A person always instinctively gravitates towards nature, so trees are planted in cities and water bodies are arranged, and people keep plants in their houses. Nature can rightfully be considered the mother of humanity, because if it were not for her, then there would be no us. And like every child who considers his mother the most beautiful, we cannot stop admiring the views of nature, which can be so different, but in whatever form they appear, they are always fascinating. We have collected 20 outstanding nature photographs for you, accompanying them with informative information whenever possible. Get the apples, now we will visit with you many of the most beautiful places on the planet Earth.

 

View of the village of Zermatt, Switzerland

In the background you can see the beautiful and majestic Matterhorn mountain, the outlines of which may seem familiar to you thanks to the image on the packaging of the famous Toblerone chocolate 🍫

 

Two tourists in the Alps

 

If you darken the photo, then on it you can see the structure of the snow, traces and .. spots on the photographer's lens

 

Dragon Eye, Norway

The photo was taken on one of the most famous beaches of the Lofoten Islands - Uttakleiv. This beach is famous for its unusual rock formations, one of which is the Dragon's Eye 👁️

 

 

White wisterias, Japan

Contrary to popular belief, wisteria is not a tree, but a deciduous vine. In the photo you can see the pillars to which the plant is tied with ropes. If the wisteria has nothing to cling to, then it will grow on the ground 💮

 

Mount Etna spewing lava into the night sky of Sicily, Italy

The eruption occurred on June 22, 2021, as a result of which the Etna volcano threw lava hundreds of meters into the air 🌋

 

Crystal clear waters of Boracay island, Philippines

Boracay was reportedly quite dirty a few years ago, but the authorities closed the island to renovate beaches, etc. 🏝

 

Endless snowy forest in Finland

It is reported that it is very dangerous to approach snow-covered trees, as there may be so-called snow wells under them. A snow well is an area under snow-covered trees, under which snow has a very low density. The depth of the "wells" can reach 6 meters, and if you get there, you can easily suffocate 🌲

 

 Rocks of Moher, Ireland

There are reportedly many anti-suicide tablets on these rocks. In addition, there is even a prayer and meditation room for people contemplating suicide 🙏

 

Night over Alaska

This photo was taken at Girdwood (45 km from Anchorage), where the Alyeska ski resort is located 🎿

 

Lake Baldeneise in Essen city, Germany

Wave out of the forest 🌊

 

Mount Fuji, Japan

The photo was taken in the Japanese village of Hakone 🗻

 

A 1,400-year-old ginkgo tree created a carpet of golden leaves behind the walls of the Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple in the mountainous region of Zhongnan, China

Ginkgo is a fruiting tree, but its fresh fruits (and those that lie under the tree) are reported to smell very bad. However, despite this, the Chinese are very fond of eating them 🍂

 

Passu, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

This place is located in the northern part of Pakistan.

 

A bridge built by nature itself, Punkaharju, Finland

It remains only to find out how nature managed to lay the road so smoothly 😉

 

Tulip fields in the Netherlands

 The main thing is not to tell Instagrammers where it is, otherwise they will destroy everything 🤳

 

 

A very strange rock seen in Norway

In geology, this phenomenon is called chevron folds, which often form in layered sedimentary rocks.

 

Iceland in the summer at 2:30 am

Lupins, lakes and lots of sunshine at 2 am 🌸

 

Ice cave in Iceland, glowing at sunset

Like a giant ice lantern 💡

 

Abandoned McDermott Castle, located in the middle of a lake in County Roscommon, Ireland

Reportedly, this castle was impregnable for a long time due to the fact that it was almost impossible to besiege it. But he still managed to break it with the help of floating catapults and fire-ships (a ship loaded with flammable or explosives, used for arson or detonation).

Но давайте себе представим современное объявление о его продаже: «Особняк под капитальный ремонт на 26 спален с великолепным видом на озеро. Продаётся вместе с очень большой ямой отчаяния» 🏰 But let’s imagine a modern ad for its sale: “Fully renovated 26-bedroom mansion with magnificent lake views.

People became closely acquainted with koalas only 200 years ago. Still, during this time, the cute eared creature managed to become the most famous Australian animal, eclipsing even the kangaroo and one of the most famous animals worldwide. Everyone, at least once, was touched by this creature that looked like a tiny bear cub with cute ears and a curious look.

