Today’s shout-outs go to Sachi and Phred’s Mom, who adds “You have given me great good feelings over a long time. Thank you.” Very honored, PM; thank you so much.
And now, apropos of nothing in particular, here’s a hamster dog and ducklings in a bathtub, suggested by Murray C. and Deborah B.
Well, now I now I have to post a link to the latest update…
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/team-capybara-hunts-for-furry-fugitives-in-high-park-1.3621677
Okay, whoever wrote that article seriously needs a proofreader.
This whole story needs to be a children’s book!
Could someone please explain to me why MY bathtub doesn’t have capybaras and ducklings in it?
Well, if you were to get in the tub yourself, there would at least be one Duckie in it. Better than nothing. 😉
?
Hahaha
GOOD one.
Hey Duckie –
Do you actually know a lot about ducks? I have a lady duck living in my shrub. Pretty sure she’s incubating some eggs. She’s been there about a week, based on my dog taking an interest in smelling that shrub something fierce starting only last Saturday.
I’m going to be a Grand-Duck-Ma!!
Any advice to make the stay as pleasant/safe as possible?
Sorry, I’m not an expert on ducks in general. I assume that, if she’s still there, babies are pending. Keep doggie away, and once babies are evident, maybe ask SPCA how to get them to safe water?
Oh, and congratulations!
Thanks Duckie!
I’ll never, EVER, get enough of the term “hamster dog”!?
ME TOO!!
You know, some of the animal names we’ve laughed at here are actually literal translations from other languages? “Trash Panda” for raccoon is the actual Chinese. I can’t remember any others right now, but German and Chinese names were the most amusing. I’m sure “hamster dog” is pure internet, though!?
TRASH PANDA rocks!!!!!
Hey Nom Tom – we need more Trash Panda posts! 🙂
I’m playing “I don’t want to go grocery shoppping” so I looked up capybara in German–“water pig”. Squirrel = tree kitten. Squid=ink fish. Apparently animals are named by comparing them to a more common animal, then adding a modifier. Sloth is “lazy animal”.?
In Spanish, sloths are called “osos perezosos” or just “perezosos”, which means, “lazy bears” and “lazies” (plural of lazy), respectively…
LOVE tree kitten for squirrel !!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejuK8_12Fmg
That makes me remember a great video I saw on Youtube about German Animal Names. It had me rolling when I watched it. *watches it again*
This is the site (babbel) where I got some of my info, but it wasn’t in a video. Still don’t get how “ocean pig”= guinea pig, since they don’t spend time in the water, much less frolic in the ocean!
Spikepig! Porcupine. ROFLOL
One of the ducks is Mr Roark and the other one is Tattoo. Tattoo is saying “Boss! Boss! The plane! The plane!”
That’s what popped into my head, too! Nice to know I’m not the only one!
Someone get that capybara a bath pillow!
I volunteer to hold sleppybara’s head whilst he naps. 😉
There’s a Tumblr account called Animals Sitting on Capybaras. They’re just so Zen about it.
Too Funny!
I’ve bookmarked the site. Love the comments: “..this may very well be the most important blog on tumblr.”
Oh, my, really? They probably have a newsletter, too. Tho’ I suppose these days newsletters are passe.
Sort of like effects of global warming when Hamster Dog rolls to the side. Less island.
😀
Huh, typically you see this sort of thing in an African river.
I love the side-eye on the hippo – “Careful where you point that beak, birdie!”
Thought maybe side-eye was for the photographer! And I would totally respect that warning.?
I didn’t know capyb … I mean, hamster dogs ever rolled onto their sides in the water. It kind of negates the whole “eyes, ears and nostrils on the top of the head” thing they have going on. And yes, it definitely was cause for a earthquake alert among the ducklings. It’s a good thing they can, you know, swim well.
On a related topic, is anyone else surprised at how low in the water ducks float? Birds are light — the whole “hollow bones” thing, so they can fly. But a duck’s back is pretty much awash, with just the head and neck sticking up. They’re like feathery icebergs (in terms of how much is above the surface).
So happy to check in here. I shall now go about my day with the image of a peeping feathery iceberg planted in my brain. 🙂
A. I was thinking capy rolled cos he was so happy–like a bunny does? Or, tub not deep enough for preferred submersion level, so he adapted? I read somewhere they need at least 3 feet of water to relax, and poop, in.
B. Never thought about ducks compared to ice bergs, so I watched the vid again–a chore, let me tell ya ?–and you are certainly correct sir! Maybe it’s sort of like humans bobbing along, not sinking due to water density and body density being nearly equal???
You made me THINK this morning!?
Good point about the depth. Too much of him was still sticking out. Three feet, though, really? Wiki says they are 20 to 24 inches tall at the “withers,” which I think is like shoulders. I thought they liked to stand in the water; in 3 feet they’d have to be swimming or floating. Hmm. I’d never thought about this before. Otters swim or float, but I’d always assumed hamster dogs and river horses (aka hippos) mostly walked around in the water because swimming would use up too much energy. But they’d need water exactly the right depth to walk with just their heads above. Hmm. I know they CAN swim, I just never thought of them doing it all the time.
As it’s been awhile since I read about capybaras, so I wanted to check the info, and actually the recommendation is 4 feet! I think anyone who loves capybaras would like this blog
https://capybaraworld.wordpress.com
about the health and emotional needs of capybaras. Very complex. I didn’t realize capybaras are NEVER alone in the wild, and being alone is VERY stressful for them. Makes me wonder about the emotional health of the capybara left behind at the zoo in Toronto? And why the 2 runaways would leave their herd?
I’ve never seen baby waterfowl swimming so low in the water – they usually bob like corks. And these guys’ feathers seem rather sodden – maybe they’re mid-molt from fuzz to feathers?
Hey, the island’s moving again….
Please confirm this is a “Lost” reference ?
LOL, I wasn’t thinking of that, but I love the idea that the Lost crew were just a bunch of ducklings stuck on a giant, chillin’ capybara in an ocean-sized bath tub somewhere.