Tails Of The Lowcountry Magazine Jun Jul 2016 Digitial

CATS • DOGS • EQUESTRIAN • EXOTICS • HOMESTEADING • WILDLIFE

Feral Cats

Vol 1 editiOn 2 -JuN juL 2016 …………………………………………………

PriCelesS

THE RAT

VS

THE CAT PG.19 LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN

DOGS

PG.09

PG.15 Great Whites Off Hilton Head

THE REAL STORY PG.26

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5 Publisher’s Note - John Burton 5 Classifieds 6 Editor’s Message - Joe Nehila 6 From the Homestead 7 Friend Me | Adoptions 8 Did you Know | South Carolina & Georgia Horse Related Trivia - Ande Nehila 8 Meet Jake - Krystal Hesler 9 Feral Cats | Lost Boys or Pirates - Hannah Seigworth 12 Bug Fest 2016 | What you Missed - Holly Elliott 13 Voice of the Sound - Rachel Jones 14 Santa Elena Opening 15 Monster Shark Guaranteed - Joe Nehila 18 Nature: My Catheral - Tiffani Taylor 19 The Rat Vs The Cat - Gretchen Weinkam 21 Comics - Chau Thi Thuy Nguyen 21 Contributors 23 Cat Mundanity | Every Day with Ed Sheeran, my Cat - Jackie Gentile 24 Boots & Cat Facts - Jane Payne 25 Conservation Message | Sea Turtle Rescue 101 - Krista Ritteroff 26 Livestock Guardian Dogs | The Real Story - Tamara Lake 28 Opinion with a Grain of Catnip | What’s One More Hair in the Butter Anyway? - Laurie Brown 28 Q & Animal | Your Best Friend - Kelley Blackston 29 Get Fit with your Dog at Georgia State Parks - Alexa Lampasona 30 Books for People who Love Animals & BOOKS - Linda Burton 31 Coloring Pages 33 Bugged Out Food - Justin Smith 35 Reader Photo Collage 36 Fisherman & Conservation - Eric Delong 37 Squawk

CATS

EXOTIC

DOGS

HOMESTEADING

EQUESTRIAN

WILDLIFE

PEANUT GALLERY

C AT E G O R Y

K E Y

VOLUME 1

Feral Cats Lost Boys or Pirates

15 19

-

JUN JUL 2016

Monster Shark Guaranteed

The Rat Vs. The Cat

26

Livestock Guardian Dogs The Real Story

Publisher John Burton Associate Publisher Ande Nehila Managing Editor Joe Nehila Creative Direction Nosoco Designers Jason Kelly Robert Sagun Cover Photography Pixabay.com Contributors Ande Nehila, Joe Nehila, Tamara Lake, Justin Smith, Jane Payne, Hannah Seigworth, Linda Burton, Rachel Jones, Alexa Lampasona, Holly Elliott, Kelley Blackston, Krystal Hesler, Brice Armond Patterson, Chau Thi Thuy Nguyen, Jackie Gentile, Tiffani Taylor, Krista Ritteroff Community Liaison Erika Nouri Nosoco dba Tails of the Lowcountry 175 Boardwalk Dr. Suite H Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-882-7803 info@tailsofthelowcountry.com www.tailsofthelowcountry.com

4

Copyrighted. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed in Tails of the Lowcountry magazine are those of the authors or columnists and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Tails of the Lowcountry retains the right to refuse any advertisement. For questions of animal health, wellness, and safety, readers should consult professionals.

09 Cover Stories

EDITION 2

Publisher’s Note

W

e have been encouraged by the excitement surrounding the project Tails of the Lowcountry.

Thank you to all of our supporters, and partners.

Event season is upon us! And we cannot wait to meet more of you, dear readers, and put this in the hands of others. Look for us just about everywhere animals are represented. If you have not already heard from us, as a nonprofit, event organizer, or the like, please call or email.

Most publications suggest their readership is 2.5 times the number of issues they send (based on national averages). I can safely say, Tails meets that mark and exceeds it. How do I know this? Thanks to you, who have told us all about it, and the ever growing number of readers online at tailsofthelowcountry.com Many people have asked about the focus of the magazine. Our team has decided, quite deliberately, to focus on six core topics (cats, dogs, equestrian, exotics, homesteading and wildlife) because there is nothing like that on the streets. We may be the only such publication nationwide, though that would be a lofty boast.

So, we believe we have sidled up to a pretty exciting niche. From the areas between Charleston and Jacksonville there is nothing for the animal lover. And who doesn’t love animals. However, the decision in more than just market research. The decision on what material to publish, and our focus, owes itself to the fact that just about everyone likes something about animals.

In many respects, animals are the great unifier.

There was a time when to hunt was to survive.

Miles per hour, are, of course, based on how far a horse can travel in an hour. Every aspect of our life is influenced or touched by animals. From the food we eat (be it meat on a plate or the influence of the honeybee) to the cars we drive and the clothes on our backs. Animals.

When we printed our first issue, we didn’t really have a plan for subscriptions. Now we do. Our goal is to make our publication as accessible as we can to all Lowcountry communities. This said, if you are a part-time resident or can’t wait until we are able to get it to your home via our growth plans, we welcome your subscription.

I have particularly appreciated the comments we have received. Hopefully you will find this even more Lowcountry than our first issue. Had we the necessary support, we might have printed another 16 pages this issue. We have had that much great material come in from contributors. And our neighbors. Thank you to the community members who have sent in your work. Look for it in future issues, and online if it was not already printed.

This edition launches more reader-generated content, which will continue from issue to issue.

Please continue to post and send in your pictures, take part in our photography and coloring contests, and look for us at events. After all, Tails are everywhere.

-John Burton, Publisher

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Riches

An Embarrassment of

S

Editor’s Message

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I’ve had this conversation with lots of people.

Lots of people. Fairly uniformly, everyone loves the idea of an animal publication and has enjoyed our execution. Thank you! I greatly value feedback, in all shapes and colors. But for some reason, most people believe it’s challenging to find content about animals in the area. So I ask them: • Did you know we have a dozen of the nation’s best equestrian communities?

• Do you enjoy saltwater fishing?

• What do you think of the alligators?

• How about the diversity of the birds in our area?

• Have you heard of the Sea Turtle Conservation groups and hospitals?

• So, you have chickens and goats huh?

• Like shark week?

We are blessed with a unique and rich abundance of wildlife, animal lovers, and a special environment. There are certified wildlife communities, and history buffs who can tell you all about when horses or honey bees were brought to America along our coast.

And pirates! (I have yet to figure out how, but when they get connected with animals, expect a giant spread!)

This issue we were not quite able to explore as many topics as we would have liked, because our complimentary magazine is brought to you by the partners who advertise in it. I hope you will join me in expressing your appreciation to them, stopping by, thanking them for putting the magazine in their stores, and giving them an opportunity to win your business. If you do, it will enable us to keep growing.

As for cats, my father said,” I didn’t raise you to like cats.” In truth, I am not a big cat fan.

But I have been bowled over by the number of people who don’t just like cats - no, they love cats. LOVE CATS! So this issue is dedicated to you, cat lovers. And of course, people who find great white sharks fascinating, and like art, and enjoy a quiet afternoon on horseback.

Tails is dedicated to doing everything from entertaining to educating. I hope you will find that we hit the right note in this edition. From tongue and cheek to the more austere. The Feral Cat Colonies piece is one that we own after a few discussions with local noprofits.

It is the journalistic work of a talented writer who would probably have far preferred she be assigned a children’s bedtime story. Don’t forget to send us an email, and a few pictures.

You never know when what you send in will turn up in a future edition.

Our area enjoys an Embarrassment of Riches in animal stories. Happy Reading.

-Joe Nehila Editor

Friend Me

Angelica

Bell

Blossom

Frisky

Hilton Head Humane Association - hhhumane.org

Sissy

Effingham County Animal Shelter effinghamcounty.org

Trump

Chaplin

Teddy

Beaufort County - bcgov.net Animal Shelter

Benjamin

Tommy

Chester

Rogue Rescue & Sanctuary - roguerescue.org

Oxford

Skimpy

Dozer

Chatham County Animal Control - animalcontrol.chathamcounty.org

Penny

H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue hopeacresrescue.org

Sasha

Niache

Nick

Peanut

Second Chances Equine Rescue - scer-ga.org

Beau

Palmetto Animal League petango.com/pal

Kayle

Kiara

Indi

Katnis

Sarafina

Jasper Animal Rescue Mission - JARMission.org 7

Did You Know South Carolina and Georgia Horse Related Trivia There are more than 50 breeds of horses represented in North and South Carolina.

The South has carpetbaggers to thank for bringing horse culture to Aiken, SC. When wealthy Yankees — such as the Hitchcocks, Vanderbilts, Astors, and Rockefellers— discovered Aiken’s ideal riding climate and superb footing (soft, sandy clay) they made the area one of the most celebrated equestrian destinations in the country. “The Winter Colony,”

as they became known, were too active to be retired, yet too rich to work, and lived by the mantra of three sports a day: polo in the morning, golf in the afternoon, and mountedhunting at night.

Clemson University was vital in the development and testing of Domperidone, a drug that minimizes the complications that arise when a pregnant mare eats endophyte (a fungus) infested tall fescue plants.

Wild horses have been on Cumberland Island since before many of the oldest grandfather oaks · as far back as the 16th century!

Frank Lloyd Wright’s designed the Auldbrass plantation house and stables with the famous Lowcountry horse—Marsh Tackies—in mind. The stables were built small with low roofs which would accommodate the shorter, study frame of the Marsh Tacky. We hope you’re not too excited to see the home, estate, and stables as public tours are only offered one weekend in November every other year. Mark your calendar!

The folk rock music group, Band of Horses, calls Charleston home.

SCAD’s equestrian team won the IHSA national championship in 2015 and 2016. Since 2002, SCAD has won more American National Riding Commission championship titles than any other team (English saddle).

Sonora Webster Carver was a female horse diver—a circus act where a mounted horse

bravely jumped off a 40-60 foot platform into a pool of water directly below—who was from Waycross, Georgia! Sonora had been diving for eight years before being blinded by retinal detachment, owing to hitting the water with her eyes open while diving with one of her horses, Red Lips. Sonora continued to dive for another 11 years even though she was completely blind. In all the years of the diving act, none of Sonora’s five horses—or any other horses in the Dr. Carver act—were ever harmed.

The buttons on men’s dress shirt collars originated when John E. Brooks (of Brooks Brother’s fame) noticed them on polo players.

Polo players wore button-down shirts with extra buttons on their collars to keep them from flapping in the wind. If you missed the Spring polo season here in the Lowcountry, don’t fret.

The fall season starts in cooler September— though no doubt you’ll spot players in the modern and more casual version of polo shirts (which actually originated as “tennis shirts”).

If you love horses and art, did you know Charleston, SC is home to the Dog & Horse Fine Art & Portraiture gallery? Over 40 artists of varying styles display their canine and equine masterpieces of the canvas and bronze variety.

Hilton Head Island is home to the annual Marsh Tacky race. Traditionally after the harvest, Gullah residents would gather on the beaches to race South Carolina’s state heritage horse for nothing more than bragging rights.

This custom continues with a free-entry race where the winner’s prize is still the pride of finishing first.

