Monday, July 22, 2013

Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca)

Killer Whale or Orca (Orcinus orca)

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Orca Breaching / *christopher*, Flickr
An orca (killer whale) breaching in Alaska.
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The killer whale, also known as the "orca," is one of the most well-known types of whales. Killer whales are commonly the star attractions at large aquariums and due to these aquariums and movies, may also be known as "Shamu" or "Free Willy."
Despite their somewhat derogatory name and large, sharp teeth, fatal interactions between killer whales and humans in the wild have never been reported. (Read more about fatal interactions with captive orcas).

Description:

With their spindle-like shape and beautiful, crisp black and white markings, killer whales are striking and unmistakable.
The maximum length of killer whales is 32 feet in males and 27 feet in females. They can weigh up to 11 tons (22,000 pounds). All killer whales have dorsal fins, but the male's is larger than females, sometimes reaching 6 feet tall.
Like many other Odontocetes, killer whales live in organized family groups, called pods, which range in size from 10-50 whales. Individuals are identified and studied using their natural markings, which include a grayish-white "saddle" behind the whale's dorsal fin.

Classification:

While killer whales were long considered to be one species, there now appear to be many species, or at least subspecies, of killer whales (there's an interesting article about research on this here). These species/subspecies differ genetically and also in appearance.

Habitat and Distribution:

According to the Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, killer whales are "second only to humans as the most widely distributed mammal in the world." Even though they range across temperate areas of the oceans, killer whale populations are more concentrated around Iceland and northern Norway, along the northwestern coast of the U.S. and Canada, in the Antarctic and Canadian Arctic.

Feeding:

Killer whales eat a wide array of prey, including fish, sharks, cephalopods, sea turtles, sea birds (e.g., penguins) and even other marine mammals (e.g., whales, pinnipeds). They have 46-50 cone-shaped teeth that they use to grasp their prey.

Killer Whale "Residents" and "Transients":

The well-studied population of killer whales off the western coast of North America has revealed that there are two separate, isolated populations of killer whales known as "residents" and "transients." Residents prey on fish and move according to the migrations of salmon, and transients prey primarily on marine mammals such as pinnipeds, porpoises and dolphins, and may even feed on seabirds.
Resident and transient killer whale populations are so different that they don't socialize with each other and their DNA is different. Other populations of killer whales are not as well studied, but scientists think that this food specialization might occur in other areas as well. Scientists are now learning more about a third type of killer whale, called "offshores," which live in the area from British Columbia, Canada to California, don't interact with resident or transient populations, and are not usually seen inshore. Their food preferences are still being studied.

Reproduction:

Killer whales are sexually mature when they are 10-18 years old. Mating seems to take place throughout the year. The gestation period is 15-18 months, after which a calf about 6-7 feet long is born. Calves weigh about 400 pounds at birth and will nurse for 1-2 years. Females have calves every 2-5 years. In the wild, it is estimated that 43% of calves die within the first 6 months (Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, p.672). Females reproduce until they are about 40 year old. Killer whales are estimated to live between 50-90 years, with females generally living longer than males.

Conservation:

Since 1964, when the first killer whale was captured for display in an aquarium in Vancouver, they have been a popular "show animal," a practice that is becoming more controversial. Until the 1970's, killer whales were captured off the western coast of North America, until populations there began to decrease. Subsequently, since the late 1970's, killer whales captured in the wild for aquariums have mostly been taken from Iceland. Today, breeding programs exist in many aquariums and that has lessened the need for wild captures.

