PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland police say more than a dozen rabbits reported stolen the night before a rabbit-cooking class have been returned by bunny advocates who had been caring for them.Members of the volunteer group Rabbit Advocates say they're trying to buy the bunnies so they can live as pets.Police say 18 rabbits belonging to farmer Levi Cole disappeared on Jan. 7.
Cole says the theft occurred the night before he taught a class on raising, slaughtering and cooking rabbits.Cole is an instructor for the Portland Meat Collective. He believes the theft was politically motivated. Police have no suspects.Rabbit Advocates board member Erin Ford says the bunnies were dumped anonymously at the home of a volunteer.Police Lt. Robert King said 17 rabbits were picked up Friday from the advocates' lawyer's office. King says police are still looking for one small, gray rabbit named Roger. Ford says she believes he's still in foster care.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/15/stolen-rabbits-returned-_n_1207283.html?ref=weird-news
Showing posts with label rabbits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rabbits. Show all posts
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Drugs plot raid reveals old woman feeding rabbits with cannabis
http://www.thelocal.de/national/20110625-35889.html
Police in Brandenburg who discovered a large plot of cannabis called on the neighbouring house only to find an 84-year-old woman who had been feeding her rabbits with the plants.
“The rabbits really like it,” the woman told officers who called on her in the village of Golzow near Belzig, according to Saturday’s Tagesspiegel.
Read on...
Police in Brandenburg who discovered a large plot of cannabis called on the neighbouring house only to find an 84-year-old woman who had been feeding her rabbits with the plants.
“The rabbits really like it,” the woman told officers who called on her in the village of Golzow near Belzig, according to Saturday’s Tagesspiegel.
Read on...
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Biggest-Ever Bunny Didn't Hop, Had No Enemies
 |
| A newly found species of rabbit, Nuralagus rex, weighed in at over 26.4 pounds and lived three to five million years ago on the small island of Minorca. Meike Köhler |
By Jennifer Viegas
Mon Mar 21, 2011 03:00 PM ET
THE GIST
- The world's largest known rabbit lived three to five million years ago on the island of Minorca.
- It weighed over 26.4 pounds, had no enemies, and did not hop.
- The rabbit exemplifies what's known as the "island rule."
An enormous bunny that lived three to five million years ago was so hefty -- six times the size of most rabbits today -- that it didn't hop and had no enemies.
The new species, dubbed the Minorcan King of the Rabbits (Nuralagus rex), weighed in at over 26.4 pounds and lived on the small island of Minorca.
"N. rex was a very robust and peculiar rabbit," project leader Josep Quintana told Discovery News. "Surely he was a very calm and peaceful animal that moved with slow, but powerful, movements."
Quintana, a scientist at the Catalan Institute of Paleontology, and colleagues Meike Kohler and Salvador Moya-Sola describe the giant fossil rabbit in a Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology paper. They believe the rabbit lost the ability to hop, because the long, springy spine typical of modern bunnies was replaced by a short, stiff backbone.
The researchers think N. rex spent most of its days peacefully digging, searching for roots and tubers to eat.
"The ancestors of N. rex arrived at Minorca during the Messinian crisis 5.3 million years ago," Quintana said. "During this geological time, the Mediterranean Sea dried up and the Balearic islands connected with the surrounding mainland (of Europe and Africa), so the proto-Nuralagus rex arrived walking to Minorca."
When the seawater returned and Minorca returned to its island status, the rabbit found itself with no predators. Over time, it grew to become 10 times the size of its now-extinct mainland cousin. Other inhabitants of the island at the time included a bat, a large dormouse and a giant tortoise.
With no need for defense, the rabbit lost visual and hearing acuity. Its eye socket reduced in size over time, as did its ears.
The changes, especially the increase in body size, add to the growing evidence for what's known as "the island rule." Simply put, this states that when on islands, big animals often tend to become smaller and small animals frequently tend to grow larger.
On the small side of that equation, other islands have been home to tiny elephants and even, in the case of Homo floresiensis, tiny humans.
"It is as if nature experimented with form and function, not without a wicked sense of humor," Lucja Fostowicz-Frelik, an American Museum of Natural History paleontologist, told Discovery News.
Fostowicz-Frelik continued that the newly found rabbit "is just another manifestation of the island rule ... We know that their closest relations, rodents, did produce some gigantic forms, not necessarily on islands, which averaged several hundred kilos. Now we see that the lagomorphs (the animal order that includes rabbits, hares and pikas) did not escape the trend."
Brian Kraatz, an assistant professor in the Department of Anatomy at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, agrees.
"There is an underlying assumption that rabbits appeared some 40 million years ago and have been perfectly happy to stay just about the same," Kraatz told Discovery News. "This new species is interesting in that it's quite different from what we know of living or fossil rabbits. Aside from its incredibly large size, its hind legs are rather short, not so good for hopping."
He added, "It's unclear whether their feet would have been decent good luck charms."
Bad luck affected the rabbit when a climate cooling likely ruined comfortable living conditions for the species on its island. The researchers suspect this climate change led to the rabbit's extinction.
Through the recent science, however, it lives on, with more studies of its fossils in the works. Quintana also hopes this rabbit "king" will become a popular mascot for the island.
He explained, "I would like to use N. rex to lure students and visitors to Minorca!"
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Year Of The Rabbit Zodiac Threatens Rabbits In Asia
DENIS D. GRAY 01/27/11 04:58 AM
BANGKOK — Many Asians believe the Year of the Rabbit means good luck for those born under that zodiac sign, but conservationists warn that the furry creatures themselves are being loved to death in Asia and some species are dying away altogether.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, rabbits are being snapped up from pet stores and farms but some are warning that the animals will be dumped once the novelty wears off and the cost and trouble of keeping them kicks in.
"It's believed that feeding rabbits in their zodiac will bring luck in love and everything else, so especially young people are looking for little, cute bunnies," says Piyalak Sariya, owner of the Bunny Delight rabbit farm in Thailand.
Predicting many will eventually be cast off in Buddhist temples and parks, she recommends buying rabbit dolls instead "because these fluffy animals need more care than dogs or cats."
"People think they are small and cute, (but) they are a lot of work. They just can't be stuffed into a cage," says Ashley Fruno, Asia representative for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.
She says rabbits often live up to 12 years, need space to roam, have fragile physiques and are prone to diseases like cancer, which means hefty veterinarian bills.
The new year – the fourth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac that is used across Asia – begins Feb. 3.
Fruno said it's not known exactly how many rabbits are being bought because of the New Year.
But she said her group has seen similar trends before, including the scouring of oceans for clownfish after the 2003 release of the animated film "Finding Nemo" and the rush to buy Dalmations – that were subsequently dumped at animal shelters – after movies in the Disney franchise "101 Dalmations."
A far more ominous warning came from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which tracks the health of species worldwide.
IUCN is using the occasion to stress that, despite their reputation as prolific love-makers, nearly one in four rabbits, hares and pikas are threatened with extinction – mostly due to mankind's inroads.
"Year of the Rabbit – species hopping out of view?" asks the Switzerland-based IUCN.
An IUCN report says that several Asian species are under serious siege, as elsewhere, the victims of overhunting, habitat loss, invasive feral animals and viral diseases. These include the Sumatran striped rabbit, hispid hare, Amami rabbit and the Annamite striped rabbit, only discovered by scientists in 1995.
Declines have been rapid and dramatic.
The endangered ili pika has disappeared from half of its previously known locations in northwestern China since it was first described some 30 years ago.
Rabbits and their kin "include some of the most endangered species on the planet," says IUCN's Andrew Smith, adding that their decline often has also been catastrophic to their predators like eagles and lynxes.
Animal activists, and just mere bunny lovers, are hoping the new year will help turn the spotlight on the species' plight.
PETA has launched an ad campaign imploring Chinese movie star Gong Li to curb her penchant for wearing rabbit and other furs and switch to a "kinder wardrobe."
The ad shows a woman's foot stepping on the neck of a dead rabbit next to the words, "Where Does Gong Li Stand on Fur?"
