Annadsa

Veterinary technicians have one of the most wonderful jobs imaginable. Their days are filled with visits from people with dogs, cats, and other beautiful pets. Anyone with a love for animals would be envious of those who enjoy such an occupation. And as fun as their typical days are, a visit from a new litter of puppies like these golden retrievers makes the day even better. These vet techs at Sherbrooke Heights Animal Hospital in were thrilled to hear the the puppies from As Good As Gold breeders were coming for their checkups. Who can resist a bunch of fluffy puppies like these? The puppies are as energetic as they are adorable and keeping them all together is a feat. Their owner brought them to the clinic in a wagon that is perfect for the job. The entire clinic was overjoyed at this wagon full of cuteness and they all gushed over them through the entire visit. They all received a clean bill of health and made their way to the door to go home. The techs all gathered around to see them off!

Blue jays are a welcome sight at any back yard bird feeder, with their beautiful plumage and vivid colour. Noisy and bold, they are often the first to arrive at back yard bird feeders, and the most likely to announce their presence with shrieks and calls. Other birds watch them and follow, hoping to find food where the fuss can be found. Blue jays are also easy prey for hawks and owls, as they fly slowly compared with other birds. Blue jays are one of the most beautiful birds that can be attracted to a feeder. They enjoy a wide variety of nuts and seeds and they delight both amateur and experienced bird watchers alike. This blue jay seems intent on finding the perfect peanut and he picks one up and discards it, repeating this several times before flying off with his prize. Somehow, he must be able to tell which shells hold the most delicious peanuts.

Sea turtles are among the most loved of all the ocean's creatures. Here we see them swimming gracefully in the Galapagos Islands. Pacific Green turtles grow to an enormous size. Once they reach maturity, only large sharks and humans pose a threat to them. A cautious and respectful diver might be lucky enough to get close enough for a video or photo opportunity like this one. Moments like these are cherished by any who love the underwater world. This turtle casually swam along in search of vegetation while the nearby diver joined, in complete awe. These beautiful animals grow to 1.5m (5 feet) in length and can weigh up to 190kg (419 pounds), although exceptionally large males have been measured as high as 395kg (871 pounds). They are endangered due to the overharvesting of both adults and turtle eggs for human consumption, as well as due to mortality from being caught in fishing nets. Loss of nesting areas for real estate development has put even more pressure on the turtles. Once full grown, humans are their biggest threat. It would be beyond tragic to lose these beautiful creatures forever.

Trail cameras are a great way to investigate and observe the wildlife without disturbing them. The footage often reveals wonderful and surprising things that happen in the quietest moments. But sometimes these cameras also reveal a heart breaking and cruel side of nature that is hard to watch. This was the case when the owner of this trail camera looked at the images recorded at a beaver dam in Northern Ontario. The bobcat in this video can be seen walking along a beaver dam. Its right, rear leg appears to be badly injured, as if it had been broken but healed improperly. The cat is emaciated and is obviously unable to pursue its prey. The will to survive must be strong as the bobcat is on the lookout for game birds or beaver that might present an opportunity for a meal. Sadly, the cat never appeared again on any future footage. It is very likely that it did not survive long after this video. In other footage captured during the same time period, a healthy bobcat can be seen stalking something at the water's edge. When healthy, these cats can be silent and shockingly quick. It appears to have its eye on a bird or other small animal that has come to the pond for a drink of water. A healthy bobcat such as this one is an impressive sight.

