In communications to the Zoning board about the Andrew Cross & Dorothea Lotter d/b/a Edgewood Longears Safehouse zoning case, one of the concerns that I've voiced concerns pestilence, which includes flies and rodents. Flies have been a big problem now for a couple of years and rodents have been a concern, especially mice, since they can carry two deadly diseases: Hanta Virus and Plague, among other transmissible diseases, including cuterbra aka "bot fly", a parasite. Cuterebra flies are found in conjunction with rodents and, as any horse owner knows, rodents are a problem when you have livestock to feed.
http://www.doghealth.com/parasites/cuterebra-infestations-in-dogs
Several of us have complained to Zoning about the trash in their yards and that the trash can serve as a home for mice, rats, snakes (rattlesnakes), black widow spiders, and other unwanted critters.
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| Trash Piles for Rodents and Other Pests to Hide |
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "Plague has occurred in rural and semi-rural areas of the western United States, primarily in semi-arid upland forests and grasslands where many types of rodent species can be involved. Many types of animals, such as rock squirrels, wood rats, ground squirrels, prairie dogs, chipmunks, mice, voles, and rabbits can be affected by plague."
We've lived out here for 20 years and in all that time, some of our neighbors have had a horse or two. When we first moved in all those years ago, there were people out here running cattle. One morning, I awoke to find 5 steer of various vintages roaming around in my garden. I went outside and shooed them away with a dish cloth. The sheriff's dept came by and lassoed them up and took them home. It's been interesting. However, I must say in all those years, we've never had the fly problems like we have had the past 2 or 3 years.
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| Nampa's Butt - Bot Fly Larva Infection |
This year, the flies have been absolutely wicked. Before putting the dogs outside for any reason, they get sprayed with fly spray. The yard is picked up religiously to help control flies. We are using fly traps... fly paper... and fly swatters and still there are flies. I HATE flies! The large numbers of donkeys being kept by the neighbors doesn't help with the fly situation and neither does the fact that they do not religiously pick up the animal waste in their yards.
So, where am I going with this? Several of my dogs have been infected with bot fly larvae. My vet is of the opinion that the problem has its roots in the neighbors' donkeys, probably from the manure that isn't picked up regularly. That manure draws in the flies. In 20 years, we've never had a dog get a bot fly infection. Now, at least three of them are infected. I'm seriously upset.
Oh... by the way, people can also become infected with bot flies. I think it's time to buy some hazmat suits for us and the dogs.
8 comments:
You live in the east mountains. We have mice. We have flies. We have snakes. We have spiders. Get over it. If you don't like it here, then move. Rephrase: PLEASE MOVE. You clearly don't fit in with our community.
Just because something already exists, i.e., flies, snakes, etc., that does not mean you promote more of them by poor animal husbandry practices, etc.
Bot flies leave tiny yellow eggs on horse hair & do not cause sores like this! The horse/ mule/ donkey gets them in mouth & they become a very nasty looking blackish, red larva in the animals belly causing them to become skinny like worms would. .... once had to worm horse & bot flies where the problem. How stupid do you think people are!
flies & yellow jackets are nasty here also! Usually I'm fighting with wasp but there isn't as many this year.
Ahh, spiders, mice & snakes will also live around & in your home lady! Where have you been living all your life, in the sky?
As for trash, that is lumber. One day I'll send pictures of where I live here in Idaho, places look nice but they have lumber & other building supplies & equipment all over the place!
If you want perfection go live in a Home Owners Association!
Dear Elaine, you really make me laugh.
First of all, I read the link you give for the dog infection, you my dear need to learn the difference between a BOT & the Cuterebra, AKA, Warble worm! The latter you claim came because of the donkeys, I think you better read that link again because Cuterebra do not come because of horses or their relations.
Yes horses/cattle can get Cuterebra also but it is a worm, not the typical BOT FLY which lays yellow eggs on hair as I've said in previous comment
I have dealt with both & you having had horses at one time may have also dealt with Bots but maybe not the Cuterebra ( warble worm)
manure has nothing to do with either of these creatures for your information.
Dear Elaine,
There are many kinds of bot flies & the ones your dogs got are not the fault of any Donkey or horse. I think you better reread that link you shared!
Warbles are laid in the grass around holes so that the critter going in & out or that lays or rubs against the hole will pick up the eggs!
These tiny worms, & I have dealt with them on horses & cattle have NOTHING to do with how clean pens are!
Also, the other bot fly that does bother horses & donkeys do not bother dogs. They leave a tiny yellow egg on horses legs & from there go to horses mouth.
As for the so called trash, I didn't see no trash laying around the place, just some piled up boards & a few other things, nothing you wouldn't find laying around every place where I live which is Ranch & Ag. country.
You want clean, no mice, snakes or spiders go back to living in the sky, seems to me that, that's where you've been living if you didn't have these problems where you lived before.
Flies are bad everywhere. They breed in moist and decaying matter, leaving piles out to dry actually keeps the flies from laying eggs in it. The trash pile you posted looks more like the pile of lumber my brother has by the shed to repair the roof. It sounds like they are busy doing what needs to be done while getting distracted by the zoning battle.
Honey, the flies are bad everywhere this year. All animals are suffering. If you've lived in the country as long as you say you have, then you know things happen in cycles. Some years insects are horrible, other years not so much.
For heaven's sake, you live in the country, in the desert Southwest. Even in the cities there are flies, rodents, prairie dogs, rattlesnakes, etc. In the country, you are obviously more likely to encounter such creatures. It's a fact of life, and if you don't like livestock or unzoned property, then you need to not live outside of city limits where livestock and unzoned property exist. If your neighbors wanted to drag in trailer houses and build outhouses, then they are within their rights to do so, and your one-woman hate campaign is wasting taxpayer time and energy, court costs, etc. all because you, who live in the country, state you want a rodent-free, snake-free, fly-free, livestock-free existence. This, my friend, you will find in A CITY.
I have seen the area where the donkeys are kept, and the area is amazingly clean for the number of animals that are there. The space available comfortably supports the largest number of animals that have been housed there.
I urge you to rethink your frivolous pursuit and stop harassing people who are seeking to right the wrongs of others of our human race, and the harm they have done to innocent creatures - the donkeys. You are dancing dangerously close to being on of those people who have wronged the innocent creatures...
I do have to say, having just come across your little rants, excuse me, posts. I do hate to tell you that you need to first check your facts. Second, slander is against the law. Third, you only make yourself look petty by attacking an animal rescue. I live in South Dakota, and let me assure you it is EVERYWHERE that the flies are horrible. Not just your little place, and certainly not because they dont pick up the animal waste as soon as it comes out. Oh, and a final note, stalking (which is what you are doing by taking so many pictures of this rescue and harassing them) is also against the law. Perhaps you should consider more constructive methods of dealing with your life than making other people miserable.
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