“Big or small, mammals take 21 seconds to pee“
I guess my other question would be the picture of the dog and mention he probably thinking – why are they taking a picture of me peeing?
But once again, that is the one of reasons why I live – to find these incredible and one of a kind stories. I know you’re laying awake at night wondering about this kind of stuff? I guess my next real plan of action is to time myself, know we will find out who is really reading my home seal…
So we interact with animals occasionally and we need to know how and when to react? If your doing any work at a cabin up north and/or around your home, I always suggest gloves. With Valley Fever I also suggest a dust mask because you never know what you might kick up in the air.
“Second New Mexico plague case reported” “4 cases of Plague in Colorado” Maybe you are doing some work in your attic or crawlspace and you find something, how and what do you do?
As I mentioned wear gloves and a mask as a precaution, if you are cleaning and you notice feces – stop and follow guidelines for that type of cleanup. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) http://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/plague/factsheet.asp
Always better to be safe than sorry, take precautions and follow the guidelines on cleaning or if you see rodents on your property. Also Poison Control 1-800-222-1222 may have additional information on these topics.
Pigeon Facts
You may have to click on the picture to see the two coyotes that were just trolling through this neighborhood. The trouble with these critters is that it could be your dog or cat or pet. I have seen them jump fences like it was a piece of cake.
So a bit of advice if you have a small pet, it is best to protect them from the larger predators like coyotes.
Pocket Gophers can really do some serious damage to our lawns and properties. Along with their damage they can create holes which people can fall into and often times could lead to broken bones or physical damage to young or older people. I have heard some people say “well they really don’t harm things so lets just leave them alone”? They will damage landscapes including bushes, trees and create unsightly holes and that alone should be enough to stop them from further damaging your lawn. Bushes and trees cost money and if someone falls because of a hole, how much is that doctor or urgent care call?
One of the biggest concerns is damage to playgrounds, soccer fields and areas where children run and play. They actually perform a good service aerating the soil, but the damage often seen is the dying vegetation. They rarely leave their underground complex and most damage is done to the roots of bushes, since they only feed on vegetation. They get all their water from the vegetation they consume. They breed during the Spring to early summer and often have up to 7 babies per year. So has you can see that family can grow quickly causing more damage. It is possible to have 2 -20 gophers per acre of course depending on food availability. Gophers may live up to two years and the majority will be young adults. Gophers are not known to be a significant source of any diseases transmittable to humans or animals. People can trap these critters which is time consuming or use bait injected into the ground and hidden away from prying eyes. Many additional critters may use their tunnels for their benefit including lizards and toads.
Call ProBest for more information or to schedule a visit 602-249-7378
pocket gophers
pocket gophers
The other day I rounded the entrance to my cul-de-sac and two coyotes ran out in front of my truck. This isn’t the first time that I’ve seen a coyote but is does concern me about the pets in the neighborhood. I live in the City of Phoenix, not in a rural section but a established community that has been there since the 1980’s. So why would there be coyotes in this section of the city? Coyotes thrive just about everywhere in the U.S., I think because it adapts and will eat almost anything.
Coyotes are most active at night and early morning, when there is little interaction with humans they may hunt throughout the day. I think they look cool and are similar in general appearance to a dog such as a collie. But remember they are wildlife not pets, do not feed them it will only cause more issues.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot/145432
marya (emdot) from San Luis Obispo, USA
So what can you do to prevent them from frequenting your home or backyard, I’ve seen them jump gates over 6 foot high? Installing higher fencing can help but adding this may not serve to prevent that ambitious or mischievous one from getting in. If you live on a farm or acreage with animals, you may have to get serious and install electric fencing or change the property. There are also noise machines, lighting and the use of a good size dog may be enough to scare them off.
If you are out and about driving you will see Geese in in v formation, why you ask? First lets discuss why geese migrate – usually they fly south for the winter, I would oh wait I did. Geese like to take advantage of circumstances, warmer weather generally means more food and optimal environments for their off spring. The reason they fly in that v formation is that this affords them the opportunity to waste less work on flying it actually breaks the wall of air that they fly into. The swirling air also helps push the birds behind the other and it allows them to watch and communicate with each other.
Geese are great looking birds but if they become to numerous they can be a hazard, they will attack if you get to close and they will defecate anywhere. This defecating on cement or parking lots areas is really, really slippery so please be careful walking. This morning on the way into work along the 101 they were in a field eating and there were probably over 100.
I run across some really stinky little issues from time to time, like a rodents who died within a home. So its one of those things that isn’t easy to fix, so I often recommend the odor bags. I have used these bags many times and have never been disappointed in their use.
Easy to use to remove dead rodent odors, urine and feces odors, skunk odors, musty mildew odors, and cigarette smoke odor. Doesn’t have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent and works even if carcass is not removed. Bags are easy to use and last an average of 3-4 months in use and contain no chemicals, toxins or fragrances. Simply place the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Earth Care does not mask odors it removes them. Its contents are bio-degradable, non-flammable, non-toxic, safe around children, pets & mother earth.
A friend on mine recently had an issue with bats, so I recommended he try hanging some bags near the spot where the bats had been nesting, here’s what he said:
I did exactly what Keith said and I was pleasantly surprised as to the results, odor gone. I’m sold on these bags. W. Davis – Florida
Most of us enjoy the occasional wildlife that we encounter but without some form or measure of keeping them at bay, we might have a bad encounter. You see the shows on TV where someone decides to take a picture of some creature and the creature feels threatened and attacks. It is never by the way that lone little bird, it is the Grizzly Bear that people want the picture of. Bears can run fast so unless you have a friend with you, that bear will catch your but and eat you. That therein lies the problem – they are animals and wild creatures.
I had a friend whose family raised a raccoon and this raccoon was still wild and got into trouble frequently. I’m reminded of this as we encounter wildlife in our day to day work. It is impossible to know for sure but these animals don’t know the difference between your home and a tree. It also becomes a problem when we feed them, then they become accustomed to handouts. One of my favorite little spots to visit is Monetzuma’s Castle and they used to have squirrels until one day when a squirrel bit the hand that was feeding it.The squirrel just sees the food and if isn’t given the food in a manner that it is used to it lashes out and bites.
This also applies to letting a wild animal live in your home or shed, birds and other wildlife carry parasites and once the animal is gone where are the bugs going to go? Wild animals also carry fleas and ticks and the same applies, they will seek out a new food source and that could be you. So don’t allow animals to live in your attic, if you hear something it is time to investigate.
