This years sounder is small, maybe a dozen youngsters. I've never seen a boar hog here, but clearly they are around, there's plenty of sign. Most of these are probably gilts (that's a code word for girls).
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Pozole!
Well, okay, feral hogs. They make Superior Pozole, a mexican stew.
This years sounder is small, maybe a dozen youngsters. I've never seen a boar hog here, but clearly they are around, there's plenty of sign. Most of these are probably gilts (that's a code word for girls).
This years sounder is small, maybe a dozen youngsters. I've never seen a boar hog here, but clearly they are around, there's plenty of sign. Most of these are probably gilts (that's a code word for girls).
Poison Ivy
Is ubiquitous, and remarkably vile. There's a lot of local variation, but some characteristics are well conserved. Probably most notable are the 'three leaves'; the leaves may be of varying shape but there are always three of them. I always read that the leaves are waxy or oily...well, they are, but they sure don't look it; the oil is what sticks to you to cause the rash.
Being ivy, it's a vine. If the vine has tendrils, you are safe, it's not poison ivy. It never has flowers or berries. If the vine has tenacious roots all along it's length, you'll soon have an itchy rash. If the vine is big enough it'll look almost furry.
Diagnosis is easy, the blistered rash is characteristic, and the history of exposure is confirmatory. The rash is usually described as of a 'linear' distribution, but that's a crock. A particularly entertaining means of exposure is from laundry; its certainly not linear in distribution, and also demonstrates that a first order exposure isn't always necessary. Probably the most misery inducing exposure is by Weed Wacking.
The sooner exposed areas can be vigorously washed with strong soap (liquid Tide works well), the better. You'll still probably get a rash, but hopefully not as much. Topical hydrocortisone should be applied early and often; it can actually prevent the rash if started soon enough, like within thirty minutes or so. Oral antihistamines help, but not much. Topical benedryl will result in allergy to benedryl and should be removed from the market. If the victim is stoic enough to tolerate it, very hot water will cause amazingly intense pruritus for the duration of exposure; itching will then be relieved almost completely for a few hours. Sometimes the only effective treatment is a long steroid taper, at least ten days, fourteen is better, however this is best avoided if at all possible. Secondary infection is always a risk, but the hot water treatment minimizes that particular risk.
Here's some pictures; there are vines bigger than your arm back in the woods. Poison oak is a shrub, but otherwise the same. Poison sumac grows only in water, so it's really not something to worry about most of the time.
Being ivy, it's a vine. If the vine has tendrils, you are safe, it's not poison ivy. It never has flowers or berries. If the vine has tenacious roots all along it's length, you'll soon have an itchy rash. If the vine is big enough it'll look almost furry.
Diagnosis is easy, the blistered rash is characteristic, and the history of exposure is confirmatory. The rash is usually described as of a 'linear' distribution, but that's a crock. A particularly entertaining means of exposure is from laundry; its certainly not linear in distribution, and also demonstrates that a first order exposure isn't always necessary. Probably the most misery inducing exposure is by Weed Wacking.
The sooner exposed areas can be vigorously washed with strong soap (liquid Tide works well), the better. You'll still probably get a rash, but hopefully not as much. Topical hydrocortisone should be applied early and often; it can actually prevent the rash if started soon enough, like within thirty minutes or so. Oral antihistamines help, but not much. Topical benedryl will result in allergy to benedryl and should be removed from the market. If the victim is stoic enough to tolerate it, very hot water will cause amazingly intense pruritus for the duration of exposure; itching will then be relieved almost completely for a few hours. Sometimes the only effective treatment is a long steroid taper, at least ten days, fourteen is better, however this is best avoided if at all possible. Secondary infection is always a risk, but the hot water treatment minimizes that particular risk.
Here's some pictures; there are vines bigger than your arm back in the woods. Poison oak is a shrub, but otherwise the same. Poison sumac grows only in water, so it's really not something to worry about most of the time.
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Excellent Development!
Here at SHG there are about eight million pets, it gets pretty expensive to say the least. We've long had a low cost vet but it was such a hassle we quit going. Cattle call clinics, no parking (really, no parking), no seating in the waiting cubicle, but great vets and techs.
Ten years of $5 donations have paid off, the new Animal Alliance is open for business, and what a fabulous place, we'll be there regularly! It even has accessible parking and ramps! As you can see, the sign isn't even up yet, but we've already been for a couple of kitty surgeries:
Ten years of $5 donations have paid off, the new Animal Alliance is open for business, and what a fabulous place, we'll be there regularly! It even has accessible parking and ramps! As you can see, the sign isn't even up yet, but we've already been for a couple of kitty surgeries:
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Absconding Bees
For a variety if reasons I tried a new type hive year, they're generally called Top Bar hives, with some specific styles named after the builder or location. They've become quite popular, probably for the same reasons I wanted to try them, ease of working, DIY building at low cost, and hopefully reduced risk of ant invasion.
So the new hives were assembled and the bees installed last weekend, Italians in four frame nucs. The first nuc was not very impressive, and seemed less than likely to succeed. The second was much more vigorous.
This morning I went to inspect the hives and found the girls of the second nuc clustered on a nearby shrub. They're back in the box, the queen confirmed. I broke all the rules and put some honey in with them, hopefully they'll decide it's not all that bad a place and stay. Probably not. The lazy girls of the first nuc seemed quite at home, go figure.
The old hives are meaner than sin and laying up tons of honey, so overall the first inspection went well. Cross yet fingers for the Girls of the Second Nuc!
So the new hives were assembled and the bees installed last weekend, Italians in four frame nucs. The first nuc was not very impressive, and seemed less than likely to succeed. The second was much more vigorous.
This morning I went to inspect the hives and found the girls of the second nuc clustered on a nearby shrub. They're back in the box, the queen confirmed. I broke all the rules and put some honey in with them, hopefully they'll decide it's not all that bad a place and stay. Probably not. The lazy girls of the first nuc seemed quite at home, go figure.
The old hives are meaner than sin and laying up tons of honey, so overall the first inspection went well. Cross yet fingers for the Girls of the Second Nuc!
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