The odd and unusual Siberian Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus) is native to mountain forests of Northeast Asia. Although they resemble tiny deer, they are actually the only genus of family Moschidae. They are more primitive than the cervids, or true deer. Just take a look at their teeth--males grow long tusks as you see here. As their name suggests, the males also produce musk. This musk is highly sought after by humans for traditional medicines and perfumes. In Russia, an estimated 80% of all musk deer killed appear to have been poached and the illegal trade in musk is thought to have been five times that of the legal trade in the early 2000s, according to a new report launched by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, and WWF, the conservation organization.

IUCN Conservation Status: Vulnerable, decreasing population trend.


A Face Only A Mother Could Love...

The Chinese Giant Salamander (Andrias davidianus) is the largest salamander in the world. They occur in the mountain streams of China and can grow to 2 meters (6 feet) in length. Salamanders are amphibians--animals that spend part of their life in water and part of their life on land. The giant Chinese salamander is critically endangered--the wild population has declined by more than 80% due to habitat loss, water pollution, and over-collection for the pet trade and for their meat, which is considered a delicacy in Asia.

IUCN Conservation Status: Critically Endangered


Baby, I'm a Star...

This amazing creature is a Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), native to eastern North America, and is one of the most distinctive mammal species. Its nose is hairless and is ringed by a unique 'star' of 22 pink, fleshy tentacles. The "star" is used in a number of different activities. When burrowing, the tentacles are held forward over the nostrils to prevent soil from entering the nose. This behavior also occurs while consuming prey (earthworms and other small invertebrates). During normal foraging activity, the tentacles are constantly being used to feel the mole's surroundings, moving so rapidly that they appear as a blur of motion, touching as many as 12 objects per second. The upper two tentacles are held more rigidly, straight out in front of the nose. When the mole encounters a potential prey item with its "star", it focuses the lowest, shortest tentacles on the prey. Using these supersensitive organs, identification of prey can be made in under half a second.

IUCN Conservation Status: Lower Risk, least concern


I'll Be Back...

There are few animals stranger than the Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). Considered one of the rarest mammals on Earth, the species can perhaps be best described as a plump rat sporting multi-colored fur and the long dangly nose of an elephant shrew. Its eyes are tiny pin-pricks, while its feet have long gnarled toes and nails that appear in desperate need of trimming. The species was considered extinct until recently, when it was re-discovered in Cuba. And that's not all--the solenodon is one of the world's few species of venemous mammals--it can inject venom with its teeth, similar to a snake! They are nocturnal, coming out at night to hunt and eat insects, worms, small reptiles, roots, fruits, and leaves.

IUCN Conservation Status: Endangered


Cry Me a River--of Blood
The Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is an amazing animal. Named for the spikey "horns" (actually modified scales) that adorn its head, horned lizards like warm desert climates and once were found throughout the western United States, southern Canada and Mexico. They are also sometimes called "Horney Toads", but that is incorrect--they are NOT toads. If threatened by predators, horned lizards will squirt blood from the eyes. The squirting blood comes from ducts in the corners of their eyes and can travel a distance of up to three feet (one meter). It's meant to confuse would-be predators including birds, coyotes and snakes. Their primary diet consists of ants and other small insects. Click on the image for a video of a horned lizard in action, courtesy of National Geographic.

IUCN Conservation Status: Stable

Human Environmental Impact is defined as consequence of human action on nature: the indirect and direct consequences of human actions on the natural environment.

Every day, whether we realize it or not, humans directly impact the natural world in countless ways. Here we will explore different examples of human impact and discuss the simple things we we can all do to mimimize the negetive consequences to our environment.

SUNSCREEN
TRUTH: Every day we use products that protect and improve our health. These "healthy" products are sometimes not-so-healthy for our environment. Sunscreen is one example of a product that helps humans, but can have a negative effect on wildlife because some sunscreens are made with an ingredient that is toxic to animals. This ingredient is oxybenzone (or benzophenone-3).

CONSEQUENCE: When you go in the ocean with oxybenzone-based sunscreen on your skin, much of it ends up washing off into the water, and can harm coral reefs. The chemical kills the algae that lives on the reefs which then kills the coral reefs themselves, turning them white. When fish come over to try and feed on "poisoned" coral reefs, they ingest the harmful chemical, which can alter the fish on a hormonal level. In certain species male fish transform to female fish! Considering that tens of thousands of people swim in the oceans around the world wearing sunscreen everyday, this is a huge problem over time.

As if that wasn't bad enough, oxybenzone has been found to be bad for people too. It has been shown that 97% of Americans have it in their systems. Not only is it found in sunscreen, it is also found in lip balm and a number of cosmetics (which is why women tend to have a higher dose). Oxybenzone can also make your skin even more permeable to other harmful chemicals around us, and has been linked to allergies, cell damage, and hormone disruption according to the Centers for Disease Control. More studies on the effects on the skin and in our bodies are in the works.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Read the labels and buy sunscreens and other products that are organic and do not contain the ingredients oxybenzone or benzophenone-3 ("Vote with your dollars" as Daniel Goleman once said). Look for biodegradable sunscreens that break-up in salt water and avoid the water-resistant kinds. Also, tell everyone! Teach people something new. As more people become aware of the truth, we can change our actions and change the world.



EXOTIC SPECIES
TRUTH: Many unusual animals are kept as pets. Snakes, iguanas, and tropical fish are sold in pet stores around the world. Unfortunately, when these pets become too large or difficult to take care of, many are released into local neighborhoods or wilderness areas to fend for themselves--direclty impacting the health and welfare of local wildlife.

CONSEQUENCE: If the climate and environment is suitable for these released, non-native species, they can litterally take over--out competing local widlife for food and resources. In Florida, green iguanas, pythons, and non-native fish like snakeheads are overtaking rural and urban areas. Iguanas now thrive in the thousands, and feast on native plants. Pythons are a huge problem (and I mean that litterally). The warm, humid climate in Florida is perfect for pythons, and they now number in the thousands throughout south Florida. They prey on small animals, including wandering dogs, cats, and even alligators!! The release of non-native fish has had a catastrophic effect on native fish populations. Snakeheads feed voraciously on other small fish, frogs and even turtles, but have few predators themselves, so they can breed exponentially, sometimes wiping out ponds and rivers of all native species. Millions of dollars are now spent annually addressing the impact non-native species have on the environment.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Be responsible. Don't aquire animals that you are not prepared to care for in captivity for the life of the animal. Learn about native and non-native species in your state and be aware of these species when you see them. Report non-native species sightings to your local Fish and Wildlife Service, and NEVER, NEVER release a non-native animal of any kind.