecia areata. An autoimmune disease, alopecia reprograms the body to attack hair follicles, resulting in partial to total hair loss. But my sister didn’t let a little hair loss stop her. She owned a rad collection of ballcaps - one for almost every outfit. Other than her condition, she and I had a relatively normal childhood. We lived in the countryside for a while, surrounded by farms. In the winter and spring, we sledded and built snowmen. In the summer, we frolicked through dandelion fields, built dams in puddles and creeks, and picked blueberries. And in the fall, we raked leaves and jumped in the piles. I was eight and Sarah was five when we moved from the Pennsylvanian countryside to the suburbs of Greenville, South Carolina. A year later, Sarah came down with a cold. It started normally enough - sore throat and sinus trouble. But one night changed our
lives forever, and I’m not just being dramatic. We had just returned home. Sarah and I went to sit on the couch, probably to watch TV. Mom had other ideas, though. She told us to go upstairs and change our clothes. I complied, but my sister just sat there. Thinking she was acting out, my mom told her again. Sarah slumped to the ground. Believing it was just the antics of a six-year-old, my mom tried to get her to stand up, but it was only then that we realized she had gone completely limp. Somehow, the cold virus had attacked her heart, and she had a stroke. How can someone so young have a stroke? When my mom called 911, even the dispatcher was having a hard time believing it. But as I have noticed, things happen regardless of belief. The stroke paralyzed her right side and left her with a permanent heart defect. The beginning of love The next six years proved quite the rollercoaster ride. Some years remained relatively quiet, while others were spent in and out of hospitals, either in Greenville or the pediatric cardiology section of MUSC in Charleston. With physical therapy, Sarah regained most of the use of her right side, but there always remained tests to be done, medication to be changed or updated, and new treatments or monitors to be tested. Besides Jesus and her family, one of the only constants in Sarah’s life was her avid love for animals. She and I were pretty typical girls in that respect. I wanted a horse, and she wanted a puppy. We hoarded stuffed animals, and every one of them had a name. We made up imaginary animal friends, checked out animal books from the library (until I discovered The Hardy Boys!), and when we got really bored, even read the dog section of the encyclopedia. My sister’s frequent hospital trips helped to kindle that love even more. Fortunately, there are more to hospitals than stark white corridors, needles, beeping machines, and drifting in and out of sleep between nightly nurse check-ups. Kind people, for 17
example. A while back, my parents had helped Sarah start her own “doctor kit” - a.k.a., a plastic container filled with first-aid supplies that they had collected over the years like gauze, bandages, and other safe items. When she went to the hospital, she’d take that kit along and perform “surgeries” on her stuffed animals to pass the time. The doctors and nurses became very familiar with Sarah and knew that she wanted to be a vet someday. During every hospital stay, my sister would make out like a bandit with all the trinkets they would give her to add to her kit. On more than one occasion, I caught my sister performing a C-section on her “pregnant” stuffed dog, which was this giant black lab puppet. She would stick smaller stuffed dogs inside of it, put an IV on its paw, “sedate” it, and then perform the surgery. Of course, she would be following along with an episode of Emergency Vets while she was doing it. The beginning of a relationship During this time period, we had three cats: Ribbon, Buttons, and Cleopatra Queen of Sheba. (Yes, I’m aware that Cleopatra wasn’t the queen of
Maverick
Princess Sarah
Sheba. The name had a nice ring to it.) Maverick to herd sheep. When Maverick Because Ribbon had asthma, we would wasn’t in the fields, however, he would take her to the vet about every 6 months provide comfort to those in nursing homes, for medicine and a check-up. In the assisted living facilities, and others in need process, our family became good friends of doggie love. with the head veterinarian, Dr. Malphrus, at Having always wanted a puppy, Sarah the clinic in Greenville. She loved Sarah and instantly fell in love with Maverick. While also knew of her vocational aspirations. she sat up in bed, hooked up to an oxygen Dr. Malphrus called up a contact at tank, he would lie next to her and the two the veterinary hospital, who allowed would happily play with Beanie Babies Sarah and my mom to watch a couple until our cat came into view. (By that time, of surgeries from the observation we were down to just Buttons.) window. Needless to say, my Buttons is white, fluffy, and sister was over the moon. My large. Maverick was trained to Waiting for mom, on the other hand, was herd sheep. You can imagine them to visit less enthusiastic; she had the scene. became like to step outside because Maverick wasn’t Sarah’s waiting to open she became so nauseated. only furry visitor, though. presents on And because I had to go to Joan participated in a group Christmas. school, I plied my sister for of pet owners to provide all the grisly surgery details animal therapy. After a few when I got home. visits with the Sheltie, other animals made appearances: two The beginning of life large Golden Retrievers and some blackWhen my sister was around ten, she was and-white puppies, to name a few. Waiting put into hospice care. If you’re familiar for them to visit became like waiting to with hospice, then you know that open presents on Christmas. they specialize mainly in providing Although therapy animals didn’t in-home care for older adults who miraculously cure my