Sources:

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The Pet Trade

The Pet Trade

Breeders, pet shops, and puppy mills fuel the companion animal overpopulation crisis by bringing more animals into a world that is already bursting at the seams with unwanted ones. Every newborn puppy or kitten means that there is one home fewer for a dog or cat awaiting adoption in an animal shelter or roaming the streets.
The pet trade treats animals as mere moneymaking commodities to mass produce and peddle for profit. Animals are routinely denied socialization, exercise, and even basic veterinary care in this cruel, money-hungry industry. Worst of all, the pet trade encourages the public to view animals as impulse purchases no different from fashion accessories that are acquired on a whim and discarded when the novelty wears off—rather than thinking, feeling beings who deserve love and respect.
Breeders run the gamut from "professionals" who continuously produce "pedigree" puppies and kittens in hopes of winning show titles and making money off the animal's offspring to "backyard breeders" who mate their animals indiscriminately to make a quick buck by selling puppies or kittens.
In addition to contributing to animal homelessness and suffering, many breeders endanger animals' health by breeding dogs who are related to each other, which can cause life-threatening genetic defects, and manipulating animals' genetics for specific physical features, such as "pushed-in" noses (which can cause serious breathing difficulties and discomfort) and unnaturally long spinal columns (which can cause disc disease and severe back problems).
Puppy mills, which supply the majority of pet shops with puppies, treat dogs like breeding machines. Mother dogs are kept in tiny cages and hutches and are bred over and over again until they can no longer produce puppies. Then they are usually auctioned off to the highest bidder or killed, without ever getting to experience a kind word, a gentle touch, or simple pleasures like the sun on their backs and grass under their feet.
PETA's undercover investigation at Nielsen Farms, a puppy mill in Kansas, revealed that the dogs had no bedding or protection from the cold or heat; they were suffering from untreated wounds, ear infections, and abscessed feet; and some mother dogs had gone mad from confinement and loneliness. Oprah Winfrey's puppy mill investigation revealed similarly dire conditions.
Every year, people succumb to the temptation to purchase “exotic” animals like hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, and monkeys—even tigers and bears—from stores, auctions, or the Internet to keep them as “pets.” But often, life in captivity rapidly leads to pain and death for these animals, who can easily suffer from malnutrition, an unnatural and uncomfortable environment, loneliness, and the overwhelming stress of confinement. The exotic animal trade is also deadly for animals we don’t see: For every animal who makes it to the store or the auction, countless others die along the way.
Pet shops acquire most of the puppies they sell from puppy mills. The puppies are typically taken from their mothers at an early age, packed into crates, and trucked for days or flown hundreds of miles to dealers and then to pet stores, often without adequate food, water, or ventilation. Pet shops sell animals to anyone who can pay, often sending animals home with unprepared, incompetent, or even abusive guardians. This, combined with the fact that puppies and kittens from pet stores are notoriously difficult to socialize and train because they have been deprived of regular, loving human contact, means that many animals who are purchased from pet stores are later relinquished to animal shelters when people grow tired of them.
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5 Creatures That Can Survive the Most Extreme Conditions


5 Creatures That Can Survive the Most Extreme Conditions

5 Creatures That Can Survive the Most Extreme Conditions
So you think you’re pretty tough, don’t you? You think you live on the razor’s edge of life? Well, compared to many creatures on this planet, you and I are soft. We like sunlight and water and we can’t get too cold or too hot or else we’ll die. But many creatures, called extremophiles, can live in downright hostile environments.
Extremophiles are pretty neat creatures. By studying extremophiles here on Earth, we get a better understanding of what kinds of life might exist way out in the cosmos. How cool is that?
Check out these 5 examples of extremophiles:
Snottite
This is basically what it sounds like: a snotty stalactite. But snottites are actually colonies of cave-dwelling extremophile bacteria that lives off volcanic sulfur, which, when combined with water, produces sulfuric acid. The waste products of the bacteria have similar properties to battery acid. If they weren’t so cool they’d be incredibly nasty. They truly look like a bunch of snot clinging to rocks.
Giant Tube Worms

