Tag Archives: hazards

How to Get Rid of Mice, Romans Family Style

It never fails. Every spring it seems that something finds its way inside our house and then promptly passes away. Since our home is in the middle of the woods, this tends to be inevitable. We are veterans in the war against unwelcome visitors. We’ve learned to ferret out their places of entry and close them up tight. This last hunt and discovery, however, had even us surprised. The notice that a little friend had entered started with some scratching noises. I told my husband to get ready. My eldest son was convinced the noise must have been coming from … Continue reading →

Baby Blog Week in Review: June 23rd Through June 29th

Having you been following along on the issue of tricking a spouse into parenthood? I’ll reveal what I did in my own situation and how it all turned out. If you missed that article or any other, you should check out this past week’s review. June 23rd Baby Blog Week in Review: June 16th Through June 22nd June 16th was a very special day for me. That is the day that my first baby was born. And while he is now an active seven-year-old with a younger brother and sister, I still remember the days when it was just the … Continue reading →

Taking a Minute to Appreciate Squirrels for Squirrel Appreciation Week

Photo by MadMaven/T.S.Heisele We’re smack dab in the middle of Squirrel Appreciation Week, which runs from October 7th through 13th. Do you take squirrels for granted? It’s easy to, especially if you live in a place where you see them everyday. Unless you’re an avid gardener or backyard ornithologists, you may have no reason to pay the squirrels romping in the gardens and feasting at bird feeders any mind. I grew up in Denver and squirrels were a staple in our backyard. As a kid, I liked to watch Mackie watching them through the sliding glass doors. I liked it … Continue reading →

Taming Your Chinchilla

Chinchillas are active and playful pets, and can become accustomed to human handling with a little time and patience. The younger your chinchilla is, the easier time you’ll have. Try to find a chinchilla who has been handled frequently — this will make your work a lot easier. But you can tame just about any chinchilla of any age. Here are a few basic tips: Take your time. When you first bring your chinchilla home, give him a chance to adjust to the new environment. Keep interaction and cage maintenance to a minimum for the first few days — that … Continue reading →

Chinchilla Basics

Looking for a smaller sized, furry, long-lived pet? Think about the chinchilla. This rodent can reach a length between ten and fourteen inches (with another six inches for tail) and can live more than twenty years! Chinchillas are perfectly happy to live alone or in same-sex pairs — especially if the pairs are littermates, or have lived together from an early age. They are active and playful, but most often at night; chinchillas are nocturnal by nature. With gentle handling, most chinchillas will become tame and bond very closely with family. Your chinchilla will be active when he’s awake, so … Continue reading →

Pet Rat Feeding

Your rats will need a varied diet in order to stay healthy and happy. The basics: Your local pet store should carry a variety of pellet or block style diets for rats. These are formulated to make sure the rat gets all the nutrients he needs. Check the ingredients list when you’re shopping. Look for a rat food that is low in fat and calories, and has soy meal high on the ingredients list (instead of corn). Loose mixes are also available at pet stores, but your rats may pick out the things they like best and leave the rest … Continue reading →

Pet Rat Housing

You decided a rat was the right pet for you and your family. You found a curious, healthy, happy rat from a breeder, store, or shelter. Now it’s time to set up your new pet’s new home! When it comes to cages, bigger is always better. Your rats will want to explore and play, and will need room to do it! Look for a tall cage with lots of ramps, platforms, and hammocks for the rats to play on. Wire cages are good for climbing, but make sure the flooring is solid. Spending time on wire flooring can cause foot … Continue reading →

Picking A Pet Rat

If you think a rat is the right pet for your family, how do you pick the right one? You have several options for where you get your rat. Pet stores may or may not be a good choice, depending on how knowledgeable the staff is about rat care in general. Check the housing — make sure males and females are housed separately, or you may get a surprise litter after you get your pet rat home. Young rats should be handled regularly. Breeders (also known as ratteries) are a great place to find a well socialized young rat. A … Continue reading →

Pet Rats: The Basics

Not ready for a large, free-roaming pet, but don’t want something scaly or slimy? Pet rats can be a good compromise. Pet rats typically live between two and three years. Males (bucks) tend to be larger than females (does), but the average rat is between nine and eleven inches long in the body. A rat’s tail can add another eight inches of length! Several different varieties of rats are available as pets, including long-haired, short-haired, hairless, and even tailless! Rats are social animals, so it’s a good idea to keep them in same-sex pairs or same-sex groups. Males or females … Continue reading →

Top 10 Hotel Safety Tips

Welcome to August. I know–we are almost a week into the month, but better late than never, right? If August is the month that you planned to take your big summer vacation then congratulations—you made it. As a child my favorite part of going on vacation was getting to stay at a hotel… and, why not? The hotel had a pool, an elevator, a restaurant, and if we were lucky our room would be on one of the top floors with allowed us great views of the city below. Of course, back then I didn’t consider that there could be … Continue reading →