A trailcam mounted in the woods of northern Ontario has captured footage that provides a close look at a very rare creature. So infrequent and beautiful, capturing images of a piebald white-tailed deer is often compared with photographing a unicorn. White-tailed deer are very common throughout North America and capturing video of them on a trailcam is not difficult to do. But nature enthusiasts and hunters alike might go their entire life without ever seeing a live one. Tom, an avid outdoorsman has been stashing cameras in the woods for several years. He has captured amazing footage of deer, bears, lynxes, foxes, wolves, and even eagles. Although he has heard of a few sightings of piebald deer and he once saw one himself from a distance, he has never found one making an appearance in the thousands of hours of recordings that he has made. Piebald colouring results from a genetic abnormality that exists in some mammals and even snakes. It's a recessive trait, meaning that it can only surface when both parents carry the gene. This is extremely rare, occurring in less than 2% of the deer population. Often compared with albinism, both appear to be similar in some respects, but the difference can be readily determined by looking at the eyes of the animal. Albino deer will have pink eyes, pink noses, and pink hooves. They also have poor eyesight. Piebald deer will have brown eyes, brown noses, and brown hooves. Their visual capabilities are unaffected. Deformities in their organs and bone structure is also more common than in regularly pigmented animals. For this reason, piebald deer are less likely to survive to adulthood than other deer. Tom was shocked when he went through the footage on this occasion and he was thrilled to see such clear images of this fawn as it walked right past his camera. The trailcam is set to record intermittently and the footage that came before this video was also very fascinating. A doe with a pair of fawns makes an appearance a few seconds earlier. The doe appears to be in the company of three fawns. With no other deer in sight on this occasion, it is believed that this beautiful animal has triplets. This is quite rare among white-tailed deer. Twins are common enough, but for a doe to have triplets, the habitat and food availability must be ideal. Even with perfect conditions, a doe will bear a third fawn only 15 to 20% of the time. The odds of having a camera in the right place at the right time to capture close up video of a piebald fawn in a set of triplets is astronomical. In fact, photographs and video of such an occurrence is almost unheard of. Tom cannot believe his good fortune and he has shared the footage with his friends. He will continue to explore these woods and video the trails in an effort to capture more images of this beautiful deer.

Cottage time in Canada is one of the best parts of summer. Cooling off in the lake on a hot day is part of the fun for this family in Ontario. But they took things to a new level when one of the family brought a new game to the cottage and challenged everyone to join in a competitive game of "Cow Tipping". These inflatable cows are designed to carry one passenger each as the riders square off against each other for a duel to try to knock the other off. The cows have side air bags that help keep things stable, allowing the rider to stay afloat. But the side air bags are clipped in and secured by a string that is attached to the bell at the front of the cow. When the bell and string are pulled, the clip underneath is released, allowing one side air bag to detach. This makes it impossible for the rider to balance and they will suddenly pitch forward and off the cow. Cameron and his mother, Kristy were the first contenders and they struggled with the proper technique to even get on the cows. Cameron managed to get on top of his cow by climbing off the dive raft. As he got his balance though, his foot caught the string and pulled the clip. He felt the side air bag swing wide and he knew he was about to tip. He tried to lean back and avoid the plunge. He had time to yell briefly and then his face was rocketed toward the water. With a big smack and a splash, Cameron hit the water and toppled off the cow while everybody laughed. Cameron's father can barely hold the camera steady as he howled with amusement. Cameron is a great sport and he climbed right back on his cow and continued with the challenge. Neither Cameron nor Kristy were able to ride the bulls for anything close to eight seconds as they found this game to be much harder, and even more fun than it looks. The game is actually called "Cow Tipping" and it's as much fun to watch as it is to play!

Tires don't last forever and most of us have experienced a flat tire at some point or another. But few people have to suffer a tire that blows out during higher speed driving, as this truck driver did on a Canadian highway recently. This is Highway 115 north of Toronto, Ontario. It's a 4 lane highway with a grass median in between. The posted speed limit is 100km/h (60mph) but the general tolerance here is such that driving at 115 or 120km/h will rarely attract the attention of law enforcement. Traffic in the right lane is going roughly 115km/h and the driver in the truck has pulled into the left lane to go around them. Etiquette and common sense require the truck driver to complete the pass smoothly and then promptly move into the right lane. He has increased his speed to a little over 130km/h (80mph) to do all of this in a brief period of time. But as the truck hits a patched section of highway, the right, rear tire suddenly pops with an audible bang. The car behind the truck would like to get back into the right lane as well and he has been following at the same speed as the truck. His dash camera captures the moment that the tire bursts and the truck swerves abruptly. This could be a dangerous moment as the truck might have gone out of control and caused an accident. The driver of the truck quickly pulls things together, straightens out the vehicle and compensates for his loss of steering. He slows calmly and then moves over into the right lane which is clear. This is what would be expected and other drivers will move into the left lane to go around him. All of this is in keeping with the applicable laws and expected reactions of other drivers. As the truck reaches the slower lane on the right, the driver begins to look for a spot to pull over. He has a guard rail blocking him but his tire is starting to fragment and he knows that it will not stay on the rim if he doesn't get the truck stopped. Traffic around the truck moved left and carefully passed as the truck reached the safety of the gravel shoulder. Tragedy was avoided due to the calm and controlled efforts of a skillful driver.