sister, they were have roughly six months left to small miracles in themselves. When the live. Such care for terminally ill child who always smiled couldn’t smile children was more rare at that anymore for the pain, they became her time than it is now. smile. They were innocent friends who The projected six months would never look at her oddly because she turned into a year and a half. was different. And when my sister became Because of the long duration, bedridden, and our family became both Sarah took on the role of guinea physically and emotionally cut off from pig in the realm of pediatric in- the rest of the world, those dear creatures home care of upstate South shone little flashlights into our more dark Carolina, including the use of and dismal days. therapy animals. Unlike HosI don’t know whether there are animals Pets, though, these therapy in heaven, but if there are, you’ll find them animals were provided through at my sister’s place. I just hope she isn’t a friend of Dr. Malphrus’s: Joan operating on them! Gilreath. A farmer herself, Joan had been training a Sheltie named by Hannah Seigworth, Editor 18
upcoming
Events
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Researching African-American Ancestry Feb 9 • 1:30 – 3:30 Santa Elena History Center
15th Annual Springtime Made in the South Feb 10 – 12 • 10:00 - 5:00 Savannah International Trade & Convention Center
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UPCOMING EVENTS - GULLAH RICE AND SWEETGRASS CULTURE • Wednesday, February 1 at 4:30
- A TASTE OF LOWCOUNTRY OYSTER HISTORY BY OLIVIA YOUNG • Thursday, February 9, 2:30 - 3:30
For more info call 843.284.9227 or visit www.morrisheritagecenter.org
- A HISTORY OF THE LOWCOUNTRY MARSH TACKY • Thursday, March 9, 2:00 - 3:30 - THE ART OF TEA • Thursday, March 16, 2:00 - 3:00
19
T
he reptile hobby is booming! With Ball Pythons dominating the market due to their ease of care and endless color combinations, there’s a handful of breeders that like to break the mold and diversify their collections and projects. Andy Grossman of Pets At Sunset is one of those breeders who does it all.
How do you introduce yourself and your work? My name is Andy Grossman. I am the owner and operator of Pets at Sunset. We are a private collection of handselected reptiles. My goal is to better understand the life cycle and captive propagation of pythons and boas and to make unique -look ing animals through captive breeding. When/how did you first get interested in reptiles? Like every kid: as soon as I discovered dinosaurs! Growing up I used to go out and find any animals I could. Frogs and salamanders were always a treat, but following a garter snake as it traveled through the grass was the highlight of my day. Just the fluidity of their motion could captivate me for hours on end. What made you want to take that next step into starting a business? In my day-to-day life, I am a retail manager in a rather large hardware store. I see the profits and losses and know where I have to have my margins to continue to open the doors and turn on the lights. My plan, originally, was to open a full-line pet store where I could house my collection and produce animals for the store, and I was building towards that.
Over time, I decided that having to look at living things as merchandise on a shelf and treat them as if they were CD players was just something that didn't sit well with me. I got my business license, so I am legitimately paying taxes and I can vend shows and sell and ship animals. But for us it has become a labor of love done every evening after work. Showing a loss financially is acceptable, because the profit is from seeing pictures from happy owners of animals we have produced. What was the first species you bred? Geckos were my first reptiles. I had a pair of Goniurosaurus hainanensis and a pair of Goniurosaurus luii - part of the Chinese cave gecko family. When I got them, I heard a lot of stories about keepers having difficulty keeping them from overheating, but our climate up here proved ideal for maintaining cage temperatures. Our first year of breeding produced 36 babies. What have been your favorite animals to breed and work with? That's actually a really hard question to answer. Everything we keep and breed, my partner and I do so because we truly love having that animal in our collection. Each species has its own rewards. I love Antaresia pythons for their personality and the challenge of getting the babies established. I love ball pythons for the amazing pallet of colors and patterns there are to choose from. Finally, I love boas for their overall gentle temperament and the experience of live birth. 20
How many animals do you currently have? Our current collection has about 100 adults and sub-adults that make up the breeding colonies, as well as offspring that are either going to be held back for future selective breeding or sold once they have established as a thriving, feeding animal. The 2016 season was one of our bigger years yet with over 150 babies produced. Where do you see the herp hobby going in the next 5 years? I see a lot of keepers refining their collections, specializing in one or maybe a few species, and getting away from the warehouse-breeder mentality. Not that there isn't a place for people with giant collections. But I think it will be better for the hobby overall if people just kept and bred what they loved and didn’t worry about what is popular and trendy. What advice do you have for people who want to start a business breeding herps? Do it because you love it. Because you can't imagine not having them in your life. Do it because you wake up at 2 AM thinking about it. Don't look at it as a method of getting rich, because anyone who has been at this long enough can tell you: the guys who truly make big dollars at this are few and far between. The days of $50,000 mutations are pretty much a thing of the past.
