Whether it’s a bunny in a garden bed, a bluebird in a tree, or a duck in a bush, spring tends to bring nesting wildlife to our yards. But what do you do when an animal chooses to make a home near yours? “My two biggest things are: Stay away from the nest or the little family as much as possible, and stay curious,” Brittney Yohannes, a spokesperson for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, told the Associated Press. Get more expert advice.
Must Reads
Got a “dead zone” in your home? Consider turning it into a family coworking space
World-First Batteries Could Prevent Life-Threatening Injuries for Kids
Energizer
More than 3,500 Americans — many of them young children — swallow button batteries each year, which can lead to life-threatening internal tissue burns. But Energizer just took an innovative step to help protect kids: On Wednesday, the company debuted its Ultimate Child Shield 20-millimeter coin lithium batteries, calling them the first of their kind to not cause ingestion burns. Often used to power everyday items like remotes and toys, coin lithium batteries are typically made with stainless steel. But the Ultimate Child Shield versions, which come in sizes 2032, 2025, and 2016, instead use a titanium alloy material that eliminates the risk of burning, according to Energizer, though the batteries can still cause issues like choking if swallowed. To help caregivers notice and act quickly if children ingest the devices, they also feature a nontoxic dye that interacts with saliva to turn the mouth blue seconds after contact, as well as a bitter coating meant to dissuade swallowing. For Trista Hamsmith, whose 18-month-old daughter died after ingesting a button battery six years ago, the new product signifies positive progress. “We’re always gonna have batteries. That’s just life,” she told ABC News, “But what we can do is continue to look forward in making these products as safe as possible.” Learn what to do if your child swallows a lithium button battery.
What happens when you combine essential electrolytes with natural remedies? You get ZYN — the turmeric electrolyte drink mix bringing ancient healing wisdom to your modern wellness routine. Turmeric is known for its powerful immune-boosting and inflammation-reducing properties, but getting enough of it through food alone can be a challenge. One serving of ZYN combines up to 15 turmeric roots, 100% of your daily value of vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc, and electrolytes like sodium for maximum health benefits. Plus, it includes piperine (a compound found in black pepper) to ensure your body actually absorbs all the benefits.
New Route 66 Stamps Showcase Photographer’s Lifelong Love of the Iconic Roadway
U.S. Postal Service
As Route 66 continues its centennial celebration, the U.S. Postal Service is getting in on the festivities. A set of eight Forever stamps commemorating the iconic highway was released this week, each featuring an image from one of the eight states the Mother Road traverses. The photos on the stamps — showing an old-school motel in Missouri, an Art Deco cafe in Texas, and other nostalgic pit stops — were taken by photographer David J. Schwartz. Having made 42 trips along Route 66 over the past 20 years, Schwartz is intimately acquainted, even enamored, with his subject. “It’s just an incredible journey and you just get such a beautiful slice of America going through it,” he told the Associated Press. Schwartz runs a website called Pics on Route 66, and his work caught the attention of Greg Breeding, an art director for stamp design at the Postal Service. “They’re as if you were there,” Breeding said of the images, “which makes them especially useful for stamps.” The set contains two of each stamp as well as a larger surrounding photo of the open road in Seligman, Arizona. Schwartz shared: “I hope they really inspire people to get out there and travel the road and support the mom-and-pop businesses and keep Route 66 alive for another 100 years.” Get a closer look at the stamps and the stories behind them.
Humanity
The Founders of an Anti-Bullying Nonprofit on How to Raise Kind Kids
LSOphoto/iStock
Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson are the founders of Kind Campaign, a nonprofit that brings awareness and healing to the negative effects of bullying on school-age kids. In honor of Mother’s Day tomorrow, they wrote a guest post for Nice News about how to raise kind children. At the end of the day, every mother wants the same thing: to raise a good human. To watch her child move through the world with a heart open enough to really see other people and treat them with care. That instinct has always mattered. But in a world that can feel increasingly divided and noisy, it matters more than ever. Kindness isn’t a personality trait that kids either have or don’t. It’s a skill. And like any skill, it has to be taught, practiced, and most importantly, modeled. We’ve spent almost two decades traveling the world with Kind Campaign, speaking in schools and connecting with millions of students, parents, and educators. We’re also raising kids of our own and, throughout it all, we’ve learned one thing for certain: Kindness starts at home.Here are five tips for raising kind kids.
In Other News
The FDA greenlit expanded access to an experimental pancreatic cancer drug that could transform treatment (read more)
Scientists calculated the most precise rate yet of the universe’s expansion — and it’s “mind-boggingly small” (read more)
A newProfessional Women’s Hockey League team will represent Detroit, thanks in part to a push from fans (read more)
Urban farms could meet nearly 30% of Europe’s fruit and veg demands, according to a new study (read more)
Mysterious, shimmery blue sea creatures are washing up on West Coast shores in droves (read more)
Inspiring Story
Sweet treats and gestures
Wendy House’s neighborhood bakery serves up delicious goods like cinnamon rolls and caramelized onion gruyere sourdough — but it has no storefront, cash register, or checkout line. On the brink of becoming an empty nester, the mom of four launched the establishment out of a small greenhouse in her driveway in the Portland, Oregon, area, relying on the honor system for compensation. “It fills my cup week after week,” she said.
Photo of the Day
Yavuz Gorur—Anadolu/Getty Images
It’s World Migratory Bird Day, coinciding with the season when many avians take to the skies — including this flock of flamingos, which soared over Turkey last week. If you’re hoping to help migrating birds along as they pass through your backyard this spring, it’s important to clean your birdbath regularly: Check out this guide to keeping yours in tip-top shape.
VINIA: Hydration Isn’t Just About Drinking More Water
Most people think hydration starts with what you drink — but hydration only works if your body can deliver fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients where they’re needed, and that’s controlled by blood flow. VINIA supports this system by delivering deeper hydration through increased blood flow, so you feel more energized, clear, and balanced. Use code NICENEWS15 for 15% off.