By Ande Nehila, Associate Publisher of Tails

o l l e H e my nam is

Jake

Jake is the first in a series of animals Tails will be featuring that work in the area. Jake lives at Lawton Stables, and he is an amazing Shire horse.

Jake stands 16.3 hands tall and is 18 years old. He has been on the island for two years and was donated to the therapeutic riding nonprofit Wish Upon a Horse that also calls Lawton Stables home.

As they say, in Jake’s former life he pulled a carriage in Beaufort. A doctor owned Jake that also trial rode with him. His past owner loved him but did not have the time to properly care for and ride Jake regularly. Now, as a part of the Wish Upon a Horse team, Jake is well loved and ridden throughout the Sea Pines Forest Preserve.

Beyond being ridden, Jake loves carrots from visitors. He is quite the ladies’ man, and really enjoys children with special needs. Jake gives them a chance to ride daily. He is sweet and will be well cared for at Lawton Stables for the rest of his life. It is his forever home.

By Krystal Hesler, Lawton Stables 8

Fer Feral Cats

ats. They’ve always held an intriguing place in human society, but it’s interesting to see just how drastically our perspective has changed over the years.

Take dogs, for example. In many cultures since ancient times, dogs have either been hailed as “man’s best friend” or used as a derogatory term when insulting someone. Cats, on the other hand, seem to have experienced a more colorful evolution.

The Egyptians revered them as deities. The Romans domesticated them. Those in the Middle Ages feared black cats as being demonic. Sailors

during the Age of Exploration recognized their importance as mousers and brought cats on their travels. Today, they’re viral-video phenomenon, though many have no love for them.

Until the twentieth century, all domesticated cats were considered what we call today “outdoor cats.” It was unheard of to keep a cat indoors all the time, and the idea of confining a cat solely to the house wasn’t made popular in America until the mid 1900s. Cats were considered barnyard animals who kept the rodent population down or nuisances that ran the streets. Any “housecat” had free rein to wander indoors and out. Even 9

Calvin Coolidge’s cats had wandered in and out of the White House while he was in office. Secret service be darned.

All said, the role of the cat in society is still rather murky. Although many people own cats (or, depending on who you talk to, the cats own them) and keep them indoors, many more cats are left to roam the streets, congregating into colonies for companionship, protection, and procreation. The Lowcountry is home to hundreds - potentially thousands - of these feral cat colonies.

What is a feral cat & where do they live?

A feral cat is any cat that is considered wild,

ra l So What ?

Small, domestic cats are not indigenous to the Lowcountry. They deftly control the rodent and snake population, but, true to their nature as hunters, also decrease the bird population significantly. Being ground hunters, cats do not usually climb trees to kill birds, and there are several species of ground-nesting birds that are on the verge of extinction from these non-native predators. According to some, humans are still the greatest predator of ground-nesting birds such as quail, but cats and dogs both have played a part in the slow demise of certain species.

Others claim that cats are the number-one predator to indigenous birds, whether from attack or from infection with various non-native diseases.

Another issue that presents itself with these colonies of cats is the proliferation rate. Four weeks after birthing a litter of kittens, a female cat can get pregnant again. Once she gets pregnant, the gestation period is about sixtythree days. A litter is usually made up of three to five kittens, so that means that a female cat could easily have anywhere from twelve to thirty kittens a year. As so many parents have learned, kittens grow up to be cats.

The Life Of A Cat Colony

Cat colonies are like tribes. Like human tribes, people come together to form the unit. After it is established, outsiders are rarely allowed to join, and most - if not all - of the tribe’s growth stems from within through birth. The same goes for cat colonies. Two, maybe three cats band together out of necessity, and then the breeding begins.

Once the cat colony is formed and a pecking order established, outside cats are rarely welcomed.

The Outsiders

untamed, or born outside of a human setting.

And around the Lowcountry at least, “feral cat colony” is somewhat of a misnomer. Some prefer “community cat colony,” as many of the cats in these colonies are not actually feral. A part of the colonies’ cat population is actually made up of domesticated cats who were abandoned and are quite tame, familiar with human company.

Feral cats will colonize anywhere there is shelter and a constant food source. Behind stores, in abandoned lots or houses, at the edge of a parking lot, or at the edge of a woodsy area these are all ideal places for these collectives to thrive.

Because of the misunderstandings about how cat colonies work, there has been an increase in what is termed by Animal Control as “cat dumping.” That is, when people no longer want their housecat, they either abandon it altogether or “dump it.”

With the increase of the animal populations at shelters, some shelters have had to institute what they call a “kill policy,” which allows for an animal to be euthanized if it is sick or has not been adopted within a certain period of time.

Because of that kill policy, some cat owners believe that leaving their cat with a cat colony is more humane than taking it to the shelter because hey, it’s giving the cat the chance to live wild and free.

This particular thinking turns out to be flawed.

Although the owner may (to be read with some scepticism) have the cat’s best interest in mind, it inevitably proves disastrous in one or more ways. Think, the cat has been with its human family most, if not all, of its life. It knows nothing else. The family moves - or for whatever reason - doesn’t want to keep the cat any longer. The housecat is abandoned into a community of strange tribal felines. It may or may not have 10

been with other cats before in its life, but the environment is still alien. Nothing is familiar.

The colony of cats it now faces is already a family, and has already established a hierarchy.

These cats do not share food with the outsider, and all the housecat wants is to go back to its family and to what is familiar. It is alone. It is scared. And so, rather than trying to integrate into the new society as its human family hoped it would, the cat tries to make its way back home.

Most of the time, this ends poorly. The cat gets hit by a car, gets attacked by another animal, or succumbs to the natural order of things at best, or starvation and dehydration at worst.

So What Now?

Now, it’s up to society to decide how these cats should be dealt with: are they like the wayward Lost Boys of Neverland that simply need a loving touch and someone to take care of them, or are they more like the pirates - killers, thieves, and general nuisances that need to be eradicated?

There are several belief camps when it comes to how these cat colonies should be handled.

Community Cats Are Lost Boys

One camp is for the TNR method, which stands for “Trap, Neuter/Spay, Release.” Proponents of this method advocate for locating known cat colonies, trapping the cats, and spaying and neutering them. Animal Control is largely responsible for trapping the cats, and then, if a county’s Animal Control supports TNR, it will send the cats to a clinic to be spayed and neutered and have their ears clipped (the universal sign for spaying and neutering). The cats will be vaccinated and held overnight to be assessed for sickness or disease and then returned to Animal Control’s shelter the next day.

If they are deemed healthy, the kittens and most of the juveniles are put up for adoption, and the adults are placed back where they came from or moved to an area where they will be less of a nuisance to the public. Animal Control workers or volunteers often come in every day to feed the felines and maintain the colony.

But how do you know if the cats will stay there?

Because cats will stay in the same vicinity and with the same group for the duration of their lives, it isn’t difficult to keep track of them. Gisela McElfresh of the Cat Colony Guardians adds that, because their volunteers usually come in the morning to feed the colonies, “Not all the cats come while we’re there. We set up motionsensored cameras to make sure all the kitties are still there.” The cameras help to keep track of the cats on a day-to-day basis. If they find that a cat has been missing for a while, they send out an email to their network asking if anyone else has seen the specific cat.

A few of the obstacles in the way of making this method one-hundred-percent effective are the ratio of cats and cat colonies to the workers and volunteers, as well as the lack of resources available. Beaufort County Animal Control and Shelter was able to acquire traps that are now designated as government property, and Stephanie Brumley, who has been with them

Fer for the last three years and works as their main trapper (among her many other jobs), says that it has helped quite a bit. “People tampering with or stealing the cages has been a very real problem in the past,” Stephanie said, “but now that the cages are considered government property, tampering with them is considered a federal offense.”

Organizations like the Humane Society, Animal Control and Shelters, and groups like the Islands Feral Cat Project, the Cat Colony Guardians, and the Daufuskie Island Cat Sanctuary have partnered together to stop the spread of feral cats and maintain the colonies around the Lowcountry. By making sure all the cats in the colonies are spayed and neutered, the number of community cats has begun to dwindle over time. Stephanie says that because of these efforts, “Daufuskie Island has been kitten-free for three years now, and I’ve definitely seen that we’ve made a huge difference in the spread of feral cats.”

Unfortunately, cat dumping - as well as the fertility rate in unspayed and unneutered cats - continues to plague the efforts of these groups. While existing colonies are being accounted for and maintained, new groups or single cats keep cropping up. At the time this article was written, Stephanie and her team knew of over 200 open cat-trapping cases just in Beaufort County. In other words, there were over 200 community complaints of new colonies or stray cats.

Gisela says that another one of the challenges to taking care of the cat problem is just a lack of education about the benefits of TNR. “TNR can reduce the amount of cats,” she says. “More businesses need to support this, because if they are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem. If they don’t take care of the cats, they will move and/or keep reproducing. Businesses need to be made more aware and provide resources for these cat groups.”

Community Cats Are Pirates

Some, like the Georgia Ornithological Society, the American Bird Conservancy, Georgia Wildlife Federation, and chapters of the National Audubon Society like the Ogeechee Audubon Society to name a few, support the complete removal of community cats from the area for several major reasons: the endangerment to native species of groundnesting birds, which are especially vulnerable during mating season, the spread of disease to native animals, and the potential danger to humans.

Concerning this last point,

Dot Bambach, Vice President of the Ogeechee Audubon Society, says that one of the biggest instances of this usually occurs when people, usually kids, encounter a feral cat. “The cats have to be vaccinated. If they are not vaccinated, what’s to stop a child from stumbling upon one of these cats, getting scratched, and becoming infected?”

Unlike TNR advocates, organizations like the Ogeechee Audubon Society believe that the only effective way to take care of the cat problem is to keep “indoors cat” indoors and to trap feral cats, spay and neuter the adoptable ones (namely, kittens and juveniles), and remove the remainder. A variation of this same philosophy is to ensure no “free ranging” feral cat colonies are supported, instead requiring “enclosed” colonies. Proponents point to this as being the only way of truly accomplishing population control and that feeding feral cats results in the public believing dumped cats will be cared for rather than face the threats associated with being released.

“There are simply too many stray cats in the Lowcountry for TNR to realistically work,” states Dot. “I like cats, too, but the number of cats makes the TNR method impossible. It just takes one cat to escape trapping, and before you know it, it’s mated and had kittens. And the kittens have kittens. And their kittens have kittens, and before you know it, you have 700 cats running around. Just as you wouldn’t want to maintain colonies of rats or feral pigs, why would you want to maintain colonies of feral cats?”

Although the ideal would be for all the cats to be adopted, many of the animal shelters in the Lowcountry are consistently at capacity. In addition, some cats are not adoptable due to disease or their feral personality. A cat who has been in the wild its whole life will usually not tolerate being transformed into a housecat, and even if it does, it takes more time and effort than organizations and volunteers have to give. And whereas most juvenile cats and kittens are adopted, many adult cats do not find themselves so lucky.

What can the Public Do to Help ?

Though both sides have very different beliefs, they share at least three ideas: they both agree that the public should 1 - Keep their pet cats indoors, 2 - NOT abandon their cats, whether it be on its own or with an existing colony, and 3 - Contact Animal Control should you come across a feral cat. Animal Control will either trap the cat or provide you with the traps to catch it yourself and bring it to the nearest animal shelter.

