by ThomM
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Before you start, I know humans are the biggest killers.
This isn't about that, it's about preparing for summer.
If you don't have a sense of humor or you want to talk about how bad humans are, start your own thread, they're cheap and easy to do.

Average human kills!!!
#10: Great White shark- 1 death/yr.,
#9: Salt water croc-20+ deaths/yr.,
#8: Box jelly fish- 20-40 deaths/yr.,
#7: African lion-70/yr,
#6: Tiger- 40-100/yr.,
#5: Cape buffalo- 200/yr.,
#4: Hippo- 200-300/yr.,
#3: African elephant- 500/yr.,
#2: Asian cobra- 4000/yr.,
#1: mosquito 2,000,000 each yr.
It seems (to me) "WE" should work on those little fu(#er$ first!!!
I haven't come across ANY of the others in my whole life, except in controlled environments.
Wear your bug repellent & carry a 44 mag., just in case.
  • Profile picture of the author Dave Patterson
    When I first read the title I thought this was going to be a weed thread....

    FRIEDLY?

    LOL....
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Dave Patterson View Post

      When I first read the title I thought this was going to be a weed thread....

      FRIEDLY?

      LOL....
      OOps I'll have to change that:rolleyes:
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

    Before you start, I know humans are the biggest killers.
    This isn't about that, it's about preparing for summer.
    If you don't have a sense of humor or you want to talk about how bad humans are, start your own thread, they're cheap and easy to do.

    Average human kills!!!
    #10: Great White shark- 1 death/yr.,
    #9: Salt water croc-20+ deaths/yr.,
    #8: Box jelly fish- 20-40 deaths/yr.,
    #7: African lion-70/yr,
    #6: Tiger- 40-100/yr.,
    #5: Cape buffalo- 200/yr.,
    #4: Hippo- 200-300/yr.,
    #3: African elephant- 500/yr.,
    #2: Asian cobra- 4000/yr.,
    #1: mosquito 2,000,000 each yr.
    It seems (to me) "WE" should work on those little fu(#er$ first!!!
    I haven't come across ANY of the others in my whole life, except in controlled environments.
    Wear your bug repellent & carry a 44 mag., just in case.
    On a serious note, sports writer Rick Reilly has a project called "Nothing But Nets" where people donate $10 and it buys a kid a mosquito net. This is one of the most cost-effective health care tools around.

    Nets Save Lives | Nothing But Nets Campaign
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      On a serious note, sports writer Rick Reilly has a project called "Nothing But Nets" where people donate $10 and it buys a kid a mosquito net. This is one of the most cost-effective health care tools around.

      Nets Save Lives | Nothing But Nets Campaign
      ACTUALLY, for what ONE net costs, you could get special doughnut like things to KILL mosquitoes.

      If you make all stagnent water inhospitable to them, msoquitoes will be ERADICATED within 1-20 MILES! It is cheaper, easier, more reliable, and more comfortable. AND, if a given area is cleared, it will take some time for new mosquitoes to acquire the disease to be spread. so even a MODERATE success at eradication could be a 100% success at getting rid of disease.

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        ACTUALLY, for what ONE net costs, you could get special doughnut like things to KILL mosquitoes.

        If you make all stagnent water inhospitable to them, msoquitoes will be ERADICATED within 1-20 MILES! It is cheaper, easier, more reliable, and more comfortable. AND, if a given area is cleared, it will take some time for new mosquitoes to acquire the disease to be spread. so even a MODERATE success at eradication could be a 100% success at getting rid of disease.