 

What are some interesting facts about koalas?

 

In nature, koalas live only in Australia, and in zoos, where they take root well, they are real stars not only because of their appearance but also because of their elegant and, at the same time, leisurely manner of moving. If there are koalas in the zoo, you can predict with a high degree of probability that the most significant number of visitors, tiny ones, will be near their enclosure. The appearance of koalas is deceptive: an angry animal in a rage can attack a person. Let's try to state a few more facts about these fascinating animals.

 

15. Europeans first met koalas in 1798. 

One of the employees of the governor of the colony of New South Wales, John Price, reported that in the Blue Mountains (they are located in the extreme southeast of Australia) an animal similar to a wombat lives. Still, it does not live in holes but on trees. After four years, the koala remains were discovered, and in July 1803, the Sydney Gazette printed a description of a recently caught live specimen. Surprisingly, koalas were not seen by members of the expedition of James Cook in 1770. Cook's voyages were extensive, but the solitary lifestyle of koalas prevented them from making a discovery. 

 

14. Koalas are not bears, although they are very similar. 

Not only does the appearance of a funny animal contributes to the confusion. The first British settlers in Australia called the animal "Koala bear" - "Koala Bear." For former convicts and people from the lower classes of British society at the end of the 18th century, it was difficult to expect ordinary literacy, let alone biological. Yes, and scientists reached an agreement on the belonging of the koala to the class of marsupials only at the beginning of the next century. Of course, in everyday life, the combination “Koala Bear” will be understandable to most people. 

 

13. Koala is a particular species in terms of biological classification. 

The closest relatives of the inhabitants of the eucalyptus forests are wombats, but they are both in terms of lifestyle and biologically very distant from the koala.

 

12. Except for nature reserves and zoos, koalas live only in Australia and only on its east coast and adjacent islands. 

The example of the koala clearly shows that the negative experience of settling animal species on the continent does not teach Australians at all. Having burned themselves on ostriches, rabbits, and even cats in the 20th century, they enthusiastically undertook to resettle koalas. Not only restored the deforested population of these marsupials in the state of South Australia. The koalas have been relocated to the Yanchep National Park and several islands off the northeast coast of the country. The geography of the settlement of koalas has expanded to 1,000,000 km2, but one can only hope that the slowness and good nature of koalas will help avoid the following environmental problems. Although on Kangaroo Island, where koalas were forcibly brought, their number reached 30,000, which exceeded the food supply. The proposal to shoot 2/3 of the population was rejected as damaging the country's image. 

 

11. The maximum body length is 85 cm, the maximum weight is 55 kg. 

The cost differs depending on the habitat - its color varies from silver in the north to dark brown in the south. This gradation suggests that two different subspecies live in the north and south, but this assumption has not yet been proven.

 

10. The diet of koalas is unique. 

Not only does it consist exclusively of plant foods. Vegetation is slowly and poorly digested, forcing the animal to devote most of the day to feeding. The diet of koalas consists only of eucalyptus leaves, which are poisonous to all other animals. They contain terpene and phenolic compounds, and young shoots are also rich in hydrocyanic acid. It is surprising how koalas absorb such a hellish mixture of tens of kilograms (500 g - 1 kg per day) without harming their health. After genetic research, it turned out that in the genome of these animals, there are particular genes responsible for the breakdown of poisons. The same studies showed that the tongue of koalas has unique taste buds that allow you to instantly assess the moisture content of a eucalyptus leaf - a fundamental property of its absorption. In fact, by lightly licking the leaf, the koala already knows if it is edible. And yet, even with such unique abilities, the koala spends at least 20 hours a day on food and the subsequent digestion of food in a dream.

 

9. The fact that a koala sleeps a lot and can sit on the same tree for days does not mean that the motor abilities of this animal are limited. 

Koalas just have almost nowhere to rush. In nature, Dingoes are their enemies, but for an attack, the marsupial needs to get out into the open, and the dog gets close - a koala can quickly accelerate up to 50 km / h at short distances. During the mating season, males can arrange a bloody duel in which they will demonstrate sharpness and speed of reaction; in this case, it is better not to fall under the arm, or rather, under the long sharp claws. Also, koalas are very clever at jumping from tree to tree and even know how to swim. Their ability to climb trunks and branches and even hang on one paw for a long time has long been the hallmark of these cute animals.

