A lot has been going on in the news concerning wolves and not for the better. I've been more or less neglecting the issue because well, its depressing and while I'd rather not dwell upon it I should share it. So instead of post them in an individual manner I think every week I'll post a collective news reel. Most of where I'll be getting my info is from the groups I'm a part of on Facebook and through Howl Colorado - probably one of the better news sources concerning wolves that I've seen since they are constantly updating the news section.
Right now, as you know the oil spill in the Gulf has been big news and it looks like it still will be for the rest of the summer and well into the fall. The biggest controversy to come out of it is how to deal with the helpless victims who have been caught in this thick wake. This article comes from Cosmic Log on the MSNBC webpage prompting the question: Clean the birds, or kill them?
Colorado rancher hopes for wolves (Feb 8, 2010)
Public meetings held regarding proposed Montana wolf hunt plans - From Howl Colorado, 3 other articles are highlighted within, which I've placed here with "bullet" marks:
-Many blast wolf management at FWP meeting on upcoming hunt (June 3, 2010)
-Public weighs in on wolf hunt quotas (June 3, 2010)
-Biologist: wolf hunt only way to reduce population (June 3, 2010)
44 dead this year as Montana continues aggressive wolf management (June 3, 2010)
-15 wolves from 5 packs killed in Montana (May 31, 2010)
Judge rejects Alaska plan to begin killing wolves - A bit of good news! (June 4, 2010)
Wolf-recovery program now 'at risk of failure' - concerning the Mexican Gray wolves (June 6, 2010)
Anti-wolf Web site proposes illegal poisoning of wolves - This I find to be most disgusting! At the end of the article is the link to the website, Lobowatch. I have not clicked the linked because I don't know if I'd be able to scroll through with restraint. Feel free to click the link at the end of the article if you can brave it. (June 7, 2010)
Boise wolf hunt suspended (June 7, 2010)
That's a look at what's been going on this month alone. You can find these on Howl Colorado's Facebook, though you'll need to sign up (if you aren't already) and friend them before you can see them or simply check out there own page I listed further up in the post.
Showing posts with label wolf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wolf. Show all posts
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
To live in dream
I think I just had the best dream ever this morning! And about wolves of course. I dream that in Orlando they have an internship program working with wolves...which would most likely lead to a decision to pursue my Masters at the UF. It was a short dream but I enjoyed nonetheless.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Dog Behavior answered!
Q: Why does my dog misbehave so often? A: Often what humans view as misbehavior -- excessive barking, counter surfing, jumping on people -- is just normal behavior from the dog's point of view.
Obs: Also if your dog, like mine is a constant window watcher, and sometime seems like there's nothing there but continues to bark anyways. It's annoyning and frustrating but the dog is making sure you know what's going on outside the home, like "Hey, there are some weird people out here! I don't think they're a threat but I just want you to know." They just want to protect the pack.
Q: Why does my dog keep hiding behind her toys and blankets behind the sofa?
A: Despite millennia of domestication, dogs are still wolves at heart. Your dog is just minimizing their exposure during vulnerable hours when they're asleep.
Obs: My dog usually hangs out in the laundry room also known as "the cage". Its where we kept her as a puppy and where she's usually sent for punishment. Some days she'll stay in there most of the day doing as describe as sulking because she'll give you a look like she's guilty of doing something wrong. And she wanted to get ahead of you by punishing herself. But I guess it's like her home and she feels comfortable there.
Q: Why does my dog eat grass even thugh it makes them sick?
A: Sometimes dogs eat grass because their tummies are upset.
Obs: Don't be too alarmed if your dog starts ripping at grass like a cow. Their tummy is upset and most likely all you'll have to worry about is the regurgitated contents of their stomach in a corner somewhere. For the most part that'll be the end of it and things will settle into their normal routine. It's best not to punish your pooch because they didn't really do anything wrong. Just give them a little extra TLC to see them through.
Q: Why does my dog insist on rolling in smelly things?