        Steve
        Nets also protect from other pests like spiders, snakes and scorpians, as well as tons of non-threatening bugs and are safe for the environment and use no chemicals...But if you think waking up and having a tarantula staring you in the face with all 8 of its eyeballs is "comfortable"...Good for you.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          Nets also protect from other pests like spiders, snakes and scorpians, as well as tons of non-threatening bugs and are safe for the environment and use no chemicals...But if you think waking up and having a tarantula staring you in the face with all 8 of its eyeballs is "comfortable"...Good for you.
          You're right THERE, of course. But there ARE other ways to take care of THEM. Mosquitoes are, BY FAR, the hardest to protect against of all of those. STILL, I think the idea to use nets to protect against mosquitoes in an area you have control over, for a long time, is SILLY. It is a LOT of work and risk, compared to other things. For snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, better building(even if they are grass huts), and more care would go farther,

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author Kurt
            Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

            You're right THERE, of course. But there ARE other ways to take care of THEM. Mosquitoes are, BY FAR, the hardest to protect against of all of those. STILL, I think the idea to use nets to protect against mosquitoes in an area you have control over, for a long time, is SILLY. It is a LOT of work and risk, compared to other things. For snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions, better building(even if they are grass huts), and more care would go farther,

            Steve
            Steve,

            Like it or not, the FACT IS Nothing But Nets has been a very succesful program. I know you didn't think of it, but sometimes the rest of us dumb folk accidently think of something good.
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            • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
              Don't you know that Steve's one brain is smarter than all other brains ever combined? Heck, he just rewrote the US Constitution. He is a legend in his own mind.

              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              Steve,

              Like it or not, the FACT IS Nothing But Nets has been a very succesful program. I know you didn't think of it, but sometimes the rest of us dumb folk accidently think of something good.
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              • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                Don't you know that Steve's one brain is smarter than all other brains ever combined? Heck, he just rewrote the US Constitution. He is a legend in his own mind.
                FUNNY! And Exactly WHICH group "rewrote the constitution" more than the other?

                HUH?

                Steve
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                • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
                  Hmmm. I'll go with the Beatles. They wrote a lot of stuff.

                  Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

                  FUNNY! And Exactly WHICH group "rewrote the constitution" more than the other?

                  HUH?

                  Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Thom, you left out a couple of real winners - E. coli and e. histolytica...

    The little nasties that cause food poisoning and dysentery, respectively.

    So keep your picnic lunch cold and if you aren't sure about the source, don't drink the water...
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      On a serious note, sports writer Rick Reilly has a project called "Nothing But Nets" where people donate $10 and it buys a kid a mosquito net. This is one of the most cost-effective health care tools around.

      Nets Save Lives | Nothing But Nets Campaign
      Kurt I knew about that, but thank you for posting it.
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      ACTUALLY, for what ONE net costs, you could get special doughnut like things to KILL mosquitoes.

      If you make all stagnent water inhospitable to them, msoquitoes will be ERADICATED within 1-20 MILES! It is cheaper, easier, more reliable, and more comfortable. AND, if a given area is cleared, it will take some time for new mosquitoes to acquire the disease to be spread. so even a MODERATE success at eradication could be a 100% success at getting rid of disease.

      Steve
      Steve those are mosquito dunks. the active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, they eat the mosquito larva.
      The only problem with that is it is almost impossible to find and treat every water source the mosquito's can breed in, they don't need much.
      As a side note if you have a problem with fungus gnats on your indoor plants, you can treat the soil with the dunks. Use about 1/4 one per gallon of water. I haven't found an amount that is harmful to the soil or plants and don't think there is. Also if you're having a gnat problem , quit using Miracle Grow potting soil, that's where they came from
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Kurt I knew about that, but thank you for posting it.

        Steve those are mosquito dunks. the active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, they eat the mosquito larva.
        The only problem with that is it is almost impossible to find and treat every water source the mosquito's can breed in, they don't need much.
        As a side note if you have a problem with fungus gnats on your indoor plants, you can treat the soil with the dunks. Use about 1/4 one per gallon of water. I haven't found an amount that is harmful to the soil or plants and don't think there is. Also if you're having a gnat problem , quit using Miracle Grow potting soil, that's where they came from
        You are right, but it is WORTH it! Mosquitoes DO need maybe 1/4" or more of CONSTANT stagnant water, and take time to breed.

