It's Marsupial Mammal Monday!

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It's #mammalmonday, so let's take a look at two cool mammals -- one that I've never seen in the wild, and one that ran in front of my car last night (no worries! I've got good brakes -- he's just fine!)

Koalas and possums are both marsupials (photo from worldsmostamazingthings.com)!  Virginia opossums are the only marsupials in North America, and koalas are only found in Australia.  Breeding season for Virginia opossums has begun and they'll have 2 to 3 litters with a total of up to 12 or 13 offspring!   Opossums play an important role in the ecosystem; they're omnivores and are prey for many larger species.  How can you help protect opossums, other than getting your brakes checked?  Don't litter!  Many animals are attracted to road-side trash and they're then killed by cars as they look for a meal.  Also remember that although opossums are great climbers, they like to build nests in hollow trees, logs, and rock piles -- so be sure to leave these areas in your yard!

Who doesn’t love koalas, the tree-climbing spokes-mammal of Quantas Airlines?  Adult koalas eat eucalyptus leaves and have a specially evolved intestinal system to be able to harmlessly digest these leaves and the toxins found in them.   Koala size is a perfect example of an ecological rule called Bergmann’s rule  (individuals of a species are bigger in populations that live in cooler climates, usually closer to the poles); southern koalas weigh between 20 and 30 pounds, while northern koalas weigh closer  to 15 pounds. 

Koalas give birth to just one baby, a “joey”, at a time.  When the joey is born after about 35 days of gestation, it is only about the size of a jelly bean.  It makes its way from the birth canal to the mother’s pouch, where it will live and grow for the next 6 months, drinking milk and “pap” , a substance from the mother’s intestines.  Much like tree kangaroos, the nipple of the mother koala actually swells or bonds to the mouth of the baby so that the two cannot be separated while the joey develops.

Koalas spend A LOT of time sleeping – 18-22 hours per day!

During the early 1900s, koalas were overhunted for their fur.  Today, koalas are considered threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act throughout their range.  Current threats include loss of habitat due to development, car collisions, dog attacks, and disease.  If you’re interested in learning more about koalas, there’s a terrific article in the May 2012 issue of National Geographic Magazine, or in Wildlife Heroes by Scardina and Flocken.

So, koalas are cute and have fascinating evolutionary adaptations – but why should we really care about koala preservation?  According to Wildlife Heroes, “The koala is the symbol of Australia.  It is estimated to be contributing between $1.1 and $2.5 billion dollars annually to Australia’s economy through koala-linked tourism, koala-viewing industry revenue, and purchases of “koalabilia,” which translates into 9,000 jobs for Australians.”  As stated by Deborah Tabart in the same book, “If you cannot save the koala, who does not destroy crops, does not destroy livestock, does not attack – just sits beautifully in a gum tree – then it will be impossible to save any of our nature.  If there is not enough will to save an animal as beloved and harmless as the koala, how can we even begin to address conservation needs for animals like lions and elephants that come into conflict with humans regularly?”

Want to help koala conservation?  Check out the Australia Koala Foundation, the Sunshine Coast Koala Wildlife Rescue, or the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.

Meat-free Friday -- All things asparagus!

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It’s almost asparagus season (photo from vegkitchen.com)!  I love asparagus!  I guess that's my German heritage showing through -- Germans LOVE their asparagus.  They grow white asparagus and have springtime festivals celebrating asparagus.  Germans love asparagus so much, that there's enough information to make a 5 minute video about asparagus:

My favorite way to prepare asparagus is very simple.  First I wash the asparagus, use a potato peeler to peel the stems a little, and snap off the hard ends.  I then place the asparagus on a baking sheet, spray with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and broil at about 450 degrees for about 15 minutes – delicious!

Feeling a little more ambitious?  Then try this recipe for Lemony Vegetable Risotto that I’ve adapted from Family Circle (July 2012):

Ingredients

• 32 oz. vegetable broth
• 1 bag frozen asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces (or the equivalent of fresh asparagus)
• 1 bag frozen peas (or the equivalent of fresh peas)
• 1 tblsp olive oil
• 1 tblsp unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup diced shallots
• 1 cup arborio rice
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 3 tblsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions
1)  Boil the broth and 1/2 cup water.  Add asparagus and peas for about 3 minutes.  Remove veggies with a slotted spoon and set aside, but keep the water/broth.
2)  Heat oil and butter in a large pan, and add shallots, cooking for about 2 minutes.  Stir in the rice and cook for another minute.  Pour in wine and cook until the liquid is almost gone.  
3)  To the rice mixture, add 1/2 cup of the reserved water/broth, stirring well, and cook until the broth is almost gone.  Repeat this step with additional 1/2 cups of water/broth until the rice is tender (it will probably take about 25 minutes).
4)  Stir in lemon juice, parmesan, peas and asparagus.  Enjoy immediately!

Happy Leap Day!

