Did you know that Koalas, or Koala Bears, are not actually bears as many people believe?!  They’re actually more closely related to kangaroos and wombats!  Check out these 18 fun and interesting facts about koalas & learn something new!

Koalas are only 25 to 35 inches long, and weigh just 30 pounds or less!

A baby koala which has been just born is usually less than 1 inch long.

A new-born koala usually stays inside the mother’s pouch for about six months.

The word koala means “An animal which does not drink”.

A koala mostly eats eucalyptus leaves and hardly drinks any water.

Like the kangaroo, they also have the ability to carry their babies in their pouch.

They actually do not belong to the bear family in any way.

A koala sleeps for around 20 hours a day.

They are not very social animals and usually stay alone.

Every male koala has a scent gland on the chest which they rub on the trees to mark their territories.

Only one baby koala is born per year to a female.

They communicate with each other by making a snore like sound which is followed by a belch.

A fully grown koala can eat approximately 2.2 pounds of leaves in a night.

A new-born cub has no fur on its body and the eyes and ears are also closed. Koalas are mostly found in Australia.

They have different fur type in different areas.

Gumtrees act as both food and place for living for koalas.

A koala gets fully grown in the fourth year of their life.

There are few animals on Earth who work as well together as meerkats. These squirrel-size members of the mongoose family live in groups of different sizes, from as little as three to as big as 50 members. Everyone in the mob participates in gathering food, keeping a look out for predators and taking care of the babies.

While the rest of the mob forages for food, one of the meerkats (or sometimes more), called a sentry, will find a high point, like a termite mound, and perch on its back legs. From here it scans the sky and desert for predators such as eagles, hawks and jackals. A sentry who senses danger will let out a high-pitched squeal, sending the mob scrambling for cover.

Meerkats dig safe places called bolt holes throughout their foraging area, where they can hide in an emergency. But if caught in the open by a predator, a meerkat will try to look fierce, lying on its back and showing its teeth and claws. If a group is confronted, the meerkats will stand together, arching their backs, raising their hair and hissing. This sometimes fools an attacker into thinking they are a single large, vicious animal.

Thankfully, I am NOT referring to the butterball above! I’m talking turkey!!

Female turkeys don’t gobble, but they do purr.

Turkeys are known for the gobbling sound they make, but it turns out that only the male birds make that iconic call. Female turkeys—or hens—on the other hand, will instead cluck like a chicken, yelp if they’re excited or agitated, or purr like a cat (although, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation, it’s more of a “rolling, almost staccato call” than a purr, but it conveys the same feeling of contentment).

Turkeys were once primarily bred for their feathers, not their meat.

These days, farmers breed turkeys in order to sell them for their meat. But, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, up until 1935, the birds were bred for their “beautifully colored plumage,” which features stunning striped patterns.

An adult turkey has around 5,000 to 6,000 feathers.

Not only do turkeys have gorgeous feathers, but they also have a lot of them. According to the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service, an adult turkey has anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 individual feathers on their body.

Male turkeys are called toms or gobblers.

Female turkeys are called hens, just like female chickens; but male turkeys aren’t roosters. Instead, they’re called toms, or, since male turkeys are the ones who make the notorious gobbling sound, they can also be called gobblers.

Toms have more warts than hens.

While some of the differences between male and female turkeys could be considered endearing—such as the noises they make and the names they’ve been given—there’s at least one difference between the two genders that isn’t quite so cute. Tom turkeys have more warts on their heads than their lady friends, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. Hens also weigh about half as much as their male counterparts.

Male and female turkey droppings are shaped differently.

Although you might expect there to be a few differences between the way male and female turkeys look, you might be surprised to find out that there’s also a difference when it comes to their bathroom habits. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, male droppings are “j-shaped,” while those of females take on a more “spiral or curlicue” shape.

Turkeys hear certain sounds better than humans.

When you think about animals with amazing hearing, dogs, elephants, bats, or owls likely come to mind, but probably not turkeys. It turns out, however, turkeys can actually hear far-off and low-frequency sounds better than humans, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation. “Hearing allows the bird to detect a threat if its eyes are occupied on finding food,” retired regional biologist Bob Eriksen for the NWTF explains. “Wild turkeys have an uncanny ability to locate the source of a sound.”

Turkeys lived around 10 million years ago.

The woolly mammoth had its hey-day on Earth until about 10,500 years ago before eventually becoming extinct 4,000 years ago. While it’s hard to imagine a turkey flying above a gigantic woolly mammoth, the birds have actually been around for a lot longer. In fact, turkeys have been on the scene for almost 10 million years, according to the University of Illinois.

