Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’

Raccoons And Their Habits

Saturday, May 5th, 2012

The wooly little animal with the noticeable black bandit mask is known as the raccoon. They have a ring tail which is fluffy and has four to six rings on it. Their fur is a grayish brown with black markings, and is soft and luxurious.

They grow to be around 2.5 feet long and weigh roughly 12-16 pounds but can be up to 30 pounds. Most raccoons live to become about 5 to 6 years of age but some have been known to live for 15 years.

Raccoons walk a lot like humans and bears walk, which is called the heel to toe style. They are native to North and South America. The raccoons? track are similar to a small human hand.

The Algonquin word, ?arakun?, means ?one who scratches with his hands?. This is where the raccoon got its name. They are also called ?coons?.

Kits, which are baby raccoons, are born around two months after the parents mate. Normally the mother will have 1-6 kits. The kits will stay in a high tree hole and will then move to lower ground where they will start to learn how to hunt and explore. Raccoons are known to live in fissures in rocks, burrows, hollow trees, and caves. You will usually find water close by.

Raccoons will consume just about anything, including frogs, mice, insects, berries, crayfish, fresh water mussels, birds? eggs, and crops grown in human gardens. A waste container is a spot that a raccoon loves to explore to find food. They have long fingers which permit them to open such things as doors and rubbish cans.

A raccoon?s presence in a garden can be noticed when corn stalks are pushed over. They will stand against a corn stalk to knock it down and then eat the ears whilst the stalk is lying on the ground. It is not unusual for a raccoon to wash its food before eating it.

When a raccoon is cornered it frequently attempts to escape by finding a tree or turning to bay in water where they are known to drown predators. Their main predators are humans or dogs. The raccoon is hunted mainly at night. Their pelts are valued to create sumptuous coats, hats, and mittens. Their meat is also valued by some individuals.

Raccoons are very social animals, which leaves them liable to communicable illnesses such as distemper and rabies, the later of which may get transmitted to humans. If a raccoon is seen acting strangely, particularly in day light hours, they should not be approached because this is often a sign that something is not right with the animal.

Pesky raccoons may be caught in no-kill, cage traps and transported to other areas. But be careful, the same trap that will catch a raccoon will also catch a skunk. The best way to keep raccoons away is to be sure there is no food lying about to attract them, this includes dog and cat food.

A raccoon can become a good pet but they do need a lot of time and patience. One ought to always keep in mind that they are wild animals and one should remain cautious at all times.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on many of subjects, but is now concerned with distemper in raccoons. If you want to know more, please go to our site at Distemper Vaccines

What Is Formula Drifting?

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012

Unless you are a aficionado of racing cars, there is a decent chance that you have not heard of Formula D Racing. Formula D has its adherents of course, but it is still not as commonly known as the other types of racing like Formula One, Drag Car Racing, NASCAR or Cross Country Rallying. This is partly because it is a fairly new form of car racing.

Every year the national television coverage is a bit more extensive, yet it is taking a long time to prise some of the airtime away from the more traditional sports. Once you have seen a competition though, the likelihood is that you will become hooked on this exciting sport that they have Christened Formula D.

The ‘D’ in Formula D stands for ‘drifting’ which is another name given to the sport. Drifting refers to the angle of the car with reference to the sides of the road at any given moment. Drifting through bends allows the car to maintain its highest possible speed in a bend. Drifting sounds natural and therefore commonplace, yet it is actually very hard to do well.

Drifting takes skill and lots of practice. Drivers are judged in part on their talent at drifting. There are in fact two facets of Formula D or two kinds of drifting. There are the traditional style qualifying runs but there are also tandem battles. Qualifying runs involve the driver racing solo flat out against the clock, drifting as necessary to sustain the highest speed possible.

However, tandem runs involve two car drivers who are being judged on their skills at outwitting the other driver. The judges are looking for the line of drift, the speed of the cars, overtaking, crashes and much more. Driving in the tandem runs definitely sorts the men out from the boys.

Formula Drifting grew up a little chaotically, yet there have been major attempts to control it. At the moment the Formula Drift Championship is the only professional drifting championship that is authorized by SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) Pro Racing in the United States, although there are often amateur local drifting competitions held unofficially.