        And people DO have a LOT of experience with finding such sources, tires, flower pots, jars, rock areas, swamps, etc...

        AND, don't forget, the farther the areas are away from you, the less likely the problem is to hit YOU! And most only go about a mile anyway. Heck, when I was a little kid, in the early 70s, they showed us films of oil products sprayed on various marshy areas. It may not hurt the fish, plants, etc... but it plays havok with the ability of mosquitoes to breath.(they are only semiaquatic, and need air). Of course, I like the idea of the bacteria better. They are harmless to almost everything. I THINK they may be bad for some catfish. HECK, if an area is NEEDED for some reason, and always marshy, they could always kind of dig it out, provide some extra water, and put fish there. The FISH could have a FEAST! 8-)

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          The bacteria are very source oriented.
          Mosquito larva and Fungus Gnat larva are the only two organisms they attack as far as I know. Now I also know you can't buy them everywhere in the US or at all in Canada.
          The dunks are very cost effective and both biologically and environmentally safe.
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            What I like about killing mosquitoes is they don't stampede....they don't pounce on you from trees and will not stomp you to death, either.

            On the flip side, they aren't cute or majestic, they don't have fur and there is no beauty in their movements - so I don't mind whomping them.
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            • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              What I like about killing mosquitoes is they don't stampede....they don't pounce on you from trees and will not stomp you to death, either.

              On the flip side, they aren't cute or majestic, they don't have fur and there is no beauty in their movements - so I don't mind whomping them.
              Aww come on. You can't say this isn't cute:

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              • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

                Aww come on. You can't say this isn't cute:

                Wow and I thought I had hairy nostrils
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    • Profile picture of the author HeySal
      Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

      Thom, you left out a couple of real winners - E. coli and e. histolytica...

      The little nasties that cause food poisoning and dysentery, respectively.

      So keep your picnic lunch cold and if you aren't sure about the source, don't drink the water...
      Calcium rich foods -- the reason some of this crap overwhelms our systems is because our normal digestive acid isn't strong enough to kill them. Calcium is hard to digest and will trigger more acid production, that incidentally kills more bacteria.

      But, yeah - avoiding it is a pretty good idea to start with. LOL.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    I'm not sure the original list is totally accurate...There's about 25-deaths each year in the US by dogs. The best estimates I can get on horses is there are anywhere from 100-1000 deaths a year in the US caused by horses. Bees kill about 50 people a year in the US. I "think" a few hundred people die every year in the US from collisions involving deer.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
    The two million skeeter deaths are from malaria and occur in Africa, South America and south Asia. There is no way in hell a mosquito dunk will have any effect at all in rain forests. Those nets save lives.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Lawrh View Post

      The two million skeeter deaths are from malaria and occur in Africa, South America and south Asia. There is no way in hell a mosquito dunk will have any effect at all in rain forests. Those nets save lives.
      Yeah, in forests they won't, you're right about THAT. I guess I was thinking about the areas that aren't so green. Kind of like florida has places where it would be impractical, and a number of deserts in california COULD have it work well.

      Where I live now, there are relatively few places mosquitoes could breed, and they could be removed, managed, or use that bacteria.

      steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Well, with some of the stuff written lately, maybe we should have carpenter ants or termites!
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      RE: the photo

      It is intricate
      It is symmetrical
      It is not cute
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  • Profile picture of the author jacktackett
    I have what the army corps of engineers call a 'creek' in my back yard. I call it a ditch, and except when it rains there is no moving water.

    So I put up 2 bat houses back there to take care of the swarms we would get.

    Of course the next year we had an unprecedented number of rapid bats and other small mammals reported.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by jacktackett View Post

      I have what the army corps of engineers call a 'creek' in my back yard. I call it a ditch, and except when it rains there is no moving water.

      So I put up 2 bat houses back there to take care of the swarms we would get.