Turkeys almost went extinct—twice.

While turkeys aren’t currently an endangered species, there were two points in the past when we almost lost them completely. According to the Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine, the California turkey went extinct about 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, likely due to climate change or overhunting, or a combination of the two. And when European settlers arrived in America, turkeys again found themselves as targets of prolific hunting. The birds were totally gone from Connecticut by 1813, disappeared from Vermont around 1842, and by the 1930s, turkeys were again growing dangerously close to extinction before efforts were taken to make sure they weren’t wiped out.

Turkeys were named after the “Turkish” area despite being from North America.

You might have wondered why turkeys have the name that they do despite the fact that they originated in North America. Encyclopedia Britannica explains that when the bird became popular in England, the name turkey-cock, formerly used for the guinea fowl found in Islamic (or “Turkish”) lands, was used to refer to the bird we know as a turkey today.

All but 12 U.S. states have turkeys.

While people in all 50 states enjoy turkey as a part of their Thanksgiving dinners, the birds, specifically Eastern wild turkeys, can be found roaming wild in 38 states in the U.S., according to the National Wild Turkey Federation. They can also be spotted in various provinces up in Canada.

Turkey beards grow three to five inches per year.

Yes, turkeys have beards, but they aren’t made of hair. Instead, turkey beards consist of modified feathers that form bristles or filaments, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Some turkeys even have multiple beards that can each grow up to three to five inches each year.

Turkeys can—and will—attack humans.

Turkeys may not have the fierce reputation that some fang-gnashing, claw-showing predators have earned, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have an aggressive side. In fact, turkeys are fully willing and able to attack humans. That’s why the Massachusetts government provides tips on how to prevent conflicts with turkeys while both CBS Boston and Good Day Sacramento offer insights into what to do should you find yourself as a victim of a turkey attack.

Store-bought turkeys can’t fly.

The turkey that you buy at the grocery store has been bred and raised to provide you with as much meat as possible. Because of this, they end up with unnaturally large breasts which hinder their ability to fly, according to The Patriot News.

Wild turkeys, however, can soar for over a mile.

Wild turkeys, on the other hand, are perfectly capable of taking flight. In fact, according to The Patriot News, they can reach speeds of up to 55 miles per hour while in the air. And the Pennsylvania Game Commission reports they can soar for a mile or more by alternating between strong wingbeats and gliding.

Turkeys can run 12 miles per hour.

Some turkeys may not be able to fly, but their inability to get airborne doesn’t completely slow them down. Even while on the ground, they can still move at a pretty good clip, running upwards of 12 miles an hour, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Turkeys have more than doubled in size in the last 40 years.

If you’re able to feed your entire family with one turkey at Thanksgiving, that’s due to the fact that the birds have gotten much bigger over the years. As recently as 1980, the typical U.S. domesticated turkey weighed less than 19 pounds at slaughter—not much bigger than a wild turkey, according to the Pew Research Center. But nowadays, the average bird we carve up on Thanksgiving weighs 29.8 pounds, more than twice the average weight nearly 40 years ago.

We eat nearly 50 million turkeys each Thanksgiving.

Around 88 percent of Americans choose the traditional bird for their Thanksgiving meal, which means that around 46 million turkeys are eaten in the U.S. on that one day each year, according to the University of Illinois. It’s also a popular pick for other holidays as well, with 22 million and 19 million eaten each year on Christmas and Easter, respectively.

The average American eats 104.9 pounds of turkey every year.

Along with eating turkeys on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, Americans also enjoy the bird’s meat throughout the rest of the year in sandwiches, soups, and a range of other dishes. And according to 2015 data from U.S. News and World Report, the average U.S. citizen eats nearly 105 pounds of turkey annually.

Nearly 229 million turkeys were produced in the U.S. last year.

There are more than 330 million people in the United States. And in 2019 alone, 229 million turkeys were produced across the country, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. Soon they might overtake us!

The world record for the fastest turkey carving is 3 minutes and 19.47 seconds.

On June 3, 2009, the U.K.’s Paul Kelly set the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to carve a turkey. He was able to successfully butcher the bird in just 3 minutes and 19.47 seconds!

My favorite use for cinnamon is, of course, warm cinnamon buns!  But there are many interesting facts you might not know about cinnamon.

Cinnamon is the aromatic, inner bark of certain bushy, tropical, evergreen trees of the Cinnamomum genus.

It is native to Sri Lanka, the neighboring Malabar Coast of India, and Myanmar (Burma).