PETA says its investigations have revealed that on rabbit farms in China, the animals are pulled from their cages by their ears and shot in the head with electric stun guns as they kick and scream. The rabbits are then hung upside down and decapitated.
___
Associated Press writers Julia Zappei in Kuala Lumpur and Robin McDowell in Jakarta contributed to this report.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/rabbits-threatened-by-zod_n_814822.html
BANGKOK — Many Asians believe the Year of the Rabbit means good luck for those born under that zodiac sign, but conservationists warn that the furry creatures themselves are being loved to death in Asia and some species are dying away altogether.
As the Lunar New Year approaches, rabbits are being snapped up from pet stores and farms but some are warning that the animals will be dumped once the novelty wears off and the cost and trouble of keeping them kicks in.
"It's believed that feeding rabbits in their zodiac will bring luck in love and everything else, so especially young people are looking for little, cute bunnies," says Piyalak Sariya, owner of the Bunny Delight rabbit farm in Thailand.
Predicting many will eventually be cast off in Buddhist temples and parks, she recommends buying rabbit dolls instead "because these fluffy animals need more care than dogs or cats."
"People think they are small and cute, (but) they are a lot of work. They just can't be stuffed into a cage," says Ashley Fruno, Asia representative for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA.
She says rabbits often live up to 12 years, need space to roam, have fragile physiques and are prone to diseases like cancer, which means hefty veterinarian bills.
The new year – the fourth in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac that is used across Asia – begins Feb. 3.
Fruno said it's not known exactly how many rabbits are being bought because of the New Year.
But she said her group has seen similar trends before, including the scouring of oceans for clownfish after the 2003 release of the animated film "Finding Nemo" and the rush to buy Dalmations – that were subsequently dumped at animal shelters – after movies in the Disney franchise "101 Dalmations."
A far more ominous warning came from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, which tracks the health of species worldwide.
IUCN is using the occasion to stress that, despite their reputation as prolific love-makers, nearly one in four rabbits, hares and pikas are threatened with extinction – mostly due to mankind's inroads.
"Year of the Rabbit – species hopping out of view?" asks the Switzerland-based IUCN.
An IUCN report says that several Asian species are under serious siege, as elsewhere, the victims of overhunting, habitat loss, invasive feral animals and viral diseases. These include the Sumatran striped rabbit, hispid hare, Amami rabbit and the Annamite striped rabbit, only discovered by scientists in 1995.
Declines have been rapid and dramatic.
The endangered ili pika has disappeared from half of its previously known locations in northwestern China since it was first described some 30 years ago.
Rabbits and their kin "include some of the most endangered species on the planet," says IUCN's Andrew Smith, adding that their decline often has also been catastrophic to their predators like eagles and lynxes.
Animal activists, and just mere bunny lovers, are hoping the new year will help turn the spotlight on the species' plight.
PETA has launched an ad campaign imploring Chinese movie star Gong Li to curb her penchant for wearing rabbit and other furs and switch to a "kinder wardrobe."
The ad shows a woman's foot stepping on the neck of a dead rabbit next to the words, "Where Does Gong Li Stand on Fur?"
PETA says its investigations have revealed that on rabbit farms in China, the animals are pulled from their cages by their ears and shot in the head with electric stun guns as they kick and scream. The rabbits are then hung upside down and decapitated.
___
Associated Press writers Julia Zappei in Kuala Lumpur and Robin McDowell in Jakarta contributed to this report.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/28/rabbits-threatened-by-zod_n_814822.html
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Pika gets new review as possible at-risk species
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 - 12:00 am | Page 2B
The American pika, a tiny rabbit-like resident of the Sierra Nevada, will get another shot at the state Endangered Species Act.
On Thursday, the state Fish and Game Commission ordered a review of the pika's status in response to a San Francisco Superior Court ruling that found the Department of Fish and Game failed to consider new information in a review completed last fall.
This came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, which first petitioned the state to protect the pika in 2007.
The pika lives only in high-elevation boulder fields. In other states, evidence shows climate change has shrunk pika habitat, resulting in smaller populations.
Until recently, California has lacked similar evidence.
But the Center for Biological Diversity last summer submitted new findings of pika population losses in the Bodie and Lassen regions.
In a subsequent suit, the center claimed that state officials had failed to consider this, and the court agreed, said Greg Loarie, an attorney at Earthjustice who represented the center.
Fish and Game has 90 days to complete a new review.
If protected, pika would become the first California species listed under the state Endangered Species Act as a result of climate change.
– Matt Weiser
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/08/3385260/pika-gets-new-review-as-possible.html
The American pika, a tiny rabbit-like resident of the Sierra Nevada, will get another shot at the state Endangered Species Act.
On Thursday, the state Fish and Game Commission ordered a review of the pika's status in response to a San Francisco Superior Court ruling that found the Department of Fish and Game failed to consider new information in a review completed last fall.
This came in response to a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, which first petitioned the state to protect the pika in 2007.
The pika lives only in high-elevation boulder fields. In other states, evidence shows climate change has shrunk pika habitat, resulting in smaller populations.
Until recently, California has lacked similar evidence.
But the Center for Biological Diversity last summer submitted new findings of pika population losses in the Bodie and Lassen regions.
In a subsequent suit, the center claimed that state officials had failed to consider this, and the court agreed, said Greg Loarie, an attorney at Earthjustice who represented the center.
Fish and Game has 90 days to complete a new review.
If protected, pika would become the first California species listed under the state Endangered Species Act as a result of climate change.
– Matt Weiser
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/08/3385260/pika-gets-new-review-as-possible.html
Monday, January 17, 2011
Top 10 invasive species you can eat
Published: Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
By ROBIN SHREEVES - Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)
After a recent report about invasivores, people who eat invasive species for the express purpose of controlling the species so they don't devastate ecosystems, a representative from Roger Williams University contacted me and told me they had done research on eating invasive species and had come up with a list of invasive species that can be eaten. I thought it would be interesting to share the list with you. I've also tracked down recipes for them.
1. Lionfish. Lionfish Romesco Stew (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) was featured in The Washington Post last summer. It was also called the sustainable "it" seafood conservationists say more people should begin eating.
2. Asian carp. The Bowfishing Association of Illinois has a recipe for Smoked Asian Carp (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) that can be prepared two ways - savory or sweet. You'll have to scroll half way down the page to find the specific recipes.
3. Brassica rapa (aka turnip mustard or field mustard). The Selfsufficientish blog has information about this invasive plant species and a recipe for Simple Mashed Turnips (www.selfsufficientish.com/turnip.htm).
4. American cannonball jellyfish. Apparently eating jellyfish is common in Asia. (I didn't know they were edible.) The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=347) has some instructions on how to prepare jellyfish to be added to salad or served alongside vegetables.
5. Kudzu. I found several suggestions for kudzu on Granpappy's Basic Recipes (www.grandpappy.info/rkudzu.htm). Both the leaves and the blossoms can be used to create teas, salads and even wine.
6. Bullfrog. In France, frog legs are considered a treat. I'm not so sure I'd want to give them a try, but garlic makes everything better so maybe this recipe for Garlic Frogs Legs (www.food.com/recipe/garlic-frogs-legs-14089) might make them seem more palatable.
7. Feral pigs/wild boar. If you're a skilled hunter and want to help thin out the invasive pig and boar population, you might as well make a meal out of your kill, right? Texas Gourmet has a recipe for Sugar Cured Feral Hog (www.texasgourmet.com/cookbook-sub.php?icookId=12) that is cooked in a BBQ pit.
8. European green crab. Green crabs can be used in most crab recipes, although they are smaller than many crabs so getting enough meat can be time-consuming. Try Green Crab Enchiladas (www.bigoven.com/recipe/93371/green-crab-enchiladas) from Big Oven or Green Crab Soup (www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/GREEN-CRAB-SOUP-1201806) from Epicurious.
9. Rusty crayfish. The only time I've ever eaten crayfish (also called crawfish) was in New Orleans in an etouffee. I'd try Emeril's Crawfish Etouffee recipe (www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-recipe/index.html) if you've got an overabundance of rusty crayfish you're looking to cook up and eat.