Keep up with all things reptile on the Pets At Sunset social media page! Visit: facebook.com/Pets.At.Sunset Photos courtesy of Pets At Sunset
t u O ' n i g n Ha with
T
Tree
he year was 2001. Sitting in one of my fifth-grade classes, I was definitely not paying attention to the teacher. Whatever the lesson was that day I wouldn’t remember, because I had the December issue of Reptiles Magazine in front of me. The feature article: Amazon tree boas (ATBs).
with a handful of parasites (internal and external) that would require a vet visit (or several) to treat. While wild caught tree boas seem to outnumber the captive bred individuals, the latter is still available if you look in the right places. They have a lot of redeeming qualities but also come with their scaly faults.
I had kept a number of different snakes up to that point but had never seen anything like Amazons. I must’ve read that article a hundred times. I couldn’t get enough of these large-eyed, wiry tree “worms,” but it wouldn’t be until 2006 that I would finally get my hands on one.
Arboreal Gems
Corallus, the genus that ATBs fall under, includes seven other species that are all native to Central and South America and into the West Indies. One of their close relatives is the Emerald Tree Boa usually the poster child for green arboreal snakes. In captivity, only a handful of species are regularly available, the two most popular being the two mentioned above. Amazons, however, are by far the easiest of the two to keep in captivity and are also much more affordable. But in the endless choices of snakes to keep as pets or as display animals, they are often overlooked. At one point in the hobby, people regularly bred Amazons in captivity, and they weren’t difficult to come by. Today, however, a lot of tree boas in the market are wild-caught and imported from their native Central and South America. This isn’t a huge deal because ATBs are listed as a species of least concern when it comes to native populations. What’s the catch? Wild caught snakes are a package deal, usually coming in
Fun snakes to keep, Amazon Tree Boas offer slightly more of a challenge than your average corn snake. Compared to other boas and pythons, ATBs are a lot smaller and, therefore, take up a lot less space. An adult Amazon can reach a length of around six feet, but its body girth usually grows no thicker than the diameter of a racquetball. One of the coolest things about Amazons is that they’re polymorphic, meaning that they come in a large variety of colors. Some individuals can be olive in color while others can be bright orange or red. In the wild they’re very opportunistic feeders, overpowering lizards and small birds and mammals. In captivity, though, they thrive on frozen-thawed mice of the appropriate size. Tree-dwelling snakes have always been one of my favorite groups of snakes to keep. In my opinion, they make some of the best display animals and the easiest to create a nice vivarium set-up for. Amazon Tree Boas are a prime candidate for a naturalistic setting. 21
Boa s
by Jus t
in S mit h,
Resi dent C raw
ly Expert
Unlike their relatives, the Emerald Tree Boa, Amazons will spend a considerable amount of time on the ground as well as perched in the branches. Being an arboreal species, these active climbers appreciate enclosures that have plenty of space to move around. The recommended set-up size for adults is 3’ x 2’ x 2’. ATBs
ATB's also require a certain amount of humidity to thrive. Ideally, the humidity levels should be between 40 and 70 percent with slightly higher bumps when it comes time for the boas to shed. Using natural cypress mulch as a substrate helps maintain those levels. Overall, temperatures are best in the low to mid 80’s with a basking spot that doesn’t exceed 90 to 93 degrees.
The Darker Side
Amazons don’t come without their faults. As mentioned before, a lot of the tree boas available are often imported and come in with health issues. Wild-caught individuals also have a harder time adapting to life in captivity, which leads to even more health issues. Shedding problems prove to be another common issue with tree boas. Since they require more humidity than most snakes, Amazons will often have bad sheds if they aren’t kept at optimum humidity levels. But the true complaint most people have with Amazons is their attitude. Of all the snakes in the hobby, it’s not hard to find a calm and gentle species that isn’t prone to biting, but tree boas happen to be on the opposite side of that spectrum. This species is notorious for being just plain foul in the personality department. If you handle an Amazon, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you’ll be getting a love tap, because they’re a naturally high-strung species. Fortunately, you’ll find the accuracy and speed of their strikes pretty lackluster and slightly comical. For smaller snakes, though, they boast some impressive teeth! On the flip side, it’s been noted that captive bred animals are slightly more calm than wild-caught animals - another reason to buy from breeders rather than importers. This species is easily managed with a small snake hook for any cage maintenance or feeding if you don’t like getting chomped on.
