Tiny bird makes crazy sounds to scare big birds at feeder
This back yard bird feeder in Ontario Canada is a busy spot for birds of all kinds, especially during the cold winter months when food is scarce. And when food is hard to find, the birds scramble to get their share. They fly in and out, calling to each other and chirping away excitedly.
But one bird was found making a very unique sound. It's a rapid chirp that sounds like light bullets fired by the storm troopers in Star Wars. He's an adorable little junco, a "new world sparrow" and he seems to be trying to warn the much larger cardinals to stay back by imitating the dangerous weapons.
The cardinals at this feeder have found the seed and they take their share and more. They rapidly turn the seeds over in their beaks , cracking the shells with impressive speed to get at the food inside. The dexterity of their beak and tongue rivals that of humans with their fingers and thumbs.
Birds at the feeder must work rapidly, and they must keep a careful eye on the skies above for predators like falcons and hawks. Even owls will make an appearance in order to catch a meal at these feeding stations. The little birds know they must grab their food to go, finding shelter in the nearby pine trees and then returning for more.
Back yard bird feeders can provide hours of delight for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. They are also a good way to help the song birds that are experiencing extra challenges from cold weather and habitat loss. Many of the migratory song birds are affected by the loss of trees and food supplies along their migration routes. With extremely fast metabolisms and no ability to store fat, they must eat constantly. They are often only a few meals away from starvation.
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Guilty Dog Adorably Smiles Through Grandma's Reprimand
Lily is a one year old mix of golden lab, poodle and terrier. She’s an adorable and energetic dog with an intelligence that gets her into trouble. She also has a mischievous side, and despite being well trained and very obedient, she knows when she is not being watched. She knows when she can get away with mischief, and she also knows that her adorable guilty eyes can melt even the coldest of hearts. She relies on these eyes and the wagging tail to bail her out whenever she is confronted with her misdeeds. She will climb up on the counter and take cookies, meat, and even bananas to snack on. Nothing is out of reach for Lily. Her owners have learned to accept this side of her, knowing that the only solution is to try to stay one step ahead of her. But it’s easy to forget that this stealthy little dog sees and smells everything.
Lily’s Grandma left a package of beef on the counter and left the room, but it was only supposed to be for a moment. Unfortunately, the moment turned into several and Lily didn’t miss her chance. While she alone, Lily made her way onto the counter without making a sound. Silently, she grabbed the package and hopped down. She had a full tray of beef and she knew she had only a brief time to take full advantage of it. Normally, Lily carries her treasures to her bed and eats them silently while she is out of sight. But with this treasure, Lily ate it right there on the spot. It was either too good to resist, or she knew that she was wasting time by carrying it farther. When Grandma returned to the kitchen, the beef was gone from the counter. Lily had her best guilty look and tail wag going and the evidence lay on the floor at her feet. Begging for forgiveness, she put her ears back and stared at Grandma with what appears to be a sheepish grin. She threw in the right amount of reluctance to make eye contact, looking away often, surely feigning shame. But the smile on her face gives her away and you can tell that she’s thinking a few minutes of scolding is a very fair price for the delicious treat that is now in her belly.
You can’t help but admire this lovable dog for her determination to melt Grandma’s heart!
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GoPro cam swept away in river captures beautiful footage
While trying to wade across a crystal clear mountain stream in British Columbia, this clumsy cameraman dropped his GoPro camera in the water. Because it was attached to a buoyant pole, the camera stayed upright enough to capture stunning video of swimmers, fish and the riverbed as it was swept along by the current.
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Running deer stops to share apples with man snacking in the forest
There is a beautiful forest in Ontario, Canada where the deer cannot be hunted. They have no reason to fear humans and they will occasionally watch them curiously from a distance. But someone who is exceptionally still and quiet may be lucky enough to get a closer look as the deer will sometimes graze without concern. This man sat quietly on a log and munched away on apples. Before long, he heard the crunching of the leaves underfoot as a deer ran through the trees and passed within a few feet of him.
Initially startled, the deer picked up the pace and continued along. It must have been curious because he was sitting quietly, or perhaps it smelled the apples he was eating. It stopped and walked back in his direction. Cautiously, it approached and watched him munching away. As he threw some slices of apple on the ground, the deer came up and began munching away. For several minutes, they both quietly shared apples.
