Maija Karala
@maijakarala.bsky.social
Illustrator, science writer and a bit of a crazy rat lady. Paleontology, biodiversity, animal behaviour.
At this time of the year, I find myself daydreaming about faraway places. I miss sunshine and warmth, tall mountains and blue seas and green forests. And insects.
This was the front cover of children's magazine Sieppo a few years ago, set in the Sinharaja rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka.
This was the front cover of children's magazine Sieppo a few years ago, set in the Sinharaja rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka.
November 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
At this time of the year, I find myself daydreaming about faraway places. I miss sunshine and warmth, tall mountains and blue seas and green forests. And insects.
This was the front cover of children's magazine Sieppo a few years ago, set in the Sinharaja rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka.
This was the front cover of children's magazine Sieppo a few years ago, set in the Sinharaja rainforest reserve in Sri Lanka.
A little chain of scritches.
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 PM
A little chain of scritches.
Shelter cats.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
November 3, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Shelter cats.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
I visited the animal shelter at Lohja, southern Finland, in preparation for an upcoming book project. Despite decades of work, cats still end up in shelters in shocking numbers.
I’m not usually a cat person but seeing these poor guys, I might have taken a few home with me if I could.
Wake me up when spring comes, please.
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Wake me up when spring comes, please.
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
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.
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
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).
Phew, finally done with the introductions! It took almost three weeks this time, but all the big boy rats have now accepted the newcomers.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
October 30, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Phew, finally done with the introductions! It took almost three weeks this time, but all the big boy rats have now accepted the newcomers.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
There doesn't seem to be any rule to the varying difficulty of rat introductions. It can take a couple of ours or a month - just roll the dice and try.
I haven’t had much time for drawing anything personal lately, but here’s a quick doodle of my rat Hönö, who curled into this seemingly very uncomfortable position and then promptly fell asleep using himself as a pillow.
October 29, 2025 at 5:30 PM
I haven’t had much time for drawing anything personal lately, but here’s a quick doodle of my rat Hönö, who curled into this seemingly very uncomfortable position and then promptly fell asleep using himself as a pillow.
Beginning of the Polar Night.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
October 29, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Beginning of the Polar Night.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
It's this time of the year again - sun barely rises and is most of the time obscured by clouds. Back in the Cretaceous, Arctic winters would have been even darker and greyer: warmer climate meant little snow, and studies suggest a permanent polar cloud cap. Poor dinos.
Hyvin todennäköisesti! Tule piipahtamaan meidän osastolla, jos muilta kiireiltä ehdit.
October 25, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Hyvin todennäköisesti! Tule piipahtamaan meidän osastolla, jos muilta kiireiltä ehdit.
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
October 24, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Spiny friends!
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
Stegosaurs bore a fantastical variety of bony plates, spines and osteoderms, probably a mix between ornamental, defensive and offensive.
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.
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
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.
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.
And to end with a lovely little detail: yesterday, Taika was meeting the little ones and apparently liked them so much that he refused to go back to the big cage with the big boys. Instead, he moved in with the babies. I tried to offer him his usual home several times, but he just wouldn't have it.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
And to end with a lovely little detail: yesterday, Taika was meeting the little ones and apparently liked them so much that he refused to go back to the big cage with the big boys. Instead, he moved in with the babies. I tried to offer him his usual home several times, but he just wouldn't have it.
I’m taking an in-between approach with a short confinement in a moderately small space to ease their tensions enough that they actually can get to know each other without the babies getting immediately attacked by Rufus and Elmo. So far it's looking very promising. Wish us luck!
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I’m taking an in-between approach with a short confinement in a moderately small space to ease their tensions enough that they actually can get to know each other without the babies getting immediately attacked by Rufus and Elmo. So far it's looking very promising. Wish us luck!
There are several ways to continue. Some rely on a shared stressful event (being shut in a small container) to bring them together, others on a wider space that allows getting away from each other.
In any case, it's important to do it in a unfamiliar place with no valuable resources to defend.
In any case, it's important to do it in a unfamiliar place with no valuable resources to defend.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
There are several ways to continue. Some rely on a shared stressful event (being shut in a small container) to bring them together, others on a wider space that allows getting away from each other.
In any case, it's important to do it in a unfamiliar place with no valuable resources to defend.
In any case, it's important to do it in a unfamiliar place with no valuable resources to defend.
Luckily, rats have a high inhibition against seriously biting each other – which is very much needed, because their teeth are like scalpels attached to a power tool.
Bullying babies mostly means holding them in place while sniffing aggressively. It’s scary enough for the little ones, though.
Bullying babies mostly means holding them in place while sniffing aggressively. It’s scary enough for the little ones, though.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Luckily, rats have a high inhibition against seriously biting each other – which is very much needed, because their teeth are like scalpels attached to a power tool.