 

8. Koala parasites are much more dangerous than external enemies. 

Many young male koalas die in fights with more experienced individuals or due to falls from trees (and they happen - a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull is often explained by the need to soften the concussion from a fall from a height). Many koalas suffer from pathogens that cause conjunctivitis, cystitis, sinusitis, and other diseases. Even with a slight long-term decrease in temperature, koalas can get pneumonia caused by a runny nose. Koalas even have their analog of AIDS, the Koala Immunodeficiency Virus. 

 

7. The brain's weight is only 0.2% of the total weight of koalas. 

Excavations, and the current size of their skulls, show that the brains of the ancestors of these animals were much larger. However, with the simplification of the diet and the disappearance of enemies, its size became excessive. Now about half of the internal volume of the koala's skull is occupied by cerebrospinal fluid. 

 

6. Koalas breed at about the same pace as they live. 

Sexual maturity occurs in the third year of their life, lasting only 12-13 years. At the same time, females mate once every 1 - 2 years, exceptionally rarely bearing two cubs, usually one. Males call them with sharp-smelling secretions of glands and characteristic cries. Pregnancy lasts a little more than a month; the cub is born very small (weighing a little more than 5 grams) and sits in the mother's bag for the first six months. He also does not come off his mother for the next six months but already outside the bag, clinging to the fur. At the age of one year, babies finally become independent. At the same time, females look for their territory, and males can live with their mothers for a couple more years.

 

5. Male koalas have unique vocal cords that allow them to make loud sounds of different tones. 

Like humans, the voice develops with age. Young males, frightened or injured, make cries similar to the cries of human babies. The call of a mature male has a lower timbre and is more informative. Scientists believe that the screams of a koala can frighten competitors and attract females. Moreover, the tone of the cry contains information (often exaggerated) about the size of the individual. 

 

4. Koalas survived their genocide. 

At the beginning of the 20th century, they were shot by the millions; the beautiful thick fur was so valued. Hunting was banned in 1927, but the population never recovered. Later, several koala parks and even a particular hospital were organized in Australia. However, due to climate fluctuations, human deforestation, and wildfires, the koala population is constantly declining. 

 

3. Private ownership of koalas is illegal worldwide, although there may be some kind of underground trade - the forbidden fruit is always sweet.

 But to see these marsupials, it is not necessary to fly to Australia - there are koalas in many zoos around the world. They live longer in captivity than in the wild with proper nutrition and care and can live up to 20 years. At the same time, despite their low level of intelligence, they show a touching affection for the staff, having fun or being capricious like small children. 

 

2. By the end of the 20th century, the koala surpassed the kangaroo as the animal symbol of Australia. 

In 1975, a survey conducted among tourists entering the continent from Europe and Japan showed that 75% of the guests would first like to see koalas. The income from visits to parks and reserves with koalas was then estimated at $ 1 billion. The image of the koala is widely used in the advertising industry, show business, and logos around the world. Koalas are characters in many films, television shows, cartoons, and computer games. 

 

1. Australia has an exceptional Wildlife Rescue Service.

 From time to time, its employees have to rescue animals in dangerous or incidental situations. On July 19, 2018, the service crew went to the electrical substation "Happy Valley" of SA Power Networks in South Australia. The koala was stuck in an aluminum fence that he could have crawled under. Rescuers quickly released the animal, which behaved remarkably calmly. This calmness was explained simply - the unlucky marsupial had already dealt with people. On his paw was a tag saying that the koala had already been rescued once after being hit by a car.

 

Which animal is lazier, a koala or a panda?

The sloth shares the first place among the laziest creatures with the koala. The time of wakefulness of this marsupial animal does not exceed two hours a day, while their sleep can last from eighteen to twenty-two hours. During it, a koala can pick eucalyptus leaves from trees and eat while half asleep.

 

Panda belongs to the bear family. But its main difference is that it does not fall into hibernation, but it can sleep up to fifteen hours a day. This huge animal, the rest of the time, is engaged in the extraction and eating of food. Since all representatives are in enclosures due to the threat of extinction of the species, they do not have to get food on their own, so the wakefulness time has decreased significantly.

