Tag: desert
by Rynski on Nov.18, 2009, under animal cruelty, animals, life, wildlife
Horses, wildlife blamed for lax border security
Anyone who wonders how so many illegal immigrants sneak across the border every year need not wonder any longer.
Sauve moi!/Ryn Gargulinski
One big reason is because of the horses, according to an e-mail from the office of Congressman Rob Bishop’s office.
You see, some of the land near the border area is protected by environmental laws. This means Border Patrol agents can’t just go blasting through the areas in heavy duty vehicles and machinery.
They have to wait for horses to be delivered to them so they can instead tread naturally on horseback. The wildlife that’s being protected by using the horses is another major cause. Damn animals. They are really wrecking it all down there.
Bishop (R-Utah) recently shared a bunch of documents with The Washington Times which, in turn, wrote about environmental issues hindering border security. Bishop is ranking member of the Resources Subcommittee on Parks, Forests and Public Lands and chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.
“In a remarkably candid letter to Congressman Rob Bishop, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said her department has had to delay pursuits of illegal immigrants while waiting for horses to be brought in so agents don’t impede upon protected lands, and warns that illegal immigrants will increasingly make use of remote, protected areas to avoid being caught,” according to The Washington Times.
It may seem silly for the agents to be so worried about protecting the land since we highly doubt drug smugglers and their ilk are paying particular attention to it.
But if the agents don’t pay attention, they may be slapped with a hefty fine.
Well preserved environment/Ryn Gargulinski
“The documents (shared by Bishop) also show the Interior Department has charged the Homeland Security Department $10 million over the past two years as a ‘mitigation’ penalty to pay for damage to public lands that agencies say has been caused by Border Patrol agents chasing illegal immigrants,” The Times continues.
None of this is anything new. Anyone who has been to any type of meeting on the virtual fence or other border security issues knows the environmental groups show up en masse.
Border lights may be too bright. Towers may be too tall. Other security measures may be too intrusive.
On the other side of the fence, so to speak, we get those who don’t give a hoot about any type of wildlife if it interferes with our human pursuits. Never mind if the animals were here first or that we are successfully adding many to the ever-growing endangered list.
So should we just rape the land in the name of border security? Or should we hold back and save the wildlife while society may suffer?
It’s just too bad the wildlife don’t get it, and perhaps pick one side of the border or the other to make their home rather than screwing it all up by trying to live free in the middle.
What do you think?
Is protecting our nation’s security more important than protecting wildlife?
Should we stop building anything that may impede with wildlife?
Is there a happy medium?
by Rynski on Nov.05, 2009, under Tucson pets, animals, life, pets, wildlife
Tucson pets: Meet a Monster
How would you like an 80-year-old Monster living in your backyard? One Southwest Side family loves it – but that’s because Monster is a charming and gentle tortoise.
Monster is his fashionable backyard habitat/submitted photo
Monster may weigh in at a stocky 40 pounds and be so named because he is huge compared to the family’s other two tortoises, but he still has to be separated from Wilson and Sleepy.
“Wilson gets aggressive,” Monster’s mom said – but no problems were reported between Monster and the family’s two birds and two dogs.
Monster is even known to help with chores around the home and yard. He loves following his human dad around, and even “helped out” by getting beneath a chair his dad was standing on while working on his truck.
“Monster went under the chair and lifted him about 2 inches off the ground,” mom said.
“I guess the hardest part of owning a tortoise is that they can get so big, making their habitat is a little harder,” she said. “Oh yes, and finding romaine lettuce on sale.”
Do you have a pet that rivals Sawyer? E-mail comment and photo to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com
What do you think?
Do you think tortoises make a good pet? Why or why not?
by Rynski on Sep.21, 2009, under animals, events, frogs, life, lizards, pet events, pet products, pets, reptiles
Lizards lurk with spiders and skinks – Tucson Reptile Show slide show
As predicted, this weekend’s Tucson Reptile Show made me want to buy a snake. Or a tarantula. Or a skink I was planning to name Wanda.
Kids - and adults - got a kick of petting the croc and pals/Ryn Gargulinski
Common sense – and the desire not to clean another cage – kicked in and I instead opted for non-living souvenirs. These included a business card wallet made out of roadkill and the gift of a magenta, bejeweled chameleon pin (thanks, BB!).
The hundreds of other folks who flocked to Tucson’s Expo Center to saunter through the snakes, spiders and skinks did go home with plenty of living things.
Other highlights of the show included hands-on displays where kids got to romp with a croc and giant tortoises; Tiger Blood snow cones and a vast array of friendly and knowledgeable folks with equally friendly and breath-taking critters.
If you don’t believe me – or even if you do – check out the slide show below.
 |  |  |
One more show highlight was the vast array of awesome tattoos, which will be posted as a slide show on Rynski’s Blogski later this week.
Dale Lindnes was selling wallets and other items made from roadkill skin/Ryn Gargulinski
Did you go to the reptile show? What was your highlight?
Did you buy a roadkill wallet?
Do you have a pet snake, skink or spider? What is the biggest joy it brings you?
by Rynski on Aug.18, 2009, under animals, life, pet dangers, wildlife
Coyote cackles, howls some of desert’s finest sounds
Unless it’s garbage day, many a Tucson morn begins with one of the most glorious sounds of the desert: the coyote cackle.
Coyotes grace me with their cackle several mornings each week, even in the heart of midtown.
The sound is quite hyena-like, as if the coyotes are in a circle laughing at the fate of whatever small family pet they just cornered.
The sound also prompts my dogs to howl, and an entire symphony is born, more discordant and disjointed than Stravinsky.
I love it.
I doubt my neighbors feel the same way, however, and even wrote a poem expressing my apologies:
Apology Poem to the Next Door Neighbors Who Switched on the Porch Light at 5:03 a.m.
Illustration Ryn Gargulinski
I am
sorry my
dogs woke you
at 5 a.m. with their
deep dark loud
howling – they were
fending off the
song of the
nearby coyotes, that
scream when they’re
feeding – on things like
sweet Yorkies named
Chester.
-Ryn Gargulinski, 03/11/08
***
Coyote cackles aren’t the only noises these beauteous beasts belt out. We can find explanations of the noises at DesertUsa.com:
The infamous howl serves as a coyote’s announcement that he has claimed an area and female coyotes are welcome but all other coyote males should stay away. He will be answered by other guys in other territories so they all know where the others are lurking.
The cackle I love is actually known as the yelp. Small gangs of coyotes will yelp to express pleasure or criticism. The site said it’s common when young coyotes are playing, but didn’t mention anything about the family pet being cornered.
The bark is a threat and warns others to stay away from his cozy, velvet-lined den or the carcass of something he just killed and plans for dinner.
Huffing, no, is not a bunch of coyotes sniffing glue, but rather the soft sound they use to beckon pups. It is a low-key sound and probably not heard much by humans unless you are standing next to the pups. In that case, however, the coyote would start barking at you.
The site also notes others agree that coyote clamor is divine:
The coyote is one of the few wild animals whose vocalizations are commonly heard. At night coyotes both howl (a high quavering cry) and emit a series of short, high-pitched yips. Howls are used to keep in touch with other coyotes in the area. Sometimes, when it is first heard, the listener may experience a tingling fear of primitive danger, but to the seasoned outdoorsman, the howl of the coyote is truly a song of the West.
Amen to that.
Illustration Ryn Gargulinski
What do you think?
Do you dig coyote noises or find them disgusting?
Do they fill you with fervor or fear?
What other desert noises elate you or would you rather hear the garbage truck?
by Rynski on Aug.17, 2009, under Tucson pets, Uncategorized, animals, life, pets, reptiles
Tucson tortoise storms downtown
Spotting a desert tortoise around Tucson may be no big deal – unless that tortoise happens to be taking downtown by storm.
And this dude, named Tank, was storming.
Tanks takes Congress Street/Ryn Gargulinski
The tantalizing tortoise was rambling so fast that the folks milling around Congress Street Saturday needed to do a double take.
Several folks, standing outside the Rialto Theater on a break from the Woodstock tribute concert, said he was too fast to be for real. Others thought he was a robot.
Well, at least one woman thought he was a robot.
Others agreed it was very unusual to see a tortoise move so quickly when the creeping beasts are best known for falling behind hares in major races.
Tank treks at top speed/Ryn Gargulinski
Tank was certainly top speed, hitting an average of at least two city blocks per half hour, his owner joked.
The owner was also pulling a Tank wagon alongside the 100-year-old gorgeous critter, lest Tank tank out and need a ride.
“He’s old enough to have been at the original Woodstock,” the owner said, although he did not add what bands the tortoise would have preferred.
He said Tank’s life expectancy was 200, so the century-old tortoise was merely middle age.
Go, Tank, go!
Do you have a pet that rivals Sawyer? E-mail photo and comments to rynski@tucsoncitizen.com
Follow Sawyer on Twitter or he’ll step on your foot.
by Rynski on Jul.28, 2009, under animals, birds, cats, dogs, fish, life, pet dangers, pets, reptiles
Top 10 animals that attack our pets
That wild squirrel, raccoon or rat may appear mighty cuddly and cute, but all three of these beasts are on the list of the top 10 wild animals that attack pets.
The list, released by the Veterinary Pet Insurance Company, compiled the most common attacks reported for injury claims in 2008.
Arizona gets special honors for being the only place that’s known for two of the dangers: scorpions and javelinas. We also have some of the other critters, like that sneaky viper with the venomous fangs.
