Trail Mix

 Epic Smugglers: In February, federal customs agents seized 22 pounds of illegal animal meat (in a wide array) at the Dallas-Fort Worth

International Airport. Among the tasty items were raw chicken, pig and cow meat, brains, hearts, heads, tongues and feet -- in addition to (wrote a reporter) "other body parts" (if there even are any other edible parts). In a typical day nationwide, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seizes about 4,600 smuggled plant or animal products. [WFAA-TV, 2-10-2017]

 And a Partridge in a Pear Tree: In February, a pet welfare organization complained of a raid on a home near Lockhart, Texas, that housed more than 400 animals (and, of course, reeked "overpowering(ly)" of urine). The inventory: 86 snakes, 56 guinea pigs, 28 dogs, 26 rabbits, 15 goats, 9 doves, 8 skinks, 7 pigs, 6 pigeons, 4 gerbils, 3 bearded dragons, 2 ducks and 1 tarantula -- plus about 150 rats and mice (to feed the menagerie) and 20 other animals whose numbers did not fit the above lyric pattern. [San

Antonio Express-News, 2-22-2017]

“Did You Know?” facts sourced from http:// www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/28/sciencefacts_n_4344759.html

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