COOL ANIMAL 'O THE WEEK: Pack rats

                                                                                         fig. 1

The pack rat (neotoma cinerea for all you science buffs) is nature's little hoarder. These cuties mostly live in the deserts of the American Southwest, so I guess you can't really blame them for wanting to spice up their lives with a few shiny objects. Pack rats love collecting treasures and incorporating them into their messy nests or "middens". Mostly, pack rats like to settle their middens (fig. 2) in caves, like this little guy:

                                                                                                 fig. 2

It is said that the crystallization of the pack rat's urine is what cements the midden together. But beyond this practical use, the urine can also preserve the midden for up to 40,000 years. This has really been great for scientist and archeological egg-head types. So here's to you, pack rat! Thank you.

COOL ANIMAL O' THE WEEK: Alpacas

The alpaca is a South American "camelid" often confused for a llama. But they're so clearly different. Alpacas are slightly smaller and cuter. 

I was really into getting one of these as a pet or personal wool factory or something, but then I discovered this disturbing photograph!

What happened to you, alpacas!? All that adorable, fluffy fur is just a lie. Underneath you look like weird lizards. Well worry no longer, my friends, the alpaca has been exposed! Don't let these camelids fool you any longer.

COOL ANIMAL O' THE WEEK: Jackalope

What better way to kick off my "Cool Animal o' the Week" feature than with the legendary jackalope? 

Some heretics argue that this beautiful creature doesn't exist, but they obviously haven't google image searched it. 

What do you think?

Is the jackalope alive and bounding? 

Is it possible for the jackalope be domesticated?

Can a jackalope grow large enough to accommodate a human?