Deer are naturally curious animals and they react with concern to anyone who looks directly at them or behaves like a predator, but they are not sure what to make of somebody who doesn't react to them.
This deer eventually came close enough to hand feed, although it did not take food right from him. After several apples, the deer casually walked away. The antlers that are barely visible tell us this is a young buck who is not full grown. By next season, he will have large antlers and he will be looking for a doe.
Spending time in the forest with wild animals like this is a magical and unforgettable experience.
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Baby Goat Is In Heaven With Face Massage
Ruby is a very affectionate and curious goat who lives on Hamish's Farm in Keene, Ontario. She seeks out anyone who will pay attention to her and pet her or talk to her. More than anything else, she loves to have her face scratched and rubbed as if she is getting a face massage.
When the cameras were set up to record some of the sheep on the farm, Ruby realized this would be an opportunity for some love. She beelines toward Dave and the GoPro and demanded that she get in on the video and the attention. As he rubs her face, she closes her eyes as if she is in heaven and almost dozes off. Ruby is hard to resist so it isn't hard to turn the focus on her.
Ruby was born on this farm and knows no other life. The farm is run by 18 year old Hamish and his mother, Gertrude. They care for their animals as if they are family and the animals respond very well to this kind of love. The farm burned to the ground in November 2016 but they are in the process of rebuilding and Ruby and the other animals will have a barn again soon. Determination and perseverance also flourish on Hamish's Farm!
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Dog needs emergencey surgery after porcupine attack
This large Rottweiler bit off more than he could chew when he tangled with a porcupine. He was left with more than 250 quills as a reminder of how badly this can go. Luckily, Hennessey was brought to a veterinarian who performed surgery to remove the quills. Hennessey survived the encounter and has hopefully learned his lesson.
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Husband accidentally creates bizarre effect by filming upside down
A husband wants to film his wife while she explores a cenote, or an underground river, in Mexico. He accidentally holds the camera upside down, creating this mind-bending illusion that is surprisingly hypnotic to watch. Check it out for yourself!
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Drone in cow pasture discovers life-threatening problem
On a beautiful, sunny day in Millbrook, Ontario, some cows were grazing in a meadow and a few were cooling off in the pond. A drone was filming the farm and capturing footage of the scenery and the animals. The drone operator (Dave) was up a hill beside the farmhouse, half a mile away. He had filmed these cows before and wanted to make a video of the farm, the meadows and of the cows enjoying their huge expanse of pasture. This gorgeous farm provides a life for the cows that is exactly as it should be. They have room to roam and are treated extremely well.
Dave was watching his large screen monitor and seeing what the drone was filming in real time. The cows were curious and some of them watched the drone with surprising interest, allowing a close pass around the herd. But something that Dave saw was very unexpected, and very concerning. One of the cows had a strange cluster of white on her nose. Initially, it looked like hair or fur. He brought the drone closer and closer until he could make out what it was.
The drone was set on 4K resolution and it clearly showed that there were porcupine quills sticking out of the poor cow's snout. There appeared to be dozens of them.
Dave brought the drone back and popped the SD card from the drone into his laptop computer. Zooming in on the image confirmed without a doubt that there were dozens of quills in the snout of the cow. She had to be feeling very uncomfortable with all those quills and eating must have been challenging for her. Dave could even see on the ear tag that the cow was named "Linda". Dave told the farmer what he had seen. Quills work their way into an animal and migrate to inner organs in some cases and can cause death. They can also become severely infected and cause life-threatening illness. They do not fall out on their own.
Contrary to the popular myth, North American porcupines cannot shoot their quills. They swing their back ends abruptly at animals that come too close. The result is that the quills jab into the animal that seems to be a threat, and the quills detach from the porcupine. The cow must have tried to sniff the porcupine, and her curiosity must have appeared as aggression to the frightened creature. Porcupines are not aggressive and it takes a long time for them to grow their quills. They do not have any desire to waste them unless they feel they are in danger. It is also a myth that the quills should be cut before being pulled. This doesn't do anything to make removal easier.
The farmer coaxed Linda into a pen where her head could be held still. He gave her a local anesthetic and waited until the quills could be pulled painlessly. He also applied an antibiotic to prevent infection. She was even given a big serving of oats and corn, her favorite treat. Linda was brought back to the meadow and she quickly joined her newborn calf. The next day, she was grazing happily and was feeling no after effects from her encounter with the porcupine.