There needs to be more officially authorized races so that standards are maintained and every driver follows the same set of rules. This is the only way that the television channels will pick up on drifting and help advertise it more. Drifting is new to the United States, but the first Drifting Races took place in 2004, so not all that long ago anyway. It is still very much a new sport.

At the moment the country where Formula D is most well-liked is Japan, but that is likely to change when the American media gets to grips with Drifting. At the moment it is still not that easy to watch drifting activities unless you live in California, Washington, Georgia and New Jersey and it is still not simple to watch it on TV unless you have G4TechTV, which is commonly referred to as G4.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with how to compare tyre prices. If you would like to know more, please go to our web site at Car Tyres For Sale.

Day Spas And Beauty Salons

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Are you feeling a bit jaded? A bit run-down or even worn out? Do you feel like you ought to have a holiday, yet you do not have the time or do not have the money just now? Well, a trip to a day spa might be the answer. Most women have been to a beauty salon and so have some men, yet fewer individuals of both sexes have been to a day spa.

A day spa is an extended version of a beauty salon. The extra amenities usually involve water in some way or oil – something liquid. However, day spas resemble beauty salons in that they usually offer all of the treatments that a beauty salon offers and pampering is the prime object.

It is the pampering as much as anything that can wash your cares away for a while and make you feel as if you have recently come back from a short vacation. Four hours at a day spa can be more relaxing (and far better for you) than a weekend away on the razzle.

If you have never been to a spa before, it is worth doing a local search on the computer and seeing what web sites come up. A good site should list the treatments that they offer, their prices and any package offers (often called day packages). It ought to also mention whether you need to book up or merely call in.

The prices may appear outrageous at first, but it is worth checking how long the procedure takes and whether there are any special preparations or oils involved, because they may be costly. Day packages can reduce the price of a number of related treatments quite significantly. If you still find it costly, maybe you could plan a visit for a couple of weeks in advance.

Something else that you should factor in whilst thinking about day spas and costs is the tranquility. Most spas have strict rules concerning noise. So, no small children, no shouting, no cell phones or pagers, no radios or Walkmen, just soothing ambient music. Everything in a day spa is meant to make you feel pampered, cared for, less stressed and much more relaxed.

So what services can you expect to find at a day spa? Well, everything that you would expect to find at a beauty salon for a start off, so that includes manicure, pedicures, hair styling, facials and make-up or make-overs.

However, a spa should also provide massages of various types like a full body massage, an oil massage, a Thai massage, a foot massage and maybe others too. They may also have a steam box or a sauna and / or Turkish Baths, mud wraps, herbal wraps, mud baths and even flotation chambers. Lots of spas offer aroma therapy and offer complimentary healthy drinks like fruit and vegetable juices too. Some may even have a swimming pool as well.

Detoxes feature fairly often at most spas and some may offer colonic irrigation too. However, the best value for money are the day packages or one-off specials, which permit you to combine a number of treatments for one discounted payment.

Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with portable hot tubs spas. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Hot Springs Spa Parts

Buying A Hot Tub Spa

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

For most individuals, purchasing a hot tub spa, also known as a gazebo, a hot spa or a Jacuzzi, is a first time event. This makes it quite a daunting undertaking, because they are not cheap and there are numerous variables.

You have to do research on the different types of jets, the power of the pump that is best for you, the location, whether to put a deck around it or not et cetera, et cetera. In this piece, we will take a look at a few of these points to make purchasing a hot tub easier for you.

The first thing to think about is size. This usually depends on two items: where you are going to put the hot tub and how many individuals are going to be using it at a time. If you are hoping to situate it above the ground floor inside your home, you will have to check the weight of the spa whilst it is full of water and people to see whether your floor will take that weight without reinforcement. If the climate is decent where you live, the garden is the best place to put it.

The next deliberation is cost. There is a vast choice of hot tubs and a wide span of prices as well. If you find that the cost of a new hot tub is simply out of your range, what about purchasing a second hand one?