Still Worth It
If you’ve had some experience with snakes but want something different, try Amazons. While they may not be as enjoyable to interact with, their snark is still a loveable trait. The slightly higher requirements make tree boas a welcome challenge to any herper who wants to take that next step into arboreals and semiadvanced species. Their color palette, alienlike faces, and crotchety personalities make them a nice change from corn snakes and ball pythons. If you ask me, the personality is half the fun. 22
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Declining Sperm Count in Men and Dogs One of my favorite authors, Dr. Marion Nestle, coined the phrase “The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine”. She was referring to the health and safety of the American food system in her book, Pet Food Politics.
This summer, a study out of the school of veterinary medicine at the University of Nottingham, England, found that sperm motility in dogs has declining over the last 26 years. The study looked at 5 breeds: labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, curly coated retrievers, border collies and German shepherds. A significant number, between 42 and 97 dogs, were tested annually from 1988 to 2014. They found that 30% of all the tested breeds had a decrease in sperm motility. Puppies from these stud dogs had a 10 fold increase in the incidence of undescended testicles. They also saw a 3 fold increase in death of female puppies as well. Not only was motility affected, but so was the testicular tissue. They tested the tissue and found concentrations of the same chemicals found in electrical transformers, paint, and plastics. Similar chemicals were also discovered in the semen.
The pet food industry has its roots in the human food industry, where raw materials unfit for human consumption are being recycled into pet food Researchers made an and feed for livestock. When interesting discovery, pigs, cows, and chickens are “The same chemicals that fed these waste products, disrupted sperm quality were they are bound to find also discovered in a range of comtheir way into the mercially available dog foods – inhuman food cluding brands specifically marketed for chain. puppies.”
Further studies are being conducted on ovarian tissues in female dogs as well. They will be looking for reproductive problems and chemical concentrations in these tissues too. Toxins can be found in our environment. We clean our homes with chemicals and treat our lawns with pesticides and herbicides. Air and water pollution
influence the health of us and our dogs, but we also have to be aware of the foods we feed our families. Over the last 70 years, the article showed that there has been a decline in human sperm quality too. We are also seeing increased rates of testicular cancer and undescended testicles, just like in the dog study. One fifth of young men have low sperm counts and one in six couples is having difficulty conceiving. People and dogs are having similar issues with their health. We all live together and one aspect of health that we can control is our diet. Toxic chemicals are leaking into our bodies from the food we eat because of our reliance on convenient, processed food. It’s time to get back to the basics of a whole food based diet for ourselves and our furry family. By Janice Elenbaas
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very time I walk by a new straw stack and catch a whiff of the grainy stalks, I think of kittens. When I was a girl, that’s where our barn cats always hid their new litters. A farm just doesn’t seem complete without a shovel or two in the back of the truck and a straw stack with a nest of kittens born between the bales. That’s why I thought Boots, our cat, would be glad we stacked the hay for the steers with a little opening between the second layer bales. It would be perfect for her babies. The haystack is also close to the feed bunk, and where there is spilled feed there are mice. I was certain she would recognize the haystack with its supply of mice as a good home, so when she showed up on the doorstep noticeably thinner one morning, we went straight to the haystack to see the new kittens. They weren’t there. After a while, I gave up looking for them. If a cat can’t pick the obvious good choice then there is no telling what she will choose. But Calvin is a hunter and is willing to wait and watch. He sat outside observing Boots. Eventually she led him to the lean-to, back behind an old board, in between a pile of flattened inner tubes. There, on the cold dirt floor, was her litter of five. We took a blanket out to them and hoped they wouldn’t freeze. After a few days we moved them to a warmer place, but as soon as she could, Boots carried them back to the inner tubes. She knows better than we how to raise kittens. Right now, they’re in the cute, loveable stage and topple over each other as they come out to soak up the sun. We took advantage of that endearing stage and got them all “spoken for” while they’re in it. While I may not know the best place to have kittens, I do know the best way to find a good home for them. By Jane Payne
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Books For People Who Love Animals
&BOOKS
