The Guardian – Gwen Cho – Guardians Of Life

Ecological Mismatch’: Hot Winter Wreaking Havoc On PA Environment

PENNSYLVANIA — While the impacts of climate change are cumulative and sometimes incremental to the point of obscurity, there’s no escaping the realities of the warmest winter in the recorded history of eastern Pennsylvania.

Chief among those consequences: a phenomonom termed “ecological mismatch” by researchers that happens when plants and animals are no longer synchronous on their seasonal cycles.

Specifically, what is essentially the early arrival of spring changes when certain plants bloom. Some blooms will appear early in Pennsylvania this year, and could potentially have already died off by the time the pollinators think it’s time for them to arrive.

World’s First Vaccine for Declining Honeybees Approved By the US for Conditional Use

A biotech company announced this week that the USDA (Department of Agriculture) granted them a conditional license for their honeybee vaccine.

The vaccine boosts the bee’s immune system to fight against American Foulbrood disease, a bacteria-based condition known to attack colonies that is caused by Paenibacillus larvae.

Critical to our food supplies, honeybees have been plagued by American Foulbrood, which until now had no safe or sustainable antidote. Previously, the only treatment method for the highly contagious disease was incinerating the bees, infected hives, and all the equipment.
— Read on www.goodnewsnetwork.org/honeybee-vaccine-gets-approval-from-usda/

Monkeypox Risk For Dogs and Cats

As monkeypox cases grow in the US, pet owners are a bit concerned, if it can be passed onto their companions. Since COVID-19 can jump between species, can MonkeyPox do the same?

According to the CDC.. There’s a chance through regular contact, via petting, cuddling, sharing food and sleeping areas. Or giving them a kiss.

Dogs and cats can contract other orthopoxviruses, such as the vaccinia virus, which is used in the smallpox/monkeypox vaccines. Lets just leave it at, anything is in the realm of possibility.

According to American Veterinary Medical Association who says the chances you can give your pet monkeypox are “extremely low.”

“There is no evidence to date at all that dogs and cats are susceptible to contracting monkeypox or could even serve as a reservoir,” said Dr. Katherine Quesenberry, chief medical officer at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York. “That doesn’t mean that the risk is zero, but it just is very unlikely that it would happen.”

Summer and Companions

This post will be short. Quite frankly, I’m tired of treating companions for heat exhaustion and stroke.

Stop leaving your companions outside during hot days. Don’t leave them in the car either. Even for 5 minutes. Your car is like an oven.

Like young children they can’t regulate their body temperature. The heat will literally cook their brain. First signs of heating problems. Over excessive drooling. Panting more heavily. And then they sieze.

Moreover, if you don’t seek medical help they will die.

Police have given permission in most states for civilians to break animals out of your car. So don’t be surprised if you come to find a broken window and your animal at a Veterinarian Hospital.

You WILL NOT get your animal back either.

It’s your responsibility to keep them safe and healthy. If you can’t hold up to your responsibilities then you don’t deserve to have companion animals.

Pipeline Spilling 300,000 Gallons Kills Fish and Other Animals.

On Dec 27, 2021, in New Orleans a pipe bursts and spills 300,000 Gallons into two artificially made ponds. Killing Fish, Birds. and other wildlife. According to the State and Local Official, a majority of the fuel was recovered.

Yet that’s not the point is it? Animal Life was lost due to yet, another pipeline burst.

According to the pipeline owner. The spill from the 16-inch-diameter line operated by Collins Pipeline Co. was discovered on Dec. 27 near a levee in St. Bernard Parish, just east of New Orleans, according to documents from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

An inspection of the 42-year-old Meraux Pipeline more than a year earlier, in October 2020, revealed external corrosion along a 22-foot section of pipe in the same area as the spill. But repairs were delayed and the line continued operating after a subsequent inspection indicated the corrosion was not bad enough to require work immediately under federal regulations, according to the pipeline agency.

Let me remind the people of how serious Corrosion is when it comes to pipelines. Or how dangerous it is when ship hauls are weak.

