Fish and Amphibians

Well, that's one way to turn a frog into a prince. Christina Haack has revealed that she met her new boyfriend, realtor Joshua Hall, after smoking the hallucinogenic venom from a species of toad. "I met Josh when I wasn't in a state of fear or fight-or-flight," she began in a Tolstoy-length statement posted to Instagram Thursday. "I had taken time off social, hired a spiritual coach and smoked a Bufo toad (which basically reset my brain and kicked out years of anxiety in 15 mins)." Haack is referring to bufo alvarius , a species of, well, toad, that secretes a venom containing 5-MeO-DMT, a potent psychoactive compound four to six times more powerful than its better-known cousin DMT, per Addiction Center. "Smoking" is something of a misnomer: While previously, one had to physically lick the animal for its effects, these days, the toad has its venom, uh, milked (?) before it's dried and then vaporized or smoked. T...

Show Caption Hide Caption Video: Here's the difference between red tide and blue-green algae Here's the difference between red tide and blue-green algae Wochit Red tide may be intensifying in areas along the southwest coast of Florida, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, stirring up memories of the horrible fish kills in 2018. Beach monitors along the southwest coast are seeing fish kills from the north end of Anna Maria Island to as far south as Caspersen Beach in Venice. What is red tide? Why is it dangerous to fish? And is it dangerous to humans? Here's what we know: What is red tide? Red tide, referred to as harmful algal bloom by scientists, is made up of single-celled organisms, dinoflagellates called Karenia brevis. Like most such organisms, these microscopic creatures are usually beneficial to sea life, but red tide occurs w...

Hake in grape leaves, monkfish ceviche, pickled mackerel and scallop panzanella - likely four dishes you've never tried featuring several species that don't make it onto just any seafood menu. But, chef Nikaline Iacono of Vessel & Vine, 4 Pleasant Street, Brunswick does not produce just any seafood menu. Through a partnership with the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association (MCFA), a local non-profit that works with Maine fishermen to promote sustainable fishing in the Gulf of Maine, Iacono was able to offer a unique selection of fresh catch for a series of six "Fishies on the Porch" dinners. Not only did this help bring attention to less familiar species, but it also helped to raise $2,000 for MCFA's Fishermen Feeding Mainers program.  The Fishermen Feeding Mainers project buys seafood directly from fishermen and donates it to area schools and food banks. Since October of 2020, the project has provided over 210,000 meals to those in need througho...

Adorable isn't a word usually applied to lizards, but crocodile skinks check all the boxes. With their large, anime eyes, dinosaur-like head plates, and body spines that resemble, well, crocodiles, these hand-size lizards look like they crawled straight out of the Pokémon universe. Not surprisingly, they make for popular exotic pets in places like the U.S. Anecdotally, international trade in all 10 crocodile skink species, which come from New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Indonesia, seems to be on the rise. Yet no one has any idea how many of these lizards are caught in the wild each year, where they wind up, or whether or not their populations are being affected. This is because, like thousands upon thousands of other species, they aren't included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the 45-year-old treaty that's supposed to ensure that international commercial trade of wildlife doesn't send plants and animal...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] 'Tails' from the Deer District: What it was like amongst 65k fans for the Bucks' first title in 50 years    WeAreGreenBay.com

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Did you know you need to register your reptiles and amphibians in Virginia?    WFXRtv.com

[unable to retrieve full-text content] 6-Month-Old Black Bear Is First Wild Animal To Be Rescued From Tamarack Fire    Capital Public Radio News

It's early morning in the Australian desert, and a squat, palm-sized lizard called the thorny devil is having a drink. It hasn't rained for weeks, and there's no water in sight. The lizard's body is still and its head is raised. And yet, through almost no effort, it is quenching its thirst. Its secret lies in its extraordinary skin. Between the intimidating and ostentatious spikes, there's a subtle network of microscopic grooves. These can yank water out of moist sand, drawing the fluid up against the pull of gravity, across the lizard's body, and into its waiting mouth. All it needs to do is to stand in the right spot and without flexing a muscle, it can drink with its skin. Though long known to Aboriginal Australians, the lizard was first described by Western zoologists in 1841. Its fearsome appearance earned it sinister names—the thorny devil, or Moloch horridus . In truth, the creature eats only ants, and otherwise moves slowly and placidly. "They'r...