      Of course the next year we had an unprecedented number of rapid bats and other small mammals reported.
      So the bat houses attracted bats?
      Just curious because I was thinking of building a couple in my yard.
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      • Profile picture of the author jacktackett
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        So the bat houses attracted bats?
        Just curious because I was thinking of building a couple in my yard.
        They seem to help. Not like I've done any statistical analysis but there are bats in the houses (I purchased them from Lowes of all places) and between them and my electric zapper I can rest in my hammock in the summers and not get eaten alive.

        Not sure how rabies get transmitted to the bats since they aren't the blood suckers themselves - wonder if it might be them eating mosquitoes that have infected blood from a raccoon or fox (for some strange reason we have lots of infected foxes in the area) or some other infected mammal.

        I'm an old f@rt but does anyone else remember running through the skeeter fog as a kid? - when they would come through the neighborhoods fogging them to kill the mosquitoes? My wife says that explains a lot about me now :-)
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by jacktackett View Post

          They seem to help. Not like I've done any statistical analysis but there are bats in the houses (I purchased them from Lowes of all places) and between them and my electric zapper I can rest in my hammock in the summers and not get eaten alive.

          Not sure how rabies get transmitted to the bats since they aren't the blood suckers themselves - wonder if it might be them eating mosquitoes that have infected blood from a raccoon or fox (for some strange reason we have lots of infected foxes in the area) or some other infected mammal.

          I'm an old f@rt but does anyone else remember running through the skeeter fog as a kid? - when they would come through the neighborhoods fogging them to kill the mosquitoes? My wife says that explains a lot about me now :-)
          If there's bats in the houses that's all I need to know, I might have to give them a try. I just miss having them around like when I was a kid.
          I remember seeing the fogger trucks when I lived in Fl. in the 70's.
          I just thought it was strange. It could explain a lot about both of us though:rolleyes:

          Jack I've always wanted to ask you this.
          Are you any relation to this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Tackett
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          • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
            Here's another item for your list, Thom.

            WHO: Snake bites kill 100,000 annually - Monsters and Critics
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            • Profile picture of the author ThomM
              Originally Posted by Lawrh View Post

              Here's another item for your list, Thom.

              WHO: Snake bites kill 100,000 annually - Monsters and Critics
              Years ago I was what you would call an amateur herpetologist.
              On any given day I would have up to 15 different snakes in my house.
              I had a pet Boa, Corn Snake, Ring Neck, and 2 Black Northern Racers.
              Some of the others where shipped to the University of Mimai, where I had a friend in the herpetology dept. The others where recovering from injuries or mite infestations.
              When I moved to Fl. one of the ways I made some $ was catching Eastern Diamondbacks and selling them to Bill Haast at the Miami Serpentarium.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by jacktackett View Post

      I have what the army corps of engineers call a 'creek' in my back yard. I call it a ditch, and except when it rains there is no moving water.

      So I put up 2 bat houses back there to take care of the swarms we would get.

      Of course the next year we had an unprecedented number of rapid bats and other small mammals reported.
      I don't know if it is possible, but if you could attract only insect eating bats, that problem probably wouldn't occur. WOW though, the bat houses must have been big.

      and the army corps of engineers came to it, defined it, and didn't do anything with it?

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        I don't know if it is possible, but if you could attract only insect eating bats, that problem probably wouldn't occur. WOW though, the bat houses must have been big.

        and the army corps of engineers came to it, defined it, and didn't do anything with it?

        Steve
        The corps does that up here also.
        They'll look at a drainage ditch and call it a creek if there isn't a road along side it.
        I may be wrong here (though I doubt it) but I don't think any bats native to the US eat anything but insects.
        The ones that eat fruit I believe are mainly in So. America and other places closer to the equator. The ones that drink blood are mainly in Africa.
        But I could be wrong.
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        • Profile picture of the author seasoned
          Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

          The corps does that up here also.
          They'll look at a drainage ditch and call it a creek if there isn't a road along side it.
          I may be wrong here (though I doubt it) but I don't think any bats native to the US eat anything but insects.
          The ones that eat fruit I believe are mainly in So. America and other places closer to the equator. The ones that drink blood are mainly in Africa.
          But I could be wrong.
          OK, I just figured that vampire bats could catch rabies from the blood, or maybe biting insects when they are on an affected animal and, obvioussly, spread it by biting. You wouldn't think an insect eating bat would really spread rabies.