Ten years later, BP oil spill continues to harm wildlife—especially dolphins — Credit National Geographic
***BP OIL SPILL JUNE 4 2010***

Mauritius oil spill turns ocean water black, threatens marine life - CGTN — Photo Credit CGTN
On July 25, Japanese ship MV Wakashio struck a coral reef on the southeast coast of Mauritius, spilling thousands of tons of fuel into the ocean. Soon the crystal-clear water turned black, triggering an environmental catastrophe.

The New Orleans spilled fuel also contaminated soil in an environmentally sensitive area near the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a closed canal, according to state and federal officials. A small amount of diesel remains in the two borrow pits, said Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Gregory Langley.

Fuel Companies like BP and Collins do not care about the environment, they are killing everything slowly, and for what? GREED!

If Fuel Companies cannot stick to protocols and safety management, then what’s the point of even having a pipeline? Why not just spill it completely and kill everything right now instead of slowly. Get it over with, and by the time you want to collect that cash, you’ll have no customer base.

This is exactly one of the most important reasons why the majority of advocates are speaking up for NEW SOURCES of CLEAN FUEL. I understand switching from OIL to either Hydro, Corn, or Wind power is expensive. However, in the long run, it is worth it. You would be producing more jobs, truckers would be able to safely transport the water, corn oil, and or wind turbines. Companies would be able to make money from a cleaner fuel source. Everyone would win in this scenario.

Because you can’t get sick off of Corn Oil, Water/Hydro, or even Wind. The fact that companies say there is no money in cleaner fuel sources, is hyperbolic. The electric fuel source for cars – they’re making the figures to keep them around. To be fair the majority of people actually want a cleaner way of life, which is why many have switched to “Solar Power” and “Electric Cars”.

Besides that, these Oil Companies have Nearly Depleted these fossil fuels, there really isn’t much left. And this is also why gas prices have risen. Supply and Demand. It’s time to switch to a cleaner source of fuel.

This year should be the year where companies switch. It’s 2022 we should be more advanced by now. We should be on the cleaner path, we only have one planet, there is no escape when this planet dies off completely. Look at Mars for that example.

Holidays and Companions

With the holidays coming upon us once again, and as such, I think it is necessary to remind guardians of their responsibility to keep their companions safe. With Thanksgiving meals, it’s wise not to give your companion any “turkey or chicken” bones. These items can splinter off and cause lacerations in your companion’s throat and stomach. Or will not pass through their intestine tract, causing severe blockages.

When it comes to Pumpkin pie, no companion animal should have any because it’s filled with sugar, which can cause stomach issues. However, if you want your companion to enjoy the holidays with you, there are plenty of safe food recipes for your companions to try.

Companion Safe Recipe links:
https://www.rover.com/blog/diy-pumpkin-pie-dogs-recipe-video-in/
https://www.dogster.com/dog-food/easy-dog-friendly-recipes
https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/3-simple-homemade-cat-treat-recipes/

Firework safety, like with July 4th, you need to be prepared to handle the noise and anxiety your pet may be dealing with at the time. New Year’s Eve does become hectic. Just as July 4th. Companions tend to run off when they become frightened due to the loud noises the fireworks produce. If your companion is a skittish sort, it’s wise to have them inside the house during the commotion. Put music on, have their favorite toy, blanket, or pet bed in the same room with them. If you have a thunder jacket, allow them to wear it for comfort. Any distraction from the loud noises will help keep your companion calm and safe.

As a person who was in the vet field, I have come across many companions animals where they were injured due to foods they weren’t allowed to have. Or where they were found, wandering the streets, because they ran from the fireworks. As guardians, we must take precautions every day, to keep our companions safe. Otherwise, we’re just setting them up for failure.

Animals need infrastructure, too

$350 million of Biden’s INVEST in America Act isn’t for people. It’s for wildlife that needs help crossing the road. By Ben Goldfarb Nov 12, 2021, 10:00am EST

Fifty miles east of Seattle, a bridge crosses a steep stretch of Interstate 90 known as Snoqualmie Pass. This is no ordinary bridge, meant for automobiles or pedestrians. Covered in topsoil, boulders, and seedlings, it is intended to convey wild animals from one side of the highway to the other — and it’s working.

Since 2018, when the bridge opened and the first animal, a coyote, scampered over the six lanes below, the structure has carried creatures as large as elk and as small as toads. And it should attract even more users as the seedlings grow into trees and animals acclimate to its presence.