A: They're hiding their scent as any good predator would. A duck might be alarmed by the scent of 75 pounds of wet dog bearing down on it, but a rotten banana is not on its enemies list. Of course with a dog's heightened sense of smell, all scents are interesting, frightening, exciting, delicious, etc. -- but never disgusting.
Obs: I'm not too certain of this explanation, in fact it's the only one I'm at odds with. Again this is most often a wolf-rooted behavior. My dog in particular used to love scent rolling - rubbing their cheeks or shoulders - in owl scat, which is very pungent in odor. I think dogs are attracted to strong smelling substances and roll them to inhance their own scents.
I also found this in "Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation" by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani:
"Scent Rolling: The tendency of wolves to roll on pungent substances is difficult to explain (reviewed by Reiger 1979). This ritualized behavior involves lowering the head and shoulders onto the substrate, followed by rubbing the chin, cheeks, neck, shoulders, and back on the odorous substance. Natural stimuli for scent rolling, such as rotten carcasses, typically have very strong odors that humans find offensive.
Tests with captive wolves have resulted in extensive lists of potential scent-rolling stimuli, both natural and unnatural (Goodman 1978; Ryon et al. 1986), but they have not conclusively demonstrated the function of this behavior. Possibilities include (1) familiarization with novel odors or changes in odors (Fox 1971a; Ryon et al. 1986), (2) strong attraction or aversion to particular odors (Ryon et al. 1986), (3) concealing one's own scent with something more pungent (Zimen 1981), and (4) making oneself more attractive by applying a novel odor (Fox 1971a). Female African wild dogs roll in the urine of males whose pack they are attempting to join, perhaps to coat themselves with an odor that would be familiar to the pack and to increase the chances of acceptance (Frame et al. 1979)."
Some other little tidbits from the BJ's article:
-Dogs' noses have over 300 million scent receptors -- 50 times more than a human nose -- allowing them to literally "see" their world through scent.
-The average dog can understand about 165 words, but the smartest breeds know upwards of 250 words -- that's on par with a human 3-year-old.
-Dogs' super-sensititve whiskers can sense tornadoes and earthquakes days before they happen.
(source: BJ's Journal - I cut out their product placement! - along with my own observations thrown in)
Obs: Also if your dog, like mine is a constant window watcher, and sometime seems like there's nothing there but continues to bark anyways. It's annoyning and frustrating but the dog is making sure you know what's going on outside the home, like "Hey, there are some weird people out here! I don't think they're a threat but I just want you to know." They just want to protect the pack.
Q: Why does my dog keep hiding behind her toys and blankets behind the sofa?
A: Despite millennia of domestication, dogs are still wolves at heart. Your dog is just minimizing their exposure during vulnerable hours when they're asleep.
Obs: My dog usually hangs out in the laundry room also known as "the cage". Its where we kept her as a puppy and where she's usually sent for punishment. Some days she'll stay in there most of the day doing as describe as sulking because she'll give you a look like she's guilty of doing something wrong. And she wanted to get ahead of you by punishing herself. But I guess it's like her home and she feels comfortable there.
Q: Why does my dog eat grass even thugh it makes them sick?
A: Sometimes dogs eat grass because their tummies are upset.
Obs: Don't be too alarmed if your dog starts ripping at grass like a cow. Their tummy is upset and most likely all you'll have to worry about is the regurgitated contents of their stomach in a corner somewhere. For the most part that'll be the end of it and things will settle into their normal routine. It's best not to punish your pooch because they didn't really do anything wrong. Just give them a little extra TLC to see them through.
Q: Why does my dog insist on rolling in smelly things?
A: They're hiding their scent as any good predator would. A duck might be alarmed by the scent of 75 pounds of wet dog bearing down on it, but a rotten banana is not on its enemies list. Of course with a dog's heightened sense of smell, all scents are interesting, frightening, exciting, delicious, etc. -- but never disgusting.
Obs: I'm not too certain of this explanation, in fact it's the only one I'm at odds with. Again this is most often a wolf-rooted behavior. My dog in particular used to love scent rolling - rubbing their cheeks or shoulders - in owl scat, which is very pungent in odor. I think dogs are attracted to strong smelling substances and roll them to inhance their own scents.