Linda is part of the same herd as Flo and "Sparky" the newborn calf that was born at the edge of this pasture. He slid under the electric fence moments after birth and couldn't get back in to his mother, Flo. Flo and Sparky became famous after the video of his rescue went viral. Dave filmed as he pushed Sparky back through the fence. It was this incident that prompted Dave to return to the farm with his drone for more footage, and ultimately led to the prompt discovery of Linda’s problem.
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Adorable Cuban puppy plays with Canadian tourists
While wandering through a neighborhood in Playa Larga, Cuba, these tourists come upon a very cute puppy rummaging around in a container. The puppy quickly wins their hearts as he plays with them and chases Serena's feet. He even puts on a tough dog act, playfully barking and daring them to try to take his stick. It's hard to tell who is enjoying the encounter more, the dog or the Canadians!
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Playful dolphin takes extreme liking to young man
When Nic and Cameron took a trip to Cuba they both agreed that meeting dolphins face to face was a lifelong dream that needed to be fulfilled. But they had no idea just how thrilling the experience was going to be. Bea, a large female dolphin, took quite a shine to Nic and she repeatedly flirted with him, splashing water in his face, kissing his cheek, rolling on him and constantly trying to get as close as she could.
Nic's friend, Cameron, watches from the side and Bea even gives Cameron a little attention, but it's Nic that she keeps coming back to. The rest of the people in the water laugh with delight at Bea's antics. They watch with a little envy as she keeps coming back to Nic. At one point, it becomes clear that Bea would like to push Nic off to the side, as if she wants him all to herself, away from the other people.
Bea repeatedly squirts Nic's face with water in a playful bid for attention.
Even the trainer seems amused by Bea's obvious crush on Nic and she asks Nic if he has any fish in his pocket. The trainer asks Bea if she likes Nic and Bea nods enthusiastically and squeals as if to say that she does.
Bea circles the group, leaps out of the water into the air and cavorts with each of them in turn. Bea also enjoys belly rubs and they all took turns rubbing Bea as she rolled around in the middle of them.
As the guests were leaving, Bea swam around them, showering them with kisses and making her adorable squealing sounds. Cameron was able to capture the final moments near the edge of the pool as Bea came up to him for to say goodbye. You can see the obvious delight on his face as she swims off.
There are few creatures as endearing as dolphins and meeting one up close is a dream come true for almost anyone.
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Dog does 'happy feet' dance for walk time
Murphy is a Leonberger cross who loves walks more than anything. A highly intelligent breed, they don't take long to understand the cues that it's time to head out. As soon as the shoes go on, Murphy knows what's up. He excitedly sticks his head in the leash box, whines and dances in front of the door. Murphy used to belong to a military serviceman but he was re-homed when his owner went off to serve. Now, he's living in the country with his second family and enjoying the good life again. Few things are as adorable as a dog's dance of joy!
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Gigantic snapping turtles found in mud hole in the woods
Common Snapping Turtles are the largest turtle found in Canada. Not to be confused with their cousins, the Alligator Snapping Turtles, these turtles are much smaller and much more docile. Although they can still be ferocious on land when they feel threatened, they are usually curious and relaxed when in the water. There are myths surrounding these fascinating creatures, such as their reputation as being vicious. They are also rumored to have the jaw strength of a pit bull, enabling them to snap a broomstick in half or sever a human limb. They are not capable of anything more than a painful bite and their beaks are barely sharp enough to break the skin.
These two nature enthusiasts were informed about what appeared to be a huge turtle stuck in the mud near a tiny creek in Southern Ontario. The location seemed unusual and the turtle gave the impression that it was injured or sick. They were given pictures and a description of what appeared to be very atypical behavior. Knowing that late September is when Common Snapping Turtles should be preparing for hibernation, they were concerned that this turtle was in trouble so they went out in the woods to check on it.
Looking at the surroundings, it appeared that the turtle in the picture had tried to bed down for winter in a shallow hole. This would freeze over and cause the turtle to die during the cold winter months ahead. Concerned that the turtle had not been able to find a suitable hibernaculum, they decided to investigate and make sure all was OK. Disturbing a turtle at this point in the process of hibernation would be only a very mild annoyance. Because Common Snapping Turtles have been declared a "species at risk" in Ontario, ensuring its safety justified the quick investigation.
