Appearance
🎉 your ETH🥳
"The northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster) is a North American carnivorous rodent of the family Cricetidae. It ranges over much of the western part of the continent, from central Saskatchewan and central Washington to Tamaulipas in northeast Mexico. Background information The northern grasshopper mouse is found in North America, but primarily in dry areas. They are similar in body size to other mice; on average they are long and about in weight. The tail is most often less than 30% of the total body length, whereas other mice tend to have longer tails adding to long body lengths. The grasshopper mouse is a reddish-black/grey color with white hair on the belly. Unlike most rodents, this one has a mostly carnivorous diet mainly consisting of small insects, other mice, and even snakes; no more than a quarter of its diet is plant-based. This rodent is also nocturnal. Throughout the night, the grasshopper mouse makes high-pitched noises to claim its territory. Habitat This grasshopper mouse can be found in prairies with low grass, dry areas, and also pasture lands of the central and southwestern parts of the United States. O. leucogaster has been known to associate positively with black-tailed prairie dogs, possibly due to their preference for disturbed areas, suitable habitat in the form of burrows, or food supply.Choate, J. R. and D. M. Terry. 1974. Observations on habitat preference of Onychomys leucogaster (Rodentia: Muridae) on the central Great Plains. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science 76:263-265.Stapp, P. 1997. Habitat selection by an insectivorous rodent: patterns and mechanisms across multiple scales. Journal of Mammalogy 78: 1128-1143.Bala Thiagarajan. 2006. Community dynamics of rodents, fleas and plague associated with the black-tailed prairie dogs. Doctoral dissertation submitted to Kansas State University. The northern grasshopper mouse lives in burrows underground, by either digging its own or inhabiting burrows that have been disowned. These mice have a system of multiple burrows, with each burrow serving a different function. The nest burrow is the primary area of activity during the day; since they are nocturnal, they do not need to be in a burrow during the night. To keep moisture in during the day, they close up the opening. A retreat burrow serves for quick escape from predators. Its design is about 10 inches into the ground at a 45° angle. The cache burrow is used for storing seeds. The signpost burrows are small and filled with glandular secretions that mark the boundaries of their territory. All of these burrows are found within a large area of territory. Reproduction The northern grasshopper mouse has about two or three litters a year consisting of two to seven young, with the average being four. They have a gestation of 32–47 days, and the young are born in either late fall or early winter, between September and February. The male gathers and provides food for the female while she is pregnant and taking care of her young.Burt, W.H., R.P. Grossenheider. 1976. The Peterson Field Guide Series: A Field Guide to the Mammals. Peterson, R.A. (Ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, p.166-67. The northern grasshopper mouse is an altricial species; baby mice are naked with closed eyes when they are born, and weigh about three grams. Both sexes reach their sexual maturity at three months, but the lifespan of a typical mouse living in the wild is only a few weeks to a few months. Diseases Susceptibility studies on grasshopper mice from areas with plague and from those areas that have been historically free of plague by Thomas et al. (1988)Thomas, R. E., A. M. Barnes, T. J. Quan , M. L. Beard , L. G. Carter, and C. E. Hopla. 1988. Susceptibility to Yersinia pestis in the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster). Journal of Wildlife Diseases 24:327–33. showed the animals from areas with a history of plague were more resistant to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis than the animals from a historically plague-free area, hence they were considered to be a potential alternate host for plague. Grasshopper mice have also been shown to harbor 57 species of fleas, many of which are vectors of plague.6) Thomas, R. E. 1988. A review of flea collection records from Onychomys leucogaster with observations on the role of grasshopper mice in the epizoology of wild rodent plague. Great Basin Naturalist 48: 83-95. Given the abundance and diversity of fleas on the grasshopper mouse and their use of prairie dog burrows and interaction with other rodent species, they are considered to be important for the maintenance and transmission of plague in the prairie dog ecosystem.Gage, K. L., and M. Y. Kosoy. 2005. Natural history of the plague: perspectives from more than a century of research. Annual Review of Entomology 50:505 - 528. They are also found frequently infected with another hemotropic intracellular pathogen Bartonella and Ying et al. 2007Ying, B., M. Kosoy, J. F. Cully, T. Bala, C. Ray, AND S. Collinge. 2007. Acquisition of non-specific Bartonella strains by the northern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys leucogaster). FEMS Micro. Ecol. 61 (3): 438–448. showed that they can acquire different strains of Bartonella from multiple rodent species. References External links * The Mammals of Texas - Online Edition Entry Onychomys Mammals described in 1841 "
