Innehållsförteckning för May/June 2022 från All Creatures

Twenty-five years ago a curious seal approached me while I was completing an underwater assignment in Point Lobos, California, for a marine ecology class. As I looked up, she firmly yet gently placed her flippers on each side of my face mask and pulled me toward her. Our eyes locked just inches from one another. We were upright and spinning slowly. I was spellbound. Respecting her wildness, I didn’t touch her. After multiple rotations, she let go, giving me a final lingering look as she swam away. I’ll never forget that moment of connection with another of God’s creatures. —Coral Noble, Anchorage, Alaska Share a moment of connection you’ve had with one of God’s creatures (poems and prayers welcome). Send it to allcreatures@guideposts.org…

Not far from the beach in El Granada, California, a small team of artists, led by Jane Kim and Thayer Walker, is designing impressive works at Ink Dwell studio. Their mission is to create art that explores the beauty and complexity of nature by merging classical science illustration techniques with modern fine art. Their public and private commissions, illustrations, paintings and exhibitions are informative, stunning masterpieces that bring awareness and appreciation to Earth’s wondrous creatures. Birds of a Feather Ink Dwell founder Jane Kim paints the Wall of Birds, a 2,500-square-foot mural in Ithaca, New York—the only one in the world to feature all modern families of birds. Bristling with Creativity A combination of new and used tools and supplies allows Ink Dwell artists to bring nature to life, whether…

YOU EXPECT TO hear beeps, buzzes, even shrieks from machines and monitors in a hospital, but not clip-clop, clip-clop. And definitely not a neigh or a whinny. Yet those are common sounds in the hallways of Calais Hospital in northern France. Why? Because towering over the doctors and nurses in white coats and scrubs, you’ll find the sweet chestnut-brown face of Peyo the horse, accompanied by his owner and handler, Hassen Bouchakour. Peyo, a Barb stallion, now 17 years old, didn’t always work under fluorescent lights, surrounded by the smell of antiseptics and those incessant machine alarms. He had a remarkable career in the show ring, where he was accustomed to the roar of applause and the flash of photographers’ bulbs. The competitions and exhibitions, known as dressage, require a…

Retired clergyman Father John cared so tenderly for his livestock in the 1940s, that when he died, the lane by his farm in Lafayette, New Jersey, was named after him. New generations of animal lovers carry on his legacy of compassion through Father John’s Animal House, built on the land he used to oversee. The shelter has been through crises and, at times, faced an uncertain future. But there must be perseverance deep in the soil because shelter director Garret Barcheski and his team are saving hundreds of animals—and they have no plans to stop. Did you have pets growing up? It was always a zoo at my house. Both of my parents are animal lovers, so I grew up with dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, snakes, birds, a chinchilla…

“GOD ALWAYS GIVES YOU what you need when you need it.” Really? Between my demanding days as a preschool teacher and the trials of raising the rambunctious puppy my family had adopted, I had plenty of needs. I could use some help. One morning, I was rushing out to school when the puppy decided it was a great time to chew up one of my socks. “Mickey, no!” I grabbed the sock and held on until Mickey relinquished it. Fortunately, I’d saved it before he did any damage. I forgot about it until my class headed out for recess. It was a cold day, so I reached into my pocket for my gloves. I pulled out the sock instead. A colleague and I had a good laugh. I explained about…

Butterflies are pollinators and natural pest controllers. An important species in the food chain, they are also indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem. Plus, they are fascinating to observe. With a little planning, you can create a lovely flower garden that attracts stunning varieties of butterflies. 1 Research the butterflies found in your area. Which butterflies would you like to observe—monarch? Swallowtail? Look up the local species. Some butterflies will go through their entire life cycle in your area while others may just pass through during migration. 2 Select the right plants. Once you decide which butterflies you hope to attract, determine which plants you’ll need. David Lavender, medical entomologist and wildlife biologist, says, “The best butterfly gardens combine both host plants for caterpillars and nectar sources for adult…

Sarah Austin, a certified wildlife rehabilitator who helps animals at her home in St. Johnsville, New York, has always carefully watched crows. They can be aggressive while protecting their territory, and she’s worried they’ll injure young animals in her care. That’s why she was surprised when a wild crow that she found emaciated and covered in parasites became best buds with Siren, a pygmy goat. After Crow-Crow healed and was released, Sarah noticed him hanging around the roof of the goat house. Siren had a penchant for climbing up there as well. “They would sit on the roof and ‘talk’ to each other,” she says. Crow-Crow also preened his friend, combing through Siren’s hair with his beak. The two remained inseparable for a couple years. Crow-Crow hangs out with other…

LULU WAS TECHNICALLY our daughter’s Vietnamese potbellied pig, but she spent lots of time with us. Ever since I’d had a heart attack 18 months before, I didn’t like being alone, so I was happy to have Lulu around when my husband went fishing. Early on one of those mornings, I felt a familiar pain in my chest. I couldn’t even get to the phone. “Help!” I cried. It was a holiday weekend. Was anyone around? Lulu ran to me, squealing. Then she ran out of the bedroom. Lord, she’s as helpless as I am. After what seemed like an eternity, I heard someone at the door. “Lady, your pig is in the road!” a man called. “I almost ran over her with my truck!” “Call an ambulance!” I cried.…

rock solid THE PARKING LOT where the elementary school once stood became my walking track one summer. The first day I showed up to exercise, I had on my headphones. But all I could hear was incessant barking. Across the street, the most beautiful black Labrador retriever was trying to drown out my music from her yard. She didn’t seem unfriendly; she was just persistent. It took a few weeks, but she settled down and started to quietly observe my workout. I found out from her owner that the Lab’s name was Ashley and she was much older than she looked. Playing with Ashley became part of my daily routine. She preferred fetching rocks over toys. Over time, I could see my canine friend slowing down. One cold February morning,…