Cinnamon has been in use by humans for thousands of years—as early as 2,000 B.C. Egyptians employed it, as well as the related spice cassia, as a perfuming agent during the embalming process.

Evidence suggests it was used throughout the ancient world, and that Arab traders brought it to Europe, where it proved equally popular.

Legend holds that the Roman emperor Nero burned as much as he could find of the precious spice on the funeral pyre of his second wife Poppaea Sabina in A.D. 65 to atone for his role in her death.

In the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder wrote off 350 grams of cinnamon as being equal in value to over five kilograms of silver, about fifteen times the value of silver per weight.

Through the Middle Ages, the source of cinnamon remained a mystery to the Western world.

Cinnamon is a small evergreen tree 33-49 feet tall.

The leaves are ovate-oblong in shape, 3-7 inches long.

The flowers, which are arranged in panicles, have a greenish color, and have a rather disagreeable odor.

The fruit is a purple one-centimeter berry containing a single seed.

When harvesting the spice, the bark and leaves are the primary parts of the plant used.

It is principally employed in cookingas a condiment and flavoring material.

Cinnamon is often used in savory dishes of chicken and lamb.

In the United States, cinnamon and sugar are often used to flavor cereals, bread-based dishes, such as toast, and fruits, especially apples; a cinnamon-sugar mixture is sold separately for such purposes.

Ground cinnamon is composed of around 11% water, 81% carbohydrates, 4% protein, and1%fat.

Cinnamon has a long history of use in traditional medicine.

The health benefits of cinnamon include its ability to help manage diabetes, protect against fungal and bacterial infections, increase brain function, prevent certain cognitive disorders, improve digestion, boost the strength of the immune system.

Cinnamon is a rich source of vitamin K, calcium, and iron, while providing moderate amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc.

Cinnamon constituents include some 80 aromatic compounds, including eugenol found in the oil from leaves or bark of cinnamon trees.

Cinnamon is a popular flavoring in numerous alcoholic beverages and cocktails.

Indonesia and China are world largest producers of cinnamon with 75% of the world’s supply.

The term “cinnamon” also is used to describe its mid-brown color.

In Exodus 30:23-4, Moses is ordered to use both sweet cinnamon (Kinnamon) and cassia (qəṣî`â) together with myrrh, sweet calamus (qənê-bosem, literally cane of fragrance), and olive oil to produce a holy oil to anoint the Ark of the Covenant.

Cinnamon also is mentioned in Proverbs 7:17-18, where the lover’s bed is perfumed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon. Psalm 45:8 mentions the garments of Torah scholars that smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia.

Cinnamon also is alluded to by Herodotus and other classical writers. According to Herodotus, both cinnamon and cassia grow in Arabia, together with incense, myrrh, and ladanum, and are guarded by winged serpents. The phoenix builds its nest from cinnamon and cassia.

Source: https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-cinnamon/

We have had bats in our home while we were building on several occasions—none were pleasant.  In fact, the frequency of their “visits” led me to purchase a fine mesh net on a stick that I call the Bat Catcher.  Hubby’s gotten quite adept with it, while I cower, hair covered, in a corner somewhere.  And while they aren’t the most cute or lovable animals in the world, they do play an important role in the environment. Bats are often considered “keystone species” that are essential to some tropical and desert ecosystems. Without bats’ pollination and seed-dispersing services, local ecosystems could gradually collapse as plants fail to provide food and cover for wildlife species near the base of the food chain.

Consider the great baobab tree of the East African Savannah. It is so critical to the survival of so many wild species that it is often called the “African Tree of Life.” Yet it depends almost exclusively on bats for pollination. Without bats, the Tree of Life could die out, threatening one of our planet’s richest ecosystems.

Read on for more amazing facts!

A small colony of bats can eat over one ton of insects in one year, or more than 600 million bugs. A single bat can eat more than 600 bugs in one hour, which is like a person eating 20 pizzas a night.

According to Bat Conservation International, 150 big brown bats can eat enough cucumber beetles in one summer to save farmers a billion dollars a year. Those beetles would have created 33 million larvae, which are what attack the crops

There are over 1,100 bat species in the world—only rodents have a greater number of species.

Some seeds will not sprout unless they have passed through the digestive tracts of a bat. Additionally, bats spread millions of seeds every year from the ripe fruit they eat. Approximately 95% of the reforestation of the tropical rain forest is a result of seed dispersal from bats

Bats live on every continent except Antarctica. They are found almost as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Argentina and the southern-most tip of South Africa.