Alex the Parrot Genre: Children's Selection Written by Stephanie Spinner Illustrated by Meilo So
M
any of you wonderful animal fans out there are exotic animal lovers. You think outside of the box, adding to your family beautiful, sometimes strange, flamboyant creatures. But let’s all agree, these unconventional pets are not in any way strange to you. You are the lovers of dragon lizards, tarantulas, flying squirrels, pythons, hedgehogs, parrots, macaws, possibly even iguanas, pigmy goats, and monkeys! While I’m a traditional animal lover, I did, in college, have a parakeet. While that is as wild as I ever got with a pet, it was a creature that allowed me to think beyond my big, fat, independent cat. My parakeet sang to me, chirping and sitting on my finger, happy to bring a little sunshine to my world with his pretty, yellow feathers (which, by the way, got all over the rug below his cage, along with every piece of birdseed, as he fluffed and flapped those beautiful yellow feathers). And yes, I talked to him every day, hoping he would repeat what I said to him like other birds. However, in a college apartment, maybe it was best he didn’t repeat what he heard. Now, we all think our animals ‘talk’ to us, so as I was looking for a book to review this month, I came across one I had read long ago. It is the story about a graduate student who, after becoming interested in animal language, did her research on the subject and decided to study an African grey parrot. Alex The Parrot, South Carolina 2014-2015 Children’s Book Award, written by Stephanie Spinner and Illustrated by Meilo So, tells the incredible true story of Irene Pepperberg, a graduate student at Purdue University, who in 1977 went to a pet store and bought an African grey parrot, with the hopes of proving just how intelligent these birds were. This at a time when chimpanzee, gorilla and dolphin brains were the top of the scientific study world. It is the story of how determination and love of all things exotic show just how intelligent creatures can be. I bet you're talking to your llama right now, aren’t you? By Linda Burton, Beaufort County Educator
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wans
have
captured
attention
and
our
imaginations
throughout recorded history. In Roman mythology, swans were sacred to Venus, the Goddess of Love, and in Greek mythology, Helen of
MARCH 6-12, 2017
Troy was said to have been fathered by Zeus, disguised as a swan. In Ireland, the legend of the Children of Lir is about a wicked stepmother transforming the children into
Grand Tasting
swans for 900 years, and in Norse mythology, swans are
Friday, March 10
said to be white because their ancestors drank from the Well of Urd in Asgard, the home of the gods. In Latin
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America, the swan is a symbol of the Modernismo
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poetic movement, and in Hindu traditions, the swan symbolizes spiritual enlightenment. Truly a global inspiration, they
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More Than Just a Symbol of Love by Nicole Moore For ticket information and a full schedule of events, visit www.hiltonheadwineandfood.com
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CHILDHOOD SWEETHEARTS
A
s a symbol of love, swans are revered for their monogamy. Although they don’t reach reproductive maturity until they are four to seven years of age, they may form pair bonds as early as 20 months. These bonds are maintained year round, even while in migratory flocks. The males are the only large waterfowl to help with nest building, uprooting aquatic vegetation for the female to form into a bowl shape, ranging from one to three meters wide. The female will take on the incubation of the eggs, but occasionally the male will take a turn sitting on the nest. His main duty, however, is to defend the nest against predators. Swans have a well earned reputation for being aggressive towards anyone who comes too close to their brood. In Chicago 2012, a man was drowned by a swan when he got too close in his kayak.
SWAN FACTS Among the largest of the flying birds, some swan varieties can reach nearly five feet in length and weigh more than 30 lbs. Their serrated beaks are as effective as teeth, useful in defense as well as feeding on submerged roots, tubers, leaves and stems. Although they are mostly herbivorous, they will occasionally eat small amounts of aquatic animals.
serrated beaks
Up to 10 fT WINGSPAN
A group of swans is called a bevy, or, if in flight, a wedge. The males are called cobs, and the females are called pens. A baby swan is a cygnet. Usually five to seven eggs will be laid per season, with an incubation period of five to six weeks. After the cygnet is hatched, they spend about two months in the nest, becoming independent in one year. Here in North America, there are two types of native swans, the Trumpeter and the Tundra, who are both white with black beaks. In Europe, the Mute Swan is indigenous, and sports an orange beak with a knob at the forehead. Black swans are indigenous to Australia, but have been introduced to various countries as an ornamental bird. Winter migration takes swans to the east, as far as Northwest India and Korea.
