Omer 2019 Day 42: Cheetahs (again)

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Omer 2019 Day 42: Malchut in Yesod, Leadership in Connection

Cheetahs (again)

Image by sharonjoy17 from Pixabay

Although we've already done cheetahs, male cheetahs in particular have a unique style of leadership. While technically they are still considered a "solitary" cat (the only truly social cat is the lion), male cheetahs will form coalitions with brothers or other solitary males nearby. As they establish their territory, they are believed to share and rotate the responsibility of maintaining and protecting their territory among themselves, and even split up mating rights with females nearby. They will also split up or share hunting responsibilities, sometimes working together to bring down a larger prey species, or will hunt and bring back food in sequence.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 41: Honeybees

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Omer 2019 Day 41: Yesod in Yesod, Foundation in Connection
Honeybees

Image by cocoparisienne from Pixabay

Fun Erin fact: When I was little, maybe four or five, I made up a song about honeybees that my parents recorded (on VHS). I am sitting in my pajamas on the floor of our front room in December, waving my hand through the air with my thumb and forefinger pinched together, singing, "Buzz, buzz, buzz. Buzz, buzz, buzz. Ouch! It stung me!"

Stinging aside, honeybees are an important part of our ecosystem. They pollinate plants to help them grow and make delicious honey for us to eat! Each bee has a role (queen, worker, or drone) and they work together to build and maintain their colony. Japanese honey bees have even developed a way to protect their colony against invasive Japanese giant hornets by surrounding the hornet in a massive ball of bees, overwhelming it with their own body heat until it dies.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 40: Flamingos

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Omer 2019 Day 40: Hod in Yesod, Glory in Connection

Pink Flamingos

Today is Pink Flamingo Day. Flamingos live in large groups, called a flamboyance, and I'm not sure how much more glorious you can get than a mass of large pink birds called a flamboyance.

Their flocks are made up of thousands of birds. Like starlings, flamingos find protection in numbers - when threatened, they all move in one fluid motion to find safety. The group also allows birds to mate - they do a series of group mating dances, and when they find a mate, they are monogamous and both parents care for their child.

Photo by zoosnow from Pexels

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 39: Naked Mole Rats

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Omer 2019 Day 39: Netzach in Yesod, Endurance in Connection

Naked Mole Rats

I was first introduced to naked mole rats through the Disney television show, Kim Possible, which featured a naked mole rat named Rufus as a pet/sidekick. Rufus was cuter than real-life naked mole rats, as is often the case with cartoon adaptations of animals. Still, naked mole rats are fascinating. Hairless and thin-skinned, naked mole rats cannot maintain their own body temperature; they huddle in their large family colonies to share body heat. Naked mole rats are the longest-living rodents in the world with a lifespan up to 30 years.

Can't get enough of the naked mole rat? Check out the Smithsonian National Zoo's Naked Mole Rat Cam!

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 38: Starlings

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Omer 2019 Day 38: Tiferet in Yesod, Beauty in Connection
Starlings

Starlings are not the most beloved bird. They were brought to America from Europe in the 1890s and now they are everywhere. This invasive species can crowd out native birds, and has been known to damage crops.

But we're going to overlook that today, because when they swarm together they create these incredible shapes that are beautiful to watch. Maybe you've seen a small group of them, or maybe you've seen a "murmuration" of thousands, but if you've ever see a flock of starlings swarm together around dusk, there's a good chance your gaze lingered for an extra moment.

They are not just dancing for our enjoyment; traveling in this large group (thousands of birds) provides the whole flock protection from predators, as they are all on alert for danger and twist and turn unpredictably.  Starlings are highly gregarious birds and there are several populations of them in the MD/DC/VA area that Halli has seen. They fly together with such close connection that when one bird changes direction for whatever reason, the birds next to it emulate its movements almost simultaneously, causing the entire group to move together and often looking like a single, massive, cloud-like organism in the sky. It's a beautiful and impressive sight to behold, and perfectly fits tonight's sephirot of beauty in connection.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 37: Capuchin Monkeys

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Omer 2019 Day 37: Gevurah in Yesod, Justice in Connection
Capuchin Monkeys

Capuchin monkeys and some other social animals have been found to dislike inequality. In a study of Capuchin monkeys, two monkeys were rewarded for completing a task with a piece of cucumber, which they both happily ate. Then, the researchers started to give one monkey grapes (which are better). The monkey that still received cucumbers for its work rejected the treat. In some cases, the monkey that received grapes also refused the grapes if it saw that its friend wasn't getting the same reward.