10. Rabbit. I've eaten rabbit in restaurants. It's got one of those "tastes like chicken" flavors but a bit gamier. The one time it was served on the bone, I could clearly see the shape of the little rabbit leg, and it kind of ruined the dish for me. So, I suggest if you don't want to think about eating rabbit while you are eating it, go boneless. Try this Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew) recipe (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hasenpfeffer-rabbit-stew/Detail.aspx) from allrecipes.com.
Robin Shreeves blogs about finding eco-friendly food options at www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/sustainablefood.
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/17/2880900/top-10-invasive-species-you-can.html
By ROBIN SHREEVES - Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)
After a recent report about invasivores, people who eat invasive species for the express purpose of controlling the species so they don't devastate ecosystems, a representative from Roger Williams University contacted me and told me they had done research on eating invasive species and had come up with a list of invasive species that can be eaten. I thought it would be interesting to share the list with you. I've also tracked down recipes for them.
1. Lionfish. Lionfish Romesco Stew (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) was featured in The Washington Post last summer. It was also called the sustainable "it" seafood conservationists say more people should begin eating.
2. Asian carp. The Bowfishing Association of Illinois has a recipe for Smoked Asian Carp (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) that can be prepared two ways - savory or sweet. You'll have to scroll half way down the page to find the specific recipes.
3. Brassica rapa (aka turnip mustard or field mustard). The Selfsufficientish blog has information about this invasive plant species and a recipe for Simple Mashed Turnips (www.selfsufficientish.com/turnip.htm).
4. American cannonball jellyfish. Apparently eating jellyfish is common in Asia. (I didn't know they were edible.) The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=347) has some instructions on how to prepare jellyfish to be added to salad or served alongside vegetables.
5. Kudzu. I found several suggestions for kudzu on Granpappy's Basic Recipes (www.grandpappy.info/rkudzu.htm). Both the leaves and the blossoms can be used to create teas, salads and even wine.
6. Bullfrog. In France, frog legs are considered a treat. I'm not so sure I'd want to give them a try, but garlic makes everything better so maybe this recipe for Garlic Frogs Legs (www.food.com/recipe/garlic-frogs-legs-14089) might make them seem more palatable.
7. Feral pigs/wild boar. If you're a skilled hunter and want to help thin out the invasive pig and boar population, you might as well make a meal out of your kill, right? Texas Gourmet has a recipe for Sugar Cured Feral Hog (www.texasgourmet.com/cookbook-sub.php?icookId=12) that is cooked in a BBQ pit.
8. European green crab. Green crabs can be used in most crab recipes, although they are smaller than many crabs so getting enough meat can be time-consuming. Try Green Crab Enchiladas (www.bigoven.com/recipe/93371/green-crab-enchiladas) from Big Oven or Green Crab Soup (www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/GREEN-CRAB-SOUP-1201806) from Epicurious.
9. Rusty crayfish. The only time I've ever eaten crayfish (also called crawfish) was in New Orleans in an etouffee. I'd try Emeril's Crawfish Etouffee recipe (www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-recipe/index.html) if you've got an overabundance of rusty crayfish you're looking to cook up and eat.
10. Rabbit. I've eaten rabbit in restaurants. It's got one of those "tastes like chicken" flavors but a bit gamier. The one time it was served on the bone, I could clearly see the shape of the little rabbit leg, and it kind of ruined the dish for me. So, I suggest if you don't want to think about eating rabbit while you are eating it, go boneless. Try this Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew) recipe (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hasenpfeffer-rabbit-stew/Detail.aspx) from allrecipes.com.
Robin Shreeves blogs about finding eco-friendly food options at www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/sustainablefood.
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/17/2880900/top-10-invasive-species-you-can.html
Top 10 invasive species you can eat
Published: Monday, Jan. 17, 2011
By ROBIN SHREEVES - Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)
After a recent report about invasivores, people who eat invasive species for the express purpose of controlling the species so they don't devastate ecosystems, a representative from Roger Williams University contacted me and told me they had done research on eating invasive species and had come up with a list of invasive species that can be eaten. I thought it would be interesting to share the list with you. I've also tracked down recipes for them.
1. Lionfish. Lionfish Romesco Stew (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) was featured in The Washington Post last summer. It was also called the sustainable "it" seafood conservationists say more people should begin eating.
2. Asian carp. The Bowfishing Association of Illinois has a recipe for Smoked Asian Carp (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) that can be prepared two ways - savory or sweet. You'll have to scroll half way down the page to find the specific recipes.
3. Brassica rapa (aka turnip mustard or field mustard). The Selfsufficientish blog has information about this invasive plant species and a recipe for Simple Mashed Turnips (www.selfsufficientish.com/turnip.htm).
4. American cannonball jellyfish. Apparently eating jellyfish is common in Asia. (I didn't know they were edible.) The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=347) has some instructions on how to prepare jellyfish to be added to salad or served alongside vegetables.
5. Kudzu. I found several suggestions for kudzu on Granpappy's Basic Recipes (www.grandpappy.info/rkudzu.htm). Both the leaves and the blossoms can be used to create teas, salads and even wine.
6. Bullfrog. In France, frog legs are considered a treat. I'm not so sure I'd want to give them a try, but garlic makes everything better so maybe this recipe for Garlic Frogs Legs (www.food.com/recipe/garlic-frogs-legs-14089) might make them seem more palatable.
7. Feral pigs/wild boar. If you're a skilled hunter and want to help thin out the invasive pig and boar population, you might as well make a meal out of your kill, right? Texas Gourmet has a recipe for Sugar Cured Feral Hog (www.texasgourmet.com/cookbook-sub.php?icookId=12) that is cooked in a BBQ pit.
8. European green crab. Green crabs can be used in most crab recipes, although they are smaller than many crabs so getting enough meat can be time-consuming. Try Green Crab Enchiladas (www.bigoven.com/recipe/93371/green-crab-enchiladas) from Big Oven or Green Crab Soup (www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/GREEN-CRAB-SOUP-1201806) from Epicurious.
9. Rusty crayfish. The only time I've ever eaten crayfish (also called crawfish) was in New Orleans in an etouffee. I'd try Emeril's Crawfish Etouffee recipe (www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-recipe/index.html) if you've got an overabundance of rusty crayfish you're looking to cook up and eat.
10. Rabbit. I've eaten rabbit in restaurants. It's got one of those "tastes like chicken" flavors but a bit gamier. The one time it was served on the bone, I could clearly see the shape of the little rabbit leg, and it kind of ruined the dish for me. So, I suggest if you don't want to think about eating rabbit while you are eating it, go boneless. Try this Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew) recipe (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hasenpfeffer-rabbit-stew/Detail.aspx) from allrecipes.com.
Robin Shreeves blogs about finding eco-friendly food options at www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/sustainablefood.
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/17/2880900/top-10-invasive-species-you-can.html
By ROBIN SHREEVES - Mother Nature Network (mnn.com)
After a recent report about invasivores, people who eat invasive species for the express purpose of controlling the species so they don't devastate ecosystems, a representative from Roger Williams University contacted me and told me they had done research on eating invasive species and had come up with a list of invasive species that can be eaten. I thought it would be interesting to share the list with you. I've also tracked down recipes for them.
1. Lionfish. Lionfish Romesco Stew (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) was featured in The Washington Post last summer. It was also called the sustainable "it" seafood conservationists say more people should begin eating.
2. Asian carp. The Bowfishing Association of Illinois has a recipe for Smoked Asian Carp (www.illinoisbowfishing.net/Recipes.html) that can be prepared two ways - savory or sweet. You'll have to scroll half way down the page to find the specific recipes.
3. Brassica rapa (aka turnip mustard or field mustard). The Selfsufficientish blog has information about this invasive plant species and a recipe for Simple Mashed Turnips (www.selfsufficientish.com/turnip.htm).
4. American cannonball jellyfish. Apparently eating jellyfish is common in Asia. (I didn't know they were edible.) The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (http://crd.dnr.state.ga.us/content/displaycontent.asp?txtDocument=347) has some instructions on how to prepare jellyfish to be added to salad or served alongside vegetables.