"The MY Steve Irwin was the flagship of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, and was used in their direct action campaigns against whaling and against illegal fisheries activities. The vessel was built in 1975 and formerly served as a Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency conservation enforcement patrol boat, the FPV Westra, for 28 years. Sea Shepherd had originally christened the vessel the MY Robert Hunter after Canadian Robert Hunter,Neptune's Navy , Sea Shepherd Conservation Society co-founder of Greenpeace, but it was renamed in honor of The Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin on December 5, 2007. Irwin had considered joining the vessel on a voyage to Antarctica shortly before his death, and the renaming was endorsed by his widow Terri.Sea Shepherd honours Steve Irwin Perth Now, December 5, 2007 The ship and her crew, and their efforts for conservation, were the subject of the Animal Planet show Whale Wars. Registration In January 2007, the ship was struck from the British Ship Register after a Japanese request.Britain to deregister anti-whaler after Japan pipes up, The Age, January 30, 2007 The ship has been registered in the Netherlands as of October 8, 2007.Neptune’s Navy, The New Yorker, November 5, 2007 Career The FPV Westra was laid up ready for disposal in 2003 when Sea Shepherd purchased her in November 2006 and renamed her Robert Hunter. The vessel was purchased because in previous campaigns the RV Farley Mowat could not keep up with the faster Nisshin Maru. =2007= In February 2007, Robert Hunter joined Farley Mowat in order to prevent the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru from hunting in an action Sea Shepherd called Operation Leviathan. Sea Shepherd members threw bottles of foul-smelling butyric acid onto the decks of the Nisshin Maru. The Japanese say three members of the whaler were injured in the attack. Robert Hunter and Farley Mowat obstructed the path of the whaling ship,2007.2.12 Sea Shepherd rammed The Kaiko Maru , Institute of Cetacean Research and Robert Hunter and Kaiko Maru collided with each other. One Japanese official accused the Sea Shepherd organisation of behaving "like pirates". Robert Hunter sustained a 3-foot gash in the hull above the waterline at the stern of the ship.Japanese whaler, anti-whaling ship collide, China Economic Net, February 15, 2007 Three days after the collision, an unrelated fire broke out in the engine room of the whaling factory ship Nisshin Maru and killed one crew member.Japanese whale hunt ended early , BBC News, February 28, 2007 Steve Irwin has also participated in "Operation Migaloo" (named after Migaloo, the albino humpback whale) that started in November 2007,Sea Shepherd Launches Campaign to Disrupt Japanese Whaling: Operation Migaloo , wildlifeextra.com and after repairs were completed in Launceston and a brief stop over in Melbourne, she was scheduled to depart for the Antarctic on December 1, 2007. =2008= On January 15, 2008, after throwing packages of butyric acid onto the decks and attempting to entangle a hunting ship's propeller,– Scholar search two Sea Shepherd members boarded the Japanese whaling vessel Yūshin Maru No. 2. Paul Watson stated that it was his intention to create an international incident through the boarding and expected detainment. They later stated that their intent had been to present a protest note to its captain.Read the anti-whaling activists' letter , news.com.au, January 17, 2008 Benjamin Potts, a 28-year-old cook from Sydney, Australia, and Giles Lane, a 35-year-old engineer from Leeds, United Kingdom, were detained by crew of Yūshin Maru No. 2. Steve Irwin in London Docklands, UK 2011 Sea Shepherd claimed that the two had been kidnapped and tied to the radar mast for several hours with ropes and zip ties.Whale protesters taken hostage , news.com.au, January 15, 2008 Potts and Lane, however, later stated that they were tied for only fifteen minutes to the side of the ship and a couple of minutes to the radio mast before being taken below deck. Glenn Inwood, a spokesperson for the whalers from the Institute of Cetacean Research (ICR), said that the activists were being held in an unlocked office, but were being guarded.Sea Shepherd demands activists' release ABC News, January 16, 2008, accessed January 16, 2008 In another statement, they stated that the action of boarding their vehicle was illegal and that the men were being held pending decisions on their future. On January 16 the ICR issued a statement claiming that the protesters had thrown canisters of acid on board the ship and attempted to damage property. They also denied claims that the men had been assaulted and tied to the ship's mast. Hideki Moronuki further stated that "The ICR (Institute of Cetacean Research) is ready to release the two Conservationists provided that full security can be secured for our research vessel. Sea Shepherd is a very violent organisation." In a letter faxed to Steve Irwin, the ICR stated that part of the handover conditions include that Sea Shepherd "must not take any violent action or video/photo shooting activities against us."Whalers won't release hostages Daily Telegraph, February 17, 2008, accessed January 17, 2008 The acid in question was, according to Sea Shepherd, butyric acid, which was used not to damage the ship itself but to render the work-deck unusable due to its foul and long-lasting smell.Sea Shepherd – How We Destroyed the Nisshin Maru On January 