“As we get more shade, it’s going to be different,” Patty Garvey-Darda, a Forest Service wildlife biologist, told Vox during a recent visit to Snoqualmie Pass. “Hopefully someday we’ll see the exact same species up here as we see in the forest.”

The Snoqualmie Pass bridge is one example in a broader category of infrastructure, known as wildlife crossings, that help animals circumvent busy roads like I-90. Crossings come in an array of shapes and sizes, from sweeping overpasses for grizzly bears to inconspicuous tunnels for salamanders. A body of research demonstrates that crossings can reconnect fragmented wildlife populations while protecting human drivers and animals alike from dangerous vehicle crashes. “This structure is paying for itself because of the accidents we haven’t had,” said Garvey-Darda, as trucks roared by 35 feet below.

The construction of such crossings has never been more urgent. Roadkill rates have risen over the past half-century; today, around 12 percent of North American wild mammals die on roads. And new satellite tracking and genetic technologies have revealed subtler harms. Busy interstates prevent herds of elk and mule deer from migrating to low-elevation meadows in winter, occasionally causing them to starve. In California, freeways have thwarted mountain lions from mating, leaving the cats so inbred that they’ve fallen into an “extinction vortex.” Wildlife crossings allow animals to find food and each other across sundered landscapes and help them access new habitats as climate change scrambles their ranges.

Adopt or Rescue: Philly Felines

ACCT Philly, Philadelphia PA
🆘 Euthanasia Timestamp Sunday 10/24 10am
***Feral/afraid of people. If you have a barn or shop, then email lifesaving@acctphilly.org if you are willing to adopt***
⚠️ADOPTION or RESCUE⚠️
❤️PLEASE SHARE❤️

💰To pledge on Instagram the link is on my main page. On Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/ACCTPhillyPledgeForm

🔺🔺ADOPTERS & FOSTERS NEEDED🔺🔺
If you can ADOPT or FOSTER this cat, then email lifesaving@acctphilly.org

😿Charmed ACCT-A-92480
😿Ulysses ACCT-A-92476
🎥https://youtu.be/xzQWwF7adVY
🎥https://youtube.com/shorts/elAFOZ_GqJE?feature=share
▪️ Charmed and Ulysses are the last two remaining from a larger group of under-socialized cats who came to the shelter originally in June. A home was being remodeled & they were accidentally closed in the walls. They could be heard & the worker took hours to break away at the wall & free them all. They were all not aggressive, but found to be very sick with panleukopenia from which they have fully recovered. At ACCT they’ve provided a variety of housing options, including low stress cage-less housing, Charmed and Ulysses have not made any progress demonstrating comfort interacting with humans. They do enjoy exploring their surroundings and lounging but are extremely stressed by human interaction, something which cannot be avoided in the shelter. They were found indoors and are unfortunately not candidates for return to field and previous attempts to locate working cat placements have not been fruitful. They would ideally be placed together, but it is not necessary if that is a barrier.

📩Put the Cat’s name & id in the subject line of your email along with ADOPT or FOSTER. Email your name, telephone number, address & whether you are interested to foster for rescue or ACCT Philly or both. Additionally, give permission for ACCT Philly to share your info with rescues.
Understand you must be near a rescue to foster. You can reside farther to adopt, but understand that sick timestamped cats cannot travel far. ACCT only has volunteer transport for rescue up to 90 minutes one way.
⏲️ACCT Philly is open for walk-ins 10-6PM 7 days a week. It’s recommended to arrive no later than 4PM for adoption.
Any questions, ask. Thank you

More information is below👇
https://www.shelterluv.com/publish_animal/ACCT-A-92480
https://www.shelterluv.com/publish_animal/ACCT-A-92476
https://www.facebook.com/763661037349594/posts/1519319695117054/

Serious inquiries only. Again Euth date is set for Sunday 10/24. Please share everywhere.

