Batty for Bats

There are many myths and untruths about bats. For instance, Bats are not blind. They have the same senses we do, sense of smell, hearing, taste, sight and touch. Bats will not attack you and if you see them flying low they are only looking for insects. There are no Vampire bats in the United States but they are found in southern Mexico, Central and South America. Vampire bats do not suck blood like you see in the movies, they make a scrape with their sharp teeth then lap it up. The most common misconception is that all bats carry rabies. This is not true. Studies have shown that less than one percent of bats contract rabies and when they do they usually die within three or four days. You should never handle a wild bat with your bare hands. If you find one on the ground or in a place they shouldn't be, they may bite in self defense and you could contract rabies from him that way.

About Bats:
Here are a few interesting facts about these amazing creatures. Although some mammals can glide, bats are the only mammal that can fly. Bats are classified into a unique group called "Chiroptera", which means "hand wing" in Latin. Bats literally use their hands to fly. Their wings are like our hands, but with longer fingers and a thin, tough skin between the fingers.
There are over 1,100 different species of bats in the world, totaling up about a quarter of all mammal species. There are 45 different species of bats that live in the United States and Canada alone. Most bat species live in warm, tropical regions. Florida is home to thirteen species of bats some of which are year round while others are seasonal, much like many human residents. All thirteen species are insectivorous which means they feed mostly on insects. There are an additional seven species of bats that have, on occasion, been found in Florida but they do not normally live here. These are commonly referred to as accidental species.

Bats can fly extremely fast and at high altitudes. Some species have been detected flying over 50 miles per hour. Other species have been detected flying over 3,000 feet above ground in search of insect prey. Bats are a very important part of our natural ecosystem. They help control pests, are essential pollinators and disperse seeds for numerous plants.

Pest control
Insectivore bats like those in Florida are predators of night-flying insects, like gnats & mosquitoes and many of the most damaging agricultural pests. More than two-thirds of bat species eat insects, and they have healthy appetites. A single little brown bat can eat up to 1,000 insects in one hour; most single bats will eat between 2000 - 6000 bugs a night. Insect-eating bats in the United States provide pest control service for the U.S. agricultural industry saving them billions of dollars a year.

Life Expectancy
On average, mother bats rear only one young per year, and some do not give birth until they are two or more years old. Bats live very long lives, there is a record of a bat that survived in the wild for 41 years, and many species live 15 to 20 years or more.

For more info: Florida Bat Conservancy www.floridabats.org

How much is that bird in the window?

An exotic bird can be one of the most rewarding life long pets. If you are considering adopting an exotic pet, it is important to research what type of bird best suits your lifestyle. Birds are extremely intelligent therefore are relatively easy to train and love to learn new "tricks". Grooming a bird is minimal because they groom themselves, preening their feathers daily to keep them clean. They are very social creatures and with proper training can be as loving as a dog or cat. Birds tend to bond strongly with their owner and many live more than 100 years making them a life long companion. If you live in an apartment a pet budgie, canary or finch would take up very little space & provide wonderful companionship.

When researching there are a few basic questions to begin with:

What are the best foods to feed?

When to trim his nails?

Should I clip his wings?

How much time should they be allowed outside their cage?

How often should I clean his cage?

How big of a cage do I need for the specific species of bird I am interested in?

Are there any medical concerns that I should be aware of?

It is equally important to research possible dangers to the bird in your home. Many times someone will adopt a bird with very little knowledge of the possible dangers the bird may face. There are items you may use every day in your home that can be dangerous and even toxic to birds. An obvious problem for birds would be cigarette or cigar smoke, which can cause eye, skin & respiratory problems. Did you know that many household cleaners release dangerous fumes that are fatal to birds? Chlorine bleach, ammonia, aerosol air fresheners are all toxic to birds.

There are foods that can also cause issues and death in an exotic bird. Chocolate of any kind, caffeine, onions and avocados should never be fed to your bird. Plants like Oleander should never be kept where your bird might eat or perch on the branches.

Most surprising on the list of dangerous household items are non-stick cookware and other household items possessing a non-stick surface made from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). When heated toxic fumes are released that may kill your bird. It is important not to use non-stick cookware, drip pans, irons, ironing board covers and heat-lamps that have PTFE coating around your bird.

