Projects, Pests and Parasites

My sister was told of a ninety-nine year old lady who still lives on her own. When asked her longevity secret, she replied "I plan a project for each day. It gives me a reason to get up and carry on."

What a wise concept!! Each winter I spend way too much time on the couch than is good for me. Planned projects, even small ones, are the way to go. It can be as simple as weeding and cleaning a cupboard or as ambitious as building a piece of furniture. The project doesn't have to be completed in a day but at least worked on. Goodness knows, I've plenty of home projects to choose from. And the sense of accomplishment would be sweet! 

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My order of mice repellent arrived. It was the last of Amazon's stock. No longer available, I wonder if the ingredients were deemed hazardous in this country. I'm very suspicious that the Chinese manufacturer did not list all of the ingredients. The smell reminds me of moth balls mixed with Mist-o-van. Not pleasant but I think the mice will agree and leave my snowblower alone in future.   

Little green gift pouches for the pastilles.

Pretty sure that wild boars are not in the rodent family!

 

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Asian lady beetles are now a common pest throughout Ontario, particularly in farming areas such as mine. They are about 1/4 inch long and enter homes in the Fall. I do my best to remove them with the vacuum cleaner. Now that Spring is here, they have emerged from their hiding places and are at the windows, looking to get out. I hope the four new and tighter fitting outside doors I ordered will impede their entry somewhat. By the way, I still have no delivery date for those doors. If I don't hear from the company by mid-April, I'll give them a call.

Asian Lady Beetles are currently swarming at my windows.

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Ellie Mae had a veterinary appointment on Wednesday. She needs parasite treatment and prevention, ears cleaned and treated, a cyst removed from her neck and vaccines. 

Because she is an unsocialized feral animal, being handled and examined by humans (other than me) is out of the question! So Ellie was prescribed a sedative to be mixed with food and taken two hours before her appointment.

 

 

I skipped a couple of her meals so that she would be hungry enough to eat the liquid tranquilizer mixed with one of her favourite snacks -- smoked oysters. She gave it a quick sniff and utterly refused to eat any of it!!!

As her appointment drew near, using the 'pillow case' method, I transferred a thrashing and growling Ellie Mae into the carrier.

 

 

I got about half way down the steps to the waiting car when she 'exploded' out of the carrier. Somehow, in her panic and desperation she contorted and sprang it's door open. Don't ever under estimate a cat's strength! Free from captivity, she bolted for and hid behind my woodpile in the garage. All I could do was phone the vet and cancel the appointment.

A few hours later, Ellie Mae was on the deck and meowing to be let in. Weirdly, after such a traumatic event, she was all tail up and purring and asking for her treats.

When I calmed down and had a think, I revised my capture plan. The need for a stronger cage was obvious. My Havahart trap, designed to hold an adult raccoon should do. With the addition of a padded floor, a cover/drawstring catch bag and a reinforced door jam I think it will be tiger proof -- or at least Ellie Mae proof. I made her a new appointment for Monday morning. She will be given a sedation injection by the vet.

 

My beefed up carrier with cover/capture bag.

 

Don't let her looks fool you. She can be dy-no-mite!!!

 

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Raccoons are now fully awake and foraging for food. This of course involves raiding my bird feeders. Until next winter, I'll have a little extra chore -- bringing the feeders inside each evening and then re-hanging them the next morning.

A sure sign that raccoons are back in business.

Looks like a party of three visited the feeders.

 

A grand old Elm beside a line of Spruces near my home.

 

Welcome back, Mr. Muddy-Beak!