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Happy Leap Day!  Today I'm re-running a post from, you guessed it, 2012 -- it's all about frogs and how we can help conserve these valuable species.

It’s Leap Day, which of course makes me think of one of my favorite animals – frogs!  With over 80 species of frogs and toads in North America and over 4,000 species worldwide (from the Peterson Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians), this is a big group of animals.  Frogs are amphibians, which means that they have moist, glandular skin and their toes don’t have claws.  They also have to live part of their lives in water -- usually to lay eggs.  Here are some more fun facts about frogs and toads:

• Frogs lay their eggs in water; they begin their lives with an aquatic tadpole stage with gills and metamorphose into adults with lungs.
• Frogs don’t have ribcages, so they breath by a “swallowing” action that forces air into the lungs of adult frogs; oxygen can also be absorbed through the frog’s thin, moist skin.
• Hundreds of millions of years ago, amphibians were the first vertebrates to live on land (National Zoo).
• More than 75% of the world’s frogs and toads live in tropical rainforests (National Zoo), but they can also be found in the Arctic Circle and in deserts (Rick Emmer).
• Frogs and toads are ectotherms, which means that they don’t make their own heat to keep warm.  Their body temperature fluctuates with the environment in which they’re found.
• Frogs hibernate in the winter – if they’re aquatic frogs, they hibernate near the surface of the water or near water in mud; if they’re terrestrial frogs they can bury themselves in mud, find cracks in logs, or just hide in leaf litter (Rick Emmer).
• Frogs (as well as other amphibians and reptiles) don’t freeze to death in the winter, because they have anti-freeze (or molecules called cryoprotectants) in their cells!  Specific chemicals prevent the critical cells from freezing, so that the frog can revive as temperatures increase in spring.
• In my neck of the woods (the mid-Atlantic U.S.), one of the first frogs we’ll hear calling is the spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer).  These little guys can come out when it’s still pretty chilly – I’ve been out on spring peeper walks wearing a heavy winter jacket!
• You can identify frogs and toads by their vocalizations, just like birds!

Unfortunately, many frogs are in danger of extinction worldwide.  One-third of all frog species are in danger of extinction due to a fungus commonly called the chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis).  Habitat loss is an even bigger problem for frogs and other amphibians.  Often, frogs are viewed as the “canary in a coalmine” when it comes to the health of various ecosystems.  When we start losing frogs, scientists recommend that we really start paying attention.
So what’s a greenmomster to do?  Locally, be sure to protect frog habitat; the areas where frogs live are often sensitive areas that affect the quality of water.  Is there a new road or housing project being put into your neighborhood?  Have the builders checked for the presence of frogs and other amphibians?  Get busy – maybe this is your chance to “speak for the trees!”  You can also join Frogwatch USA and help with citizen science to keep track of local frogs.  Got a lawn?  Reduce use of pesticides and herbicides that can harm frogs.  Globally, consider supporting organizations involved in frog protection – Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project (for frogs in Panama), Amphibian Ark, or you can even adopt a frog at the World Wildlife Fund.  So many options to help – luckily we’ve got an extra day this year to work on it!

The Three Stooges of Climate Change

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While some issues can be addressed sufficiently at the local level, climate change is not one of those issues.  Climate change must be addressed at the Federal, state, local, and private business levels.  That's why choosing our next president is so important.  That's also why, if you care at all about climate change and your children's future, you should not, not, not vote for Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, or Marco Rubio.  I'm going to let their statements speak for themselves:

Donald Trump on climate change:

1. His official website, www.donaldjtrump.com, includes absolutely no information on his climate change policy.  It does, though, include videos on such important topics as "life changing experiences."
2. He's called climate change a hoax invented by the Chinese. Not just once. Just watch him on FOX. 'nuff said.

Ted Cruz on climate change:

1. His official website, www.TedCruz.org, also includes no information on his climate change policy.
2. Ted Cruz claims that satellites don't show any warming.  Here's the full explanation of why he's cherry-picking the data. The above video demonstrates Ted Cruz's vast scientific knowledge and understanding.

And if that's not enough to move your hand away from the Cruz button in the voting booth, here's a nice little interview with Glenn Beck that should scare the pants off you:

Marco Rubio on climate change:

The good news is that Marco Rubio's official website does mention energy and climate change.  The bad news is his plan, which includes:

1. approving the Keystone XL pipeline
2. opposing any type of cap and trade carbon tax
3. stopping President Obama's carbon mandates
4. not "destroying our economy" with climate change measures -- I'll remember that when we have to buy all of our renewable energy equipment overseas, because our government leaders were rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic rather than dealing with climate change.

OK, so now we're done with the three stooges of climate change.  Let's take a look at the candidates who may actually do something to protect our children's future:  Kasich, Clinton, and Sanders.

