Ecosysmp.com

posted by admin on Jul 25

If you fancy your own supply of fresh free-range eggs then perhaps now is the time to invest in a few chickens so that you need never rely on your supermarket again! As well as growing fruit and vegetables, small herb gardens and even mushrooms, many of us in the new age of austerity are turning to poultry as a means of saving some vital cash. Even if you decide to keep your chickens primarily as pets, they are fascinating creatures to watch and listen to, and if you decide to purchase a cock, you can also dispense with your alarm clock too! We can supply you with all of the chicken coop products which you require, from smaller coops suitable for two or three birds to very large chicken dens which can hold up to 100 small or medium sized birds. We can advise you on all aspects of raising chickens, including feeding and healthcare as well as the perfect size of coop or ark. Arks tend to be smaller and can be moved around your grass area ensuring fresh feeding for your chickens, but coops are perhaps more robust and durable. You can allow your chickens to wander free inside the perimeter of your property during the daytime under your supervision but always ensure that they are locked securely at night, safe from nocturnal predators such as foxes.
We can also supply feeders and drinkers as well as premium poultry food and are happy to cluck to customers at any time about poultry problems!
Always choose www.ideas-4-pets.com for dog cages and so much more!

posted by admin on Feb 26

By Fran Phalin

We all like to satisfy our winter needs for a warm, safe place with plenty of food in the pantry. But so do rodents and other animals. When these pests intrude on our property, it becomes a situation much like kicking out the unwelcome kid next door who is constantly coming over and staying past dinner, and insists on using everything in your house for his own purposes. There are several types of animals to watch out for as it gets colder: rats, mice, raccoons, and opossums.

Rats & Mice: The general types of these rodents that exist in your home can include the Norway rat, the roof (or black) rat and the house mouse. Roof rats usually stake out attics or cabinets and can climb quite well. Norway rats choose to live in the ground by digging burrows against foundations, tree trunks, and gardens. Their burrows can lead into crawl spaces and small openings around pipes which can enable them to inhabit your kitchens and bathrooms.

No matter the type of rat that lives in your home, you can be sure that it will be attracted to any food item you have in your pantry, especially high-quality food products such as meat and fresh grain. If you have pets, be extra cautious about foods being left out, because rats will smell and detect dog food that is sitting out.

Rats need one-half to one fluid ounce of water everyday when consuming dry foods. They have extremely sharp senses of taste, hearing, and smell. Once they are aware of what is within their reach and given their keen senses, rats will do anything to get to food or shelter. Overall, rats are able to enter a building through openings that are wider than half an inch across. Rats have a very short life span — most die within a year. However, rats can breed rapidly, so even though they die off quickly, their young will survive them. Female rats produce five or six litters of about half a dozen to a dozen young each year.

Now that you know a little about the rat’s habits, how can you tell that you have rats living alongside you in your home? Spotting droppings or visible signs of fresh gnawing should be an obvious indicator of rats. Rat tracks can appear on dusty surfaces or mud. Rats usually build runways and burrows to get into your home and they can be found next to buildings and under debris and low vegetation.

Rodent Treatment

There are many things you can do to prevent rats, but what about the rats you know are already snooping in your attic and dark corners?

Snap traps can be used along with baits to attract rats. However, once other rats see that a fellow rat has been killed from a snap trap, they will avoid it at all costs. The other drawback to using a snap trap is the potential health hazards it can cause when the rat is killed by the trap. Snap traps can also pose a danger to children or pets in your home, as they can break bones or cause an even more serious injury.

Glue-boards are traps that use non-drying glue to capture and hold down rodents. These traps can be placed under tables, furniture, next to walls, refrigerators, or any place where you suspect rodent activity. Glue-boards are designed to get the rodent stuck on the board so that they cannot escape. Like the snap traps, glue-boards can pose health problems if rats’ bodies are pulled apart and exposed in your home.

Live traps are probably the easiest and most inexpensive rodent control out there. The other benefit of live traps is that it poses less risk or danger to animals you are not targeting, such as your pets. They also do not kill rats, unlike all the other methods discussed above. Instead, rats are captured and left in the trap until you dispose of them. Be sure to place enough bait to attract rats. If rats are without food, they may become anxious and eventually die, leaving behind their bodies to decay, as well as a horrible stench. Try to find areas where there are a lot of rat droppings, chewed entry points, and any other place you suspect rat activity or have heard noises from.