Subscribers tragic story

We wanted to share this sad story with you that was published in a blog by Chet Womach of www.birdtricks.com. There are so many things to consider when adopting an exotic animal especially exotic birds. You may not be aware of some of the potential hidden dangers in your home. Please take a moment to read this if you are considering adopting an exotic bird...

I have a horrible incident to share. My hopes would be that you will include this somewhere in your literature to other bird owners and make it readily and painfully obvious information.

Yesterday I was preparing food for my birthday party which is taking place this evening. I brought out a roast to cook, but my oven needed cleaned. In my haste and anxiousness to get prepared, I ignorantly opted to use the [Specific Brand Name Withheld For Legal Reasons] Tabletop Roaster my mother left here at Christmas time.

Within 2 hours my beloved Nicky, 15 year old African Gray Congo, was deceased on the bottom of his cage. That roaster was NON-STICK Cookware... and is LETHAL to BIRDS.

This is HUGELY important to get out to your readers. I only wish we knew this PRIOR to the incident as he would still happily be calling and singing from his perch. Instead, he's been buried and is gone forever from our lives. Oh how we miss him so.

I killed my best friend with ignorance. My beloved Nicky. My life, let alone birthday, will never be the same. Nor will my kids who haven't quit crying... nor my husband who had a hard time burying Nicky last night with us.

I'm doing now what I wish I would have done a LONG time ago.... cleaning my house of anything and everything TEFLON and NON-STICK.

We hope to find another resident for Nicky's cage... although the hardest realization is that Nicky can never be replaced. We miss him dearly. I am so filled with guilt for my ignorance which caused us to learn the hardest lesson ever.

'Night Night' my beloved feathered friend.
Brenda

Llamas the perfect guard "dog"



Leah



One of the many types of animals that live at Majical Miniatures is the Llama. I have to admit, when I first started volunteering for the sanctuary, I was a bit nervous when I saw the herd of Llamas. I remembered my first experience as a child with one of these intriguing creatures. I could not wait to get up close enough to pet this large eyed animal with the soft curly fur that resembled a small camel. The Llama was not as excited to see me. As I reached out to pet her, she decided to SPIT on me. I do not mean a little spit but green, slimy, smelly cover my face spit! What I later learned was that Llama's rarely spit at humans and when they do, they are treating you as if you were one of the herd. The female Llama spits as a way to discipline or control herd members. I guess that meant she liked me. Nonetheless, I had no plans of getting that close to a Llama again until I met the herd at Majical Miniatures. It did not take long for me to fall in love with them. Especially, Leah with her big eyes and sweet face begging for you to pet her, Phantom, who may look like the Phantom but would have been more aptly named Shadow, as he follows anyone who walks by him and Priscilla, who seems to enjoy being the center of attention, strutting back & forth saying look at me.

 



Phantom



I learned some interesting things about Llamas. They are very social animals and live in herds with other  Llamas. Although, for thousands of years Llamas were pack animals in South America, in North America they are primarily guardians. A full size Llama will grow to be between 5 to 6 feet tall and can weigh between 280 and 450 lbs. Even the baby Llama or Cria will weigh between 20 to 30lbs at birth. They make excellent pack animals not only due to their size & strength, they can carry up to 30 percent of their body weight in a pack for several miles, but because they are very intelligent. After a few repetitions, they have the ability to learn simple tasks. This makes them perfect as guards too. Usually one gelding will guard a herd of sheep or other livestock. The addition of a Llama guard has all but eliminated livestock loss for many farmers. Many of the Llamas at Majical Miniatures are guards, helping to protect the other animals at the sanctuary.



Priscila



Llamas are grazers eating grass and many types of plants. Like cows, they regurgitate their food chewing on it for long periods. In addition to grazing, at Majical Miniatures the Llamas eat a regular diet of hay, grain and fresh flowers and on occasion, fresh fruits and vegetables for a treat.

If interested in sponsoring a Llama at Majical Miniatures please visit: http://www.majicalminiatures.org/sponsor.html

DINE TO DONATE AT APPLEBEES!

Who doesn't enjoy dinner out? Take the night off from cooking on Thursday, August 4, 2011 and Dine to donate at your neighborhood Applebees. Visit any of the 5 participating Applebees in Manatee county on August 4th from 4-9pm and 10% of your dinner bill will be donated to Majical Miniatures.

YOU MUST BRING IN THE FLYER TO QUALIFY!



print this flyer to help Majical Miniatures!



