The hottest Animals Substack posts right now

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Early-Spring Outsiders

Into the Hedge • 119 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🍲 Food & Drink Gardening Homesteading Cooking Animals
  1. The farm received help from friends and family to prepare for an expanding bird operation, showing the importance of community support in running Hedgerider.
  2. Moon the goose is thriving despite being alone, showing resilience in animals and the efforts taken to keep her company.
  3. Garlic Mustard, an early-Spring plant considered invasive, can be a tasty and nutritious food source when harvested correctly, showcasing the potential of wild edibles.

What Do Animals See in a Mirror?

Dr.John B’s Newsletter • 1 HN point • 15 May 24
🔬 Science Animals Intelligence Senses
  1. The mirror test assesses whether animals can recognize themselves in a reflection. Not all intelligent animals pass this test, indicating it may not be a definitive measure of intelligence.
  2. Only a few species, such as certain primates, dolphins, elephants, and even a horse, have successfully recognized themselves in a mirror.
  3. Critics argue that the mirror test may not be entirely accurate in gauging animal intelligence as it overlooks other senses like smell, and not all animals react to reflections the same way humans do.

Numlock News: January 9, 2024 • Cursive, Humpbacks, Relatives

Numlock News • 727 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Animals Environment Education Health Technology
  1. Cursive is making a comeback in some states, with 11 states reintroducing it in the curriculum.
  2. Whaling on South Georgia Island led to a severe decline in humpback whale populations, but they are now making a comeback.
  3. A study predicts a 35% drop in the number of relatives people will have, with grandparents and great-grandparents becoming more common relatives.

Bird of the Week: Long-Tailed Duck

Discourse Blog • 235 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🔬 Science Nature Animals Videos Facts
  1. The Long-Tailed Duck is a fascinating bird known for its long tail feathers that males use to attract females.
  2. Long-Tailed Ducks reside in very cold regions like Canada, Alaska, the Arctic, Greenland, Scandinavia, and Siberia.
  3. These ducks have unique features like changing plumage, loud calls, and being master divers, making them iconic birds worth admiring.

The Big Yard: Notes from a Pajama Birdwatcher

The Big Yard • 353 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Nature Animals Celebration Creativity
  1. The author shares their experience with birdwatching from their home, especially during icy weather.
  2. Despite freezing temperatures, the author marvels at the resilience and survival strategies of the Anna's Hummingbirds.
  3. The narrative includes personal reflections on marriage and baking, intertwined with observations of bird species in the yard.

ROADRUNNER, ROADRUNNER

Entering The Lung • 2319 implied HN points • 23 Mar 23
🔬 Science Animals Nature
  1. Author shares a personal story about encountering a roadrunner for the first time in New Mexico.
  2. Seeing a creature in real life for the first time can be a powerful and memorable experience.
  3. Roadrunners have unique behaviors, like eating large snakes and posing for photos.

Valentine’s Day Surprise

Into the Hedge • 119 implied HN points • 01 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Farming Animals Livestock
  1. On Valentine's Day, a surprise egg from a goose marked the beginning of flock growth.
  2. The first egg symbolizes the start of a new generation, with plans to incubate for the future.
  3. Expansion of the poultry operation is not just about eggs; it involves trading harvests for more geese.

Imagine I’m jogging in the Great North Woods

Pinch of Dirt • 235 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🔬 Science Environment Animals Health Space Discovery
  1. Imagining jogging in serene environments like the Great North Woods can provide a peaceful escape from city life.
  2. Awareness is growing about the environmental impact of chemicals like PFAS, leading outdoor companies to phase them out.
  3. Controversies arise over moon lander payloads with human remains, prompting discussions on ethics and space pollution.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 196 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
💾 History Presidents Animals Events
  1. First Lady Grace Coolidge had a pet raccoon named Rebecca and a male raccoon was brought to her in hopes they would become a couple.
  2. President Hoover had an opossum named Billy who was borrowed as a good luck charm by a high school and they won all their post-season games.
  3. Billy the opossum did not bring President Hoover any luck, unfortunately.

Please Accept My Application To Be Turned Loose in The Royal Forest to Root for Beechmast and Acorns

The Chatner • 1316 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🎭️ Culture Nature Tradition Animals
  1. Rooting for beechmast and acorns in the royal forest helps improve tree growth and soil health.
  2. Being turned loose in the forest for pannage is a traditional right that fosters social cohesion.
  3. Eating acorns as a pig can help prevent poisoning in cattle and ponies, protecting their lives and aiding village productivity.