Just doing those three things will help to decrease the Lowcountry’s community cat population.

So, Which Side Are You On ?

The side of the issue you decide to take will determine what kind of action you take. This is a very real, very relevant issue for those in the Lowcountry, and action on the part of the community is necessary.

The names and contact info for some of the organizations mentioned in this article are listed in Squawk.

Please visit our directory page to find association contact information to learn more about what you can do to help.

By Hannah Seigworth, Editor at Tails

T

his year, Savannah Children’s Museum hosted its fourth annual Bug Fest, a family-friendly celebration abuzz with bug crafts, activities and workshops throughout the day. The day-long celebration took place on May 28 at the museum.

Bug Fest is a great opportunity for families to learn about all types of creeping and crawly creatures and what makes them unique,” said Jessica Paterson, Operations Supervisor for Savannah Children’s Museum. “Through activities that involve science, dance, art, building and reading, we can celebrate and appreciate how these little creatures contribute to the world‘s beauty and ecosystem.“ Guests built bugs with Snapology, learned about cicadas with Oatland Island Wildlife Center, toured our Insectarium with Armstrong State University’s Entomology class, met some friendly reptiles from Georgia Reptile Society while learning about their healthy diet of bugs, and became a member of the Eat-A-Bug club with our nutrition expert, Jesse Rosenblum.

Additionally Savannah , Children’s Museum Educators led activities such as a “bee dance” to demonstrate how bees communicate through movement, building a “pollinator

What You Missed

hotel” out of all natural materials and reading from some memorable bugthemed children’s books including “Roberto: The Insect Architect” by Nina Laden and “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle.

The event is a part of the museum’s guiding concept of learning through play. The entirely outdoor learning center offers over a dozen exhibits and interactive programs. Each exhibit has been carefully designed to incorporate Georgia’s state educational standards as well as developmentally appropriate, stimulating and challenging experiences for children.

If you attended Bug Fest, send your best photos to info@tailsofthelowcountry. com for a chance to be featured in the next edition or post them to the Facebook page!

By Holly Elliott, Coastal Heritage Society

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12

Voice of the Sound

T

he Voice of the Sound is a column written by naturalists at the Port Royal Sound Foundation. We naturalists think Port Royal Sound is a pretty great place so in our column you will find information on all things Sound related. This time, I’m talking water quality and how it affects aquatic life.

In the Port Royal Sound, the biodiversity is extremely high (meaning we have a lot of different animals). All of these animals rely on one thing: clean water. As the local population grows, our water quality is at greater and greater risk.

WHY? The main culprit is something called stormwater, which is spurred on by development. Stormwater is water (from rain in this part of the world) that runs across the land instead of absorbing into the soil. The problem lies in the fact that as the water runs across the ground it picks up pollutants such as bacteria, chemicals and excess nutrients.

So what are some simple things you can do to ensure that we will have a healthy Sound for years to come?

SCOOP THE POOP! While unpleasant, it’s important to pick up your dog’s waste because bacteria and parasites get washed into our waterways and contaminate swimming areas and shellfish grounds (the shellfish many of us love to eat!).

AVOID THE DRIVEWAY When bathing your dog (or car), wash them in a grassy area instead of a paved one. Water from driveways runs into storm drains, which lead directly to local water bodies. Chemicals from soaps (especially phosphates) and shampoos (ever read the warning label on flea shampoo?) are harmful to aquatic life.

LESS IS MORE Fertilizers are one of the biggest problems for water quality. Excess Nitrogen and Phosphorus fuel excess algal blooms. When the algae die, they take oxygen out of the water which can create “dead zones” killing many marine organisms. Use only the amount of fertilizer that is needed and don’t apply before a big rain event. PLEASE. HERE‘S THE GOOD NEWS Right now, the Port Royal Sound is an incredibly healthy ecosystem and every one of us can help it stay that way. This list is not meant to be comprehensive but to give you a good starting point for what you can do. To learn more, visit PRSF’s Maritime Center and website.

13

By Rachel Jones, Naturalist at PRSF Editor’s Note: The Port Royal Sound is one of the cleanest and most pristine waterways found in the United States.

It makes possible delicious oysters and some of the best fishing in the country.

The Sound connects people of all lifestyles, whether through recreational sports like kayaking, or through the commerce in the ships that put food on many of our tables. In order to bring attention to the state of the Sound, we developed a partnership with Port Royal Sound Foundation to bring you “The Voice of the Sound.” The naturalists at the PRSF generously raise awareness daily.

Please feel free to direct questions or comments to Tails of the Lowcountry or the PRSF.

Meet the Marsh Tacky

G

uns fired, cannons roared, and horses whinnied as another piece of Americana opened up in the Lowcountry. The Santa Elena History Center swung its doors wide for the public on April 30th. With the christening of the museum comes a focus on connecting residents and tourists not just with antebellum South, but Colonial America.

Colonial America, as most now recognize, did not begin in Jamestown or Williamsburg.

It began in the Southeast. Paul Summerville, Chairman of the Beaufort County Council shared, “the English settlement of Jamestown, Virginia may be known as modern America‘s birthplace, but North America‘s first colonial capital was actually established four decades earlier and 400 miles away from Jamestown right here in Beaufort County, South Carolina and located on our very own Parris Island.”

Residents of Beaufort County can now say categorically that the fascination with Port Royal Sound began 450 years ago. “Like Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Jean Ribault, and other explorers of that age, we know the Port Royal Sound and our local waterways are exceptional and critical to the health and prosperity of this region” added Summerville.

Considering the impact the settlers had on the area and animals, Dr. Andrew J. Beall, Executive Director of the Santa Elena Foundation pointed to a few significant contributions. First, he highlighted Ribault’s early artwork and characterizations of the oft unbelievable animals with which he came into contact. Second, Beall was quick to remind readers that horses and honeybees came on Spanish ships. Finally, the Spanish had the first barbeque in our area!

Cándido Creis Estrada, the Consul General of Spain said the “Santa Elena Foundation does an outstanding job in building bridges between the USA and the Kingdom of Spain. These bridges are founded on our common history and shared values.”

These values include promoting strong cultural understanding, ingenuity, and adventure. Santa Elena now plays host to numerous educational opportunities, such as a seminar on The Heritage Trust by South Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources, Camp Dig-It - introducing children ages 6-14 to archaeology-, Colonial Medicine, Marsh Tacky meetings, and more.

For more info, visit santa-elena.org

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Marsh Tacky (aka Carolina Marsh Tacky) is considered a very rare breed of horse. It is a member of the Colonial Spanish group of horse breeds, which also includes the Florida Cracker Horse and the Banker horse of North Carolina. A small horse well adapted for use in the lowland swamps of its native South Carolina, the Marsh Tacky was developed from Spanish horses as early as the 16th century. They are considered critically endangered by both the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and the Equus Survival Trust, and can measure from 13-15 hands. The horses have a rich tradition in the region and are supported by a small, devout community.

By

Joe Nehila

, Owner of No

Illustra

tions B y

n March this year, Captain Chip Michalove caught a 2,500 lbs great white shark. On rod and reel. Rod. And. Reel! That was enough for every local news outlet to pay attention and land him in places like People, South Carolina Sportsman, Saltwater Sportsman, and now here.

The real story is less about Michalove reeling in a single monster shark and more about the road to this feat. And his contribution to science. We spent some time with Chip, getting to the bottom of just how he managed to not only catch one monster, but fulfill a childhood dream of catching great white after great white just a few miles from Hilton Head.

There are a few things you should know. First, Michalove

soco

Brice P

atterso

has all of the proper documentation and permitting to be catching sharks.

Including great white. Second, Al Stokes, the Waddell Mariculture Center Manager best described the value of these efforts to science when he said, “it’s like Chip is opening up a brand new book to the scientific community.” Third, Shark Week has taken notice, and scientists like South Carolina Department of Natural Resource’s Bryan Frazier and Greg Skomal, a preeminent shark researcher from Massachusetts. Finally, it’s pretty stinking cool. Don’t believe me, read on.

Chip’s fascination with sharks and fishing is well documented at this point.

He was born in Kentucky and his family wasn’t into outdoors things, but young Chip loved it. “My drive to figure out the fishery. I was just obsessed.”

During just about every interview, Michalove has paid homage to his 15

n

mentors and the fishermen who gave him the bug. Captain Fuzzy Davis is always named. “We vacationed here when I was 4. We caught a six-foot shark. I was scared. It was amazing. I was crying.

[Captain Davis] started the bug.” That’s when it started - while other kids were making lemonade stands, Chip became the kid next to the lake handing out pamphlets: “Fishing Guide. Call me.”

His obsession grew when Michalove felt he was an island unto himself, saying that there must be big great whites in our area. Large great whites. Chip’s family relocated to the Lowcountry and he shared: “I saw turtles with bites out of them, and I knew. People would say they were tiger sharks, but their bites are more squared. These were more rounded. I knew. I knew there were big whites here.”

Skomal added that records go back as early as the 1800’s of great white sharks being caught by fisherman. Migration patterns were assumed to be all northsouth, but new behaviors have emerged, a subset of the great white population going as far as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with some even crossing it.

It´s science

The Obsession When he felt it was time, Michalove started a business captaining charter fishing trips, a business he still owns.

How was he going to be unique? A Flyer.

“Monster Shark Guaranteed,” it said. “I put it on a flyer: ‘Catch an 8 foot shark, or I will give your money back.’ I actually got an ulcer from it, but I never had to refund a single person. That monster shark guarantee got me going. I did it for 3 years. I wasn’t the best fisherman. I was just trying something different.”

All the while, Chip knew that he wanted something more. His obsession was to fulfill a childhood dream of catching a colossal shark. He likened his passion “to a fighter named Connor McGregor.

There‘s no talent here; this is hard work,” McGregor said in a documentary. “This is an obsession. Talent does not exist; we are all equals as human beings. You could be anyone if you put in the time. You will reach the top, and that‘s that. I am not talented - I am obsessed.”

“It took me 12 years of fishing every style, every location, every water type to get the first [great white]. I just kept going and going and going. I had so many hours that I put in.”

Cracking the Code “Last year was location and tactics.

This year was tackle,” said Michalove. I cannot claim expert fisherman status, let alone what frankly feels like the stuff of legends. Some of the recipe included where they were. Tide. Time. Seasonality.

Tackle to land one.

Of the process, the captain said, “How do you land a great white on rod and reel? A lot of trial and error. It’s not like there was anyone to call when I got started. Now, I feel I can go out any day in the winter and hook up.” Why does he feel that way? In 2015, Chip hooked 4

great white in 8 trips. In the 2016 season, he managed 5 in 6 trips, including the last one that was named “Wildcat.” A 2,500-pound monster.

Chip also did something unheard of: he hooked the same great white twice. He caught a 7 footer last March that he caught again in December this season. Michalove boasts that his focus on humane angling, keeping the boat moving, using live bait hooks (and never, he stressed, J hooks), and a few other tricks of his trade keep the stress on his quarry to a minimum.

sharks like oysters Why might these great whites love our area? “There is something out there that is holding these fish. I think it’s the food source. They are like wealthy people: they summer in Cape Cod and winter in the South. I think they live somewhere between here and St Simons.”

Maybe it’s because they like our oysters. That makes sense to me.

