THANKSGIVING NO-NOS
By Ruby, The Zipper Nose Doberman It’s tempting to get caught up in Thanksgiving holiday cheer and indulge your dog by fixing them their own special Thanksgiving feast from the…
Hoffmann’s Reptiles, Concord’s Last Independent Pet Store
by David King. In 1980, Concord had about 10 pet stores. There was no Pet Co. or PetSmart. No internet. Dan Hoffmann had opened his 800 square-foot store, an exotic…
Bee Kind: Beekeepers Give Nature a Boost
by Jill Hedgecock In April 2016, researchers reported that beekeepers experienced a dramatic reduction in viable beehives (i.e., 42% increase in hive loss) compared to 2015. This unprecedented phenomenon was…
Changing Lives, One Miniature Horse at a Time
By Jill Hedgecock, Program Coordinator, Mount Diablo branch of the California Writers Club www.jillhedgecock.com Since its inception on January 1st, 2013, Walnut-Creek’s Angels for Minis has found homes for 382…
Lions, Rattlesnakes and Bears!
Residents have reported mountain lion sightings near Clayton, Pleasant Hill, and in Martinez. There have been numerous rattlesnake sightings and snakebites. In Lake Tahoe, Clayton resident David Moss recently survived…
After the Racetrack: Greyhounds Find a Loving Finish Line
By Jill Hedgecock On May 12, 2018, Heather Weir drove into Walnut Creek with a trailer filled with 27 greyhounds rescued from a Florida racetrack. Their arrival marked the end…
Elephant Seals: Back from the Brink of Extinction
By Jill Hedgecock Between December and March, a spectacular event happens at Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS). An ever-growing herd of adult northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, descends to breed…
Fewer Bird Species Found in Contra Costa
Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count by Jill Hedgecock Photos courtesy of Diane Walsh Birds are considered an important economic resource for the hunting, birding, and tourism industries or as a cultural…
Z Animal Lovers – America’s Best Dog Walkers?
Incredible Concord Business Inspired by a Puppy on a Golf Course Z Animal Lover, owned by Zane Flynn and Lisa McCormick may be the world’s best dog walkers. Residents who…
Rattlesnake Wranglers
Sgt. Louis (Lou) Fraser is a retired disabled veteran with a small pension. He is also owner of the Rattlesnake Removal company out of Rocklin and Vallejo. He is one…
Living Around Mt. Diablo — Red Tail Hawk
This red tail hawk was seen on Pine Hollow Rd. in Concord preparing to have his squirrel dinner. A beautiful bird of prey doing its natural job of rodent control.…
ARE RHINOS TOO VALUABLE TO SAVE?
By Jill Hedgecock Jill Hedgecock, the Diablo Gazette Bookends columnist, became passionate about the fate of rhinos during an African safari vacation last October. After learning that three of these…