TRUMPETER
OCCASIONAL CARNIVORE
TUNDRA
CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 30 POUNDS
MUTE
5 - 7 EGGS
BLACK
SWAN UPPING
T
hese days, swan meat is not found on most menus, but it was once considered a delicacy at banquets and feasts in merry old England. Beginning in the twelfth century, Mute Swans on and around the River Thames were marked as either belonging to the crown or to one of two liveries, who had the privilege of hunting them. Nine hundred years later, this practice, called “Swan Upping” continues. For five days in June, Mute Swans are ceremoniously examined, weighed, and if they belong to a livery, tagged and placed back into the river. Conservation education is the main goal, and local school children are invited to observe. 28
CRITTER COLLAGE
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Shelters & Refuges Georgia American Black+Tan Coonhound Rescue 912-398-0552 Coonhoundrescue.com Bryan Animal Caregivers 912-727-2694 | bryanac.org Bulloch County Animal Shelter 81 Mill Creek Rd, Statesboro 912-764-4529 bullochcounty.net/animal-shelter Chatham County Animal Control 7215 Sallie Mood Dr, Savannah 912-351-6750 animalcontrol.chathamcounty.org Coastal Pet Rescue PO Box 30462, Savannah 912-228-3538 coastalpetrescue.org D.R.E.A.M dreamrescue.org Dachshund Rescue of North America 127 Brandywine Rd, Savannah 912-398-1892 | Drna.org Effingham County Animal Control 307 GA-119, Springfield 912-754-2109 effinghamcounty.org F.A.C.T.S. 110 Olde Towne Rd, Savannah 912-484-4438 GRRR! Savannah | 912-656-9792 g-r-r-r.com Humane Society for Greater Savannah 7215 Sallie Mood Dr, Savannah 912-354-9515 humanesocietysav.org Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia Inc 4627 US-17, Brunswick 912-264-6246 hsscg.org One Love Animal Rescue, Inc Savannah | 912-572-1251 Oneloveanimalrescue.com P.A.W.S (Pets Are Worth Saving) 410 Hickory St, Springfield 912-754-6033 Petsareworthsaving.com Retire Retrievers Rescue, Inc. Savannah | 909-802-6297 retiredretrievers.org The Humane Society of Statesboro and Bulloch County 105 North College St, Statesboro 912-681-9393 statesborohumane.org Save-A-Life Savannah | 912-598-7729 Savealifepets.org Save Our Souls Dog Rescue (S.O.S) 1231 W E Callaway Rd Claxton 912-547-4129 saveoursoulsanimalrescue.org Second Chances Equine Rescue Inc 7663 GA-196, Hinesville 912-385-8512 | Scer-ga.org Tabby Tales Cat Rescue Savannah, Ga tabbytalesrescue.org South Carolina Beaufort County Animal Shelter 23 Shelter Church Road Beaufort 843-255-5010 | bcgov.net Frances R. Willis SPCA 136 4 Paws Ln, Summerville, SC 29483 843-871-3820 summervillespca.org Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter 33 Poor Farm Rd, Walterboro 843-893-2651 | Foccas-sc.org Hilton Head Humane Association 10 Humane Way, Hilton Head Island 843-681-8686 hhhumane.org
H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue 1044 Eagle Harbor Ln, Summerville 843-412-3519 hopeacresrescue.org Jasper Animal Rescue Mission (JARM) 1352 Carters Mill Rd, Ridgeland 843-726-7799 JARMission.org L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue 6854 Ethel Post Office Rd, Meggett 843-991-4879 Learnhorserescue.org Lovable Paws Rescue PO Box 688, Hardeeville 843-422-1549 lovablepawsrescue.com Maranatha Farm Rescue for Tails 342 Crabapple Ln, Ridgeland 843-816-6676 Maranathafarm.net Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center 56 Riverwalk Blvd, Ridgeland 843-645-1725 Palmettoanimalleague.org Rogue Rescue & Sanctuary 15 Tillman St, Bluffton 843-816-0097 roguerescue.org Tabby House 2127 Boundary St, Beaufort 843-255-5031 Tabbyhousebeaufort.com Nonprofit Associations Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society Augusta Augustaaikenaudubon.org Charleston Natural History Society PO Box 504, Charleston charlestonaudubon.org Coastal Georgia Audubon Society PO Box 21726, St Simons Coastalgeorgiabirding.org Daufuskie Marsh Tacky Society Box 87 Daufuskie Island, SC 29915 843-290-9119 daufuskiemarshtackysociety.org Faith Equestrian Therapeutic Center 243 Appaloosa Way, Guyton 912-728-3728 faithetc.org Folly Beach Turtle Watch Folly Beach | 843-588-2433 follyturtles.com Georgia Beekeepers Associations 534 Mt Gerizim Rd, Mableton 770-732-6007 Gabeekeeping.com Hilton Head Island Audubon Society PO Box 6185 Hilton Head Island Hiltonheadaudubon.org Heroes on Horseback P.O. Box 3678, Bluffton 843-757-5607 Heroesonhorseback.org Island Feral Cat Project 912-777-3289 