The great spring salamander migration is an incredible thing to witness. Normally hidden from view, salamanders are one of the most plentiful vertebrates in almost any North American forest. They make up the majority of vertebrate biomass and it is now believed that they are likely 10 times as numerous as was recently estimated. They hide in the ground, under logs and decaying leaves, in burrows and anywhere that gives them shelter from the light and lack of humidity. Salamanders must keep moist in order to breathe through their skin. They have lungs as adults, but they cannot survive without moisture. They are literally everywhere beneath our feet as we explore the forests around us. They make up a significant part of the food web, preyed upon by foxes, skunks, snakes, birds, and almost any carnivorous creature large enough to swallow them. And these animals in turn, become food for the larger predators in the woods. In the spring, within days of the vernal ponds melting, the salamanders migrate en masse to the pools to breed. They arrive almost simultaneously, driven by natural instinct that creates a spectacle worth waiting for. These researchers have watched for the right conditions; a mild night after the water opens up, with the leaves and ground made wet with fresh rain. They have arrived at the pond, stepping carefully over the fragile little creatures that could easily be crushed underfoot. The salamanders are everywhere, and they are beautiful. A dark blue/black skin is adorned with bright yellow spots. The salamanders move like lizards, although they are amphibians. They emerge from eggs in the water and grow into tadpoles, similar to frogs. They breathe by extracting oxygen from the water in their tadpole stage. They grow legs and lungs and venture onto land by the end of the summer, making their way to underground shelter where they will hibernate through the winter months. They will emerge in the spring and follow the others back to the pond where they were born. And the cycle continues, sometimes for up tp 30 years before the salamander dies. Among the unique traits of the salamander is the amazing ability to regenerate limbs, organs, and even their brains. Scientists are fascinated with this ability and the applications that might assist with human medicine. These researchers have found a mutation in the midst of the thousands of normal salamanders. This one seems to be growing a second tail. But a closer look reveals that it is actually a fifth leg sprouting from the middle of the tail. A partially formed knee and foot can be seen. The forest around us is full of mystery and fascinating things. If we are willing to look closely, it can be seen.

These gulls inhabit the rock cliffs on the isolated shoreline of the Galapagos Islands. They live in a remote world where adaptation is crucial to survival. Rearing their young on the edge of a sheer drop to the raging surf below provides an aspect of danger but it also reduces the chance that they will be vulnerable to predators. The gull's food comes from the ocean below the cliffs as the mother makes frequent trips out over the water to snatch small fish from just below the surface. She carries them back to feed her baby from sunrise to sunset, working hard to keep up with the ravenous chick. This will continue as it grows rapidly. It will soon take flight and leave the rocks to follow her out to sea. The mother gives a beautiful demonstration of a graceful takeoff, stretching her wings wide and lifting smoothly off the rocks without even a single flap. Shel slowly gains height and then banks to the right and arcs beautifully out over the waves with no effort. The wind here is constant and the updraft provides the gull with an easy way to get back and forth with the smallest energy expenditure. The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most diverse and unique animals on the entire planet. Many have adapted to life in this hostile environment as the challenges they face result in evolutionary changes. The animals are isolated from other populations, creating very different physical characteristics than those of animals in other countries. The more we understand the life around us, the better we will be able to protect it.