Giant tube worms, despite their name, are beautiful creatures. They live deep in the Pacific Ocean. Very deep. Up to several miles below the surface of the water. This means that they can survive extraordinary pressures. They are typically found around “black smokers,” or hydrothermal vents in the ocean floor that emit particles with high levels of sulfur-bearing minerals. Because of that, giant tube worms can withstand high levels of hydrogen sulfide.
Water Bears
Credit: Wikipedia
We’d better be super glad that water bears – aka tardigrades – tend to be less than half a millimeter long, because they would otherwise dominate the galaxy. These micro organisms are basically the toughest things on the planet. Water bears are what we’d call a polyextremophile, which means they can survive in a variety of environments that we would consider completely unlivable. How, you may ask, can a mere water bear compete with your big guns? How about the ability to live without water or food for 120 years? Or the ability to withstand pressures six times greater than what is found in the oceans? Not convinced? Well they can also survive temperatures just above absolute zero and above boiling point. They can withstand radiation well above what humans can handle; like, hundreds of times higher. Water bears can even survive in possibly the most hostile to life environment of all: the vacuum of space. Don’t mess with water bears.
Loricifera
Credit: Wikipedia
Like the water bear, loricifera are teeny tiny microscopic animals that live in marine sediment. There are 22 species in the loricifera phylum, but there are three species in particular that stand out. In the Mediterranean Sea, about 3,000 meters down, live these strange organisms. What makes them so strange? They live their entire lives without oxygen or sunlight. These little critters live in almost completely salt-saturated brine, which has the effect of not mixing with less salt-saturated water above it. They can live this way because, unlike us, they don’t rely on mitochondria for energy. Instead they use  something called hydrogenosomes, which don’t need oxygen to create energy.
Grylloblattidae
Credit: Wikipedia
Let’s just call these guys icebugs, because that scientific name looks like the name of alien villain on Doctor Who. Anyway, icebugs are wingless insects. Usually, when we think of bugs we think of a warm climate. Well, at least that’s what I think of. But icebugs live in basically the opposite environment. They live in extremely cold locations – between about 34 and 39 degrees Fahrenheit – and usually at higher elevations. They aren’t quite as hardcore as our water ear friends, however. It’s possible to kill an icebug if the temperature gets too low.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/5-creatures-that-can-survive-the-most-extreme-conditions.html#ixzz2ZpWQtc1A
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Putting Prairie Dogs Back On The Map

Putting Prairie Dogs Back On The Map

| Posted on 19 June 2013 | Tags: , ,
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Kylie Paul, Rockies & Plains Representative 
Yip.
YIP!
YIPPPP!!!
Walking through a healthy prairie dog colony is a noisy affair. Alarm calls from many individuals alert the colony to an invader’s presence. Three of us, Defenders’ Rockies and Plains field staff from Missoula, heard this sound often during our trip to Montana’s Milk River Basin last week, in search of the often maligned but critically important burrowing rodent known as the black-tailed prairie dog.
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation - A place of short-grass prairie beauty!
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation – A place of short-grass prairie beauty!
Besides the fact that they are as adorable as they are fascinating, prairie dogs happen to be important to a host of other plains-dwelling wildlife. They are a key prey species for the ferruginous hawk, the American badger, and most notably, the federally endangered black-footed ferret. Their extensive burrow systems also provide shelter for the burrowing owl, the tiger salamander, the western rattlesnake, and of course the black-footed ferret. Finally, the short-clipped vegetation in their colonies provides important habitat for the mountain plover and other grassland birds.
Prairie dogs’ invaluable role in grassland ecosystems is what brought us to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, home to the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes. Our job was to map prairie dog colonies and identify the amount of suitable habitat as part of a possible effort to reintroduce black-footed ferrets. Fort Belknap was one of the early recovery sites for black-footed ferrets, when they were reintroduced to prairie dog colonies in 1997.
Black-footed ferrets depend on prairie dog colonies for their survival. But in many areas across the West, agricultural producers have viewed prairie dogs as pests. As a result, prairie dogs have faced widespread extermination for more than a century. They also face another major problem. Prairie dog numbers have plummeted as a result of sylvatic plague (yes, plague!) outbreaks that have decimated many of the once-thriving prairie dog colonies at Fort Belknap and across the West. Plague is not endemic to North America but was brought here by rodents stowed away on ships in the early 1900s. Today, plague continues to have negative cascading effects on wildlife populations.
Sound the Alarm!
Sound the Alarm!
Currently, we are collaborating with tribal wildlife officials and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to identify prairie dog strongholds at Fort Belknap and take measures to protect them from future plague outbreaks. If we find enough acres of prairie dog colonies and protect them from plague, this area could once again have hope for restoring a new population of ferrets via ferret reintroduction. With another population of ferrets in the wild, the species has a better chance of recovery. Alongside WWF and students from Montana State University and Aaniiih Nakoda College, we met with the Tribes’ fish and wildlife director to plan the prairie dog mapping project. The mapping effort focused on prairie dog colonies within the Tribes’ buffalo reserve. Fort Belknap has been home to a herd of bison since the 1970s, and Defenders is working with the Tribes to restore a new herd of wild bison from Yellowstone.
Over the course of two long days, working against petulant weather and an excess of mud, Defenders helped map over 500 acres of active prairie dog colonies within the bison range on the Fort Belknap Reservation. Additional mapping is slated for later this summer. The good news is that prairie dog colonies appear to be doing relatively well at Fort Belknap. With the Tribes’ efforts and a little bit of luck, the colonies will continue to grow and Fort Belknap will see the return of a robust black-footed ferret population.
We took a camera along as we mapped – here are some photos from the trip:
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Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
Fort Belknap Indian Reservation
A place of short-grass prairie beauty!
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Kylie Paul is Rockies and Plains representative for Defenders in Bozeman, Mont. She works primarily to protect and restore wolverines, lynx, and fishers in the Northern Rockies.




