A Rat Gets It's Own Statue

[19&41]

https://www.aol.com/articles/cambodia-u ... 4b3ad6ff60

[William]

That was interesting. Dogs yes, Rats, I guess if that works why not.

Bill

[TC Chris]

We're getting better at recognizing the special competence of many animals and getting a bit less assured about the absolute superiority of humans. Octopuses, for example, have superior intelligence despite having very different brain forms and short lives. Yesterday I was driving out of the marina (after finding the buildings locked, boo!) and observed the Canada geese standing at the edge of the road. They don't flee when I drive past because they know that cars stay on the pavement. Crows have that knowledge too, and they can recognize and remember human faces--friends and foes. My sister was outed at the airport the other day after returning with a forgotten banana in the luggage. The beagle found it....

Chris Campbell

[MEZLAW]

I've watched seagulls at the beach pick up mussels and fly over the road then drop the mussel so it will crack open when it hits the road. Then the seagull swoops down and enjoys his meal.

[electra225]

I saw a Dr. Phil show one time where he said dogs couldn't understand human communications. Obviously, he had never owned a good dog before. A good sheep goat will stomp the waddin' out of a coyote or a fox. The only superiority man has over animals is the ability to speak. If you "learn your critters", they will communicate with you. One of the most amazing animal activities I ever witnessed was when a roadrunner got ahold of a rattlesnake.

[TC Chris]

Keep in mind the birds, the migratory ones. I put up a purple martin apartment house in the spring and the birds find it. The martins are site-faithful: they return to the same house every year. That means they fly to South America and back, finding their way each direction. I've seen hummingbirds buzzing the place where a feeder was hanging last year, expecting it to be there again. I've read that squirrels remember the locations of many of the nuts they bury. Same with the jays and chickadees who stash seeds in trees.

Chris Campbell

[19&41]

Squirrels will periodically dig up, handle and re-bury their nuts, This changes the nuts' position, which helps prevent them from germination.