Tater Tot was originally brought home by a local dog, whose owner happened to be a volunteer at Kitty CrusAIDe, a Salt Lake City cat rescue. 

That’s how he met his new mom, Ash Houghton, one of the organization’s co-directors. Unfortunately, the little guy wasn’t in the best shape. Tater Tot was extra tiny, and his cleft palate made it necessary for him to be fed through a tube. On top of that, there was a problem with his legs. “He was born with all four of his legs malformed,” Ash explained to Fox News Digital. “The front ones were sitting with a sharp 90-degree bend at the wrist, and his back legs are totally curly.” 

To correct the shape of his legs, Tater Tot wears splints. Eventually, he’ll be able to receive surgery for his cleft palate, but he won’t be up for adoption in the meantime.

@kittycrusaide Tater Tot rides a Harley! 😉 Tater was able to fulfill his lifelong dream of riding a Harley thanks to fan Lucy! @Harley-Davidson #tatertot #spudbud #bonkers #grompycat #TTbonkers #tateronadventure #wherestatertot #rescuekitten #specialneedskitten #specialneeds #specialneedscat #utahfosterpets #fosterpetsoftiktok #kittycrusaide #TT #KCtatertot #motorcycle #harleydavidson #harleydavidsonslc #harleydavidsonlifestyle #tatertotsharleyblanket #harleydavidsonblanket #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #tatertotcat #kitten #catsoftiktok #kittensoftiktok #cat ♬ Born to Be Wild - Steppenwolf

Tater Tot became an internet sensation due to the adorably cranky-looking expression on his teeny face. It all started when Ash shared a picture of the little guy to the Facebook group “This cat is G R O M P Y.” Kitty CrusAIDe is also getting a lot of attention on TikTok due to their cute videos of the feisty kitten. 

“I think people love an underdog, and this spud has a lot of things working against him, but his zest and fight for life is super inspiring,” Ash said. “I know he’s inspired me!” The foster mom added that she hopes the kitten’s story will encourage more pet lovers to adopt animals with disabilities. 

“Animals with disabilities or special needs have a much harder time finding a forever home, but if you are willing to put in the time and energy, it’s so incredibly worth it,” she said.

The fact that he’s been fishing in that very river for more than 20 years emphasizes the rarity of the event. Luckily, he was able to catch one of them on camera. 

Because although he’s caught glimpses of other interesting animals, like a bobcat swimming across a bayou in Texas, there’s nothing quite like pink dolphins. “As we were going I noticed something just under the water that I knew wasn’t normal,” Thurman said. “I [stopped] the boat and up popped this beautiful pink dolphin. I had to record it.” 

These bright dolphins weren’t the only ones swimming in the area, but they were the only pink ones, with one noticeably larger than the other. Although there’s a species called the pink river dolphin, those live in freshwater basins in South America. That means these two were likely bottlenose dolphins that are albino. As rare as these sightings are, turns out, one of the dolphins Thurman spotted very well may be a local celebrity in southern Louisiana known as Pinkie! First sighted in 2007 in the same area Thurman was fishing, this pink wonder has their own Facebook page where over 20,000 followers excitedly stay tuned for the latest sightings that folks share. 

Although the pink wonder that Thurman saw could have been the famous Pinkie, since they’ve been seen with a calf in the past, it’s also possible they he spotted their child instead. In any case, Thurman is happy to have had the opportunity to experience such a special sighting in person. 

Likewise, we’re thrilled that folks like him are able to capture these moments so the rest of us can experience them as well! 

 Watch Thurman’s pink dolphin sighting in the video below.

 
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Bert was by Rachel Powell’s side on her big day, strewing petals from a basket just as well as any flower girl could. His sprightly appearance at the wedding is especially amazing considering he nearly died not long ago. Sixteen months before the wedding, Bert suffered a terrible fall. He needed resuscitation and had a tracheotomy, and his prognosis was grim. 

