Sticky and Icky!
 

Maddie and Libby have been renamed Sticky and Icky. Yesterday Maddie (Sticky) was chewing on her paws and I looked and found all kinds of stuff stuck to her fur. I thought she'd gotten into evergreen tree sap. I gave her a bath and then clipped her (poor Sticky). I then gave Libby a bath and they both were so soft and pretty! By last night, Libby (Icky) was looking scruffy, so I was going to brush her again and the ends of her hair were sticky again and couldn't be brushed. I then checked Maddie and she was the same way!

I had noticed lately that the long part of their hair was impossible to brush through and couldn't figure out what was up with that. They also have their noses to the ground eating grass like crazy.

Today I've figured out the problem. Our basswood tree is infested with aphids. Aphids poop out a sticky substance and everything out there is sticky, including the grass. The sticky stuff is called honeydew and very sweet, thus the reason for Sticky and Icky to want to eat grass.

Now we can't find any one to spray the tree, so I may try it myself. If I hook up one of those things to the end of the hose and stand on the sunroom roof, I should be able to get the tree covered pretty good. I am so upset with this mess and want it gone now!

In the meantime, Sticky and Icky are going to need daily baths. They come in with all kinds of stuff stuck to them and then pieces drop off onto the floor. What a stink'n mess! Anyone every dealt with aphids and how did you get rid of them?

Dish detergent is recommended for rose bushes infected, so definitely go along with Patti's suggestion about spraying the tree. Then at least you won't need to worry about the girls getting sick from a chemcial reaction.

Sticky and Icky - girls you're gonna be getting lots of baths!!!!!!!

Awww I bet Sticky and Icky are awfullly cute anyway :)

I like the dish detergent idea-try that, Connie. I don't know anything about trees or aphids-but it sounds yucky. Hang in there Connie, hopefully the dish soap will work and they'll be gone soon!

Connie DO NOT go on that roof!! You could kill yourself seriously!!!! Better to bathe them aa lot then them be orphaned. Poor Icky and Sticky and Mom!!!!

A friend of mine had a mixture he used for aphids and it contained dish detergent. It also contained beer. You can't use that though and Sticky and Icky might become tipsy. ;)

Subro...you cracked me up about Sticky and Icky becoming tipsy!

Well, my hubby mixed up some kind of concoction and he got up on the sunroom roof and sprayed as much of the tree as he could get. Now I can't take Sticky and Icky out in that part of the yard. I will take them out the opposite sunroom door or else to the front, but they will have to be leashed. I will have to see how long it has to be before it's safe for animals. They aren't going to like this! They are used to running all over the back yard! I'm not going to like it either! LOL

Oh, Connie! I'm so sorry! That is one thing I've never had happen. At least, not yet!

sorry but it sounds so cute! hehe