Sharks love our area. The Port Royal Sound is unique.

From what I can gather, the waters off our Lowcountry shores have the deepest natural channels on the East Coast. There are corals, ledges, and a robust and complete ecosystem - all parts of the food chain are represented. Chip explained that beyond all this, the Sound has structure.

“You know how when you hear about all the life around shipwrecks? They say 95% of fish are in 10% of the water. Port Royal Sound is amazing. The Sound is like 100 sunken ships.”

Frazier commented, “We used to think that after the winter the white sharks went up north. What we are seeing is that some are moving out to open water, going 100 and 200 miles offshore and not going north.

We have a much better picture than 5-10 years ago.” To this Dr. 16

“Every single great white we have come in contact with has been female” said Chip. Why, I asked? “The coolest thing about the great whites is we know nothing about them. We don’t know where they are breeding. We don’t know where they are dropping their pups.

Just now we are starting to figure out their migration patterns. Never did we think a great white would swim through the middle of the Florida Keys in the summertime.”

Frazier told me that before these shark the only area where people were predictably catching great white in the Atlantic was off New York. “Analyzing genetic data allows us to see how white shark are related. Are the ones here connected to the ones in South Africa?

We can do whole population studies and see effective population size and historical population size.” Beyond studying shark heredity and connectivity, DNR and scientists can examine behavioral patterns.

To this, Skomal adds a piece of the puzzle. “A lot of people find it hard to believe that we are just starting to scratch the surface with one of the most charismatic sharks on earth. Arguably one of the most charismatic of all animals.

We are just starting to drill deeper.

It’s through the efforts of folks we collaborate with. We are lagging behind.

Our research has only really been being conducted the past six years.”

and the story.....................

In early March Chip and a client-friend Troy Bowman went out for redfish and monster sharks. Chip explained that catching a true monster is a waiting game most people are only interested in once. After 5 or 6 hours biding their time landing other fish, Michalove turned to Bowman and told him if the tide switched, he believed they would get a great white.

And then it switched.

A short while later. “Just like Jaws.

Tick tick tick tick tick tick. After another 30 seconds, it took off. Great whites are like a torpedo.” Chip opined that he had caught tiger sharks weighing in at 1,8001,900 lbs, but when he caught a glimpse he could not believe his eyes. “My god,” he said to Troy, “did you see that?”

It’s not the length of the shark [though it was 14 feet] but the width, which is nothing short of unbelievable in a small vessel.

Pointing to features on his boat, the captain identified that side by side the shark would have taken up 60% of the space.

Then, Wildcat jumps out of the water. And she starts heading right for the boat.

Since no one has been catching great whites on rod and reel, there is no playbook. There are no specials on animal channels.

There is no knowing what to expect, and Chip added, “This is by far the most intelligent animal I’ve ever hooked. There is a thought process after he is hooked.”

Joking, or mostly joking, he recalled Jaws and said that in his mind’s eye he concluded, “I know how this ends. I know how this is going to end. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.”

So he reeled in slack, put no pressure on the fish, and it swam under his boat and took off like a train. Later in the fight, Michalove noted that Wildcat poked

her head out of the water near the boat, surveying the scene. “Like a killer whale does on the Discovery Channel, in all seriousness. Then she just turns back and starts trucking again.” Apparently, the fish wasn’t convinced that Chip and Troy were formidable enough adversaries. The fight persisted until Chip called in a close friend [another skipper and photographer] to come help him finish the fight.

His first call was to someone who couldn’t make it out. “How big is it?” his friend said. “You’re not going to believe it.

It’s

huge,” countered Chip. And so it was. To his friend that came out, he prepared him, saying, “This is going to scare you how big this shark is. It’s not real long; it’s only 14 feet, but it’s how wide it is. It’s a submarine. It’s a clydesdale underwater.”

In pitch black, zero-visibility they finally brought her next to the vessel after declaring, “This is Old Man and the Sea right here. We’re leaving everything on

843 815 2203

THREEDGOLFCAR.COM

the table.” After landing the fish, Chip’s reaction was, “I felt like I was dreaming.

Here is something we have watched in movies, seen on the Discovery Channel, and here I have my hand on its nose.”

(Editor’s Note: He put a hand on its nose.

We do not recommend you try this at home.)

After collecting samples, they sent her on her way, and just layed down on the floor in exhaustion. In summary, Michalove added that he believes our area holds one of the biggest great white nest eggs in the Atlantic.

“Osearch was in Jacksonville for 18 days.

They’re using all types of strategies. For me to go out on a little fishing boat and catch [the sharks] is unbelievable. The last thing I want to do is exploit this. Whatever we find, we blow it up and destroy it. I believe if you really put the screws on a fish, they learn. I think they associate trauma with an area.”

To those that would call to question Chip’s motivation and who may be frustrated he won’t take them to catch a great white, I can only share one final anecdote. When discussing the preservation of the ecosystem where the great white sharks are, Mr. Michalove said he would support the Department of Natural Resources if they ever decided to make it a sanctuary. “I’m ok with not being able to fish there ever again if it means the sharks are safe,” he said.

“These sharks pay my bills. These sharks pay my mortgage. I want to make sure every shark swims away happy.”

Dying to know more. Read more of the exclusive interviews with Dr. Greg Skomal and SCDNR’s Bryan Frazier about these white sharks at www.tailsofthelowcountry.com

escape

sharks EXCLUDING BATTERIES

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my paintings. I always try to make the music authentic to the place I am painting. Drips and splatters of traditional and non-traditional gold visually recount the magic hour, when everything glows with a honeyed light.

ince I was a child I have found Divinity, peace, and inspiration in Nature. I have stated for many years that “Nature is my Cathedral.”

While growing up in rural Utah, I enjoyed studying wildflowers while my grandfather fly-fished, describing them with colored pencils in my sketchbook. After I arrived in Savannah in 1998 to attend Savannah College of Art and Design for their prestigious painting program, I found inspiration in the salty marshes that glowed with contrasting, brilliant hues as the seasons changed.

Many times, I will fuse maps of our coastal waterways into the composition, where they peek from blades of marsh grass to greet the viewer. As my life and art continue to grow across continents and I live part-time in Paris, my affinity for our Savannah and her marshes never ceases. In fact, my love and appreciation for our magical city continues to grow and I plan my time in Savannah to be during her most blossoming moments.

My expressionistic paintings of Savannah’s marshes are visual descriptions of memories of being within the marsh - sometimes from the viewpoint of a fishing boat, and at other times, standing at the edge of the marsh awe-struck with the beauty. After I return home to my studio, I paint the marsh from memory: Vivid green and gold hues create the Light of summer, umber and alizarin crimson in the fall, and hopeful pink and lime green in the Spring.

How Does Nature Inspire You?

Savannah is where I found my freedom and I express this in my drippy evocative renderings of the marsh. I utilize bold brushwork to describe the landscape and sheet music almost always peeks through the sky and composition. I find scores of music at antique shops for my Savannah paintings. From the time I left Utah for Georgia, my grandmother’s music finds me in my dreams and I frequently incorporate paper and notes into

for information, visit

Love and Light!

By Tiffani Taylor

WWW.SAVANNAHARTWALK.COM 18

The

The

lot of people don’t like rats. This may not come as a surprise to you. I, however, had always defended them, because I found them cute and thought their ability to do things like decimate 30-60% of Europe’s population with the plague was impressive. That, however, was until I had one in my apartment.

Normally, when I got home, my cat Ophelia would do one of two things: Greet me at the door like a dog, all excited and friendly, or completely ignore my arrival while sleeping like the cat she was.

However, as I arrived home a few years ago to my Manhattan apartment, I found Ophelia, as stiff and angry-looking as a gargoyle, sitting on the floor, frozen and staring at my radiator. Her fur was spiked, her tail puffed to three times its normal

size. I was on the phone with my mother and I told her to wait a second, there was something wrong with the cat.

“Phe? PheBaby, what’s wrong?” Without moving a muscle, she emitted the lowest most evil sounding growl.

“Mom,” I said into my cell, “I think Ophelia has finally lost her mind completely, she’s growling at the radiator. Nooooo...”

At this point I had finally followed Ophelia’s stare to the top of the radiator, where I now saw sat the largest rat I have ever seen. This thing was Phe-sized.

“There’s a rat in my apartment! MOM!” “Get a broom and shoo it out!” she told me. A broom? Did I have one of those?

“Hold on, I have to put the cat in the bathroom so she doesn’t get out or get bitten. I’ll call you back.”

I ran over to Ophelia, grabbed her, and dragged her hissing and spitting and screeching like a hell demon all the way to the bathroom. Which was approximately a foot away in my tiny apartment. Bad move on my part though, because as soon as I muzzled the would-be guard dog, the rat took off under my bed, free to terrorize my apartment without the inconvenience of a psychotic cat guarding her territory, small as it may be. With Phe locked away, howling from the bathroom, I found a possibly neverbefore-used broom and began jamming it under my bed in an attempt to scare out the rat. In my head, one jab of the broom would result in the rat thinking “Forget this, she has a broom! I am out of here!” while he skittered right out my front door.

Not so much. A half hour later, there was no sign of him.

My friend, who was due to come over and hang out, called to see if I needed her to bring wine.

“Yes!” I shouted into the phone.

“Lots of wine.”

The

Here is where I should tell you that said friend is almost pathologically afraid of mice. I knew I should tell her about the rat, but I also knew that meant she wouldn’t come over and I didn’t want to be alone. Like selfish people do, I chose to lie, but hint at the problem.

19

“Um just so you know, I might have seen a mouse. But I’m not sure.”

She was nervous, but she also knew I had mouse–sized balls of Ophelia fur that blew across my floor like tumbleweeds, so I think she weighed the odds and figured I was mouse free. Which I was.

This was a full-out rat. She came over, and with no sign of the rat invader, I released Ophelia from the bathroom. She stalked throughout the little apartment, sniffing the air and revealing her teeth to every shadow she came across, but there was no rat to be found. My friend and I chatted, drinking wine and laughing, and I managed to convince myself that the rat let itself out of the apartment the same way it got in (whatever mysterious way that might have been) until a look of pure fear came over my friend’s face. She pointed to the bookshelf across the room.

There, with Ophelia staring on, books started falling off the shelves, one by one, like the library scene in Ghostbusters. The rat was behind them, pushing them to the floor with a loud BANG as each book hit. Once the shelf was cleared, its eyes gleamed green, right at us. My friend freaked.

I’d run screaming across the room with the shoebox, barely missing it each time.

Perhaps my screaming was tipping it off that I was coming for it? Perhaps. Finally, Phe got it cornered again. The two stood there staring at each other, with Ophelia howling. I snuck up ever so slowly, and then the rat pulled out its best move yet.

It stood up. And it was bigger than Ophelia. With this, my tough as nails Baltimore street cat flattened her ears on her head and literally backed away slowly, too smart to turn her back on it.

Seeing her in this defeated stance was the last push I needed. I dove, and got that rat in the overturned shoebox. My friend started screaming in victory. She threw the lid at me, and I gently slid it under the opened end of the box so the rat was now inside the closed box, lid down. But now what?

“You have to bring it outside,” my friend told me. “Get it out of here!” I was going to walk it down the three flights of stairs, but as soon as I picked it up, I felt its nails scratching on the lid against my hand and almost dropped it.