There is quite a large second hand market in Jacuzzis because hotels, health spas and some home owners have to renew their models. You may get lucky enough to find rather a luxurious second hand model for less than the price of a new cheap one. Ask at a local installer’s for details.

The next thing is the material that the actual tub is made from. This is not inevitably the same as the housing or cabinet that goes around the tub. Traditional-style hot tubs are made from local hardwoods such as cedar, oak, redwood or teak, but they are heavy and leak a little.

Modern materials used are a mixture of plastic and fibreglass moulded into comfortable seating arrangements. They are lighter and do not leak (or should not).

Then you can think about the housing. Is the hot tub going to be on its own somewhere or is it going to be built in? if you are going to build it in, what are you going to build it into? A deck? Hardwood, softwood, concrete and tiles?

Then there is the general maintenance of the tub. This is not difficult but it is essential, so when you are building your tub into something, remember that you will need access to various parts of it. Read the manual of the tub that you buy to learn which parts will need maintenance and cleaning.

Normally, this involves cleaning the jets, adding chemicals to the water, renewing filters and perhaps renewing a gasket on the pump, which could be assigned to an engineer in an annual service deal.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of topics, but is now involved with second hand hot tubs. If you would like to know more, please visit our site at Hot Springs Spa Parts

How To Hold Mosquitoes At Bay

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

If you like to sit outside in the summer, you probably have a bit of a garden, patio or deck that you like to relax on of a summer’s evening. With a few plants for colour and perfume, it makes an ideal place to relax. Add a water feature and a cold drink and I am away.

That is until five or six o’ clock, when the light begins to fade and the mosquitoes come out. They spoil it for me or at least they used to until I discovered neat little tricks to hold the mosquitoes at bay – out of my yard and into someone else’s. Not that I wish mosquitoes on my neighbours, but they will go somewhere else, if they do not come to me.

The first thing to do is learn a bit about the mosquito. Mosquitoes are not really very strong fliers and they are easily damaged and easily blown off course. Therefore, most of the mosquitoes you meet in your garden were born there. Some people say tht mosquitoes do not travel over a few metres from where they were born.

They like to lay their eggs in still water and it need not be that much. Millions of mosquitoes are born in still water that collects in the leaves of living plants. Now, I am not recommending that you cut all your plants down, but you did ought to clean up any old junk in the garden that can retain water.

You can fill in holes and indentations in paths, put away watering cans and unused flower pots, clean blocked gutters, clear away dead leaves and maybe think about the flowers that you are buying next time you are in the garden centre. If you have a water feature, make certain that there are fish in it that eat insects – some do not.

The next thing to do is find out which plant life mosquitoes do not like and they do have their preferences, just like we do. Mosquitoes abhor anything that reminds them of lemons. So, you can plant, lemon balm, citronella, lemon trees, lemon grass and anything else that smells like lemons.

If the plants can not quite produce enough lemon smell some evenings, you can help them with lemon-scented candles or citronella oil rubbed straight onto your skin. It is a perfectly natural oil, so ought to not injure you, your kids or your pets. Dogs suffer from mosquitoes as much as we do.

As stated above, mosquitoes are not strong fliers, so a good fan, normally kills hundreds of them a night by dashing them against walls and the fan’s rotor. A favourite of mine on a bad night, is a mosquito trap.

One that has highly-charged electrical wires behind an attractive ultra-violet light, the sound of them crackling away on the electrified wire is very enjoyable and highly effective

One mosquito trap can clear a whole garden, but my all-time favourite is the tennis racquet type bug-zapper, the one that looks like a child’s tennis racquet. Anything that gets through your defences, is a certain gonner, if you have a racquet bug zapper

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on several subjects, but is currently involved with work on mosquito bite treatment problems. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Mosquito Bite Swellings.

Deep Sea Diving: Knowing Your Tides

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

It might seem weird but a comprehensive knowledge of the tides and their effect on your fishing area can pay big dividends. In fact, it is considered a major key to successful deep sea fishing by experts. Most fishing guides and charter-boat captains know this secret. They make detailed studies of currents, tides, and how they have an effect on fishing on their area.

