Today, I learned about a really cool invertebrate that Auckland Zoo and its conservation partners have been working for 15 years to bring back from the brink of extinction. The wētāpunga. The wētāpunga is the heaviest orthopteran in the world. This insect group includes grasshoppers and crickets. These wingless gentle giants are nocturnal tree dwellers that mostly eat leaves and they help germinate, fertilize and distribute plant seeds throughout the forest. Wētāpunga were once widespread across northern New Zealand, but habitat destruction and human-introduced predators such as rats and stoats wiped them out everywhere except one island. Today, more than 11,000 wētāpunga have been released across eight predator-free islands and two fenced mainland sanctuaries. Motuora and Tiritiri Matangi islands now have officially established populations, with at least four generations born in the wild. The other release sites are still being monitored, with wētāpunga continuing to be seen and spreading beyond some of their original release areas. Their conservation status has improved from Threatened–Nationally Endangered to Threatened–Nationally Increasing. When I see people working together to restore a species we humans had a hand in wiping out, it gives me hope for the animals, for the Earth, and it gives me hope for us. Together, we can bring this world back to what I believe it was originally created for: cohabiting with every form of life. We cannot remove one of the vital pieces and expect to survive. We were created together, to live together, not one without the other. I’m including two videos because I just couldn’t choose between them. One is from eight years ago, and the other is from five years ago. They tell different stories with the same beautiful goal for the wētāpunga. The first explains the breeding program, follows a release and shows how children are being taught about conservation. The second includes another release, a beautiful ceremony surrounding the return of this special species, and additional information on the program.

Hi everyone: I am sharing a post that @Lynne Vella shared in her community. Please be wary of any unsolicited DM, emails, calls and text in general. There are some people out there that took their talent and used it in the wrong direction. I have said for a long time that wouldn't it be incredible if they would use their amazing talent for something good. SKOOL SCAM ALERT PLEASE READ 🚨 Quick but IMPORTANT heads-up because I want everyone in our communities to be aware of this! 💗 There have been reports of fake Skool account verification messages being sent through DMs. (Thank you @Kelly V elly V and @Marie Sales !!) These messages claim your Skool account has been restricted or needs verification, then direct you to click a link to fix it. 🚩 DO NOT CLICK THE LINK! If you receive a suspicious message: ❌ Do NOT click any links or provide your login information 🚫 Block the sender 🚩 Report the account or message to Skool ✅ If you’re concerned about your account, go DIRECTLY to the official Skool website or app to check This comes to me from another skool owner who has sent it out to her members. I know we have a lot of owners in this community. So please let everybody you know about the scam.

This incredible designer came in second place in our decorating competition. The male bowerbird has some pretty impressive ideas for his bachelor pad, complete with a cassette of love songs featuring bird calls, impressions of other birds, and sounds from his surroundings to serenade the ladies. Each species has their own decorating style and their own ideas about what a girl wants, what a girl needs. (That song popped on my head. It might be on the cassette too. 😂) These bachelors carefully build and decorate their bowers with colorful flowers, fruits, stones, leaves, and even human-made treasures like bottle caps and plastic pieces. Some prefer everything in blue, while others enjoy a variety of colors. And they’re serious about decorating. They’ll collect dozens of similar objects, arrange them by color or size, and sometimes even steal a few treasures from the bachelor next door. Some are so clever they use their decorations to create optical illusions. Now, these aren’t family homes. They’re elaborate courtship displays, complete with decorating, dancing, and serenading. Once a female chooses her mate, she builds her own nest to raise her babies. These little designers certainly know how to make a first impression. Watch David Attenborough’s five-minute video of these incredible decorators in action, and let me know if you gleaned any tips for decorating your own bachelor pad.

Something extremely disturbing came across my desk today, and what I am going to tell you is heartbreaking and very difficult for me to understand. Please use caution reading further if your heart breaks easily. There is an organization in my neck of the woods called Pittie Project PNW. The 38-year-old founder has been charged with 30 counts of first-degree animal cruelty, a Class C felony. And personally, I hope if she is found guilty, they throw the book at her. Twice. According to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office, investigators found dogs in extremely poor condition, some so underweight that their ribs, hips, and leg bones were visible. Dogs had open wounds, matted fur contaminated with urine and feces, and evidence of parasites. They were living in deplorable conditions without adequate food or water. Seventeen dogs were seized by authorities, and another 13 had already been removed by concerned volunteers. And here's what I find so inexplicable. Authorities reported that the founder had received thousands of dollars in donations and donated dog food to care for these animals. Yet bags of dog food found on the property reportedly appeared to be unused. The organization partnered with legitimate rescues that sent healthy animals into their care, only for those animals to allegedly be subjected to this inexcusable treatment. I'm sure these organizations are in shock, too, and their reputations may be on the line. People are probably asking why they didn't catch the red flags. And here is my concern, and I want to be completely transparent with you. If I receive an organization through my Chat or DMs, I go through an extensive vetting process. I check whether they are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit or an established organization if they are international. I research their history, leadership, reputation, public reviews, complaints, financial filings, news coverage, partnerships, and any documented animal welfare concerns. I also review their website and, if something raises a question, I reach out for clarification.

The votes are in, and the Harvest Mouse has been hired to decorate our pads! So sit back in your comfy chair because this little artist has a big story to tell. There are several kinds of mice known as harvest mice around the world, but we’re heading to Scotland to meet the Eurasian harvest mouse (Micromys minutus). These tiny architects weigh about as much as a quarter and can weave beautiful round nests using nothing but grass, their teeth and little paws. Their breeding nests are about the size of a tennis ball, while their sleeping nests are even smaller. The female splits blades of grass lengthwise with her teeth, then carefully weaves them together while they’re still attached to the growing plants. The result is a tightly woven nursery suspended among tall grasses, with a soft lining to keep her babies comfortable. They’re also the only British mammal with a prehensile tail, which acts like an extra hand, wrapping around grass stems to help them grip and balance while climbing. Although Eurasian harvest mice aren’t globally endangered, their conservation status in Great Britain is Near Threatened, with populations in Wales classified as Vulnerable and Scotland as Critical. Habitat loss, changing agricultural practices and disappearing grasslands are among their biggest challenges. Because they’re so difficult to observe, researchers often rely on abandoned nests to determine where they live. The Mammal Society’s 2026–2027 National Harvest Mouse Survey began October 1. Volunteers search for abandoned nests during autumn and winter, helping researchers learn where these tiny animals live without disturbing mothers raising their babies. In April 2026, a volunteer discovered a harvest mouse nest on Scotland’s Isle of Mull, the first recorded evidence of these little animals on any Scottish island. Whether they’ve been quietly living there for years or recently found their way to the island is still a mystery. Either way, to me, it’s another reminder of how resourceful and determined animals are to survive. As humans continue destroying their habitats, animals are often forced to adapt and find new places to call home. Maybe these little architects are rearranging the furniture and looking for new real estate to build their luxury homes.