I also found this in "Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation" by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani:
"Scent Rolling: The tendency of wolves to roll on pungent substances is difficult to explain (reviewed by Reiger 1979). This ritualized behavior involves lowering the head and shoulders onto the substrate, followed by rubbing the chin, cheeks, neck, shoulders, and back on the odorous substance. Natural stimuli for scent rolling, such as rotten carcasses, typically have very strong odors that humans find offensive.
Tests with captive wolves have resulted in extensive lists of potential scent-rolling stimuli, both natural and unnatural (Goodman 1978; Ryon et al. 1986), but they have not conclusively demonstrated the function of this behavior. Possibilities include (1) familiarization with novel odors or changes in odors (Fox 1971a; Ryon et al. 1986), (2) strong attraction or aversion to particular odors (Ryon et al. 1986), (3) concealing one's own scent with something more pungent (Zimen 1981), and (4) making oneself more attractive by applying a novel odor (Fox 1971a). Female African wild dogs roll in the urine of males whose pack they are attempting to join, perhaps to coat themselves with an odor that would be familiar to the pack and to increase the chances of acceptance (Frame et al. 1979)."
Some other little tidbits from the BJ's article:
-Dogs' noses have over 300 million scent receptors -- 50 times more than a human nose -- allowing them to literally "see" their world through scent.
-The average dog can understand about 165 words, but the smartest breeds know upwards of 250 words -- that's on par with a human 3-year-old.
-Dogs' super-sensititve whiskers can sense tornadoes and earthquakes days before they happen.
(source: BJ's Journal - I cut out their product placement! - along with my own observations thrown in)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
With Love, From Michigan
My mom is busy trying to plan a family vacation. Only problem? She doesn't know where she wants to go. She's gotten a few tour book guides from AAA. Right now she's thinking Colorado or Utah, the Mid-Atlantic (Delaware, D.C., Maryland, and the Virginias), and Michigan or Wisconsin. A Michigan magazine came in the mail the other day, I was flipping through it and the state looks absolutely goregous. I hope the pictures do the state justice. I don't want it to be like those fast food menu pictures, where the fries and burgers look just scrump-didilee-umptous but when you get them they look a little less apetizing. So I think I'm voting for Michigan. We've already been to Utah and Virginia. They also have a picture of the baseball stadium for the Detroit Tigers and it looks awesome. Gy-normous tiger statues at their gates!! Who wouldn't want to visit?
One of my good friends and roommate is living up in Michigan now attending Graduate school. Maybe if she's still up there, we could visit. She sent me a few links regarding my masters quest; The Student Conservation Association and Emory Laney Graduate School - Neuroscience and Animal Behavior (Psychology track). No doubt I'll be looking into these, especially the SCA and about their internship opportunities. Thanks Linza!!
And to leave you, while I get ready for my insanely short day at work. Department of Natural Resources and Environment - Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)
One of my good friends and roommate is living up in Michigan now attending Graduate school. Maybe if she's still up there, we could visit. She sent me a few links regarding my masters quest; The Student Conservation Association and Emory Laney Graduate School - Neuroscience and Animal Behavior (Psychology track). No doubt I'll be looking into these, especially the SCA and about their internship opportunities. Thanks Linza!!
And to leave you, while I get ready for my insanely short day at work. Department of Natural Resources and Environment - Gray Wolf (Canis Lupus)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Reading!
I probably shouldn't have but I bought Shaun Ellis' The Man Who Lives With Wolves. It nearly cost me an arm because I'm still without a job (though I might because I had a good interview today!). It isn't with a vet or animal clinic but I'm still happy its something.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Smoothly
So my mom returned from Nicaragua this evening and she asked about that job offer I got from our neighbor. I said I didn't want to work in the jail and that it was something I wasn't all that interested in that line of work; she said why not...of course. I was plenty nervous and talked kind of fast but I got it all out in the end. All seems really good :) She says that it might be good too because whenever they brought up the psychology thing I would get kind of mopey and flat about the conversation and that now I seemed more engaged and lively when I talked about it. I'm most excited to have her onboard, my dad too. Now I have to break the news to everyone else in the fam and friends.