          But you are probably right, about them not being in NORTH america. I have seen bats only 3 times around me, and they didn't seem to bother any animals.

          Wikipedia, only lists three blood suckers. The two that might be, and are, called vampires are in SOUTH america. Oddly, it speaks of another that feeds only on birds, but it doesn't say where that one is anyway.

          Outside of an EXTREME infestation that produces a LOT of OTHER vectors, or bats REALLY going out of their way and biting other mammals, I can't see how insectivores would be tied to rabies. Of course, I am FAR from an expert on that. Just offering my opinion.

          Steve
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          • Profile picture of the author ThomM
            Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

            OK, I just figured that vampire bats could catch rabies from the blood, or maybe biting insects when they are on an affected animal and, obvioussly, spread it by biting. You wouldn't think an insect eating bat would really spread rabies.

            But you are probably right, about them not being in NORTH america. I have seen bats only 3 times around me, and they didn't seem to bother any animals.

            Wikipedia, only lists three blood suckers. The two that might be, and are, called vampires are in SOUTH america. Oddly, it speaks of another that feeds only on birds, but it doesn't say where that one is anyway.

            Outside of an EXTREME infestation that produces a LOT of OTHER vectors, or bats REALLY going out of their way and biting other mammals, I can't see how insectivores would be tied to rabies. Of course, I am FAR from an expert on that. Just offering my opinion.

            Steve
            I just grabbed this off of this site Rabies

            About 7,000 cases of rabies in animals are reported each year to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Raccoons are the most common carriers of rabies in the United States, but bats are most likely to infect people. Almost three quarters of rabies cases between 1990 and 2001 came from contact with bats.
            How they come to be infected I have no idea.
            I can understand why they bite more people, if you have ever been near an animal with rabies it's easy to understand.
            Why people think a wild animal sitting and staring at you stupidly looks friendly is beyond me.
            Still when I was a kid and still today I would sit in my yard at sunset and watch the bats fly out of the cemetery down the road from me.
            Some always ended up flying over our yard eating anything that moved in the air.
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            • Profile picture of the author seasoned
              Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

              I just grabbed this off of this site Rabies


              How they come to be infected I have no idea.
              I can understand why they bite more people, if you have ever been near an animal with rabies it's easy to understand.
              Why people think a wild animal sitting and staring at you stupidly looks friendly is beyond me.
              Still when I was a kid and still today I would sit in my yard at sunset and watch the bats fly out of the cemetery down the road from me.
              Some always ended up flying over our yard eating anything that moved in the air.
              Well, dogs CAN be deceptive. I once had to walk somewhat NEAR a dog, or else cross the street or something, because some jerk chained him up so. Anyway, the dog SEEMED to be fine, and I was perhaps 2-3 INCHES of being out of range of the dog. LITERALLY INCHES! while I was walking AWAY, the dog decided to BITE me. I still remember that he bit me about 3/4 up my lower right leg. It left a GOOD mark on my leg. LUCKILY, I had some thick jeans on, so there seemed to be no damage. I don't even remember any blleeding, though it was CLOSE. I STILL almost wish I had hauled up and broken that dog's neck, it gave me a good opportunity while it was spitting out the tasty(sarc) fibers it got from my jeans. And it WAS a big dog. But it was tied up, I had/have strong legs, and MAN did it leave me an opening. If it had rabies, I would be dead now. The dog was moved some short time after the incident.

