The Everything Guide to Living Off the Grid (37 page)

Foxes are omnivores. They are solitary hunters and eat rodents, insects, worms, fruit, birds, eggs, and all other kinds of small animals. About 60 percent of a red fox’s diet is made up of rabbits and mice. Foxes are very fast animals and usually catch their prey by outrunning them.

Raccoons

Raccoons are strong and intelligent animals with paws that are very dexterous. Raccoons are able to tear through poultry netting and will even pull a bird right through larger, heavier fencing if they can grab on to any part of the bird. Finding a head that was bitten off a bird is a sure sign that your predator is a raccoon. A female with kits can destroy large numbers of birds in a short period of time. There are also several raccoon-specific traps that are safe to use around dogs and cats. Raccoons are not afraid of traps and are easily caught using fish baits, such as wet or dry cat food.

Coyotes

Coyotes return often to good hunting grounds. If one of these predators has raided your farm, you can bet they will be back for more. The best sign that coyotes are around are the howls you hear in the evening. A large dog can deter a coyote, but coyotes often travel in packs and know how to work together to overpower a dog. The best means to rid yourself of this kind of predator is calling an experienced trapper, securing your livestock, and adding an electric fence.

Coyotes use a wide variety of vocalizations in order to communicate with one another. Howls, yelps, and high-pitched cries are best known, but they also bark, growl, wail, and squeal sometimes. Family groups, that can range from five to fourteen coyotes, yelping in unison can create the illusion of a dozen or more performing together. Coyotes are most often heard around dawn and dusk. However, they may respond to sirens and fire whistles at any time of day or night.

Hawks, Eagles, and Owls

One of the few predators that hunt during the day, raptors—hawks and eagles—will capture a bird and tear the breast out of it. Hawks have even been known to attack through netting if they can push it down far enough to get to the chicken. In many states, raptors are protected by law. Check with your state department of natural resources or wildlife management before you try to capture this predator. If you have chickens vanish at night without a trace, you have most likely been visited by an owl. Bringing your birds into a secure coop at night is the best deterrent against owls.

Larger owls catch rabbits and squirrels, and smaller ones catch mice, rats, and shrews. Some owls also hunt birds and insects; others have been known to take fish from shallow waters. Owls tear large prey into pieces when they eat it. If the prey is small enough, they swallow it whole. They later cough up pellets of undigested bones, fur, scales, and feathers. These owl pellets are found under their nests and roosting areas.

Larger Predators

In some areas of the country it is not unusual to lose livestock to mountain lions, bears, and wolves. These predators can kill larger livestock and endanger you and your family. If you suspect that a larger
predator is hunting on your property, contact your local department of natural resources or wildlife management to learn about your options for removing the animal.

Canine Distemper

On occasion, you might come across an animal “acting strangely” on your property; for example, a nocturnal animal may be out during the day, or an animal that is generally timid might wander into your dog run. When animals display characteristics that are unnatural, you need to suspect rabies or canine distemper.

Canine distemper is actually caused by a virus. The virus is related to rubella (the measles virus), but canine distemper poses no threat to humans. However, your domestic animals are at risk because the disease is highly contagious. Distemper affects a large variety of carnivores in North America. These animals include raccoons, foxes, skunks, weasels, and coyotes.

The majority of distemper cases are seen in the spring and summer because young animals are the most susceptible to the disease, but distemper can appear year-round. Cases of distemper can appear as widespread outbreaks or as just an isolated case.

Although the virus does not survive for very long outside the host body, a healthy animal can catch canine distemper either from direct contact with an infected animal or from its bodily secretions and waste. And because many of the symptoms an animal exhibits when it has distemper mimic the symptoms of rabies, you need to contact a physician immediately if you are bitten by an animal exhibiting any unusual behavior. The only way to be sure the animal has distemper rather than rabies is to test the brain tissue.

Beware of bats! Most of the new cases of rabies in humans involve bats. Although rabies are a possible threat from wild mammals like raccoons and foxes, the recent increase in annual cases of rabies in humans has actually been linked to bats. Of course, not all bats have rabies, but you should handle any encounter with a bat as if it carried the disease.

The symptoms of distemper are the same in all susceptible animals. The signs you should look for are obvious distress, coughing, sneezing, loose bowels, discharge from eyes and/or nostrils, and eyelids that are crusted over and stuck together. Infected animals can also have convulsions, tremors, and chewing fits. Because of their distress, these animals may lose their fear of humans. You should be very wary because they can become aggressive when approached. An infected animal that is typically nocturnal may be seen during the day. The animal may exhibit dizziness and awkward movements.

If you suspect that an animal has distemper, you must be sure to keep your pets and children away. If you need to destroy the animal or if it dies in your yard, be sure to either bury it deep enough to discourage your pet from digging it up or place it in a secure container and dispose of it in the trash. Wear gloves when disposing of the animal. Do not try to catch a diseased animal. If the animal is threatening you, your children, or your pets, you should kill it. To keep you and your family safe, make sure your pets are vaccinated against distemper.

Natural Insecticides

Whether you are looking for a natural insect deterrent for your garden or for yourself and your family, there are many options available that don’t require you to spend a lot of money and won’t have your worrying about exposure to harsh chemicals.

Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is actually made from tiny fossilized water plants. These water plants, called
diatoms
, were once algae-like plants, but now are a sedimentary mineral. The sediment is mined and then ground up to a consistency that resembles talcum powder. However, if you were to look at diatomaceous earth through a microscope, you would see microscopic razor-sharp edges. These sharp, diamond-like particles either cut through an insect’s outer layer or shred the insides of the insect if the dust is ingested.

Homemade Sprays

Many nontoxic ingredients found in your home are wonderful deterrents to insects. A simple spray consisting of liquid detergent and water will keep insects off nonedible houseplants and will also kill box-elder bugs. Bugs generally don’t care for “hot” mixtures; one proven spray includes one crushed clove of garlic, one small chopped hot pepper, and one quart of water. This can be sprayed on plants to repel insects. There are many more recipes like this that include safe ingredients. Test them to see which ones work best for you.

Herbal Options

The plant world offers a wide array of options for repelling insects:

• Fly repellents:
  collect pennyroyal, rosemary, rue, southernwood, thyme, or tansy and hang them or stand them up in a vase where flies are bothersome. These plants were used during the Middle Ages to help repel flies.
  
• Ant and mite repellent:
  a strong decoction of walnut leaves (six handfuls of leaves boiled in one pint of water for twenty to thirty minutes) can be “painted” around floors or on work surfaces.
  
• Moth repellent:
  lay sprigs of dried herbs like rosemary, southernwood, santolina, and lavender among blankets or woolens.
  
• Outdoor insect repellents:
  rub a handful of fresh elder leaves on your arms, legs, and neck. This works for about twenty minutes and then must be renewed. You can also use strong infusions of chamomile or elder leaves dabbed on the skin to prevent insect bites.
  

Companion Planting

Many herbs can actually repel pests away from the plants they are planted near. Careful use of companion plants can protect your garden from pesky intruders. Here are some examples of companion plants:

Flying Pests

In the recent past, the United States has been inundated with two new species of insects that have become overwhelming in both the home and the garden. At least one of these bugs, Asian beetles, were actually brought to the United States by the government in the hope that they would be a solution for another problem. Unfortunately, the solution was worse than the initial problem. Wasps, on the other hand, have been around for a long time, but can be threatening to your family.