Portia Jumping Spider

I was amazed by this jumping spider! This spider lives in Australia, and belongs to a certain family of over 5000 jumping spiders! However, this spider isn't as friendly as the average spider - it eats other spiders! It is amazingly intellingent for a spider. It can problem solve, and even learn 'different languages'. For example, it will go onto another spider's web and tug at the stands in the same way a trapped insect would. When the unfortunate spider comes to investigate, SNAP go the Portia's mandibles, and the spider's body is slowly turned into digestive juices. The Portia will ingest this grusome spider smoothie with delight. But the Portia has more tricks up it's sleeve. Sometimes it will mimmick the 'mating calls' of other spiders. It will tug on the other spider's web in the exact way a male spider of the same species would. When the female comes over, the Portia gets another smoothie. And if that doesn't work, the Portia can always drop down on it's own thread to within striking distance of the prey spider. All in all, this is one AMAZING and smart little spider!! P.S- here is a link to a great video of the spider! http://videos.howstuffworks.com/animals/fooled-by-nature-videos-playlist.htm#video-28357

Wild Turkey

Many southern-Ontario dwellers have seen a wild turkey foraging for food at the side of the road. Wild turkeys are common throughout Ontario and Quebec, not to mention the United States. There are even wild turkeys in Florida, called the Osceola wild turkey. Wild turkeys like to eat in the early morning and late afternoon, and are omnivorous. They are surprisingly agile fliers, despite their size and weight, although they don't like to fly for more than 400 metres at a time. Baby wild turkeys are called poults, and their eggs take about 28 days to hatch. The nest is usually in a shallow depression, shrouded by vegetation. The poults are very cute! The wild turkey was a significant food source to the Native Americans. Turkeys are also a traditional Thanksgiving meal, and, sadly wild turkeys were hunted down so much that they almost disappeared from Canada! Thankfully, in the 20th century, game officials helped to save the wild turkey. It is estimated that about 7 million wild turkeys live throughout Canada and the U.S. today!