              Don't get me wrong, I generally steer clear of dogs in a kind of casual fashion. I actually LIKE dogs, but I didn't feel like walking in the middle of the street, crossing it, or going a block out of my way, which was about the only way I could avoid the dog. And he was chained up, so I knew he wasn't feral, and I knew my exposure was limited both to the amount of the danger, and the time it had to take place. Oh, and if the dog got even a SCRATCH, it wasn't because of me, I didn't even have any plastic or metal in the area he bit. I never did ANYTHING to show I meant it any ill will, and was almost out of the area.

              That was the SECOND time in my life I have been attacked by a dog and the ONLY time I was BIT! The other dog was JUST small enough(BARELY) that I could limit his ability a bit, and the owner called him off. He was a doberman. I THINK the one that bit me was an australian shepard mix, but I am not sure.

              Hey, just this morning there was a big dig, I BELIEVE it was a golden retriever, and it was actually FREE out front. I guess I COULD have walked a block around, but it wasn't all that far from my car anyway. Luckily, it was more interested in a cart than me, and I don't even know if it noticed me. Oh well, that is what you get when laws aren't enforced.

              BTW I wasn't afraid of the dog. It looked nice(pretty, etc...), but I wasn't going to go up and start petting it either. This is ALMOST like the "am I racist" thread. Did you notice?

              anyway, my point is you are not 100% safe from animal bites unless MAYBE you go WAY out of your way.

              BTW from wikipedia:

              Worldwide, the vast majority of human rabies cases (approximately 97%) come from dog bites.[3] In the United States, however, animal control and vaccination programs have effectively eliminated domestic dogs as reservoirs of rabies.[4] In several countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, rabies carried by animals that live on the ground has been eradicated entirely. Concerns exist about airborne and mixed-habitat animals including bats. Bats in the U.K. and in some other countries carry European Bat Lyssavirus 1 and European Bat Lyssavirus 2. The symptoms of these viruses are similar to those of rabies and so the viruses are both known as bat rabies. An unvaccinated Scottish bat handler died from an EBLV in 2002[2].
              steve
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              • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

                Well, dogs CAN be deceptive. I once had to walk somewhat NEAR a dog, or else cross the street or something, because some jerk chained him up so. Anyway, the dog SEEMED to be fine, and I was perhaps 2-3 INCHES of being out of range of the dog. LITERALLY INCHES! while I was walking AWAY, the dog decided to BITE me. I still remember that he bit me about 3/4 up my lower right leg. It left a GOOD mark on my leg. LUCKILY, I had some thick jeans on, so there seemed to be no damage. I don't even remember any blleeding, though it was CLOSE. I STILL almost wish I had hauled up and broken that dog's neck, it gave me a good opportunity while it was spitting out the tasty(sarc) fibers it got from my jeans. And it WAS a big dog. But it was tied up, I had/have strong legs, and MAN did it leave me an opening. If it had rabies, I would be dead now. The dog was moved some short time after the incident.

                Don't get me wrong, I generally steer clear of dogs in a kind of casual fashion. I actually LIKE dogs, but I didn't feel like walking in the middle of the street, crossing it, or going a block out of my way, which was about the only way I could avoid the dog. And he was chained up, so I knew he wasn't feral, and I knew my exposure was limited both to the amount of the danger, and the time it had to take place. Oh, and if the dog got even a SCRATCH, it wasn't because of me, I didn't even have any plastic or metal in the area he bit. I never did ANYTHING to show I meant it any ill will, and was almost out of the area.

                That was the SECOND time in my life I have been attacked by a dog and the ONLY time I was BIT! The other dog was JUST small enough(BARELY) that I could limit his ability a bit, and the owner called him off. He was a doberman. I THINK the one that bit me was an australian shepard mix, but I am not sure.

                Hey, just this morning there was a big dig, I BELIEVE it was a golden retriever, and it was actually FREE out front. I guess I COULD have walked a block around, but it wasn't all that far from my car anyway. Luckily, it was more interested in a cart than me, and I don't even know if it noticed me. Oh well, that is what you get when laws aren't enforced.

