Animals & Pets

Words by Carmen Macri Is it an evil omen? Bad luck? Or is it just a fluffy feline on an adventure? Whether we intentionally follow them or not, superstitions are all around us. Do not walk under a ladder. If you spill salt, throw it over your left shoulder. Do not step on a crack in the sidewalk. <Never> open an umbrella inside. Avoid the infamous number 13. And bad luck follows when a black cat crosses your path. For centuries black cats have gotten a bad rap. In European folklore, black cats have been attached to witchcraft, Satan, bad …

Like clockwork, the ocean is warm again and the marine life is back to sharing the beach with Floridians. While it’s no surprise that people might bump into a fish or seagull, it’s the sharks that aren’t so forgiving this year. After Jacksonville Beach’s recent shark attack, many are staying out of the water, speculating why a sudden rise in shark sightings and attacks. “We have had a lot more sharks pop up because the Jacksonville Beach Pier opened up,” said local lifeguard Igor Kazhuro. “Predators are coming near, specifically sharks, because there’s a lot more bait out now with …

 A deep dive into the rules and regulations of service animals, what is really allowed? An estimated 500,000 service dogs are aiding those with disabilities in the United States, but do we really know everything we can about service animals? According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.” This means a dog must be trained to take certain actions when assistance is needed by the owner. This could be a service dog alerting their owner …

When COVID-19 forced Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to close its gates for two months, the nonprofit lost critical revenue during its busiest months. The Zoo is now asking for the community’s help to recover through the ZOO-A-THON, which aims to raise $250,000 in donations by Sunday. “Many people are surprised to learn how expensive it is to maintain our day-to-day operations, even after we closed to the public on March 14. We still had to feed and care for our animals daily, as well as employ the dedicated staff who worked through our closure. We were closed during our busiest …

If there was ever a perfect symbol for spring, it’s a butterfly emerging from its winter slumber in a bright symphony of colors. At , the butterfly is more than just a symbol. It’s the centerpiece of the annual held April 27 at the nature preserve on Lone Star Road in . The community event offers a chance to connect with nature in a pristine setting where guests can stroll the wooded paths, enjoy homemade crafts, family-friendly activities and live music culminating in the release of hundreds of live butterflies. The butterfly release is held at 3pm, weather permitting. It’s …

It’s no secret that people love dogs. Many of those same people also love hanging with friends over a cold beer or a good cup of coffee. Sadly, most venues won’t let you enjoy both. Jason Underwood and Lauren Wyckoff developed the concept for BrewHound, an off-leash dog park with an open-air bar, to create a common ground for people to enjoy all of what they love in a natural setting. “That’s really what we want to generate is this core community of animal lovers and a place for everybody to hang out and share ideas,” says Wyckoff. “It’s a …

Tree Hill Nature Center uses its limited budget, dedicated volunteers, and committed staff to oversee the care of 50 acres in the middle of Arlington. Youth educational programs are critical to the mission of , but the hallmark work being done is protecting those acres to serve as contiguous and robust habitat for native plants and animals. This means hours of removing non-native species, working through extreme summer heat and being prepared throughout hurricane season; this hidden gem is worth the sweat and muscle ache. The staff at Tree Hill appreciates kind words, positive reviews, and satisfied feedback from teachers …

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park announces a rare occurrence in North America: the hatching of four freshwater Johnston’s crocodiles, Crocodylus johnstoni. The new babies mark the first time the species has hatched at the zoo and only the second time babies of this species were welcomed in North America, with first captive hatch credits going to the Baltimore Aquarium. The four baby crocs and their proud parents, Derek and Bindi, will wait to see if more hatchlings emerge from the remaining eggs in the clutch. “It’s a first for us, very exciting. And we might have one or two more soon. We try not to count our crocs before they hatch. I don’t …

The local retailer will host its Fifth Annual Charity Dog Wash to benefit First Coast No More Homeless Pets. The dog wash will be held at all three Native Sun locations from noon-2 p.m. June 17. Jacksonville dog owners are invited to bring their dogs for a bath, with all proceeds going directly to . Native Sun team members and volunteers from First Coast No More Homeless Pets will be soaping up the dogs with all natural shampoo courtesy of Ark Naturals. Local pet vendors, including Jacksonville’s own Pawfection, will offer samples at the event, and Native Sun will give …