Earth Gauge » Pets

May is for Migration

espinoza — Mon, 09 May 2011 12:31:44 +0000

Bird photos are available for download at the bottom of this page.

In much of the U.S., May is peak migration month. Billions of birds of every kind – songbirds, raptors and shorebirds – fly from their winter homes in the south to their summer breeding grounds in places as far north as the Arctic. Along the way they encounter many perils including bright lights and tall buildings, cats and yard care chemicals.

Fortunately, people can help ensure a safer journey for migrating birds. Backyards and parks, often key stopover points for many species, can become bird-friendly rest stops with a few simple steps. Try these tips from Audubon to help birds on their journey:

Reduce or eliminate pesticide and herbicide use. Using fewer chemicals in your yard and home helps keep wildlife, pets and people healthy. Learn more at athome.audubon.org/eliminate-or-reduce-pesticide-use.
Plant native plants. Natives provide birds with food in the form of fruit and seeds, and are also home to tasty invertebrates like bugs and spiders. Learn more at athome.audubon.org/plant-native-species.
Keep cats inside. Keeping cats indoors ensures that birds outdoors stay safe and cats benefit too; indoor cats live much longer than cats that go outside. Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeCats.html.
Prevent window collisions. Make sure birds can see (and avoid) your windows by putting up screens, closing drapes and blinds when you leave the house, or sticking multiple decals on the glass (decals need to be spaced closely together to be effective – no more than two to four inches apart). Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeWindows.html.
Provide cover in your backyard. Leave snags for nesting places and stack downed tree limbs to create a brush pile, which is a great source of cover for birds during bad weather. Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home/HealthyYard_BirdHabitat.html.
Help birds stay on course. Close your blinds at night and turn off lights you aren’t using. Some birds use constellations to guide them on their annual migrations, and bright lights can disrupt them. Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home/SafeImpact.html.
Create or protect water sources in your yard. Birds need water to drink and bathe in, just like we do. Be sure to change the water two to three times per week when mosquitoes are breeding. Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home./HealthyYard_BirdHabitat.html.
Landscape for birds. Use lots of layers, including understory, ground cover, shrubs, and trees. Multiple levels of plants let birds use different layers for different purposes, such as nesting, feeding, and singing. Learn more at audubon.org/bird/at_home/HealthyYard_GardenBasics.html.
Extend a bird safety net beyond your backyard. Contact your local Audubon Chapter to learn about opportunities to create healthy habitat in parks, beaches and other places in your community. Find your Audubon Chapter at audubon.org/search-by-zip.
Take the Audubon At Home Healthy Yard Pledge! When you take the Pledge, you commit to conserving water, planting native species, removing invasive plants, reducing pesticide use, protecting water quality, and keeping birds safe in your yard. Take the pledge at audubonathome.org/pledge.

This information is provided by the National Audubon Society. Learn more at audubon.org.

View full press release at www.audubon.org/newsroom/press-releases/2011/may-migration-5-billion-birds-wing-their-way-north.

Photos may be used with attribution:

Top: Wood Thrush, Atlantic Flyway (Credit: Steve Maslowski, USFWS)
Center: Western Tanager, Pacific Flyway (Credit: Gary Kramer, USFWS)
Bottom: Dickcissel, Mississippi Flyway (Credit: Patty McNeal, Creative Commons Licensing)

Swimming Beaches

espinoza — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:32:17 +0000

During the 2009 beach swimming season, more than 3,800 beaches were monitored for possible swimming risks – 43 percent of those beaches had at least one swimming advisory or closure. Beach advisories and closures often follow heavy rainfall, when sewer overflows may occur and rain water can wash trash and other pollutants into swimming areas. Poor water quality can create unsafe conditions for swimming.

Viewer Tip: You can help protect water quality at your local beach by always cleaning up your trash and picking up after pets. Before you head to the beach, check beach conditions to make sure swimming is safe: http://www.epa.gov/beaches/plan/whereyoulive_state.html

Season: Summer

(Sources: U.S. EPA. “National Summary: 2009 Swimming Season Update.” http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/beaches/seasons/2009/)

Picking Up

espinoza — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:16:36 +0000

Every time it rains, thousands of pounds of pet waste left outside wash down storm drains and carry disease-causing organisms into our local water bodies that can impact water quality and make the water unsafe for drinking. Harmful bacteria and nutrients from pet waste can turn fertile waters green from weed and algae growth. This can cause the water to become unattractive and unsafe for swimming, boating and fishing. There are several, easy ways to dispose of your pet’s waste.