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How You Can Help Sea Turtles

How You Can Help Sea Turtles

| Posted on 03 July 2013 | Tags: , , ,
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A sea turtle nests at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge as the moon rises over the water (©James Branaman)
A sea turtle nests at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge as the moon rises over the water (©James Branaman)
Elizabeth Fleming, Florida Representative 
It’s summertime here in Florida, and that means sea turtle nesting season is underway! All along our sandy beaches, female turtles are swimming ashore and laying eggs, and their hatchlings are making the mad dash back to the ocean.
Florida’s beaches are globally important for sea turtle nesting. The threatened loggerhead turtle nests in the largest numbers, and nesting of endangered green and leatherback sea turtles has been steadily increasing on Florida beaches. Two other endangered species, Kemp’s Ridley and hawksbill turtles, nest infrequently in the state but live in Florida waters. Overall, nearly 90 percent of sea turtle nesting in the continental United States occurs on Florida’s beaches!
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchling (NPS)
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Hatchling (NPS)
Sea turtles nest in North Carolina through Florida and along the beaches of the northern Gulf of Mexico Nesting season on the Atlantic coast lasts from March through October, and on the Gulf Coast from May through October. Nesting females come ashore at night to dig their nests and lay their eggs, which hatch about 60 days later. The tiny hatchlings emerge from the nest as a group, orient themselves to the brightest horizon, and rush towards it. On natural beaches, the brightest light comes from reflections from the moon and stars over the water, which guide the turtles towards the ocean.
Unfortunately, beachfront lighting from houses, condos, hotels, street lamps and many other sources can disorient hatchlings, as well as adults, and lead them inland instead of toward the ocean. If turtles become stranded on land, their chance for survival diminishes, as dehydration and sun exposure can be fatal, and hatchlings fall prey to birds, crabs and other predators. Adults and hatchlings have even been killed by vehicles in parking lots and roads after becoming confused by artificial lighting.
The good news is, there are many things we can do to make a difference. First and foremost, whether you live in these states or are just visiting them, never disturb sea turtles or nests. During sea turtle nesting season, residents, visitors and businesses in coastal communities should turn out lights visible from the beach or use turtle-friendly lighting that shields, redirects and lowers the intensity of the lighting on the property.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Photo: NOAA)
Also, be sure to always properly discard and secure your garbage. Food waste left on the beach or in accessible trash containers attracts predators, such as raccoons, foxes, seagulls and even ants that destroy many tens of thousands of sea turtle eggs and hatchlings every year. Plastic litter like bags and Styrofoam make their way down rivers to the sea and the turtles may mistake this trash for food, causing injury or death. And like plastic trash, helium balloons can end up in the ocean, especially when released near coasts. Sea turtles can become tangled in litter and fishing line on the shore and in the water.
Finally, be sure to remove lawn chairs and other items that can trap nesting and hatchling turtles from the beach when you leave. At home, avoid using harsh chemicals: what you put on your lawn or use to clean your bathroom can actually wash into the water and kill plants and animals, including sea turtles. Find alternative products that are biodegradable. And think twice before eating shrimp, or buy only from reputable sources. Shrimp trawlers are required by federal law to use a turtle excluder device (or TED) in their nets to allow accidentally-captured sea turtles to escape. But one in six shrimp trawlers either disable their TEDs or fail to use them at all.
Click here to adopt a sea turtle today!
Click here to adopt a sea turtle today!
And anyone who finds eggs, an exposed nest, hatchling sea turtles, or an injured or dead turtle on the beach should contact the state wildlife agency. Do not handle or collect eggs or remove hatchlings from the beach. All such activities require a special permit. In Florida, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 888-404-FWCC (404-3922).
Joining a conservation group outing to carefully watch sea turtles lay their eggs is an awesome experience one never forgets. Being mindful and making a few small changes can go a long way toward conserving these amazing creatures. Let’s do our best to help them survive and thrive for generations to come.
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This post was written by:

Elizabeth Fleming is the Florida Representative for Defenders of Wildlife. Elizabeth develops conservation objectives and strategies and works with partners to protect and restore Florida’s imperiled wildlife and their habitat and establish a state ecological network.


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Waifs of the Week - July 22, 2013 These pets are available for adoption today through Wayside Waifs.

Waifs of the Week - July 22, 2013
These pets are available for adoption today through Wayside Waifs.
Piper has lots of love to give! Red is ready for love! Kitty Kitty is a cutie!
Piper
2 years / 1 month
Female
Siamese
Hey there! I see you there looking at my photo on the website. If you choose me as your new best friend, you not only help me, but you help Wayside Waifs in the ASPCA/Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.
Each pet adopted from Wayside Waifs puts the shelter closer to winning one of several major grants from the ASPCA. These grants will continue to fund life-saving medical care, more rescue missions, animal behavior rehabilitation and ultimately help more of us find our forever homes this year.
Wayside's goal is to place 1,831 pets in forever homes by August 31st. That is a huge goal, but we think we can do it. Can you help us reach this goal by adopting me? If not me, check out some of the other adoptable waifs Wayside has to offer. I have a lot of other friends here who need loving homes. We hope you'll open you heart and home to at least one of us.  Come see us today!! 
And don't forget to get social with us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.  If you do end  up adopting, check out the home page of our website for more information about how your photos and posts from your social media channels can help us win the $100k Challenge!
Love, Piper
Adoption fee: $200
Red
2 years / 2 months
Male  
Terrier
**Red is currently staying in a foster home. If you'd like to schedule a time to meet him, please contact Wayside Adoptions, at (816)986-4426. Thanks!**
Hello! I'm Red, a sweet but shy boy who likes to watch the world from afar. It just takes me awhile to trust and relax, that's all. Change is hard for a dog like me, yet it seems my life has been filled with it. I just need a home where I can spend the rest of my life, with kind, patient, and gentle people who will accept me as I am and make me family.
I am a 2 year-old, 39 pound, already housetrained Terrier mix. I'm well behaved, smart, quiet, and gentle. I'm adorable too, although it's hard for me to talk about all my great qualities, since I don't have much confidence.
I came to Wayside as a transfer from the shelter in Topeka, KS, where I'd been since January. I was so afraid and unsure when I got here. Lucky for me, I found a wonderful foster family who welcomed me into their home and they're trying their best to make me feel comfortable and loved. They're going slow with me and letting me go at my own pace.
I probably won't ever be an outgoing, social dog. That's ok though, isn't it? The world is full of all sorts of personalities and mine just happens to be quiet and shy. I'm a lovely, gentle soul though. I won't jump on you or ask for constant attention from you or follow you around everywhere. Not right away anyway. I probably won't enthusiastically greet you at the door either. I'm sorry if that makes you sad...I'm just not ready for that yet. But I'll do my best not to cause any trouble at all. In my foster home, I don't bother a thing around the house or yard, I'm completely housetrained, I walk well on my leash, and there's not an aggressive bone in my body.