To their surprise, these two men found at least three turtles in one hole. Carefully reaching in, one of the men could feel the shells and estimate their size. Two turtles were removed quickly and checked for injuries and overall health. The biggest one, weighing 30 pounds (13.6kg), was the one they were most concerned about. The turtles were healthy and their chosen spot proved to be perfectly suitable for hibernation. It was discovered that the hole actually connected with the quick flowing creek, ensuring that it would not ice over completely in the winter. There was a large space under the ground due to erosion from the creek. The depth of the hole was also adequate to insulate the turtles from cold.
A 30 pound Common Snapping Turtle is a very large animal that could be between 60 and 100 years of age. A huge male like this would have very few predators and it is very important to the survival of a local turtle population. The data from this find was provided to biologists and conservationists to assist them with their efforts to protect these turtles.
Although it is not recommended to handle wild snapping turtles unless necessary, it can be done safely following the example here. Hands should always be kept well back of the midline on the shell. Claws should also be avoided and a turtle should never be held by the tail. The weight of a large snapping turtle is enough to cause spinal injuries if they are held in this manner.
These turtles quickly returned to the bottom of their hibernaculum and will be safe here until the spring.
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Great Dane puppy meets family dog for the first time
Raven is an eight week old Great Dane puppy who has just arrived at the home of her new family. She is being introduced to River, the two year old dog who already lives with her new family. River has been a wonderful pet, and a well loved family member, but being young herself, she is eager for another dog to play with. It's no surprise that she was so happy to meet Raven.
After a short period of watching each other from a distance, both pups seemed eager to have a close look and a big sniff. River walked up confidently and the two looked at each other for a moment. Raven stood wide eyed, looking at the bigger dog and seemed unsure of what to do. Suddenly, River sprinted playfully over to a spot on the grass where she spun around and lay down. Recognized as an invitation to come and play, Raven stared and then began to bounce excitedly over to take part in the game.
River is a very gentle dog who completely understands that Raven will be easily intimidated. She lay down and playfully moved about, wagging her tail and being friendly. After a few minutes of bouncing back and forth, River decided she needed a bathroom break and she wandered over to the trees for some privacy. Raven leaped and bounced around her, clumsily falling over in the long grass.
Great Danes have large paws and long legs and they cannot keep their balance when they are so young. Raven struggled to stay on her feet, but she rolls and trips constantly. River patiently sniffs for a spot while wagging her tail, waiting for her moment of privacy. After taking care of business in the trees, River returns to the lawn where they have been playing. She spins around excitedly and invites Raven to play some more. After a little while, River teaches Raven how fun it is to play with a stick. She found a branch and teases Raven before running off, hoping Raven will chase her.
Raven has been raised by a wonderful and knowledgeable breeder who has taken great care of her and her siblings. She has carefully selected the homes that will be perfect for each of her dogs. This is a very important part of breeding responsibly and seeking breeders who interview and screen their clients well is essential to avoiding unethical breeders. Raven has found her forever home with a loving family who will give her all that she needs to be a happy and healthy dog.
River found this family when she was brought to an emergency veterinary clinic with serious health issues. Her first owners loved her dearly but she was diagnosed with a complicated heart issue and immune deficiencies. She was almost euthanized because her care was going to be costly and almost impossible to manage. A last second decision was made to have River placed in this home, with a veterinarian and a veterinary assistant who could make sure she received the care that would keep her alive.
Raven and River are fast becoming best friends. Raven will soon be much larger than River and it is hoped that she will be as gentle and loving as River is.
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Sleepy mother owl cuddles with her chick in the nest
Great horned owls are one of the most spectacular of the owls. They are large and magnificent birds, and as predators, they are capable of taking down animals even larger than themselves. They have been known to take down even large raptors such as osprey, falcons, and other owls. With a grip strength of 28 pounds, their talons are capable of breaking the spine of even large prey.
Crows are often heard cawing in large numbers, agitated by the presence of a great horned owl, which is their most dangerous predator. Crows will gather to mob and chase these owls until they leave the area entirely.
Great horned owls also have the deepest voice of the owls and their calls are very distinctive.