 

So, of course, a koala is much lazier than a panda.

 

 

Many families have dogs and cats. But not everyone knows how to interpret this or that behavior of a pet. And this is necessary, because sometimes it testifies not at all to a bad character or upbringing, but to problems with it's health.

 

 

About the behavior of dogs and cats that you would like to know the answer to

 

Anyone who has ever observed the behavior of dogs or cats has seen how they periodically begin to spin in a top, trying to catch their tail. Why do they do it? Does it hurt or not when they manage to do it? Do they know that their tails are actually attached to them?

 

To better understand your four-legged friend, read what experts say the common behavioral traits of dogs and cats mean.

 

What is normal dog behavior?

 

Humans tend to project human traits and emotions onto dogs, and we are already used to certain behavioral responses from these animals. However, while we can notice things like canine anxiety in a dog's body language and understand why they howl, some dog behaviors, like barking for no reason or wanting to wallow in smelly things, confuse us.

 

What is classified as normal dog behavior may surprise you. Here's what the pet experts say.

 

1. Barks at the postman

Every day the postman delivers letters and parcels, and every day your dog barks. Does this behavior mean that your four-legged friend hates postal workers? “Barking at people outside is a defensive behavior,” says Gary Richter, MD, veterinarian and founder of Ultimate Pet Nutrition. "Dogs view their home as their territory and anyone approaching or near their territory is a potential threat, so they bark to ward off an intruder."

 

Think about it from your dog's point of view: the postman delivers the mail, the dog barks to keep the intruder away, and the postman leaves. This creates a pattern that gets stronger each time. “From the point of view of dogs, every day they save the house from invasion, driving away the invader. We never appreciate their efforts,” says Dr. Richter.

 

2. Biting

Your puppy's light, loving nibbles are sweet and adorable, but if you don't nip this behavior in the bud, it's a training mistake you'll regret when your pet has adult teeth. "Dogs may playfully bite their owners' hands or feet because they know it draws attention to them, even if it's negative attention," says Joe Gale, MD, MD, Mars Petcare veterinarian. A playful bite can quickly turn into something more serious as the dog becomes overly agitated.

 

Biting can also be the result of a dog's anxiety and stress, or a warning sign that your dog is in pain, especially if he bites you when you touch or move him. As for biting as a form of aggression, this can usually be identified by the dog's facial expression and body language. This is not always the case, so be sure to contact the experts. “You should always consult a veterinarian and a bite behaviorist to avoid the risk of human injury,” advises Dr. Gale.

 

3. Begging for food

"Most dogs will happily accept any food at any time of the day," says Dr. Gale, noting that dogs shouldn't be blamed. “People actually provoke begging when they react and share their food with a dog. The dog quickly learns that this is a successful tactic for getting extra snacks.”

 

Staring at you and patiently waiting for a bite to eat or a treat after a job well done is an expected and common behavior. Growing puppies, pregnant and lactating dogs, breeds with high energy requirements, and those who exercise a lot can have increased appetites, Dr. Gale says. "If your pet's appetite changes or their weight increases, be sure to contact your veterinarian to find out the cause."

 

4. Poop in the house

One of the things veterinarians say you need to know about potty training is that you need to be prepared for "accidents" in the house. But it's also important to know that if your pet dog suddenly starts urinating in the house, it's not necessarily bad behavior. “My main concern when I hear this complaint is that your dog may have underlying medical issues such as urinary incontinence, inflammatory bowel disease, urinary tract infections, or even kidney failure,” says Dana Varble, MD, Chief veterinarian of the North American Veterinary Society. In addition, it is important to spay pets at the age recommended by your veterinarian to reduce the chance that the dog will mark territory, which is especially common in male dogs.

 

5. Wallowing in smelly things

Dogs have over 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, while humans have only six million. No wonder dogs can smell a lot more than we can. With such an abundance of receptors, one would think that dogs would be more selective and sensitive to smells, especially vile and pungent ones, such as the smell of a dead animal, but for them it is like perfume water (though smelly). “Their idea of ​​attractive smells is often different from ours,” says Jennifer L. Summerfield, MD, veterinarian at Brown Veterinary Services in Wayne, West Virginia. “It is believed that the habit of dogs to wallow in strongly smelly things may have arisen as a way to disguise their smell, which may be useful for hunting.”

