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 saw this video today and it caught my attention because it added another little connection to something I had already noticed. About eight hours after the announcement that we lost Jackie, a four-year-old female bald eagle known as KD-1 showed up at Jackie and Shadow’s nest. She kept bowing like she was paying her respects. After spending some time at the nest, KD-1 flew over to say hello to Shadow, who was sitting in his favorite tree. But here’s where things got more interestingly woo-woo for me. Jackie’s parents were named Ricky and Lucy. In 2022, KD-1 was born to parents named Ricky and Lucy. Completely different eagle parents. Completely different places. Ten years apart. I had previously noticed something during Jackie’s time at Ojai that ties back to this current woo woo. Jackie and Shadow had an eaglet named Spirit in 2022, the same year KD-1 was born. When Jackie desperately needed a blood transfusion during her time at Ojai, the bald eagle who donated that blood was named Spirit. I believe there are things in this world we don’t always understand, and sometimes little connections show up that make me stop, smile, and wonder. Maybe they’re coincidences. Maybe they’re little winks from Spirit. Either way, I think this is pretty cool and gives my heart a needed smile. ❤️🦅 As for Shadow, it is far too early to know what comes next. Whether he remains a bachelor or eventually chooses another mate, only time will tell. But this was one of those little stories I just had to share. And who knows, maybe Jackie is guiding her legacy in spirit. ❤️

Today we celebrate the majestic elephants and all the beauty they bring to our world 💚 Elephants are extraordinary animals and not unlike us. They form deep family bonds, care for one another, celebrate new life and grieve those they lose. They communicate across great distances, protect their young and carry relationships with them throughout their lives. Their families are built on connection, cooperation and generations of knowledge passed from one elephant to another. There is something about their strength paired with such tenderness that makes them truly magnificent. 🐘💚 We currently have four elephant organizations featured in Empowering Animals, each doing incredible work to protect, rescue, rehabilitate and provide sanctuary for elephants. If you want to celebrate World Elephant Day in a huge way, check out these organizations that have dedicated their time, love, hearts and lives to making this world a better place for elephants and share a little love with them. 🐘 Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Adopt an orphan and become part of their journey back to the wild. 🐘 Global Sanctuary for Elephants Become an EleGuardian and help provide lifetime sanctuary and care for rescued elephants. 🐘 Pangea Elephant Sanctuary Help bring Kariba home to sanctuary in Portugal. 🐘 Save Elephant Foundation You can sponsor an elephant, learn about their work protecting Asian elephants and find opportunities to volunteer alongside their sanctuary team in Thailand. Today is their day. Let's celebrate them. 🐘💚

K9 Officer Ace's story really touched my heart. If you have not already read it, find @Dr. Peninah Wood Ph.D posts. She has a beautiful update posted today. Bring tissues. Although he lost his front leg after being shot in the line of duty, he's alive, and he is going home to begin the next chapter of his life with his handler. ❤️ I was so happy to read that he was wearing a bulletproof vest, because a lot of police departments do not have a budget or fund to properly equip their K9 officers. Ace's story reminded me of another hero who has touched my heart. When Brady was just 8 years old, he learned that many law enforcement agencies couldn't afford ballistic vests for their K9 officers. Instead of simply feeling sad about it, he decided to help. His mom, Leah, believed in his idea and helped him turn that compassion into Brady's K9 Fund. Eight years later, they're still working together to help protect dogs like Ace who risk their lives protecting their handlers and our communities. Brady's K9 Fund provides lightweight LOF Defence StreetFighter ballistic vests that were designed to solve one of the biggest challenges handlers faced with older styles. Traditional vests could be heavier, hotter, and more restrictive, so they were often reserved for known high-risk situations. Sometimes they didn't have time to put the vests on because they were cumbersome and the situation didn't allow the time. These newer vests are lightweight enough to be worn throughout an entire shift, help manage heat, allow greater freedom of movement, and also function as a working harness. The goal is simple: if danger appears without warning, the K9 is already wearing the protection they need. I recently reached out to Brady's K9 Fund to check on Hero, one of the K9 officers we featured in our monthly donation voting. I was thrilled to learn that Hero's handler has been contacted so he can order his vest through Brady's K9 Fund!

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.