islandsferalcatproject.org Lowcountry Raptors 2509 Lumber Rd, Ruffin 843-908-3235 Lowcountryraptors.org Oconee Rivers Audubon Society PO Box 81082 Athens oconeeriversaudubon.org Ogeechee Audubon Society PO Box 13423 Savannah, GA Ogeecheeaudubon.org SCDNR - Marine Turtle Conservation Program 217 Fort Johnson Road Charleston 843-953-9015 dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle South Carolina Waterfowl Association 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood 803-452-6001 | scwa.org The Bee Cause Project Savannah, GA thebeecause.org The Kiawah Conservancy 843-768-9166 kiawahturtles.com Waddell Maritime Center 211 Sawmill Creek Rd, Bluffton 843-837-3795
Wish Upon a Horse Therapeutic Riding Center 190 Greenwood Dr, Hilton Head Island 843-671-2586 | wishuponahorsehhi.org Zoos, Aquariums & Educational Centers Atlanta Zoo 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta 404-624-5600 zooatlanta.org Bee City 1066 Holly Ridge Ln, Cottageville 843-835-5912 | Beecity.net Center for Wildlife Education 1461 Forest Dr, Statesboro 912-478-0831 academics.georgiasouthern.edu/wildlife Coastal Discovery Museum 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island 843-689-6767 Coastaldiscovery.org Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens 2 Canebrake Rd, Savannah, GA 31419 912-921-5460 coastalgeorgiabg.com Edisto Island Serpentarium 1374 Hwy 174, Edisto Island 843-869-1171 edistoserpentarium.com Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta 404-581-4000 | Georgiaaquarium.org Georgia Sea Turtle Center 214 Stable Rd Jekyll Island 912-635-4444 | Gstc.jekyllisland.com Jacksonville Zoo 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville 904-757-4463 jacksonvillezoo.org Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah 711 Sandtown Rd Savannah 912-395-1212 | oatlandisland.org Port Royal Sound Maritime Center 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie 843-645-7774 portroyalsoundfoundation.org Riverbanks Zoo 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia 803-779-8717 | riverbanks.org South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston 843-577-3474 | Scaquarium.org The Center for Birds of Prey 4719 N Hwy 17, Awendaw 843-971-7474 thecenterforbirdsofprey.org Friends of Animals Amy Bowman, State Farm Insurance 1284 Ribaut Rd., Beaufort (843)-524-7531 At Home Pet Sitters Savannah | 912-355-9656 athomepetsitters.net Aunt Laurie’s Bluffton | 843-940-7116 Auntlauries.com Baleada Express 4 Oliver Ct #102, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-706-9996 | baleadaexpress.com Big D’s Royal Tees 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland 843-987-1517 | bigdsroyaltees.com Blends: A Coffee Boutique 102 E Broughton St, Savannah (912) 999-7134 | blendsacoffeeboutique.com Canine Palace 2805 Bull St, Savannah 912-234-3336 | caninepalacesavannah.com Captain Woody’s 17 State Of Mind St, Bluffton 843-757-6222 | captainwoodys.com Catnip-N-Biscuits 2615 Skidaway Rd, Savannah 912-349-5838 | catnipnbiscuits.com Christopher & Co Salon Spa 130 Tibet Ave #101, Savannah (912) 584-1400 | christophersalonspa.com Cocoon 6 Promenade Street #1008, Bluffton 843-815-3315 | Cocoonbluffton.com
The Collins Quarter 151 Bull St., Savannah, GA 31401 912-777-4147 | thecollinsquarter.com The Cottage Cafe 38 Calhoun St, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-0508 | Thecottagebluffton.com Erica Veit, Realtor 2 North Forest Beach Drive, Suite 119, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 843-290-9119 | charteronerealty.com Fox and Weeks 7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr. Savannah, GA 31406 | 912-352-7200 | foxandweeks.com GNC Bluffton 1011 Fording Island Rd, Ste C-106, Bluffton 843-757-4414 | gnc.com Highway 21 Drive-In 55 Parker Dr, Beaufort 843-846-4021 | hwy21drivein.com Hillbilly Hound Pet Boutique 61 Riverwalk Blvd Unit H Ridgeland, SC 29936 | 843-645-7777 /Hillbillyhoundpetboutique/ Hunter Cattle 934 Driggers Rd, Brooklet 912-823-2333 | Huntercattle.com Hubbard’s Maid Service Savannah, Ga 912-961-9131 | hubbardsmaidservice.com Jack Frost Homemade Ice Cream 25 William Pope Dr, Okatie 843-705-5669 | jackfrosticecream.com Ligato’s Fine Jewelry 80 Baylor Dr #106, Bluffton 843-757-8865 | ligatosfinejewelry.com Noble Beast Dog Training Savannah (904) 571-0455 facebook.com/noblebeasts Nosoco 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland 843-882-7801 | Nosoco.com