My foster mom has another dog that I'm friendly with. She has kids at home too and I do just fine with them. They are very dog savvy kids though, and they know how to give me my space and understand my shyness. Foster Mom thinks I'll do best with older kids or an all adult home. I don't want or need kids in my life who want to get in my face or are loud and unpredictable. That would be stressful for me. I prefer a mellow and quiet home where I can hang out and be at peace. I'd love to meet the whole family before we all go home together, please, just to be sure we're a good fit for each other.
Foster Mom says I'm a super dog who just needs a family with people who can understand me and love me for who I am. I won't ask for much....I'm just a simple, sweet little dog who is trying my best to find my way in this big world. I need the stability and safety of a forever home. I need you to let me be close by, without being in your face. I need you to let me take my time learning to trust. We'll get there...with time and dedication, we will become best friends and I will be a one of a kind companion who will make your life unbelievably sweet.
Love, Red
Adoption fee: $130
Kitty Kitty
7 years / 2 months
Female
Domestic Shorthair
Hello! My name is Kitty Kitty. OK, that's a pretty generic name, I know. But I do answer to it.
You see, I was found as a stray in Belton. And sometimes when I was on the street, I would hear people calling "Here, Kitty Kitty" and hope maybe they were calling for me. But sadly, it never was my former owner calling.
The people here at Wayside know that I had a former owner and was once part of a family because I am declawed. No one knows how I came to be on the streets, but it is a miracle I survived. Declawed cats like me cannot hunt or climb or protect themselves and must always be kept indoors. To survive on the streets without claws is very rare indeed and I am a very clever and determined cat to have made it.
So I am lucky to be alive and healthy and finally safe here at Wayside looking for a forever home. One where I will be loved and cared for and never ever have to worry about finding a warm place to sleep, a morsel of food or some fresh water to drink. I just cannot wait to be back in a real home and be someone's beloved pet once again!
Being on the streets was very, very hard for me. I even lost some of my beautiful fur due to the stress of it all! But with the TLC I've been getting here at Wayside, it's all grown back. And now my coat is sleek, soft and absolutely gorgeous--if I do say so myself!
There was also some concern when I first got here that I might have contracted FIV during my time on the streets. But, thankfully, I've tested negative for FIV twice now. So, now I'm totally in the clear! I'm officially in excellent health and ready for the next step--my forever home at last!!!
When I got to Wayside, they tested my personality and I am a "Party Animal." Well, of course I am!!! Party Animals are brave cats who are very human-oriented and affectionate. We are outgoing and friendly and love to spend time hanging out with our humans and having fun. You'll never be lonely or bored with me in the family!
I love to play with toys and hope you will enjoy lively games with feathers, wand toys, balls or stuffed mice. I also love to be petted. I'm not too fond of being picked up right now but that may change when we get to know each other a little better. And I'm really not fond of having my tail pulled, but who would be!
So if you are looking for an outgoing, friendly, fun cat with an indomitable spirit, please come down to Wayside and ask for me. I'm awfully anxious to belong to someone like you and start making your life happier.
And I just can't wait for someone to call "Here, Kitty Kitty" and know they are calling for me!
Hoping to meet you soon,
Kitty Kitty
Adoption fee: $12.5
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When Should Kids Start Riding Up Front in the Car? May 30, 2013

When Should Kids Start Riding Up Front in the Car?