17, the Australian customs ship started preparation to transfer the two men held on the whaling vessel.Australian ship Oceanic Viking may end Japanese whaling hostage drama Daily Telegraph, January 17, 2008, accessed January 17, 2008 On the morning of January 18, the two men were safely transferred to the .Anti-Whaling pair return to Sea Shepherd After an investigation by the Australian Federal Police, no criminal action was taken against the conservationists.Canberra casts off whaling activists Both sides accused the other of terrorism during the incident. The ICR called the butyric acid attack on Yūshin Maru No. 2 an "inhumane terrorist attack" and called on the Australian Government to seize the Steve Irwin. Conversely, Steve Irwin 1st Officer Peter Brown stated that "the Institute of Cetacean Research is acting like a terrorist organisation [...] Here they are taking hostages and making demands. Our policy is that we don't respond to terrorist demands." Following the March 3 clashes between Sea Shepherd members aboard Steve Irwin and Japanese whalers, the Dutch government announced that it was investigating the incident as the vessel sails under the Dutch flag. =2009= On February 6, Steve Irwin collided with the vessel Yūshin Maru No. 2 () and later with the vessel Yūshin Maru No. 3 () while they were whaling in the Southern Ocean. The Japanese-based Institute of Cetacean Research claimed that MY Steve Irwin deliberately turned into the stern side of the vessel Yushin Maru No. 3 to ram her. Video footage of the incident was later released by the institute showing the incident.http://www.icrwhale.org/eng/090206SS2.wmv Steve Irwins operator Paul Watson denied the ramming, saying "They weren't rammed, two vessels collided—the Yushin Maru 3 and the Steve Irwin when they shot in front of us to transfer whale." For the next year, the ship was drydocked in Brisbane while repairs to the hull and other alterations could be made. Included in these renovations was the installation of Steve Irwins own water cannon for use in campaigns. After departing drydock, the ship toured around Australia, finally arriving in Fremantle to begin final preparations for Operation Waltzing Matilda, which she embarked upon on December 7. After three days, a suspected Japanese-chartered aircraft located the Steve Irwin en route to the Southern Ocean and instructed the to observe the movements of the vessel. Contact with the security ship was made on December 10, with Steve Irwin launching her helicopter and Delta RHIB to gather information on the vessel. Heavy swells barred the Delta from reaching the vessel, and, upon arrival, a Japanese LRAD was used against the helicopter which forced it to stand down.Whale Wars, Season 3, Episode 1: "Surrounded by Spies" For the next two weeks, Shōnan Maru 2 continued to observe Steve Irwin, despite continued attempts by the ship to lose the tail. Ultimately, Steve Irwin returned to Australia, where Shōnan Maru was unable to track her due to a heavy storm, in addition to legal complications. In addition, the Sea Shepherd Crew was assisted by a group called the "Taz Patrol," which tweeted the coordinates of Yushin Maru No. 3 to Steve Irwin. =2010= In January 2010, the ship continued to hunt for the Japanese fleet. After the loss of in a collision with Shonan Maru No.2, Steve Irwin met up with , with which she exchanged fuel, supplies, and crew. The ship then returned to Fremantle to restock, departing on January 30. In the meantime, Bob Barker had located the factory ship, Nisshin Maru, and was tailing the ship. On February 8, Steve Irwin joined Bob Barker in pursuit of Nisshin Maru. Once the two Sea Shepherd vessels had linked up, Steve Irwin took up position behind Nisshin Maru to obstruct the factory ships slipway and engaged her with water cannon. On February 15, Pete Bethune departed from Steve Irwin on a jet ski, boarding Shōnan Maru 2. He was subsequently detained and later arrested by the Japan Coast Guard for trespassing. The two ships remained behind the whaler until Steve Irwin was forced to return to Australia on February 18, arriving in Hobart on March 6. =2011= In late February 2011, during Operation No Compromise, Steve Irwin was contacted by the Royal New Zealand Navy to take part in the search for Berserk, a polar exploration vessel owned by renowned explorer Jarle Andhøy, which had activated her emergency transponder near McMurdo Sound during a storm. The search was eventually called off after Steve Irwin found an empty life raft, which was later confirmed to have been from Berserk. The three people on board are presumed dead.http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4709377/Three-die-in-Viking-yacht-off- Antarctica Steve Irwin began patrolling the territorial waters of Libya in June 2011 in an effort to spot unauthorised bluefin tuna fishing boats and cut their fishing nets. She was met with attempts by some fishermen to incapacitate it, to which it responded with water hoses and stink bombs. On July 15, 2011 the ship was held by the British Government due to a pending lawsuit by a Maltese fishing company. The ship was released on August 2, 2011 after a bond of £520,000 was posted. , the ship was docked in the South Quay of West India Dock, London. In December, Steve Irwin joined Bob Barker and Brigitte Bardot in locating and pursuing the Japanese whaling fleet, which had passed by off the western Australian coast, on the way to the Southern Ocean for whaling operations. A