Sheryl White
Once in a while we luck up and get to see wildlife around the shore and occasionally swimming across the lake. This week Capt. Steve and his crew captured video of a mother black bear with her 3 cubs and me and my crew cautiously followed two wild piglets as they swam across the channel in Laurel Fork Creek. Mama pig was nowhere to be seen. These little pigs were strong swimmers and made it swiftly and safely onto shore before disappearing into the forest, squealing as they went. Even though wild pigs are very destructive animals, it’s hard not to admire their strength, intelligence and cuteness. What is it about baby animals (and babies in general) that make us feel so good? Well, it turns out this phenomenon has a name– kindchenschema or baby schema. It’s this collection of attributes like chubby cheeks and body, large eyes and wobbly movements that attract our attention. Neural activity triggers a nurturing instinct in our brains that has helped species survive for ages. For a deeper understanding of this behavior, check out this interesting article by National Geographic. It may help explain why we ooh and aah over all things’ baby’. ~Sheryl White, JLT Naturalist Guide