 

6. Eats excrement and rot

Why do dogs eat feces and other disgusting things like rotting food? As with the sense of smell, dogs' sense of taste is highly developed and very different from ours. They and we both like juicy burgers, but rotten chicken or even dog vomit will also be to your taste. “Dogs originally evolved as scavengers, eating leftovers on the fringes of human settlements, and today, wild dog populations still manage to survive fairly well on less than ideal food sources such as garbage, corpses, and other nasty options,” explains Dr. Summerfield.

 

So why don't they get sick when they eat junk food? "A dog's gastrointestinal tract can process bacteria and other contaminants that can cause disease in humans, and is often able to extract some nutritional value from things like feces or vomit." Your dog's eating habits can also indicate a serious illness, so it's important to know why your dog is eating inedible things like dirt.

 

7. Looking for the right place to go poop

Dr. Summerfield says there are three possible reasons for the dog's behavior. One theory is that your dog is stomping around looking for a clean spot to go big. Secondly, it scans the area for predators. But the study uncovered perhaps the most interesting reason: "A study in Europe showed that dogs tend to stand in a north-south direction when they poop," says Dr. Summerfield. More interestingly, the dogs rarely pissed on the east-west line.

 

8. Sniffing the crotch

While this dog behavior is embarrassing, it's completely normal and you shouldn't be embarrassed. According to Dr. Summerfield, dogs collect a lot of vital information through their nose, and the most concentrated sources of pheromones are in the perineum or buttocks, whether you have two or four legs. “While we may find this behavior socially unacceptable, sniffing the anus or genitals of another dog is a very polite and normal way to say hello in the canine world, much like shaking hands is for humans,” she says.

 

9. Runs in a dream

As you might have guessed, this usually means they are dreaming, and fortunately, it usually has no medical significance, says Dr. Richter. Nevertheless, it makes you wonder what dogs dream about. Probably nothing supernatural. Studies have shown that some dog breeds display their distinctive traits in their sleep, such as the English Springer Spaniel stalking prey. If all this "running around" during sleep seems excessive, according to Dr. Richter, it may indicate hidden stress or illness. If dogs sleep too much, this can also be a sign of illness, so find out how much sleep dogs usually get.

 

10. Interaction with other dogs

"Many dogs experience anxiety or discomfort when interacting with other dogs," says Dr. Summerfield. "This may be due to genetics, negative past experiences, or lack of adequate early socialization during puppyhood."

 

The dog may rush forward and bark at another dog to keep it from getting too close - this is a kind of dog etiquette that you should follow.

 

Other dogs may hide behind you, while some simply lie down in an overly submissive position because they are scared or uncomfortable in the situation. “Dogs are often wary of other dogs but very friendly with people—or vice versa,” she says.

 

11. Licks the face (and other parts of the body)

Let's start with the most licked part of the body: the face. “Muzzle licking, especially around the mouth, is a normal friendly behavior that dogs often show towards other dogs when they say hello. This is usually seen as a way to say "Hello! I pose no threat to you!” says Dr. Summerfield. So it's perfectly natural (and delightful) for a dog to lick a human face as well.

 

What about other parts of the body? As for the feet, toes, and between the toes, the stronger the smell, the stronger the attraction. “This may be due to the higher concentration of odor in these areas, which is also why dogs are attracted to dirty socks and dirty laundry,” she says.

 

12. The dog rubs its bottom on the ground, and sits on the bottom too oftenS

It may look funny from the outside, but it can also be one of the things dogs do to let you know they are sick. The reason is that they have clogged or infected anal glands.

 

“Normal, these sacs release their contents, a brown liquid with a very pungent odor, when the dog defecates. But sometimes the sacs can become clogged or infected, making it hard for them to empty on their own,” explains Dr. Summerfield. To reduce discomfort, they slap their buttocks on the floor. "If this happens, your veterinarian can usually fix the problem by manually decanting the glands."

