Cooperative Living June 2014 - 36

KIDS' KORNER by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
Reptiles, Mammals and Bugs, Oh My!!
outside. "
In June, summer sends out an invitation to " come on
After a long, harsh winter,
just saying the word
" summer " conjures up
happy thoughts of warmweather
evenings with
cookouts and fireworks. You
can almost smell the sizzling
hotdogs and smoking firecrackers
drifting on the gentle
breezes.
Winter-weary children (and adults, too) are ready to kick
off their shoes and run barefoot across the lawn or down the
garden rows. This annual summer rite signals the beginning
of a season that sends people of all ages out into the natural
world for 13 weeks of their favorite pursuits.
Warm weather definitely has its charms. However, along
with all the outdoor fun, excitement and party atmosphere,
there can be moments of discomfort, pain or even sheer
terror if certain members of the animal kingdom happen
to cross your path.
It's a fact that scary and harmful creatures are out there
at campgrounds, along hiking trails, in picnic areas and
even in your own backyard. Like it or not, you will have to
share your outdoor space with some of nature's undesirables.
After all, in most cases, you are the intruder entering
their territories.
Be Alert and Aware, but not Afraid
Before you have a panic attack and refuse to leave your
house, consider this thought. Most furry animals with teeth,
claws or hooves will not hang around when they hear you
coming. Wild animals, in general, are shy and non-aggressive
and do not want to bump into a human.
If you arm yourself with knowledge about the animals
you might see, especially how to avoid contact or a confrontation,
then you'll act wisely if you do have a chance
meeting with one.
Blood Suckers, Stingers and Biters
There are some summer critters that, on occasion, are difficult
to dodge and can briefly spoil summer fun. In fact, you
might question why they even exist!
The following organisms have easily made the most unpopular
living things list because they either cause pain and
illness or are greatly feared. After you have read the few interesting
basic facts, myth busters and the thank-you notes
for each animal, reflect on your own thoughts about these
least-favorite members of the animal kingdom. Then do
more research on your own at the library or online.
Your investigations probably won't make you like
this outcast group any better than before. But you
may learn to respect their roles in nature's scheme.
34
TICKS
FACTS
* A tick bites only to secure a meal. Its
blood sucking is necessary for its
changing life stages and for egg
production in the female.
* Bites can be prevented by carefully
applying DEET repellent or 0.5 percent
concentration of Permethrin to
clothing. Limit your time in tall grass and brushy areas in
spring and fall, and perform tick-checks after being outside.
*
A tick can carry serious diseases; the longer it feeds, the
more likely it could transmit an illness like Lyme
disease (deer tick).
MYTH BUSTER
* Ticks do not leap out of trees onto you. They lie in wait for
a possible host.
THANK A TICK - (this is really difficult to do)!
* Many birds feed on ticks, especially guinea fowl,
making them a part of the food chain.
MOSQUITOES
FACTS
* Only female mosquitoes
bite; proteins in warmblooded
animals like yourself are required
to produce eggs.
* She pierces the skin and releases a blood thinner into the
host; proteins in her saliva create the itch and welt.
* Males feed on nectars from flowers.
* Mosquito-borne diseases are the West Nile Virus and
Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
* An effective repellent ingredient is DEET and should be
applied carefully to clothing.
MYTH BUSTER
* While " bug zappers " do attract and kill thousands of insects
within a 24-hour period, mosquitoes are only 6.4
percent of a five-day insect catch. And only half of the
mosquitoes killed were the blood-sucking females. So this
apparatus is not a good choice for mosquito control.
THANK A MOSQUITO
* Mosquitoes are a main food source for wildlife such as
ducklings and young fish. And a single bat may eat
5,000 mosquitoes in one night. Yay for bats!!
HORNETS, WASPS and YELLOW JACKETS
FACTS
* Wasps and hornets make papery hanging nests by chewing
on tiny pieces of wood, bark and cardboard.
They add saliva to the chewed wood and
" paint " it into a thin, smooth nest material.
* Yellow jackets build their nests underground
or in a building crevice.
Cooperative Living/June 2014
KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

Cooperative Living June 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living June 2014