Mason bee house

Boost your garden's productivity by providing a happy home for peaceful, non-stinging Mason bees. Slightly smaller than honeybees, Mason bees are incredible pollinators. Each one visits as many as 1000 blooms per day — 20 times as many as a honeybee! Hang this natural bamboo house against a tree or wall where it will get morning sun and attract bees. Female bees fill the bamboo tubes with their eggs, and nectar and pollen for the young to eat. $14.95 at Gardener's Supply via: the Green Head

Putting Turin's sheep to work

For the second year in a row, sheep are being used to trim the lawns of Turin, Italy's parks. The first herd of sheep arrived Thursday at the Meisino park, a vast area of land along the Po River on the city's eastern outskirts, while a second herd will be brought to the Sangone park on Monday. The two herds will graze in the parks for two months and officials believe this will save the city some 30,000 euros in gardeners' fees. Last year, in addition to sheep, cattle were used in the Maddalena park. This year it was decided not to use cattle because they produced significantly more manure that sheep. Source: ANSA via: eternally cool

The perfect pet?

Mary Holstad creates realistic dogs and cats out of mohair. Each creation is made with thick lush premium imported faux fur that is so soft to the touch. They have hand-embroidered lacquered noses, and premium hand-painted dark brown glass eyes. The face and feet are meticulously hand-trimmed, have hand-embroidered claws and hand-apliqued felt toes and pads. They are fully 5 way jointed, have sturdy armatures for posing and are stuffed with polyfill and plastic pellets for a nice weight. via: neatorama

Tailgate?

Source: The Sun via: A Welsh View

Mystery creature in Utah pond

When a pond in Brigham City, Utah, froze over, over 4,000 fish turned up dead - caused either due to the pond being poisoned or lack of oxygen due to the thick ice. The strange, fanged creature was found amid the carp and goldfish which the pond had been stocked with. Biologists said they are not sure what the creature is and that it could be a type of trout whose tissue decomposed rapidly, making its teeth more prominent. Aquatic biologists said if they can't figure it out, they'll let the fish decompose fully and then examine the bone structure to determine the species. Source: Local6.com via: A Fiend's Folio

Does your pet watch TV?

Submit a photo of your pet watching TV to All American Dish and have a chance to win a Toshiba 32" 720p LCD HD TV.

To submit an entry:

• Take a photo of your pet watching TV.
• Visit http://www.allamericandish.com/funandgames/contest.php to upload your photo.
• Only one entry per household per month.

Seahorses in London

Short-snouted seahorses have set up residence in the recovering River Thames, which had been declared biologically dead in the 1950s. Various groups have worked to rehabilitate the river for the past two decades. Seals, dolphins, salmon, and sea lampreys have also recently been seen swimming in the healthier river. via: National Geographic

Heart disease hits zoo gorillas

Gorillas in zoos around the nation, particularly males and those in their 20s and 30s, have been falling ill - and sometimes dying suddenly - of heart disease. The stunning deaths of otherwise healthy apes have zookeepers scrambling to understand what factors may be causing the illnesses and what might be done to save the 368 lowland gorillas that now reside in 52 zoos across North America. Ape experts have established the Gorilla Health Project, looking to track rates of heart disease and death among gorillas in captivity. Read the excellent article at Monkeys in the News.

Cute or not? Baby Oposum

Why Opossum Has A Bare Tail Native American Legend: Creek/Muscogee Tribe One day, Opossum was walking in the woods around sunset when he spied Raccoon. Now Opossum had always admired Raccoon because he had a beautiful tail with rings all around it. So Opossum went up to Raccoon and said: "How did you get those pretty rings on your tail?" Raccoon stroked his fluffy long tail fondly and said: "Well, I wrapped bark around the tail here and here and here," he pointed. "Then I stuck my tail into the fire. The fur between the strips of bark turned black and the places underneath the bark remained white, just as you see!" Opossum thanked the Raccoon and hurried away to gather some bark. He wrapped the bark around his furry tail, built a big bonfire, and stuck his tail into the flames. Only the bonfire was too hot and too fierce. It instantly burned all of the hair off the Opossum's tail, leaving it entirely bare. Opossum wailed and moaned when he saw his poor tail, but there was nothing he could do but wait for the fur to grow back. Opossum waited and waited and waited. But the tail was too badly burnt by the fire and the fur did not grow back. Opossum's tail remained bare for the rest of his life. Opossum tails have been bare ever since. Photo: USDA

First it was dogs; now . . . turkeys?

While rain and snow may not deter the postal service, wild turkeys are a bird of a different feather. Between five and 10 large male turkeys, or toms -- apparently a little giddy with the onset of turkey breeding season -- have been bullying postal workers as they make their rounds, pecking at them and even trying to rough them up with the sharp spurs on their legs. One of the birds launched itself through the open door of a mail truck and scratched the driver. Eric Lobner, regional wildlife program supervisor for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, is on the case, investigating the turkey gang. Source: Wisconsin State Journal

Couldn't find any rocks

A New Zealand man could face five years in prison if convicted after being accused of using a hedgehog as a weapon. According to police, the man threw the hedgehog to hit a 15-year-old boy last month. Police say the hedgehog "hit the victim in the leg, causing a large red welt and several puncture marks." It's not known if the hedgehog was dead or alive when it was thrown, but it was dead when police collected it as evidence. Source: abc2news

Build your own birdhouse

Andy's Free Birdhouse Plans contains instructions on how to make a bird house suitable for the different kinds of birds known to use them or likely to do so. It is designed to encourage the protection and study of birds in all sections of the United States.

Traffic light birdhouse

Control the bird traffic in your backyard with this charming wooden traffic light birdhouse. This traffic-sign yellow birdhouse includes an entrance in each "light," three shelves for nesting and openings at the back for easy cleaning. Bird-safe paint. Hanging wire included. Made in China. $40.00 at Uncommon Goods (via)

Flying Cat Birdhouse

Christopher Blake grew up in a traveling circus. He learned his craft from his grandfather, a carousel horse carver in Germany. These delightful birdhouses are true American folk art ~ whimsical, fun and guaranteed show-stoppers. Christopher Blake creates these unique works by carving a mold which is then used to make each hand-finished piece. A variety of ingredients are used, from crushed walnuts and limestone to wood dust and sea shells, then finished with his own unique blend of paints. Each piece is signed by the artist. $74.95 at Fat Finch

Book birdhouses

Since birds haven't shown much appreciation for literature, these imaginative birdhouses will do much better decorating the inside of your house than serving as theirs. $120.00 at Uncommon Goods

Video: Animal Super Dancers

Animal Super Dancers (via)

Video: Extremely Rare Lion Baby Born

Raja, the rare Asiatic lion cub born at a Japanese zoo is one of only about 300 left in the world. Link to video

Video: Lola the kitten who walks on her front paws

Link to video via: Scribal Terror

Cedric - savior of Tasmanian devils

Scientists are one step closer to a vaccine because of a Tasmanian devil by the name of Cedric who may hold the key to future of his species. He is an extraordinary devil, guinea pig and possible savior, who is naturally resistant to the contagious facial tumors which have already killed half the devil population in Tasmania. Scientists have discovered it is Cedric's genes that are protecting him from the cancer and hope to create a vaccine to save other devils. Source: ABC News

Another rare monkey baby birth

Only the 12th of its species in a zoo in the United States, this crested capuchin was born last week at the Santa Ana Zoo. Zookeepers don't know the baby's sex yet - but it sure is a little cutie! Source: OC Register