Welcome to Ark Animals Answers!
Today’s Critter Chat concerns Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina devastated areas in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida–and animal rescue teams are standing by to assist pets and wild animals survivors. Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Donate funds to the main animal disaster rescue organizations like the American Humane Association, the Humane Society of the United States, and United Animal Nations. You’ll find direct links to their donation channels at arkanimals.com
• Conduct fundraising for pets in your local area and send those in…while you also volunteer to establish disaster management plans for animals in your region.
• Use this time to prepare an animal disaster kit for your pets and develop a crisis plan for your family and neighborhood. A little bit of prevention goes a long way.

This is animal behaviorist, Diana Guerrero inviting you to take an armchair safari into the animal kingdom at http://www.arkanimals.com. Thanks for joining me for today’s Ark Animal Answers and feel free to contact me with your questions.

Podcast is available at:http://arkanimalanswers.podblaze.com

Welcome to Ark Animals Answers!
Today’s Critter Chat concerns: Gator-Aid

The American Alligator known as “Harbor Park Harry” has eluded capture by reptile wranglers and seized the hearts of people everywhere.

Alligators are carnivorous. They can live up to 50 years and grow from 8 to 11 feet and a big gator can weigh up to 1,000 pounds.

• Alligator jaws can crack a turtle shell but the muscles to open them are so weak that wranglers can easily keep their jaws shut with their hands—or duct tape!
• The alligator is also the official state reptile of Florida.
• And when the Spanish word for lizard was mispronounced by English sailors, it became alligator over time.

Harry is a former pet who was abandoned by his owner–so my main point is to remind you that wild animals don’t make good pets.

This is animal behaviorist, Diana Guerrero inviting you to take an armchair safari into the animal kingdom at www.arkanimals.com. Thanks for joining me for today’s Ark Animal Answers and feel free to contact me with your questions.

Podcast is available at:http://arkanimalanswers.podblaze.com

Alligator Links:

National Zoo Fact Sheet

LA Times: Arrest of Suspected Gator Owner

LA Times: Gator Captures Public

Graphic: Lurking in the Lake

Blog: LA Observed

Welcome to Ark Animals Answers!
Today’s Critter Chat concerns Animal Disaster Preparedness for Hurricanes

The National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration warns that this year’s hurricane count will be double the national average. Hurricane hazards include: storm surges, high winds, tornados and flooding. The good news is that for the first time, pet-friendly evacuation centers are planned for some areas of Florida.

In the past people have refused to leave their pets putting emergency personnel, themselves and their animals at risk. Hurricane season doesn’t end until November 30th so if you live in a risk area, prepare now.

You’ll need:
-to outline a disaster plan,
-and to prepare emergency kits for your pets and your family,
-finally, get materials from disaster rescue agencies to help you better prepare.

This is animal behaviorist, Diana Guerrero inviting you to take an armchair safari into the animal kingdom at www.arkanimals.com. Thanks for joining me for today’s Ark Animal Answers and feel free to contact me with your questions.

Podcast is available at:http://arkanimalanswers.podblaze.com

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/07/050710102939.htm

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2438.htm