Pretty Southern

Category: News

News

  • The South’s Tallest Baby!

    Zoo Atlanta welcomed a new addition on July 21: a 6-foot-tall baby giraffe! She’s about the cutest thing to grace the South this summer! When she was born, this baby girl was already between 100 to 150 pounds and will grow to be about 600 pounds like her mama!

    Born to proud parents Mona and Abu, this little girl already has a half-sister at Zoo Atlanta (Zuri) who was born in July of 2010. The Zoo held a naming party for baby Zuri last August and we’ll keep you posted to see if plans are in the works for another party for this pretty babe! Mama Mona and her baby girl giraffe are resting before joining the rest of the giraffe herd. Giraffes have one of the longest gestation periods of any mammal in the animal kingdom at 15 months! Guess we humans are pretty lucky to only have 40 weeks.

    Check out the South’s newest critter! Say it with me now y’all…Awww!!!

  • Southern Risk of Lyme Disease

    It’s summer time and we’re playing outside. Guess who else is out and about? This nasty little bugger the deer tick. Ticks are known to transmit diseases, just like fleas and other insects which like to grab onto your pets. Deer ticks are the worst of all since they’re known to carry Lyme disease.

    Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by several bacteria of the genus Borrelia. It is the most common tick-borne disease in the world, transmitted from deer ticks throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

    Good news: if you live below the Mason Dixon line there is a relatively low risk of Lyme Disease. Y’all can breathe easy. Folks who live in the forest regions of the Northeast have to worry. Check out this map from the CDC showing the riskiest places in the U.S. to contract Lyme Disease.

    Southerners are at little to no risk of Lyme Disease. Yankees, y'all better watch out. (Image from the Center for Disease Control)

    Do you live in a metropolitan area? Then your risk of getting Lyme Disease is slim to none. The culprits live mostly on deer, and y’all know deer don’t like cities.

    If you do happen to find a tick, getting that sucker off within 36 hours greatly reduces the risk of Lyme Disease. Granted it’s hotter than Hades outside, but wearing protective clothing such as a hat, long-sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks or boots prevents ticks from attaching to visible skin.

    Do you have a dog or cat that likes to roam outside? The simple act of rubbing your pet down with a towel before letting them back in the house can shake any bugs off its fur. Also, be sure to keep your critter up to date with its flea and tick medication. Have a safe, disease-free summer!