“LA MESA, Calif. — According to the La Mesa Police Department, a 200-pound swarm of bees was removed from a ficus tree in front of the Cosmo Coffee Shop on Wednesday.”

‘Public works officials said they received citizen complaints about a swarm of bees in the 8300 block of La Mesa Boulevard and contacted Knott’s Pest Control. A crew closed one block of La Mesa Boulevard, between Palm Avenue and Spring Street, Wednesday morning to accommodate pest control personnel, according to police. ”

I can’t imagine having 200 pounds of something good, forget about having 200 pounds of something that could be potentially lethal. It is amazing that no one was horribly injured. It’s inspiring to see that people do actually pay attention to their surroundings.

to read more on this article go to http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/15648967/detail.html

“For some time, the California ground squirrels that burrow along the levee at Sea Cloud Park in Foster City have been marked for death.”

“One hundred bait stations with 3-inch-diameter openings were staked securely into the ground along the levee near the Belmont Slough and Sea Cloud Park.”

“They’re creating a void in the levee,” said Laura Galli, the city’s assistant engineer. “That’s our infrastructure that keeps us out of a flood zone. We’re concerned with protecting the integrity of the levee so we can protect the city.”

“Last month, the city council hired Earl’s Pest Control to kill off the brown critters for a year. When that job is complete, the city will go ahead and close off the holes.”

“Frisella said she asked the council to postpone the extermination for a month to study the use of birth control, but the other members declined and opted to move forward with the original plan. She added that she will meet with the Peninsula Humane Society to see if sterilizing the squirrels would be a viable option.”

“Humane Society spokesman Scott Delucchi said Berkeley worked to sterilize its squirrels, and it was fairly successful.”

“They tried to do something that was a little more humane than poisoning, trapping and killing,” he said Wednesday. “Our advice is to think of ways to change the habitat so it is not as attractive.”

I’m all for saving animals but I’d like to save animals that aren’t potentially life threatening to other people. These animals are posing a serious risk to the people who live near the levee. How much money would it cost to catch, sterilize and then release these animals back into the area. Who would pay for it? Who would be responsible for doing the service? Would the Humane Society do it for free?

To read more on this article go to http://sanmateodailynews.com/article/2008-3-20-squirrel-kill

“ORLANDO, Fla. (March 6) - Pro golfer Tripp Isenhour apologized for killing a hawk that was making noise while he tried to film a TV show.”

“About the sixth ball came very near the bird’s head, and (Isenhour) was very excited that it was so close,” Baine wrote.”

”A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk. The bird, protected as a migratory species, fell to the ground bleeding from both nostrils.”

“Because of the high profile nature of this case, the PGA needs to take steps to address its interest and to make it clear that they don’t condone animal cruelty,” said Dale Bartlett, the deputy manager for animal cruelty issues for the Humane Society of the United States.”

“Isenhour, who plays on the developmental Nationwide Tour, was charged Wednesday with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird, misdemeanors that carry a maximum penalty of 14 months in jail and $1,500 in fines.”

Professional athletes unfortunately are always in the spotlight and under public scrutiny. It doesn’t matter if they are doing a good deed or something bad. That being said, why didn’t someone who was with him stop him? Was no one thinking about what could possibly happen if he hit this animal? He is after all someone with the skill to put a ball in a small hole that can be several hundred feet away. Did no one speak up because of who he is and what the potential backlash could be? Everyone wants to fit in but at what cost. If someone had spoken up maybe this bird would still be alive.

“Jonathan and Steven Frisch say they’ve discovered the perfect rat remedy, that doesn’t kill the perennial pest but instead soothes it to sleep with the herb Valerian root. “

“You get to control the rodent and the rodent’s stress is relieved.”

“Frisch, who works from a Sunset Park office with his dad, said rodents are attracted by the scent of Valerian and drawn to the plastic rectangular trap for a taste. “

“From there, the rat or mouse is lulled to sleep after nibbling the herb, enabling the owner of the trap to release the critter without killing it, Frisch said. “

“The trap comes on the heels of a pilot program spearheaded by the city Department of Health that aims to educate residents, exterminators and community groups throughout the city on how best to deal with rodent infestations. “

“A department spokeswoman declined to comment on Sleepaway, but said the practice of freeing the snoozing rodents back onto city streets may not be the best way to solve the problem. “

“Rats are highly social animals and they have families on the outside of these homes,” PETA spokesman Martin Mersereau.”

Do they give it a blanket and pillow too? I can’t believe that someone is trying to save a rodent that carries so many diseases and is literally invading parts of the city. Are these two men aware that the city is battling the biggest rodent infestation it’s had in years. There has actually been a new task force developed. It was implemented January 2008 and it includes Bobby Corrigan a highly trained expert in the pest control industry. They are agressively trying to combat the problem. To say that there not sure if freeing these snoozing rodents back onto the city street is a good idea is a huge understatement. It is the best sentence written in this article!

Hogs Help Battle Beetles in Apple Orchard

“CLAYTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (March 5) - Jim Koan has gone hog-wild in his battle against a beetle that threatens his 120-acre organic apple orchard”

“As part of a research experiment believed to be among the first of its kind, Koan is using pigs to help protect his fruit from the plum curculio, a tiny insect that is among the most destructive apple pests.”

“More than two dozen porkers patrol his orchard, gobbling down fallen, immature apples containing the beetle’s larvae”

“Adult female curculios cut crescent-shaped flaps in the skin of newly formed apples and lay their eggs inside, where they hatch. The beetle larvae burrow into the center of the young fruit, making it drop prematurely in late June or early July.”

The avenue of possibility is endless when you think outside the box. I don’t know if this will work better than the conventional method of treatment, but I would say kudos to Mr. Koan for being inventive. My only concern would be are the hogs at risk for getting any type of disease after they eat a multitude of apples with these insects inside. If they do get ill do the farmers know whay symptoms to look for? Would any potential diseases be passed on to us if the hogs are sent off to the slaughter house once there field days are over?

To read more on this article go to http://news.aol.com/story/_a/hogs-help-battle-beetles-in-apple/20080305082209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

“Radar the beagle and Taz the Australian kelpie are part of a crack team of sniffer dogs sweeping apartments and hotel rooms across the city to combat an infestation that has reached plague like proportions. “

“We are inundated with requests from hotels and apartment owners,” said Carl Massicott, the mastermind behind Advanced K9 Detectives, which has six dogs working steadily and two more in training. “

“The animals are specially trained to root out the pesky, blood-sucking insects, which nest in mattresses, upholstery and other furniture.”

“Radar and Taz, rescued from shelters, were trained using the same techniques as drug- and bomb-sniffing dogs. “

They truly are mans best friend! Taking these dogs from rescue shelters and training them served a dual purpose. It gives these shelter dogs a new lease on life. They are doing what all dogs like to do, please there human. It does leave some questions in my mind though.

What happens when these dogs are no longer useful? How do they know when they aren’t useful any longer? What is the purpose of having the dogs but not implementing a treatment program? So people who use the “hunting dog” still have to hire a pest control company. Essentially they will be paying twice. While the dog may be useful is he worth the additional money? A licensed pest control company certainly employs an inspector who can tell you the same thing.

To read more on this article go to http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/03/03/2008-03-03_noses_of_trained_dogs_hunting_bedbugs_in.html