Bats are not blind and, in fact, many bats can see quite well; some species can even detect ultraviolet light. They also have excellent echolocation, which means, contrary to urban legend, they would not get tangled in people’s hair. (still gonna cover up my hair, thank you)

Bats can hear frequencies between 20 Hz and 120,000 Hz. Humans can hear between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz. Dogs can hear between 40 Hz and 60,000 Hz.

Bat droppings, called guano, are one of the richest fertilizers. Bat guano was once a big business. Guano was Texas’s largest mineral export before oil! During the U.S. civil war, bat droppings were used to make gunpowder.

Bat wings are made from finger bones covered by thin layers of skin. The wing membranes of a bat make up about 95% of its body surface area. A bat’s wing membrane helps the bat regulate body temperature, blood pressure, water balance, and gas exchange.

A bat uses 30-60 days of stored energy to wake up out of hibernation. That is why it is so important to not disturb hibernating bats.

Bats make up a quarter of all mammals found on earth.

Scientists in several countries are trying to copy the enzymes found in vampire bat saliva to treat heart conditions and stop the effects of strokes in humans.

Bats have an extraordinary long lifespan for their size- they are known to live to around 20 years, and at least one brown bat was documented to have lived 30 years.

Bats can find their food in total darkness. They locate insects by emitting inaudible high-pitched sounds, 10-20 beeps per second and listening to echoes.

More than half of the bat species in the United States are in severe decline or listed as endangered. In addition to loss of habitat, one of the direst threats comes from white nose syndrome, a disease that has decimated bats in the U.S. and Canada. The Nature Conservancy collaborated in a recent breakthrough, successfully treating and releasing infected bats.

Most bats have only one pup a year, making them extremely vulnerable to extinction. Bat mothers can find their babies among thousands or millions of other bats by their unique voices and scents.

The world’s largest bat is the “flying fox” that lives on islands in the South Pacific. It has a wingspan of up to 6 feet. The world’s smallest bat is the bumblebee bat of Thailand, which is smaller than a thumbnail and weighs less than a penny.

More than 300 species of plants depend on bats to survive in many tropical and desert ecosystems. These include plants that humans eat, like the agave used to make tequila, as well as banana, peach, and mango trees.

To survive the winter some species of bat migrate, others hibernate, and yet others go into torpor (regulated hypothermia that can last from a few hours to a few months)

The bat has a very long tongue that it uses for feeding and pollination. When not in use the tongue is wound up around the rib cage.

About five to six liters of blood flow in our body, which supplies our organism with oxygen and other nutrients every second. However, blood is much more than just a red fluid in our body. Human blood does a Herculean effort every day and has a lot of interesting facts to offer. So, it is time to take a closer look at our blood. Here are some incredible facts about blood that you have probably never heard of.

The human heart pumps about one million barrels of blood during an average lifetime. That is enough to fill more than 3 super tankers.

When it becomes extremely hot in Melbourne, the lions in the zoo are given frozen blood.

The average price of one liter of black ink is higher than the price of one liter of human blood.  

It would require 1,200,000 mosquitoes to exsanguinate the blood out of a human.  In Paraguay, pistol dueling is legal as long as both parties are registered blood donors

When Komodo dragons bite their prey, they release a poison that, among other things, inhibits blood clotting. So, if their prey is not killed immediately, the dragons can then track it down and feed on it after it has died from blood loss as well as from the other bacteria contained in the poison.

The vampire bat has an enzyme that prevents its victims’ blood from clotting on wounds. As a result, the victims lose more blood that the vampire bats can then feed on.

In addition to the known blood types of the AB0 system, there is a fourth, very rare variant. It is colloquially called the Bombay blood group, since only about 20,000 people worldwide have this blood group, almost all of whom come from India.

From water depth of 33 feet and more there is no more red light. For this reason, blood looks green at this depth.

Our blood accounts for seven per cent of our body weight.

 James Harrison is a record holder in blood donations. He donated his blood over 1,000 times.

From 1920 onward, Alexander Alexandrovich Bogdanov tried to discover a medical fountain of youth by performing blood transfusions on himself and injecting himself with the blood of younger people. One blood transfusion, however, was contaminated with malaria and tuberculosis, which eventually killed Bogdanov.

On average, it takes about 45 seconds for a single drop of blood to circulate from the heart, all around the body, and back to the heart again.

The word “blood” is mentioned at least once in every Shakespeare piece.

Human blood contains about 0.2 milligrams of gold.

For a long time, it was tradition in Ireland that one liter of Guinness beer was given for each liter of donated blood.

The first successful blood transfusion took place in 1660 and was between two dogs.

