For animals, fur is more than simply a stylish accessory—it keeps them warm in the winter months. It also contributes to their distinct look. However, did you know that some animals could look drastically different when they are completely bald?
After being saved, an amazing creature that seemed like a hairless cat turned out to be an exceptional and unusual hairless raccoon. Let’s explore the tale of this unusual creature and her amazing survival!
Hope for Wildlife, a charitable conservation group based in Nova Scotia, had an unexpected guest last month. During the bitterly cold winter, a couple in West Arichat found a shivering animal in their property. The animal seemed like a Sphynx cat at first, but it was actually a completely bald raccoon!
Without its distinctive fur pattern that resembles a mask, raccoons are difficult to distinguish. This small animal, a northern raccoon, is completely bald as a result of severe alopecia. Although balding raccoons have been seen before, according to Hope for Wildlife director Hope Swinimer, this particular raccoon’s condition was the worst. It’s merely tufts of fur around the feet, ankles, and nose, she said. This situation is serious.
The raccoon was named Rufus, after the character from the show Kim Possible who was a naked mole rat, even though it was a female. The precise reason behind Rufus’ hair loss is still unknown. According to the rescue group, she might have an autoimmune disease that is harming her hair follicles. Since her skin seemed healthy, they ruled out conditions including parasites, mange, and fungal illnesses.
Raccoons depend on their fur to keep warm and shield them from the weather. The fact that Rufus avoided frostbite or worse throughout the hard winter without fur astounded the rescuers.
“We’re pretty amazed that this little lady survived the winter without fur and without getting frostbite or worse,” they gushed on Facebook. They went on to talk about Rufus’ lively attitude and said that her own willpower was the reason she was able to survive. Despite her initial state of debilitation, she eventually began to exhibit indications of recovery, developing resilience and strength.
Rufus might end up staying at the shelter permanently given the conditions. She’ll have a dedicated habitat with an outside area she can crawl into to be warm. In addition, the environment will provide conveniences like nesting boxes and hammocks.
This amazing hairless raccoon has us completely enthralled! We are happy that Rufus was discovered and is finally getting the attention she needs. It’s amazing how she was able to live in the wild for such a long time.Please tell people about this amazing story if you love animals!
Typhoon Kong-rey Has One of Largest Eyes Ever Seen: ‘Absolutely Massive’
Ameteorologist has pointed out the sheer size of Typhoon Kong-rey’s eye as the massive storm approached Taiwan on Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Typhoon Kong-rey had maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, according to the website Zoom Earth. The storm has weakened slightly since Tuesday night, when it was categorized as a super typhoon with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane. Forecasts anticipate that Typhoon Kong-rey will weaken further by the time it makes landfall in Kaohsiung in the early morning hours on Thursday.
On Tuesday night, meteorologist Noah Bergren of TV station WOFL in Orlando, Florida, commented on the size of the storm’s eye.
“Super Typhoon Kong-rey is easily one of the largest eye’s in a major tropical system you will ever see on Earth,” Bergren posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Thing is absolutely massive.”
A wave crashes outside of Fugang Harbor in Taitung, Taiwan, ahead of Typhoon Kong-rey on Wednesday. The storm is expected to make landfall in Taiwan early Thursday morning. Annabelle Chih/Getty
AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert told Newsweek that having a large eye doesn’t necessarily imply anything about the storm’s strength.
“It just means the winds with it are farther away from the center than if it was a smaller eye,” he said. “It doesn’t necessarily have any major defining characteristic of the storm.”
Reppert added that a stronger storm that’s been around longer usually has a wider eye than a newer storm.
Most spaghetti models—or computer models illustrating potential storm paths—show Kong-rey making landfall on Taiwan’s southeast coast and cutting across the island before emerging with maximum sustained winds of around 75 mph. Models indicate that the typhoon will exhibit a northeastern turn away from China, which will take it out to the East China Sea.
Kong-rey’s strength is uncharacteristic for this time of year, The New York Times reported, adding that the typhoon is expected to make landfall equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane.
Reppert warned that strong winds up to 140 mph with higher gusts could hit southern Taiwan, though the storm is expected to weaken as it moves over the island. An AccuWeather report warned of “significant structural damage, mudslides and landslides” from the storm, as up to 3 feet of rain is expected to lash Taiwan. The storm could either maintain its intensity or strengthen before it makes landfall early Thursday.
Eastern China and Japan also are expecting heavy rain as the storm progresses.
A typhoon is classified as a severe tropical cyclone occurring in the Northwest Pacific. A hurricane is the term for the same type of storm in the Northeast Pacific and Northern Atlantic. Outside of these regions, the storms are called tropical cyclones.
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