ANiMAL PETiTiONS CORNER by Woodsedge

presented by Alicia of WoodsEdge

1. Save Thai Pangolins

Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are cute, shy and defenseless and are now one of the most illegally trafficked mammals in Asia, killed for their meat and use in traditional medicine. They are protected by CITES and it's been illegal to hunt them since 2002, but the ban is believed to have caused an increase in poaching and smuggling and the punishment for offenders is too mild to deter anyone. Find more info at http://www.savepangolins.org/. 

Please sign the petition telling Chinese authorities to crack down on illegal imports of pangolins.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/702/262/143/save-thai-pangolins/

2. Save the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

The endangered red-cockaded woodpecker can take more than a year to carve out its nest in pine trees, making nests not only for themselves, but for other birds that may use it after they leave. The U.S. Forest Service is now considering allowing energy companies to "explore" the forest, which will lead to oil and gas extraction, possibly through fracking in Alabama's Talledega Forst. This forest provides a home to these birds, other species and the endangered long-leaf pine tree, which woodpeckers love to nest in...and it's a popular place for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers. 

Please sign the petition asking the US Forest Service to deny energy companies exploration rights in the Talladega.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/643/339/073/save-the-red-cockaded-woodpecker-in-alabama/

3. Help Make Room for Mexican Wolves on Public Lands

One of the biggest problems for Mexican wolves, and all wolves, is complaints by ranchers. 70 wolves and their pups have been removed from public lands because of cattle since the Mexican wolf recovery program began in 1998. Now, the U.S. Forest Service is considering a proposal from WildEarth Guardians to close grazing allotments in the Gila National Forest in Southern New Mexico and reallocating the land for wildlife, which will benefit a number of species and the ecosystem as a whole. 

Please send a letter to the USFS asking them to support the alternative plan submitted by WildEarth Guardians. 

https://secure3.convio.net/wg/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=525&autologin=true 

PLEASE

Help the Animals

Take 1-2-3 Actions 

This Weekend !

THANKS

Team Treasury: 'Imagine!' by ShortcakeDesigns

'Imagine! ' by ShortcakeDesigns

Imagine a world where every animal finds their forever home. Proceeds from each item in this treasury are donated to animal charities so that this dream can come true for as many animals as possible.

Original Bird Art Original C... QueenBe $16.50	My Weathered Heart original ... KneeDeepOrigin... $20.00
Nuno felt shawl in neutrals.... BlindSquirrel $145.00	Frothy Cappuccino. Vintage ... amaniworks $20.00
Running With the Big Dogs Ph... blindwolfspiri... $7.00	Chocolate Malt Doggy - Hand ... yarnmiracle $56.00
Wilbur the Pig Greeting Card... literaryluxe $10.00	Love in the Sand - Photo Gre... JMcGuinness $4.00
Nom nom nom napkins, set of ... thedoghouse $15.00	Conversation 8x10 WoodsEdge $25.00
Forest thoughts corduroy dog... davir $28.00	Nest with Blue Speckled Eggs... BirdsinHand $20.00
Bowhead Whale Card EthelandIris $4.00	Catnip Mouse Cat Toy Cotton ... VivaLeChat $6.00
Pearl and Silver Necklace - ... chickadeejewel... $25.00	Tango - Handmade Vegan Cold ... layla $5.25

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

ANiMAL MUNDi: Toy Deer by TheFrogBag

Toy Deer

written by Corinna of TheFrogBag

Growing up in Florida makes a lot of odd animals seem perfectly normal. I learned alligator avoidance techniques in kindergarten and the difference between coral and king snakes during school picnics. Poisonous bugs and toxic sea life were just an unremarkable part of life. But even to my jaded eyes key deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) seemed exotic. 

Never heard of key deer? Their name makes them sound like something out of a pun-filled fantasy novel but they are in fact a subspecies of the Virginia white-tailed deer that just happens to live on the Florida Keys.

Photo courtesy: National Wildlife Federation

So, a type of deer that lives on an island. What’s so exotic about that? For one thing, their size. Often called “toy deer”, males weigh between 55 and 75 pounds, or about the same as a medium-sized dog. Females are even smaller, while fawns weigh about three pounds, making them the size of a half-grown kitten. 

They’re rare too, with less than 1,000 living in the wild. That’s not a lot, but it’s more than there were in 1951 when people first started to notice that they were disappearing. The official count then was only 25. Luckily their plight became public in time for the Endangered Species Act to make them one of its first protected species when it was instituted in 1973. 

There’s some dispute about how these deer ended up on the Keys in the first place. They’re accomplished swimmers and don’t hesitate to cross open water when traveling between islands. That’s not something normal white-tails do though, so it’s a good bet that they crossed a land bridge several thousand years ago when sea levels were lower and glaciers covered much of North America. When the glaciers melted the sea level rose, stranding the deer long enough for them to become a separate subspecies.