Viewer Tip: According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States and 24 percent of dog-owners own two dogs. If you are a dog owner, remember to always pick up after your pet to protect our water quality. There are easy ways to dispose of pet waste safely:

Flush pet waste down the toilet (flush only the pet waste…not the bag!). Toilet water undergoes treatment that removes most of the pollutants before reaching a lake or a stream.
Bury pet waste in the yard. Dig a hole or a trench about five-inches deep. Keep pet waste away from vegetable gardens, drinking water sources and wells.
Put pet waste in the trash (if allowed locally). Make sure it is wrapped carefully so it does not spill during trash collection.

Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

(Source: Think Blue Maine, http://www.thinkbluemaine.org/, University of Maryland – College Park Home and Garden Information Center, The Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org)

Blue-Green Algae

espinoza — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:04:41 +0000

Summer makes for nice hiking weather and many of us head into the great outdoors with our pet companions. With many summer activities taking place near streams and ponds, you may think you don’t need to worry about drinking water for your animals. But on warm, sunny days, you need to be careful to avoid water sources with toxic blue-green algae. These algae, which are actually bacteria, can kill cattle and other animals that drink contaminated water. Risk conditions include warm and sunny days, stagnant ponds and low water flow in streams, all conditions that occur during the summer.

Viewer Tip: To help keep your pets healthy and avoid blue-green algae, fence off any stagnant ponds or low-flowing water around your home. When you’re out recreating, monitor your pet’s drinking habits and always be sure to pack clean, fresh water for you and your furry companions.

Season: Summer

This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more at www.attra.ncat.org.

Heat Got Your Pets Stressed?

espinoza — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:00:02 +0000

Warmer temperatures are a welcome thing for those of us without fur, but your house pets often suffer in summer. Animals are susceptible to heat stress in the summer and need lots of extra water to make sure they stay healthy in the heat. Did you know that younger animals need more water than adults? That’s because a greater percentage of their body is made up of water. Young animals also need to drink more often because they take in less water at a time and have a higher metabolism.

Viewer Tip: Keep all your pets healthy this summer by making sure clean water is available. Clean water improves an animal’s metabolism, decreases disease and parasite risk, and promotes good health. Leave water partially covered to prevent evaporation and make sure shade is available if your pet stays outdoors.

Season: Summer

This information is provided by ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Learn more about Water, Heat Stress and Drought at http://attra.ncat.org/downloads/water_quality/water_mgmt.pdf.

Do Animals Get Hay Fever?

administrator — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:38:31 +0000

Some people suffer from hay fever all year-round, but it is most common in the spring and fall. Did you know that animals can also have hay fever? Some of our pets spend the majority of their lives indoors and when they do venture outdoors, they begin reacting to the pollen of grasses and trees. They show the symptoms—itchy skin, ears and even watery eyes—of hay fever, which is caused by allergic reaction. The root cause is often the filtered air of indoor environments where we tend to spend most of our time. Native wildlife, however, exhibit little to no occurrence of hay fever because of naturally evolved tolerances to the pollen of our native plants. Because they spend their entire lives outdoors in contact with the pollen of hundreds of different plant species, their immune systems do not identify the particles as foreign.

Viewer Tip: Humans have started reacting to agents that in the past would have been harmless to our immune systems. Generations before us were more active in the outdoors and therefore less likely to have a bad reaction to pollen. Spending time outside can help to gradually build up our tolerance to the pollens of North American plants that cause hay fever.

This information if provided by the Georgia Wildlife Fedeartion. For more information, visit www.gwf.org.

Seasons: Spring and Fall

(Source: http://ilovebacteria.com/hayfeveranimals.htm)

Protecting Pets

administrator — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:59:37 +0000

While it may seem that their fur coats can keep cold at bay, domesticated pets who are accustomed to living indoors can be vulnerable to illness or injury when cold weather strikes.

Viewer Tip: As you bundle up for chilly temperatures, remember to help your pets stay safe in the cold with these tips from the Humane Society.

Watch the Temp: Long-haired dogs can usually go outside to play for short periods of time when temperatures are above 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Pets that may be more susceptible to cold temperatures – puppies, kittens, older pets, and short-haired dogs – should wait until temperatures are above 40 degrees. Cats will be healthiest if they stay inside at all times. If your pet is shivering, it’s time to come inside!
Keep Paws Clean: Rock salt and other chemicals used to de-ice sidewalks and streets can burn or rub paws. After walks, wipe your pet’s feet down with a warm cloth to remove irritants.
Stay Well-Groomed: Matted fur is less efficient at insulating your pet.
Bundle-Up: Consider a pet sweater in extremely cold climates and for short-haired pets. The American Animal Hospital Association indicates that animals can be affected by frostbite and hypothermia in less than one hour.

