Trying to keep wildlife out can cause problems
DEAR JOAN: Some years ago we not only had stray cats and a stray bunny coming into our backyard at odd hours, we also had raccoons. Because we had cats at the time who, even indoors, were having a fit, we installed a sensor- operated watering system.
I think it worked for the bunny and stray cats, but one night I turned on the light and there was a skunk walking on the perimeter outside the watering area and a raccoon on our patio just kind of looking at me.
After accidentally being welcomed with a shower every time I stepped outside to the backyard, we took the water sensors out.
Jane Parks- McKay
Santa Cruz
DEAR JANE: Often times in trying to keep creatures out of our yards, we only succeed in making them less hospitable to us.
When we were trying to keep the ground squirrels out of Our Garden, the demonstration garden I founded with the Contra Costa Master Gardeners, we tried covering everything with bird netting. It worked great. The ground squirrels could easily get through but it sure kept the gardeners out.
DEAR JOAN: On the way to work this morning, I saw the coolest way to cat- proof a bird feeder or hummingbird feeder.
These people suspended the feeders from those removable flag poles used to hang holiday flags.
Can’t wait to do this. The feeder is high enough so the cats can’t reach but I wouldn’t need a ladder to fill it. Just remove the pole from the bracket, fill the feeder and put the pole back up.
I’m going to mount mine on the fence.
A lot better solution than trapping the cats.
Anne F. Tracy
DEAR ANNE: This is a good idea for keeping the cats off the feeders, and I hate to point out the flaw in the plan, but it will provide an onramp for the squirrels. But it should work great for people who don’t have squirrel issues, and definitely for the hummingbird feeders.
I love hearing how people work around wildlife issues without resorting to killing. What are some of your ideas?
World Spay Day
The East Bay SPCA will perform up to 70 free spay and neuter surgeries for pit bulls and pit bull mixes, Chihuahuas and Chihuahua mixes, and cats during a marathon event Tuesday to commemorate World Spay Day.
The free surgeries are available to residents of Alameda and Contra Costa counties only and will be performed at the group’s Oakland Spay/ Neuter Surgery Center, 410 Hegenberger Road in Oakland.
Register online at www. eastbayspca. org/ spayday or find an event near you by going to the national Humane Society’s website, https:// worldspayday. org.
The East Bay SPCA is focusing on pit bulls and Chihuahuas because the number of those breeds entering Bay Area shelters has increased dramatically in the past few years.
Spaying and neutering saves countless lives and reduces over population.
It also helps keep dogs and cats healthy by eliminating the possibility of certain cancers. A neutered dog or cat is less likely to spray and mark his territory, get into fights with other animals or roam away from home and risk being lost or hit by a car.