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Do snakes care for their young?

Factors that influence a female snake's decision to remain with her clutch aren't fully understood yet, but a study conducted at Arizona Statue University monitoring the behavior of captive and wild water pythons has concluded that the two most important considerations are the temperature and humidity of the nest. Eggs laid in an environment with a stable and warm temperature were abandoned early on, but the captive pythons used environmental cues to monitor and stabilize the internal water balance of the nest, wrapping themselves around the clutch. Though, by doing so, they appear t..

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What is dust free cat litter?

Clay-based litters are very popular, but dust-free alternatives include cat litters made from vegetable material, such as shredded newspaper or pine pellets. Common dust-free clumping litters also contain clay, but the main absorbent component of these litters is sodium bentotite, a material that does not generate dust. Sand-based litters, called crystal litters, also do not generate dust. Another dust-free kind of cat litter is corn litter. Corn litter utilizes corn kernels to absorb urine and feces.

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How can you adopt an SPCA rescue animal?

Before an animal can be adopted, the SPCA takes time to consider a few important details such as the adopter's home life, lifestyle and interests. The adopter is then matched with a suitable animal's training, social and exercise needs.\nSFSPCA.org has strict requirements that must be followed in order to be considered eligible to adopt a pet. The organization requires an adopter to be at least 18 years of age and have a valid ID with proof of current address. Written landlord approval, proof of home ownership and/or a home visit may also be required.\nSome adoptions may require atte..

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How long do gerbils live?

According to Blue Cross for Pets, gerbils do best with layers of bedding, such as organic soil and timothy hay, so that they have plenty of digging material. Gerbil cages need to be cleaned at least once a week to ensure that the environment stays fresh and dry. Gerbils also require adequate nourishment in the form of commercial gerbil food, fresh fruit and vegetables and a constant supply of fresh water. Ideally, gerbils are housed in pairs or groups because they are naturally social; however, only gerbils of the same sex should be housed together to avoid unwanted breeding.

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What is a Shetland and Sheepdog mix?

The Shetland sheepdog stands 12 to 16 inches tall and weighs an average of 20 pounds at maturity. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. The Shetland sheepdog is intelligent and loyal and makes an excellent family pet. Shelties are not aggressive, but they are very vocal. Their coats are long, which means they shed a lot.

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What is a male bee called?

Mating occurs mid-air and is very violent for the drone. After copulation occurs, the drone's phallus rips from his body and stays inside the queen. The drone dies quickly afterwards. The queen bee mates with multiple drones during her flight and stores the sperm for later use. Drones that do not die are driven from the hive before the winter.

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How long do mountain lions live?

Mountain lions exist in a variety of habitats that include deserts, grasslands, forests, rain forests and mountains. They are territorial by nature and mark their territories by scraping trees and spraying urine into the scrapings. Mountain lions are carnivorous and eat birds, snails, possums, fish, rabbits, squirrels and porcupines, and larger animals such as deer, elk, coyote and bobcats.

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What are the predators and prey of the giraffe?

The giraffe’s long legs and neck evolved to enable them to reach food that most other animals cannot access. However, their tall stature also helps them to see predators at a great distance and move off before they are in danger.\nGiraffes are restricted to the savannas and open forests of sub-Saharan Africa. Usually, predators avoid healthy adult giraffes and concentrate on young, injured or old animals, who cannot mount an effective defense. Giraffes have a cream base color that is covered in dark brown reticulations. This color and pattern combination helps to break up their silhouette wh..

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What is a llama worm?

According to the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, some snails and slugs contain infective forms of meningeal worm larvae. When llamas eat these snails or slugs, the larvae migrate into their spinal cords or brains. Within 43 to 53 days, the meningeal worms cause tissue destruction and inflammation. Specific symptoms depend on the location of the worms within the llama's nervous system. Symptoms often begin with a limp and lead to paralysis. Meningeal worms in the brain cause blindness and an inability to eat, and they often lead to the death of the animal.

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How do harbor seals protect themselves?

Although harbor seals have natural predators, they are classified as apex predators, feeding on fish and invertebrates alike. Their highly acute hearing is 14 times more sensitive underwater than on land, allowing them to distinguish between the calls of killer whales and their harmless cousins. Their whiskers are also able to detect sensitive vibrations in the water, and they possess an excellent sense of smell. Harbor seals have been observed to abandon a favored resting area due to human disturbance, reacting to human presence from distances reaching up to 300 feet.\nPups are the most vulne..

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