The reflex that we automatically lead a small wound to our mouth is an innate protective mechanism. The saliva in our mouth helps the blood to coagulate and kills bacteria.

A newborn has just 234 milliliters of blood in its body.

AB0 isn’t the only blood grouping system. There are currently 39 systems recognized by the International Society of Blood Transfusion.

Saddam Hussein had a Koran, written with his own blood.

Rhnull (rhesus factor zero) is the rarest blood type in the world. So far, only 40 people worldwide are known to have this blood group.

The increased use of the drug “Sumatriptan” can lead to a green coloration of the blood.

The US presidential limousine “The Beast” even contains blood reserves in the president’s blood type.

In Japan, people believe that your blood type affects your personality. For this reason, the Japanese version of Facebook has a drop-down menu for the blood type.

Dr. Karl Landsteiner first identified the major human AB0 blood groups in 1901.

Gnats are especially attracted by people with blood type O.

When donating blood, the human body burns an additional 650 calories.

Adult humans have roughly 20 to 30 trillion red blood cells at any given time, constituting approximately 70% of all cells by number.

Renfield-Syndrome is characterized by an obsession with drinking blood.

A pumping heart can squirt blood as far as 30 ft.

You can lose as much as 1/3 of your blood and still survive.

The human body has about 60,000 miles of blood vessels.

In the time it takes to turn a page, you’ll lose 3 million blood cells and make 3 million more.

Red blood cells live for 4 months.  In that time, they make 75,000 trips to the lungs and back.

The Rh factor in blood occurs more frequently in Europeans (40-45%).

Blood is thicker than water.  Blood has a specific gravity of 1.06.  Water is 1.0.

Identical twins have the same blood type.

Average number of industrial compounds and pollutants found in American blood and urine is 91.

Let’s be honest…no matter how valuable spiders are to our ecosystem…they give me the creeps! {{SHUDDER}} Setting those feelings aside, here are some amazing facts about spiders!

Spiders have blue blood – just like snails and octopuses.

Spider silk is liquid at the beginning and only becomes solid in the air.

Spiders only have muscles to pull their legs inwards. But some spiders do not have the opposite extensor muscles. Therefore, they move them outwards by pumping blood into them.

There are different types of spiders in which the female eats the male before, during or after copulation. The Black Widow is the best-known representative of sexual cannibalism.

Around 35,000 different types of spiders are known worldwide.

The Sydney funnel-web spider’s venom can be used after a stroke to prevent brain damage.

In total, all spiders eat around 800 million tons of prey each year. By contrast, whales only estimate up to 500 million tons of biomass.

Some spiders live together on a web after mating.

Jumping spiders can even see the ultraviolet spectrum. Their highly developed eyes ensure that they can jump from branch to branch without fail.

The water spider (Argyroneta aquatica) spins a dense web out of its silk, which is used as a diving bell.

Antarctica is the only continent where no spiders exist.

 Tidarren sisyphoides is a spider species of the family of tangle web spiders. The females of this species are one hundred times larger than males.

The Goliath birdeater’s bite claws are almost one inch (2.5 centimeters) long.

The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is the most poisonous spider in the world. A dose of just 0.2 grams per kilogram of body weight is fatal to the victim.

New Guinea fishermen use the web of the golden orb-weaver (Nephila) for fishing because it is extremely tear-resistant.

In August 2008, the world’s largest spider web was discovered in Texas. In the Lake Tawakoni nature reserve, it spanned several bushes and trees and was built by around 250 spiders. It measures 180 meters in length.

The Colombian spider Patu digua is the smallest known spider in the world with a body size of up to 0.014 inches (0.37 millimeters).

Annually, more people die from being hit by a champagne cork than from the bite of a venomous spider.

In order to kill a spider, a woman in Kansas burned down her house.

The spider species Caeristris darwini spins the largest webs in the world. Their size can reach more than 30 square feet (2.8 square meters).

A bite of the Brazilian wandering spider can cause men an erection that lasts for hours.

The silk of the spider species Caeristris darwini is the toughest biomaterial in the world – ten times stronger than a comparable strand of Kevlar.

In order to better investigate the effects of a black widow’s poison, the scientist Allan Walker Blair voluntarily let the dangerous spider bite him.

The Huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima) is the largest spider species in the world. Adult males usually have a span of up to 12 inches (30 centimeters). In Australia, a specimen estimated at 15.7 inches (40 centimeters) was discovered in 2017.

The spider species Amaurobius Ferox belongs to the genus of matriphages. This means that the spider female’s children eat their own mother after hatching from their eggs.