The

Yeah, I knew that already. She jumped onto the couch with a bottle of wine in one hand and the broom in the other. Oh, no he didn’t. This rat not only invaded my apartment and terrified my friend, but now he was messing with my books? It was war.

I grabbed an empty shoebox and set to work. My friend screeched directions at me from the couch that mainly included her yelling things like “Kill it! Kill it with fire!” Ophelia chased the rat around until she cornered it, and I tried to jump in and trap it. We were getting close, but it’d always get away at the last second.

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“Open my window.”

“What? Are you going to throw it out the window?”

“OPEN MY WINDOW! OPENMYWINDOW

She jumped from the couch to my bed, threw open the window, and leapt back. Carefully, with rat-in-box-in-hand, I crawled across my bed on my knees. I leaned out as far as I could reach and gently placed the whole box on my fire escape.

I slammed the window shut and my friend came flying back over. We peered out the window with Ophelia and watched as the rat calmly used his rat hands to open the box. He then looked around, slowly stepped out of the box, and walked off down the fire escape. I swear he turned and gave us one last mocking look and waved goodbye with his little rodent hand.

By Gretchen Weinkam, Illustrations by Jackie Gentile

Contributors Ande Nehila fancies herself pretty special. A partner at Nosoco, she grew up in a farm town and has numerous farm-animal phobias - just as her about ducks or quail. These days Ande enjoys staring out on the marsh with her children, watching deer, and seeing the kids’ fascination with every bird that lands on the feeder. She loves alligator-spotting walks.

Joe Nehila is the Creative Director of Tails of the Lowcountry and owner of Nosoco.

Joe has hardly anything better to do with his time than to create this amazing publication and update his quippy bio blurb. No man is an island, so he works with his wife Ande and his towheaded rugrats to accomplish great things, and is now adorned with business cards that feature Chewie.

Tamara Lake is a third generation farmer who raises Nigerian Dwarf goats and livestock guardian dogs at Crosby Lake Farm in Walterboro, SC. She spends her days chasing kids of the two and four legged varieties, while being a goat midwife and hobby soap maker. A husband and a menagerie of other pets, rescues, and farm animals complete her daily duty list.

Justin Smith is a lifelong lover of unlovable animals.

He has kept a large variety of reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids over the course of a passion that goes back to the young age of 6. In his spare time Justin enjoys cigars, music, reading, and annoying neighborhood wildlife with a camera. A Beaufort native, he resides on Lady’s Island. Justin currently breeds Crested Geckos.

Hannah Seigworth slings coffee at Starbucks for a living but does freelance writing to keep her pen (read: keyboard) and her imagination active.

After her parents, her cat, Buttons, is her biggest fan. Two of Hannah’s favorite pastimes are sleeping and eating, both of which are passions she and her cat share. Hannah thinks he might share her love of singing, too. But then again, she might be interpreting his yowling incorrectly.

Jane Payne is a prolific blogger, covering self reliance, thriftiness, and homesteading.

Prior to her blog, Jane had a loyal following of individuals in the West who subscribed to a newsletter. She has a gaggle of children, and now grandchildren. Two of her favorites cause her to spend a few weeks in Okatie each summer. These days Jane passes her time as an empty nester, teaching, and taking on unusual projects with her husband of 34 years, Calvin.

Krista Ritterhoff is concluding her education at the College of Charleston and currently serves at the Marketing Outreach Assistant at South Carolina Aquarium.

She has a passion for environmentalism and loves the ocean and marine ecosystems most. Krista aspires to one day a powerful voice for marine conservation.

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Linda Burton is a Beaufort County literacy teacher, mom to three great college kids, and lover of all animals.

As a kid, she lived on a farm and had a favorite chicken named Henrietta. With her dogs, Daisy and Harley, she isn’t an ‘empty nester’ because they are the children who will never leave home. As much as she has tried, she has given up on the ‘no dogs on the couch’ rule. She just keeps the vacuum cleaner nearby.

Kelley Blackston owns Beaufort dog in Beaufort, South Carolina. She has a master‘s degree from California State University, and has been training for 15 years. She specializes in dog aggression, nutrition, and general obedience and also runs the Beaufort Agility Club.

Krystal Hesler is the former manager of Lawton Stable in Sea Pines on Hilton Head Island. An avid photographer, Krystal enjoyed communing with nature and helping men, women, and children connect with horses and the outdoors. Hailing from New York, Krystal loves the forest, beach, and animals in all shapes and sizes.

Brice Armond Patterson is an energetic but quirky artistic nerd aficionado of all things interesting.

He loves puppies, comics, video games, art films, and the outdoors. Brice has the strange ability to relax any animal around, they seem to fall into a “chill” state, especially cats (although he is allergic). Brice’s best friend is Brownie, a small dog with a ton of personality - a dog known to play catch by retrieving the ball and running away from you until you catch her.

Chau Thi Thuy Nguyen is the alumni of SCAD and nature lover.

While studying in US, she encounters many small wildlife, including hares, squirrels, and raccoons.

Traveling to different countries, she takes photos of various house and stray cats. Some stared at her with curiosity and some considered her just another human who is obsessed with petting. She currently works on fantasy paintings and comics that contain green and animal elements.

Rachel Jones grew up on a lake where she learned to love all things water and nature. After earning a degree in Biology, she spent 3 years as a guide up in the salt marshes near Charleston where she even learned to appreciate the smell of pluff mud! She is now a Naturalist at the Port Royal Sound Foundation where she manages the volunteers, oversees programming and works to maintain the beautiful Maritime Center.

Alexa Lampasona is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys hiking, trail running and cycling. Her goal is to one day have her own dog as her hiking companion. She lives in Atlanta and works at Pineapple Public Relations, a firm specializing in travel and tourism. Her favorite spot to hike is at the many Georgia State Parks in the North Georgia mountains.

Holly Elliott is the Marketing and Public Relations Director for Coastal Heritage Society.

She is a Savannahbased animal enthusiast, doting on everything from Savannah Children‘s Museum‘s resident pet, Hortoise the Tortoise, to her own two spoiled cats, Charlie and Servo.

22

Jackie Gentile is a human being first, and foremost.

Apart from her humanness, she spends her time with animals. What animals you may ask?

She rides horses, and fosters cats. And chases people’s dogs around Savannah as a dogwalker. She means, she skillfully walks said dogs without any form of unusuality. Perfect walking skills. Hire her, for her dog walking and her art. She arts hard.

Every Day with Ed Sheeran, my Cat.

By Jackie Gentile, Illustrator

Cuddles with Ed. The way I wish it was.

But He Loves Bugs and Squirming.

And Screaming,

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I call this “Screaming Child O’ Mine”.

And Screaming,

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rdinaire & ustrator Extrao Ill s, le ti en G ie ck r adoption. the mind of Ja er Ed, he‘s up fo by st u fo yo I S. to P. ht y. ug et Bro of soci uting member hopeful contrib

23

“

Fin”

& CAT BOOTS

FACTS

e have a mouse.

Not just any old mouse, but a smart mouse. I cannot trap her. While a dab of peanut butter and a chocolate chip has caught many mice before her, this one has willfully abstained. When she dragged the trap 20 feet and left it under the old-fashioned pie-safe, we decided it was time to pull out the big trap. A cat.

I put a plea on Facebook and had a couple of offers within an hour. Calvin, who is not a cat-lover nor really even a cat-liker, went to pick up the ten-week old calico-tabby. She sat perched next to him on the truck console and by the time I met her he’d already named her Boots.

When he took me to meet her in the garage, Boots sat and purred at his feet.

Calvin squirmed a little then cursed under his breath, “Good hell, she’s bonded with me.”

Indeed she has. She follows him to the garden and rubs up next to him when he goes into the garage. Calvin even caught a mouse out near the shop and practiced how-to-catch-a-mouse with her in case it doesn’t come natural.

Three little grandsons came to visit this weekend and Boots quickly became their friend. Our dog Dan likes her company as well. I think we’ve found a good fit. Now, we must teach her to stay close by the house, shop, pasture, chicken coop, and pig pen so the coyotes don’t get her.

Marty Becker, a veterinarian and author, shared some interesting facts about cats. I’ve included them here either paraphrased or verbatim: 1. Within a few days of birth each kitten in the litter chooses her own teat and from then on generally only eats from it.

4. The cat is the only animal that purrs.

Domestic cats purr while inhaling or exhaling; big cats only purr while exhaling.

18. A cat generally has 24 whiskers (called vibrissae), 12 on each side of its face. The whiskers are divided into upper and lower rows.

5. Cats lick themselves clean after eating as part of the instinct to remove food odors so as not to attract predators. That is also why they bury their waste.

19. Seventy percent of each cat‘s day is spent dozing. Thirty percent of their awake time is spent grooming.

6. When a domestic cat goes moussing, he catches one about every third pounce.

7. Kitty litter was invented in 1947 when Edward Lowe, a delivery man ran out of sand and suggested to a cat owner that she use a grease and oil absorbent (clay called sodium bentonite) instead.

8. In ancient Rome, cat feces were believed to have healing powers.

9. The collective term for a group of adult cats is called a clowder.

10. The term “cat’s pajamas” comes from an English tailor in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s who made the finest silk pajamas for royalty and other rich patrons. His name was E.B. Katz.

11. More than 300,000 cat mummies were found in one Egyptian temple in 1850.

12. A cat can turn its outer ear toward a sound about 10 times faster than a dog.

13. At the back of a cat’s foot is a single carpal pad that doesn’t touch the ground.

It is thought to act as a brake when the cat leaps forward or stops from speeds up to 30 mph.

14. Cats’ eyes appear to glow at night because of a layer on the back of the retina called the tapetum lucidium, which possesses crystal-like reflective properties. Cats can‘t see in total darkness.

15. About 50 percent of cats have the gene that allows for catnip crazies and get a hallucinatory high from eating, smelling or rubbing catnip.

16. The phrase “a cat has nine lives” may come from early 1400s England when a popular recipe called for one part cat to nine parts chicken livers (source “Cats Out of the Bag,” Premium Press).

17. The U.S. superstition about having bad luck if a black cat crosses your path grew from the belief that the cat was on its way to visit the devil. In Britain, black cats are considered good luck.

2. Kittens are born blue-eyed. If their eyes change colors it usually happens when they’re about a month old.

3. They open their eyes at 7-10 days old but can’t hear until they’re about two weeks old.

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20. When cats arch their backs towards human hands, like a hearty, hairy handshake, they‘re exhibiting mutual endearment.

After reading #6, I think I’ll keep encouraging Calvin’s attachment to Boots. Number 5 is incentive to do the dinner dishes even when we’re very tired.

As suggested in #1, cats are not so unlike people. I’ve seen dozens of families on the same church pew year after year, just like a newborn kitten goes back to the same teat.

I’m thinking Boots may be more than just a mouse trap, she’s got some pretty amazing traits. Welcome to the family Boots.

By Jane Payne, Mother, Grandmother & Lifestyle Blogger

South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program 101

S

outh Carolina Aquarium’s mission is not only to connect people with wildlife at its facilities, but to conserve South Carolina’s native habitats and animals in the wild. The Aquarium has always been committed to conversation and one of its proudest achievements is the Sea Turtle Rescue Program and Sea Turtle Hospital. The program seeks to help protect and strengthen sea turtle populations in South Carolina and in the rest of the Atlantic. This is accomplished by rescuing and rehabilitating sick and injured sea turtles and returning them to the wild. All seven sea turtle species are endangered, making these efforts critical to the marine ecosystem. Populations have declined due to human impact ranging from poaching to habitat destruction.