This behavior can be attributed to the monkey's collaborative nature - they often have to work together to get things done. To receive different payment for the same work would breed resentment that could hamper those important relationships.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 36: Unlikely Animal Friends

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Omer 2019 Day 36: Chesed in Yesod, Loving-Kindness in Connection
Unlikely Animal Friends

Halli never tires of watching new episodes of "Unlikely Animal Friends" on National Geographic. In this program, friends of all shapes and sizes - literally - are showcased not just for their uniqueness, but for the incredible bonds that they share.

In one case, a great dane cares for a fawn (baby deer) as if it were her own puppy, then after being nursed back to health and released the deer comes back regularly to frolic with her caregiver and friend. She even brings her own fawn back to meet the lovable hound. In another case, a blind horse and an old goat become friends at a rescue farm, and not only do these two pals do everything together, the goat actually leads the horse to the best place to graze and munch on fresh grass. You could say that the goat gets the best grass too by doing this, but you'd be wrong: the goat never deviates from his task of walking precisely in front of his equine friend, waits patiently (and without distraction) for the horse to be done eating, and then leads him right back to his stable when he's ready. There are countless other stories like this: an orangutan and his pet pointer (dog), a cheetah and his yellow lab friend, a giraffe and an ostrich, a dog and an owl, ducks, cats, chickens, lions, dolphins... the list goes on and on, and with each new episode that this show airs, I am continually left speechless by the connection and loving-kindness that these animals display toward each other. Whenever you think that we humans are alone in that one thing that makes us human, mother nature waits stealthily around the corner for the next opportunity to prove us wrong.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 35: African Wild Dogs

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Omer 2019 Day 35: Malchut in Hod, Leadership in Glory

African Wild Dogs

It should come as no surprise that today's sephirot are being represented by a member of the canine (dog) family. The African Wild Dog, also called the Painted Dog because of their beautiful and unique markings, live in large packs comprised of dozens of individuals that are the very definition of leadership and cooperation. The pack is dominated by a monogomous breeding pair (Halli would be happy to tell you more about how rare that actually is another time), and the female gives birth to up to 20 pups at a time. These pups are cared for cooperatively by other adults in the pack, and yet another cohort of adults are responsible for bringing home the brisket. The hunting strategies that these intelligent animals carry out successfully are truly glorious, and the leadership that is required for coordinating such complicated efforts is really incredible. And just think: they do it all without cell phones or walkie talkies!

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 34: Turtles

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Omer 2019 Day 34: Yesod in Hod, Foundation in Glory

International Turtle Day

Photo by laura parenti from Pexels

A few weeks ago, a very large turtle was spotted roaming around the parking lot outside my house. We live next to a golf course, so I have to imagine that the turtle lives in one of the ponds and wandered off the course. A couple of our neighbors spent their morning putting notes on car windshields to alert people to the turtle's presence, and by the end of the day, it had wandered away again.