Martin Goodman – one of the founders of Marvel – thought Spider-Man was a bad idea because people do not like spiders.

Australia is home to some of the world deadliest animals. You can find the deadliest snake, spider, octopus and fish there. Nevertheless only a few people are killed by that animals and even more people are killed by horses each year than by Australia’s deadliest animals combined.

The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia.

Bolas spiders do not spin webs to catch prey. Instead, they use a long line of silk ended with a spot of sticky glue. It contains pheromones to simulate a potential sexual partner for certain insects. If prey comes too close to the mucus ball, the bola spider moves the silk line to catch the prey animal, much like a fishing line.

The ogre-faced spider has developed a very special hunting technique. It weaves a net between its four front legs and then dangles above places where prey are likely to pass through. If a prey is within range, it throws the net over it extremely fast.

With a leg span of up to 11.8 inches (30 centimeters), the Goliath birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) is the largest tarantula species in the world. It occurs exclusively in the tropical rainforests in northern Brazil, Venezuela, Guiana, and Suriname.

Spiders had a tail 100 million years ago.

There are about 300 species of spiders that can mimic the behavior, appearance or even fragrance of ants. Few of them deceive their prey in this way and then attack them from behind.

The largest jumping spider in the world is almost one inch (2.5 centimeters) long and can skip eight times its body length.

Jumping spiders weave a dense, non-sticky net under which they position themselves to being protected from bad weather like in a tent.

Jumping spiders do not use their silk to build a web, but as a tether when jumping.

Spiders are not insects, but arachnids.

There is only one known type of spider that has no eyes. Sinopoda scurion is a Huntsman spider and was discovered in a cave in Laos where there is no daylight.

Not all spiders have eight eyes. There are also some species that have only six, four or even just two eyes.

The spider species Cebrennus rechenbergi, also called cartwheeling spider, moves partly in a rolling flic-flac movement. It is then twice as fast as with normal movement.

Disclaimer: I need a happy spider picture to cleanse my brain…

The steep mountains and deep valleys of Elk and Cameron Counties make up “Elk Country,” where you can see Pennsylvania’s wild elk herd, now numbering nearly 1,400 majestic creatures. In spring, you can see calves frolicking in wildflower-filled meadows, while in the summer, elks spend their days relaxing in the shade, giving visitors the best viewing opportunities at dawn and dusk. In autumn, you can experience bulls battling for breeding rights during “the rut.” When the snow flies, elk gather in impressive herds, which easily stand out against winter’s backdrop and make for spectacular photos and unforgettable memories.

Elk once freely roamed all over Pennsylvania but the rapid settlement and exploitation by early immigrants threatened the herds. By 1867 there were no more elk in Pennsylvania. Unregulated hunting and habitat loss were the biggest factors of their demise.  In 1913 the Pennsylvania Game Commission began reintroducing elk in Pennsylvania. The elk herd we know today originated from 177 elk that were trapped and transferred to northern areas of Pennsylvania.  The reintroduction of elk took place from 1913 through 1926. The releases in north-central Pennsylvania were successful and the herd now numbers more than 1,400.

Visitors can easily see the majestic elk in areas of Elk and Cameron counties. Considered to be the heart of Pennsylvania elk country, the town of Benezette is located along State Route 555 in Elk County. To reach the public viewing area, start at the Benezette Hotel and travel north along Winslow Hill Road 3.5 miles. Follow the signs to the viewing area. Elk can also be seen along the roadways in the free-roaming herd range located in Elk and Cameron counties. The Moore Hill area in Cameron County is a favored viewing spot of local elk enthusiasts.

Cow elk normally give birth to a single calf in late May or early June. The calves are speckled with spots to complete their natural camouflage. Twins are a rare occurrence and happen less than one percent of the time. Normal gestation period is approximately 8 ½ months. After a short amount of time the cows and their new calves rejoin their family units comprised of cows, their calves and immature yearlings. Most yearling bulls will only grow spike antlers.

The mature bull’s antlers are fully grown by August and they now spend much of their time thrashing trees and shrubs with their antlers. Normal antler growth is up to 6 tines per side. A “royal” bull is one with a total of 12 points. An “imperial” bull has 14 points. September and October mark the mating season for the elk. While the beginning of the rut may vary somewhat from year to year, the unmistakable invitation or bugle of a bull elk can be heard echoing throughout the range. Bugling can be heard primarily during the rut or mating season. It starts as a low bellow and continues as a squealing or whistle. This is followed by several grunts.