Oh and in regards to the last post, I was able to find that one of the schools listed of which I can't remember which one does offer Animal Behavior as a Masters track. I'll have to go back and see which one.
Right now, I'm trying to gear my job searching track to animal shelter/clinics as a kennel assistant or vet technician. I tried giving my resume to a clinic thats right down the road from my house but that is turning out to be a no go. I sent in a follow up letter to them and am moving on to the next. We'll see where I go from here.
Oh and in regards to the last post, I was able to find that one of the schools listed of which I can't remember which one does offer Animal Behavior as a Masters track. I'll have to go back and see which one.
Right now, I'm trying to gear my job searching track to animal shelter/clinics as a kennel assistant or vet technician. I tried giving my resume to a clinic thats right down the road from my house but that is turning out to be a no go. I sent in a follow up letter to them and am moving on to the next. We'll see where I go from here.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Master's Degree in Animal Behavior and Ethology
So this was suggested by one of the women who contacted me from Shy Wolf and I've decided to look into it.
It's "a program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species."
from: http://www.myplan.com/majors/animal-behavior-and-ethology/description-26.0708.html
Schools offering the degree:
University of California- Davis; Davis, CA
Southwestern University- Georgetown; Georgetown, TX -this looks to only be a Bachelors program
Bucknell University- Lewisburg, PA -might only be Bachelors
Franklin and Marshall College- Lancaster, PA -bleh Bachelor too I think...
Northern Arizona University- Flagstaff, AZ - they have a Graduate program but I'm having trouble finding the degree for Animal Behavior...
Eckerd College- St. Petersburg, FL -again this looks to only be a Bachelors program :(
So far this is looking like a bust...I'll probably send out an email asking A) if they offer the program I'm looking for and B) if its a Graduate or Masters program. I may ask Claudia where she is pursuing her degree. Could be an online program...that may be the route to take. I may need to look under a different degree heading to expand the net of schools. Which might be good because I'm not very good when it comes to Neuro-terminology, maybe with practice I can get better. But enough for tonight.
It's "a program that focuses on the scientific study of the psychological and neurological bases of animal sensation, perception, cognition, behavior, and behavioral interactions within and outside the species. Includes instruction in ethology, behavioral neuroscience, neurobiology, behavioral evolution, cognition and sensory perception, motivators, learning and instinct, hormonal controls, reproductive and developmental biology, community ecology, functional behavior, and applications to specific behaviors and patterns as well as to specific phyla and species."
from: http://www.myplan.com/majors/animal-behavior-and-ethology/description-26.0708.html
Schools offering the degree:
University of California- Davis; Davis, CA
Southwestern University- Georgetown; Georgetown, TX -this looks to only be a Bachelors program
Bucknell University- Lewisburg, PA -might only be Bachelors
Franklin and Marshall College- Lancaster, PA -bleh Bachelor too I think...
Northern Arizona University- Flagstaff, AZ - they have a Graduate program but I'm having trouble finding the degree for Animal Behavior...
Eckerd College- St. Petersburg, FL -again this looks to only be a Bachelors program :(
So far this is looking like a bust...I'll probably send out an email asking A) if they offer the program I'm looking for and B) if its a Graduate or Masters program. I may ask Claudia where she is pursuing her degree. Could be an online program...that may be the route to take. I may need to look under a different degree heading to expand the net of schools. Which might be good because I'm not very good when it comes to Neuro-terminology, maybe with practice I can get better. But enough for tonight.
Checking out my options
I sent out a few emails today inquiring about information on what to do for graduate school and was blessed with some swift replies:
I was up online last night looking at some books to start reading or even reread. I'll star with the few books that I have. I might start with Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, A Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins. Its been sitting on my shelf since earlier in the summer so I might as well start it. One that I would really like to read is The Wolves of Mount Mckinley by Adolph Murie.