Where are they from? Amazon milk frogs (Trachycephalus resinifictrix) are found in the tropical rainforests of South America. Populations are widespread in Guyana, Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru. What's in a name? These amphibians received the name "milk frog" from the sticky white substance they secrete through their skin when threatened. This substance is poisonous to potential predators. Feats of Strength Milk frogs are arboreal, and spend their lives in trees and other plants. Milk frogs have special toe-pads on their feet to help them climb plants. They can hold up to 14 times the animal's body weight! What do they eat? In the wild, the milk frog's diet consists of insects and other small invertebrates. At the Zoo, they feast on crickets. Where can I see Amazon milk frogs at the Zoo? See these frogs and other amazing rainforest species at the Amazonia exhibit. Look for them in the field station. Adblock test (Why?)

After more than a decade of cleaning up illegal cannabis grow operations and campsites throughout the Klamath National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service says the forest will be the first in the National Forest System to be completely free of all known cultivation sites and associated hazardous material. On July 30, Klamath National Forest officials will haul out several tons of trash and infrastructure near the Ti Bar Klamath River in the Happy Camp area in Siskiyou County. "We hope this milestone accomplishment will allow national forest visitors, staff, and indigenous tribes that use the Klamath National Forest to be safe from the known hazards associated with illegal cultivation on (National Forest Service) lands," according to a statement from Klamath National Forest spokesperson Kimberly Devall. "This operation will not only reclaim our public lands from this threat but restore millions of gallons of water illegally diverted from the Klamath River." Mourad Ga...

Officials say recent reports of black bear activity in Boulder indicate the animals are trying harder to find food while they prepare to hibernate over the winter. Jason Clay, public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said the agency received reports of bear activity around 47th Street and Pleasant Ridge Road on Tuesday. Bears had foraged through residential trash bins and climbed onto the porches of a few houses. The previous Monday, a Boulder resident filmed a bear as it rummaged through a knocked-over trash can, tearing through plastic bags and meandered from house to house. The videos were uploaded to Twitter. BEAR next door a few minutes ago! pic.twitter.com/5B4zHOK9oZ — connie (@mewmewmew13) June 29, 2021 Bear activity has already been observed in various places around Boulder this year. According to the city's website, the past few years have seen an increase in bear sightings, specifically in the area between Broadway Street and 30th Street. ...

Priscilla Aguirre June 30, 2021 Updated: June 30, 2021 2:26 p.m. 1 of 5 Hunter Schwarz, 25, reeled in a huge 152.5-pound Southern stingray while out on a 4-hour fishing trip with Dolphin Docks Deep Sea Fishing on Monday in Port Aransas.  Dolphin Docks Deep Sea Fishing Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Hunter Schwarz, 25, reeled in a huge 152.5-pound Southern stingray while out on a 4-hour fishing trip with Dolphin Docks Deep Sea Fishing on Monday in Port Aransas.  Hunter Schwarz Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Hunter Schwarz, 25, reeled in a huge 152.5-pound Southern stingray while out on a 4-hour fishing trip with Dolphin Docks Deep Sea Fishing on Monday in Port Aransas.  Hunter Schwarz Show More Show Less 5 of 5 ...

One of the newest babies to arrive at a Florida zoo, a reticulated giraffe calf stood up on his gangly legs just about half an hour after birth. Weighing an impressive 165 pounds and standing about 6 feet tall, the calf soon began nursing.   The calf was born at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to 13-year-old mom, Luna. It's the first reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) born at the facility in two years.   Reticulated giraffes are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.   In the wild, the primary threats to the reticulated giraffe are believed to be habitat loss (due to agriculture changes, infrastructure, and urban development, and land degradation), habitat fragmentation, and poaching.   There are an estimated 15,950 individuals left in the wild—primarily in northeastern Kenya, with small groups also in southern Somalia and southern Ethiopia. That's a drop of more than 50% from th...

Five environmental groups have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over its 2019 decision not to list the eastern hellbender as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The hellbender is a large, fully aquatic salamander, growing to two feet long or more, that was historically found in 15 states, from northern Mississippi and Alabama to New York. The largest salamander in North America, it's a distinctive and odd-looking creature, with ruffled skin on its sides and a slimy coat that led to nicknames including "snot otter," "lasagna lizard," "devil dog" and "Grampus." Filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Waterkeeper Alliance, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper and Waterkeepers Chesapeake, the lawsuit argues that the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision was "arbitrary and unlawful" because it "failed to rely on the best scientific and commercial ...

