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Animals

Mongoose v. Lions

In the video immediately below, a mongoose battles four lions. Mongooses are famous, of course, for fighting cobras and other snakes, even if they do so rarely. These mammals are unremarkable in appearance, and ordinarily unassuming in manner. They’d rather avoid battling with venomous reptiles, for example, despite their renown in doing so.  In deadly…

Friday Catblogging: “The Private Life of a Cat”

A great find, from Alexis C. Madrigal @ The Atlantic (The Best Experimental Film About Cats Ever Made): During the mid 1940s, Maya Deren and Alexander Hammid made films together as a husband-and-wife team. Who did what and who deserves the credit for directing or shooting their films remains disputed scholarly territory, but suffice to…

Friday Poll: Ram v. Drone Pilot

Who’s at fault: Ram or Drone Pilot? In New Zealand, a hobbyist uses a small drone to film a ram, piloting the drone close to, and even into, the ram. The animal becomes irritated, and first butts the drone, and later the drone’s pilot. Who’s the guilty party here? The drone pilot for irritating an…

After removing a giant dam in Washington State

After a huge dam was demolished in Washington, U.S. Geological Survey researchers say salmon populations began to recover and 70 acres of new beach provided a new habitat for Dungeness crabs, clams, and other species. Via Glines Canyon Dam explosion: Washington State dam demolition @ Slate.

Friday Poll: Petting a Zoo Lion

Petting a Zoo Lion? Although some of the facts are disputed, there’s common acknowledgement that Renae Ferguson visited a small Michigan Zoo, entered a lion’s cage, and may have had part of her finger bitten off. Ferguson contends a zookeeper invited her into the cage to pet the lion; the zoo claims she entered against…