Season: Winter

(Sources: Humane Society of the United States. “Warm Up to Winter: When the temperature drops, keep your furry friends healthy.” http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/humane_society_magazines_and_newsletters/all_animals/volume-8-issue-1winter-2006/warm_up_to_winter_when_the.html; University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine. “Winter Pet Tips.” http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/facts/petsafety/winterpettips/home.html;)

Hot Dogs

administrator — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:49:22 +0000

Did you know that the temperature inside a car can rise by up to 40 degrees in one hour, even when outdoor temperatures are as low as 72 degrees Fahrenheit? When the sun shines on car windows, they collect light and trap heat inside the vehicle, raising temperature quickly. And, as the outdoor temperature rises, the effect becomes more pronounced. The inside temperature of a car can reach 102 degrees in ten minutes on an 85 degree day, and on hot and humid days, cars parked in direct sunlight can warm up by 30 degrees per minute.

Viewer Tip: Pets are even more susceptible to overheating than humans are – dogs’ sweat glands, which are located on their noses and pads of their feet, are inadequate for cooling off on hot days. And, just like humans, certain pets are more sensitive to heat: short-nosed breeds, older or very young pets, and animals with weight, respiratory, or heart problems. Many people are inclined to take pets along on summer travel or errands, but summer heat can be deadly for companion animals. If you’re headed to a place where pets may not be allowed, leave them at home with plenty of water and shade, instead of leaving them in the car.

Season: Summer

(Stanford School of Medicine, July 2005. “Parked Cars Get Dangerously Hot, Even on Cool Days, Stanford Study Finds.” med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2005/july/hot-cars.htm; Humane Society of the United States. “Cool It! Summer’s Heat can be Deadly for Your Pet.” www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cool_it_summers_heat_can_be_deadly_for_your_pet.html)

Heating Up

administrator — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 14:40:07 +0000

Even on relatively cool days, studies have shown that the sun can rapidly warm air trapped under glass – this is why greenhouses stay warm in the much colder winter season. It also means that parked cars can heat up by about 40 degrees in an hour during the summer months, with 80 percent of that warm-up happening in the first half-hour!

Viewer Tip: Many people are inclined to take pets along on summer travel or errands, but summer heat can be deadly for companion animals. Pets are less efficient at cooling off than humans are, and overweight, short-nosed, and senior pets are particularly at risk. If you’re headed somewhere that pets may not be allowed, leave them at home with plenty of water and shade, instead of leaving them in the car.

Season: Summer

Keep Pets Warm

administrator — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:45:53 +0000

Just like humans, pets can be vulnerable to illness or injury when it is cold outside. This winter season, there are easy steps you can take to make sure that your pet stays safe and healthy.

Viewer Tip: When temperatures dip below 20 degrees, it’s best to keep your pet inside. Bring more vulnerable animals – including puppies, kittens, dogs with short hair, older animals, and those with health problems – inside when it is below 40 degrees. The small size and low body weight of puppies and kittens makes it impossible for them to generate enough heat to stay safe outdoors. If you must leave an adult pet outside, make sure that their water source is fresh and not frozen, and that they have access to a warm, draft-free shelter.

Season: Winter

(Source: University of Minnesota School of Veterinary Medicine. “Winter Pet Tips.” http://www.cvm.umn.edu/newsandevents/facts/petsafety/winterpettips/home.html; Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “Tips for Cold Weather Care of Your Pet.” http://newsinfo.colostate.edu/index.asp?page=news_item_display&news_item_id=-1182029296)

Panting Pets

administrator — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 20:19:24 +0000

During hot summer weather, it’s important to remember that the heat can take a toll on animals, too. Dogs’ sweat glands are located in their nose and the pads of their feet, but are inadequate for cooling down during extremely hot weather. Just like people, certain animals are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses, including dogs with short noses, thick coats, elderly or very young animals, or animals with weight, heart, or respiratory conditions.

Viewer Tip: Studies have shown that the inside of a car can reach up to 102 degrees within 10 minutes on an 85 degree day! On hot and humid days, the temperature in a car parked in direct sunlight can rise up to 30 degrees per minute. While you may be tempted to take your pet along on your next outing, it’s better to leave Fido or Fifi home on hot days.

Season: Summer

(Source: Humane Society of the United States, www.hsus.org)