Rodent Proofing

Here are some simple rules of thumb you can adopt to prevent a rodent invasion in your home:

- Store all your accessible food in rodent-proof containers such as glass or metal

- Place your trash in tightly covered metal cans to prevent smells from escaping or potential rodent entry.

- Check your faucets to make sure they are functioning properly and to fix leaks as they occur, since gaps or holes around pipes can serve as easy entry points for rodents.

- Seal up any unnecessary openings with concrete or sheet metal. For other access points, a 1/4 inch hardware cloth or steel wool should do the trick.

- For pet owners, put any uneaten pet food away before you go to bed, as any pet food left out is subject to rodent consumption!

- Wipe your floors often! Any bits of food left on your floor may be game for mice.

Commensal Rodents

The most common commensal rodents, raccoon and opossums, are known to many homeowners as troublemakers because of the damage they can cause by hibernating in your attic or wreaking havoc in your garden.

These animals normally hide out in attics, under decks, sheds, garages, crawl spaces, etc. Sometimes, they choose to live in naturally formed holes near foundations. Raccoons and opossums especially have an affinity for digging in yards and garbage. They love to inhabit attics where they can care for their litter in a warm, dark, and enclosed environment. If they are living in your attic, chances are your attic has a strong odor, which can eventually make its way into the living area. Besides odor problems, raccoons can destroy your insulation and chew on any electrical wires present.

Preventing Animal Pests

Here are some ways you can prevent those pesky raccoons and opossums from entering your property:

Spray a non-chemical solution over the areas where these animals are prone to dig or consume food. This will leave a bad taste in their mouths and will discourage it from going to the same place to cause trouble.

- Use a non-drying glue when animals are climbing your bird feeder poles. Once the raccoon or opossum gets the glue from the pole on their paws, it will usually irritate them enough to discourage them from climbing the pole again.

- Implement a 24/7 motion detector near your fish pond. The motion detector will be able to detect the animal when it is in its range. The detector is non-chemical and will release a three-second spray of water to scare the pest away.

For raccoons and opossums who are already inhabiting your home, trapping with a bait (usually meat) is the most effective and viable way to get rid of them. However, you should only handle raccoons and opossums if you are an experienced handler. If you are not sure what to do, the best idea is to call an animal removal service. Anteater Pest and Lawn can send a trained professional out to the property to identify, inspect and design a program for you. The Exclusion portion of their Rodent Service is designed to:

- Identify rodent and rodent damage

- Inspect conditions conducive to rodents

- Seal/Close entry and exit points

- Install traps

- Return and remove traps

- Include a 1 Year renewable warranty

Once you are armed with the right facts and materials, you should be able to handle rodents quickly and efficiently before they overstay their welcome in your home and ruin your holidays.

About the Author: Fran Phalin is a freelance writer and editor specializing in home improvement and things that work. She has worked with Anteater Pest Services to improve the pest problem at her home. Visit http://www.anteaterpestandlawn.com for more info!

Source: www.isnare.com

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Read the rest here: Rodent And Animal Control For Your Home

posted by admin on Feb 26

By Steve Gillman

Wild animal attacks are not common. Dogs that live among us are a much more common danger. But there is something about being attacked by a wild animal that is especially disturbing. Of course, we want to avoid this nightmare, and if unavoidable, we want to survive it. Some tips on doing both follow.

Moose Attacks

More common than bear attacks, moose attacks can be just as dangerous. A bull moose can weigh over 1500 pounds. Attacks in the fall, during the mating season, are most likely. Winter is the second most common time – they are just pissed off because of all the snow and lack of things to eat.

Be especially watchful during fall and winter, then to avoid an attack. When you see a moose, watch closely. Do its ears fold back, or the hair on its neck stand up? Does it clench it’s teeth? These signs show that it is upset and may attack you.

