Starting with some art…
I have always found it amusing that the words betta and beta sound so close to each other that, at least to my ear, there is no real difference in how the words sound. Had I been thinking more about this when I created this illustration, I would have spelled beta like betta in the drawing. Either way, it is still some fun wordplay. I hope your week was full of sunshine and dad puns.
Now to the Good News…
The Cascading Effects of Bringing Back Sea Otters
Otter populations along the west coast of North America have long struggled to survive. Hunted to near extinction for their fur pelts, otter populations fell dangerously low, putting them on the endangered species list in the 1970s. Female otters tend not to go far from where they consider home, making them an easy target for hunters. However, because of this imbalance, the sea urchin population has exploded and destroyed kelp forests. Finding ways to restore the otter population will reset this balance and restore the ecosystem to what it should be.
New Zealand becomes first country to ban single-use produce bags at grocery stores
New Zealand has banned single-use plastic bags typically used for produce at the grocery store. Shoppers will have to bring reusable bags to pick out their produce. Honestly, I commend this initiative. When I bring bags to get produce or ask the man at the deli counter to put my lunch meat in a container I brought, they look at me like I have six heads, then tell me they cannot do that. Doing this would reduce unnecessary waste, and more countries should follow New Zealand’s example.
Dolphin Moms Use ‘Baby Talk’ with Their Calves, Research Shows
This story is just adorable proof, in my opinion, that the animal kingdom is full of wonderful surprises and parallels. A study conducted off the Sarasota coast of Florida concluded that Dolphins will adjust the pitch of their voice for their young. This is similar to human mothers who often make baby sounds when talking to their young children.
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Carolyn Sehgal 