Today is International Turtle Day and if you're wondering why they get their own day, let me tell you that turtles are amazing animals (and not just the teenage mutant ninja variety)! The first turtles can be dated back to the Mesozoic Era, 220 million years ago. Talk about an established foundation! Not only have turtles been around as a species for a long time, they have long lifespans too - some can live to be over 100 years old! Turtles are pretty glorious from the moment they're born. Female turtles lay eggs on land and leave them to gestate and hatch on their own; they do not watch their nest or come back to care for their little ones (the brown turtle, pictured above, is the exception to this rule). Once hatched, baby turtles are on their own, and they quickly learn how to feed and care for themselves.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 33: Cheetahs

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Omer 2019 Day 33 (Lag B'Omer): Hod in Hod, Glory in Humility
Cheetahs
We've all seen it: the heart-stopping video footage of a cheetah sprinting after an impala through the thick savanna shrubbery. The impala zigs and zags. The cheetah maneuvers effortlessly in its path. Her eyes are laser focused on her prey, her tail wildly counterbalances every turn she makes to keep her upright. The characteristic teardrop markings on her face make her immediately recognizable to kids and adults alike, almost all of whom are quick to remember that this remarkable cat is the earth's fastest land animal, reaching speeds of up to 75 miles per hour and accelerating to 60 miles per hour in 3 seconds and only 3 strides. A master of speed, the cheetah is certainly a glorious animal to behold.

But she is also a demonstration of humility. After expending all of her energy in her quest for dinner, she will almost always freely give it over to a larger, more intimidating predator who threatens to take it from her, for fear of being injured and ruining her livelihood (her athleticism). Despite being classified as a "big cat," cheetahs tend to be the most docile and least confrontational of the big cat species, and they seem to be well-aware that their slight stature makes them vulnerable to injury. Additionally, a cheetah will never use her talents for show. While we may daydream of what it must be like to be able to cross a football field in a matter of seconds, cheetahs do not actually travel at warp speed. It takes such a great deal of resources to be able to reach these top speeds and accelerations, that cheetahs will often err on the side of being highly discerning when it comes to using their speed as a tool, and will even relinquish an opportunity for a meal if it means conserving strength and resources for a hunt that is more likely to be successful. And, while it may not be a mark of humility, the cheetah's call does not exactly inspire one to think of "glory" in the same way a lion's roar might. Cheetahs are the only large cat that cannot roar, which is part of why they are scientifically categorized in a different genus (remember learning classifications in high school?) than lions, tigers, leopards, etc., who are classified in the genus Panthera. Cheetahs are an incredible demonstration of adaptive genius from head to toe, but they certainly could be described as having more humility than any other cat on the planet.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 32: Cuttlefish

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Omer 2019 Day 32: Netzach in Hod, Endurance/Victory in Humility
Cuttlefish (sneaker males)
Cuttlefish (which are just as cute as they sound) emerge victorious in mating competitions by being humble. As with many animals that compete for a female's choice, it is no surprise that the largest males with the most elaborate color displays are often chosen by females. And even if they aren't chosen, they will often exhibit a behavior called "mate guarding" which is exactly what it sounds like. The macho-est cuttlefish will keep a close eye on the females that he wants to court, and will run off any other males that try to stake their claim. Enter the "sneaker male." While the larger, obvious males are putting on a show (link), sneaker males are smaller, unassuming, and tend to look like females. They inch their way closer and closer, often without notice, until they're finally close enough to court and mate with the female - right under the larger male's... tentacles! Both endurance and humility (however you want to interpret "netzach") are key to this male's strategy to keep his genes circulating.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 31: Peacock

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Omer 2019 Day 31: Tiferet in Hod, Beauty in Humility
Peacocks

Photo by Ricardo Frantz on Unsplash

The peacock is a prime example of a bird that sacrifices safety for plumage. Their tails are huge, take a ton of energy to produce, and significantly hinder them from being able to flee predators. At first glance this seems more like arrogance, but in reality the males that invest in the "risk" of beauty also get the reward of siring offspring because females choose these males over duller, smaller males.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 30: Bald Eagle

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Omer 2019 Day 30: Gevurah in Hod, Strength in Glory/Humility

Bald Eagles

We like bald eagles because they look majestic, and they soar high, and their gaze is intense. They've become a symbol of strength, patriotism, and independence in our country.

However, they are not solely predators (they also scavenge) which is a less-than-desirable trait in a mascot I suppose, their calls/vocalizations are actually kind of wimpy sounding, and intelligence-wise they are certainly not the brightest of our feathered friends.