This mother owl is watching her surroundings carefully, opening her eyes occasionally as she nods off with her baby in the nest. The owl chicks have downy feathers and they are very soft and fluffy. Soon, this one will grow flight feathers and it will leave the nest, learning to hunt from its parents. The mother seems to drift off then wake up, always on the lookout for danger. These owls have extremely large eyes and pupils that dilate a great deal, giving them incredible vision in the dark, as well as acuity in the daytime.
Great horned owls also have disc feathers near their ears that direct sound, increasing their ability to hear even the faintest of sounds. They are the quintessential owl, closely resembling the owls that we see in books and on television. This nature enthusiast was thrilled to capture video and photos of this beautiful pair ion the nest.
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Wild snapping turtle extremely curious of human
There is a very remote lake near Parry Sound, Ontario where wild snapping turtles such as this one have rarely, if ever, interacted with humans. As a result, they have little or no fear. This playful young turtle excitedly swam out from under the family dock to greet Dave when he was swimming. The turtle was particularly interested in Dave's snorkel mask and he repeatedly positioned himself so he could look Dave directly in the eye. The turtle followed him around the dock for over an hour, swimming around in circles and even engaging in some physical contact with no sign of concern.
Common snapping turtles can grow to twice this size, weighing up to 45 pounds. Although all wild animals should be treated with caution and respect, these turtles are not the aggressive and fearsome creatures that they are rumored to be. It is a complete myth that they can snap a broomstick in two. They lack the jaw strength and beak sharpness to do so, although they can deliver a painful bite and bruising if they are provoked, especially on land.
Snapping turtles are essential to lakes and rivers for keeping them clean and free of rotting fish.
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Happy calf jumps for joy when her friend comes to play
Hope is ten days old and she is a very happy little calf. She lives on a beautiful farm in Millbrook, Ontario. She was born on a wram spring day in the middle of a gorgeous, green meadow full of lush, green grass. Her mother, Fiona takes excellent care of her and they wander over the hills with the rest of the herd. They drink from the pond and graze contentedly. Gus, the large, but gentle bull watches them protectively as he also grazes in the sunshine.
Fiona is an especially trusting mother and one of her friends, Dave often comes to visit and bring her corn. She has shown Hope that Dave is trustworthy enough to approach for an ear scratch and a pet on the head. Hope quickly became very fond of the petting and she is now as affectionate as a large puppy. When Dave comes to visit, she bounces happily and invites him to chase her and bounce as well. Happiness like this warms our hearts.
Check out her heartwarming reaction when her buddy comes for a visit. Priceless!
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Baby groundhog enjoys apple slices until hungry seagull scares him
Groundhogs are adorable creatures, especially when they are young. They emerge from the burrow in the spring and eagerly check out their surroundings. This one has been growing rapidly, nursing on milk from his mother throughout the winter. She feasted on grass and all sorts of plants as she stored as much fat as possible to get her through the cold, winter months. She would need enough fat stores to feed herself and also to supply her hungry babies with enough nutrition to last until the snow melts.
As the mother and babies explore their surroundings and feast on grass again, the babies are finding everything new and unfamiliar. This one has found a few apple slices left at the opening to the den. He eagerly nibbles away on the sweet treats, but somebody else has his eye of the snack. A hungry seagull is cautiously making his way over to the opening to try to get a share. The two startle each other in a comically adorable manner.
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Elderly Great Dane nibbles corn like a pro
Briva is a 10-year-old Great Dane who seems to believe she is a person. Ever since she was a puppy, she has entertained the family with her love for corn on the cob and her technique of nibbling it and rolling it in the grass. Even though she has only one eye, she doesn't miss a kernel!
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Spotted eagle stingray glides majestically past scuba diver
The waters surrounding the Galapagos Islands hold some of the most beautiful sights on the planet. Scuba divers venture here from all over the world to view magnificent creatures like gigantic eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and whale sharks. They enter the water in strong current and make a rapid descent to the bottom to grip the rocks and find a perch from which they can watch the most brilliant show in the world.
Three strong ocean currents converge around the islands of Darwin and Wolf, causing an upwelling of plankton, nutrients and food that bring small fish, which attract larger fish. The waters are abundantly rich with life and diversity.