5. Kudzu. I found several suggestions for kudzu on Granpappy's Basic Recipes (www.grandpappy.info/rkudzu.htm). Both the leaves and the blossoms can be used to create teas, salads and even wine.
6. Bullfrog. In France, frog legs are considered a treat. I'm not so sure I'd want to give them a try, but garlic makes everything better so maybe this recipe for Garlic Frogs Legs (www.food.com/recipe/garlic-frogs-legs-14089) might make them seem more palatable.
7. Feral pigs/wild boar. If you're a skilled hunter and want to help thin out the invasive pig and boar population, you might as well make a meal out of your kill, right? Texas Gourmet has a recipe for Sugar Cured Feral Hog (www.texasgourmet.com/cookbook-sub.php?icookId=12) that is cooked in a BBQ pit.
8. European green crab. Green crabs can be used in most crab recipes, although they are smaller than many crabs so getting enough meat can be time-consuming. Try Green Crab Enchiladas (www.bigoven.com/recipe/93371/green-crab-enchiladas) from Big Oven or Green Crab Soup (www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/GREEN-CRAB-SOUP-1201806) from Epicurious.
9. Rusty crayfish. The only time I've ever eaten crayfish (also called crawfish) was in New Orleans in an etouffee. I'd try Emeril's Crawfish Etouffee recipe (www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-recipe/index.html) if you've got an overabundance of rusty crayfish you're looking to cook up and eat.
10. Rabbit. I've eaten rabbit in restaurants. It's got one of those "tastes like chicken" flavors but a bit gamier. The one time it was served on the bone, I could clearly see the shape of the little rabbit leg, and it kind of ruined the dish for me. So, I suggest if you don't want to think about eating rabbit while you are eating it, go boneless. Try this Hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew) recipe (http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/hasenpfeffer-rabbit-stew/Detail.aspx) from allrecipes.com.
Robin Shreeves blogs about finding eco-friendly food options at www.mnn.com/featured-blogs/sustainablefood.
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/01/17/2880900/top-10-invasive-species-you-can.html
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Radioactive rabbit trapped near Richland
By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer
A radioactive rabbit caught at Hanford just north of Richland had Washington State Department of Health workers looking for contaminated droppings Thursday.
Contaminated animals occasionally are found at the nuclear reservation, but more often they are in the center of Hanford, far from town.
The rabbit trapped at the 300 Area caught the Department of Health's attention because it was close enough to the site's boundaries to potentially come in contact with the public -- such as if it had been caught by a dog or if its droppings were deposited in an area open to the public.
It's the Department of Health's job to look for contamination off-site and make sure there is no public hazard.
However, an afternoon of surveying turned up no contaminated droppings in areas accessible to the public, said Earl Fordham, the department's regional director of the Office of Radiation Protection.
Washington Closure Hanford, the Department of Energy contractor cleaning up Hanford in the 300 Area, found the contaminated rabbit droppings last week, said company spokesman Todd Nelson.
Several rabbits have been trapped since then and one of them was found to be highly contaminated internally with radioactive cesium, Fordham said.
Because the number of contaminated droppings being discovered on-site has decreased, officials believe it's possible that just one rabbit might have been contaminated and they now are finding old droppings from it.
Washington Closure has narrowed the area of possible contamination to the 327 Building. It was used during the Cold War for testing highly radioactive materials, particularly fuel elements and cladding that were irradiated at Hanford reactors as part of plutonium production for the nation's nuclear weapons program.
The above-ground hot cells were pulled out of the building and demolition began on the structure about a month ago. One theory is that the rabbit might have been sipping water that collected in the building's basement after water was sprayed during demolition to suppress dust.
Washington Closure has taken steps to keep other animals from getting near the building. Workers have put up a chain-link fence and removed any vegetation that might provide a rabbit snack.
They also scented the perimeter of the building with fox urine to deter animals that might burrow and get closer to any contamination. Gravel and steel plates have been used to cover places that have been identified as potential sources of the contamination.
Department of Health workers were using handheld instruments to search for radioactive droppings on Thursday, looking for "polite rabbits," Fordham said. Rabbit droppings are more likely to be found hidden under bushes than out in the open, such as on roads that the public can drive on north of Richland.
The farthest droppings have been found from the 327 Building is about 100 yards to the south, which still is within an area closed to the public.
Hanford has an extensive program to check for contaminated animals. In 2009, 33 contaminated animals or animal materials such as droppings were found on the site.
In Hanford's earlier years, contaminated animals were more common.
Liquid waste with radioactive salts was discharged into the ground near central Hanford during the Cold War. Rabbits and other animals were attracted to the salts and spread radioactive droppings across as much as 13.7 square miles of sage-covered land before the waste sites were sealed to keep out animals in 1969.
Federal economic stimulus money has been used to survey for the radioactive hot spots that remain four decades later.
In a more recent case, so many radioactive wasp nests were found spread across six acres by H Reactor in northern Hanford that up to a foot of soil was dug up to remove the nests.
The nests were built by mud dauber wasps in 2003. Water was sprayed to control dust during demolition of a basin attached to the reactor, and the mud created was collected by the wasps to build nests under straw that had been spread nearby to protect newly planted sagebrush seedlings.
There have been a couple of cases in the past two decades of contaminated animals in areas where they potentially could come in contact with the public.
In 1996, a contaminated mouse apparently crawled into a box of food collected by an employee food drive in central Hanford. It was trapped and tested in an abandoned Hanford building previously used by the Tri-Cities Food Bank.
Two years later, gnats and flies were suspected of eating a sugary coating used to fix some radioactive contamination. They then spread the contamination to waste left by workers in offices, such as banana peels and apple cores.
That required 35 tons of trash that could contain the office waste to be dug up from the Richland landfill and returned to Hanford.
A radioactive rabbit caught at Hanford just north of Richland had Washington State Department of Health workers looking for contaminated droppings Thursday.
Contaminated animals occasionally are found at the nuclear reservation, but more often they are in the center of Hanford, far from town.
The rabbit trapped at the 300 Area caught the Department of Health's attention because it was close enough to the site's boundaries to potentially come in contact with the public -- such as if it had been caught by a dog or if its droppings were deposited in an area open to the public.
It's the Department of Health's job to look for contamination off-site and make sure there is no public hazard.
However, an afternoon of surveying turned up no contaminated droppings in areas accessible to the public, said Earl Fordham, the department's regional director of the Office of Radiation Protection.
Washington Closure Hanford, the Department of Energy contractor cleaning up Hanford in the 300 Area, found the contaminated rabbit droppings last week, said company spokesman Todd Nelson.
Several rabbits have been trapped since then and one of them was found to be highly contaminated internally with radioactive cesium, Fordham said.
Because the number of contaminated droppings being discovered on-site has decreased, officials believe it's possible that just one rabbit might have been contaminated and they now are finding old droppings from it.
Washington Closure has narrowed the area of possible contamination to the 327 Building. It was used during the Cold War for testing highly radioactive materials, particularly fuel elements and cladding that were irradiated at Hanford reactors as part of plutonium production for the nation's nuclear weapons program.
The above-ground hot cells were pulled out of the building and demolition began on the structure about a month ago. One theory is that the rabbit might have been sipping water that collected in the building's basement after water was sprayed during demolition to suppress dust.
Washington Closure has taken steps to keep other animals from getting near the building. Workers have put up a chain-link fence and removed any vegetation that might provide a rabbit snack.
They also scented the perimeter of the building with fox urine to deter animals that might burrow and get closer to any contamination. Gravel and steel plates have been used to cover places that have been identified as potential sources of the contamination.
Department of Health workers were using handheld instruments to search for radioactive droppings on Thursday, looking for "polite rabbits," Fordham said. Rabbit droppings are more likely to be found hidden under bushes than out in the open, such as on roads that the public can drive on north of Richland.
The farthest droppings have been found from the 327 Building is about 100 yards to the south, which still is within an area closed to the public.
Hanford has an extensive program to check for contaminated animals. In 2009, 33 contaminated animals or animal materials such as droppings were found on the site.