Amy S.'s 6-year-old daughter, who rides in the back of the family car in a booster seat, recently started asking if she can sit up in the front of the car with Mom. Jessica B.'s son is also begging to ride in the front seat, especially when he sees his peers get out from the front seat of the car when he's dropped off at school. Diane B.'s 11-year-old pretends not to hear her requests to return to the back seat.
It's normal for kids to express an interest in riding in the front seat of the car in the years leading up to teen-hood. But with parents in online communities referring to the front seat of a car as a "suicide seat," "death trap," or "child killer," as a Circle of Moms member named Charlie P. reports, it's no wonder the first response of many moms is a resolute "no."
So when does it become reasonably safe to allow your child to ride up front? Keep reading for four perspectives to consider when making the call for your child.
1. "Not Until the Teen Years"
General Circle of Moms wisdom says children should not ride in the front of the car until they are about 12 or 13 years old. As Kelly B. explains, "What people don't understand is the reasoning behind why kids shouldn't sit in the front seats. They just are not big enough [before 12 or 13]."
She goes on to break down why riding in the front seat isn't as safe as riding in the back seat. During a collision, a child in the front seat can be thrown into the dashboard or through the windshield:
"Even if he's properly buckled in, he's at much greater risk for being harmed by objects intruding into the car in the front than in the back. What's more, in cars with passenger air bags (which includes most newer models), the car's frontal air bags deploy with such force that they can cause severe head and neck injuries to a child," she shares.
Moms Jeannett S. and Talisha B. agree that it's best to wait until the teen years to allow your child to move up front. That's most likely the time when your child will reach the height and weight needed to minimize injury from an exploding air bag in a crash. "Just like a roller coaster ride at an amusement park requires you to be 'At Least This Tall to Ride the Ride,' so should a child be to sit in the front seat," says Jeannett. And Talisha adds, firmly, "Once a child outgrows a booster seat, he or she should continue riding in the back seat with a seat belt until around age 13."
Brandi C., a mom who works in medicine, confirms these rationales with an eyewitness account. As a medical worker, she reports, the hardest thing she ever saw was the aftermath of an accident involving a 7-year-old "who wanted to ride up front with daddy to the store" and who had indeed been riding in the front seat: "They were rear-ended, and because of the child's size, he slipped under the seatbelt and under the dash, [and] died instantly. Since then, I have always carried that with me, and have chosen that my son and stepkids will not sit in the front seat until they are teenagers."
Some passenger safety organizations, such as SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A., take concerns like Brandi's one step further and suggest children continue to ride in the back seat until they are ready to drive themselves.
2. When State Laws Say It's OK
Some states have specific child restraint laws and laws that spell out the rules regarding children riding in the front seat, offers a member named Talisha. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has information about choosing the right seat for your child in the car.
The laws can be very specific about what age, height, and weight a child must be to sit in a front seat. For example, in Colorado, where Brandi C. lives, children have to be five feet tall and 11 years old before they can ride in the front seat, she reports. Because each state is different, moms need to familiarize themselves with their own state's requirements. A mom named Jennifer suggests asking a local police officer the appropriate age, height, and weight for safe front-seat riding.
3. When No Other Seats Are Available
State laws are typically accommodating, letting a child who normally would not be allowed to sit up front to sit next to the driver if there are not enough safe rear seats in the vehicle, such as in a pickup truck, Sherri C. says. She notes that she had to let her oldest start sitting up front at age 9, when she ran out of seating in the back of her car. "With four car seats [already] in the back, he didn't have a spot to fit in," she explains.
Lynn V. notes that she would have had to let one of her three children ride in front when she owned a Plymouth Breeze. However, because she felt it was unsafe, she instead bought a Ford Expedition that had more rear seating available.
4. When Air Bags Are Turned Off
If you do place your child in the front seat, Kelly B. suggests checking to see whether your car's air bag has an on-off switch, or taking your vehicle to the car dealership so that it can be disabled, and Brandy S. provides more details:
"Most two-seat cars and pickup trucks sold these days either have a switch that allows you to manually turn off the airbag, or they have 'smart' air bags that detect the weight of the body in the passenger seat and will automatically turn it off if the body does not weigh more than a certain amount. In certain scenarios, you may be able take your vehicle to the dealership and have them deactivate the air bag if your vehicle does not offer other air bag-off options for placing a child in the passenger seat."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a list of companies that install airbag on-off switches, Kelly adds, although she says parents need to get permission from that government organization before installing such a switch. And "if your passengers have all moved out of the car-seat phase, your biggest or tallest passenger should ride in the front seat, and [you should] move his seat as far back from the dashboard as possible," Kelly says.
Once the air bag is disabled, Charlie P. feels that the front seat is a "safe and practical place for a rear facing child" in a car seat, because, among other reasons, the front of the vehicle and dashboard are the strongest points in the car, and also because research shows that parents are less distracted when their child is in the front vs. rear seat. "Safety conscious brands such as Volvo also state very clearly that front seat is just as safe as the rear seat for car seats," this member notes.
Safety First
Whatever your circumstances, the most important consideration, say many moms, is safety: if you're not comfortable with the idea of moving your child up front, don't cave in. A member named Kelly suggests buying some time by getting a high-back booster seat and installing it in the center of the back seat so that your child can more easily see and talk to you, without having to sit next to you. As RenaFaye N. reminds, your most important consideration should be safety: "A child's safety is more important than what she thinks she wants."
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tell the USDA to Revoke License of Notorious Animal Abuser Hawthorn Corp