Photo courtesy: National Key Deer Refuge

Like many animals native to islands key deer have very little innate fear of humans. This has historically made them easy marks for hunters. Today they suffer more from habitat destruction and vehicle strikes, but these pale in comparison to the danger posed by steadily rising sea levels due to global climate change. 

In the end, the biggest threat to these tiny deer may be the disappearance of the Keys themselves, a tragedy that would make Florida a whole lot less exotic.

Pinterest Treasury: 'Metal Heads' by Azrylle

'Metal Heads' by Azrylle

Just got back from an Iron Maiden concert this weekend, so I've got metal on the brain.. ;) And best of all, the kind of metal featured here in this week's Pinterest Treasury can be worn, thanks to our wonderful EFA artisans!

Sacagawea the Bird Woman AngelQ $5.50	Flowered Serving Handle Repu... ScootersShop $28.00
My chainmaille chain - silve... PointyPaws $17.50	I LOVE YOU pewter dangling ... sayitinsign $10.00
silver solstice pendant - So... LonesomeRoadSt... $40.00	Pit Bull Pendant, Rescue don... blindwolfspiri... $87.00
Whale Tail Necklace. Whale ... paperfacestudi... $24.00	Leaves and Sapphire Blue Swa... BeadedTail $14.00
Skull & Crossbones Poison Sy... KathartesJewel... $67.00	Sensual handmade sterling si... ApacheMoon $50.00
Groupie ... 28mm Jet Black S... walkonthemoon $45.50	Silver Chain Agate Pearl Tas... JewelryByScott... $24.00
Fine Silver Earrings with ha... stefaniekraus $45.00	Silver medallion necklace, w... envydesignsjew... $88.00
Silver Paisley Earrings sdunderkoffler $5.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

July’s Monthly Challenge Theme is… Beautiful Sky

July’s Monthly Challenge Theme is…

Beautiful Sky

Hip, hip hooray! 

Our theme is “Beautiful Sky” ... 

pay homage to all things sky, birds or the air element. 

It's time to lay back, relax, and enjoy the clouds rolling by!

Here are some fabulous examples 

for this theme:

Above it All

8x8 photographic print by WoodsEdge

Ballooning

Glass Tile Pendant by HappyShackDesigns

Summery White and Sky Blue

Natural Feather Earrings by NYParrotPreserve

Sun Amongst the Clouds

Treat & Training Bag by Davir

So what are you waiting for ?

enter your beautiful sky entry by July 1st !

Here's HOW TO ENTER:

If you are an EFA member & would like to submit an entry, please convo our Challenge Blog Leader, Jess of jessicalynneart, with the following information:

1. PROViDE the link to an item in your shop that fits the theme or has been created for the theme.

2. EXPLAiN how you think the item fits the monthly Challenge theme

3. TELL US a bit about your work/donations/volunteer work with animals or animal charities

4. TiTLE your convo with the name of the MONTH and the word CHALLENGE, for example: JULY CHALLENGE.

Two more important steps:

5. TAG your Etsy listing with the monthly Challenge theme tag (this month = teamefasky) see the Themes-at-a-glance list for other tags. Be sure to ALSO keep your regular team tag in place, either 'team efa' or 'team efa cotm'

6. Renew your listing !

Remember, when we've received sixteen qualifying entries... these will be featured in a Treasury and in our Challenge Competition, where the winner will get a free etsy mini 1x1 advertising slot on EFA's Challenge blog the following month.

Challenge entries are also promoted on Etsy Teams, EFA's Yahoo Groups, Twitter and Facebook... so get your entries submitted to Jess by JULY 1ST !

Looking forward to seeing your Sky entries !

Heather of thebluewindmill

Mo Challenge Leader

COTM Treasury: Stars and Stripes by susanneedlehands

'Stars and Stripes -- Team EFA COTM' by susanneedlehands

The upcoming 4th of July festivities typically bring their share of red, white, and blue. But the stars and stripes abound in many other colors and forms. See how many fun variations you can spot in this Team EFA treasury!

Large Barking Dog Blanket &#... BarkingDogBlan... $62.00	Little Fawn, Original Acryli... thebluewindmil... $45.00
Decorative Jewelry Box silk ... brizel4TheAnim... $49.00	Stockholm City Streets, Kons... thoseparasolda... $8.00
The Art of Two Zebras - blac... oceloteyes $20.00	Dandelion 8x10 WoodsEdge $25.00
Black Heart Black and White ... thebeadedhound $25.00	Star shaped white flowers in... KneeDeepOrigin... $20.00
Cat, Stars and Crows Burgund... kittyempire3 $55.00	Knit Striped Scarf / Honeysu... susanneedlehan... $40.00
Gazania flower: 5 x 7 photog... sue8261 $8.00	Retro Red Stripe Juice Glass... EllaQuaint $5.00
Rainbow Chevron Reusable Cof... ShortcakeDesig... $5.00	Ladybug - 81/2 by 11 Hand Em... LolaLynn $15.00
Pink Pillow COVER with "... DogBarks $23.00	Dog hat crocheted, Sailor ha... ShaggyChic $15.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house