Go behind something big, like a boulder or tree. If possible, run and get into a stand of trees, but be sure they are not too bushy – you need room to maneuver, in case the moose continues the chase. The good news is that most moose attacks are “bluff attacks,” which end shortly after they begin.

Mountain Lion Attacks

These animal attacks are not normally a bluff. Fight with everything you’ve got, using rocks, your walking stick, a knife – anything. A jogger in Colorado successfully got a cougar to let go of his head (it was in the animal’s jaws) by sticking his thumb into the cat’s eye. You have to convince the mountain lion that you’re not the easy meal he thought you were.

Before an attack – when you and the cat are looking at each other – your goal is the same. Let him know you’re trouble, and look big, by standing tall with your jacket opened up. Yell, and slowly back away while looking for a weapon. Whatever you do, don’t turn and run or crouch down – behaviors that will trigger the mountain lion’s instinct to attack.

Bear Attacks

These come in two forms. The classic bluff attack is meant to scare you away, but may also kill you due to the size and strength of most bears. You can often survive by curling up on the ground and holding your hands around the back of your neck (to protect it).

The animal attacks when you surprise or threaten it – or its cubs. Bears in these circumstances make a lot of noise and may charge you repeatedly, stopping before contacting you. Avoid eye-contact and back away slowly.

The other type of bear attack is predatory. These are rare, but both black bears and grizzlies occasionally prey on humans for food. Such attacks are quieter. The bear will have its head down and come straight at you, watching you closely. He is assessing whether you are an easy meal or not.

In this case, don’t play dead or you will be. Yell, make noise, and look for a weapon. In a worst-case scenario, you might have to fight for your life. Fortunately, most adult grizzly bears can’t climb trees, so if there is a lot of space still between you (these bears are fast), you can try climbing to safety.

Various Other Animal Attacks

Ellephants may swing their trunks, kick up dirt and hold their ears out before an attack – and make noise. Get yourself behind a large rock or tree. If that isn’t an option, run downhill – elephants are slower going downhill.

Snakes usually are just warning you, so step away slowly. It is very unlikely that a snake will chase you. Avoid the problem to begin with by watching the trail carefully and probing with a walking stick before stepping over logs.

Get between mother baboon and her baby, and the whole troop may attack. Back away, while shouting and clapping. Drop any food you have in your hands, and don’t yawn or stare – these are signs of agression to baboons..

Don’t feed wild animals, or provoke them. Learn to use the zoom function on the camera instead of getting closer to wild animals. Basically, just use common sense to avoid animal attacks, and the rules above to deal with them.

About the Author: Copyright Steve Gillman. To get the ebook “Ultralight Backpacking Secrets (And Wilderness Survival Tips)” for FREE, as well as photos, gear recommendations, and a new wilderness survival section, visit: http://www.The-Ultralight-Site.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=171027&ca=Recreation

Go here to see the original: Animal Attacks – Avoiding And Dealing With Them

posted by admin on Feb 26

By Tricia Craggs

There are so many animals that are in desperate need of a loving home so if you have decided to get a cat, why not choose one from your local cat rescue home or animal shelter?

By adopting from a shelter instead of buying from a pet shop, you help those animals that are most in need to find a home and help fund the rescue work so that other cats can be saved. Many of these felines have had difficult lives so far – they may have been abandoned, abused or neglected by their owners. So, responsible rescue centres will take special care to match owner and pet and find them a good home. They will give you as much information as possible about their charges’ personalities and histories to help you choose wisely.

At the animal shelter,use your power of observation.

Take some time to just watch the cats and kittens without trying to interact with them. Observe how active they are and what type of attitude they have. A cat that stays huddled in a corner or appears lethargic may be sick, which could mean expensive vets bills in the future. Or the poor cat may nave been abused and so is terrified of everyone and everything. If you have the time and patience, please don’t automatically dismiss an abused feline. They can repay your care many times over.

Give the cat a thorough examination, starting with the eyes. Bright and clear eyes with no discharge or weepiness are a good sign.

The nose should be clean and slightly moist.Again,there should be no discharge.

Ears should also be clean. Those that are extremely dirty are potentially contaminated with ear mites which can be very difficult to eliminate and can easily spread to other cats at home.

