Sunday, April 19, 2015

Coyotes, Cats and Rats

There is a notion held by many municipal animal control services that eradication of the urban coyote is not effective because such control measures provide a natural vacuum in nature that can cause these animals to have even larger litters and ultimately increases the coyote population. In my opinion this is a crock. It's a meme perpetrated by certain nature propagandists who are not looking at the big picture. Because there are no natural predators for the [urban] coyote, they will expand according to their food source. Constant action in the eradication/displacement of any one of these pests can mean that fewer pets and young children will be killed or injured. Because there is already a vacuum in nature doesn't mean we shouldn't interfere. If we let coyotes run amok they kill too many cats, resulting in a plague of rats, squirrels and rabbits running around. Cats are natural hunters of vermin. Many rescue cats don't often make good indoor pets, and most indoor cats can become schizophrenic if they are denied their natural instincts. Nature propagandists should focus more on human birth control if they are that concerned about our invasion of nature's habitat, or at the very least, initiate programs teaching coyotes taste and place aversion therapy.

One area I do agree with is that using poisons to kill rats is not a good idea. Poisoned rats harm the entire ecosystem, often killing birds of prey, domestic animals, and other wildlife.

Coyotes are predators of rats, if they can catch them! Over sized bushes and excessive foliage make a great place for rodents to hide and live. Keeping bushes and ground cover well-maintained and pruned back will help keep unwanted visitors from residing in a yard. My neighborhood has a proliferation of creeping fig vines covering property walls and fences, which can be a haven for rodents if they are too thick and dense. In addition, these vines often damage block walls, which have hollow cavities. Coyotes can't catch rats if they are safe deep inside a bush or atop of a palm tree. Cats on the other hand have superior skills for catching rodents, no matter where they hide.

Improperly stored pet food, garbage, or anything else that might smell like a great meal to a rodent will cause problems. Eliminating strong smells by placing the source in quality containers within inaccessible areas is recommended. Wrapping fruit trees with plastic netting can prevent rodents from climbing up and getting a free meal.

Rats are excellent climbers and can scale a wall very easily. They will search for entryways into attics and other places up near roofs. It is easier for them if they have tree limbs that provide direct access. Gaps and cracks around the home provide opportunities for rodents to become squatters. One should close and reduce all entry points for rodents and focus attention around heating and air conditioner vents, dryer vents, windows, plumbing, and doors.

The more clutter you have around in the yard and garage, the more likely it is that a longer time will pass before you find signs of infestation. Ultimately, judicial pruning of landscape, living in a clutter-free home and being an attentive to infestation will be the best approach to keeping unwanted critters away.



Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Top 100 Songs of the 50's and 60's

This is my personal choice, in no particular order, and does vary a bit:

ArtistTitleYear
Aphrodites ChildRain and Tears1967
Marv JohnsonI'll Pick A Rose For My Rose1968
R. B. GreavesTake A Letter Maria1969
Manfred MannPretty Flamingo1966
The Bee GeesWords1969
Crispian St PetersThe Pied Piper1966
Brian HylandGinny Come Lately1962
Ricky NelsonTravelin' Man1961
Elvis PresleyG.I. Blues1960
The ShadowsQuartermaster Stores1960
The CrystalsDa Doo Ron Ron1963
Ray PetersonCorinna, Corinna1960
Johnny BurnetteDreamin1960
Johnny TillotsonPoetry In Motion1960
Simon & GarfunkelBridge Over Troubled Water1968
Fats DominoWalking To New Orleans1958
The Dave Clark FiveRed Balloon1969
ThemHere Comes the Night1965
CascadesRhythm of the Falling Rain1960
The Rolling StonesShe's A Rainbow1967
The CrystalsAll Grown Up1964
Elvis PresleyCan't Help Falling in Love1959
Lord Rockingham's XIHoots Mon1958
Elvis PresleyDid You Ever Have One Of Those Days1960
The Everly BrothersAll I Have to Do Is Dream1964
Lou ChristieI'm Gonna Make You Mine1969
The Everly BrothersLove Hurts1960
BreadEverything I Own1968
Unit Four Plus TwoConcrete And Clay1965
Johnny TillotsonIt Keeps Right On A Hurtin1956
Nancy Sinatra and Lee HazlewoodSummer Wine1967
The CrystalsThen He Kissed Me1963
The BrownsScarlet Ribbons1960
The Rolling StonesAs Tears Go By1968
The RonettesBaby I Love You1964
Elvis PresleyWooden Heart1960
The SpringfieldsIsland of Dreams1963
Johnny and the HurricanesRed River Rock1959
Eddie CochranC'mon Everybody1962
The Everly BrothersCrying in the Rain1964
Ritchie ValensCome On, Let's Go1958
The Box TopsCry Like A Baby1966
ELORoll Over Beethoven1968
Keith WestExcerpt From a Teenage Opera1967
Lee MarvinWandering Star1969
Elvis PresleyHis Latest Flame1959
The WhoI Can See For Miles1967
The DriftersSaturday Night at the Movies1964
The Love AffairEverlasting Love1967
Ricky NelsonIt's Late1969
Eddie CochranSummertime Blues1960
Elvis PresleyIt's Now or Never1959
The Bee GeesI've Gotta Get a Message to You1968
Marianne FaithfullCome and Stay With Me1968
Paul AnkaLonely Boy1959
The Bee GeesMassachusetts1968
Ricky NelsonPoor Little Fool1958
Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep Mountain HighRiver Deep Mountain High1966
DionRunaround Sue1960
Del ShannonRunaway1961
The WhoSubstitute1966
Elvis PresleyThe Girl Of My Best Friend1960
Tommy RoeSweet Little Sheila1962
Ricky NelsonHello Mary Lou1961
Frankie Valli & The Four SeasonsTell It To The Rain1964
The SeekersThe Carnival Is Over1965
The HolliesThe Air that I Breathe1969
Del ShannonThe Swiss Maid1962
Presidents of the United States of AmericaVideo Killed the Radio Star1968
Simon & GarfunkelThe Boxer1968
The EqualsBaby Come Back1968
Billy FuryHalfway to Paradise1961
The Bee GeesTo Love Somebody1967
Bobby DarinQueen Of The Hop1958
Paul AnkaDiana1957
Johnny Kidd and the PiratesShakin' All Over1960
Gordon LightfootEarly Morning Rain1960
Del ShannonKeep Searchin'1964
Jackie DeShannonPut A Little Love In Your Heart1969
Gary Puckett And The Union GapLady Willpower1968
Bobby VintonMr Lonely1962
Billy FuryColette1960
Buddy HollyPeggy Sue Got Married1957
Frankie Valli & The Four SeasonsSilence Is Golden1966
Eddie CochranSomethin' Else1963
Eden KaneBoys Cry1964
Elvis PresleyI Gotta Know1960
Gene VincentPistol Packin' Mama1960
John LeytonJohnny Remember Me1961
Richie ValensOh Donna1959
Marty WildeBad Boy1959
Ricky NelsonNever Be Anyone Else But You1960
The Righteous BrothersUnchained Melody1960
R Dean TaylorIndiana Wants Me1962
Bobby DarinDream Lover1960
OliverJean1969
Sandy PoseyI Take It Back1967
Freddie and the DreamersI Understand1965
Gene PitneyCara Mia1967
Gene PitneyTwenty-Four Hours from Tulsa1969