Though a sign outside proclaims the spot is "famous for clams," Flo's Clam Shack is taking a hiatus from hawking fried steamers. The restaurant has been shelling out the crispy, salty dish for decades. But market price for soft-shell clams is just too high right now, owner Komes Rozes said. The price of the clams, often called steamers, is prone to fluctuation, but Rozes said this summer's spike is the worst he has seen in 45 years in the industry. He said last week a gallon of clams would go for $225 — $75 more than the highest price he'll pay. Flo's has two locations in Rhode Island and a more than 80-year legacy. The seasonal restaurant has been knocked down by hurricanes and rebuilt several times. Its award-winning seafood has been featured on Food Network, including the fried clam roll being lauded on the show "Best Thing I Ever Ate." But for now, fried clams are a no-go. Soft-shell clams take three to four years to grow to the market size of t...

SHERRILL — When walking into Upscale Exotics, don't expect any fuzzy stuff. That's the motto of Sherrill's new pet store — Upscale Exotics, a family-owned retail reptile store that opened its doors on June 19. All manner of exotic reptiles are up for sale, from snakes and tortoises to turtles and lizards with new pets coming in regularly. The store is owned and operated by Tim and Andrea Becker. Oneida residents might recognize Tim as the owner of Mind Games. Originally from Camden, he said reptiles have always been a passion for him — having been a reptile breeder for 30 years — and he's spent the last 13 years planning and preparing Upscale Exotics. "It's a new, fresh start for me," Becker said. "In the basement, I came up with the business plan, I drew the models, and 13 years later, the presentation of the store is exactly what I have in my book." Becker credits his family's work, helping make it possible to open the doors and kee...

News Releases from Headquarters > Research and Development (ORD) [current-page:contact-us-header-link] July 21, 2021 Contact Information WASHINGTON  – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new tool, CyANWeb, that can help federal, state, Tribal, and local partners identify when a harmful algal bloom (HAB) may be forming where people swim, fish, and boat. The tool uses satellite data to alert users based on specific changes in the color of the water in over 2,000 of the largest lakes and reservoirs across the United States.  Cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, occur naturally in many water bodies. However, when they multipl...

WILLISTON, N.D. - A house fire ravaged most of the structure, but everyone was safely removed from the building. Around 5 p.m. on Friday, city firefighters were called out to a house fire near the corner of 7th Street and 9th Avenue West. Eyewitnesses said a blaze was noticed on the front deck and that heavy smoke could be seen throughout town. Crews were able to knock down the fire from the exterior, and then worked to extinguish the fire. While the people inside were safely out of the building, firefighters worked to save the other inhabitants. "The occupant notified us that she had several reptiles, two cats, and one dog inside. During the initial search, we did rescue the two cats and one dog. Once the fire was put down, we got several reptiles, in the neighborhood of 20 reptiles out of the home," said Battalion Chief Bradley Auttelet. The damage was apparent, making it a surprise that crews were able to save the animals. Fortunately, the reptile room was spared from the ...

Colombian actor Juan Pablo Espinosa has starred in a number of roles spanning his native Colombia and the United States. Espinosa voiced the golden dart frog episode of Endangered: Short Tales for The Nearly Forgotten, a podcast anthology that celebrates species that are on the verge of extinction. The golden dart frog (Phyllobates terribilis) is the world's most toxic poison dart frog. Found in Colombia's Chocó rainforest, the species is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss. Espinosa spoke with Mongabay with the release of the golden dart frog podcast episode. Colombian actor Juan Pablo Espinosa has starred in a number of roles spanning his native Colombia and the United States, including Tu voz estéreo , Merlina mujer divina and Floricienta , the TV series Los caballeros las prefieren brutas , A corazón abierto , and Half Brothers . Espinosa voiced the golden dart frog episode of Endangered: Short Tales for The Nearly Forgotten, a podcast anth...

There are only two species of venomous snakes found on the northern Cumberland Plateau: The copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Snakes. There is perhaps no wild animal that strikes more fear in the hearts of humans than these misunderstood, legless creatures that slither along the forest floor. Maybe the fear and distrust stems from the snake's role in the Bible — it was the serpent that tempted Eve to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden, resulting in the fall of man, and Genesis Chapter 3 begins, "Now the serpent was more subtle (cunning) than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made." Or, maybe it is because, as comedian Bill Engvall described the snake, "It can move, but it ain't got any legs. That ain't right." Mostly, though, we're afraid of snakes because it's human nature to fear what we don't understand. Hopefully, after reading through this guide to snakes of the Cumberland...