These spotted eagle rays are magnificent creatures with surprisingly high intelligence. They have evolved an ability to detect the electrical impulses of their prey through thousands of nerve cells located in their wings and around their heads. They can also sense minute changes in water temperature and pressure. They are extremely capable hunters.
Spotted eagle rays are unique in appearance and they are among the most graceful and beautiful of all the undersea animals.
Their long whip tails possess a barb with powerful venom that acts as a very effective means of defense. Capable of inflicting serious, even fatal wounds on large predators, they are usually avoided by all animals except large sharks.
This scuba diver was hanging onto a rock in the strong current off Darwin Island when the two eagle rays appeared and swam casually past him, almost within arm's reach. They fought the current, making slow progress creating a prolonged and memorable experience for the lucky divers in this group.
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Newborn chick helps brother hatch from egg
Guinea Fowl are adorable little birds that originate from Africa. These newborn chicks are breaking out of their eggs in an incubator. From the first few moments, they are fascinated by anything that moves. The chick in the egg is having trouble hatching. He gets one foot out but seems to be stuck. Luckily, his brother comes over and starts to peck at his feet. Whether it is a game or an attempt to help him is impossible to know. What is obvious though is that the irritation encourages him to make the final push from his egg out into the world. He takes a few minutes to get his balance as he rolls clumsily on the floor of the incubator. The other chicks make cheeping sounds and peck at his feathers, removing pieces of shell and membrane. The older chicks seen here have only been out of their eggs for an hour when their brother hatches, but they are dry and mobile, already exploring their surroundings.
Guinea fowl grow to be beautiful, speckled birds about the same size as a farmyard chicken. They are vigilant watch dogs and will sound an alarm if predators approach. They are a welcome addition to farms as they are voracious eaters of pest insects. They are known for their ability to exterminate ticks, a serious problem on any farm.
In addition to being useful and decorative, Guinea Fowl are famous for being delicious to eat.
These chicks are fortunate enough to be members of Jim's farm in Peterborough. They will be treated more like pets than farm creatures.
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Pregnant coati and her young enjoy tasty treats
These resort coatis come out of the jungle in Mexico every morning and evening in search of food. A tourist notices that one of them is pregnant, so he decides to see if she would like a boiled egg that he has in his lunchbox. Not only does the expectant mother love the treat, her brood from last year emerges from the trees to join her! Few things are as cute as coatis. Like a cross between a fox and a raccoon, they have truly adorable faces.
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Wild deer come out of the forest to share apples with this man
These wild deer live in a beautiful, protected forest in Ontario, Canada. It is a huge expanse of land where people cannot hunt or harm the animals in any way. The deer have grown to trust the humans that walk here and spend time quietly watching them.
This man has found that with enough time, and enough patience, the deer will actually come close enough to smell the scent of an apple. The deer have remarkable hearing and they can hear the crunch of apples or carrots from a long way away. After enough time, the deer came close and ate right from his hand.
Spending time sitting quietly in a forest is good for the soul. It is especially soothing to do so in the company of a herd of wild deer.
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Gigantic bull "moos" his appreciation when he gets his ear scratched
Gus is a 2,000 pound bull who lives on a beautiful farm in Millbrook, Ontario. He is a true gentle giant with a gentle disposition and a friendly nature. He wanders among his herd of cows who are also very happy here on this small chunk of paradise. They have hundreds of acres of lush, green meadow to graze on and ponds full of fresh water to drink. They even have a scratching post with brushes for soothing those itches.
Gus is a big boy with big ears and a big itch inside one of them. He patiently waited for his turn at the post while Ethel had a good scratch. When he had the chance, he moved in for some relief. He rubbed his head and his ear and he seemed intent on trying to fit the big brush inside his ear to get at the right spot. Gus' buddy, Dave was watching all of this. Dave had come over for a visit that day, bringing Gus' favorite treat, an entire loaf of bread. Gus had devoured the loaf in under a minute and now he was a happy bull, except of the itch in his ear. Dave watched Gus trying his best to scratch that itch. In fact, the entire herd was gathered around Gus and they watched him as well.
Eventually, Dave thought it best to lend a hand. Gus could use a little help from somebody with fingers and thumbs who could do a better job. Not all bulls would allow this, and not all bulls would even permit somebody to get so close to his females, but Gus is as relaxed as a bull can be. Dave walked up and started rubbing Gus' massive ear. Gus obviously appreciated the assistance and he moved his head to make things easier. He let out a few "moos" of contentment and then he wandered away.