Opened in 2000, the Sea Turtle Hospital has grown into a world renowned center that employs innovative animal care techniques.

Successes are made possible by the diligent and talented staff of veterinarians and volunteers. These dedicated individuals have been able to perform miracles for the turtles in their care.

Like Lazarus who was brought back to life -- not once, but twice -- and Boyles the turtle who was believed to be non-releasable

after temporarily losing his sight. Due to the commitment of the hospital, Boyles is now back home in the ocean after regaining his vision! Since its opening, the hospital has released more than 180 healthy sea turtles back into the ocean.

The Sea Turtle Hospital admits and treats up to 30 turtles a year. With the last few years being some of the busiest sea turtle stranding seasons yet, the demand for care will only continue to grow. In order to address the growing needs of the local sea turtle population and continue to provide expert care, the hospital and the program are expanding.

The hospital, located on the ground floor of the Aquarium, has continually been at capacity, and its growth will allow for the admittance and care of more sea turtle patients and will also enable guests and visitors to experience the amazing healing process first-hand.

In Fall 2016 the South Carolina Aquarium will break ground on Sea Turtle Recovery. The multi-million-dollar expansion will include larger veterinary and recovery facilities, as well as new galleries that use cutting-edge technologies to bring the rescue, rehabilitation and release process to life.

Opening in Spring 2017 on the Aquarium’s main floor, this new state-of-the-art exhibit will become part of the Aquarium experience, allowing all guests to learn more about these wonderful reptiles on their path to release. Sea Turtle Recovery will allow guests to watch as Aquarium team members work on and care for turtle patients.

Guests can also get hands-on with new interactive exhibit elements which aim to highlight the need for sea turtle conservation and the accomplishments of the program.

The exhibit’s ultimate goal is to allow the Aquarium to care for more sea turtles, and inspire visitors to help in the Aquarium’s mission of sea

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turtle rehabilitation, ultimately walking away with a love for these ancient and majestic seafarers.

As a nonprofit, the South Carolina Aquarium depends on the support of the community to provide care to all the animals in the facilities, and to pursue conservation efforts. You can help support the work of the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program and help fund the new hospital. To learn more about how you can help get involved visit scaquarium.org.

By Krista Ritterhoff, Assistant at South Carolina Aquarium Editor’s Note: Tails of the Lowcountry and the South Carolina Aquarium have partnered together to provide conservation messages each issue. This is the first in that series, devoted to Sea Turtles. We hope you will consider supporting the efforts of the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Rescue Program (Sea Turtle Hospital) and other coastal conservation and rehabilitation centers close to you.

LIVESTOCK GUARDIAN

DOGS THE REAL STORY

By Tamara Lake, Crosby Lake Farm

irst of all, before thinking about looking for a puppy, do your research! Pay attention. Do NOT buy the precious, cute, little ball of fluff and then do a Google search. Make sure you have everything ready ahead of time. That way when you bring the miniature horse - I mean dog - home, you will be prepared. Sort of.

There are many breeds of livestock guardian dogs (LGDs). Some people cross breed within the LGD breeds, and some have purebred LGDs. Either of the two will result in fine working dogs.

What does NOT make a good one is a cross between an LGD breed and a nonLGD breed. This would be something like a Labrador Retriever and Anatolian Shepherd mix. Steer clear of any breeder marketing a mix of that type as anything more than a pet. How many Chihuahuas do you see working as police dogs? My point exactly!

Proper fencing is key when it comes to guardians. If you think your fence is good enough, it likely isn’t. Cattle panels or regular livestock fencing will not hold a puppy in for the first part of his life. It is imperative to start your LGD off in an area that he cannot escape. If there is a gap or hole, the dog will surely find it.

Once escaping becomes a habit, well, I’m sure you can imagine the result.

Fencing does not have to be expensive, it just has to do its job. Electric fencing is sometimes necessary, but it is an (affordable) investment. Your dog can’t guard your livestock if he is off at the neighbor’s house for supper.

Buy your LGD from a reputable breeder. Ask to see the parents and any other LGDs on the property. Ask about grandparents of the puppies, or any other known relatives. Make sure the parents are working dogs and that the litter is being raised with livestock. Ask about past litters, if there are any.

Am I saying a dog from non-working parents can’t be a working dog? No. I am only saying the likelihood of a puppy developing into a successful guardian is exponentially higher when it comes from working dogs. If you look at breeders, you will find both working dogs and pets that are registered or unregistered.

Having a registered animal is not a priority to me. “Go away you big hungry mountain lion or I’ll throw my AKC registration paper at you!”

READY FOR MORE CONTROVERSY There is a huge debate on where to raise a puppy. I am a firm believer in putting a puppy in with the stock you want it to guard from 26

the start. Having a space where your puppy can “hide” that gets him out of the way is helpful if you have large or aggressive livestock. Some people prefer to house the puppy separate from the livestock it is to guard until it is older. I don’t like to do this, because I feel the dog never really bonds to the livestock.

The dog may tend to guard its space and pen area versus its charges. However, ask ten farmers, you’ll get ten answers.

While the puppy is growing, never use the word “train.” As an LGD owner, your responsibility is to provide corrections and guidance. A “heel” command is useless if a dog is going after a threat anyhow. Obedience training is not worth the time or money if you ask me. Teach your dog to respect you and your space, teach him a “NO” command, and teach him to walk on a leash. He isn’t in your pasture to be a pretty pet who rolls over for treats. He has a job, and a job that he will do quite well, if you allow him the independence to do so.

Once a puppy is an adult, it will work best with help. Male and female pairs are the popular preference, but that’s not to say any other way won’t work out. I have used every combination, including intact males, with no problem. Depending on predator load, space, and amount of

livestock, you could have an entire pack of LGDs working as a team.

Speaking of a team, the sound that comes from just ONE 125 pound animal at 3:00 am can be scary. Lots of LGDs deter predators by barking. Barking.

All. Night. Long! The sound is music to a livestock owner’s ears. However, neighbors may not feel the same way.

Some dogs bark less than others, but it is a common characteristic of the LGD breeds as a whole. Take that

Lots of folks recommend buying an adult LGD from a working environment, letting it acclimate, and then buying a puppy for the adult to raise. The problem with that is a trustworthy working adult LGD is hard to find. If you happen to come across one and can afford its price tag, consider yourself lucky. Adults sometimes have habits that aren’t a good fit for your farm and your needs. If a dog has been allowed to bark at cars his whole life and you live beside a busy road, that particular dog will not work for you. Am I saying the dog is bad?

No. Not at all. The point I’m making is starting with a puppy has its perks. It is more work at first, but once the dog is mature, you will have an excellent working dog that meets your needs.

The last piece of advice I have is that once you have found an LGD you want, keep in touch with the breeder. Any good breeder will give you advice and be able to answer your questions. There

WANT A BIT MORE INFO? into consideration before making a commitment. And ask those pesky neighbors first. Chances are, if your neighbors own livestock as well, they will welcome the barking with open arms.

Two years. That is how long it takes for a LGD to be considered a trustworthy, working animal. Of course, that is an average, but it will take time to mold your LGD into what you need and want out of a working dog. It doesn’t happen overnight; time is something you should be prepared to provide. If you need immediate protection, a puppy isn’t always the best choice.

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are LGD groups on Facebook, as well as tons of articles floating around the internet. You will have to sift through and use what works for your situation.

Remember, don’t reinvent the wheel.

Folks have been raising LGDs for a long time. Take advantage of their knowledge!

With all this said, get back to looking at those puppy ads. And remember the barking.

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hat’s one more hair in the butter anyway?

I love dogs. Always have. When growing up, my dad didn’t allow me to have a dog. I cried many a night.

When I moved out and bought my first house, guess what came soon after with a big, red bow around his neck? A big black lab named Luther.

He drooled and shed like crazy -but I loved him.

A few years later, I added a beautiful golden retriever named Zack to the family. What a pair. I worked like crazy to train them. Luther chewed plants, shoes, and my couch. He could actually unzip the cushion and chew the foam!

Wish I’d set up a camera to catch the action. Zack chewed moldings and cassette tapes at the time (cassette tapes: kids, Google it). It didn’t matter, they were my boys.

When I met my future husband he didn’t seem to mind the hair and the drool, so I knew we were going to get along just fine.

My next set of dogs, I learned to train a little better adding crate training for a longer time, and more exercise. I softened a little as well. They were actually allowed on one of the couches, but not all the furniture. Mulligan chewed a hole in my drywall and destroyed several pair of sunglasses.

Q&

Callaway was good most of the time until his intestines flared up. I won’t go into the details, so use your imagination.

And then, I decided I needed three dogs. Soon Chip arrived! This is where the phrase, what’s one more hair in the butter comes in. Chipper was my buddy, but he would escape to swim. And swim. And swim. I’d have to go out in the lake to get him to shore. Chip made me so mad sometimes, but I still loved him. I trained all three of them so they could walk with me comfortably. We were always a spectacle and everyone stopped to talk to us as we walked in Michigan. Slowly and sadly, as each one got older, I would walk with one or the other. They were my boys.

Now, the pack is different with Trapper, Ruff, and Norman. Still sticking with three dogs (my husband is on a mission to get back to two). I’d have a horse or two but hubby doesn’t see the need. Animals are like therapy to me and I’d have ten dogs if I had the space, or a farm. Hey, maybe that’s what we need is a farm! I could surround myself with all kinds of animals. They’re the epitome of unconditional love! So I ask, what’s one more hair in the butter anyway?

By Laurie Brown, Owner of Aunt Laurie’s

n i m a l

Your Best Friend

Kelley Blackston, Beaufort Dog. Kelley owns Beaufort Dog and has a master‘s degree from California State University.

She has been training for 15 years and emphasizes positive reinforcement in an outside, real-world like environment. She stresses knowing the psychology behind dog‘s behavior in order to improve handler and dog communication.

Can you give me a few dog training tips?

-Ashley W., visiting Ridgeland, SC I‘ve seen some horrific results of “dog training”. There is a danger, like in anything, of learning just enough to provide band aids on problem behaviors, which lead to frustrations down the road. During this peak season of puppies and rescue dogs coming into their own, here are five must know questions to answer (or ask your trainer) to ensure a healthy life with your K-9 companion.

Need more training tips? Have a dog question that needs answered, or something else pet or animal related? Send us your question to Q&Animal at info@tailsofthelowcountry.com by July 4th 2016. You never know if your question will be answered next!

And expect to hear from Kelley each month with helpful tips. We look forward to your questions!

1. Why does looking at your dog when he does something unwanted send him the wrong message about his behavior?

2. Why is teaching her not to _________( i.e. jump, bark, fight, pee, etc) not enough unless you teach her a replacement behavior?

3. Why do you need to teach your dog to communicate outside, with other dogs for it to stick in the real word?

4. What behaviors (like Recall aka “Come”) can you not teach before you have taught communication skills (like asking for permission)?

