I can't believe it was September the last time I posted! Guess the change in weather has kept me out of doors more, with less time on my hands!
These fall/winter months have been perfect, with low sleeping temps at night (high 40's to low 50's) and high 60's to low 70's during the day. Wildlife patterns have changed drastically, with no snakes in sight! I've also not seen our Gila monster or any of the other lizards that were hanging around. Bird life comes and goes. We're down to two kinds of hummingbirds--black-chinned and I think, Annas. The finches are turning yellow and devouring the thistle. I try to stay up with the feeders as well as sprinkling seeds along our back wall for the quail and other ground feeders. Of course the doves are plentiful! We still have the roadrunner pair hanging around but I don't see them as often--I've been putting some dog food on the other side of the wall for them...I know, I shouldn't because it attracts more unsavory creatures, but...Our cactus fountain has turned out to be a huge success for all the birds!
Bugs are nearly gone although a few bees hang on--I have a bee trap outside because we've had two infestations of africanized honey bees--Jim is allergic. Flies are nearly gone but we did have to break down and buy a fly swatter.
It's wonderful to go for a walk at any time of the day--Jim and I took a long one on Saturday, following a narrow trail leading to the Catalinas. Didn't make it that far but we have plans to carry our lunch and more water and make a day trip out of it--must find out where the petroglyphs are....sunsets are beautiful but we need sweaters to watch them. No more drinking wine out on the back patio! We even broke down and bought some wood...looking forward to our first fire. We may even have a fire outside on the longest night of the year to bring back the light!
On another note, Buddha (standard poodle) has been punky for several days and I had him tested for valley fever. His symptoms include lethargy, lackluster interest in food--even chicken and rice--some diarrhea and intermittent lameness when on longer walks. The leg issues may be unrelated but at this point I'm hoping the diagnosis is valley fever. It's treatable and if it isn't that, I'm at a loss!
Christmas is low key out here where the sun shines so much--haven't bought a tree as yet. But grandchildren will be here on monday and they love to trim it!
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and a light-filled Solstice to everyone!
Showing posts with label valley fever. Show all posts
Showing posts with label valley fever. Show all posts
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Pack Rats--Pleistocene Survivor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pack_rat
http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/exhibits/mystery/fg_packrat.html
There are 21 different species of Neotoma from the edge of the Arctic Circle down to the tropics of Nicaragua. They have been around since 6.6 million years ago!
I'm sure many of you desert dwellers shudder when you even see the name of these destructive animals. Our neighbor has gone into lengthy detail about the problems pack rats have added to his life--most especially gnawing on wires in his car. He wishes they did not exist.
We noticed several months ago that they were taking insulation out of the front hood of our RV...we also found small bits of chewed off tubing, which made us both nervous, but so far the RV still runs. We now keep the hood up, hoping the little guys will leave it alone.
In the back yard my brand new seat cushions for the wooden bench have been gnawed and bits of stuffing removed. But I have yet to see who's doing this.
It was only yesterday that I had firm evidence of them. I was looking over the wall that surrounds our back yard and thinking about covering a hole at ground level with wire to keep out snakes when I saw an interesting mound. Had Jim been throwing sticks and dog poop over the wall here? At the base of the Palo Verde tree, it looked very much like a beaver den with well organized twigs and other detritus stacked high, and on top of it all were bits of cholla and dog poo! Several shiny pieces of paper had been cunningly added to this mound which I now know is called a midden. There have been pack rat middens discovered that are 40,000 years old!
Now I've read all about these interesting creatures--how their dens are organized into chambers where they eat, sleep and poop. They eat seeds, yucca pods, cactus and berries that they collect in the night. Their water intake is almost entirely from cactus and succulent plants. When they gather the strange bits that they add to their middens, they have been said to leave something in return, like a pebble, but another explanation given for this strange behavior is that while foraging they might find something they like better and so drop the first object.
They are said to carry plague, lyme disease and yesterday I was told their droppings carry the dust responsible for valley fever. Despite all of this I'm reluctant to do anything about their nest. I suppose if they choose to ruin our cars I'll feel differently about them. But worst case, I would trap them and take them somewhere away from here. Apparently they are easy to trap with nuts.
http://www.sdnhm.org/archive/exhibits/mystery/fg_packrat.html
There are 21 different species of Neotoma from the edge of the Arctic Circle down to the tropics of Nicaragua. They have been around since 6.6 million years ago!
I'm sure many of you desert dwellers shudder when you even see the name of these destructive animals. Our neighbor has gone into lengthy detail about the problems pack rats have added to his life--most especially gnawing on wires in his car. He wishes they did not exist.
In the back yard my brand new seat cushions for the wooden bench have been gnawed and bits of stuffing removed. But I have yet to see who's doing this.
It was only yesterday that I had firm evidence of them. I was looking over the wall that surrounds our back yard and thinking about covering a hole at ground level with wire to keep out snakes when I saw an interesting mound. Had Jim been throwing sticks and dog poop over the wall here? At the base of the Palo Verde tree, it looked very much like a beaver den with well organized twigs and other detritus stacked high, and on top of it all were bits of cholla and dog poo! Several shiny pieces of paper had been cunningly added to this mound which I now know is called a midden. There have been pack rat middens discovered that are 40,000 years old!
Now I've read all about these interesting creatures--how their dens are organized into chambers where they eat, sleep and poop. They eat seeds, yucca pods, cactus and berries that they collect in the night. Their water intake is almost entirely from cactus and succulent plants. When they gather the strange bits that they add to their middens, they have been said to leave something in return, like a pebble, but another explanation given for this strange behavior is that while foraging they might find something they like better and so drop the first object.
They are said to carry plague, lyme disease and yesterday I was told their droppings carry the dust responsible for valley fever. Despite all of this I'm reluctant to do anything about their nest. I suppose if they choose to ruin our cars I'll feel differently about them. But worst case, I would trap them and take them somewhere away from here. Apparently they are easy to trap with nuts.
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