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EMIL
FRANZI |
Wildlife has
its own brand of politicsSeptember 26, 2007 |
Time to break from
the political and give some advice on pets and
wildlife.
Many people moved here from long established urban areas and are unfamiliar with the local critter populations and how they relate to dogs and cats. The following derives from 35 years of living in what is still semi-rural space. Even those living in high densities close enough to open desert will run into the following: Coyotes Coyotes meeting a dog usually opt for discretion unless they are very hungry and the dog is small or weak. We once acquired a tough little Lhasa Apso who’d been spotted by neighbor kids living in the rough for several weeks. She was one of the lucky ones. Long-timers out here have all acquired strays that way over the years, but many other pets didn’t make it. Shame on those who dumped them. Coyotes get a bad wrap. A small dog or cat goes MIA and most figure it was coyotes because they see them. Real culprit is often those nocturnal predators, owls Owls A full-sized barn owl can lift 25 pounds. We lost five outdoor cats (some experienced desert dwellers) in two weeks. Only the three big fat ones were left. Not a hard case to make. Once Kathy was coaxing a recalcitrant kitty back inside when an owl landed on a cactus about 50 feet away. It was about 18 inches high. Shortly, two more joined it on other cacti and I thought we were in an old Hitchcock movie. Then the sky darkened and what had to be the momma landed behind them. She looked to be about 30 inches high with at least a 6-foot wingspan. The cat finally came in, giving a happy ending to that ordeal. I suggest anyone disbelieving this to spend a little time at the Desert Museum Aviary. You probably ought to do that anyway, it’s a fascinating place. Colorado River Toads They often emerge after a good summer rain. Dogs who decide to chomp or even just lick can die a miserable death as the toad skin’s poison closes off the windpipe. Immediate relief involves sticking a hose into the dog’s mouth and washing it out — sideways, not down the throat. We lost a beautiful young golden retriever to a toad some years ago and my good friend County Supervisor Ray Carroll lost the family’s beloved Scotty just last month. Bobcats and Mountain Lions Bobcats are brazen, lions shy. I’ve seen plenty of the former, only one of the latter over the years slinking across the road about 100 yards away. Bobcats will nail small pets. So if you haven’t gathered it yet, keep the little guys indoors. Fences keep your guys in but they rarely keep anything out that wants in. Rattlesnakes These snakes are more dangerous at certain times of year when shedding or emerging from hibernation and hence blind and irrational. October is a big month so be extra careful. Dogs need snake training and the cost is worth it, we’ve had two bite incidents in 35 years. Treatment, while successful, was costly Now it’s about $2000! Check with the Humane Society for class schedule. Most of the time the rattlesnake will just move on, he isn’t looking for a fight. I never kill them unless they are cornered and won’t leave. Remember, they’re useful, they eat those obnoxious packrats that chew up engine compartments. Javelina Not pigs, more like big rats. Usually travel in herds. Nocturnal and have lousy eyesight. They spook easy as their kids often tag along. Big tusks can rip a dog deciding to annoy them. Like with everything else, back off and they usually will too. We walk four dogs four times daily and in the course of a month run into just about all of the above probably several times. We live on large acreage across the street from Oro Valley and are happy to report that we have still haven’t been annexed.
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BUT WATCH WHAT YOU SAY! |
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