People Don’t Want To Work

People don’t want to work, they are claiming working anywhere doesn’t pay a living wage. This is false, to be quite frank a majority of jobs do pay a living wage now. Most of them have raised their wages to $20 an hour. People don’t want to work because the Government gave out stimulus checks for three months straight. Now, I know most people spent this stimulus on bills and rent, yet others spent it on frivolous things. Or Bulked buys to sell it at a higher price, screwing everyone else over.
This pandemic has shown the true colors of our nation, the greed, the laziness of people. It needs to stop, a fourth stimulus shouldn’t be approved. People need to get off the couch and work period. The stimulus checks have caused inflation and other problems that a majority of us cannot afford to deal with.

Gas prices up to $4 a gallon, food product price hikes, rent hikes, cost of living even went up. How do you think they’re paying back the loans from the Federal Reserve System? By raising prices and taxes. Businesses are suffering because they too have to pay out more to get products delivered to their stores. And the reason prices are rising, is because people refuse to work. And Truckers are desperately needed to deliver said products.

Warehouse workers are getting paid up to $20 an hour, you start at $16 to $17 an hour. Stay long enough and get that experience you’ll get $20 an hour. Truckers are the same amount of pay, this is plenty to pay bills and rent. In addition to this if you can’t afford food you can get assistance through your local SNAP office. They will even help you get medical insurance, especially, during this pandemic. There is nothing wrong with asking for assistance when you are working. However, expecting “free” money without consequences is NOT OKAY.

Other jobs with higher pay:
Walmart – $16 to $17
Target – $15 to $17
Lowes – $16 to 20
Home Depot – $15 to $18
Restaurants – $15
All that can equate to $2000 a month, plus the $300 to $600 a month for partial unemployment. This is plenty to live on, for now, it’s plenty to pay rent and bills. The people who honestly need the help are not getting it because everyone else is screwing them over.

Disabled, and veterans, as well as the homeless, need the help. I am honestly tired of this situation, of seeing abled body people sit there and collect, and then demand in a “petition” another stimulus while not caring about the consequences of their actions. Just because you got laid off doesn’t mean you stop working or even looking for a job. You work something else until that particular business comes back again and you go back there. It’s not a difficult concept.

I do understand the struggle, I am not writing this lightly either. I have been in everyone’s shoes of not being able to afford rent, mortgage, or bills. So has my friend, who also writes in this journal. We all have struggled throughout the years, we have all lost and had to start over. Yet we continued to pull ourselves back up and rebuild. We went out there and worked, or started our own home business, just to make ends meet. Robbed Peter to pay Paul or Tom, Dick and Harry. Whichever the case maybe we still got out there and “Worked”.

Yet I must stress this issue, Asking for another stimulus will not do any good. It will cause more inflation, it will cause more businesses to close down, due to lack of employees. No employees, means no services, meaning business shuts down. However, everyone is screaming open up the businesses, well business can’t be open if they have no one to run or operate them.

People forgot that it takes people to operate stores and truck deliveries. The populace, or should I say this era of people is causing bills for the future generation. Just as the past generation caused for everyone. If more money is loaned out from the Federal Reserve System, there will be nothing left to retire on and no one will be collecting social security either. Because it will be all gone, this is a fact.

If you want all this inflation gone and the economy to get back on track, then people need to work. If you need two jobs, then work two jobs. Unfortunately, money does make the world go round and our livelihood does depend on it.

Let’s get back to work America, let’s build everything back up again.

Elephants Trample Suspected Poacher to Death

An alleged poacher died on Saturday after he was trampled by elephants.
He and two others — both of whom survived — are suspected of hunting for rhinos in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, according to CNN. The trio fled when park rangers started to pursue, unfortunately running into a breeding herd of elephants that weren’t keen on their uninvited company. The story is laced with schadenfreude: man killing vulnerable species gets comeuppance — but it also illustrates how prevalent poaching still remains today, and just how difficult it is to stop it.
Constant Threat
Kruger National Park currently hosts the largest rhino population in the world. Even then, the park is home to only 268 black rhinos and about 3,500 white rhinos. The dwindling numbers illustrate how fragile the species are, yet the concentration of rhinos in one place also makes the park a prime target for poaching — a problem that’s devastated the animals in recent years.
That makes fighting poachers in the park like a game of whack-a-mole, as more and more people attempt to hunt down the rhinos.
— Read on futurism.com/the-byte/elephants-trample-suspected-poacher-death