 

13. Puts his paws on you

Why is your dog doing this? All dogs are quite tactile, so according to Dr. Warble, this is their way of holding hands. “Have you ever seen photos of foxes or wolves playing or sleeping side by side in the wild? While most dogs don't like the restraint of cuddling, they like to make contact with their closest friends by putting their paws on them, and human companions are no different," she says.

 

Your puppy may also put his paw on you to let you know he's ready to play, or ask you to keep petting him after you stop. This is one of the clear signs that you are not giving your dog enough attention. "It's a great way to get our attention, and it always seems to work," says Dr. Varble.

 

14. Hides things

Why do some dogs bury their bones (and other treasures) or hide them behind chairs or under a pile of pillows on the couch? According to Dr. Richter, this is purely instinctive dog behavior. “They watch their stuff,” he says.

 

To prevent their treasures from being stolen by other animals, they hide them for safekeeping. Dachshunds, a breed known for hiding everything, may have a cache of toys and treats in the corner of a dog bed. Some hunting breeds, such as hounds and terriers, tend to burrow because the prey they hunt lives underground. If your dog likes to bury his stuff outside, make sure his dig sites aren't exposed to the usual backyard hazards.

 

15. Rushing to the door

Dogs can sleep without their hind legs, but they will instantly rush to the door when it opens. This dog behavior is similar to ours, when we are surprised at something - we begin to act to see what's wrong. But for a dog, it's more than that. “This is an instinctive reaction in self-defense. Something has moved suddenly and unexpectedly, and they don't know what can get through the door,” says Dr. Richter. Some dogs, including guard breeds, go even further and burst through the door because they want to explore potential threats and protect their space.

 

16. Picks up items while walking

Most likely, you have seen how your pet picks up found items while walking. And it can be anything - from a stick to a used mask that someone dropped. “Dogs use their mouths in much the same way that human children use their hands. Many dogs are naturally curious about the world around them, and if they find something interesting, they may want to pick it up, hold it, or carry it for a while,” says Dr. Summerfield.

 

Wonder what your dog is thinking about as he collects these treasures? It's probably less complicated than you imagine. They are really curious, like toddlers. And they are attracted to certain objects in the same way that babies are attracted to their blankets. This is especially true of sporting and hunting dog breeds.

 

17. Tail wags to the left

A dog's tail can express a variety of emotions, and with careful observation, you can decipher what it is trying to tell you. For example, a low wagging tail with a wide arch indicates friendliness, while a high, stiff tail may indicate aggression or arousal. But why do dogs wag their tails to the left?

 

“Recent body language studies in dogs suggest that there may be a difference in how other dogs interpret left and right tail wagging and how dogs feel when their tail wag left or right,” says Dr. Summerfield. In the study, dogs remained relaxed when they saw a picture of another dog wagging its tail to the right, but when dogs saw a picture of a tail wagging to the left, it caused anxiety. More research is needed, but they do point to the tail as a key communicator.

 

Cats like to hide in boxes because they reduce stress: scientists explanation

Theoretically, at the moment, some scientists are of the opinion that cats, climbing into boxes, drawers, laundry baskets, etc., thus reduce their stress level. So, in 2014, scientists from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, conducted a study in order to test this theory.

 

In the end, they confirmed that cats hiding in boxes, crates, and other objects actually reduce stress levels. The study was conducted at an animal shelter.

 

Scientists have found that stressful experiences in cats can have a serious impact on cat well-being and lead to an increase in the number of infectious diseases in shelters due to increased levels of cortisol, which causes immunodeficiency. But while researchers have been able to partially determine the reason why cats hide in boxes, they can determine whether boxes in shelters can reduce disease rates in stressed cats.

 

Scientists during the study immediately noticed the difference between the group of cats that were kept with boxes, and those that did not have boxes in their cages. Stress levels in cats were determined using the Kessler and Turner Cat-Stress (CSS) scale.

 

After a few days, cats caged with a box had lower stress levels than cats kept in cages without boxes.

 

In the end, the scientists concluded that shelter appears to be important for a cat, as it allows them to effectively cope with the stresses of a new environment in the first weeks after arriving in a new place. They also said further research is needed to determine what effect sheltering has on cats. For example, this is necessary in order to identify correlations between the frequency of outbreaks of infectious diseases in cats, depending on the presence of various shelters in the habitat.