Fun fact: Benjamin Franklin advocated for the turkey to be our national bird because of its intelligence, but nobody liked the way it looked.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 29: Avian Courtship

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Omer 2019 Day 29: Chesed in Hod, Love in Glory
Avian Courtship
There is no animal that demonstrates love in glory quite like birds. While there are many different species that vary considerably in almost every way, one thing is consistent: there is no measure that is too glorious when it comes to matters of the heart (... pardon the anthropomorphisms).

Mannekins demonstrate elaborate courtship rituals that range from spectacular dances that are seemingly pulled straight from the King of Pop's choreography.

Birds of paradise have plumage that makes even the most flamboyant hat ladies look dull, and lyrebirds vocal calls mimic others and range in complexity.

Male birds can be truly glorious, and it's all in the name of winning over a special female (or really, any female who will choose him).

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 28: Endangered Species Day

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Omer 2019 Day 28: Malchut in Netzach, Leadership in Endurance

Endangered Species Day

Halli has a professional crush on David Attenborough. If you don't know him, watch his top 10 moments:

He is a naturalist and long-time broadcaster for the BBC. His wildlife documentary series include Life on Earth, Saving Planet Earth, Blue Planet, and Our Planet (which lived at the top of my Netflix for a while). He is an outspoken advocate for wildlife conservation. At Davos, the annual economic forum in Switzerland, in January, Attenborough gave a speech entitled "The Garden of Eden is No More." He said,

"The only conditions modern humans have ever known are changing and changing fast. It is tempting and understandable to ignore the evidence and carry on as usual or to be filled with doom and gloom. But there is also a vast potential for what we might do."

Change takes leadership. We need a positive vision of what we are trying to save and how we can do it. Attenborough's work introducing the world to little-known species and advocating for endangered species and our planet's climate, is the kind of leadership to which we should all aspire. Find something you are passionate about, maintain that passion into your 90s, and speak with an enthusiasm that engages those around you.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Hear more from David Attenborough:

Omer 2019 Day 27: Walruses

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Omer 2019 Day 27: Yesod in Netzach, Foundation in Victory

Walruses

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

Walruses in the wild are typically long-lived - up to 30 years! This is because they have few natural predators (only the bravest of orcas or polar bears are willing to risk being on the receiving end of those tusks). This also means that adults are not usually sexually mature until around 10 (females) or 15 (males). Because of their extensive lifespans, younger males sometimes wait even longer before they can contribute to the gene pool: in competition for breeding rights, younger, inexperienced males are no match for the larger, more experienced males who've been around the block a few times. Therefore, the founding fathers (literally) of a walrus herd are those males that emerge victorious in dangerous battles, and the younger ones must wait their turn.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 26: Wolves

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Omer 2019 Day 26: Hod in Netzach, Glory/Humility in Endurance
Wolves

Wolves will take the "humble" approach of hunting an animal by wearing them out through endurance. They know they can't beat elk or bison in speed or strength, but they have the endurance to out-run them in distance, so they keep pressing until they exhaust their prey.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 25: Komodo Dragons

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Omer 2019 Day 25: Netzach in Netzach, Endurance in Endurance
Komodo Dragons

Image by janwinkler from Pixabay

While a bit morbid, today's featured animal exhibits an extreme form of endurance in how they hunt and kill their prey. Komodo dragons were once thought to just be large, non-venomous lizards that ruled their island using brute force. However, in recent years, it has been discovered that these modern-day dinosaurs actually secrete a venomous protein in their saliva. Unlike cobras, who inject their venom into their prey and are rewarded with a tasty meal in just a few hours, Komodo dragon venom enters their victims through bite-wounds that the lizard must inflict. And then they wait. And wait. And wait some more. Then finally, the effects of the slow-acting venom that was oozed into the inflicted wound become too much to endure, the animal collapses, and the dragons feast.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 24: Bonobos

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Omer 2019 Day 24: Tiferet in Netzach, Compassion in Victory

Bonobos

How do we show compassion in victory, suppress our urge to gloat, and not go in for the kill? Today, we can take a lesson on compassion in victory from bonobos.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Primatologist Frans de Waal says, "Whereas in most primates reconciliation after a fight is typically sought by the subordinate party, in bonobos it is the dominant animal that seeks to make amends, especially if he has inflicted an injury. He may return to his victim and unerringly reach for the exact same toe that he has bitten and carefully inspect the damage. He obviously knows precisely what he has done and where. Then he spends half an hour or more licking and cleaning the wound that he himself inflicted."