Johan has just met the family's new puppy and they have spent the day playing enthusiastically. Nena is a beautiful little schnauzer who has fit in perfectly with this wonderful family. She was found in the window of a pet store in Ecuador, waiting to be discovered. Her pleading eyes caught the attention of a man walking past who was out getting groceries for his family. Christian stopped and looked in the window, meeting her steady gaze. She barked, jumped excitedly at the glass and scratched at it with her little paws. She backed up and began hopping up and down. Christian's heart melted. He thought about his children back home, and his daughter who had been bravely battling cancer since she was 18 months old. His daughter had been doing very well and was recovering nicely. Christian's family had enough love to share with this adorable little soul. He went in and bought Nena, along with the supplies and food that would be needed. The children were shocked when he arrived home with this newest family member. They immediately began to play and bond with Nena. In particular, Johan was very taken with this little pup, despite the fact that he had been nervous about dogs before this. After an afternoon of playing energetically, both decided that it was nap time. They ended up on the couch in the most adorable little pile, fast asleep. Nena has been a wonderful addition to the family, giving back as much love as she has been given. She truly has found the perfect forever home. And Christian is just about the best father in the world in the eyes of his three children.

Scuba diving is an exciting sport that takes the adventurous on a journey into a world that very few are fortunate enough to experience. The reefs below the waves are beautiful beyond description and the ocean life is fascinating. Each dive is different and there is more to learn than anyone could ever manage. This scuba diver has explored the waters in Belize, Mexico, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Galapagos Islands and Papua New Guinea. He has seen bizarre and wondrous creatures, but he has just found something unlike any other living organism that he has ever seen. Initially drawn to a shiny sphere nestled in the coral and sponges in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, this diver believed he was about to pick up a piece of glass or other litter that had been dropped overboard. As he drifted closer, it looked like it could even be a metallic ball. It was completely spherical and uniform in shape, roughly the size of a large chicken egg. Although experienced scuba divers are well acquainted with the rule not to touch the reefs or sea life, the one exception is that removing litter from the ocean is advisable in most cases. This diver drew closer and he was able to see the shine from his dive lights penetrating the outer surface, reflecting back at him from surfaces within the sphere. With a little imagination, he could now picture it as some alien object or well polished meteorite. As he reached for the strange object, he found the outside slightly springy. It was not metal or glass and he realized that felt like a peeled grape or even a huge eyeball. It was anchored to the coral and removing it would disturb the life around it. Reluctant to touch it further, he left it where it was and brought his video footage back to the dive ship. A dive instructor and photography expert on board explained that this was actually a species of algae and that it grew so large that it is believed to be the largest single celled organism on the planet. Aptly named "bubble algae" or 'sailor's eyeball", they occupy most oceans throughout the world. Scientists are keen to use these algae in research because they make it easy to study the migration of water soluble compounds across biological membranes. The ocean is full of fascinating and wonderous creatures. We are only beginning to understand our environment and the life forms that share our planet.

Golden retrievers are one of the world's favourite breeds, They are beautiful and gentle souls, with angelic faces that almost seem to be locked in a perpetual smile. Their compelling eyes seem to peer into our core and we instantly fall in love with every part of them. These dogs are no exception. They all live on a beautiful little farm in Cavan, Ontario. Their owners run a top-notch breeding service called "As Good As Gold", aptly named and highly respected. The dogs here live the perfect life. They roam the house with complete freedom, occupying beds and couches in comfort. They have a large property to run and woods to explore. And mornings are an exciting time for these beauties when they line up and stare in anticipation, waiting for the call for outside playtime. When they hear the magic words and the twist of the door handle, they erupt in excitement and scramble for the door in the most beautiful stampede imaginable. It's outside play time and they cannot wait to see what lies on the other side of the door.

