How to make a hummingbird spa, stop ant invasions, survive dog attacks
Don’t tell my boss, but sometimes I like to let you, my readers, write my column for me, and that’s exactly what I’m doing today, printing some of your letters talking about previous topics in my column.
Actually, I think this is a great way to have a conversation between all the readers, not just me talking at you, so let’s make this a regular thing. Another way of keeping the chat going is to subscribe to the Pet Pal Connection newsletter at https://apps.mercurynews.com/newsletters/petconnection/?mail=news.
DEAR JOAN: Just a quick note regarding a recent letter from Laura in Antioch. I had a client in Walnut Creek who had a three-tier fountain just outside his parrot-room window. I would witness with delight hummers that would come to the top of the fountain and roll around on the bubble of water that was the upper source of the water cascade.
This was a very popular spot and birds would line up for their turn. The water gently bubbled out on top of a round cement ball. They all preferred this location to the shallow tiers of still water below. It was like a spa for hummingbirds!
Gayle Reece, Lafayette
DEAR GAYLE: While hummingbirds seem to have a preference for showers, the secret to getting them to take baths is a set-up like you mentioned. Almost all birds are attracted to moving water, I guess in the same way we get excited when our tubs have jets.
DEAR JOAN: Can you stand one more email on how to get rid of an ant invasion?
Until I did this, I had hundreds of ants invading my kitchen every rainy season. We were having new carpets and flooring installed over 10 years ago, when this idea occurred to me. Once the old flooring and baseboards were taken up, I caulked the entire inside perimeter of the house where the walls meet the floor.
I haven’t had an ant since, and no ants or pets were harmed in the process.
Elaine, Concord
DEAR ELAINE: That’s definitely the way to keep unwanted pests out.
DEAR JOAN: I read your column with the letter about dogs being attacked by other dogs where you mentioned that one of the best places to get bitten was on the shin. My dog, which weighs 20 pounds, was attacked by a Labrador and while my dog didn’t get hurt, I did.
I thought it was a bruise on my shin until I got home and found this ugly injury. It wasn’t just a bite but an area of torn skin, probably from something on the dog’s collar, and it was bleeding profusely.
I followed advice from a nurse, but when it wasn’t getting better after three or four days, I went to see a doctor. He said the shin is the worst place for an injury, and several other medical people have said the same.
I just thought you should know what I found out the hard way.
Jo-Anne Partridge, Bay Area
DEAR JO-ANNE: You and your doctors are correct that the shin is a bad place for an injury because the skin is so thin there.The reason experts say the best place for an inevitable dog bite is the lower leg is because there are no major organs or blood vessels there, making it unlikely a bite would be immediately fatal. Obviously, no bites or injuries are the best.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/20/hummingbird-spa-stopping-ant-invasions-and-bad-place-for-an-injury/
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