Friday, August 23, 2019

The Fennec Fox, Intriguing and Exotic



The very social fennec fox makes its home in colonies of up to ten throughout the Sahara Desert and east to Sinai and Arabia. Weighing in at 1.5 to 3.5 pounds, this petite little canid is from 9 to 16 inches long with an additional tail length of 7 to 12 inches.



Photo:  A-Z Animals
Yvonne N


Having adapted to life in the desert, the fennec fox has the longest ears of any fox. Tiny blood vessels in their ears run close to the surface of the skin allowing the outside air to cool the blood and reduce body temperature. These bat-like ears can grow from 3.9 to 5.9 inches in length and also provide sensitive hearing to detect prey.



Photo:  A-Z Animals
Millie Bond


Their lightly colored fur provides great insulation and the color reflects the sun to slow body temperature both cold and hot. A thick coating of fur on the bottom of their feet protects the surface from the scorching sand while providing an additional grip on soft sand.



Photo:  Floridapfe/Getty Images
via The Spruce Pets


Being highly social, family groups can be comprised of up to ten individuals, and there have been instances of complex dens providing housing for multiple families.



Smithsonian's National Zoo


Dens are dug with their long, sharp, curved claws, providing multiple entrances and chambers often near established vegetation and root systems. These underground communities are referred to as a skulk or a leash, and provide each individual mating pair with their own living area. Lining their own burrows with soft materials, including fur and feathers, provide comfort and warmth while sleeping during the day.



Photo:  San Diego Zoo


Diet includes grasses, root, berries, and fruit. Being nocturnal, the night is often spent hunting also for insects, small reptiles, and rodents both in and on the sand to add to their dining pleasure.



Photo:  A-Z Animals
Millie Bond



Fennec foxes can be kept as pets but require educated and responsible owners to provide the necessary diet, environment, and protection.



Sources:






Friday, August 9, 2019

Tommy Craggs Artist/Wood Sculptor of Dead Trees





Castle Dragons
Visit this link to view all sides of Castle Dragons.


During 2012, sophisticated sculptures were discovered in a wooded area around Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, UK, but the creator of these unsigned massive works remained a mystery. After a visit by the BBC to the owner of the publically-accessible private property where the statues were in residence, it was discovered that the works had been commissioned from Tommy Craggs, and the mystery was solved.



King Hollow of The Abbey Road, Knaresborough


Tommy Craggs, an award winning artist/sculptor is based in Consett, Co Durham, UK. His passion comes to life when creating sculptures and giving a second life to the trees he uses.



Photo:  Laughing Squid via Ross Parry Agency


Previously working as a tree feller, Tommy not only honed his skills but has now transformed his chainsaw proficiency into the magical creation of animals, mystical creatures, and figurative works of art via sculpting.



Primrose Faerie


“I like to see what I do as a way of bringing the trees back to life, and I work against the grains to reveal the real beauty of the wood.” *



Photo: Facebook (Tommy Craggs)













Photo:  Facebook (Tommy Craggs)

















Using a chainsaw, the elaborate sculptures Tommy creates are all carved from naturally fallen trees or ones which have either become diseased or dangerous.



Mermaid in Progress



Some of the trees used for carving are from wood which originated in a sustainable managed forest.



Tree of Life, Dublin
Photo:  Chris Cullen




Tommy Craggs, a self-taught chainsaw artist whose carving imparts new birth to once living trees, is now an international award winning artist and sculptor.



Central Scrutinizer














Stolen Soul






















Visit the links below to view many more of the incredible tree sculptures by Tommy Craggs.


Sources:


Photos, except where otherwise noted, are used with the permission of the artist.




(Hosmer, Katie. {February 2012}. Unbelievably Mysterious Tree Sculptures. Retrieved August 9, 2019, from https://mymodernmet.com/tommy-craggs-guerilla-tree-sculptor/)