tell the USDA to Revoke License of Notorious Animal Abuser Hawthorn Corp.!

The notorious Hawthorn Corporation, which is owned by John Cuneo, has one of the most sordid histories of animal abuse and neglect in the circus industry. For two decades, its egregious violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) have continued undeterred despite more than 100 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) citations for AWA violations, including failing to provide animals with proper veterinary care, denying animals adequate space for months on end, failing to provide animals with adequate nutrition, and physical abuse of animals. In fact, Hawthorn was the subject of the USDA's first elephant confiscation in U.S. history. The USDA seized an elephant named Delhi from Hawthorn and ordered Hawthorn to relinquish 16 additional elephants after finding Delhi in imminent danger because of untreated chemical burns she sustained after Hawthorn forced her to stand in undiluted formaldehyde. The USDA took a number of additional enforcement actions against Hawthorn—resulting in license suspensions and more than a quarter of a million dollars in fines—which have proved to be entirely ineffective at deterring Hawthorn from continuing to flagrantly neglect and abuse animals.

In fact, shortly after PETA submitted its revocation request to the USDA, urging the agency to take meaningful action against Hawthorn and revoke its exhibitor license without further delay, a whistleblower came forward and reported observations of Hawthorn's unabated animal abuse and neglect as well as other apparent violations of federal law in a sworn affidavit. Among many violations, the whistleblower reported observing a Hawthorn training session during which tigers were heavily whipped, including on their faces, and jabbed with long wooden rods. The whistleblower reported that tigers with open, bleeding wounds were denied veterinary care on at least two occasions. The whistleblower’s testimony also describes tigers to live in tiny, urine-soaked enclosures, meat intended for tiger consumption being regularly allowed to sit out and become infested with flies, and tigers being left outside for hours in near freezing weather, with no protection from the cold.

Additionally, the whistleblower reported that Hawthorn continues to illegally contract with unlicensed exhibitor Lance Ramos—another serial animal abuser and AWA violator, whose license was revoked in 2009 for numerous serious AWA violations, including using physical abuse to train exotic cats to the point that at least one lion died.

Cuneo, Hawthorn, Ramos should never be allowed to exhibit animals again. Please join PETA in urging the USDA to revoke Hawthorn's license and permanently disqualify Cuneo and his employees and agents from obtaining a USDA license, and to seek criminal charges against Cuneo and Ramos.

Please send a polite e-mail to Ramona Romero, USDA general counsel (at ramona.romero@osec.usda.gov), and urge her to ensure that the USDA revokes Hawthorn's exhibitor license and seeks criminal charges. Feel free to use our sample letter, but remember that using your own words is always more effective.

Please also share this important information with your family and friends.
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