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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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The Carolina Parakeet: A curious extinction (#337)
The once-abundant wild parrots vanished mysteriously in the early 20th century. Now scientists are closer to solving their...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 46 min read
Right Lane Ends: A Warning for Veterinary Medicine (#336)
Somewhere on a lonely stretch of asphalt, I saw a mangled guide rail twisted like a wound. Among the debris was a fractured road sign,...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 32 min read
Academic Leadership in Vet Med: Public Service or Private Profit? (#335)
In an era when public trust in institutions is eroding, the lines between service and self-interest grow increasingly difficult to...
Rick LeCouteur
Jun 13 min read
Deans, Dollars, and Divided Duties: The ethics of academic leadership on corporate boards (#334)
In academia, integrity and transparency aren’t just ideals. They're the foundation of public trust. But when university leaders step into...
Rick LeCouteur
May 313 min read
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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. Whether in science, politics, art, or...
Rick LeCouteur
May 23 min read
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