How fun is it to run across one of nature’s wonders and get to do a little research and learning? My friend came across this little beauty last night hanging out on his garbage can lid. When he first saw this critter, they had two little “horns” sticking out, but quickly retracted them. My brave friend even tried the highly scientific method of poking them with his finger between the eyespots to see if he could get the horns to come back out. He failed. And knowing what we know now, that may have been a good thing because it could have caused a bit of a stink for him. 😂 This little dude or dudette is a Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar. Those big yellow and black “eyes” are called eyespots, part of what researchers describe as snake mimicry. The caterpillar can also pull its actual head in and swell the front of its body, making that fake snake face even more convincing to a potential predator. And those retractable horns? They're called an osmeterium, a forked defensive organ found in swallowtail caterpillars. When they feel threatened, they can pop it out and release a strong odor designed to make a predator reconsider its dinner plans. And then there is my favorite part. That funny pinkish-red thing that looks like this caterpillar is sticking its tongue out at the camera? That's actually the head and mouth sitting just below that big fake snake face. Caterpillars don't have a tongue like ours, despite what this photo would have you believe. I had ChatGPT break the picture down for me because my brain simply could NOT stop seeing yellow lips and a tongue sticking out. 😂 I'll include that graphic too for your learning enjoyment. And because this caterpillar is already big and mature, finding it wandering somewhere like a garbage can instead of on a host tree or shrub such as willow, cottonwood, aspen, alder, sycamore, cherry, or ash may mean it was searching for a protected place to form its chrysalis. One unexpected visitor on a garbage can turned into a whole lesson about mimicry, defense, metamorphosis and just how incredibly creative nature can be. 🐛💚🦋

I don’t have the words for this one. For more than three weeks, Jackie fought while an incredible team at Ojai Raptor Center fought alongside her. This morning, her body could fight no longer. I kept seeing her flying home to Big Bear and back to Shadow. I believed in her strength and resilience until the very end. Jackie wasn’t fragile. She was a fighter. She lived the life she was born into, raised her babies, defended her territory, loved her family, and captured the hearts of people around the world. My heart breaks for Shadow, for everyone who loves her, and for the team at Ojai who gave everything they had to try to bring her home. Fly home, beautiful girl. We’ll take care of your home and your family here. ❤️🦅 The official update from Ojai Raptor Center is below.. It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519 passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care. Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit. Throughout her time at Ojai Raptor Center, every decision was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and our responsibility to do what was in her best interest. Her remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her. Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her. We ask for patience and kindness as our staff process this loss. We are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results.

This one is hard. Let’s continue to see her flying home to Shadow. Keep holding her in love and light, believing in her strength and resilience. Come on, Jackie! You got this, girl! ❤️🦅 Here is the official update. An Update on Bald Eagle Patient 26-519 We wish we had better news to share today. Patient 26-519 remains in intensive care, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring. Her blood values have declined again, with her packed cell volume (PCV) falling below 10%, and her condition remains critical. This week's contrast CT scan and bone marrow biopsy have provided important new information, while additional specialized testing remains pending. Our veterinary team continues to work closely with specialists across the country as we evaluate these findings and determine the next steps in her care. We know how deeply so many of you care about this eagle, and we're so grateful for your continued patience, compassion, and support. Every decision we make is guided first and foremost by her medical condition, her welfare, and what is truly in her best interest. We will continue to share meaningful updates as we learn more. Thank you for standing alongside us. https://youtu.be/zQFZCf1KKDE

I love this guy. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaBKCEcsTdm/?igsh=ejllc2xpdGtkZHVh

You have seen my recent posts about the Ma Earth campaign and Jaguar Rescue Center so I thought I’d share a little more about JRC. The Jaguar Rescue Center was founded by biologists Sandro Alviani and Encar García, who moved to Costa Rica and quickly became known in their community as the people to call when an animal needed help. Locals began bringing injured and orphaned wildlife to them, trusting them as the “doctors” for these animals. The very first animal brought to them was a beautiful female ocelot. The person who found her believed she was a jaguar. Sadly, after examining her, Sandro and Encar realized she had likely been poisoned. Despite doing everything they could, she passed away the following morning. That heartbreaking rescue became the beginning of something extraordinary. As word spread, people began referring to them as “the Jaguar people.” When it came time to officially name the rescue center, the name simply stuck. Today, the Jaguar Rescue Center has spent nearly two decades rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing Costa Rica’s native wildlife. Thousands of sloths, monkeys, birds, reptiles, and other wild animals have been given a second chance because two people chose to help one animal in need. Sometimes the biggest dreams don’t begin with success. Sometimes they begin with one act of compassion.