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All posts for the month February, 2010

…but they eavesdrop on other animals’ conversations and then act accordingly.

Posted by animalsdontthink on February 27, 2010
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Lions will listen in on the communication of other species and will approach the sounds of those animals that they consider relatively easy prey.  For more formidable foes, however, they will only approach if there is a good chance that they can actually out-maneuver their potential meal.  For example, all lions in a recent study approached the sounds of wild dogs.  However, when lions heard the sounds of hyenas communicating, males approached the calls, but female lions only approached the area from where they heard the sounds being made if male lions were also present with them.

[Ethology], [photo]

…but they make luxury homes (complete with refrigeration and houseguests).

Posted by animalsdontthink on February 26, 2010
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Beavers are quite admirable homemakers. They can build dams over 150 yards long to create ponds as well as dig networks of channels beyond their home base to extend their territories.  They also store food in the cold mud months in advance, allowing them to conveniently eat in the winter when the surfaces of their ponds freeze. In the above clip, their hospitality even extends to muskrat tenants who contribute reeds to the home and then take lodge in the winter.

 

 

…but they store ammo to chuck at annoying tourists.

Posted by animalsdontthink on February 26, 2010
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In 1997, Santino, a chimpanzee at a German zoo, was found to be stockpiling groups of rocks during the zoo’s closed hours that he would later throw at passing tourists during the day. He continued this behavior for over a year, and after all loose rocks were removed from his enclosure he began tapping blocks of concrete to search for weak spots and employing tools to crack off chunks for later use as ammunition.

[Current Biology] via [Not Exactly Rocket Science]

 

 

…but they prepare for the future.

Posted by animalsdontthink on February 25, 2010
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Scrub jays have been found to hide away food for later consumption. In the wild, they complete this behavior when weather begins to worsen, but researchers have also recreated such planning in the lab. They did so by placing jays in different rooms every morning, most of which contained food but one of which did not. Later, if the jays were given a snack at night and had access to all the (now empty) rooms, they consistently stockpiled food in the room that would be empty the next morning, assuring themselves a meal even if that was where they ended up being placed the next day.

[Nature] via [Not Exactly Rocket Science], [photo]

 

 

…but they act as role models.

Posted by animalsdontthink on February 23, 2010
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Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan’s pit bull Daddy passed away February 19, 2010. During his 16 years, Daddy served as a role model promoting good canine citizenship to families across America, and in many of the show’s episodes he could be seen performing tasks such as walking other dogs, helping them overcome phobias, agression and/or other maladaptive behaviors, and otherwise exemplifying his trademark calm submissiveness.

[cesar's way] via [Unleashed], [photos]