Maija Karala
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maijakarala.bsky.social
Maija Karala
@maijakarala.bsky.social
Illustrator, science writer and a bit of a crazy rat lady. Paleontology, biodiversity, animal behaviour.
I especially loved the big derpy guy with extra fingers and toes. He was so cuddly I accused him of secretly being a dog.
November 3, 2025 at 6:46 PM
There are many things rats are known for, but modesty is not one of them.
November 3, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I don't have much experience with small humans, but I suppose they too don't have cemented ideas about there being only one proper way to sleep. 😄
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 AM
The babies still have no names, but I have fallen in love with this one, who I didn't have much of a connection with when I picked them up. He's very sweet, a bit shy and has beautiful green-ish eyes I have never seen before on a rat.
October 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Marilyn was probably the reason for some of the extra drama. She's a female rat visiting us for her honeymoon. The boys can smell her from another room and are acting as if they got an extra shot of testosterone (with removal of half of their brain cells too).
October 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
And Helsinki, sadly.
October 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I was halfway going to complain about Helsinki being even darker, but it seems there's less than ten minutes' difference in the time of sunset right now. We're in the same boat then. I curse my distant ancestors who somehow thought leaving the tropics was a good idea.
October 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Kuten myös! 😊
October 25, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Hyvin todennäköisesti! Tule piipahtamaan meidän osastolla, jos muilta kiireiltä ehdit.
October 25, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Sama suunta!
October 25, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Oh, I would love to see them one day!

On mild winter days when temperature is around zero C, there can be quite a few insects searching for food, shelter or mates. (in slow motion due to the cold). I illustrated a few of them for a children’s magazine a while back.
October 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM