http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=lyme-disease-outfoxes-deer-12-06-18 or http://m.pnas.org/content/early/2012/06/12/1204536109.abstract Interesting study and hypothesis. Just another reason to shoot those damn coyotes. Having foxes around to take out the real problem seems like a good thing IMO. So leave the foxes and kill those coyotes.
I'm thinking Voodoo medicine. DDT use to take care of all this stuff LOL Of course.... it killed off hawks and owls etc. P.S. Kill all coyotes on sight. Screw the seasons dates and all that.... exterminate as many as you can. AND... it'll never be enough.
I read a similar article. While the mice seem to be the host for the ticks up north, I suspect there is some other small critter that's filling the void in other areas, like the Carolinas. We had such a mild winter that I've heard Lyme may be higher than normal around Charlotte. Of course around here we don't see many fox, and people are killing every snake they see, which is probably exacerbating the small critter carrier populations. And don't even get me started on Yotes...
HA! My cats have killed upwards of 30 rodents so far this year and those are only the ones we see. We don't need no stinking foxes .
If we just go on the ones we know about then it is surprisingly few, 10-15. I thought it would be more but the way we have the bird feeders set up inhibits the cats somewhat. I am working on something that will inhibit them further but not endanger them or the birds. They did kill two baby bunnies and that was a bummer but we had a serious rodent problem what with the chicken feed (even in metal cans), bird feeders, and gardens. It is my belief that they also help keep varmints like raccoons, opossums and skunks away too. We also haven't had to kill any snakes for getting in the hen house and eating eggs. I feel bad about the birds and am working to make that better but the overall tradeoff works for me.
I was just poking a little fun at you Bruce, but its obvious you know that the do kill them. Like you said, they keep a lot of problem species in check though. Its a tough "balance." Good luck with whatever you have up your sleeve. Would love to know how it works out.
No worries, Dan. Fortunately only 4 of the cats are serious predators and only one of them worked the bird garden real hard until we convinced him it probably wasn't a good idea. He still trys but not as hard LOL. Now that the vegetation has grown pretty thick and high they are hindered in there. When the vegetation starts to die off this fall we'll see if what I have in mind works. I'll let you know how it turns out.