In Hanford's earlier years, contaminated animals were more common.
Liquid waste with radioactive salts was discharged into the ground near central Hanford during the Cold War. Rabbits and other animals were attracted to the salts and spread radioactive droppings across as much as 13.7 square miles of sage-covered land before the waste sites were sealed to keep out animals in 1969.
Federal economic stimulus money has been used to survey for the radioactive hot spots that remain four decades later.
In a more recent case, so many radioactive wasp nests were found spread across six acres by H Reactor in northern Hanford that up to a foot of soil was dug up to remove the nests.
The nests were built by mud dauber wasps in 2003. Water was sprayed to control dust during demolition of a basin attached to the reactor, and the mud created was collected by the wasps to build nests under straw that had been spread nearby to protect newly planted sagebrush seedlings.
There have been a couple of cases in the past two decades of contaminated animals in areas where they potentially could come in contact with the public.
In 1996, a contaminated mouse apparently crawled into a box of food collected by an employee food drive in central Hanford. It was trapped and tested in an abandoned Hanford building previously used by the Tri-Cities Food Bank.
Two years later, gnats and flies were suspected of eating a sugary coating used to fix some radioactive contamination. They then spread the contamination to waste left by workers in offices, such as banana peels and apple cores.
That required 35 tons of trash that could contain the office waste to be dug up from the Richland landfill and returned to Hanford.
Radioactive rabbit trapped near Richland
By Annette Cary, Herald staff writer
A radioactive rabbit caught at Hanford just north of Richland had Washington State Department of Health workers looking for contaminated droppings Thursday.
Contaminated animals occasionally are found at the nuclear reservation, but more often they are in the center of Hanford, far from town.
The rabbit trapped at the 300 Area caught the Department of Health's attention because it was close enough to the site's boundaries to potentially come in contact with the public -- such as if it had been caught by a dog or if its droppings were deposited in an area open to the public.
It's the Department of Health's job to look for contamination off-site and make sure there is no public hazard.
However, an afternoon of surveying turned up no contaminated droppings in areas accessible to the public, said Earl Fordham, the department's regional director of the Office of Radiation Protection.
Washington Closure Hanford, the Department of Energy contractor cleaning up Hanford in the 300 Area, found the contaminated rabbit droppings last week, said company spokesman Todd Nelson.
Several rabbits have been trapped since then and one of them was found to be highly contaminated internally with radioactive cesium, Fordham said.
Because the number of contaminated droppings being discovered on-site has decreased, officials believe it's possible that just one rabbit might have been contaminated and they now are finding old droppings from it.
Washington Closure has narrowed the area of possible contamination to the 327 Building. It was used during the Cold War for testing highly radioactive materials, particularly fuel elements and cladding that were irradiated at Hanford reactors as part of plutonium production for the nation's nuclear weapons program.
The above-ground hot cells were pulled out of the building and demolition began on the structure about a month ago. One theory is that the rabbit might have been sipping water that collected in the building's basement after water was sprayed during demolition to suppress dust.
Washington Closure has taken steps to keep other animals from getting near the building. Workers have put up a chain-link fence and removed any vegetation that might provide a rabbit snack.
They also scented the perimeter of the building with fox urine to deter animals that might burrow and get closer to any contamination. Gravel and steel plates have been used to cover places that have been identified as potential sources of the contamination.
Department of Health workers were using handheld instruments to search for radioactive droppings on Thursday, looking for "polite rabbits," Fordham said. Rabbit droppings are more likely to be found hidden under bushes than out in the open, such as on roads that the public can drive on north of Richland.
The farthest droppings have been found from the 327 Building is about 100 yards to the south, which still is within an area closed to the public.
Hanford has an extensive program to check for contaminated animals. In 2009, 33 contaminated animals or animal materials such as droppings were found on the site.
In Hanford's earlier years, contaminated animals were more common.
Liquid waste with radioactive salts was discharged into the ground near central Hanford during the Cold War. Rabbits and other animals were attracted to the salts and spread radioactive droppings across as much as 13.7 square miles of sage-covered land before the waste sites were sealed to keep out animals in 1969.
Federal economic stimulus money has been used to survey for the radioactive hot spots that remain four decades later.
In a more recent case, so many radioactive wasp nests were found spread across six acres by H Reactor in northern Hanford that up to a foot of soil was dug up to remove the nests.
The nests were built by mud dauber wasps in 2003. Water was sprayed to control dust during demolition of a basin attached to the reactor, and the mud created was collected by the wasps to build nests under straw that had been spread nearby to protect newly planted sagebrush seedlings.
There have been a couple of cases in the past two decades of contaminated animals in areas where they potentially could come in contact with the public.
In 1996, a contaminated mouse apparently crawled into a box of food collected by an employee food drive in central Hanford. It was trapped and tested in an abandoned Hanford building previously used by the Tri-Cities Food Bank.
Two years later, gnats and flies were suspected of eating a sugary coating used to fix some radioactive contamination. They then spread the contamination to waste left by workers in offices, such as banana peels and apple cores.
That required 35 tons of trash that could contain the office waste to be dug up from the Richland landfill and returned to Hanford.
A radioactive rabbit caught at Hanford just north of Richland had Washington State Department of Health workers looking for contaminated droppings Thursday.
Contaminated animals occasionally are found at the nuclear reservation, but more often they are in the center of Hanford, far from town.
The rabbit trapped at the 300 Area caught the Department of Health's attention because it was close enough to the site's boundaries to potentially come in contact with the public -- such as if it had been caught by a dog or if its droppings were deposited in an area open to the public.
It's the Department of Health's job to look for contamination off-site and make sure there is no public hazard.
However, an afternoon of surveying turned up no contaminated droppings in areas accessible to the public, said Earl Fordham, the department's regional director of the Office of Radiation Protection.
Washington Closure Hanford, the Department of Energy contractor cleaning up Hanford in the 300 Area, found the contaminated rabbit droppings last week, said company spokesman Todd Nelson.
Several rabbits have been trapped since then and one of them was found to be highly contaminated internally with radioactive cesium, Fordham said.
Because the number of contaminated droppings being discovered on-site has decreased, officials believe it's possible that just one rabbit might have been contaminated and they now are finding old droppings from it.
Washington Closure has narrowed the area of possible contamination to the 327 Building. It was used during the Cold War for testing highly radioactive materials, particularly fuel elements and cladding that were irradiated at Hanford reactors as part of plutonium production for the nation's nuclear weapons program.
The above-ground hot cells were pulled out of the building and demolition began on the structure about a month ago. One theory is that the rabbit might have been sipping water that collected in the building's basement after water was sprayed during demolition to suppress dust.
Washington Closure has taken steps to keep other animals from getting near the building. Workers have put up a chain-link fence and removed any vegetation that might provide a rabbit snack.
They also scented the perimeter of the building with fox urine to deter animals that might burrow and get closer to any contamination. Gravel and steel plates have been used to cover places that have been identified as potential sources of the contamination.
Department of Health workers were using handheld instruments to search for radioactive droppings on Thursday, looking for "polite rabbits," Fordham said. Rabbit droppings are more likely to be found hidden under bushes than out in the open, such as on roads that the public can drive on north of Richland.
The farthest droppings have been found from the 327 Building is about 100 yards to the south, which still is within an area closed to the public.
Hanford has an extensive program to check for contaminated animals. In 2009, 33 contaminated animals or animal materials such as droppings were found on the site.
In Hanford's earlier years, contaminated animals were more common.
Liquid waste with radioactive salts was discharged into the ground near central Hanford during the Cold War. Rabbits and other animals were attracted to the salts and spread radioactive droppings across as much as 13.7 square miles of sage-covered land before the waste sites were sealed to keep out animals in 1969.
Federal economic stimulus money has been used to survey for the radioactive hot spots that remain four decades later.
In a more recent case, so many radioactive wasp nests were found spread across six acres by H Reactor in northern Hanford that up to a foot of soil was dug up to remove the nests.
The nests were built by mud dauber wasps in 2003. Water was sprayed to control dust during demolition of a basin attached to the reactor, and the mud created was collected by the wasps to build nests under straw that had been spread nearby to protect newly planted sagebrush seedlings.