                BTW I wasn't afraid of the dog. It looked nice(pretty, etc...), but I wasn't going to go up and start petting it either. This is ALMOST like the "am I racist" thread. Did you notice?

                anyway, my point is you are not 100% safe from animal bites unless MAYBE you go WAY out of your way.

                BTW from wikipedia:



                steve
                I figured dog rabies would be very low here. I grew up in what was country. My house was surrounded by grain and hay fields, a working cow pasture and all sorts of abandoned apple, pear, and nut trees.
                We always carried fairly long, stout, walking sticks. We had a few wild dogs around that could be a problem and you never knew when Cranston's bull would get loose, and he had a real bad attitude.
                In the situation you described I'd either cross the street or watch the dog as closely walking away from it as towards. I've had them pull the look friendly then sneak up behind you and bite your ass trick before
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                • Profile picture of the author seasoned
                  Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

                  I figured dog rabies would be very low here. I grew up in what was country. My house was surrounded by grain and hay fields, a working cow pasture and all sorts of abandoned apple, pear, and nut trees.
                  We always carried fairly long, stout, walking sticks. We had a few wild dogs around that could be a problem and you never knew when Cranston's bull would get loose, and he had a real bad attitude.
                  In the situation you described I'd either cross the street or watch the dog as closely walking away from it as towards. I've had them pull the look friendly then sneak up behind you and bite your ass trick before
                  There's only so much you can do before they figure you are a potential threat though. Granted, if I broke its neck, the owner might try to sue, but the owner shouldn't have such a hostile dog chain up on a PUBLIC SIDEWALK like that.

                  Steve
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                  • Profile picture of the author ThomM
                    Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

                    There's only so much you can do before they figure you are a potential threat though. Granted, if I broke its neck, the owner might try to sue, but the owner shouldn't have such a hostile dog chain up on a PUBLIC SIDEWALK like that.

                    Steve
                    Which is probably why he moved it
                    There used to be strays that would stop and visit my dogs when I had them.
                    At one time there where two big old black dogs that would visit my coonhound. If I went outside they would leave.
                    After I had to put my buddy to sleep I went outside one day and they where both standing there. They, for the first and only time walked right up to me.
                    I knelt down, petted them both and told them Elmo had died.
                    I never saw either of them after that day.
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  • Profile picture of the author eSeM
    Did you have any bacon in your pocket?... I know i carry bacon around on my persons and dogs are my number one hazard.

    I could stop carrying bacon around but then isn't that what america is all about?

    What i do now is throw a peace of steak in the dryer with i wash my socks, So when they attack me, they go for my foot and not my neck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Hey Thom - any natural cure for fricking aphids? The minute I get my first leaf on one of my roses they start. I hate them - they just irritate me so much I am tongue tied and they are the only thing I use insecticide on -

    I hate using insecticide because I have darling bees and humming birds that come to my deck, but I just can't control myself from watching the aphids stop all their freaking wiggling when they are sprayed head on.

    I have something to trade - a natural remedy for rose powdery mildew that works great. Murphys Oil Soap (2 capfuls) to a quart of camomile tea. Spray it both before you get mildew and/or after you get mildew.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Hey Thom - any natural cure for fricking aphids? The minute I get my first leaf on one of my roses they start. I hate them - they just irritate me so much I am tongue tied and they are the only thing I use insecticide on -

      I hate using insecticide because I have darling bees and humming birds that come to my deck, but I just can't control myself from watching the aphids stop all their freaking wiggling when they are sprayed head on.

      I have something to trade - a natural remedy for rose powdery mold that works great. Murphys soap (capful) to a quart of camomile tea. Spray it both before you get mold and after you get mold.
      Hey Pat...

