October 2nd Week - National Wildlife Refuge Week

Hearing wolves howl, tagging monarch butterflies, snapping pictures of soaring eagles, or just walking in the woods, thousands of Americans will be making a special connection with nature during National Wildlife Refuge Week.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, with 550 national wildlife refuges nationwide, protects approximately 150 million acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Scores of national wildlife refuges are offering special programs to help celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week across the country.

The week also highlights the six wildlife-dependent recreation uses offered on national wildlife refuges: hunting, fishing, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, interpretation and environmental education.

There is at least one national wildlife refuge in every state, and residents of most metropolitan areas can find a national wildlife refuge less than an hour's drive from their front door.

To find a national wildlife refuge near you, go to the Department of the Interior or call 1-800-344-WILD (9453).

October 1st Week - Animal Welfare Week

On average, eight to 10 million pets stray from their homes each year according to the Coalition for Reuniting Pets and Families, which is why the first week of October is dedicated to animal welfare. While many love animals, it's important to keep in mind what it really means to care for a pet.

Experts say being a responsible pet owner goes beyond ensuring the pet has food, water and a safe place to sleep.

"Responsibility starts at the initial selection of a pet for purchase or adoption," said Brent Hinton, former Kentucky Humane Society director and current PetFirst Healthcare CEO. "Bringing a pet into the family is a big decision. Taking the time to research different breeds and determine the best match for the pet and the family is essential."

Hinton recommends asking key questions before selecting their lifelong family companion:

• Is it compatible with the family lifestyle -- active or non-active?
• Is it compatible with children?
• Is it healthy --- are there any breed-related health or personality issues?
• Is it an outside or inside animal?
• Is the pet owner's home conducive?

Once a pet is selected, it's important to take the time to know and understand the personality of the pet. Hinton said this ensures any changes in behavior are immediately identified since they can be warning signs of illness or injury.

Maintaining a schedule of routine pet care is also important. Responsible owners keep up with vaccinations and take preventative measures for fleas, ticks and heartworms. One valuable benefit rising in popularity among pet owners is pet health insurance, which can reimburse policyholders for accidents, illnesses, as well as routine care.

Animal welfare is the ethical responsibility of ensuring animal well-being. Animal well-being is the condition in which animals experience good health, are able to effectively cope with their environment, and are able to express a diversity of species-typical behaviors. Protecting an animal's welfare means providing for its physical and mental needs.

October 2nd Week - Pet Peeve Week

It's Pet Peeve Week ... unload your burdens! You'll feel a whole lot better by venting, and we won't tell anyone. Promise.

October 2nd Week - Squirrel Awareness Week

Squirrel's belong to the order "Rodentia". There are over 365 species of squirrels in seven families. They include the tree squirrel, ground squirrel, and flying squirrel. Plus many squirrel-like mammals such as the gopher, ground hog and prairie dog.

Gray squirrels come in many colors. Shades of gray are the most common followed by shades of brown. There are also pure white and pure black squirrels, but both are variations of the gray squirrel.

The common Red squirrel can have an all black coat. While the Kaibab squirrel has a black body with a white tail. Both are found in coniferous forests.

The gray squirrels diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal carcass if there is no other food source available.

The gray squirrel requires some salt in its diet, and may find this salt in the soil along roads where snow and ice may have been.

Squirrels chew on tree branches to sharpen and clean their teeth. That's why you may see many small branches on the ground around large trees. They will also chew on power lines for the same reason. This has caused many major power outages throughout the country.

A squirrel's brain is about the size of a walnut.