Hedgehogs – Interview with Z. G. Standing Bear

Z. G. Standing Bear is a Vietnam combat veteran and retired Army officer. He was also a college professor at Colorado State University having taught criminology, forensic science, and justice ethics, and a variety of other subjects.

Standing Bear is mixed-blood Native American with ancestors that are Mohawk, Wampanoag, Micmac, Scotch, and Irish.

“I spoke Mohawk before I spoke English (thanks to living with my grandmother - next door to my home - while my both parents worked). It was a delightful childhood,” said Standing Bear.


Z. G. Standing Bear is also a long time advocate of animals and exotic pets. He is currently the president of the International Hedgehog Association (IHA) Read the entire article!

Hedgehogs – Interview with Z. G. Standing Bear

Filtered Water - Tap Water - Bottled Water

Filter water verses tap water, tap water verses filtered water, bottled water verses filtered water, or bottled water verses tap water. I have received many emails asking me why I always recommend filtered water rather than bottled water. What could be wrong with bottled water – a lot could be wrong with bottled water! We don’t want our pets or exotic pets to drink tap water or bottled water!

A friend of mine owns a store in California. Mostly it is a fruit/vegetable stand, a huge fruit/vegetable stand. He also carries dried fruit, nuts, and a combination of herbs, spices, and so forth. He is on a busy corner of two major highways. This store is located in San Joaquin valley and it gets very hot. He thought it would be a good idea to carry bottled water.

He attended a symposium by a major distributor of bottled water that is owned by one of the huge cola product companies. Come to find out, bottled water is nothing more than tap water, whatever is available at the plant where bottled water is filled. He opted not to sell bottled water. Learn the facts about bottled water Filtered Water - Tap Water - Bottled Water

Honey Bees

The endangered honey bee, soon you will not find one-third of the fruits and vegetables in the store that you once did. Bees are every bit as fascinating as any exotic pet insect, or exotic pet any animal. Perhaps it’s time to learn a bit more about the honey bee. Maybe even explore the possibility of being a backyard beekeeper.

Some of the benefits are an interesting pet, fascinating hobby, your own homemade honey, having bee pollen at your disposal (considered a super food and a natural antibiotic). It has been used for thousands of years for its natural healing benefits and for its fountain of youth qualities. (Example below)

Bees have always fascinated me, even though I am allergic to them. I am also allergic to cats but that sure doesn’t stop me from sleeping with them. I became more captivated with honey bees when I discovered I had over a million exotic pet bees. I am not exaggerating. When I realized I had a few more bees than I had thought, I had a bee specialist come in to investigate the situation.

It turned out our grain elevator was filled to the brim with bees, he said over a million bees, plus honey comb, and lots of honey. Read the rest of the article Honey Bees

Pet Raccoons

Have you ever thought about a pet raccoon. Raccoons are intelligent, mischievous, fun, in addition destructive, may bite, and scratch. You will also see part of my pet raccoon family that I adore; lots of cute raccoon pictures. I personally love these exotic pets, everything about them, their personalities, their antics, even their odor. Read the article Pet Raccoons

Praying Mantis - Care for the Praying Mantis

Insects as pets, like any other living thing, deserve the same level of commitment as any other pet. They are not a throw-a-way pet. You can’t decide you don’t want them and just release them outside. Every insect belongs within its own ecosystem; not all praying mantis or mantids are the same. There are over 2200 different species of mantises; mostly native to Asia, introducing just one into the wrong ecosystem could have devastating effects on the local ecology. There are approximately 20 native species of praying mantis native to the United States.

Praying mantis eats prey but they’re still a praying mantis, not a preying mantis. The name is derived from their prayer like posture. Except for a rare exception mantises must be housed separately.

The praying mantis comes from the sub tropics and tropics from around the world. The praying mantis has an incredible means to be able to hide amongst the vegetation in their ecosystem. One praying mantis looks like an orchid; the orchid praying mantis camouflaging itself within flowers of the rain forest. The orchid praying mantis is a beautiful organism that can easily capture its prey when it lands on the nearby flowers.

Read the rest of the article Praying Mantis - Care for the Praying Mantis

Rabbits and Geese

I felt it was time for a fun, light article. Did I ever tell you about the time my brother raised Easter Eggs from rabbits, or about the geese that chased my very proper aunt? I would love for you to share your animal stories!

I love to hear about you pets and for you to share your animal stories - please tell!

Rabbits and Geese

Easter Bunny

Even if you had planned, researched the needs of a pet rabbit, and are ready for a pet bunny, no holiday including Easter is the time to bring home a new pet. The hustle and bustle of holidays is really hard on any pet, especially exotic pets.

Rabbits are not for everyone, especially young children. You have to decide if your child is ready for a pet, any pet. Each child matures differently. Rabbits are especially vulnerable to mishandling; if dropped their fragile spines can break so easily. Read more


Easter Bunny