“Doctors told us recovery was slim and even if he did recover, he wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, or eat again,” Rachel wrote on Instagram. “In the period of time where he couldn’t talk, he handed me a piece of paper with a note that said ‘I will make it to your wedding.'” 

Bert spent more than a year working hard in rehab and therapy, and his determination paid off! Rachel shared a video of Bert fulfilling his promise on TikTok and Instagram, and he became a viral sensation. 

Move over, flower girls! There’s a wonderful new trend happening, and this inspirational grandpa is right at the center of it. Watch his adorable turn as a flower grandpa in the video below!

 

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A post shared by Rachel Pitman (@rachelpitman13)

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A Chevron fuel spill was discovered near Willard Bay on Monday afternoon and crews spent the better part of Monday and Tuesday working to repair the broken 8-inch pipeline that caused the spill and the fuel that had spread through the area. Cleanup crews say a beaver dam helped stop the fuel from reaching Willard Bay, but a pair of beavers were covered in the fuel and sent to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Ogden for cleanup and recovery. 

Employees at the center spent six hours bathing the two beavers, washing them twice with Dawn dish detergent. The pair were put on medication to help recover. 

The beavers were reported doing a little better on Wednesday. One of the two is still lethargic, nauseated and didn’t have much of an appetite. The second has started moving around and has started eating a bit. Rehabilitators say they’re taking the recovery one day at a time and hoping to prevent further damage, including neurological damage. 

“They can absorb the substance through their skin. They face things like liver issues, it burns their eyes, respiratory issues, digestive issues, so whenever you get that it’s a little bit frightening,” said Dalyn Erickson with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah. 

The beavers are just under a year old, and crews are hoping they’ll eventually be nursed back to health and returned to the wild. VIDEO
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For the past six years, Edgardo, dubbed the “Savior of Dogs,” has traveled across his country with a bevy of canines he’s nursed back to health from hunger, injury and illness — all on a makeshift buggy. He told photographer Stuart Williams that he’s rescued and re-homed nearly 500 furry friends during his 14,000-kilometer journey. 

“No one helps dogs living homeless on the road,” 49-year-old Edgardo told the photographer. “This is where I saw their pain.” “I was inspired by others who worked for animal rights,” he said in a video shot by Williams, “before the laws against animal abuse even existed.” 

Edgardo started his journey in Bucerias, a small town near Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s central-Pacific coast. From there, he headed north up the coast, then down and back up the Baja peninsula; through Tijuana on the California border; traversed the border with the US; and turned at Reynosa down toward the Yucatan. After passing by Belize and Guatemala, Williams met the rescuer in Oaxaca. Once Edgardo reaches his goal distance, he and three dogs of his own, who have been by his side since the beginning, will settle down somewhere. 

His loyal companions, Chilletas, Blanco and Negro, serve as the group’s elder animals, “[teaching] the others to be calmer.” 

He roams with an eclectic pack, Edgardo explained in the eight-minute documentary: Golden-haired Patueleco, for example, suffers from dysplasia and “swimmers syndrome,” meaning he does not have functional knees, “but he lives well,” he said. “He has traveled a lot” in three years with his master.

Once his dogs are rehabilitated, they’re also given vaccines and spayed or neutered so that they are adoption-ready, such as the three-legged Sin Pata, who was picked up a year ago at the Guatemalen border, or Kiwi from Chiapas, who had a bad skin condition before Edgardo treated him. 

Enzo, one of the newest members of the crew, had to have his leg amputated after a local vet determined he had a bone infection. “He was in a terrible state,” said the dog whisperer. “Double fracture — one in the shoulder and one in the femur.” Once healed, Enzo would begin therapy with the dog healer. For the pups he couldn’t save, he’s given them them a death with dignity — laying by their side until they passed. 

“Usually, I just keep them company, until in a natural way, they rest,” he said. Edgardo, who camps outside with these dogs, said he has “the strength to keep going because there are always people that help us,” such as vets and animal advocates. He accepts donation via PayPal, and also has a Facebook page to allow fans and contributors to follow their journey. 

