Julie Majid, Author at petsnpals.co

Therapists Are Turning to Snakes for Sensory Care—Here’s Why It Works

September 11, 2025 by Julie Majid

The movement and presence of snakes provide unique therapeutic benefits.

The thought of a snake being used in therapy sounds unusual, maybe even unsettling, but therapists in multiple countries are finding real value in it. The practice, called snake-assisted therapy, isn’t a gimmick. It’s rooted in sensory care, where the physical experience of interacting with a snake can help regulate emotions, ease anxiety, and even improve body awareness.

This kind of therapy highlights how unconventional approaches sometimes break through when traditional methods fall short. The gentle pressure, cool skin, and slow movements of a snake create sensations that stimulate both the body and the nervous system in surprising ways.

This Instagram-Famous Succulent Is Surprisingly Lethal

September 10, 2025September 10, 2025 by Julie Majid

The pretty plant everyone shares comes with a warning.

If your feed has been sprinkling your day with pastel pots and sculptural leaves, you have probably seen Mother of Thousands or its close cousins. The look is minimalist. The science is not. This group of Kalanchoe succulents carries cardiac glycosides that can disrupt the heart, and that makes a photogenic plant a medical topic in the wrong mouth.

We are going to stay factual, skip the drama, and follow the evidence. Think of this as a calm walk from what the plant looks like to what it does, how it spreads, and how to live with or without it. By the end, the Instagram aura will still be there, but the quiet part will make a lot more sense.

Howler Monkey and Capybara Strike Up an Unlikely Friendship at Denver Zoo, Thrilling Visitors

September 10, 2025 by Julie Majid

Two very different animals are now spending their days side by side.

At the Denver Zoo, a howler monkey and a capybara have created a daily spectacle that has both staff and visitors marveling. Their bond is unusual, partly because monkeys and capybaras don’t often share the same social circles in the wild, and partly because the animals seem genuinely comfortable together.

What started as cautious interactions between two species now looks more like companionship. Families stopping by the enclosure are witnessing an evolving connection that blurs the line between curiosity and true friendship, and it’s changing the way people think about animal relationships.

Dinosaur Tracks Emerge in Texas Riverbed After Floods Reveal Ancient Predator and Herbivore Footprints

September 10, 2025 by Julie Majid

Heavy rains peeled back layers of mud to expose a prehistoric trail.

After weeks of flooding in parts of Texas, riverbeds are drying just enough to reveal something far older than fallen trees or debris. Underneath the washed-out sediment, a network of dinosaur tracks has appeared, each footprint pressed deep into limestone more than 100 million years ago.

The discovery isn’t entirely new—these tracks have shown themselves in the past—but every reemergence brings a fresh rush of wonder. This time, both predator and herbivore tracks lie side by side, sketching out a fragment of an ancient drama left behind in stone.

Jogger Mauled in Anchorage as Second Bear Attack Shakes Alaska in One Week

September 10, 2025 by Julie Majid

Two close calls in Anchorage and Kanai leave the communities unsettled.

Anchorage has long been a city where trails thread through wild country, and every jog feels like a brush with nature. This week, that fragile balance broke when a jogger was attacked by a bear in a city greenbelt, just days after another resident survived a separate encounter.

Two bear attacks in the same week feel less like coincidence and more like a warning. Locals are rattled, wildlife officials are scrambling, and the stories surfacing now are painting a vivid picture of just how close wilderness is to the edge of daily life in Alaska’s biggest city.