5. What are the main signs to look for in other dogs to keep your dog safe?

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GeT

With your Dog at Georgia STate Parks

By Alexa Lampasona, Georgia Park Enthusiast

L

ooking to get more fit with your dog? Georgia State Parks launched their first dog walking club, aptly named Tails on Trails, this June. 12 miles of trails wander through seven Georgia State Parks. Each trail offers unique scenery, from the mountainous terrain of North Georgia to lake and river paths of South Georgia. The Tails on Trails Club motivates dog and owner to seek out Georgia’s natural wonders and explore together.

The premise of the Tails on Trails Club: Owners and their dogs are challenged to hike designated trails at seven Georgia State Parks, and upon completion, they will be rewarded with a bandana for the dog and a t-shirt for the owner. A t-shirt and bandana! The seven participating parks are: Don Carter State Park, F.D. Roosevelt State Park, Fort McAllister State Park, Fort Mountain State Park, High Falls State Park, Red Top Mountain State Park and Sweetwater Creek State Park.

For mountains, hike the Mountain Creek Trail at F.D. Roosevelt State Park or the Woodland Trail Loop at Don Carter State Park. For lake and river views, the Red and White Loops at Sweetwater Creek State Park, or the Lake Trail at Fort Mountain offer glimpses of glistening water through the trees. The reward is a waterfall on the Falls Trail at High Falls State Park.

Club membership is $10, and be purchased online at GaStateParks.org/TailsonTrails or at a participating park. The website includes details of each of the seven park’s trail, as well as important rules for dog owners to follow. Georgia State Parks also offers dog-friendly cabins and a full list of dog-friendly accommodations can be found at GaStateParks.org/TravelingWith-Pets. Accommodations must be booked in advance if bringing a dog, and a $45 dog fee is added. For those who want to “ruff it” with camping, all Georgia State Parks campgrounds accept dogs free of charge. For more information you can also visit tailsofthelowcountry/GATrails.

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Books For People Who Love Animals

&BOOKS

Children’s Selection Is There Room on the Feather Bed? Written by Libba Moore Gray Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Wescott ho can resist taking in a pet on a rainy night and letting it share your nice warm bed? And I’m not just talking about a dog or cat, but a pig, chicken, duck, goose, sheep, goat or maybe even a cow? Come on, I know you’re out there, those of you who think outside of the box when it comes to a beloved pet!

Sharing that nice warm bed, snuggled up under the covers, soft pillow under your head, fuzzy animal tucked under your arm. What happens though, if another critter wants to join, but it may not go over so well with your pet, because that critter may get a bad rap for not having the best aroma? Well, in the story “Is There Room on the Feather Bed?”, written by Libba Moore Gray and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, that’s just what happens.

One nasty, rainy night, a sweet little old lady and her sweet little old man share their warm feather bed with the animals that live on their farm. One by one, each comes knocking on the door, cold and wet, and asks if there is room on their feather bed. Of course, the sweet old lady can’t resist, and allows each to come sleep (as you can read, the little old man isn’t the one inviting them in). However, as they all get situated under the covers, the little old lady lets in one more animal, the small plump skunk, which sends all the animals and the little old man into a frenzy and out the door.

Soon all the animals realize, as they are soaking wet outside, that the little old lady and the skunk are nice and warm inside. It doesn’t take them long to see how ridiculous they are being and that there is always room to share with friends. This is a great read aloud, with a playful spirit and catchy rhymes. No doubt a fun story to read to your special pet when you’re all snuggled in on a rainy night.

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By Linda Burton, Beaufort County Educator

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nyone who has ever kept bugeating lizards has more than likely dealt with the routine of going to the pet store, buying crickets and taking them home only to have most of them die off in a matter of a day or two. This is assuming that the pet store even has them in stock. Other options exist, meal

worms, wax worms, and the like. But what if there was a feeder insect that reproduces exponentially, requires little maintenance, and is one of the best nutritional options for your herps? You’re in luck because that insect exists and it’s the Orange-Spotted Roach (Blaptica dubia).

If you can get past the idea of keeping a reproductive roach colony around, these are the feeders for you!

Hailing from South America, B. dubia are a medium-sized roach species that has become popular in the reptile community and is quickly moving up the ranks as one of the best, if not the best, feeder insect in the industry. With few downsides, this species can be a money saver. Let’s start with the necessities for getting a starter colony up and running.

You Are What You Eat

Orange-Spotted Roaches have many benefits over crickets. As far as keeping a colony, they can’t be beat.

And these roaches are

33

the pinnacle of feeders. The major difference between crickets and dubia is in nutritional value. When comparing the two, we look at protein, fat, meatto-shell ratio, and calcium. These roaches beat crickets in every one of those categories. For protein, crickets measure in around 16%. Dubia clock in at 20%. Crickets are typically 5-6% where dubia are 7-8% fat. Perhaps the most important is the meat-to-shell ratio.

Crickets (and mealworms especially) are very chitinous, meaning they have a lot of exoskeleton compared to actual soft tissue. This can pose a health risk for impaction in your reptile if fed too much, too often. Being soft bodied insects, dubia roaches have less shell in ratio to meat making it easier for your herp to take in the good stuff. Lastly, there’s the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the two feeders. Calcium and Phosphorus are critical for bone development in lizards (as well as all vertebrates). The crickets commonly sold in pet stores have a Ca:P of about 1:7 which is a pretty large gap.

At 1:3 Ca:P, dubia are a much better and supplementally leveled out. None of this means that you should not feed crickets to your pets! Just be sure to dust supplement when needed and feed in moderation!

the gear

To start a dubia colony, you’ll need some basic things: A plastic tub or aquarium that’s at least 10 gallons. I prefer the Hefty brand 32 Qt. that’s opaque.

Some egg crate and paper towel rolls.

Water crystal (sold online) to keep the roaches hydrated without drowning.

Some dry roach chow which is usually sold online (or you can find recipes to make your own).

Dishes for both the food and water.

An undertank heat pad sold for reptiles aquariums.

Last, but not least, roaches!

If none of these are available in your area, there’s a few online dealers that sell kits which include everything you need to get a small colony started.

Once you get the tub (if not seethru) or aquarium you’ll want to find a dark place to keep it like a closet. Dubia roaches, like any other roach species, like it dark and seem to reproduce better with minimal light. If the tub being used isn’t dark then it can either be kept somewhere dark or be painted black with something like plastic adhesive spray paint. Just make sure to let it air out plenty before any bugs go in it! To make aquariums darker, another simple option is to tape black construction paper on the outside and most of the lid.

I prefer the Hefty Hi-Rise Pro (available at local hardware stores) because it’s already dark and the perfect size for a starter colony.

With tubs ventilation is also an important factor. The easiest option is drilling or soldering holes in the lid. Since dubia roaches can’t climb smooth surfaces you don’t have to worry about the small ones climbing up and out of the holes. This roach species is a tropical species, they need heat in order to thrive and reproduce.

Dubias’ ideal temperature is about 90 °F which can be achieved with a heat mat commercially sold for reptiles.

The important thing is to remember to keep them raised so there’s at least some air flow under the tub -otherwise there’s the potential for the mat to melt the tub (or worse).

who´s who?

After set-up and the colony is ready, you’ll need to know how many males and females you have.

These roaches are sexually dimorphic, meaning you can tell

the sexes through physical differences.

Males of this species are the most “roach looking,” having a longer body with long wings and a paler color. The males, even though they have wings, do not fly.

Females are just the opposite, darker, wider, and with very short, almost nonexistent, wings. The ratio of adults is important in building a self-sustaining colony. The best ratio to keep 1 male to every 5 females since males will fight for females, slowing the growth of the colony. Dubia mature in 4 to 6 months.

A significant downside to this feeder, colonies reach a sustainable level slowly.

Once your colony is humming, it offers practically unlimited feed in any size you could need.

Feeding A Feeder

These roaches eat just about anything that’s a vegetable, fruit, or grain. Since your pet is what will be eating the roaches, the bugs’ diet matters. Ideally, your roaches should get fruits like oranges, apples, bananas, mangos, or strawberries in addition to carrots, kale, and spinach. They will eat breads but I’ve found bread gets hard quickly, making it a little impractical. When feeding your feeders fruits and veggies, be sure to only leave the food in the colony for a day or two because you don‘t want mold growth. Roach chow sold online usually does not mold in the tub as long as it doesn’t get wet. I also give my roaches extra gecko diet periodically my crested geckos don’t eat. Packed with the nutrients the lizards need, recycling food is a great way to cut down on waste!

As for the water crystal, various bags can be purchased. A little goes a long way; one ounce can make a whole gallon turn into the gel! Unlike a wet sponge, water gel doesn’t harbor mold or bacteria. The gel also keeps your bugs from drowning. To boot, when water gel is placed at the same end as the heat mat, it creates humidity orangespotted reaches need to molt correctly and breed. This is by far the best way to water any insect in my opinion.

No time to keep them clean? No Problem!

One of the biggest complaints crickets get is the smell. Anyone who’s had a group of adult crickets, even if it was for just a few days, knows that they smell terrible. Believe it or not, a colony of several hundred dubia in a tub have next to no odor (compared to crickets). This makes keeping a colony in a small space like an apartment easy and convenient.

Not cleaning these roaches is actually an important factor in making sure a colony starts to expand. While cleaning is necessary, it often is detrimental to the nymphs (babies). When the nymphs are still small they actually feed on the dropping and waste of the adults.

Because they don’t smell like crickets do, cleaning can be very infrequent and 34

often unnecessary for weeks or months depending on the size of the colony.

Who’s dealing?

There’s a ton of options for buying dubia. Most big box pet stores don’t sell them but your locally owned shop might. If this isn’t an option, there’s many online sellers that sell starter kits, pairs, or any size you could need. Personally, I buy from dubiaroaches.com, but other options like Amazon and eBay can often land you mixed sized groups.

Conclusion

If you’re willing to give dubias a shot, you’ll find over time that they really are the best option. A self-sustaining colony means unlimited feeders and less pet store crickets! Their low care requirements cannot be beat and neither can their nutritional value for your herps.

If you have a lot of bug-eaters, the initial time and investment to get a colony is well worth it in the long run!

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onservation and fishing come together in the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). CCA is the nation’s largest nonprofit grassroots marine conservation association. Unsurprisingly, it is also the largest in the Palmetto State.

CCA is comprised of recreational saltwater anglers who have band together to address marine conservation and fisheries management issues both at the state and national level. Through its dedicated members and volunteers, CCA has become the nation’s largest, most powerful and respected voice for recreational saltwater anglers and for the conservation of our marine resources. Similarly, the Bluffton Chapter of the CCA is growing rapidly thanks to the dedication of its volunteers, patrons, and sponsors.

ADVOCATE ANGLERS

volunteer hours since 2009. As a part of this program, CCA has been able to sink 3 nearshore reefs along the coast of South Carolina, with number 4 coming in 2016 in the Port Royal Sound!

In early June, the Bluffton Chapter of the CCA will have its 2nd Annual Celebrating Conservation Banquet at the Waddell Mariculture Center in Bluffton. Known for volunteering in the community, participating at local festivals and spearheading conservation events, CCA’s recreational fishing enthusiasts hope to continue the forward momentum to expand their fishery conservation and habitat restoration projects in local waters.