Don't be afraid to make the first move toward reconciliation after a fight, especially if you "won" the argument. Showing compassion instead of gloating can bring healing and spare the other party further embarrassment.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 23: Monarch Butterflies

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Omer 2019 Day 23: Gevurah in Netzach, Strength in Endurance

Monarch Butterflies

Monarch butterfly at the US Botanic Garden, Summer 2014.
I named her Ruth. I don't remember why.

When we think of "strength" and "endurance," we don't often think of butterflies. Often, these delicate creatures are associated with positive change, beauty, and grace, but what you may not know is that monarch butterflies exhibit a tremendous amount of strength and endurance in their multi-generational migration events.

In the fall, adult monarch butterflies begin a migration of up to 3,000 miles south to avoid the cold, harsh winters of North America. Individuals in the central and eastern US migrate southwest to central Mexico, and butterflies in the western US migrate to California. Once they reach their "overwintering" grounds, adults enter a reproductive diapause - a period of time where reproduction stops - and focus on surviving the winter by staying in a state similar to hibernation. At the end of winter, in late-February or early-March, breeding season begins and the adults begin to travel north again, laying eggs along the way. This generation dies around mid-May, and the next generation takes over, also moving northward and laying eggs. This repeats for up to 4 generations, with the final generation born in the most northern parts of monarch territory, then following seasonal cues to migrate south as autumn approaches.

Not only are these incredible insects strong enough to endure a trans-continental migration every year, but the individuals that do it are not the same ones that did it the year before! Pretty crazy, huh?

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 22: Blue Whales

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Omer 2019 Day 22: Chesed in Netzach, Love in Endurance

Blue Whales

Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash

Blue whales migrate across the globe to give birth to their young in a safe, hospitable environment. However, moms then have to migrate back to the nutrient-rich parts of the ocean, which means they're traveling (1) alone, (2) with an infant, and (3) without any food along the way, all in the name of love for their offspring.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 21: Canadian Geese

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Omer 2019 Day 21: Malchut in Tiferet, Leadership in Beauty

Canadian Geese

Image by Manfred Antranias Zimmer from Pixabay

If you live in North America, there's a decent chance that you've seen the characteristic V-shaped formations of Canadian geese that streak across the sky during the autumn and spring months. As most people know, these animals migrate south to avoid the harsh northern winters, then they return north as temperatures begin to rise in the south. If you're into physics, you've probably guessed that this characteristic flight strategy minimizes wind resistance and maximizes flying efficiency. (If you've ever seen the movie The Mighty Ducks, you'll recognize it as a winning hockey strategy too). But what you may not know is that typically it is the younger geese that lead the way. Older geese fly toward the back of the flock, with the younger geese toward the front, to teach their offspring how to find their way. This beautiful act of leadership can teach us that it's not always about showcasing your knowledge, but rather acknowledging the value of teaching others how to find their way.

But make no mistake: geese are not saintly leaders. All that honking you hear overhead? That's grandma goose insisting that "had we just stopped and asked for directions, we wouldn't be driving in circles, and still might be able to make the all-you-can eat buffet!"