“I think that what someone in this situation needs, no matter if a person or animal, is some company and even a little bit of love,” said Edgardo. Once this mission is completed, he said he and his three pups might settle near Mexico City, “a place full of animals and abuse,” where he’ll make a difference in even more dogs’ lives. He said he’ll need a lot more help to continue this work, and to change cultural attitudes “in favor of the animals and the environment.” He added, “I hope the younger generation will continue with this.”
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Cute footage shows the little critter in Arizona gulping down the refreshing liquid while holding the bottle in its paws - and drank the whole lot. The hand supporting the other end of the drink belonged to Paul Camps, from Gloucester, who recently visited the Grand Canyon National Park. He was admiring the views in the park, where temperatures hover around 87F at this time of year, when he spotted the squirrel acting peculiarly. 

Mr Camps said: 'The squirrel began to follow me and put its arms up to me like it wanted picking up 'I passed my water bottle to my girlfriend so I could take a picture on my phone - and as I did, the squirrel began to put its arms up towards my girlfriend.' The couple quickly realised that the squirrel was thirsty and wanted a drink. Mr Camps held out the open bottle and the squirrel drank from it until empty. 'Needless to say we didn't drink from the same bottle,' he joked. The Grand Canyon National Park Service advises that visitors stay a safe distance from wildlife - in the case of squirrels, about 50ft (15m) away. And there is always the danger that if you get too close, you may get scratched or bitten.
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“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth”

Thirsty Squirrel Grabs Some Water at the Grand Canyon. Always serve the animals in need🙏 pic.twitter.com/dNsPIDPLwT

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) August 25, 2020

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  A 10pm blood red night rainbow over Scotland! Image credit: Stefan Lee Goodwin
A moonbow (also known as a moon rainbow or lunar rainbow) is a rainbow produced by moonlight instead of direct sunlight. 

Apart from the light source, its formation is no different from that of a solar rainbow: it is created by light being reflected in water droplets in the air caused by rain or a waterfall, for example. They are always positioned on the opposite side of the sky from the Moon relative to the observer. Mentioned at least since Aristotle’s Meteorology (circa 350 BC), moonbows are much fainter than daytime rainbows, since the surface of the Moon reflects a smaller amount of light. 

For this reason, it is much more difficult for the human eye to discern colors in a moonbow, as the light tends to be too dim to activate the color receptors in our eyes. As a result, we usually see moonbows to be white, but their colors do appear in long exposure photographs.

                   Lunar rainbow over Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, US. Image credit: Arne-kaiser 

Moonbows are best viewed at and around full moon, when the Moon is at or nearest to its brightest phase and is not obscured by clouds. 

For moonbows to to appear, the Moon must be low in the sky (at an elevation of less than 42 degrees, preferably lower) and the night sky must be very dark. But since the sky is not completely dark on a rising/setting full moon, moonbows can only be observed two to three hours before sunrise, or two to three hours after sunset. And, of course, there must be water droplets (e.g. from rain or spray) in the sky, opposite the Moon. 

This set of requirements makes moonbows much rarer than solar rainbows – they actually occur less than 10 percent as often as normal rainbows. Sometimes moonbows can also be observed during full moonrise during the winter months, when the sky is darker and rain falls at extreme latitudes. 

The definition of the colors is subject to the size of moisture drops present in the air: the smaller they are the less vivid the colors will be. A night rainbow on Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia. Image credit: Garry
Apart from rain, moonbows can also be induced by spray, fog or mist. In the USA, such bows may be seen around various waterfalls including Niagara Falls, New York, Yosemite National Park, California, or Cumberland Falls, near Corbin, Kentucky. 

Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe is also widely known for spray moonbows. A spray-induced moonbow (lunar rainbow) at Victoria Falls (Zambia side). Image credit: CalvinBradshaw 

How to spot a moonbow? 