The elk form harems of 15 to 20 cows, which are controlled by a mature bull.  The bull has earned his status to lead his harem by fighting off lesser bulls for the opportunity to breed with these cows.  Lesser bulls often mate also, the large bull will contain the group and be the prime breeder.  These harems remain together for the duration of the breeding season.  Cow elk are receptive to breeding for only about an 18-hour period.  If they are not bred successfully, they will have two or three breeding cycles at 21-day intervals.

The elk remain in large groups throughout the winter months.  They must dig through the snow to find grass, twigs and buds.  They will eat the bark off trees and drink from the streams to sustain for the winter.  The bulls shed their antlers around March.  New antlers begin growing almost immediately in early April and full grown by mid-August.

Lemons are not just for lemonade!  They can be used in a variety of places for cleaning and deodorizing, and they even have some medicinal uses you may not be familiar with!

Freshen the Fridge
Remove refrigerator odors with ease. Dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours to absorb odors. Make sure to toss out any stinky items that might be causing the bad smell and improve the effectiveness of the lemon juice.

High Blood Pressure
Squeeze half a lemon into a glass of water and drink three to four times per day to lower your blood pressure. For best results, you can squeeze the lemon into a warm cup of water and drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Drinking the lemon water can reduce the effect of nausea and dizziness.

Prevent Cauliflower from Turning Brown
Cauliflower tends to turn brown with even the slightest cooking. You can make sure the white vegetables stay white by squeezing a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice on them before heating.

Refresh Cutting Boards
No wonder your kitchen cutting board smells! After all, you use it to chop onions, crush garlic, and prepare fish. To get rid of the smell and help sanitize the cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

Respiratory Problems
Lemon water can reduce phlegm; and can also help you breathe properly and aids a person suffering with asthma. The vitamin C in lemons can also help with long-term respiratory disorders.

Prevents Kidney Stones
Regular consumption of lemon juice mixed with water may increase the production of urinary citrate, a chemical in the urine that prevents the formation of crystals that may build up into kidney stones.

Keep Insects Out of the Kitchen
You don’t need insecticides or ant traps to ant-proof your kitchen. Just give it the lemon treatment. First squirt some lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Then squeeze lemon juice into any holes or cracks where the ants are getting in. Finally, scatter small slices of lemon peel around the outdoor entrance. The ants will get the message that they aren’t welcome. Lemons are also effective against roaches and fleas: Simply mix the juice of 4 lemons (along with the rinds) with 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water and wash your floors with it; then watch the fleas and roaches flee. They hate the smell.

Fruit and Vegetable Wash
You never know what kind of pesticides or dirt may be lurking on the skin of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Slice your lemon and squeeze out one tablespoon of lemon juice into your spray bottle. The lemon juice is a natural disinfectant and will leave your fruits and vegetables smelling nice too.

Treat Infections
Lemon water can fight throat infections thanks to its antibacterial property. If salt water does not work for you, try lemon and water for gargling.

Deodorize Your Garbage
If your garbage is beginning to smell yucky, here’s an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon and orange peels and toss them at the base under the bag. To keep it smelling fresh, repeat once every couple of weeks.

Keep Guacamole Green
You’ve been making guacamole all day long for the big party, and you don’t want it to turn brown on top before the guests arrive. The solution: Sprinkle a liberal amount of fresh lemon juice over it and it will stay fresh and green. The flavor of the lemon juice is a natural complement to the avocados in the guacamole. Make the fruit salad hours in advance too. Just squeeze some lemon juice onto the apple slices, and they’ll stay snowy white.

Make Soggy Lettuce Crisp
Don’t toss that soggy lettuce into the garbage. With the help of a little lemon juice you can toss it in a salad instead. Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Then put the soggy lettuce in it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure to dry the leaves completely before putting them into salads or sandwiches.

Oral Health
Lemon juice can relieve pain from toothaches, stop bleeding gums, and eliminate bad odors caused by gum diseases or conditions. Massage lemon juice on bleeding gums or directly onto the area of the toothache. If the acidity from the lemon begins to burn in your mouth, be sure to rinse your gums and mouth quickly with water.

Lighten Age Spots
Why buy expensive creams when you’ve got lemon juice? To lighten liver spots or freckles, try applying lemon juice directly to the area. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin clean. It’s a safe and effective skin-lightening agent.

Create Blonde Highlights
For salon-worthy highlights, add 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Then, sit in the sun until your hair dries. To maximize the effect, repeat once daily for up to a week.

Make a Room Scent/Humidifier
Freshen and moisturize the air in your home on dry winter days. Make your own room scent that also doubles as a humidifier. If you have a wood-burning stove, place an enameled cast-iron pot or bowl on top, fill with water, and add lemon (and/or orange) peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and apple skins. No wood-burning stove? Use your stovetop instead and just simmer the water periodically.

