Y&R Discussion Group

Topic: Have you ever seen a Whistling Pig?

Crazy topic, I know.  Today in our local town paper there was a picture of one that was in a tree in someone's yard. A whistling pig is a hoary marmot. They are native to B.C., Yukon and Alaska. Whistler, B.C. was named after the animal. Obviously they make a whistling noise.  I saw marmots once when we were going up this rustic gravel road to someone's cabin. But they weren't this type. I wonder how a critter native from the mountains wound up in a yard in Manitoba. Do you ever hear of strange creatures turning up where you live?

The oddest thing that I can remember seeing was a California Condor sitting right on the sidewalk not far from my home in the middle of the day last fall. His feather where actually glistened blue black they were so shiny.

They are native to California and I do live close to the hills and canyons, but I am still within the "city limits", so it was odd to see him there.

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You were very very lucky to see one of those! I believe they are still quite endangered - Pronoun

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Posted by: cook
Date posted: Mon Jul 14 17:53:24 2008
Message:
This is interesting. The ranchers and people that live outside the cities in Texas really really don't like wild pigs. Different species, but here they are considered a serious menace. Their reproductive rates are astounding. Truly.

A few years ago someone that lived in a small apartment complex in our city had been collecting illegal and exotic "pets". This included cobras and other cobra like snakes. I don't recall the exact circumstances but somehow many of them ended up on the loose. The neighbors were hysterical. The paper printed the price of anti venom which must be administered right away but wasn't on hand in the city. I think it was like $80,000 a pound or something like that.

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Whew.... I'd be hysterical too, if cobras were loose in my building! And the cost of the antedote - beyond belief! And not even available at that price. :(

I am really against exotic animals for pets. I think they should be outlawed. - Pronoun

It was quite a story! I wish I could recall more of the details. On another note......did you know that if you get bitten by a snake it would be a good idea to try to kill it and bring it with you to the hospital for identifying. Quick!! Somebody catch that cobra!!! -cook

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Posted by: Burke Devlin
Date posted: Mon Jul 14 15:47:58 2008
Message:
I have not. But I have seen the Blue Whale.

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Where did you see a blue whale? - PRonoun

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Posted by: faysie
Date posted: Mon Jul 14 14:51:51 2008
Message:
My sister & her husband have a log house a couple of miles from Golden, B.C.  near the Blaeberry River. (Golden is just across the B.C./Alberta border from Banff). She's often told me about seeing these wild pigs around their place. They also have the occasional bear meandering around. On the occasions I've visited, I've been quite happy not to run into either one!

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I think I'd be more leary of the wild boar than the wild bear! - PRonoun

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Posted by: GailJ
Date posted: Mon Jul 14 13:41:40 2008
Message:

OK I never heard of a Whistling Pig so googled it and here it is.  Cute little critter but no, I've never seen one.  Looks like a cross between a squirrel and a racoon! LOL...

As far as animal sightings in strange places...my mother was sitting in her favorite chair enjoying her first cup of coffee in the morning when she heard a loud thump against her livingroom window.  Before she could even get there to check out what it was...THUMP again.  Sounding almost as if it should have shattered the glass.  When she opened the curtains to see what it was, there was a billy goat staring at her! LOL...my parents lived in a big neighborhood miles and miles from the nearest farm, and farm animals are not allowed within the city limits, so imagine her shock and surprise when there he was standing in her window sill!  She called animal control and they came and got him.

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That must have been quite a surprise! - Pronoun

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