As noted above, moonbows are only visible for about 3 days around full moon, when viewed against a dark sky near the end of evening twilight, or before sunrise. In middle latitudes, the best time for moonbows is summer full moons, when the Moon spends more time low in the sky. 

In other seasons, moonbows may last only an hour. In showery weather, always look for a pale moonbow when the Moon is low and bright. You probably won’t see much colors, but if you mount a camera on a tripod, you can capture the colors easily.
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Over 30,000 swift bricks—essentially a normal building brick with a hollow inside—have been sold in the country, and more than 10,000 homes have been built with swift bricks incorporated into the design. It’s bizarre the impact humanity can have on animal life. It wasn’t the sprawling British civilization that caused a 58% decline in the small migratory birds called swifts, but rather the renovation of old buildings. In improving the energy efficiency of buildings to slow energy consumption and therefore climate change, British construction ended up sealing up all the small holes in the walls which these swifts used as nesting sites. 

Now though, companies are making swift bricks which are bricks with a hole in the middle for the birds to nest in. One doesn’t need to put more than 3-4 in every wall to transform their housing project into a swift-friendly estate. 

Nevertheless, some companies, like Manthorpe Building Products’ factory in Derbyshire, have already produced 20,000 swift bricks. Ibstock, another firm, has sold 7,000. The bricks came about through brainstorming from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. 

“The great advantage of swift bricks and boxes is that they can work just as well in inner city areas with very little green space as anywhere else,” Dr. Guy Anderson, the RSPB’s migratory birds program manager, told The Guardian. “Swifts can travel pretty long distances to find their insect food – all they need is a nest site.” 

Swifts are amazing animals that spend 10 months of the year airborne. They do everything on the wing. To drink, they skim over rivers and lakes with their mouths open. They prey only on flying insects. To sleep, they close one eye and turn off one half of their brain. They fly all the way down to Africa before returning to the UK to nest. 

At the moment there is a petition in the UK Parliament to make swift bricks mandatory for all UK buildings, something which the government feels by default is the kind of thing that should be left up to local government councils; however it did garner 104,000 signatures. 

The swift bricks are similar to the “bee bricks” which were another idea of how British housing could make room for nature, and which were ruled as mandatory by Brighton and Hove council.
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When it became clear that was not the case, this kind group of strangers knew they had to do something. Although the group was able to keep them safe as they waited for more help to arrive, the bird eventually escaped into nearby woods. Luckily, a Westbrook Police officer soon followed, determined to find the fowl. 

Thankfully, soon enough, the officer was able to do just that. From there, a Game Warden transported the bird to a local rehab facility. Here, there is hope that the precious owl will make a full recovery. Westbrook Maine Police Department
Had it not been for those kind folks who witnessed what happened to this poor owl, there’s no telling what would have happened to the little guy. 

We can’t thank them, and the Westbrook Maine Police Department, enough for caring so deeply about our winged-friends!
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Thankfully, a rescue team working with the Audubon Coastal Wildlife Network and a number of other organizations was finally able to return the dolphins to the ocean last June. In order to relocate the mother and child, team members had to drive them to the Gulf of Mexico. 

That meant that the two had to be carried ashore and placed in the back of a van, CBS tells us. Wildlife rescuers stayed with the creatures throughout the drive, using sponges to pour water on them. Video screengrab from Audubon Nature Institute/Facebook
According to a Facebook post from the Audubon Nature Institute, the dolphins couldn’t be moved any earlier. The non-profit explained that they had been “waiting for the calf to be old enough to move to an area with access to open water.” 

They also said that cases like this aren’t unusual. “It is common for storm surge and increased coastal flooding associated with hurricanes to cause marine mammals and sea turtles to strand on land or be washed into inland waterways where they are not typically observed, such as lakes, ponds, and canals,” they wrote. “Animals may be found in these areas for weeks to months following the hurricane, requiring rescue by trained and authorized responders to return them to their natural habitat.” Once the van arrived at its destination, the dolphins were carried into the water the same way they’d been carried out. 

