OC Habitats

Today is World Painted Dog Day, which occurs every year on the 26th of August. World Painted Dog Day, also known as African Wild Dog Day, is a day to bring awareness to this endangered species of canids that reside only in Africa. Painted dogs are a nickname given to these canines, their common name is the African wild dog and their scientific name is Lycaon pictus, which translates to painted wolf. They are the largest canids in Africa, growing up to 4 ½ feet and weighing up to 70 pounds. Similar to wolves, they gather in packs of around 10 individuals and sometimes more than 40! Unfortunately, their numbers are dwindling as there are approximately only 6,600 individuals that remain in the wild and they have been endangered for over 20 years due to disease, species competition, habitat loss, and hunters. It is important to raise awareness for this species in order to increase their chances of survival for future generations. Fun Facts: - They can reach a sprint of up to 44 miles per hour - They only have four toes per foot - Their ears are round and are able to swivel like a satellite dish - Non-breeding adults will sacrifice their own food to ensure that the pups will eat - They are Africa's most effective predator with an 80% success rate of taking down their target The painted dog may be native to Africa but they can be found in Reid Park Zoo (Tucson, AZ) or Franklin Park Zoo (Boston, MA). Another way you can support or raise awareness for World Painted Dog day is by watching a documentary or making a donation to one of the many organizations that are doing everything they can to help these dogs. Post Creator:Isaac Orozco Sources: https://lnkd.in/gTjYkFFy https://lnkd.in/dqNzUeU7 https://lnkd.in/dT5AZyG https://lnkd.in/ganfU39n

Come check out our booth this Saturday August 24th at the Outlets at San Clemente! We will be set up at this year's Barks and Brews event where you'll find live music, fun activities, food trucks, craft beers, and much more! Proceeds go on to benefit the Pet Project Foundation in San Clemente. So come on down, stop for a while and visit us, all while supporting a good cause! 🐶🍻 #barksandbrews #petprojectfoundation #sanclemente #ochabitats #orangecounty

This Sunday, August 25th, is National Secondhand Wardrobe Day! Not only does secondhand shopping provide unique clothes at a cheaper price, it also helps the planet by slowing down the constant waste of the fast fashion industry. Join us in celebrating Secondhand Wardrobe Day by checking out the many secondhand stores around OC for your back-to-school shopping. Head to Buffalo Exchange in Costa Mesa where you can also directly support OCH through their Tokens for Bags program. Just bring your own bag! And if you want to read more about the issue of fast fashion, check out our blog! #SecondhandWardrobeDay #fastfashion #thrifting

Happy World Orangutan Day! Celebrated yearly on August 19th, this day recognizes and brings awareness to the fascinating creatures that are Orangutans! Focusing on the conservation of orangutans and their natural habitat, this day is important in taking a moment to learn more about the species and how you can take action to protect these incredible animals. Today, there are only about 50,000 to 65,000 orangutans left in the wild. At the rate of their current decline, it is estimated that Orangutans may become extinct within 50 years. One of the main reasons for their population decline is deforestation, which directly results in the loss of their habitat. With less habitat, the species will have little to no safe spaces for shelter, mating, feeding, and raising their generations. Raising awareness for orangutans is one of the key ways we can ensure their safety and survival in the wild. Using less products that contain palm oil and demand rainforest resources are one of the changes you can make to stand for the conservation of Orangutans. PC: https://lnkd.in/g-hWguDh