As Gus takes a few steps away from the brushes, we get a great look at his massive shoulders and rippling muscles. He weighs as much as ten very solid, grown men. Maybe it's because Gus isn't threatened by anything, or maybe it's sheer luck that he's so relaxed, but he doesn't ever react with aggression or hostility. Of course, trying to scratch the ear of a grown bull, or even getting this close to one, is not always wise. Gus is definitely an exception and, even at that, his massive size and strength make him an animal to be respected.
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Traffic Officer Is Exactly Where He Should Be When Needed
Traffic cops do a tough job, and yet, they are criticized by some people regardless of what they do or where they are. It's common for people to curse them when they are seen monitoring traffic, especially by those who are breaking the law. Hitting the brakes and showing resentment for the officer in the median seems to be synonymous for many.
And then there are the times that we are annoyed by a reckless driver who cuts us off, tailgates, or whizzes past us. People are equally critical of the police in those cases because the person isn't caught putting us in danger. How many times have we heard: "Where are the cops when you need them?"
Well this motorist found that sometimes the police are exactly where they should be when they are needed. The speed limit on this Canadian road is 100 km/h (60mph) and as a matter of etiquette, most drivers travel at about 115 - 120km/h so they are not holding up traffic, as is the case here. This black Nissan was tailgating for several minutes, even though he had lots of opportunity to go around the car with the dash camera. It seemed to be a display of aggression that might have been meant to reprimand the driver for not going quickly enough.
The car with the camera is in the right lane, where slower traffic is expected to be. And despite the fact that he is actually speeding, the Nissan driver just isn't happy. He finally pulls into the left lane to pass, accelerates and continues down the road at a much higher speed than is necessary. The driver with the camera comments that the Nissan is doing approximately 45km/h over the posted speed 100km/h limit. He jokingly asks where the cops are, as we have all done at one time or another.
And moments later, as the Nissan is almost out of sight, his brake lights go on. But it's too late. The officer in the median is parked in an unmarked traffic car, monitoring the speed of traffic coming at him. To the delight of the camera man, the officer pulls out from his hiding spot, which actually wasn't all that hidden, and engages his lights. For the Nissan driver to not notice the police car in the median, even though it's a stealthy plain black, is possibly a display of how oblivious he was. If he wasn't quick enough on the brakes to avoid a ticket, he wouldn't be quick enough on the brakes if a hazard suddenly appeared on the road.
Everybody knows that the Nissan driver has been caught and he pulls over dutifully. The driver with the camera is quite pleased to see this officer doing such a fine job and he quietly praises him as he goes by. The officer must hear a lot of negative comments, but surely there are some positive ones as well, even if he doesn't get to hear them.
In Ontario, the fine for this speed is approximately $310 and there are 4 demerit points. Wouldn't we all like the police to catch those around us for things like this?
As a reminder to all, police on our roads are in danger of being hit by cars passing too close to them as they conduct traffic stops. Almost all police officers can tell at least one story of having their cruiser door taken off, or having had to jump out of the way of a car coming at them. And tragically, some are not so lucky. Moving into the left lane is the law. There is a hefty fine in most cases for not doing so. We can all help the officer stay safe, and able to focus on the stopped vehicle, if we smoothly move into the far lane when passing a stopped cruiser. In fact, this applies to all emergency vehicles and tow trucks in most provinces and states. At the end of the day, all of our public servants should make it home to their families.
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Amorous parrot lands on tourist's shoulder and refuses to leave
This little parrot is a resident at a nature park in Papua New Guinea. He lives in a large enclosure filled with tropical plants. Tourists can walk through the enclosure and look at the plants and at the birds. But one little, brightly coloured parrot came down from the trees for a closer look at Dave. She landed on the railing beside him and stared at him curiously.
After a few moments, the parrot flew up and onto Dave's shoulder. She began trying to snuggle with him and she rubbed her belly on his neck like she was nesting. Dave's wife, Kristy thought this was very funny and she began to record this, telling Dave that the parrot was trying to mate with him.
No matter what the motivation, this little bird had found a new friend and didn't want to leave. Kristy tried to get the bird to climb onto her hand but she refused. Eventually, the bird was put back in the tree and Dave made an escape.
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