To learn more about how you can become a part of this conservation tradition, visit us on the web at www.ccasouthcarolina.com or call Erik Delong at 843.540.6241 or Bryan Baker at 843.540-2895.

By Erik Delong, CCA Bluffton Chapter Chairman

The primary objective of CCA is the conservation of our marine resources and improving the current and future state of saltwater fishing for recreational anglers. Most anglers have cherished family memories of recreational fishing and wish this for their children and their children’s children. The conservation organization has led or shared in the efforts to obtain gamefish status for a number of overfished species, to ban destructive fishing gear and gill nets, and to implement recovery plans for various fisheries. Programs at a local, regional, and national level include scientific & economic studies, artificial reefs & habitat enhancement, hatcheries, water quality, as well as the support of law enforcement agencies.

The Bluffton Chapter of CCA South Carolina was formed in 2015 and is made up of local saltwater anglers with a passion for conserving the marine resources that they enjoy. Realizing a need to give back to the resource, the Bluffton Chapter connects with like minded groups to educate the community about the significance of maintaining sustainable fisheries and the importance of habitat restoration. Local cobia populations and the May River are two top priorities for the anglers.

Red Drum, Cobia & Oysters - OH MY! FISHERIES: In South Carolina, CCA has championed gamefish status for fish like red drum and most recently, cobia. The group is a highly regarded watchdog of saltwater fishing activities and is valued as a cooperative partner with state and federal fisheries agencies in developing programs of restoration, education, and legislation that protect and enhance marine resources. Local recreational fisherman remember the first time they had a cobia on the line and want to preserve this experience for future generations.

HABITAT RESTORATION: CCA chapters from Bluffton and Beaufort joined together in the summer of 2015 to plant a recycled oyster shell reef near Parris Island which provides habitat for many marine species, including new oysters to filter water. The chapters have plans to continue that work in the summer of 2016. The South Carolina marine habitat program of CCA, known as the Topwater Action Campaign, has provided over $200,000 in equipment, material, and 36

Shelters & Refuges Georgia Bulloch County Animal Shelter 81 Mill Creek Rd, Statesboro, GA 30461 912-764-4529 bullochcounty.net/animal-shelter Chatham County Animal Control 7215 Sallie Mood Dr, Savannah, GA 31406 912-351-6750 animalcontrol.chathamcounty.org Coastal Pet Rescue PO Box 30462, Savannah, GA 31406 912-228-3538 coastalpetrescue.org Effingham County Animal Control 307 GA-119, Springfield, GA 31329 912-754-2109 effinghamcounty.org/departmentsaf/animalshelter.aspx Ga. Rescue Rehabilitation & Relocation Savannah, GA 31411 912-656-9792 g-r-r-r.com Humane Society for Greater Savannah 7215 Sallie Mood Dr, Savannah, GA 31406 912-354-9515 humanesocietysav.org Humane Society of South Coastal Georgia 4627 US-17, Brunswick, GA 31525 912-264-6246 hsscg.org One Love Animal Rescue, Inc 463 Johnny Mercer Blvd Ste B7 #142, Savannah, Georgia 31410 912-572-1251 oneloveanimalrescue.com The Humane Society of Statesboro and Bulloch County 105 North College Street Statesboro, GA 30458 912-681-9393 statesborohumane.org Save-A-Life 4 Raintree Ln, Savannah, GA 31411 912-598-7729 savealifepets.org Second Chances Equine Rescue Inc 7663 GA-196, Hinesville, GA 31313 912-385-8512 scer-ga.org South Carolina Beaufort County Animal Shelter 23 Shelter Church Road Beaufort, SC 29906 843-255-5010 bcgov.net/departments/public-safety/ animal-control Frances R. Willis SPCA 136 4 Paws Ln, Summerville, SC 29483 843-871-3820 summervillespca.org Friends of Colleton County Animal 33 Poor Farm Road, Walterboro, SC 29488 843-893-2651 Foccas-sc.org Hilton Head Humane Association 10 Humane Way Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-681-8686 hhhumane.org H.O.P.E. Acres Rescue 1044 Eagle Harbor Lane Summerville, SC 29483 843-412-3519 hopeacresrescue.org Jasper Animal Rescue Mission (JARM) 1352 Carters Mill Rd, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-726-7799 JARMission.org L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue 6854 Ethel Post Office Rd Meggett, SC 29449 843-991-4879 learnhorserescue.org

Lowcountry Raptors 2509 Lumber Rd, Ruffin, SC 29475 843-908-3235 Lowcountryraptors.org Maranatha Farm Rescue for Tails 342 Crabapple Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-816-6676 Maranathafarm.net Palmetto Animal League Adoption Center 56 Riverwalk Blvd, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-645-1725 Palmettoanimalleague.org Pick-A-Pet-2 3229 Argent Blvd, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-987-0068 pickapet2.com Rogue Rescue & Sanctuary 15 Tillman St, Bluffton, SC 843-816-0097 roguerescue.org South Carolina Waterfowl Association 9833 Old River Road, Pinewood, SC 29125 803-452-6001 scwa.org Tabby House 2127 Boundary St, Beaufort, SC 29902 843-255-5031 Tabbyhousebeaufort.com Nonprofit Associations Augusta-Aiken Audubon Society Augusta, GA Augustaaikenaudubon.org Bee City 1066 Holly Ridge Ln,Cottageville,SC 29435 843-835-5912 beecity.net Charleston Natural History Society PO Box 504, Charleston, SC 29412 843-607-1070 Charlestonaudubon.org Coastal Conservation Association 843-540-6241 Ccasouthcarolina.com Coastal Georgia Audubon Society PO Box 21726, St Simons, GA 31522 912-634-1322 Coastalgeorgiabirding.org Folly Beach Turtle Watch PO Box 325, Folly Beach, SC 29439 843-588-2433 follyturtles.com Georgia Beekeepers Associations 534 Mt Gerizim Rd, Mableton, GA 30126 770-732-6007 Gabeekeeping.com Georgia Sea Turtle Center 214 Stable Rd, Jekyll Island, GA 31527 912-635-4444 Gstc.jekyllisland.com Hilton Head Island Audubon Society PO Box 6185, Hilton Head Island, SC 29938 Hiltonheadaudubon.org Heroes on Horseback P.O. Box 3678, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-5607 Heroesonhorseback.org Horsin’ Around 1032 John Carter Road Bloomingdale, GA 31302 912-748-7917 Horsinaround.org Love for Therapeutic Riding PO Box 1883, Beaufort, SC 29901 843-252-1232 lovefortherapeuticriding.org Oconee Rivers Audubon Society PO Box 81082, Athens, GA oconeeriversaudubon.org Ogeechee Audubon Society PO Box 13423 Savannah, Ga 31416 Ogeecheeaudubon.org

Pegasus Riding Academy 2305 Camelia Ct, Savannah, GA 31404 912-547-6482 prasav.org Port Royal Sound Maritime Center 310 Okatie Highway, Okatie, SC 29909 843-645-7774 portroyalsoundfoundation.org SCDNR - Marine Turtle Conservation Program 217 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412 843-953-9015 dnr.sc.gov/seaturtle The Bee Cause Project Savannah, GA thebeecause.org The Kiawah Conservancy 80 Kestrel Ct, Kiawah Island, SC 29455 843-768-9166 Kiawahturtles.com Therapy Dogs International Local Chapter #230, Savannah, GA 912-634-8156 Tdi-dog.org Wish Upon a Horse Therapeutic Riding Center 190 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928 843-671-2586 wishuponahorsehhi.org Zoos, Aquariums & Educational Centers Atlanta Zoo 800 Cherokee Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30315 404-624-5600 zooatlanta.org Bee City 1066 Holly Ridge Ln, Cottageville, SC 29435 843-835-5912 Beecity.net Center for Wildlife Education 1461 Forest Dr, Statesboro, GA 30460 912-478-0831 Coastal Discovery Museum 70 Honey Horn Dr Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-689-6767 coastaldiscovery.org Edisto Island Serpentarium 1374 Hwy 174, Edisto Island, SC 29438 843-869-1171 edistoserpentarium.com Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 404-581-4000 Georgiaaquarium.org The Lowcountry Institute 40 Mobley Oaks Ln, Okatie, SC 29909 843-987-7008 lowcountryinstitute.org Jacksonville Zoo 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218 904-757-4463 jacksonvillezoo.org Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah 711 Sandtown Rd, Savannah, GA 31410 912-395-1212 oatlandisland.org South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401 843-577-3474 scaquarium.org Waddell Mariculture Center 211 Sawmill Creek Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-837-3795 dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/waddell Friends of Wildlife Anderson Pool Plastering 27 Hardeeville Industrial Park Rd, Hardeeville, SC 29927 843-784-2471 Aunt Laurie’s 11 Bartons Run Dr, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-940-7116 auntlauries.com Big D’s Royal Tees 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-987-1517 Bigdsroyaltees.com Bluffton Boiled Peanut Festival (Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce) 217 Goethe Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-757-1010 Boiledpeanutfestival.com

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Bush Master Rabbitry Rabbit Supplies, Quail, & Pot Belly Pigs Bill Martin-843-726-1031 Canine Palace 2805 Bull St, Savannah, GA 31405 912-234-3336 caninepalacesavannah.com Carolina Volvo 12 Gateway Village Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 888-522-0237 carolinavolvo.com Diamond Pools 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-706-3931 Diamondpoolsandspas.com Edisto Island Serpentarium 1374 SC-174, Edisto Island, SC 29438 843-869-1171 Edistoserpentarium.com Fast Fit Body Sculpting LLC 1533 Fording Island Rd #298, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 843-707-2981 fastfitbodysculpting.com Gogo Jewelry 217 Redfern Vlg, Saint Simons Island, GA 31522 912-634-8875 gogojewelry.com Jackson’s Kennel PO Box 384, Collins, GA 30421 912-693-5703 Nosoco 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-882-7801 Nosoco.com Port Royal Sound Crossfit 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-637-8358 pepperfitness.com Premier Collision Center 8301 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31406 912-358-5921 Premiercollisionshop.com Savannah Art Walk (Tiffani Taylor Gallery) 11 Whitaker St, Savannah, GA 31401 912-507-7860 savannahartwalk.com Savannah Mitsubishi 8203 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31406 912-927-4741 savannahmitsubishi.com Savannah Volvo 8301 White Bluff Rd, Savannah, GA 31406 888-475-6815 volvoofsavannah.com South Carolina Botanical Garden Fran Hanson Visitor's Center 150 Discovery Ln, Clemson, SC 29634 864-656-3405 clemson.edu/public/scbg/ Tails of the Lowcountry 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-882-7801 tailsofthelowcountry.com The Wall 175 Boardwalk Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936 843-882-7801 thewall.events Three D Golf Carts 159 Burnt Church Rd, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-815-2203 threedgolfcar.com Timeless Interiors 4376 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton, SC 29910 843-837-8088 timelessinteriorshiltonhead.com Feral Cat Programs Cat Colony Guardians Bluffton Gisela McElfresh 843.705.2304 gisela99@me.com Islands Feral Cat Project Savannah/Tybee Island 912.777.3289 www.islandsferalcatproject.org For more information about the non-TNR approach to feral cat colonies, please visit the following websites: Georgia Ornithological Society: www.gos.org/conservation_cats American Bird Conservancy abcbirds.org/threat/cats-and-otherinvasives/