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 20: Pets

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Omer 2019 Day 20: Yesod in Tiferet, Connection in Compassion

Pets

Photo by Lum3n.com from Pexels

Whether you identify as a dog-person, a cat-person, a fish-person, or maybe you're a tarantula-person, pets are one of the most visible ways that we as humans connect with non-human animals. For one reason or another, these animals pull on our heartstrings, and the emotions we feel toward our pets is often intense. We open our doors to them, our kitchens, our backyards, and even our bedrooms. We feel connected to them when we see ourselves reflected in their everyday activities, in their goofy playfulness, in their quiet thoughtfulness, or in their tenacity to get what they want. We are compassionate to their needs, and spend our time and resources providing for them in ways that a parent would spend for their children.

The idea of keeping "pets" originally evolved out of necessity and mutual benefit. It is believed that wolves began to gather on the outskirts of human encampments to make use of our discarded food scraps. Then, as humans realized that we could use these animals to make our hunting efforts more efficient, we incentivized wolves to hang around. Eventually, we were able to gain their trust, keep them in our homes, and bring specific individuals together to make breeding/selection decisions to bring about traits that were favorable to us, like loyalty (think: golden retrievers), tenacity (think: terriers), defensiveness (think: great danes), or watchfulness (think: sheepdogs). Fast-forwarding to today's labradoodles or puggles, we still maintain a connection with our pets through caring, and also maybe a self-serving, compassion.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 19: National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

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Omer 2019 Day 19: Hod in Tiferet, Glory/Humility in Balance
National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay

If you have a pet, today is the day to make sure you have a disaster plan that takes care of your whole family, including your pets. Ready.gov has tips to get you started. National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day recognizes that the middle of a disaster is not the time to trust yourself to be clear-headed. Instead, prepare beforehand, so that when you have to get up and go, you know what to do with your pet.

Looking beyond immediate family, in the realm of wildlife conservation, the question of how to best put our resources to use arises often. Who needs our help the most? Where will our dollars do the most good? Is it best to focus on one species, or should we focus on restoring the ecosystem as a whole? Can any real change be made without the help of policy-makers? Which ecosystems are most likely to benefit? Often, the idealist in all of us tends to gravitate toward helping the most glorious, charismatic animals like pandas or elephants. But there is also glory in balance, and in recognizing that even the toughest, most independent-living creatures require a complex network of other organisms to thrive. Whether we choose to focus on saving the rain forest or cleaning up our local riverbeds, any efforts we make toward reducing the human impact on natural ecosystems - big or small, global or local - is an important step toward being a responsible citizen of our planet.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 18: Ocean Quahog Clams

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Omer 2019 Day 18: Netzach in Tiferet, Eternity in Beauty
Ocean Quahog Clams

Sometimes, the most beautiful things are also the most unassuming. The world's oldest known living animal, an ocean quahog clam named "Ming" for the Chinese dynasty in power at its origin, was discovered in 2013. Unfortunately, the best way to gauge the age of these animals is to measure the rings of it's shells' hinge, which results in the death of the mollusk inside. Because Ming was so old, the rings were too close together to count accurately and after counting the rings on the outside of the shell, it was determined that Ming was an astounding 507 years old, and still in good health at its time of death. Given the quiet, enduring nature of these animals, it is entirely possible that other quahog clams exist that are just as old as Ming, or maybe older.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!

Omer 2019 Day 17: Manatees

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Omer 2019 Day 17: Tiferet in Tiferet, Beauty in Compassion
Manatees

I've always liked manatees, even though they're known as the sea cow (because they eat mostly aquatic grasses). I read an article in Zoobooks (remember how amazing Zoobooks were?) when I was younger about how manatees were always getting run over by speed boats, and it made me really sympathetic to them. As mammals, manatees breathe oxygen from the air, and must come to the surface periodically to breathe. The fact that they dwell in relatively shallow water, are not particularly agile or fast-moving, and can be difficult to discern from above, makes these animals are particularly vulnerable to injury by human activity. It is often said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," which is obviously true as these gentle giants are often associated with mermaid folklore. In fact, Christopher Columbus thought he saw three mermaids near his ship as he sailed the ocean blue, but it was actually the first recorded sighting of a manatee.

This year's animal Omer is a collaboration between myself and my friend Halli, a PhD in animal science. Thank you for counting the Omer with us!