SAVING LIVES ONE HOLE AT A TIME
AUSTRALIAN WOMBATS IN CHARGE
Remember the Australian wildfires of 2019–2020? These fires ravaged large areas of the country, displacing and leaving countless animals to fight for survival. To make matters worse, swaths of the country have been dealing with drought. It’s one challenge after another for humans and animals alike. But one species has taken matters into its own “hands.” Numerous wombats have been discovered digging holes in search of water — and they found it! According to Australia’s ABC News, one group of wombats was discovered on a farm in New South Wales, which was situated over a large underground reservoir. So, the wombats went to work. One farmer, Ted Finnie, reported that wombats dug a hole roughly 4 meters deep by 20 meters wide (or about 65 feet). Their incredible work made this source of water remarkably accessible.
At this particular watering hole, Finnie captured all sorts of creatures on camera — birds, emus, possums, echidnas, and monitor lizards — congregating around the wombats’ creation. What isn’t known is how, exactly, the wombats discovered the water, but they surmise the animals likely picked up on environmental clues and dug until they found what they were looking for. Interestingly enough, wombats have been known to help other animals in the past. During the Australian fires, countless animals were left searching for refuge, and they found it in wombat burrows. While the wombats weren’t exactly welcoming other species into their homes with open arms, they seemed to “tolerate” the visitors, as one ecologist with the University of Adelaide noted. It was a case of accidental heroism, much like their search for water, but it was heroism nonetheless.
Should I Consider Hiring an Attorney for an Out-of-State Ticket? YES — HERE’S WHY
It’s vacation season! Have you ever wondered what would happen if you got an out-of-state ticket? Would you need a traffic attorney, and, if so, from which state would you hire the attorney to represent you? Say, for instance, you go up to Vegas for the weekend, and on the way back, you get a speeding ticket. If you just want to pay the fine, you could go online and search for the traffic court and see if they accept online payments. Most jurisdictions do. You can easily punch in your debit card or credit card number, pay the fine, and be done with it. But, are you really done with it? Most likely, with the Driver’s License Compact (DLC) and the Nonresident Violator Compact (NVC), the payment of the fine is only the beginning. Chances are
your home state (the state where you’re licensed) or the ticketing state belongs to one or both of these compacts. That means the states agree with each other to notify the home state of a conviction, failure to appear or pay (FTA/FTP), or otherwise resolve a ticket in their state. The result is that the home state will treat the situation as if it happened in their state. Therefore, if you go to Vegas, get a speeding ticket, and pay the fine, Nevada will notify the California DMV, and when your auto insurance comes up for renewal, you could be looking at an increased insurance premium. That’s one good reason to consult with an attorney who practices in the jurisdiction where you received the ticket. You may be able to get the ticket dismissed or prevent it from being reported on your California driving record.
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