 

Why do pets chase their tails: expert opinion?

Anyone who has ever observed the behavior of dogs or cats has seen how they periodically begin to spin in a top, trying to catch their tail. Why do they do it? Does it hurt or not when they manage to do it? Do they know that their tails are actually attached to them?

 

Sometimes cats get bored and start playing with their tail. Are they doing this to have fun and also to get my attention?

 

“Sometimes cats and dogs will chase their tails for fun (think of the reactions they see from their owners when chasing!), Animal Health and Behavior Consultant Erin Askeland of Camp Bow Wow told POPSUGAR. “Therefore, they may be doing this to get attention because of our reactive nature.

 

However, tail chasing can also be a sign of problems, such as boredom or energy overload, pain or discomfort caused by health problems or anxiety (such as OCD). Age and body characteristics also play a role.”

 

Do cats and dogs know that their tails are attached to them?

Sometimes when we watch my dog ​​catch his tail, we wonder if it hurts? After all, from the point of view of people, chewing on an arm or leg is not entirely pleasant.

 

Cats and dogs know their tails are connected to them. Although puppies and kittens don’t fully understand it yet, they can move them at will and feel touch, and they react to it.

 

Should we be concerned when our pets are tail chasing?

Of course, if your dog or cat is chasing its tail nonstop, it might be time to talk to a veterinarian.

 

What are the signs of cat anxiety?

1. Increased activity, motority, up to the fact that the animal destroys everything around (66%)

2. Desperate meow (63%)

3. Urination in the wrong places (60%)

4. Aggression, extreme irritation (36%)

5. Depression, apathy (53%)

6. Arousal (36%)

7. Defecation in the wrong places (23%)

 

In addition, the study found that the behavior of cats is also influenced by the social portrait of the owner of the animal. On the eve of separation from people, cats literally lost their heads because of the fear of being left to the mercy of fate. This is especially true in homes where:

 

• There are several grown women
• Households live in the age range of 18-35 years
• No other cats
• No cat toys

 

How to help overcome feelings of anxiety in cats?

The study has shown that an effective antidepressant measure will be such signs of attention from people as the purchase of a new toy. It will entertain and distract your pet from a gloomy mood. Moreover, take another cat into the house. If there is one, why not start a second one: together, they say, it's more fun.

 

Outside of the game, when tail chasing becomes compulsive and repetitive, it may not be a clear signal of a problem, but it helps to let us know that something may be going on that is causing this pet distress,” she explained. “It can become part of a pet's behavioral vocabulary, where their behavior and body language tell us how they feel at the moment.

 

 

Among all living creatures, owls stand out for their mystery and ancient symbolism. They are credited with wisdom, prophecy of adversity and military victories. But in fact, people know little about owls, because these strange birds are in no hurry to show themselves, they actively live and hunt at night.

Unusual and interesting facts about owls that not even all zoologists know.

How far owls can see, which owls live in cacti and why owls fly quietly - you will learn about this and much more from our material.

1. Owls Can Turn Their Heads Almost Fully

Many people think that owls have the unique ability to turn their heads a full turn, that is, 360 degrees. This is not entirely true: the rotation of their head is limited to only 135 degrees, but an owl can twist its neck in any direction.

So the total mobility of the neck is 270 degrees. Scientists explained this phenomenon by the fact that the bone structure and blood vessels of an owl are arranged in such a way that when it turns its head far, this does not interfere with the flow of blood to the brain.

2. Owls can see into the distance with ease thanks to their tubular eyes.

Owls, which have tubular eyes instead of eyeballs, can see very clearly into the distance. This ability is preserved even in the dark, and all thanks to the tubular structure of the eyes. Owls, which can't see well up close, select and eat prey by "groping". To do this, they have special sensory feathers on their beak and paws.

Due to the fact that these birds do not have eyeballs, they do not rotate their eyes - in order to look around, they have to turn their whole head.

3. Owls have very sensitive hearing.

Owls have a keen sense of hearing, which they need to detect their prey under leaves, soil or snow. In some owls, the ears on the head are asymmetrically located, at different heights, so they can detect prey, distinguishing even small fluctuations in sound waves.