However, it is depressing to say, that a lot of amateur deep sea anglers give very little thought to these important details. In deed, some anglers do not pay any attention to them at all. Then they ask themselves why other fishermen catch all the fish and they do not. Nevertheless, there are those who do realize that tides have an effect on their fishing, but they do not know exactly how or why.

These anglers usually waste hours trolling, casting and sinker bouncing even when the tide is not right. However, the deep sea angler who knows his tides can pick in advanced the most favourable fishing times and concentrate his efforts during those times, which means that you can have fewer wasted days and catch more fish during your deep sea fishing trips.

We do not need to delve into the science of tides here, except to point out that tides are due to the gravitational forces that are brought about by the Sun and the moon. Since the moon is nearer the Earth, it has more influence on tides than the Sun.

When the tide is up, water flows towards the land. This is also known as a “flood tide”. When the tide drops, making its way back out, it is called an “ebb tide”. The period when it does not move either way is termed the “slack tide”. It takes a period of about six hours for it to rise, and six hours to ebb. For every 24 hours these tides take place about 50 minutes later than the last time.

They also vary with regard to the degree that they rise or fall. The highest tides occur when the Sn and moon are situated on the same side of the Earth in a direct line. This kind of tide is called a “Spring tide”, which occurs during new-moon and full-moon periods.

During these periods, both low and high tides are higher than their customary state. However, during the last and first quarter phases of the moon, tides do not rise or fall that much. These are called as “neap tides”.

So which of these tides are advantageous and which are not? To start off with, most experts believe that flowing tides or currents are usually more productive than when there are no currents or tides. Therefore, a “slack” tide will rarely generate a good catch.

You can take even more help from tides by knowing when to go. The period in which an incoming tide begins is rated one of the most productive periods for fishing, particularly if you are targeting game fish like bluefish, striped bass, channel bass, and weakfish.

During the periods of slack water, small bait fish are apt to scatter, and having a lack of strong currents to contend with, they are able to swim faster and therefore escape their predators.

However, when tides start moving, such small bait fish are at the mercy of strong rips and current. Therefore, they are easier to find and catch for stripers and other kinds of game fish. When an outgoing tide starts is another good time to fish, simply for the same logic. In general, the change of tide, whether it be low or high, is actually the best time to do your fishing.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a lot of topics, but is currently occupied with Body Glove cases products. If you would like to know more about Body Glove Wetsuit Sale, please go over to our website for some impressive bargains.

Solar Pond Pumps

Friday, April 13th, 2012

Numerous people have a garden pond, there is no doubt about that, but maintaining it in the best condition takes a little effort. The most labour-saving item as far as a garden pond is oncerned is the water pump and its filter, because the pump drives the water through the filters, washing it, giving your fish a decent environment in which to live.

Without a pump, you would have to have a stream flowing through your pond or you would have to do water changes regularly. Solar pond pumps take it to the next degree.

So the pond’s submersible water pump is actually both a labour-saving device and a method of allowing normal people to have a beautiful pond of fish in their backyard. Anybody who knows anything of fish knows that they require a clean environment in order to thrive, something that a lot of humans are just recently beginning to realise |about us.

It is said that humans came out of the water even before we were rats, but there is no doubting the fact that most people like to hear the sound of running water (as long as it is not through the roof), so, a pond becomes a desire for loads of people. Fish are also quite simple to maintain and can be cheap enough to buy.

So, what do you truly, truly need to keep your fish in the pink? Well, clean water, and in the absence of a stream, you have to simulate one with a pond pump and a filter. These are driven by electricity, for which you need wiring laid in – and electricity means a monthly bill, doesn’t it?

The truth is no, it does not have to. You could get a solar powered pump. There is practically no wiring concerned, no electrician’s fees and no charges from the grid. The sole exception is if you would like to have a solar powered battery back up to use at night.

Solar pond pump prices are greater, because they come with a solar panel to drive them, but otherwise they are only electric pumps that work for free. However, solar pond pumps are a lot less expensive than they were.

Solar pond pumps are no different to regular pond pumps except that they are dearer up-front and then free to run for the life of the pump but you will save the price of laying armoured cable from your home to your pond.