The lion is referred to as the king of beasts. On the African plain, he's the undisputed top carnivore. It can reach a weight of 143kg (315lbs) and is rivaled only by the tiger in terms of size. But tigers don't inhabit the plains and shrublands here in Africa and this lion is the apex predator. Muscular and shockingly powerful, this big cat can take down animals much larger than itself. Capable hunters, these animals primarily eat food that they have killed themselves, but they are also occasionally known to be scavengers, taking the kill of other animals. Lions are social creatures, organized in groups called prides. A few males, along with several females form hunting packs and offer protection from other animals such as hyenas that will challenge lions who are found on their own. There is always one dominant, alpha male, usually the largest and strongest of the males in the pride. This lion bellows out his claim for dominance as he walks along the edge of the grassland on a clear morning His breath hangs in the air as he roars and snorts, telling other lions in the area that he is there and that he will compete for the breeding and hunting rights in that area. Culturally, the lion has been a symbol of strength and bravery, as this lion so adequately represents. As they stroll through their pride land, they have little to fear. This lion inspires awe as he makes his way through the grass.

While filming at the cottage for a "how to" video, this cameraman captured something unintentional and surprising. He was planning to create a short video about how to make a campfire treat (S'mores) on a Swedish stove. But when he looked thorough his video, he something in the background that caught his eye. What appears to be a person walking towards the beach can be seen. He's carrying something and all appears normal enough. Until the figure simply fades into nothing as quickly as he appeared. There isn't an obvious explanation for this. This is a remote lake in Northern Ontario, but there have been stories and whispered tales for generations on this lake. People swear they have seen mysterious balls of lightning moving up the lake at just above the water level. Others claim to see canoes in the distance with figures that appear hazy before they fade into nothing. There have been many stories that connect these sightings with the fact that this lake was a popular area for nomadic indigenous people hundreds of years before. Whatever the explanation, the appearance and disappearance of this person in the background will leave you guessing.

This baby elephant lives free on the plains of Kenya, Africa. He's very young, and very small, compared with his mother and the other elephants in his herd. He follows them and watches so that he can learn from everything that they do. He cannot yet digest much of the food around him, but he tries to imitate his herd. In the end, he decides that the brush makes a great place to scratch. He will need the protection of the herd, as lions and hyenas also roam freely here, and either would consider such a young elephant to be an easy meal. But the grown elephants around him will not allow this to happen easily. Baby elephants nurse milk from their mothers until they are old enough to graze and digest foliage. As adults, they eat only plants. African elephants are the largest land animals on earth. They grow rapidly to become massive and powerful, and formidable in their ability to defend themselves. But for now, this adorable little fellow will stick close and learn from his elders.

Deer are beautiful and graceful creatures that can leap high fences with great ease. These deer regularly come to visit their friends who are inside the fence, enjoying the food in their paddock. The deer like the hay and the ample supply of fresh vegetables. They also seen to enjoy a little companionship, often hanging around in the paddock long after the food is gone. Unlike the pigs and the donkeys on this farm, the deer cam come and go as they please, hopping the five foot fence like it was knee high. A camera set up on the fence captured this deer leaping up and over the fence to enter, as well as the second leap to return to the forest a few minutes later.

These beautiful animals were just out enjoying the sunshine. These lucky motorists were in complete awe.as they watched two of the tallest terrestrial animals casually strolled down the road toward them. Capturing the moment on video and in photographs, the tourists were amazed by how unconcerned they were with the humans being present. Giraffes feed on leaves, fruits and flowers, with the ability to reach food that other herbivores cannot. Lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs all prey on giraffes, when they can, but a full grown giraffe is a formidable animal. They can swing their head like a club and their powerful legs enable them to deliver deadly hoof strikes. The long neck of the giraffe allows it to see predators a long way off. Other species rely on this, using the giraffe like a sentinel to warn of approaching danger. Herds of other animals will often follow the giraffe and keep a close eye on their behaviour, for safety. Male giraffes closely follow the females during mating seasons, but they do not take an active role in the care of the young. A male will taste the urine of the female to determine her fertility state. After breeding, the female will carry the baby for 400-460m days before she gives birth. She does so standing up and the calf will fall to the ground, severing the umbilical cord. A newborn will be able to walk and run within hours and is as mobile as a one week old calf. During the first 2-3 weeks of their life, the calf will remain hidden while the mother grazes and keeps a watchful eye out for danger. If all goes well, the calf will live up to 38 years. Giraffes are perhaps the most majestic, and one of the most beautiful animals on earth.