drone surveillance aircraft launched from Steve Irwin located the whaling fleet some 500 miles off the southwest coast of Australia on December 24.SeaShepherd News – Sea Shepherd Intercepts the Japanese Whaling Fleet with Drones December 24, 2011 – The Canadian Press – Conservationists use drones to monitor Japanese whaling fleet in Southern Ocean The Canadian Press – Sat, December 24, 2011 After chasing the fleet for four days, Steve Irwin had to break off and escort Brigitte Bardot back to Fremantle, after Brigitte Bardot was damaged by a rogue wave.TheAustralian.com Sea Shepherd anti-whaling ship damaged by rogue wave in Southern Ocean – Lanai Vasek from The Australian, 30 December 2011 11:13AM =2012= Sea Shepherd's Steve Irwin at Williamstown, Australia, August 2016 On January 5 Steve Irwin arrived in Fremantle Harbour escorting the severely damaged Brigitte Bardot from the Southern Ocean, monitored by the Japanese whaling ship Shōnan Maru 2.The Sydney Morning Herald – Steve Irwin to head back to Southern Ocean January 6, 2012 – 7:34PM While in port, Steve Irwin defied an order by the Fremantle harbourmaster to lower her Jolly Roger-styled flag after docking in Fremantle. After departing the port, a team from environmentalist group "Forest Rescue Australia" approached and illegally boarded the security ship Shōnan Maru 2, climbing over spikes and razor wire in international waters off the coast of Bunbury, Western Australia with the assistance of small boat crews from the Steve Irwin. While Japan agreed to release the activists, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard slammed the action as "unacceptable" and warned that others who carry out similar protests would be "charged and convicted". =2013= On February 20, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson claimed the Japanese whaling ship Nisshin Maru rammed Steve Irwin, and Bob Barker multiple times in a confrontation in the Southern Ocean, north of Australia's Casey Research Station in Antarctica. =2018= On December 2, 2018 Sea Shepherd announced that the ship will be retired, stripped and recycled in China, and the will be taking its spot as the flagship vessel of the fleet.Sea Shepherd to Retire Flagship M/Y Steve Irwin. The Maritime Executive. 2 December 2018.Sea Shepherd to scrap M/Y Steve Irwin. Safety4Sea 8 December 2018. =2019= Following news of the ships possible scrapping, the ship was saved by Kerrie Goodall, founder of the Ship for Good Philanthropic Organization, successfully leading the "Save the Steve" campaign. The Steve Irwin will be preserved as a museum ship in Williamstown, Victoria, with possible uses of the ship being discussed. Current ideas include a vegan restaurant & bar and a tattoo studio. https://www.starweekly.com.au/news/sea-shepherds-steve-irwin-ship-saved-from- scrapheap See also * Neptune's Navy, a list of vessels operated by Sea Shepherd References External links * Sea Shepherd Fleet Ships built in Aberdeen Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ships Maritime incidents in 2013 Ships built by Hall, Russell & Company Articles containing video clips "
"Space Launch Complex 10, or Missile Launch Complex 10, is located on Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, California. It was built in 1958 to test ballistic missiles and developed into a space launching facility in 1963.DOD NHL details for California Prior to 1966 Space Launch Complex 10 West was known as Vandenberg AFB Pad 75-2-6. It remains a rare pristine look at the electronics and facilities created in that era that helped the United States grow its space capabilities. The last launch from this complex was a Thor booster in 1980. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. and It is undergoing an eight-year restoration, and public visits are possible, if arranged in advance.NPS History of Aviation History The launch complex was built in 1958 by the Douglas Aircraft Corporation, and was first designated Complex 75-2. At that time it consisted of three launch pads, which were used to train military operators of PGM-17 Thor ballistic missiles, and to conduct missile launch tests. The first launches were conducted by the British Royal Air Force in June and August 1959. The facilities at SLC-10 were dismantled and transported to Johnston Island in support of Operation Dominic, a nuclear weapons testing project conducted there in 1962. The launch complex was rebuilt in 1963 to support the development of Burner rockets, with two launch pads, designated SLC-10E and SLC-10W. Tests were conducted at SLC-10W from 1965 to 1980, using the Thor satellite launch vehicles, the first stages of which followed the design of the Thor missile. Surviving elements Two launch pads and a prefabricated launch blockhouse are the principal surviving elements of the complex. The blockhouse interior still includes all of the electrical equipment used in later launches. SLC-10W also includes pipes and storage facilities for storing and managing the liquid fuel used in the rockets. References Further reading External links *Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary *DOD NHL details for California Launch complexes of the United States Air Force Vandenberg Air Force Base Buildings and structures in Santa Barbara County, California National Historic Landmarks in California National Register of Historic Places in Santa Barbara County, California Science and technology in California 1958 establishments in California "