OCY Originals - Custom Dog Collars etsy.com/shop/OCYOriginals Pets at Peace 7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr, Savannah, GA 31406 | 912-352-7200 | www.foxandweeks. petpassages.com Pirate’s Island 8 Marina Side Dr, Hilton Head Island 843-686-4001 | Piratesislandgolf.com Pooler Veterinary Hospital 608 US-80, Bloomingdale, GA 31302 912-748-0709 | Poolervet.com Savannah Square Pops 347 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA | 912-999-7078 facebook.com/savannahsquarepops Sea Island Carriage Company 930 Bay St, Beaufort, SC 29902 843-476-7789 seaislandcarriagecompany.com Sprout Mama Hilton Head Island | 843-683-0827 sproutmomma.com Tails of the Lowcountry 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland 843-882-7801 | tailsofthelowcountry.com The Cottage 38 Calhoun St, Bluffton 843-757-0508 |thecottagebluffton.com The Juice Hive 14 Johnston Way, Bluffton 843-757-2899 | thejuicehivebluffton.com The Sugaree 142 Burnt Church Rd, Bluffton 843-290-8585 The Wall 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland 843-882-7801 | thewall.events Timeless Interiors 4376 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton 843-837-8088 timelessinteriorshiltonhead.com Treylor Park and Hitch 115 East Bay St., Savannah, GA 31401 912-888-TREYLOR treylorparksavannah.com Wright Square Cafe 21 W York St., Savannah 912-238-1150 | wrightsquarecafe.com Your Sound Stage Burnt Church Rd, Bluffton 843-683-7500
Justin Smith is a lifelong lover of unlovable animals. A Beaufort native, he resides on Lady’s Island. Justin currently breeds Crested Geckos and loves creepy crawly friends.
Hannah Seigworth counts her parents and cat, Buttons, as her biggest fans. Hannah will be the podcast maven of the upcoming Tails series and writes great articles in her spare time.
Rebecca Werner has always had a passion for animals. She's a Florida native living on the space coast. Rebecca currently breeds crested geckos and is a foster for a few local cat and dog rescues. She’s also the owner/operator of Space Coast Cresties
Dr. Janice Elenbaas grew up hating the smell that filled the house whenever her mom would pressure-cook a beef head as part of her homemade dog food. "I'll never do that," thought Janice. Now she owns Lucky Dog Cuisine, a company that creates all-natural food for dogs.
Josh Kirkland is a 15 year marine aquarist. A Savannah native and currently resides within. Josh currently has a 90g and 75g mixed reef tanks.
Jane Payne is a prolific blogger, covering self reliance, thriftiness, and homesteading. She has a gaggle of children, and now grandchildren. Two of her favorites cause her to spend a few weeks in Okatie each summer. These days Jane passes her time as an empty nester, teaching, and taking on unusual projects with her husband of 34 years, Calvin.
Linda Burton is a Beaufort County literacy teacher, mom to three great college kids, and lover of all animals.As much as she has tried, she has given up on the ‘no dogs on the couch’ rule.
Morgan Caudle is not your ordinary eight-year-old girl (and her second cousin Hannah Seigworth loves her for it). She enjoys Science class, watching documentaries, and reading all about reptiles! And when she's not doing that, you can find her writing, drawing, listening to music, or taking care of her pet bearded dragon, B.D.
Jessica Humphries is a Lowcountry Native residing in Walterboro SC. An avid animal lover, she is currently the vice president of the Southern Pride Rabbit and Cavy Club. Jessica is owner and operator of Carolina Wonderland Rabbits.
Nicole Moore is the mother of three and an alternative medicine guru. She loves reading, writing, animals, and playing dress-up while leading visitors on culinary tours of Savannah.
cl ssified LOST CAT: 12/22/16 at N Okatie Hwy / Rivers End Dr, SC. Ran away from sitter. Mary Anne is a skittish tabby cat. White chest & light blue eyes. Is on an inhaler. Very allergic to topical flea & tick meds/collars. Microchipped. If seen, call Betty • 912-658-1253
Nubian Baby Goats for Sale
Call Sharon • 843.694.3144
Great Milk Cow Needs New Home! Call Sharon • 843.694.3144 34
Rabbitry Master & Supplies Rabbits, Quail, Pot Belly Pigs. Call Bill • 843.726.1031
Huge, Gentle Chickens near Charleston. English Orpingtons & Brahmas. Contact Diana •
843.509.9015
Jackson's Kennel - Bulldogs American, Olde English, English Call • 912.693.5703
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