Other species of owls hear prey by using their "face" like a large ear thanks to special hairs on their flat facial disc. The hearing of an owl is so subtle that it is four times the hearing of a cat.

4. You won't believe how quiet owls are.

An excellent night hunter must move very quietly. The owl, leaving far behind all other birds, does not make any sounds in flight. Thanks to their special feathers, which are fringed or saw-toothed at the ends and break turbulence into small pieces, owls can fly almost silently.

5. They Can Swallow Prey In One Bite

Becoming a victim of an owl can be quite scary. This predator first catches and kills its prey, and then, depending on its size, either swallows it whole or tears it with a powerful beak and puts it piece by piece into the mouth.

The digestive system begins to digest the prey it swallows in one bite, and indigestible parts such as bones and fur are then removed through the beak.

This bird can live for a long time without water - the blood of victims is enough for it, but owls drink water if possible and even bathe.

6. Owls sometimes eat their own kind

Their relatives can be hunted not only by large species of owls, such as the eagle owl, but also by many other species. For example, the Virginia Eagle Owl may prey on the Barred Owl, Barred Owl, and Western Screeching Owl.

7. A mother owl feeds her strongest cub first

As cruel as it sounds, owls prefer to feed the largest and strongest chicks. If there is little food, the mother will feed the oldest of her cubs first, and the older owlets can eat the smaller ones.

Since owls lay their eggs gradually, there can be owls of different ages in the nest. Even if the chicks can fly out of the nest, they do not stray far from the tree where they were born, and the parents continue to bring them food. It is believed that if the owl survives its first winter, it has a good chance of survival.

8. When it comes to camouflage, owls have few rivals.

Many owls hide in foliage or grass and sleep during the day, as the dull color of feathers with spots and stripes perfectly masks them.

9. Some Owls Can Make Frightening Hissing Sounds

Owls can make a variety of sounds, from whistling to screaming, from hissing to hooting.

10. Elf owls live on cacti

Elf owls are the smallest species of owls in the world, they are usually found in the southwestern part of America and in northern Mexico. Their dimensions do not exceed 14 centimeters.

Owls-elves are not very picky in choosing a house, since they cannot build their own due to their diminutive size. Therefore, minks made by other animals in the stiff trunks of the saguaro cactus are used as nests.

Sometimes owls coexist with other birds - for example, woodpeckers. They can also settle in hollow trees and even in holes in telephone poles hollowed out by woodpeckers.

11. Owls nest in burrows dug by dogs.

Very few burrowing owls, commonly found in South and North America, are active during the day. Owls of this species turn tunnels dug by rural dogs and minks of prairie dogs into nests. If they have a need, they can even dig their own holes.

Here's how they hunt. The burrowing owls cover the entrance to the nest with excrement and sit there all day. Since the excrement attracts insects, owls are always provided with food.

12. Owls Eat Pests

Owls feed on a large number of rodents. The family of barn owls during the breeding season, which lasts four months, eats up to 3 thousand rodents. Only one owl eats 22 kilograms of gopher rodents in one year.

Farmers have come up with a way to deal with pests: they hang owl nests in their fields, where feathered predators settle. Owls prey on rodents and farmers protect their fields. This natural method of dealing with grain-destroying mice and ground squirrels is cheaper and safer than using poisons.

13. Owls are known as a symbol of death.

Since early centuries, owls have been associated with death, evil, and superstition. Many cultures know the owl as a sign of death.

For example, there is a legend in history that there was an owl that predicted Caesar's death. Owls are also often associated with witches and evil beings from the underworld.

14. Owls are also considered a sign of victory in wars.

But since Athena is also a warrior goddess, owls have become a symbol of the protector of armies. If the Greek soldiers saw an owl during the battle, then this was regarded as a sign of an approaching victory.

15. Owls usually treat people well.

Owls have been very popular animals since ancient times. You can often see owls on rock paintings in France, whose age is estimated at 30 thousand years, and on hieroglyphs in Egypt. In many historical documents from the Middle Ages there is evidence that owls were used and loved.

However, now in many countries it is forbidden to keep owls in houses and apartments as pets. Because although they are intelligent creatures that you can communicate with, owls remain predators and can attack the owner if they feel threatened.