If saving your own money is not a decent enough incentive, solar pond pumps also save us burning fossil fuels and allow us to do our bit. This aspect of being self-sufficient ought to not be underestimated. It is a great feeling to know that your pond is not going to cost you or the planet a lot more..

If you are worried about the amount of light where you live, rest reassured that solar panels are much more efficient than they were even a few years ago and they can maintain a rechargeable battery backup. It is no longer true that a solar powered system runs only in daylight.

You know already how quickly things change these days, so choosing the right solar will save you money within a year and it will power your pond’s fountains and waterfalls for years longer.

You also know that the cost of electricity just goes up in even the short term. People still think that solar panel systems will not run at night, but with a rechargeable battery back up that is not a fact – ionly depends on where you live and what you want.

A solar pump will power a filtration system to keep your pond water decontaminated and a few water features like a fountain, a filtration system, a pond heater and even solar pond lights. If you have not looked into solar pond pump filters for a few years, you will be agreeably surprised.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is now involved with water garden pumps. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

Making The Perfect Koi Pond

Wednesday, April 11th, 2012

When thinking about how to make the perfect koi pond, you first have to think about where you are going to put the koi pond and what it will look like. These questions have two governing factors: where you would like it to go and where it should go for the good of the fish.

Size is a very important factor, because the larger the pond, the less maintenance it will require and the better it will be for the fish. Fish tend to grow to a size that fits their environment up to their maximum size, but koi are large fish, so you should take that into account. The number of fish you want is also a factor.

The first step is actually making your koi pond. This is not a difficult task, but it does have to be done properly, otherwise you will be repairing your pond for the rest of your life. Maintenance will be far more arduous as well. So, you have two choices: either get in a professional or get a book on the subject. In fact, it is a good idea to get a book anyway.

If you are going to have the pond created for you, it is a good idea to get up to five estimates. Reject the top and bottom quotes and then either choose the lowest of the three or add them up, divide by three and select the one that is the nearest. This way you have selected a fair price. If you choose to go it alone, read your book of suggestions first.

Be aware that your pond and your kois’ future happiness, indeed their very lives, are in your hands alone. The builder may be a competent builder, but what does he know about fish ponds? The salesperson in the pet shop is trying to sell appliances, no matter how much they know about koi. You need to know how to make the perfect koi pond yourself.

If you are still stuck, you could choose a fish pond kit. These kits contain everything you need for different sizes of pond. This is because a lot has to do with the volume of water in the pond. The pump that you have will have to recycle the total quantity of pond water at least once a day, if not more frequently.

Once your pond has been dug out and the equipment has been installed, it is time to fill it up with water. You can use tap water, but you will need to use an additive in order to get rid of certain chemicals in the water (chlorine, for instance). Then you should let your pond water mature for a week, with or without the equipment running.

During this period, you can be reading up about koi carp. One thing to keep in mind is that koi breed quite readily in a good koi pond. They can also grow fairly large, so it is far better to understock rather than overstock your pond. It is also better to buy smallish koi, say about six inches long, and let the fish get on with growing and stocking your pond for you.

Buy your preliminary stock all in one go and all from one place, so that they will all be healthy (or not) and they will already ‘be familiar with each other’. After you have stocked your pond, always quarantine new fish for a week, so that you con contain diseases like koi herpes. Verify the quality of your pond water on a weekly basis and correct any imbalances immediately.

You will need to check up on feeding, because koi need to give different quantities of food for different times of the year. However, koi can be given treats like dogs and they can learn to eat out of your hand in time, once you have learned how to make the perfect koi pond.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece, writes on many subjects, but is at present concerned with the fish pond filter. If you are interested in a Solar Powered Pond Pump, please go to our web site now for a special deal.

Fleas, Ticks And Worms

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

Fleas and other parasites should always be given the highest priority by dog owners. Flea bite allergy in dogs is very common and causes worry to many dog owners every year, especially in the summer, although all year round if your dog lives indoors with central heating. This is because flea bites often produce allergic reactions in the area bitten by the fleas, which is very often on the back just above the tail. In these cases, the affected area becomes red and bald due to the dog’s continuous scratching of itself.

