What bugs/diseases/critters have ya'll seen that weren't around 30-40 years ago?

[CliffordK]

A lot of the worst invasive species were introduced about a century or more ago. The Himalayan Blackberries were introduced long ago. Great to eat, but what a mess they make.

Somebody had the bright idea to bring over Gorse to the Oregon Coast. It is like a living barbed wire fence, and very hard to get rid of.

European Beach Grass was also planted on the coast about a century ago to stabilize the sand dunes. And, it has done an excellent job at doing so. But, unfortunately it means that we are losing our sand dunes. Over the last half century we have had an extreme loss of our once spectacular dunes.

 

[ponytug]

You could build a few bat boxes. I think that they are much easier to build than bird boxes, though our bats move around a bit depending on the weather, going from sunnier (warmer) boxes to shaded (cooler) boxes as the weather warms, so having a few scattered around facing various directions helps.

I would guess that he itching is probably a result of prior bites that you've become allergic to. Which is why Benadryl or OTC steroid cream helps.

All the best,

Peter

We have them on buildings, and they love the crevices in the Spanish style cement tile roof pieces on the edges of the roofs.

Just rough sawn on the inside;

http://happyvalleybats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/UncleGeorgePlans.pdf

You can go big;

Modular Bat Condo 2x2 - Big Bat House

Create a ~1,200 Bat Super Sanctuary - Free Shipping in US - Installation Available. BCM's Modular Bat Condo provides a large, long term bat sanctuary on ranches, farms, large backyards, parks, mitigation, and wildlife management areas. Built by our bat biologists; approved by Merlin Tuttle's Bat...

batmanagement.com

Or really big;

Calero Bat Hotel - We'll Leave the Lights OFF for You - NatureOutside

Thanks to man-made roosts like this, perhaps once again America's bats will fill the evening sky.

www.natureoutside.com

https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/conservation/wildlife/bats

It is said to house hundreds of thousands of bats. On a quiet day you can sometimes hear the shuffling and squeaks, but I haven't never been there at dusk for takeoff, though friends say it is spectacular.

Improving Bat Houses in America: Nearly 40 Years of Progress and Still Learning - Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation

Bat houses are outstanding tools for education. When I introduced them to Americans in 1982, my primary objective was to help people overcome fear and accept bats as valuable neighbors. That goal has been vastly exceeded. Today, hundreds of thousands of American bats live in a wide variety of...

www.merlintuttle.org

I'd never heard the injunction of not putting them on trees, but I do know that the height of the box above the ground is very important, as is a clear flight path in and out, which may be the origin of the idea.

All the best,

Peter

 

[CliffordK]

Over time I have also grown to have more respect to what I once thought were pest species.

While Mistletoe is a parasite, it is also a local native species, and largely doesn't seem to be killing the trees as much as establishing a symbiotic relationship with the local oaks.

I remember Dad always used to consider Whitefish as a trash fish, and if caught he would throw them into the weeds. Yet they are a native species, just not the trout that are favored by fishermen.

Ants were mentioned. They don't really bother me. We have some bog lands (which may now be protected wet lands, or should be). Anyway, there is a local population of ants that make ant hills, about a cubic foot in size. Kind of unique construction ants.

I am always happy to see the buzzards cleaning up after the haying equipment.

Snakes?

Over the years I've had an increasing respect for gopher snakes. I haven't seen any local rattle snakes for decades.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
I think that comes with age. Also remember though that many species thrive because of our presence and activity.

I always get a kick out of "no mow May" because I know how many crows show up for dinner when I start mowing my field.

 

[Oaktree]

I always get a kick out of "no mow May" because I know how many crows show up for dinner when I start mowing my field.

My "lawn" is largely plants that are green, but not necessarily grass. I'll typically mow around wildflower patches in it while they're in bloom. Seems like quite a few others in the area do the same.
If I lived where there was some sort of HOA I'm sure they'd have a fit, but I don't (and have no intention of ever doing so).

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

I found a dead barred owl in our yard in 2016. No visible damage, so I assume he must have been hit by a car, although he was a couple of hundred feet from the street. Absolutely beautiful creature.
View attachment 3650622
View attachment 3650623

Owls are some of my favorite birds. I can mimic a barred owl calling. I have had them come to me looking for the competition.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

We'll, I've been a damn yankee for over 24 years now.

Skunks and ground hogs along have been on the east coast (and native to NC) since boats came to the eastern shores in the 1600's and they didn't migrate here recently to NC

Never saw an Armadillo in NC to be honest, but did see a alligator on the eastern side of the state. Wouldn't know what a fire ant looks like.

Coyotes came in about 40 years ago from Tenn.

From what I remember Dakota white tail are generally a larger breed of deer. Generally, NC is over populated with white tail and they are a lot smaller than most deer you'll find up north. Honestly, guys hunting deer in NC will shoot anything on 4 legs for the most part from my experience.

I'm guessing your on the east side of NC?

I'm about 18mi east of downtown Raleigh. About 20 yrs ago I would go down to Alabama to turkey hunt. Many times I had thought about bring back a few dead Armies and put them on the roads near her. Thought it would make the news... At least the Aunt Rosa, news. She wasn't my official aunt but always knew her as that. Many of those types of aunts around here decades ago. Its kinda a lost thing now.

On some land I own farther north and slightly west they dog hunt and they kill anything with or without horns. No permission but they turn em loose at the roads cause it's legal...

 

[Runner]

AFAIK, black bears (or any bears) are pretty much unheard of in NW MO, but a couple of weeks ago, one was spotted going through dumpsters at a couple of local fast food joints. I don't know if they are actually starting to inhabit the area now or what, but I've lived here for 66 years and this is the first time I've ever heard of one in the area.

Black bear spotted in Grandview, Missouri; residents urged to use caution

A black bear has been spotted wandering through Grandview, Missouri, the city announced Tuesday.

www.kmbc.com

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Yesterday afternoon while out killing invasive plants with roundup. I saw Wisteria and chinaberry trees. I think I am gonna have to get something else for those. I shot them pretty good with glysophate a strong mix. We'll have to see if they die. They both are popping up trying to take over the areas around my pond.

Looking for stronger brushkiller ideas.

We haven't seen the lantern fly yet they say there are headed our way.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

You do realize that Ben Franklin (pretty famous American) had wrote a letter comparing the eagle to the wild turkey? Mr. Franklin was alive in the 1700's?

PLEASE don't tell me that wild turkey's are damn yankees as well

Generally speaking, animal species in certain areas decline when the human population increases.

LOL... Naw man, turkeys used to be here but were over hunted. I for one am glad ole Ben wasn't successful on his idea of making ole tom the national bird it's one ugly bird, BUT very tasty... Not sure how an eagle would taste. Bout like a Carolina condor I imagine, they often eat the same things.

Animal species thrive based on their food sources. Like an area with a growing rabbit population should expect to see more predators. Natures way to keep populations in check.

Just like viruses and diseases are natures way to keep us in check too.