The Cute Animal Pics/Videos Thread

[Pseudonym]

Ah, you think he was a real bird, but do you have the proof? He could well have been animated. They can do all sorts of things with CGI these days, I even heard a rumour that Gollum was CGI, but clearly that's a lie. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Clearly. But if "my" pheasant was computer generated, then it was done by someone with access to a time machine, 'cause that was back in the 80's.

[Arcadia]

Yup, I've seen pheasants. There used to be one we passed on the school bus on the way home, every day he'd be there, for years, and then one day we went by and he'd been run over and squashed.  :(

 

Good lord. I would read this just as I'm getting ready to settle in for the night.

 

Do you have any jumping spiders in America?

 

We have wolf spiders, they can jump pretty dang well. :( Brrr.

 

Yes, but the only ones I've ever seen are not at all large. They're apparently good predators, but their pretty is far smaller than me.

 

I used to see the occasional ring-necked pheasant (like Arcadia's picture) in the wild area outside my office window. One winter day when the little pond was frozen, there was a male ice-skating across it. No skates, of course, but the identical motions.

 

By the way, Arcadia, did you know that they're not native here? They're actually Asian birds, but have been introduced elsewhere so people can shoot at them.

No, I don't think I did know that. I'm surprised they haven't overrun the place by now.

[Pseudonym]

Clearly. But if "my" pheasant was computer generated, then it was done by someone with access to a time machine, 'cause that was back in the 80's.

As opposed to now when we can animate things in real time in the real world. :p

[T.o.b.y]

I see rats all the time. They seem to be very prolific around here. I don't mind, they usually stay outside and have never gotten into our trash or car. I wouldn't go near a wild rat out of caution but I think the domesticated ones are cute.

 

I used to see pheasants all the time when I lived in the country. Unfortunately, they are pretty dumb and get run over all the time. They will literally just walk in front of your car. My father used to honk several times if he spotted any near the road ahead. And it used to be part of my job as a passenger to point out any wildlife (as well as speed limit signs and other stuff he tended to overlook...).

 

It's going to be hedgehog season around here soon. I'll have to take a walk around the graveyard in the evening, I'm sure to see at least one.

[Pseudonym]

Aw hedgehogs. I see so many squashed on the motorway. I'm not sure I've ever seen a wild one of those in real life either. I used to have a pet pygmy hedgehog though. 

[Arcadia]

Are hedgehogs soft to the touch? They look spiky, I'm not sure why people have them as pets?

 

The pheasants in Washington state must be smarter than the average, I never saw a squashed one. Raccoons, yes. Perhaps raccoons are the American equivalent of hedgehogs?

[Pseudonym]

No very sharp spines, I had one stuck in my leg once. But they are very cute and very funny.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Wikipedia has a close-up photo (below) of just the last 5 mm (1/5 inch) of one of those spines, and zowee, they are really sharp!  However, it also says "Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and unlike the quills of a porcupine, do not easily detach from their bodies."  So your dog isn't gonna come yelping home with a nose full of hedgehog spines.

 

[Pseudonym]

They do shed 'em when they're wandering about which you soon know about when you get one in your foot. The ones that are well socialised will lay them a bit flatter when you hold them so that doesn't hurt too much.

[Carol the Dabbler]

They do shed 'em when they're wandering about which you soon know about when you get one in your foot.

 

My old housemate had hair like that.  Honest -- I got his discards stuck in my toe several times.  Probably not as deeply as a hedgehog spine might go, though.

[Pseudonym]

Please please please tell me you're talking about head hair. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

There you go, taking it to the lowest level again!  :P

 

Yes, of course I was.  His head hair was straight as a stick and very coarse and stiff.  (Other hair doesn't tend to be like that.)

[Pseudonym]

Phew. :D

[Arcadia]

Ahem.
 
On another note: according to Bing, this is International Rabbit Day. So here's a rabbit.

[Pseudonym]

[Carol the Dabbler]

Awww -- that's sweet!

[Pseudonym]

See? I can spread niceness sometimes, not just filth. ;)

[Carol the Dabbler]

So you're putting us off guard -- for what?  <_<

[Pseudonym]

Well I'm not just going to tell you, am I? 

[Pseudonym]

That wiggling butt! :D

 

[Arcadia]

Well wouldn't you wiggle if that big brute had you pinned down? Poor wee thing....

[T.o.b.y]

Doesn't look very brutish to me... I wonder why he's got a t-shirt on?

[Carol the Dabbler]

Odd, I hadn't noticed the shirt.  Too busy watching the kitten, I guess!

[Pseudonym]

LOL! I hadn't noticed the t-shirt either! :D