There have been a couple of cases in the past two decades of contaminated animals in areas where they potentially could come in contact with the public.
In 1996, a contaminated mouse apparently crawled into a box of food collected by an employee food drive in central Hanford. It was trapped and tested in an abandoned Hanford building previously used by the Tri-Cities Food Bank.
Two years later, gnats and flies were suspected of eating a sugary coating used to fix some radioactive contamination. They then spread the contamination to waste left by workers in offices, such as banana peels and apple cores.
That required 35 tons of trash that could contain the office waste to be dug up from the Richland landfill and returned to Hanford.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Zimbabwean hunter suffocates in rabbit hole
Energy Kamuruko was out tracking with dogs when he noticed a rabbit dart into a tunnel near the village of Mandipaka.
The 20-year-old peered inside but his head got stuck. His body was found the following day by a neighbour.
A postmortem confirmed he died on Sunday of asphyxiation.
It is the second hunting-related accidental death in the African country in recent months.
In August, Tamsen Lucius, 36, impaled himself on his own spear while chasing wild boar.
Officials said he had climbed a tree to try and get a better angle with his weapon after tracking a herd of the animals in the bush.
But he died instantly after losing his footing and impaling himself through the chest.
Hunting remains common across rural parts of Zimbabwe, where many people continue to live traditional lifestyles.
The 20-year-old peered inside but his head got stuck. His body was found the following day by a neighbour.
A postmortem confirmed he died on Sunday of asphyxiation.
It is the second hunting-related accidental death in the African country in recent months.
In August, Tamsen Lucius, 36, impaled himself on his own spear while chasing wild boar.
Officials said he had climbed a tree to try and get a better angle with his weapon after tracking a herd of the animals in the bush.
But he died instantly after losing his footing and impaling himself through the chest.
Hunting remains common across rural parts of Zimbabwe, where many people continue to live traditional lifestyles.
Zimbabwean hunter suffocates in rabbit hole
Energy Kamuruko was out tracking with dogs when he noticed a rabbit dart into a tunnel near the village of Mandipaka.
The 20-year-old peered inside but his head got stuck. His body was found the following day by a neighbour.
A postmortem confirmed he died on Sunday of asphyxiation.
It is the second hunting-related accidental death in the African country in recent months.
In August, Tamsen Lucius, 36, impaled himself on his own spear while chasing wild boar.
Officials said he had climbed a tree to try and get a better angle with his weapon after tracking a herd of the animals in the bush.
But he died instantly after losing his footing and impaling himself through the chest.
Hunting remains common across rural parts of Zimbabwe, where many people continue to live traditional lifestyles.
The 20-year-old peered inside but his head got stuck. His body was found the following day by a neighbour.
A postmortem confirmed he died on Sunday of asphyxiation.
It is the second hunting-related accidental death in the African country in recent months.
In August, Tamsen Lucius, 36, impaled himself on his own spear while chasing wild boar.
Officials said he had climbed a tree to try and get a better angle with his weapon after tracking a herd of the animals in the bush.
But he died instantly after losing his footing and impaling himself through the chest.
Hunting remains common across rural parts of Zimbabwe, where many people continue to live traditional lifestyles.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Man claims rabbits at DIA damaged his car
DENVER - One air traveler says rabbits took a chunk out of his car while it was parked at Denver International Airport.
After a nine day stay at DIA's Pike's Peak lot, Dexter Meyer returned from vacation and found that his car would barely start.
"The (repair man) called me and told me that rodents had eaten through the wires," said Meyer. That's what the VW dealer said was wrong with his brand new Jetta.
"You didn't just pick the car up from the airport did you?" the dealer asked Meyer. "And I said, 'well as a matter of fact I did.' And he said 'well we've had several problems with people having rabbits eating through the wiring.'"
"We've seen rabbits and we've seen mice and they're eating up the newer cars," said Robert Bauguess, owner of Bavarian Autohaus. He said 2002 and newer models seem to be especially tasty.
Cars like Meyer's use a soy-based compound in the wiring.
Bauguess said a recent customer brought an unexpected passenger to the dealership along with her BMW. "There was a furry animal there and I poked at it, and it was a rabbit," said Bauguess.
Meyer says DIA admitted there are rabbits there --and everywhere else-- so they can't be sure their bunnies did the biting.
"We are aware of the problem," he said a woman from DIA told him on the phone, "And that they were thinking about increasing patrols. And I said 'to check out for bunnies?"
Bunnies clearly have not gotten the notice based on the number we saw around the parking lot.
"All I want to do is just to tell you there is a problem," Meyer said he told the woman, "Just to let you know that you might want to do something about it, and she said 'well, there is a fence.'"
"They made it in there. They found my car," Meyer said he told the woman at DIA, "The fence isn't working. And she said 'well, I don't know what to tell you,' and I said 'I just want to make sure that this is reported.'"
He says he never wanted reimbursement for repairs.
"I ended up paying $238 plus $55 in parking," he said.
It was about five years ago FOX31 News reported on this same issue at DIA when several travelers had the same complaint.
DIA told FOX31 News they won't comment on the situation because there's no proof that rabbits at the airport did any damage to Meyer's car.
http://www.kdvr.com/videobeta/c7c949cd-dcd5-4f98-a008-90034ef414b9/News/Rabbits-chewing-on-cars-parked-at-DIA
__._,_.___
After a nine day stay at DIA's Pike's Peak lot, Dexter Meyer returned from vacation and found that his car would barely start.
"The (repair man) called me and told me that rodents had eaten through the wires," said Meyer. That's what the VW dealer said was wrong with his brand new Jetta.
"You didn't just pick the car up from the airport did you?" the dealer asked Meyer. "And I said, 'well as a matter of fact I did.' And he said 'well we've had several problems with people having rabbits eating through the wiring.'"
"We've seen rabbits and we've seen mice and they're eating up the newer cars," said Robert Bauguess, owner of Bavarian Autohaus. He said 2002 and newer models seem to be especially tasty.
Cars like Meyer's use a soy-based compound in the wiring.
Bauguess said a recent customer brought an unexpected passenger to the dealership along with her BMW. "There was a furry animal there and I poked at it, and it was a rabbit," said Bauguess.
Meyer says DIA admitted there are rabbits there --and everywhere else-- so they can't be sure their bunnies did the biting.
"We are aware of the problem," he said a woman from DIA told him on the phone, "And that they were thinking about increasing patrols. And I said 'to check out for bunnies?"
Bunnies clearly have not gotten the notice based on the number we saw around the parking lot.
"All I want to do is just to tell you there is a problem," Meyer said he told the woman, "Just to let you know that you might want to do something about it, and she said 'well, there is a fence.'"
"They made it in there. They found my car," Meyer said he told the woman at DIA, "The fence isn't working. And she said 'well, I don't know what to tell you,' and I said 'I just want to make sure that this is reported.'"
He says he never wanted reimbursement for repairs.
"I ended up paying $238 plus $55 in parking," he said.
It was about five years ago FOX31 News reported on this same issue at DIA when several travelers had the same complaint.
DIA told FOX31 News they won't comment on the situation because there's no proof that rabbits at the airport did any damage to Meyer's car.
http://www.kdvr.com/videobeta/c7c949cd-dcd5-4f98-a008-90034ef414b9/News/Rabbits-chewing-on-cars-parked-at-DIA
__._,_.___
Man claims rabbits at DIA damaged his car
DENVER - One air traveler says rabbits took a chunk out of his car while it was parked at Denver International Airport.
After a nine day stay at DIA's Pike's Peak lot, Dexter Meyer returned from vacation and found that his car would barely start.
"The (repair man) called me and told me that rodents had eaten through the wires," said Meyer. That's what the VW dealer said was wrong with his brand new Jetta.
"You didn't just pick the car up from the airport did you?" the dealer asked Meyer. "And I said, 'well as a matter of fact I did.' And he said 'well we've had several problems with people having rabbits eating through the wiring.'"