A Family of Foxes

The Commonplace • 1058 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Animals Writing Literature Nature Art
  1. The different seasons in our lives are marked by unique experiences and pre-occupations.
  2. Foxes, often seen as cunning, may actually exhibit caution and circumspection in urban environments.
  3. Watching animals in their natural behavior can have a calming and healing effect on human emotions.

Photo of the Day

Photo of the Day • 157 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💾 History Military World War II Animals
  1. Francis the US Army Mule 08KO served tirelessly under tough conditions in various Asian struggles.
  2. Mules were used to transport supplies in wars despite the military shifting to mechanized vehicles.
  3. Rescued mules played a crucial role in transporting supplies and aiding wounded soldiers during the Korean War.

Last of Last Year's Geese

Into the Hedge • 59 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Farming Ceramics Craftsmanship Nature Animals
  1. The farm collaborated with a ceramics studio to create unique split-leg pottery aprons, showcasing handcrafted workwear and textiles.
  2. The geese were taken for slaughter as part of the farm's routine, highlighting the emotional complexity and respect for the animals under the farmer's care.
  3. The geese play a role in maintaining the farm by helping with grass cleanup before the arrival of new growth in spring.

Our Cat Grape

Into the Hedge • 79 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animals Nature Farming
  1. Grape, the cat, efficiently hunts rodents on the farm, helping control their population and protect other animals.
  2. Grape occasionally presents ceremonial kills to show gratitude or concern, showcasing her unique relationship with the farm.
  3. The presence of Grape and her hunting skills may either reduce the rodent population so effectively that they are hidden, or reveal an issue that would have been unnoticed.

The Big Yard: Notes from a Pajama Birdwatcher

The Big Yard • 235 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Birdwatching Nature Animals
  1. The author shares observations from their yard and how wildlife interactions have been impacted by a severe monsoon season
  2. The author discusses using spray to deter skunks and the challenges of dealing with their presence in the yard
  3. A focus on the variety of bird species that visit the yard, highlighting the importance of intimacy with the environment

The Impossible Task of Understanding Aaron Carter (Part 4)

Off-Topic • 419 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Music Drama Celebrity Mental health Animals
  1. Aaron Carter's life was filled with unsettling developments in 2019, including concerns about his treatment of dogs and possession of firearms.
  2. Aaron's relationship with Lina Valentina ended due to his ongoing struggles with addiction, leading to a series of disturbing behaviors.
  3. Aaron's interactions with his family, including accusations of harboring fantasies of violence, led to legal interventions and restraining orders.

The Cotton Patch Goose

Into the Hedge • 79 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🍲 Food & Drink Animals Heritage
  1. Goose breeds are categorized by size from light to heavy, with each breed having different characteristics like temperament and foraging ability.
  2. The Cotton Patch Goose is known for its instinct to forage, keeping fields free of weeds, and is chosen for local heritage, heat tolerance, and sexual dimorphism.
  3. Contradicting the typical behavior of other geese, Cotton Patch Geese use less water, are indifferent to shelter and feed, and often stand apart from the flock.

How Not to Parachute More Cats

Think Future • 179 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
😂 Humor Animals
  1. Unintended consequences can arise from seemingly simple solutions - like how the World Health Organization's DDT spray led to a plague outbreak among the Dayak tribe.
  2. Understanding individuals' natural tendencies in different contexts is crucial - like the successful 'beaver-nature' of beavers in creating fire breaks.
  3. Careful planning and consideration are essential to avoid potential disasters - like the mismanagement of the Great Emu War in Australia.

The Summer of the Whale

Men Yell at Me • 268 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Animals Politics Environment Social Issues
  1. People are supporting whales in a recent wave of attacks on boats, siding with the orcas due to their anti-capitalist symbolism.
  2. Americans relate to the struggles of whales due to growing income inequality, stagnant wages, and other socio-economic issues.
  3. There is a sense of commonality between people and sea creatures like whales in feeling targeted by a system that harms and kills them both.

Crossing Vultures

Into the Hedge • 59 implied HN points • 19 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Nature Animals
  1. The author attracted vultures by burying a pig's skull for a woodland harvest spell, which led to an unexpected situation.
  2. Vultures were drawn to the skull and caused a disturbing atmosphere on the farm by harassing geese.
  3. By taking action to secure the skull and prevent further disturbance, the author managed to resolve the vulture issue.

France's Hunting Dilemma

Integrity Talk • 66 implied HN points • 27 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Society Morality Ethics Animals Food
  1. Hunting's popularity has decreased in developed countries, but France still has a significant number of active hunters.
  2. Western societies have grown more hostile towards hunting due to societal shifts and increased sensitivity towards animal welfare.
  3. The perception of animal suffering varies depending on the category of animals, leading to inconsistencies in attitudes towards hunting.