Javelina victim?/Ryn Gargulinski
Top 10 pet attackers:
1. Snakes
2. Coyotes
3. Raccoons
4. Squirrels
5. Scorpions
6. Javelinas
7. Porcupines
8. Groundhogs
9. Skunks
10. Rats
To balance out the horror, Sawyer, Phoebe and I compiled a list of our guess at the animals least likely to go on a rampage against them or other pets.
Don't fear the butterfly/Ryn Gargulinski
10 least likely critters to attack pets (in no particular order):
1. Two-toed sloth
2. Hummingbirds
3. Butterflies
4. Turtles
5. Snails
6. Sheep
7. Amoebas
8. Ducklings
9. Pet rocks
10. Tadpoles
Have your pets ever been attacked? By what?
How do you help keep them safe?
Are you scared of tadpoles?
Follow Sawyer on Twitter or he’ll tell all the skunks where you live.
by Rynski on Jul.27, 2009, under Tucson pets, dogs
Tucson Pets: Pinkerton the stinkerton
Pinkerton is one of those dogs that are too dang cute to get mad at – even when they act like a little stinker.
That was surely the case recently when Pinkerton escaped from a yard and got loose in the desert.
“I was at a friend’s and didn’t know there was a small gap in the fence,” said owner Amber Spears, who spent an hour scouring the sand until she found her precious pooch. “His tags had fallen off. I was frantic.”
Pinkerton and owner Amber Spears/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Tough to be mad at this cutie/Ryn Gargulinski
Pinkerton is a 3-year-old Chihuahua and Jack Russell mix, which means I don’t have to tell you he could have gone to Sonoita and back based on his massive amount of energy.
I met Pinkerton and at PetSmart where the duo was buying new tags in case he ever pulled a fast one again. Neither Sawyer nor Phoebe met Pinkerton in person but they gave his photo a “paws up.”
Besides, they love Pinkerton’s zaniest habit.
“He has this giant stuffed dog he drags all over the house,” Spears said. “It’s his boyfriend. He lays there and chews on its ear.”
Do you have a pet that rivals Sawyer? E-mail photo and comments to rynski@tucsoncitzen.com
Follow Sawyer on Twitter or he’ll chew holes in your fence.
by Rynski on Jul.07, 2009, under animals, dogs, life, pet dangers, pets
Desert dog walking hazards
One of my friends would always groan and moan that dogs don’t belong in the desert.
He happened to have a big, wooly, teddy bear of a dog named Luke who always looked like he was about to drop dead from the searing Tucson heat. The dog also broadsided a toddler at the dog park, but that’s another story.
In addition to sweltering in the heat, which is best avoided by dog walking in the early morning or late evening, there certainly are a lot of dog hazards out there.
Sawyer, Phoebe and I encounter a whole host of them on our daily jaunts.
Abby at the ready/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Enter Abby. This fine pooch pops her head above the very tall fence, making Phoebe lunge to great heights and nearly strangle herself with the leash. Other dogs along the way can also pose some yapping, snapping and peeing dangers.
Yapping danger/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
On the flipside, the dogs can become fast friends and run off together into the sunset (which happened once with a pup that wouldn’t stop following my duo).
Dogs also never watch where they walk, as evidenced by the 82 thorns and 3,579 burrs I’ve pulled from paws, tails and tummies.
Shards of broken glass, neon blue herbicide and rotting dead things round out the immobile surface hazards, but there are still live critters with which to contend.
Toxic weed killer/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Rotting dead thing/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
The glorious rattlesnake will be far less than glorious if it gets your dog. Rattlesnakes strike as a swift reaction, mainly when dogs go tromping unknowingly near the snakes’ lairs or sometimes even on top of the slithering serpent. I highly recommend snake avoidance training.
Coyotes, rabbits and pack rats add to the menagerie of wildlife that can be harmful to your pooch, especially when the critters bolt into traffic and make your pet follow. Coyotes also eat little breeds for lunch.
Not all dog-walking hazards consist of dangerous things for the dogs. Sometimes the dogs can pose the danger. This again would apply to rabbits, pack rats and a roadrunner we always see I named Hank. “Run, Hank, run.”
Flowers and tall, ornamental grasses cringe every time they see Phoebe coming, as she has a fine habit in peeing in all of them.
Phoebe peeing/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Then there are the people. Folks on bicycles, joggers and mean looking, scowling strangers are at the greatest risk of being jostled, chased or barked at. Sawyer especially disdains anyone wearing boots or hats.
But my dogs’ favorite targets are the kids on skateboards or scooters. They knocked over a couple of them recently, but we were able to leave the area before the kids regained full consciousness.
Kids regaining consciousness/Photo Ryn Gargulinski
Please note that most of these hazards can be avoided if you keep your dog on a leash and walk in boring circles around the paved neighborhood. But what fun would life be without its dog walk challenges?
What other dog walking hazards have you encountered?
Has your dog ever battled a coyote, Abby or a rattlesnake?
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