Heavy flea infestations can cause severe dermatitis in dogs. If the flea bites cause allergic reactions or dermatitis in the dog, it really ought to be taken to the vet, because on many occasions, the dog will be experiencing severe discomfort.

The vet will provide a cream to ease the itching and powder or a spray to kill the fleas. Therefore, prevention is better and medicated collars are available to treat and prevent an infestation of external parasites like ticks and fleas.

Besides fleas, other parasites like ticks and lice in addition to the internal parasites like hook worms, round worms, whip worms etc. can affect the health of your dog. For example, if hookworm infects a dog, that dog will usually suffer from anaemia. The signs of anaemia become more prominent depending on the degree of infection by the hookworm.

Hookworm larvae can enter directly through the skin and cause severe problems inside the affected dog. Such dogs may have cuts on the paws and on the skin due to dermatitis. Frequently, skin rashes result in such cases and the affected animal may also pass runny stools, which are tinged red with blood.

Most dogs and all puppies get round worms, which is why dogs can sometimes be seen rubbing their bottoms along the floor. However, if round worms are present in very large numbers, affected puppies show a pot belly, which is easily noticeable by the dog’s owners themselves. A dose of piperazine salts can be given orally for the cure of this problem. However, broad-spectrum anthelmintics like pyrantel pamoate, fenbendazole etc. are also given to treat this very common condition.

There are many drugs on the market to treat fleas and other parasites these days, although medications containing the drug ‘ivermectin’ seem to be preferred by many dog owners to treat fleas and other parasites in dogs. This drug is available for injection or oral use but is now even available for external application too.

Does your dog require training? If you require more details on dogs in general, then go over to our website called Successful Dog Training

Real Remote Control Choppers

Sunday, April 8th, 2012

There are many radio control helicopters on the market and, in fact, the micro-radio controlled helicopter by Syma, the S107G, is one of the best-selling toys on Amazon. However, there are other classes of model helicopter too. Far superior sorts of aircraft. The Syma S107G is a decent product and a perfect beginner’s first flying helicopter.

However, the Syma S107G is limited. It is only nine inches long, will only fly up to 30 feet from the controller and will only fly for 10 minutes per charge of the battery. However, for the money, it is a fantastic toy. But after that you may like to move on and buy something with more potential and a longer flying time.

One of the best of these is the Dragonfly TT487 remote control helicopter. To begin with, the Dragonfly will fly so high that it can go out of sight (particularly if you are a big kid). These aircraft are agile as well. Once you are used to flying a real remote control helicopter like the Dragonfly, you will be able to get it to perform all types of acrobatic tricks.

But that is a big ‘once’, because the craft is so powerful, that you will need to put in a lot of flight hours and quite a bit of glue as well. The difficulty with a highly-rated aircraft like this is that people are inclined to underestimate it and crash it – frequently. One of the checks of being fit for purpose for a good model is how quickly it will damage and how easy it is to repair it, because a real model like this is not cheap.

The only way to learn to fly these or any other remote controlled aircraft is to take it slowly. Learn how to take off and land slickly first. There is no need to fly higher than 2-3 feet. Then be sure that you have complete directional control – you have to be able to avoid objects. Then you can combine these abilities and fly a little higher each week.

Another test is the availability of spares, but ideally, you will not require spare parts, except say rotors. I will amend that: get a couple of of pairs of spare rotors when you purchase the aircraft or at least soon afterwards, because you will need them.

When a helicopter crashes, the rotors are normally still turning and the craft tips over, so the rotors attempt to plow up the ground. They always end up losing. They can often be repaired but definitely not always.

When you purchase your aircraft ask questions concerning the Dragonfly TT487; find out which parts break the most often (besides the rotors) and purchase as many spare parts as you are able to afford, especially if you live some way from the shop. Get a repair kit as well. It is better to have everything close to hand for when you need them and you will need them, unless you have flown powerful aircraft like the Dragonfly TT487 before.

Owen Jones, the author of this piece writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with Dragon Tattoos. If you would like to know more go to our web site at Amiable Dragon.