Bullying babies mostly means holding them in place while sniffing aggressively. It’s scary enough for the little ones, though.
Bullying babies mostly means holding them in place while sniffing aggressively. It’s scary enough for the little ones, though.
I was pretty shocked that Elmo, who seems like such a cuddly sweetheart, threw a full-on tantrum about the babies, puffing and hissing and chattering. It just shows I didn't really see him as he is - an adult individual of his species - and expected him to behave like the stuffed toy he looks like.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I was pretty shocked that Elmo, who seems like such a cuddly sweetheart, threw a full-on tantrum about the babies, puffing and hissing and chattering. It just shows I didn't really see him as he is - an adult individual of his species - and expected him to behave like the stuffed toy he looks like.
In these first meetings, some of the adults were immediately friendly, others suspicious and mildly threatening and two – Rufus and Elmo – were very upset.
Psychologically, it can difficult to accept our pets are adult animals that can behave in ways that seem mean and even irrational to us.
Psychologically, it can difficult to accept our pets are adult animals that can behave in ways that seem mean and even irrational to us.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
In these first meetings, some of the adults were immediately friendly, others suspicious and mildly threatening and two – Rufus and Elmo – were very upset.
Psychologically, it can difficult to accept our pets are adult animals that can behave in ways that seem mean and even irrational to us.
Psychologically, it can difficult to accept our pets are adult animals that can behave in ways that seem mean and even irrational to us.
With territorial animals, simply throwing new babies in with the adults is generally a bad idea. Instead, exchanging scents (used bedding, for example) and meeting outside their usual homes (such as in a different room) are good ways to start. These also work with many other pets.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
With territorial animals, simply throwing new babies in with the adults is generally a bad idea. Instead, exchanging scents (used bedding, for example) and meeting outside their usual homes (such as in a different room) are good ways to start. These also work with many other pets.
Rats are somewhat unusual among small pets in that unrelated adult males can be kept together and can accept newcomers too – at least young ones. Introducing adult male rats is quite dangerous and usually not advised though.
At the moment, I have 9 adults that I’m introducing two youngsters to.
At the moment, I have 9 adults that I’m introducing two youngsters to.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Rats are somewhat unusual among small pets in that unrelated adult males can be kept together and can accept newcomers too – at least young ones. Introducing adult male rats is quite dangerous and usually not advised though.
At the moment, I have 9 adults that I’m introducing two youngsters to.
At the moment, I have 9 adults that I’m introducing two youngsters to.
Pet rat update: we have new babies! 💗
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
October 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Pet rat update: we have new babies! 💗
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
These adorable little boys moved in a week ago. I’ve been getting to know them, trying to think of names and slowly introducing them to the big boys. It has been a bit more of a hassle than anticipated.
A little thread on introducing new pets to older ones.
Goblins behind a screen of feathers, old and new.
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
October 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Goblins behind a screen of feathers, old and new.
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
Since living dinosaurs look somewhat unhinged without their feathers, the same was probably true of their ancient non-avian cousins, such as Velociraptor.
#Sciart
October moths
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
October 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
October moths
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Even now it’s not too late to cling to the last remnants of summer and go looking for moths. These are some of the species that can still be seen in Finland & elsewhere in Northern Europe, drawn after my own photos.
Elmo has a lovely personality. Though he's a bit more temperamental and sensitive than, say, Lumo and Taika, he's also active, human-oriented and very cuddly.
No matter how many rats I have, there are never two that are the same. Their lives are such short flickers, but each one bright and unique.
No matter how many rats I have, there are never two that are the same. Their lives are such short flickers, but each one bright and unique.
October 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Elmo has a lovely personality. Though he's a bit more temperamental and sensitive than, say, Lumo and Taika, he's also active, human-oriented and very cuddly.
No matter how many rats I have, there are never two that are the same. Their lives are such short flickers, but each one bright and unique.
No matter how many rats I have, there are never two that are the same. Their lives are such short flickers, but each one bright and unique.
From a pet breeder point of view, this other extreme has both benefits and downsides. There's a good likelihood of healthy, long-lived animals.
On the other hand, variation in traits such as personality can be large and unpredictable. The pups don't necessarily much resemble their parents.
On the other hand, variation in traits such as personality can be large and unpredictable. The pups don't necessarily much resemble their parents.
October 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
From a pet breeder point of view, this other extreme has both benefits and downsides. There's a good likelihood of healthy, long-lived animals.
On the other hand, variation in traits such as personality can be large and unpredictable. The pups don't necessarily much resemble their parents.
On the other hand, variation in traits such as personality can be large and unpredictable. The pups don't necessarily much resemble their parents.