Pileated woodpeckers are spectacular birds that are a delight for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts. They are the largest woodpeckers in North America. This claim to fame was once held by the ivory billed woodpecker, which sadly, is now believed to be extinct. Pileated woodpeckers are heavy birds with a serious presence at the backyard feeders. Attracted by suet cakes, they will often announce their arrival with a loud call that sounds like maniacal laughter. As they fly in to an area, the call warns other woodpeckers that their territory is occupied. It is also a warning to the smaller birds that they are coming in for a landing. This pileated woodpecker is the male in a nesting pair. They have their home in a stand of trees not far from this feeder. At least once each day, the woodpeckers arrive at this suet holder and feast on the cakes within. Pecking and eating for a minute or two is all that they need to fill their bellies. They fly off happily after a brief visit. The woodpeckers also enjoy a few sips of water at the backyard pond. They have a few spots at decaying trees where they peck at the holes for insects burrowed into the wood as well. Pileated woodpeckers do a great job of keeping insect populations at bay that would otherwise attack and harm trees. Their abandoned nesting cavities also make great habitats for owls and other woodland creatures. They are beneficial for forests and the animals that live there. They are also a delight to see with their commanding presence and eye catching colour.

Tonga is a beautiful area of the world, and one of the few places where people can get into the water with humpback whales. These gentle giants travel here in July from all around the world so that they can breed and bear their young in waters where there are no orcas or large sharks. Humpbacks have few predators when they are full grown, but the calves are vulnerable to these predators when they are small. Swimmers were filming this incredible animal near the island of Vava'u, enjoying a spectacular display as the humpback rolled at the surface. But a blur of motion caught the eye of the swimmer with the camera as she they finished watching the whale. Too fast to be seen clearly, the swimmer was only aware of the fact that something large and incredibly fast had passed close by. Watching the footage later and slowing it down revealed that a large sailfish had passed between the whale and the swimmer. Sailfish are the fastest swimmers in the ocean. Their top speed is the topic of debate, with some sources citing that they can reach 125km/h (68mph), while others say that 35km/h is the highest recorded speed. They use this great speed to spear and injure fish with their long and sharp bill. Impaling or slashing fish causes them to swim much slower, allowing the sailfish to capture them. This is a particularly effective means of attack when more than one sailfish attacks a school of smaller fish, such as sardines. This swimmer was not in any serious danger, but the thought of such a large fish coming past like a torpedo with a harpoon on the front was intimidating. It is rare for a swimmer to catch sight of a sailfish as they will avoid humans, and it is even more rare for a person to capture an event like this on video.

Nurse sharks are often called the puppy dogs of the ocean. They are sharks, but they are completely harmless to people, unless they are treated unwisely. These sharks have a curious and gentle disposition and their mouths are downturned, similar to the mouth of a catfish. more like a catfish. But these sharks do have a mouth full of teeth in many rows and they are capable of biting if they are handled or feel threatened. Surprisingly, these sharks are ranked number 4 for bites on humans, simply because people mistakenly believe they can be touched or fed by hand. This nurse shark is a juvenile and it was following these scuba divers along the reef in Belize. When they stopped to look at creatures in the sand, the shark was immediately curious and it swam over to see what they were looking at. The shark headed straight for this scuba diver and his camera. To his surprise, the shark swam straight into his open palm, resting its nose briefly before turning and calmly swimming away. It's possible that the shark wanted to smell the diver's hand and it's also possible that the shark simply wanted to make contact. Allowing the shark to choose the terms of this interaction reduced the chance of a mishap, especially in the case of such a small shark. But it is still advisable to maintain a respectful distance from all wildlife to be on the safe side. Nurse sharks typically hunt at night, rooting through the sand for small fish and crustaceans. They inhale prey with by rapidly creating suction. They are capable of producing a more powerful suction than any other known vertebrate. Nurse sharks are just one of the endless number of fascinating animals that one might encounter on the reef. Scuba diving opens up a whole new world of beauty and mystery for the lucky few who are adventurous enough to slip beneath the waves to explore.