Dry year - expect changes in wildlife behavior (Bobcat photo)

[Wrightwood]

Today's encounter at the guzzler:

[Snowbird]

All I can say is... WOW! Amazing pic! Thanks for sharing, Wrightwood!

[Chuck]

Who won?  Did the squirrel eat the Hawk?

[Hillbillies]

This summer I have seen these really, really small reddish ants.  I have never seen these tiny guys before.  They are probably about a 1/3 of the size of our normal sweet ant.  These tiny ants take to the sweet stuff as well.  Has anyone else had an encounter with these guys.    

[Hillbillies]

Here is what I have found so far. 

http://www.myrmecos.net/myrmicinae/oligomyrmex.html

Maybe Wrightwood is home to an undescribed species....

[mechanicalpencil]

yes Hillbilly, I have an almost nightly encounter with those tiny red ants.  At my place, they come out only at night and absolutely attack the kitchen sink.  They seem to be photosensitive because they act just like roaches.  They scatter like crazy just as soon as the light goes on.  I think they are looking for water as I dont see them anywhere else in the house, especially in the bowl of cat food which would seem to be a tempting target.  I seem to have a problem with them every year, but just in the summer months.

[ForestGal]

I had a problem earlier this summer with tiny ants.  Can't quite remember what color they were, but they were the tiny ones that smell very strongly of formic acid when you squish them.  I don't think they were red, I think they were darker.  Can't remember, they are so tiny.  But that odor is very strong.

I found a trail of them coming from the back porch (my house is one story, set on concrete slab, so they can't come from underneath), in the kitchen a few weeks ago.  Squished them, and all was well.  Then a few days later, there were a lot more, from the back door, leading to Heidi's food dish.  I finally gave up and sprayed, did a MAJOR cleanup, and haven't had any trouble since.

Nolena gave me a tip, which I didn't know about, but which worked well.  Sprinkle some Ajax (or similar product) across the line where the ants are entering.  Worked like a charm, and I haven't had a problem since. 

Of course, I was vacuuming doggie ajax footprints off the carpet, but that's a lot better than ants, to my way of thinking.....

[mechanicalpencil]

ForestGal, I have heard of that method of keeping ants out.  Unfortunately, I live in a mobile home, and there are a zillion ways for the ants to get in.  I just find them all over the sink by the bazillions, and they never seem to come in like normal ants, mainly, in lines.  I have resorted to just sweeping them up with a damp cloth.  I have sprayed the foundations and all around the doors and windows, but still, here they are....

sigh, guess I can spare some water.  They dont seem to be getting into anything else (so far)

[rdnckgrl78]

ForestGal, I have heard of that method of keeping ants out.  Unfortunately, I live in a mobile home, and there are a zillion ways for the ants to get in.  I just find them all over the sink by the bazillions, and they never seem to come in like normal ants, mainly, in lines.  I have resorted to just sweeping them up with a damp cloth.  I have sprayed the foundations and all around the doors and windows, but still, here they are....

sigh, guess I can spare some water.  They don't seem to be getting into anything else (so far)

I have found the AVON Skin So Soft Bath Oil works.  Just spray the outdoor perimeter of the house and the interior perimeter and they should stay away.

You can also spray it on your plants to keep insects away and it does not contain the poisons that other sprays do.

[storm]

I've found that cleaners like Simple Green and orange-oil based ones don't repel them.  These little ants visit only the top of our fridge in our office, just a couple at a time, and it doesn't make a difference when I spray, and leave, a layer of these cleaners on the surface of the fridge.

[Chesslike]

You can also use any kind of talcum powder, baby powder or draw  a line with a stick of chalk. They will not cross any of those.

[ForestGal]

This morning about 7:45, I was driving eastbound on Lark. In about the 700 block, I saw a coyote carrying a black and white cat in its mouth.    Somebody is going to be missing a beautiful pet cat.....

I've seen coyotes like that before, but usually in pre-dawn or dusk hours.  They seem to be bolder this year.

[ChattyCathy]

 

We lost our black and white cat probably a year ago.  We always hoped he found a good home and was not dinner for coyotes.  I sure hope this was not Mandy - but then it would be someone else's pet

This morning about 7:45, I was driving eastbound on Lark. In about the 700 block, I saw a coyote carrying a black and white cat in its mouth.    Somebody is going to be missing a beautiful pet cat.....

I've seen coyotes like that before, but usually in pre-dawn or dusk hours.  They seem to be bolder this year.

[Hillbillies]

Last night a 9:40 we saw a good sized bear on Lone Pine about a mile below Clyde's Ranch.  The bear moved off the shoulder and into the brush.