My dad just walked in. He had been talking to our neighbor across the way who works at the jail. Aparently he wants to talk to be about getting me into the jail for a few days or something out of the week. I wouldn't be paid but it would get my foot in the door. I was just kind of like "Great...." trying to show my total lack of enthusiasm but I don't think it got across. Maybe I'll go for a day or so and then walk in the house and say "This is not what I want to do." That would be a good way to break the news to my parents that I'd rather spend my life with wolves than people. I'm supposed to be getting in touch with someone my uncle knows as well. I almost wish I had never said the words Forensic Psychology, meh.
Hi, M----. One of our volunteers wishes to pursue a similar course - she might be better able to help guide you as she is currently still in school. I kind of fell into it and have no college training relating to the wolves. I can tell you any career would have to be research or government based as there are few paid positions in sanctuary/rescue/non-profit orgs. Claudia? Deanna
Hi M----;I'm still waiting to hear back from someone up at Seacrest. I'll most likely send a similar email up to the International Wolf Center tomorrow. Its kind of funny because today in the mail I got an invitation to Marymount Univ to come up and listen in on a talk by faculty members on Counseling and Forensic Psychology. To think that's what I had wanted to do up until a few months ago.
I would Google schools that have Major: Animal Behavior and Ethology as a Masters program. I am considering this but as of today, I am in BA in Biology and moving towards an Environmental Science Masters. My BA would allow me to work with the animals or allow me to work in Wildlife Biology, Candid and Habitat Conservation. You can also take paid or pay for internships in wolf behavior practicum or internship in some of the wolf parks. Also http://www.ecojobs.com/ will give you an idea of what jobs are out there and what degrees are required for these positions. Then you may want to look at which universities are supporting these Masters programs and look at what they have to offer. Research opportunities sometimes show up if you keep checking. Claudia
I was up online last night looking at some books to start reading or even reread. I'll star with the few books that I have. I might start with Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, A Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins. Its been sitting on my shelf since earlier in the summer so I might as well start it. One that I would really like to read is The Wolves of Mount Mckinley by Adolph Murie.
My dad just walked in. He had been talking to our neighbor across the way who works at the jail. Aparently he wants to talk to be about getting me into the jail for a few days or something out of the week. I wouldn't be paid but it would get my foot in the door. I was just kind of like "Great...." trying to show my total lack of enthusiasm but I don't think it got across. Maybe I'll go for a day or so and then walk in the house and say "This is not what I want to do." That would be a good way to break the news to my parents that I'd rather spend my life with wolves than people. I'm supposed to be getting in touch with someone my uncle knows as well. I almost wish I had never said the words Forensic Psychology, meh.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Breaking free
So I think I've pretty much abandoned my Forensic Psychology track. Why not begin the new year with a new career choice...haven't told my mom yet so I don't think she's going to be that happy. I've told her that I want to work with wolves. She didn't think it to be a realistic career. Well I'm just going to have the bite the bullet with this one. Not sure exactly how I'm going to break the news, maybe it be best after I do a little more research on programs and schools then maybe looking into the two wolf preserve/sanctuary they have here in Florida.
This is going to be my second branch of a "career blog", but not only that; I want to dedicate this to helping people learn about wolves even though there are so many sites like that already...so it'll be as much more for me as a learning track. I'll also have the latest wolf news and updates (may put them into a box on the sidebar. If anyone who happens to stumble across this page has any information on what they may know or have heard, send it on down!
There is a wolf in me...fangs pointed for tearing gashes...a red tongue for raw meat...and the hot lapping of blood--I keep this wolf because the wilderness gave it to me and the wilderness will not let it go. - Carl Sandburg, "Wilderness"
This is going to be my second branch of a "career blog", but not only that; I want to dedicate this to helping people learn about wolves even though there are so many sites like that already...so it'll be as much more for me as a learning track. I'll also have the latest wolf news and updates (may put them into a box on the sidebar. If anyone who happens to stumble across this page has any information on what they may know or have heard, send it on down!
There is a wolf in me...fangs pointed for tearing gashes...a red tongue for raw meat...and the hot lapping of blood--I keep this wolf because the wilderness gave it to me and the wilderness will not let it go. - Carl Sandburg, "Wilderness"
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