"We've seen rabbits and we've seen mice and they're eating up the newer cars," said Robert Bauguess, owner of Bavarian Autohaus. He said 2002 and newer models seem to be especially tasty.
Cars like Meyer's use a soy-based compound in the wiring.
Bauguess said a recent customer brought an unexpected passenger to the dealership along with her BMW. "There was a furry animal there and I poked at it, and it was a rabbit," said Bauguess.
Meyer says DIA admitted there are rabbits there --and everywhere else-- so they can't be sure their bunnies did the biting.
"We are aware of the problem," he said a woman from DIA told him on the phone, "And that they were thinking about increasing patrols. And I said 'to check out for bunnies?"
Bunnies clearly have not gotten the notice based on the number we saw around the parking lot.
"All I want to do is just to tell you there is a problem," Meyer said he told the woman, "Just to let you know that you might want to do something about it, and she said 'well, there is a fence.'"
"They made it in there. They found my car," Meyer said he told the woman at DIA, "The fence isn't working. And she said 'well, I don't know what to tell you,' and I said 'I just want to make sure that this is reported.'"
He says he never wanted reimbursement for repairs.
"I ended up paying $238 plus $55 in parking," he said.
It was about five years ago FOX31 News reported on this same issue at DIA when several travelers had the same complaint.
DIA told FOX31 News they won't comment on the situation because there's no proof that rabbits at the airport did any damage to Meyer's car.
http://www.kdvr.com/videobeta/c7c949cd-dcd5-4f98-a008-90034ef414b9/News/Rabbits-chewing-on-cars-parked-at-DIA
__._,_.___
After a nine day stay at DIA's Pike's Peak lot, Dexter Meyer returned from vacation and found that his car would barely start.
"The (repair man) called me and told me that rodents had eaten through the wires," said Meyer. That's what the VW dealer said was wrong with his brand new Jetta.
"You didn't just pick the car up from the airport did you?" the dealer asked Meyer. "And I said, 'well as a matter of fact I did.' And he said 'well we've had several problems with people having rabbits eating through the wiring.'"
"We've seen rabbits and we've seen mice and they're eating up the newer cars," said Robert Bauguess, owner of Bavarian Autohaus. He said 2002 and newer models seem to be especially tasty.
Cars like Meyer's use a soy-based compound in the wiring.
Bauguess said a recent customer brought an unexpected passenger to the dealership along with her BMW. "There was a furry animal there and I poked at it, and it was a rabbit," said Bauguess.
Meyer says DIA admitted there are rabbits there --and everywhere else-- so they can't be sure their bunnies did the biting.
"We are aware of the problem," he said a woman from DIA told him on the phone, "And that they were thinking about increasing patrols. And I said 'to check out for bunnies?"
Bunnies clearly have not gotten the notice based on the number we saw around the parking lot.
"All I want to do is just to tell you there is a problem," Meyer said he told the woman, "Just to let you know that you might want to do something about it, and she said 'well, there is a fence.'"
"They made it in there. They found my car," Meyer said he told the woman at DIA, "The fence isn't working. And she said 'well, I don't know what to tell you,' and I said 'I just want to make sure that this is reported.'"
He says he never wanted reimbursement for repairs.
"I ended up paying $238 plus $55 in parking," he said.
It was about five years ago FOX31 News reported on this same issue at DIA when several travelers had the same complaint.
DIA told FOX31 News they won't comment on the situation because there's no proof that rabbits at the airport did any damage to Meyer's car.
http://www.kdvr.com/videobeta/c7c949cd-dcd5-4f98-a008-90034ef414b9/News/Rabbits-chewing-on-cars-parked-at-DIA
__._,_.___
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Rabbit stowed away in car engine for 300-mile journey home... but then met a tragic end
A STOWAWAY rabbit, who thought it had made a great escape from its home in picturesque Devon, met a tragic end after an epic 300-mile journey.
The wild rabbit had hitched a lift with a Halifax family returning home from their holiday in Devon but was caught in the jaws of a neighbour's cat before it could adjust to its new life in Calderdale.
The Brown family from Pippin Court, Ovenden, Halifax, had been to the Haven holiday camp in Devon, when they returned to their home in the family car - a Ford Mondeo.
After they unloaded their car and unpacked their suitcases, seven-year-old daughter Maisie saw a rabbit pop out from under the car.
Father-of-three Rod Brown said: "There were lots of rabbits everywhere. We came home on Friday night and my daughter spotted a rabbit running about.
"It ran around the car and then it was gone, back into the engine."
Mr Brown called the RSPCA, who dispatched an officer on August 8 to try to get the rabbit out.
"She couldn't get into the engine so she gave me a net to try to catch it. It ended up with me and about 12 kids standing in the street trying to catch it if it came out," said Mr Brown.
Andy Robbins, from the RSPCA, said the officer did not have the right equipment to dismantle the engine.
"As the rabbit didn't appear to be injured and in urgent need of assistance, she left a net with the car owner if he saw the rabbit and was able to catch it."
He said it was "remarkable" the pet made the cross-country trip.
He added the rabbit was lucky it was a new car. "Modern car engines also don't heat up like old engines, so it is possible for animals to stow away without coming to harm," said Mr Robbins.
The rabbit's freedom was short-lived. On one of its excursions from the engine, it met a grisly end at the jaws of the neighbour's cat - putting an end to his dreams of a new life in Halifax.
By Ruth Mosalski
The wild rabbit had hitched a lift with a Halifax family returning home from their holiday in Devon but was caught in the jaws of a neighbour's cat before it could adjust to its new life in Calderdale.
The Brown family from Pippin Court, Ovenden, Halifax, had been to the Haven holiday camp in Devon, when they returned to their home in the family car - a Ford Mondeo.
After they unloaded their car and unpacked their suitcases, seven-year-old daughter Maisie saw a rabbit pop out from under the car.
Father-of-three Rod Brown said: "There were lots of rabbits everywhere. We came home on Friday night and my daughter spotted a rabbit running about.
"It ran around the car and then it was gone, back into the engine."
Mr Brown called the RSPCA, who dispatched an officer on August 8 to try to get the rabbit out.
"She couldn't get into the engine so she gave me a net to try to catch it. It ended up with me and about 12 kids standing in the street trying to catch it if it came out," said Mr Brown.
Andy Robbins, from the RSPCA, said the officer did not have the right equipment to dismantle the engine.
"As the rabbit didn't appear to be injured and in urgent need of assistance, she left a net with the car owner if he saw the rabbit and was able to catch it."
He said it was "remarkable" the pet made the cross-country trip.
He added the rabbit was lucky it was a new car. "Modern car engines also don't heat up like old engines, so it is possible for animals to stow away without coming to harm," said Mr Robbins.
The rabbit's freedom was short-lived. On one of its excursions from the engine, it met a grisly end at the jaws of the neighbour's cat - putting an end to his dreams of a new life in Halifax.
By Ruth Mosalski
Monday, February 15, 2010
Fat Ralph is world's biggest bunny
Fat rabbit Ralph is the world's bigget bunny after growing larger than his record breaking mother Amy.Published: 7:30AM GMT 15 Feb 2010
Amy, a Continental Giant rabbit, was four feet long and weighed a whopping three stone before her death in May 2009.
But Ralph, one of Amys 32 babies and barely a year old, is already longer and heavier than his monstrous mum and weighs more than the average three-year-old child.
Owner Pauline Grant relies on handouts from neighbours to make sure Ralph does not go hungry by chomping his way through £10 pounds worth of food a day.
He munches his way through half a cabbage for breakfast and dinner as well as feasting on a handful of carrots and apples for lunch.
Mrs Grant claims he is too heavy for her to pick him up for cuddles and relies on helpers at the Sussex Horse Rescue Trust, Uckfield, East Sussex.
"He is just so big. You do not fully realise until you pick him up and he has quite the appetite," said Mrs Grant.
It really hits us in the pocket having to feed him but thankfully Ralph is so famous in the area people stop me in supermarkets and offer to fit the bill.
I have no idea how big he is going to get, it could be a ridiculous size but everyone loves him and he laps up the attention.