John Kasich on climate change:

In keeping with the previous three candidates, the John Kasich official website does not mention climate change.  But hope is not lost!  According to an article by Renee Cho in Scientific American (10/28/2015), 

John Kasich "believes climate change is real and manmade and has called for action against it, but has not said how he would combat climate change if elected.  While he feels renewable energy should be a large part of our future energy mix and encourages research into new technologies, he supports an all-of-the-above energy policy, which includes approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and oil drilling on federal lands.  Kasich opposes the EPA's Clean Power Plan and would undo all federal fracking regulations."  

Not exactly the greenest choice, but if you want to vote Republican and deal with climate change, Kasich is your man.

Hillary Clinton on climate change

Hillary Clinton's official website has an entire page devoted to her plan for tackling climate change.  From her website, Clinton pledges to:

• "Create good-paying jobs by making the United States the clean energy superpower of the 21st century.
• Set national goals to have 500 million solar panels installed; generate enough renewable energy to power every home in America; cut energy waste in homes, schools, and hospitals by a third; and reduce American oil consumption by a third.
• Lead the world in the fight against climate change by bringing greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below what they were in 2005 within the next decade—and keep going."

Elements of the plan include pollution and efficiency standards, help for coal and low-income communities, reforms of leasing on public lands, and cutting methane emissions.

Bernie Sanders on climate change

Bernie Sanders is so into fighting climate change that it's even got a hashtag on his website (#peoplebeforepolluters)!  From his official website:

"The scientists are virtually unanimous that climate change is real, is caused by human activity and is already causing devastating problems in the United States and around the world.  And, they tell us, if we do not act boldly the situation will only become much worse i years to come in terms of drought, floods, extreme storms and acidification of the oceans.  Sadly, we now have a Republican Party that is more concerned about protecting the profits of Exxon, BP and Shell and the coal industry than protecting the planet.  While fossil fuel companies are raking in record profits, climate change ravages our planet and our people -- all because the wealthiest industry in the history of our planet has bribed politicians into ignoring science."

Bernie Sanders definitely doesn't hold back.  His plan includes such steps as:

• accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels
• taking policy control/power back from the oil companies
• revolutionizing our electric and transportation infrastructure

You can read about his plans on the website.

 The take-home:  whether you're republican, democrat, or independent, there's a climate-friendly choice for you in 2016.

Love, Life, and Elephants!

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My son just donated to an elephant sanctuary where elephants from zoos, circuses, etc, are cared for as they age.  His donation reminded me that it's probably time for another post about elephant conservation. The work to protect elephants from poachers and the ivory trade is as active as ever. Greenmomster has hosted several posts about elephant conservation and how you can participate (your help is always needed!).  Here's a great video about Dame Daphne Sheldrick and her elephant conservation program -- if you're interested in learning more, be sure to read her book, Love, Life, and Elephants and check out the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.

Kale Pad Thai

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This week's meat-free Friday gives us a taste of Thailand!  I adapted this recipe for a family of 5 from one I found in a Whole Foods brochure (credit was given to Chrissy Bender, Healthy Eating Specialist in the Mason OH Whole Foods store).  Photo from Nationalgeographic.com.

Ingredients

• 2 cups roasted, salted or unsalted peanuts
• 2 cups Nutritional Yeast (check the bulk foods area of your grocery store)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tbls lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable broth
• 2 tbsp tamari
• 1 1/2 cup water
• pepper to taste
• 4 eggs, scrambled and cut into small pieces
• 2 packages Buckwheat Soba Noodles, cooked
• Handful of kale, chopped and stems removed
• 3 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

Instructions
1) Combine peanuts, yeast, garlic, lemon juice, salt, veggie broth, tamari, water and pepper in a blender.
2)  Toss noodles with the kale, eggs, and tomatoes.  Toss with the sauce.

Urban farming

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Readers of Greenmomster know that our food choices have direct effects on the environment, as well as farm workers.  When we decide to eat less meat, the result is a smaller carbon footprint.  When we eat organic food, we decrease the pesticides used in food production (less exposure for the environment and farm workers), but we also increase the amount of land needed to produce food (decreased wildlife habitat) -- a trade-off that each consumer should consider.

Many of us also enjoy growing some of our own food!  Could the "backyard farmer" movement solve some of our food production problems?  Could we reduce use of fertilizer and water, while producing all the food that's locally needed?  According to a new study from the University of Washington published in the journal Urban Forestry and Urban Greening (reported by Sarah DeWeerdt of Conservation, 1/26/2016), while farming within city limits can produce substantial amounts of food, odds are good that we still need farmlands and lots of them.  Be sure to read the summary of the study.

What's the take-home lesson?  A few important points surface as we look at these results:

1. Greening our cities is an important goal when it comes to decreasing energy costs and cleaning water
2. Farmland preservation is also necessary to sustain an ever-increasing human population
3. Food waste should be kept to a minimum in order to reduce food production environmental impacts.  Check out the Think.Eat.Save website for more info on reducing food waste.