Then, receiving one last push of encouragement from the rescue team, the mother and calf swam out into the open water. Watch the video below to see the beautiful moment captured on camera!

 
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This gecko is one of 14 species in its genus and is only found in Madagascar. They only emerge at night to hunt. Scientists think they’re mostly after insects, but there is not much information about their diet. 

Frank Glaw of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology says ‘satanic leaf-tailed geckos feed on almost everything they can overwhelm, including crickets, flies, spiders, cockroaches, and snails.’ The fantastic leaf-tailed gecko has plenty of predators to deal with. Birds, snakes, and rats, they all want him. 

When these geckos decide to stand their ground, they stare down their foes, and “suddenly widely open their mouths, emit loud cries, show the reddish tongue and mucosa and try to bite,” says Glaw. Apparently, not only does the gecko’s tail look like a dead leaf – so does its body 

“A light line along the back together with leaf-vein-like lines and skin structures on the body can complete the perfect imitation of a dead leaf,” says Glaw. And the coloration can be incredibly varied, “in all shades of beige, grey and brown, often with a mixture of lichen-like or even greenish spots which look very much like moss. This variability ensures that they have an adapted outfit for the different structures in their habitat.” The leaf gecko sometimes takes up other colors that indeed make it look satanic Fantastic Leaftail Gecko Madagascar is a photograph by Piotr Naskrecki
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The adorable puppies gathered around Dalton the Storytelling Dragon who told the story of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. The old English fairy tale about a boy named Jack and his magic beans is just one of the tales Dalton recites. The animated purple dragon shares five classic fairy tales: Hansel and Gretel, Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, The Ugly Duckling, and Sleeping Beauty. Dalton moves his mouth and sways his head as he tells the stories, captivating children and puppies. 

As the book changed color, a few curious puppies went in for a closer look. Dalton continued with the story saying, “The magic beans had grown into a tall beanstalk that stretched into the sky.” One of the ten puppies snuggled into the fluffy lamb toy in the pen and fell asleep listening to the tale. 

While some people criticize the old fairy tale for encouraging stealing, the only thing the video is doing is stealing hearts. Millions have watched the video and cannot help but smile as the innocent puppies intently listen to the dragon. 

Watch the video below and don’t forget to share!

 
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Recently, one heroic Great Pyrenees herding dog went above-and-beyond, saving the sheep by fighting off a pack of 11 wild coyotes. According to 11Alive, a pack of coyotes appeared at a home in Decatur, Georgia on November 3, going after the owner’s sheep. 

Homeowner John Wierwille said he was initially able to scare them off, but the coyotes came back later that night. But thankfully, his 20-month-old Great Pyrenees livestock herding dog, Casper, was there and ready to defend the flock against the attacking coyotes. 

After the coyotes got into the pen, Casper put up a fierce defense. The animals fought for 30 minutes, and Casper reportedly killed 8 coyotes. But the dog also suffered his own injuries, all to protect the sheep. The remaining coyotes fled, and Casper took off after them, leading to the owner fearing that the dog had died in the battle. But after a search, John found his dog, alive but greatly injured. 

“He looked like death, I mean he looked terrible,” John told 11Alive. “He came back home and he just kind of looked at me like ‘boss stop looking at how bad I look, just take care of me.'” 

Casper suffered serious injuries to his back and neck, and also lost his tail. Vets and family were initially unsure if Casper would make it, saying he was found in “bad, bad condition.” But despite the odds against him, Casper has been making a slow but steady recovery. “He’s lucky to be alive,” said Dr. Susan Brosman of LifeLine Animal Project. 

“He looks great now, he’s in good spirits,” added clinic supervisor Maisie Hale. “I love him. He’s such a good boy.” 

Online fundraising reportedly covered the cost of Casper’s medical bills, which will cost about $15,000-$20,000. 

Casper still has a few months of recovery left, but for now he’s in good spirits and is being praised as a hero. “He’s a hero for sure,” Dr. Brosman said.