🐝 Buzz Buzz! Happy National Honey Bee Day! The 3rd Saturday of every August is meant for honey bee enthusiasts, keepers and alike, from all across the United States to celebrate honey bees and recognize their contribution to humans' everyday lives. National Honey Bee day serves as a means of protecting this critical species and spreading awareness on the importance of keeping the honey bee population alive and thriving! One of the most recognized and culturally significant bee species is the Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera). They are a domesticated honey bee as many beekeepers work to manage their care and their reproduction in farms. The practice of beekeeping has been around for centuries, first ever recorded in 2400 BCE in ancient Egypt. With beekeepers working around the clock to protect the species, honey bees are thankfully still functioning as the vital part of pollination and producing over 100 types of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and so much more of our food. Honey bees are a fascinating creature and should be recognized for the incredible importance they hold in keeping our food and agricultural supply in good condition. Without them, we would face serious hardships in the world. Take today to learn a new fact about honey bees and give them thanks for all their hard work! 🐝 Sources: https://lnkd.in/gPMKz5Cg

August 17th is National Nonprofit Day and is meant to recognize the impactful work achieved by nonprofit organizations all across the country and the world. There are over a million nonprofits in the U.S. alone, and many millions more around the world. Each nonprofit organization has their own focus on bringing positive change to their local communities- whether that be providing financial literacy, homeless assistance, recreational activities, research opportunities, or more. With so many nonprofits dedicated to providing free and helpful resources, there is always something to try and volunteer in lending a hand to your community. Reading to children at the local library, offering assistance to nursing homes, or tending to your local parks and habitats to keep your neighborhood environment clean are just some of the potential opportunities you can find in your city. OC Habitats is honored to be one of the millions of nonprofit organizations in the world today, and we hope to see more volunteers joining our mission in protecting Orange County’s environment through monitoring, restoration, and education. If you have yet to find your calling, join OC Habitats in one of our many volunteer opportunities today and see if environment stewardship is the right fit for you! We hope to see you out there, and Happy National Nonprofit Day!

New blog! Read part 2 of our discussion of animal diversity and taxonomy in California. Learn about Molluscs, Echinoderms, Arthropods and Chordates. ¡También en español! #taxonomy #blog #biodiversity #california #socal PC: Wikimedia Commons

August 14th marks World Lizard Day! This is a day of celebration for the 6000+ species of lizards on this planet and also a day for bringing awareness to having them as pets. They are not so easy to take care of and require plenty of necessities in order to keep them healthy and happy. Some necessities include a particular diet, lighting, and habitat so it is best to know how big of a responsibility owning one is before acquiring a scaly friend! It is best to observe these magnificent creatures when outside as they can be found basking in the hot sun during this time of year. Do you have a favorite species of lizard? Check out some fun facts about lizard species below! Fun Facts! - Lizards can be found in every continent except antarctica - Lizards have the ability to regenerate their tails if it becomes injured - They are cold blooded and require sunlight to control their body temperature - The Basilisk lizard is able to run across water - The largest lizard in the world is the Komodo Dragon and can weigh up to 300lbs Happy World Lizard Day! Post Creator: Isaac Orozco Sources: https://lnkd.in/gTc7WMM5 Photo Creds: https://lnkd.in/gMFtjAxB https://lnkd.in/gh8d94vS

Happy International Wolf Day! On this International Wolf Day, August 13th, we wish to celebrate and promote knowledge about the stunning species of wolves. Discover interesting facts about wolves in California, and beyond the West Coast, to expand your understanding of these extraordinary creatures. Post Creator: Tabitha Martinez.

August 10th marks the day that we celebrate the royalty of the jungle! Happy World Lion Day! 👑 🦁 🌍 Although lions are a symbol of strength and pride in many cultures, we are seeing a rapid decline in lion populations because of human impact. World Lion Day promotes awareness around these large cats to help spread tools for helping reverse this decline. OC Habitats wants to partake in this awareness and share some tools with you! When we travel, we can responsibly deny opportunities that empower poaching. Humans excessively hunt these big cats because of the prestige it brings within many cultures. Reversing the tide of population decline requires changing mindsets. We must respect lions and their strength and help them to live fulfilling and healthy lives in their own habitats. Please visit worldanimalprotection.org to learn more and access more resources. Post Creator: David Perez Nyquist Photo Credit: June Lew at World Wildlife Fund