All Hail Cinders! The Bug Hunter!

[Teresa Ford]

Bug Hunt Ok, Bees no Way.
You all know I am that crazy Yorkie Lady and I worry about almost everything. Please don't be offended when I intrude with doom and gloom warnings. Your story was cute and funny. Thanks for sharing, it made me grin.
Here in Fl. we have fire ants which sting with their butt and bite with their jaws. They can cause a toxic reaction if enough stings happen or if the bitten person or animal is allergic. Also be aware of bees, wasps and spiders, bites and stings can cause swelling, trouble breathing and even toxic shock and death. Some toads and frogs are poison too. I just found out this week that there is a small yellow caterpillar that can sting too !

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

Bug Hunt Ok, Bees no Way.
You all know I am that crazy Yorkie Lady and I worry about almost everything. Please don't be offended when I intrude with doom and gloom warnings. Your story was cute and funny. Thanks for sharing, it made me grin.
Here in Fl. we have fire ants which sting with their butt and bite with their jaws. They can cause a toxic reaction if enough stings happen or if the bitten person or animal is allergic. Also be aware of bees, wasps and spiders, bites and stings can cause swelling, trouble breathing and even toxic shock and death. Some toads and frogs are poison too. I just found out this week that there is a small yellow caterpillar that can sting too !

Yes...we have caterpillars with stingers in the spring, and just touching one hurts from the 'splines' all over them even if you don't get stung, and they will drop out of the trees on you...on your back, etc., and when you try to brush them off...not knowing what they are, you end up hurting...and we have "velvet ants" ("cow ants") too, who's sting can bring down a cow. They are red, velvety, wingless wasps and they look like large ants walking on the ground. I have already snatched my babies out of the way of those...then 'dun-in' the velvet ant when the Yorkies weren't watching what mommy was doing. Plus, on the bigger and bigger end of things, there are the bluetail skinks, venomous snakes, alligators, foxes, coyotes, black bears, and plenty other stuff...depending on your particular neighborhood. For these and many other reasons, my babies are never alone outside...and if they're huntin' sumthin'...so am I! But, I still love all the funny stories of Yorkies going for the 'OK' bugs...

[cindersellie]

I agree, our fur babies should only hunt the safe bugs, not the biting/ stinging ones. ALWAYS know what your fur baby is HUNTING! Only then will it be fun for all!

[navillusc]

Yes...and it's so fun to watch them freak out when the giant June Bug they've been chasing is suddenly stuck to their moustache hair... Of course, Mommy is right there to dislodge the beast!

[Cirlonde]

Sometimes I wish my little Chloe was a bit braver with the bugs! She is absolutely TERRIFIED of house flies. And I do mean TERRIFIED! If she sees or hears one, she absolutely COWERS and shakes. She'll run and hide behind/under any piece of furniture she can find and generally just leaves the room altogether. Even after we've finally managed to kill the fly, it takes at least an hour or two for her to recover from (or forget) the experience.

As far as I know, she's never been bitten by a fly or any other insect, so the only thing I can think is that the loud buzzing by her sensitive ears freaks her out. It's always a little funny at first, but really, it breaks my heart to see her so scared and I can't explain to her that the fly (while gross) won't actually hurt her. I wish there were some way I could "socialize" her with flies, haha!
-C

[cindersellie]

" I wish there were some way I could "socialize" her with flies, haha!"


Thats really funny!!!

[gracielove]

There always has to be some nasty critter that will ruin all the fun! I walk the length and bredth of the yard before I let Gracie out to play in it. Even with that I had to step on a bee that she found this morning. Oh, yes she thinks I'm a spoil sport. We don't have as many harmful bugs up north but bees are a no no for sure.
This evening we heard two gun shots ring out. It seems a neighbor was attacked by a raccoon (or so he says) so he called the police who shot at the thing and missed. Being our brave protectors they were afraid to go into the woods and look for the thing. Now no one knows if it was actually rabid. The neighbor was not bit but was afraid because the raccoon was on his patio. Honesty, he has been nothing but trouble since he moved in.(The neighbor not the raccoon.) We have no known rabies cases in our area so I have my doubts but it's another thing to watch for. I'll have to carry a big stick when we go for our walks tomorrow.

[ironmike86]

Moki is a hunter also. But last week he got stung by a honey bee. He knocked the bee of really fast so maybe not too much venom? To him to the vet and they pulled the stinger out. He had no reaction. But today he was playing fine..he stays away from bees. But he was eating a carrot. Jumped up started rubbing his face...again. The vomited and pooped. Fell out. Rushed him to the Vet because Benadryl may not been good enough. They gave him something else also. Fine now,

[cindersellie]

Yeah, we've been killing bees here too...doing our best to keep the hunter from hunting those!

We had animal control out last weekend at my next door neighbors...a sickly raccoon. No one was sure if it had rabies, the animal control guy shot it though and said there was something wrong with it. Another neighbor said they saw a fox ( I didn't know Ohio had foxes) that might have rabies. Cinders is never out alone. I've seen hawks, skunks, owls, and cats in my yard. All are bigger than her, and I don't want any harm to come to her.

[ironmike86]

It was scary. He go swollen really fast. food was coming out both ends then he went limp. The Vet is only 10min away. We got there in 5min. He good now . Didn't see it but suspected hornet because it was dusk and no stinger. But 2 in ~8-10 days. First time he had no reaction. Guessing the honey bee was small and he knocked it off quick??

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by cindersellie

Yeah, we've been killing bees here too...doing our best to keep the hunter from hunting those!

We had animal control out last weekend at my next door neighbors...a sickly raccoon. No one was sure if it had rabies, the animal control guy shot it though and said there was something wrong with it. Another neighbor said they saw a fox ( I didn't know Ohio had foxes) that might have rabies. Cinders is never out alone. I've seen hawks, skunks, owls, and cats in my yard. All are bigger than her, and I don't want any harm to come to her.

Did they let you know if the raccoon had rabies? They are supposed to test it to find out for sure and issue a report. That is what bothers me about the incident this evening. They never found the body. So now we have to assume there is an injured raccoon out in the woods that may or may not have rabies.
We have recently had an influx of red foxes. We never had them here either until recently. Don't know why the over population so suddenly. It's never good when there is an over population as it leads to disease and competition for food. Meaning they tend to get closer to human food sources.
Not nearly as much fun as chasing butterflies.

[ilovejoel]

Ewww gross! I try and teach Joel not to get bugs, it creeps me out when he eats them. But he knows aunty lets him get all kinds of bugs

[cindersellie]

Two stings?? Ouch!! The poor baby! I'm glad everything turned out well!!!


The animal control guy didn't test it. (just asked my husband) I guess the neighbor would have had to pay for it??? I know my hubby split the cost of him coming out in the 1st place. The animal control office refers calls to certain people to deal with animals...and whoever calls-pays the guy that shows up. (rediculous, but I'm in a very small town )

The fox hasn't been caught yet. I'm sure it will turn up soon if its sick.

So many things to watch out for to keep our babies safe! I'm glad we watch them carefully as they explore and hunt!

[ironmike86]

The Coyotes and raccoons I can fence and watch for. Damn bees how??? Yard is full of plants and flowers. Maybe when he has more weight?? Just going to keep a list of emergency Vets when I travel and Benadryl on me.

[ilovejoel]

Joel learned when I yell "bee" he runs away really fast, I think he got it from me, lol