  We’re wishing hero dog Casper a quick recovery — thank you for defending these sheep when they were in danger!
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The largest animals on Earth are returning to the coastal Californian waters in larger and larger numbers, with sightings on whale-watching trips becoming increasingly common. According to a 2014 study investigating the impact of ship strikes on the blue whale population, the western Pacific population of these cetaceans has reached 97% of its pre-whaling levels. 

“It’s not just one entity that is contributing to the success of the populations rebounding; it’s really the efforts of everyone,” Jennie Dean, Vice President of Education and Conservation at the Aquarium of the Pacific in LA, told KTLA. 

“When we’re able to take collective action and think about balance, such that people and the activities that we want to support like shipping, like recreational use, like commercial fishing, all of those things can coexist.” 

Commercial fishing tackle can harm whales, and so the industry took measures to reduce this and it worked. Too many blue whales were killed every year in ship strikes, and so Pacific shipping narrowed their lanes to avoid areas where whales congregate, and are now agreeing to reduce their speeds when entering and exiting harbor areas. 

The current estimates suggest that as many as 2,000 blue whales travel up from Mexico to Southern California waters every year, a large chunk of a global population that may be topping 25,000. 

Another marine mammal making a comeback are seals, which have begun regularly turning up on the beaches of Belgium for the first time in over a century. Grey seals and harbor seals turn up on the beach to rest and feed their pups, during which time they are protected from overly-excited Belgians by a volunteer force called the North Seal Team. Scientists believe there is a population of 200 such animals near the city of Ostend. 

“I was born in Ostend. I’ve lived my whole life here and I couldn’t remember seeing a seal,” says Inge De Bruycker, founder of the North Seal Team to Euronews. 

They’d often stay with the young animal for over a year until they are ready for independence. Although animals understand the concept of a family, some species do not grow up with a father. For instance, a male lion has the tendency to kill their cubs due to territorial behavior. 

They need to ensure that only one male exists in their pride. It’s certainly rare to find animals acting fatherly towards their young ones. But when you witness a moment between them, your heart will definitely be touched. Not all animal species expose their offspring to the harsh truth of the world. A father gorilla is indeed different from other dads. 

They are, in fact, good fathers that significantly contribute to the infant’s growth. The father helps in raising the young ones while protecting the troop. Infants can even play with them. And despite the strict-looking paternal image, male gorillas are patient with their infant’s playful behavior. 

The young male gorillas also deem their fathers as their role models. Fathers are indeed vital family members — there’s love and security in their presence. They also share sweet interactions with their children, like cuddling and heartwarming greetings during their first meet-up. A father and baby gorilla shared that moment which was posted on Twitter. Love is certainly radiating from the video, especially how the infant looked at its father. The baby was examining its dad by looking at him closely and touching his face. 

Father Gorilla just calmly stayed in front of his offspring — allowing the young one to be familiar with him. It was such a heartwarming moment as if the dad was also waiting to finally meet his child. The video was uploaded by IFS officer Susanta Nanda with the caption, “Baby Gorilla meets the Father for the first time.” Netizens were delighted with the short clip and expressed joy in the reply section. The video was indeed a great source of serotonin. 

“Heart warming to see the love of the baby and the father…the curiosity, awe and hesitant love in the baby is so human like,” Sengupta F tweeted. The curiosity was truly evident in the infant’s eyes. Perhaps it was amazed by how different they are in terms of size. 

“The baby is amazed at the larger image of self,” suryanarayanan k commented. After the first greeting, the two might have bonded more. With how the father gorilla looked at his offspring, you know that he’s going to give everything he can. The baby gorilla is fortunate to grow with parents that surely overflow with affection. 

Happiness is contagious, so share the clip with your followers. Someone might need to be greeted as warmly as the baby gorilla’s greeting.

Baby Gorilla meets the Father for the first time💕 pic.twitter.com/bLOf0892jE

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) May 7, 2023

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