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Animals across the Carolinas


KJHburg

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Since pumpkin beer is already flowing, I thought I'd show off these spooky creatures hanging out in my back yard.  They're typically called yellow garden spiders, but my family always called them "writing" spiders due to the zig-zag design in their webs. Rumor was that if you saw your initials in the web, bad luck was coming your way.  I often see them around from August into October.  And even though they look wicked, they're not poisonous, so leave them be!

 

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The official NC state horse the horses of the northern Currituck County beaches.  They are descendants of Spanish mustangs are considered pure breds.  In northern Currituck County NC beaches north of Corolla in the Carova Beach NC area.    They roam free in an 8000 acre area that does include some homes but also federal and state lands.  They are very protected do NOT feed and approach.  

Only reachable by 4 wheel drive and my ride was a Hummer today.  (and believe it or not @nicholas I saw a Rivian truck in the non road area driving on the beach)

https://www.ncpedia.org/symbols/horse#:~:text=In June 2010 the North,in Session Law 2010-6.

Our official horse is a royal Spanish Mustang! (take that SC) 

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Not the Carolinas, but a remarkable story about "Jonathan," the Tortoise, who won the longevity race

"Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is celebrating his 190th birthday.   He is the longest-living land animal in the world.  He is believed to have been born around 1832."  "Jonathan is 48 inches long."

"He was five years old when Queen Victoria, Britain's second longest reigning monarch, took the throne, and he outlived both World Wars.  He is older than the first photograph and has lived through the administrations of 39 US Presidents." 

Jonathan is living on the Governor's plantation on Saint Helena.

"On St. Helena Island (in the South Atlantic), Jonathan is something of a celebrity.  The elderly animal lives alongside three other giant tortoises – David, Emma and Fred.

"Though old age has left Jonathan blind and with no sense of smell, his hearing is excellent.   According to Guiness World Records, he responds well to the sound of his vet’s voice."

"Despite some of his senses now failing, Jonathan’s vet, Joe Hollins, told Guinness World Records that the animal still has plenty of energy – though this varies with the weather."

“On mild days, he will sunbathe – his long neck and legs stretched fully out of his shell to absorb heat and transfer it to his core,” Hollins said.

In colder weather, he prefers to “dig himself into leaf mold or grass clippings and remain there all day.”

Hollins added: “In spite of his age, Jonathan still has a good libido and is seen frequently to mate with Emma and sometimes Fred.”

"Jonathan has lived most of his life at the governor’s plantation house on St. Helena Island in the South Atlantic, according to the island’s website, which adds that Jonathan could arguably serve as a national symbol for the island.  Jonathan’s image even adorns the backside of a St. Helena 5 pence coin."  "Jonathan is also getting a series of commemorative stamps to mark his 190th birthday."

Links:  

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/02/worlds-oldest-recorded-tortoise-prepares-for-190th-birthday-party

https://www.kktv.com/2022/12/03/jonathan-tortoise-worlds-oldest-land-animal-celebrating-190th-birthday

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/03/world/seychelles-tortoise-st-helena-jonathan-190-birthday-intl-hnk/index.html

Edited by QCxpat
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5 hours ago, rancenc said:

Mama bear and her cubs.  I actually did not know that bears had this many cubs at once.  I always thought one to two at a time.

https://www.wyff4.com/article/mama-bear-cubs-video-north-carolina-neighborhood/43645517

the only time I saw bears in the wild in NC was up on the Clingmans Dome Road in the Great Smoky National Park one morning and I saw a mama bear and 4 cubs like that.  It was spring when the road first opened for the season. 

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My uninvited guest as my annual July 4 cookout. 

Eastern rat snake which is harmless to humans and great for my backyard to keep down rodents etc. 

https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Reptile/Rat_Snake_Profile_2018.pdf

never seen a rat or mouse in my property except one dead one outside one time. 

 

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Edited by KJHburg
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BOLO ALRET   In Mecklenburg farm news:  a cow was spotted on I-485 and please steer clear of this bull with 2 foot longhorns on the loose in NW Charlotte.  

https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/cmpd-searching-longhorn-bull-spotted-west-charlotte/ESQNJM7NGZG5XGG2Q6USSCLLGY/

I love it when country comes to town! 

here is the suspect mugshot 

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Edited by KJHburg
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The largest of the 3 state aquariums in NC this one at Fort Fisher south of Wilmington.  Home to Maverick the wounded Bald Eagle who still has spunk in him even if he can not fly he recently ruffed up a cardinal that got to close to him.  And he reportedly eats 4 rotisseire chickens per day.  Notice the divers in with the sharks.  Most of these creatures are found in NC or off the coast but a few are from further seas. 

North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher | Explore. Discover. Enjoy. (ncaquariums.com)

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