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Rick LeCouteur
Inviting young readers to marvel at the wonder of nature's creatures
Rick's Blog
#bunyipsbooksbeyond
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In Search of Integrity: A reflection on modern veterinary medicine (#333)
Are ethics, honesty, and integrity old school in Veterinary Medicine? The Quiet Cost of Conflicts of Interest and Commitment  Once upon...
Rick LeCouteur
May 302 min read
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Public Office, Private Interests: A quiet reckoning in veterinary medicine (#332)
The evolving relationship between veterinary schools and corporate animal health companies raises important questions about  integrity , ...
Rick LeCouteur
May 294 min read
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Cheetah Coalition: The blinded eye and the loyal heart (#331)
In the golden grasslands of Africa, speed is everything. To be a cheetah is to carry the burden of being the fastest land animal on...
Rick LeCouteur
May 273 min read
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Crows & Ravens: The consciousness of corvids (#330)
As children, many of us watched a crow tilt its head or a raven glide overhead and wondered: What’s going on inside their minds?  For...
Rick LeCouteur
May 264 min read
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Why Orange Cats Are (Mostly) Boys: Science cracks the code (#329)
For years, the genetic mystery of orange cats has gone unsolved. While their personalities have long inspired memes, comic strips, and...
Rick LeCouteur
May 264 min read
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When Nature Imitates Politics: The southern flannel moth (#328)
Deep within the forests of the southeastern United States and parts of the Amazon, a peculiar caterpillar has captured public attention,...
Rick LeCouteur
May 252 min read
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Titanic’s Missing Passenger: A cat named Jenny (#327)
Among the many legends to drift from the wreckage of the RMS Titanic , one tale stands out. Not for tragedy, but for survival. Her name...
Rick LeCouteur
May 242 min read
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Snollygoster: A deliciously devious word (#326)
Every now and then, the English language coughs up a word so curious, so characterful, and so loaded with sly charm that it demands to be...
Rick LeCouteur
May 242 min read
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Mutualism: Children’s picture books inspire cooperation (#325)
A mutualistic relationship is when two organisms of different species work together, each benefiting from the relationship.  Organisms...
Rick LeCouteur
May 233 min read
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The Myth of Being the Best: What does #1 really mean for Vet Schools? (#324)
Graduation season is upon us. Across campuses and live streams around the world, proud deans will take the podium, look out at rows of...
Rick LeCouteur
May 112 min read
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The Great Deception: When ‘independently owned’ means ‘corporate controlled’ (#323)
Walk into a veterinary hospital in your neighborhood and you might be greeted by warm staff, a comforting logo, and a sign that proudly...
Rick LeCouteur
May 112 min read
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The Unseen Teacher: The Animal as the Fourth Educator (#322)
Over the past decade, a quiet revolution has taken root in early childhood education: animals are increasingly being recognized not just...
Rick LeCouteur
May 93 min read
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Wildlife, Wilderness, and the Wrecking Ball: Undoing decades... (#321)
A Relentless Retreat from Environmental Protection and Wildlife Conservation  The first 100 days of the current administration’s return...
Rick LeCouteur
May 44 min read
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The Chewy - PetSmart - BC Partners Saga (3 of 5): Who is BC Partners and does it matter? (#320)
Parts 1 and 2 of this series of posts on the Chewy - PetSmart - BC Partners Saga examined how Chewy evolved from a niche online pet...
Rick LeCouteur
May 34 min read
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In Praise of the Contrarian (2 of 2): When animals defy the norm (#319)
While contrarianism  is a human concept rooted in reasoning and culture, certain animals behave in ways that resemble contrarianism :...
Rick LeCouteur
May 22 min read
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In Praise of the Contrarian (1 of 2): A Case for thinking differently (#318)
In a world that often rewards conformity and consensus, the contrarian walks a different path. Â Whether in science, politics, art, or...
Rick LeCouteur
May 23 min read
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Veterinary Medicine for Sale: When profit replaces purpose (#317)
Increasingly, private equity firms  and  multinational corporations are in charge. Not veterinarians.  In the U.S., U.K., Australia,...
Rick LeCouteur
May 13 min read
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The Chewy – PetSmart – BC Partners Saga (2 of 5): Raymond Svider & the billion dollar bet (#316)
In the world of private equity, convention is king: borrow big, slash costs, and squeeze profits. Â But Raymond Svider , Chairman and...
Rick LeCouteur
Apr 303 min read
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The Chewy – PetSmart – BC Partners Saga (1 of 5): Pet food to power play (#315)
In a previous Rick’s Blog  post, titled Chewy’s Big Play , we looked at how Chewy evolved from a niche online pet retailer into a...
Rick LeCouteur
Apr 303 min read
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Restoring Columbus Day: A step backward for America (#314)
Columbus was a skilled navigator and undeniably changed world history by linking Europe and the Americas. Â But when you look closely at...
Rick LeCouteur
Apr 284 min read
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