Finally, the cat’s fur should be clean, shiny, and free of fleas. Fleas can be particularly bothersome to both the cat and to the owner. Eliminating fleas once they infest the home can be very difficult.

Listen to the cat. A cat that coughs, sneezes, or sounds congested can be quite ill and should be avoided. Also, listen for sounds of contentment. A cat who is purring is probably happy and healthy.A meow can indicate either trouble or contentment – a long, pleading meow could show that the cat is ill. On the other hand, a playful meow could mean the she is already developing a bond with its potential new owner!

Watch how the cat plays. Some pet owners are looking for playful cats that will scamper about the house and chase and play with toys. Others would prefer a more docile cat who will spend hours cuddled up in the owner’s lap.

See how they play with each other first to get a feeling for their disposition. This is particularly important for pet owners who already have a pet cat at home. Then play with the kitties yourself.

Take out a string, ball of wool or car keys and dangle them in front of each cat. The one that seems most alert and active is likely the better choice. Of course, you could always take home more than one if the decision is just too hard to make

It is so rewarding to adopt a cat from a cat rescue shelter and know that you have saved its life and given it a comfortable home but do be aware of potential problems. Any cat or kitten that comes from a shelter will be stressed to some level. This stress has put them at a higher risk of attracting a respiratory infection. They may also be more prone to bite or scratch you before you have bonded. Most cat rescue shelters offer a spayed or neutered cat, with full shots and de-worming but You must also get your cat tested immediately for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

finally,listen to the advice of the shelter workers and don’t rush into any decisions.

About the Author: For chats about cats and for more information on cats, cat care and cat care products, visit Tricia’s website All About Cat Care at http://www.all-about-cat-care.com

Source: www.isnare.com

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See the original post here: Why You Should Think About Adopting A Rescue Cat From An Animal Shelter

posted by admin on Feb 26

By Low Jeremy

Now think of safari…of Serengeti…of wildlife sanctuaries…what images dominate your thoughts? Yes, animals.

Wildlife aside, safari would only be composed of a number of plant species, of terrain and of strange creatures like insects, bugs and the likes. Without the animals, African safaris would be reduced into a haven of sedentary and rarely moving species. Without the animal of the safaris, ecosystems would not exist. In a sense, animals add to the beauty that life in Africa may present. They give meaning. They add excitement. And they encourage tourism.

It is thought that African safaris started to become famous when the hunt for animals boomed sometime in the nineteenth century. This is because men then were perceived bold enough if they can kill wild animals right in their habitats and in action. This activity provides them a bag full of hunting trophies that adorned the walls of their libraries.

These days, a great thanks to movements for wildlife, hunting is restricted to many areas of African safaris. Nonetheless, there are still areas where slaughtering of wild animals are allowed. Because of the banning, travelers are now limited to only watch the animals hunt each other, predators to prey, and experience the exchange of life and death among them. Some of us still see hunting as a sport though.

The most famous of the animals in safari are known to be the big five which includes rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard and the elephant. Why they became to be, no body is sure. Why other equally wonderful animals are not included in the list remains to be a mystery. It’s safe to presume that that’s simply the way hunters prefer it.

Adding to the big five are plain animals and mammals that coexist with each other. Some being the prey. Some being the predators. Nonetheless, they all take their parts in the circle of life. They give life.

Though not really considered animals, it is still worth saying that there are thousands of insect species, bugs, butterflies, and other moving creatures found in the African safaris. However large or big they can get won’t really matter. They still balance wildlife and they aid in continuing the existence of ecosystems in African safaris.

Some people say, once human intervene with this natural process, even only for once, he may intervene with the succeeding years and life of the species that live in the safaris. And this seem to be true. Sudden and gradual fluctuations of population in the safaris are very much affected by the minute actions of the animals and other living things that exist in it.

Thus it is important that travelers and explorers let things be in the wildlife. Just allow them to exist and do as they were destined to do.

About the Author: This content is provided by Low Jeremy. It may be used only in its entirety with all links included. For more information on safari & other useful information, please visit http://safari.articlekeep.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=106344&ca=Travel

See the original post here: Animal Safari- Let Nature Balance Itself