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 just had an employee pick some daisies for me on the way back from her walk. She said “When I saw these, it felt like you needed them.” She doesn’t know how my heart needed this smile right now. 🥹🌼.

Meet Toast Malone. ❤️🐾 When a fire broke out at his Salt Lake County apartment building, Toast did what terrified cats sometimes do. He hid. His hiding place was behind the washer, and his family couldn't reach him before they were forced to evacuate. But they knew where their boy was, and they were not giving up hope that he had survived the flames. For FOUR DAYS, Toast's family kept asking for someone to go back in and look for him whenever it was safe. Then Salt Lake County Animal Services Sgt. Cantor, working alongside firefighters and apparently not willing to give up on Toast either, went looking and found him wet, scared, and hiding in the closet. The only place the fire did not reach. ❤️ Toast was taken to the emergency team at Veterinary Emergency Group to be evaluated. He was released just an hour later to go home to his family. You can enjoy his homecoming video here. This is such a beautiful reminder that even when the odds don't look good, don't give up hope. And let's give some love to the Animal Services officers who spent those days working alongside firefighters and other first responders, rescuing animals, caring for displaced pets and helping reunite families. Sometimes the happy ending just takes a little longer to find. Welcome home, Toast. ❤️🐾 And yes, Toast Malone was always Toast Malone. I know. I had a pause too with a “Seriously?” 🧐😂

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. 🐘💚

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. ❤️