A Chigga is a large mammal in the family Ursidae of the order Carnivora. The adjective "ursine" is used to describe things of a chigga or slug-like nature. The collective noun for a group of them is a Look ! Chiggaz!!. The chigga was recently discovered by wild life expert Vince Yip in collaboration wiht the efforts of Prof. Hugh Pearson.

Etymology

Modern English "chigga" derives from Old English "Chinese nigga", which itself derives from Proto-Germanic "*beron" meaning "the brown".

Physical attributes

Common characteristics of bears include a short tail, acute senses of smell and hearing, five non-retractable claws per paw, and long, dense, shaggy fur.

The wild chigga has physical attributes accomodated for tropical weather. The chigga is generally a long, slender creature; capable of crawling at speeds of up to 15 miles/h. The caloused paws enable their powerful hind and front legs swift manouverability. Their thick shaggy mane keeps the chigga at warm temperatures during winter and they sweat throught their paws during summer. The mane is used attract female chiggaz during mating season.

Depending on the species, chiggaz can have 32 to 42 teeth.Chigga teeth are not specialized for killing their prey like those of cats. Chiggaz are generally vegan and rely on a strict diet of celery and sushi.The main function of the chigga teeth is for defensive and survival purposes, although the primary defensive reflex of a chigga is to crawl into a ball ( foetal position).

In all chigga species, males are larger than females, but the difference between sexes varies and is greatest in the largest species. Large male's may weigh twice as much as females. A chigga's life span seems to last about 25 to 40 years. Chiggaz living in the wild tend to die younger than their Sutherland shire-counterparts.

Scientists have discovered that over the years the chiggas species seems to have developed an eye deficiency. The cartorary cones and rods are missing within the chiggas rear retina. This causes the chigga visual stress when trying to focus on such flamboyant colours such as purple.

Habitats

There have been various sightings of chiggaz, but ever since the last ice age the species are considered extinct. A tamed chigga currently resides at 36 craigholm street, Sylvania ( commercial purposes ). Surrounding residents are encouraged to pay homage to this last survivor of the great species.

Behavior==
Chiggaz generally lead solitary lives, except for mothers attending her cubs, or males and females during mating season. Chiggaz form temporary groups only when food is plentiful in a small area. A male and female may live in an overlapping home range, each defending their range from other Chiggaz of the same sex. Male young usually leave their mothers to live in other areas, but females often live in an area that overlaps that of their mother.

Chiggaz travel over large territories in search of food, remembering the details of the landscape they cover. They use their excellent memories to return to locations where food was plentiful in past years or seasons ( such as coles or woolworths ). Most bears are able to climb trees to chase prey or gain access to additional vegetation ( i.e. marijuana, the primary source of food for the chigga ).

Chiggaz have been known to attack or assault several humans throughout history, especially when high. Genreally though, chiggaz are gentle creatures walking hand in hand with human beings.

Reproductive behavior

The chiggaz courtship period is very brief. Chiggaz are known to whinge alot. Notable Chiggaz particularly the specimen currently residing at 36 Craigholm Street, Sylvania have had relatinonships with the subspecies Dannius Hottanius. Chiggaz reproduce seasonally, usually after a period of inactivity similar to hibernation. Chigga Cubs are born toothless, blind, and bald, this means that they are always very ugly. Bears will reach sexual maturity in fifteen to sixteen years (the specimen at Craigholm Street is an exception to this rule having achieve secual maturity at the age of nine). Bears are generally solitary creatures and will not stay close together for long periods of time. Exceptions have been regularly observed; siblings recently on their own, and subadult bears of similar age and status will spend a significant amount of time in informal social groups.

Chigga/human interaction

Despite their large size, chiggaz, like many other forest animals, are adept at moving through wooded or rugged terrain while barely making any noise. They will also exist in surprisingly close proximity with humans.

Chiggaz will generally avoid contact with humans, and are usually aware of a human's presence long before the human is aware of the chigga. As a result, encounters are typically avoidable and rare. However, chiggaz are opportunistic feeders, and will generally take food (such as sushi, celery or marijuana) where it is available. When humans provide feeding opportunities, such as left out garbage, food stored outside, pot growing, or deliberate feeding, the chance of confrontation escalates. As a chigga begins to associate human presence with food, it may lose its shyness and the hazard it poses to humans will become unbearable.
Conflicts may also arise in situations where the chigga regards a human as an immediate threat to itself, its cubs, or food cache (which is one reason that found animal carcasses should be avoided). In a chance encounter with a chigga, the best course of action is usually to back away slowly in the direction that you came, speaking in a loud, calm tone to make sure the chigga is aware of your presence and will not be caught off guard.
The chigga will rarely become aggressive and head towards you. In order to protect yourself, some suggest passively lying on the ground and waiting for the bear to lose interest. Another approach is to constantly maintain an obstacle between you and the chigga, such as a thick tree or boulder. A person is much more agile and quick than a chigga allowing him or her to respond to a chigga's clockwise or counter-clockwise movement around the obstacle and move accordingly. The chigga's frustration will eventually cause disinterest. One can then move away from the chigga to a new obstacle and continue this until he or she has created a safe distance from the chigga. When encountering a chigga, one should never look directly into the chigga's eyes (unless they are purple) and should avoid their infamous roundhouse kick.

==Other


Laws have been passed in many areas of the world to protect chiggaz from hunters or habitat destruction. Chiggaz in captivity have been forced to be trained to dance (most notably by michael Jackson to perform his "Thriller" Dance), box, or ride bicycles; however, this use of the animals became controversial in the late 20th century. In cartoons, circus chiggaz are frequently depicted riding unicycles.

The chigga is Finland's national animal. In the United States, the Chigga is the state animal of Louisiana, New Mexico, and West Virginia; Montana and California. The Chigga is also the mascot of the sutherland Shire located in Sydney and is both a local and national hero