Print a copy of the flyer below or email us at info@majicalminiatures.org and we will email you a copy. Don't forget to tell your friends!

Prairie Dogs



no pictures please



Last week there was an article on News channel 7's website about a prairie dog who decided to make his home on (or should I say in) the first hole green at Bobby Jones golf course. The manager at the golf course had the area roped off so not to disturb him and told the news that he was welcome to stay as long as he wanted. Although Prairie dogs are native to the United States, Canada & Mexico, they are usually found in the northwestern states. It is assumed that this little guy was someone’s pet who either escaped or was released.

These small ground squirrels grow to 16 inches long, weigh up to 3lbs and feed primarily on grasses and some insects. The Prairie dog got his name because of his ability to ward off predators with a high-pitched dog like call.



are you my mother?



Prairie dogs are rodents that love to burrow and are known for being escape artists. They dig complex under ground tunnel systems that go on for acres. Of course, one single prairie dog will not dig a mile long tunnel alone. They are very social creatures that live in large colonies with several families of Prairie dogs within the same tunnel system. Because they normally live where the climate changes from 100 degrees in the summer to 35 degrees in the winter, their burrows help to control temperatures as well as protect them from hailstorms and blizzards.

Nap time!

Most farm owners consider the prairie dog to be a nuisance, preferring to have them removed from their fields for fear their horses or cows might twist a leg in one of the burrow holes. What they do not realize is that the tunnels will help channel rainwater preventing runoff and erosion and according to Wikipidia, can serve to change the composition of the soil in a region by reversing soil compaction that can be a result of cattle grazing. The removal of Prairie dogs has also caused the undesirable spread of brush.

This is another cute little creature pet owners cannot seem to resist. However, it is important to note that they are difficult pets to care for. They require a lot of attention and a very special diet. Each year they go into a period called rut. This can last for months, where the personality can change becoming defensive and aggressive. Despite this, they are very social and need to be with other prairie dogs to be truly happy. Over the last few years there have been bans on keeping prairie dogs as pets, the bans have been lifted in most states but are still in place in some areas. If you would like to sponsor one of our prairie dogs please visit http://www.majicalminiatures.org/ 

by Lisa Burns

Max’s Story

by Lisa Burns

You probably know that Majical Miniatures is a rescue and rehab sanctuary for wild, exotic and farm  animals. They take in all kinds of animals from kangaroos and Llamas to cows and pigs, but they do not take in dogs or cats. That does not mean they will not help get the ball rolling to find a home for an abandoned, abused or neglected dog or cat.

About a year ago Jan, the vice president of Majical Miniatures, stopped by a garage sale where she saw the saddest little dog. The woman at the garage sale explained that the dog's owner had spent a lot of money for him, a purebred Wheaton Terrier, but she had just let him go. Maxwell, although not an outside dog, stayed outside most of the time with access to the garage. He lost much of his fur due to terrible allergies, most of his teeth were broken, he was heartworm positive, was not neutered or housebroken. Jan knew she could not bring an un-neutered dog home but also knew there was no way she could leave him, so she immediately started making phone calls.

Jan reached Lindalee Anderson of Animal Networks Kitty Korner who put her in touch with Kerry Barnes. Kerry has been a rescue volunteer for Canine Castaways for over three years and last year started a foundation with her sister, Shannon Collins, to aid rescues in memory of their parents. Kerry credits her parents for teaching her about the love and loyalty of animals. The Al and Elaine's Legacy Inc foundation was set up to assist rescue groups with marketing and recruiting volunteers. Kerry took over from here. She dropped what she was doing and met Jan to pick up Max.

Within a day, Kerry was able to get Max's owner to relinquish custody of him, took him to see Dr. Taylor of Pet First Animal Hospital and contacted Christine of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Club. Christine Rohde is a foster mom for the Wheaten Terrier Club. She agreed to help and took Max home where she spent months nursing Max back to health, spending many nights sleeping next to him on the couch. Because Christine spent many hours with Max caring for him, they developed a special bond. She decided she had to keep Max. Christine says that Max is the ultimate dog, he is learning his commands, knows sit and of course the word treat! Max now has a forever home with Christine and is one healthy happy boy! It just goes to show that anything can be accomplished when we work together. To learn more about the organizations these ladies represent please visit their websites.

http://majicalminiatures.org/

http://alandelaineslegacy.vpweb.com/

http://flwheatenclub.org/

http://www.ankittykorner.com/