      If worse comes to worse, you might try insecticidal soap. It's a poison, but it totally breaks down naturally from light, air and moisture in 3 days so it doesn't stay around to harm things. It works, it's cheap and you can pick it up at any lawn/garden center.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Hey Thom - any natural cure for fricking aphids? The minute I get my first leaf on one of my roses they start. I hate them - they just irritate me so much I am tongue tied and they are the only thing I use insecticide on -

      I hate using insecticide because I have darling bees and humming birds that come to my deck, but I just can't control myself from watching the aphids stop all their freaking wiggling when they are sprayed head on.

      I have something to trade - a natural remedy for rose powdery mildew that works great. Murphys soap (capful) to a quart of camomile tea. Spray it both before you get mildew and/or after you get mildew.
      I tried to find a decent link to this, but I kept on finding sales pages
      Safer Insecticidal Soap should take care of your aphid problem.
      That's usually the first thing I try for many insect on plant problems.
      Something else you can try that works is Ladybugs.

      I just wanted to add, I'm that way with slugs.
      I should go organic, but with the slug bait I use it turns them into soap, and I find that very pleasing:rolleyes: I also like going out to the driveway in the early morning with some salt and watching them dance.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      Edit: Oops, Thom beat me to it.

      The soap Kurt mentions works. You can also use ladybugs. I bought them before and let them go around where ever the aphids are. Some of them fly away, but many stay around and eat the aphids.

      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Hey Thom - any natural cure for fricking aphids? The minute I get my first leaf on one of my roses they start. I hate them - they just irritate me so much I am tongue tied and they are the only thing I use insecticide on -

      I hate using insecticide because I have darling bees and humming birds that come to my deck, but I just can't control myself from watching the aphids stop all their freaking wiggling when they are sprayed head on.

      I have something to trade - a natural remedy for rose powdery mildew that works great. Murphys Oil Soap (capful) to a quart of camomile tea. Spray it both before you get mildew and/or after you get mildew.
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

        The soap Kurt mentions works. You can also use ladybugs. I bought them before and let them go around where ever the aphids are. Some of them fly away, but many stay around and eat the aphids.
        Ladybugs are our friends
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        As you are I was, as I am you will be
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        • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
          Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

          Ladybugs are our friends
          Yeah, and they are cute. Here's a cute one eating one of those nasty aphids. Yum:

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  • Profile picture of the author Patrician
    Yes Lady Bugs rock alright. But they don't stay around it is true - I have several roses and I would need a Lady Bug Army.

    I can't believe I didn't know about Safer Insecticidal soap. I will definitely get some. Thank you guys...
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Patrician View Post

      Yes Lady Bugs rock alright. But they don't stay around it is true - I have several roses and I would need a Lady Bug Army.

      I can't believe I didn't know about Safer Insecticidal soap. I will definitely get some. Thank you guys...
      Most will stay as long as there is food then leave in search of more.
      Of course at that point you don't have any aphids left.
      They will also lay eggs where their food source is.
      Only problem is most people don't recognize ladybug larva and end up trying to kill them.


      Same goes with the eggs.
      People see them on their plants and squash them or get rid of them somehow.
      Signature

      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
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      As you are I was, as I am you will be
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Safer products are great - and they work!

      Steve - Maybe the poor chained dog thought you were coming to save it - and when you just walked past, it ticked him off?
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      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    ThiomM,

    YEAH, that is a problem. Ever see Praying mantis egg sacks? You start wondering what they are. I bought a couple once, and kept them in my BEDROOM! When I came home one day, it looked like there were ANTS all over my dresser. Well, the color didn't look QUITE right. I looked closely, and THERE THEY WERE! Little baby praying mantises! They were probably about as long as their eyes were when they were adults. TINY, but they looked every bit like adults would if they were kind of tan and MUCH smaller.

    I guess you just have to be careful sometimes. and yeah, ladybugs can look bad, often climb walls and pupate. I could see someone killing them all thinking they were some kind of pest.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author nando1125
    Gross I HATE monsquitos.. They disgust me
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