Ralph's dad Roberto is also a previous record holder for the worlds biggest rabbit after weighting in at 35lb and measuring 3ft 1inches.
Mrs Grant is waiting on Guinness World Records to confirm Ralph as the biggest in the world after they changed their rules on measuring animals for size.
TV medium Derek Acorah, star of Most Haunted, has even had a meeting with Ralph after believing the reason he had grown so big was because he was possessed.
"We are pretty sure our house is haunted by something or other, so Ralph went up to London with friends of ours to meet Derek Acorah," said Mrs Grant.
"They said it was pretty spooky and he had a good old chat with Ralph about the spirits in our house. He seemed to think Ralph was channelling the spirit of a ghoul.
"It sounds like a load of old nonsense but Ralph isn't your average rabbit."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7236201/Fat-Ralph-is-worlds-biggest-bunny.html
(Submitted by Mark North)
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Are we tracking a big cat or a bunny?
The Abominable Snowman, Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster and the beast that stalks the Fens are just some of the myths that have yet to be proved fact or fiction.The Fen Tiger was first reported in 1982 in Cottenham, and this week a paw print was found in the snow.
But big cat experts from Linton Zoo and Shepreth Wildlife Park are split over the existence of the beast.
Paw prints photographed in the snow at Histon prompted claims they might belong to a big cat.
One reader, Kerry Goodayle, said: “I can’t imagine it was a dog – it could be a big cat, maybe a puma.”
Since the story was reported in the News, Linton Zoo has received a number of calls from the public asking about animal prints they have seen.
And Kim Simmons, spokeswoman for the zoo, has spoken out to scotch suggestions that a big cat is out there somewhere.
She said: “There is no way that the prints shown in the photos in the News could be a big cat.
“There is a lot of hysteria about the so-called Fen Tiger, but I am sure it doesn’t really exist. If it does, where does it come from, and what is it feeding on?
“The zoo has been keeping all kinds of big cats since the late Sixties, including pumas, leopards, panthers, tigers and lions, so we have many years’ experience of behaviour and footprints.
“We have always kept an open mind about the Fen Tiger, which has become a bit of a Loch Ness monster, and we have been called out to sightings, been sent photographs and film, and been shown casts of prints – but we have never yet seen evidence to suggest there is such a beast on the loose.”
She has sent the News pictures of lion paw prints – to show readers what a big cat’s print really looks like.
“The print pictured in the News was probably just a rabbit’s,” she said.
Last July, another News reader suggested a mutilated muntjac might have been killed by a big cat, but Ms Simmons said: “In fact it was probably just a road kill, which had then been partly eaten by a fox.”
Her view about the latest prints was supported by another reader, Mandy Knowles from Willingham, who contacted the News to say: “I had similar footprints in the snow in my garden in Willingham and thought they belonged to a big cat. I followed the prints until I came to the fence, and found a small hole where something had scraped their way underneath. My husband and I concluded that the prints belonged to a rabbit hopping around in the snow.”
But keeper Chris Knowles, no relation, from Shepreth Wildlife Park, is certain the cats exist.
He told the News: “I’m absolutely convinced they are out there. There is so much evidence. Big cats have been hit by cars. One was hit in Scotland – you can’t deny a body being found.
“I went to Brazil to film them and, seeing how elusive they are in their own habitat, I am convinced they could live here without being seen.
“I think they have probably been released by people who kept them as pets.”
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_cambridge/displayarticle.asp?id=477179
(Submitted by Caty Bergman)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Warm and hoppy
Click to enlarge
A Turkish Angora cat is dressed in a rabbit costume, complete with carrot, for a carnival dress show, part of the World Xoo exhibition, in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.Metro Ireland, 11 January 2009, p11.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Hand rearing baby rabbits
Photos by Fern RiddellWildwood recently opened an "animal encounters" area close to the play area which has a number of animals like goats, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago the keepers found two baby rabbits whose mum had unfortunately died during the night. They still had their eyes closed and only a small amount of hair.
They would not survive without the keepers getting involved, ‘They were tiny when we found them’ commented Ali Bennett Wildwood Keeper, ‘We didn't think they would stand much of a chance, but they held on and now their eyes are open we think there is a good chance they will make it through the winter.’
The keepers have moved the babies in from the outside enclosure where they were born to a specialised hand rearing centre which keeps them warm and safe.‘We still bottle feed them but they are gradually weaning themselves on to solid food now’ commented Karen Price Wildwood Keeper.
The baby bunnies are still so small that they fit into the palm of your hand, and will be kept inside under the watchful eye of their keepers until the spring.
Rabbits are just one of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park, for more information visit the website at http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/ or telephone 0871 7820087.
Wildwood is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/ or telephone 0871 782008.
Bunny Facts:
- Although rabbits build nests, they are not chickens and, after initial preparation, will not sit on their nests. They also do not stay on or by the nests after the babies are born. This would attract the attention of predators. The babies burrow to the bottom of the nest where they remain hidden until Mamma Rabbit wakes them up at mealtime.
- Only rarely does a mother rabbit nurse her young right after giving birth. Most often the first nursing will occur the night after the kindling. The rabbit's rich milk sustains the babies for 24 hours at a time. The preferred mealtime is between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
- A mother rabbit does not lie down in the nest, as a cat would do, but stands over the babies to nurse them. She does, however, clean them and lick their bellies and bottoms to stimulate elimination in much the same way as a cat.
- If you want definite proof that the babies are being cared for, check them early each morning. They should be warm and round-bellied. The best way to know for sure is to weigh them on a small postage scale or kitchen scale. Write down a description and the weight. If they're gaining weight (1/4 oz. or so), they're being fed.
Hand rearing baby rabbits
Photos by Fern RiddellWildwood recently opened an "animal encounters" area close to the play area which has a number of animals like goats, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Unfortunately a couple of weeks ago the keepers found two baby rabbits whose mum had unfortunately died during the night. They still had their eyes closed and only a small amount of hair.
They would not survive without the keepers getting involved, ‘They were tiny when we found them’ commented Ali Bennett Wildwood Keeper, ‘We didn't think they would stand much of a chance, but they held on and now their eyes are open we think there is a good chance they will make it through the winter.’
The keepers have moved the babies in from the outside enclosure where they were born to a specialised hand rearing centre which keeps them warm and safe.‘We still bottle feed them but they are gradually weaning themselves on to solid food now’ commented Karen Price Wildwood Keeper.
The baby bunnies are still so small that they fit into the palm of your hand, and will be kept inside under the watchful eye of their keepers until the spring.
Rabbits are just one of the huge range of British animals that can be seen at the Wildwood Discovery Park, for more information visit the website at http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/ or telephone 0871 7820087.
Wildwood is an ideal day out for all the family where you can come 'nose to nose' with British Wildlife. Wildwood offers its members and visitors a truly inspirational way to learn about the natural history of Britain by actually seeing the wildlife that once lived here, like the wolf, beaver, red squirrel, wild boar and many more.Wildwood is situated close to Canterbury, just off the A291 between Herne Bay and Canterbury. For more information visit our website at http://www.wildwoodtrust.org/ or telephone 0871 782008.
Bunny Facts:
- Although rabbits build nests, they are not chickens and, after initial preparation, will not sit on their nests. They also do not stay on or by the nests after the babies are born. This would attract the attention of predators. The babies burrow to the bottom of the nest where they remain hidden until Mamma Rabbit wakes them up at mealtime.
- Only rarely does a mother rabbit nurse her young right after giving birth. Most often the first nursing will occur the night after the kindling. The rabbit's rich milk sustains the babies for 24 hours at a time. The preferred mealtime is between midnight and 5:00 a.m.
- A mother rabbit does not lie down in the nest, as a cat would do, but stands over the babies to nurse them. She does, however, clean them and lick their bellies and bottoms to stimulate elimination in much the same way as a cat.
- If you want definite proof that the babies are being cared for, check them early each morning. They should be warm and round-bellied. The best way to know for sure is to weigh them on a small postage scale or kitchen scale. Write down a description and the weight. If they're gaining weight (1/4 oz. or so), they're being fed.
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