The animal reservoir of SARS has just been discovered by two medical teams: the Chinese horseshoe bat (not the civet cat or raccoon dog, which had previously been suspected). Apparently the Chinese penchant for eating ANYTHING, however weird or endangered, has bitten them back. It may make for an interesting cuisine, but is not always …
Animals and Government
I am always amazed how, as society becomes more complex, it inevitably seems to want to control not only your life but your animals. Various reasons may be given– animal welfare, neighbors complaints, disease (“Mad Cow”, SARS, Avian Flu). But the end result is virtually always to confiscate, prohibit, even kill “uncontrolled” and unpopular animals,. …
Zuni Rock Art Blogging
Steve and Matt love birds (as do I!) and I have been wanting to share one of my favorite petroglyphs – the owl seen above – with them for some time. This petroglyph is located near Zuni Pueblo in west-central New Mexico and is in a cluster of panels of prehistoric petroglyphs and very striking …
Indian Whaling
Reid asked me what I thought about this NYT story about the Makah and their attempt to return to their whaling tradition. Did I think it comparable to tribal use– and sometimes abuse– of eagles in the southwest? I replied: “Hmmm– I think I have a rather different take on the Makah. There is an …
Only a bureaucracy..
… could come up with a situation this convoluted. I sympathize with the sheepherders, and with– maybe– the lower- level feds. But when you start shooting endangered species to save them–?? Earth to bureaucrats: THIS DOESN’T MAKE SENSE! Biologists, not politicians, should sort this one out pronto.
So- called “environmentalist”…
… and perennial sufferer of foot- in- mouth disease Ted Turner apparently only cares about environment that he owns. He was caught on tape by Wolf Blitzer making an unusual number of fatuous statements, even for him. Not only does he apparently think the North Koreans are good guys *; when told that they could …
“Discovered, Described, and Eaten”…
.. was the heading Odious sent me referring to this New Scientist article about a new creature form the ever- surprising and fruitful mountains of Laos. “It was for sale on a table next to some vegetables,” says conservation biologist Robert Timmins, “and I knew immediately it was something I had never seen before.” People …
Slow blogging
Matt is dealing with refugees and hawking; Reid finishing a report; and me? Just LIFE. Lib’s ribs are recovering well, but other complications like the need to make a few bucks keep intruding, not to mention the total breakdown of my second vehicle– nothing like being truckless, that is, without motorized transportation, just as the …
Meth Addicts and Site Looting
Steve pointed out this strange item to me which confirmed a story that my sister told me she’d seen in the Jonesboro (AR) Sun. It seems that methamphetamine addicts in Arkansas have taken to collecting arrowheads and other Indian artifacts. Walking around in fields looking for artifacts fills their need for activity while they are …
Condors in Prehistoric California
After Steve’s post on possible late condor presence on the Northern Plains, I had to jump in with something on their importance to Native Americans in California. Condors featured in the religion of virtually every known tribe in the state, but I will talk mostly about the Chumash here in Southern California with which I …