Clean and Whiten Nails
Pamper your hands without a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

Cleanse Your Face
Zap zits naturally by dabbing lemon juice on blackheads to draw them out during the day. You can also wash your face with lemon juice for a natural cleanse and exfoliation. Your skin should improve after several days of treatment. Lemon water is also a cooling agent, best way to beat the heat.

Freshen Your Breath
Make an impromptu mouthwash by rinsing with lemon juice straight from the bottle. Swallow for longer-lasting fresh breath. The citric acid in the juice alters the pH level in your mouth, killing bacteria that causes bad breath. Rinse after a few minutes because long-term exposure to the acid in lemons can harm tooth enamel.

Treat Flaky Dandruff
If itchy, scaly dandruff has you scratching your head, relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just massage two tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir one teaspoon lemon juice into one cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat daily until your dandruff disappears.

Get Rid of Tough Stains on Marble
You probably think of marble as stone, but it is really petrified calcium (also known as old seashells). That explains why it is so porous and easily stained and damaged. Those stains can be hard to remove. If washing won’t remove a stubborn stain, try this: Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh into some table salt, and rub it vigorously on the stain. But do this only as a last resort; acid can damage marble. Rinse well.

Remove Berry Stains
It sure was fun to pick your own berries, but now your fingers are stained with berry juice that won’t come off no matter how much you scrub with soap and water. Try washing your hands with undiluted lemon juice, then wait a few minutes and wash with warm, soapy water. Repeat until your hands are stain-free.

Soften Dry, Scaly Elbows
Itchy elbows are bad enough, but they look terrible too. For better looking (and feeling) elbows, mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste, then rub it into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment. Rinse your extremities in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, then massage with olive oil and dab dry with a soft cloth.

Headaches
Lemon juice with a few teaspoons of hot tea added is the treatment of a sophisticated New York bartender, for those who suffer with hangover headaches–and from headaches due to many other causes. He converts his customers to this regimen, and weans them away from drug remedies completely.

Disinfect Cuts and Scrapes
Stop bleeding and disinfect minor cuts and scrapes by pouring a few drops of lemon juice directly on the cut. You can also apply the juice with a cotton ball and hold firmly in place for one minute.

Soothe Poison Ivy Rash
You won’t need an ocean of calamine lotion the next time poison ivy comes a-creeping. Just apply lemon juice directly to the affected area to soothe itching and alleviate the rash.

Remove Warts
You’ve tried countless remedies to banish warts and nothing seems to work. Next time, apply a dab of lemon juice directly to the wart using a cotton swab. Repeat for several days until the acids in the lemon juice dissolve the wart completely.

Bleach Delicate Fabrics
Avoid additional bleach stains by swapping ordinary household chlorine bleach with lemon juice, which is milder but no less effective. Soak your delicates in a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda for at least half an hour before washing.

Clean Tarnished Brass and Polish Chrome
Say good-bye to tarnish on brass, copper, or stainless steel. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute baking soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Let it stay on for 5 minutes. Then wash in warm water, rinse, and polish dry. Use the same mixture to clean metal kitchen sinks too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, and rinse. Get rid of mineral deposits and polish chrome faucets and other tarnished chrome. Simply rub lemon rind over the chrome and watch it shine! Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

Boost Laundry Detergent
For more powerful cleaning action, pour 1 cup lemon juice into the washer during the wash cycle. The natural bleaching action of the juice will zap stains and remove rust and mineral discolorations from cotton T-shirts and briefs and will leave your clothes smelling fresh. Your clothes will turn out brighter and also come out smelling lemon-fresh.

Eliminate Fireplace Odor
There’s nothing cozier on a cold winter night than a warm fire burning in the fireplace, unless the fire happens to smell horrible. Next time you have a fire that sends a stench into the room, try throwing a few lemon peels into the flames. You can also burn some lemon peels along with your firewood as a preventive measure.

Neutralize Cat-Box Odor
You don’t have to use an aerosol spray to neutralize foul-smelling cat-box odors or freshen the air in your bathroom. Just cut a couple of lemons in half. Then place them, cut side up, in a dish in the room, and the air will soon smell lemon-fresh.

Deodorize a Humidifier
When your humidifier starts to smell funky, deodorize it with ease: Just pour 3 or 4 teaspoons lemon juice into the water. It will not only remove the off odor but will replace it with a lemon-fresh fragrance. Repeat every couple of weeks to keep the odor from returning.