threegardeners said:They're not very well trained at all!
They're leashed when they're out since I don't (yet) have a fenced in yard. They know they'll come up good and short if they try to chase anything!
Westie, JRT/Mini Schnauzer mix and Spaniel.

3 Adorable cuties! How old are they?

thank you

Sandi - 7
Klick - 5
Angel - 2

I'm having to refill the water containers I put outside the fence for wildlife more often all the time. It has been a month and a half without rain locally and this heat wave this week with the triple digits. Much more deer around and I put out deer food. But what worries me is that I can smell something the last few days out there outside the fence. Like some animal that I'm not very familiar with. Neighbor came over to borrow a piece of equipment and we were talking about the Painted Buntings I've been seeing for a while and he said they also have those birds coming to a feeder over there also. His wife is very happy because they're so gorgeous! I mentioned the odd smell and he suggested wild hogs or a bobcat(?).

In areas where West Nile could possibly occur, of course we should check and change any sort water offered to wildlife often to prevent any possible reproduction of mosquitos in the water. I'm checking my water containers daily. Of course, with the heat and no rain, I'm refilling often and many kinds of wildlife come to use them outside my fence. Feral chickens are coming every day for the food and water.

Just to add, with the drought and wildfires affecting large areas of the country, I just hope people will do the best they can to help all the wildlife. Food and water...come first. Shelter for displaced pets, livestock and wildlife...is on my mind, remembering how much suffering to animals occurred last year in Texas.

We've been having gray squirrels jump up to our birdbath to get drinks of water all Spring/Summer.

We've been using a babbling brook water wiggler this year and we've seen birds attracted to our bird bath much more, than when we just used the regular water wiggler! Worth every penny! http://www.duncraft.com/Babbli...

http://www.duncraft.com/Water-... We used this version for many years.

Ooh...I need something like that water wiggler! With West Nile around, I have to change the water out very frequently in the wildlife area. I'm feeling guilty now, because I didn't get out there and check water or put out food this morning! Early appointment in town, got up late and had to rush out. When we got home, I went out there and all the smaller containers were dry...only the 5-gallon bucket had any water.

Linda,

I highly recommend the Babbling Brook Water Wiggler!!!

For many years DH and I used the regular WW during Spring thru Fall and when we got the BBWW, it really attracted birds to the birdbath that hadn't used the birdbath before we got the BBWW! So happy we got it!

Worth every penny!

Caught on video this grasshopper as it swims about in my fountain...did not know it likes to swim must be the heat wave we are having once again..

http://youtu.be/L8567irPMj4

Phooey...wish I could watch, but videos take too long to load on dial-up

I have water dishes on all sides of the house also. I know birds, squirrels, anoles, butterflies and toads are using them. Probably some of the stray cats too. It's sad to see how thirsty the tiny critters can get when it doesn't rain for weeks. When I get my hose out to fill these and water thirsty plants, a lot of critters who wouldn't otherwise allow me to get within such close proximity come nearer to get the drops of water.

I'm sure those all appreciate that water, too! It's good of you to help them. I don't think I could bear it if I had to go thirsty for long. Last night and the night before, a PBS channel was running a long documentary about the dustbowl of the 1930's. The effects of the drought were pretty hard just by itself. But it was the frequent choking duststorms that were the worst thing. Many animals died of aspyxiation during those...and occasionally a few people, too. At times it was depressing to watch, but it's important to learn just how bad those kind of things can get..

In the winter it's even more important to give water. Food of some sort can usually be found, but water tends to freeze. We do get hard freezes here and I always make sure to break up the ice in my birdbaths.

For years, we've been using a heater in our birdbath during the cold months. This year, I'm using a babbling brook water wiggler along with the heater during the cold nights. We've been using the original water wiggler since it 'came out' for the warm/hot days.

When we had to replace our water wiggler this Spring, we decided to spend a little more and get the babbling brook water wiggler and it's worth every penny! We've seen more birds, more different birds and birds that never used the birdbath come to birdbath!

We always get our heater at Duncraft, but the one we got there isn't available for sale, but if we had to replace it this Winter, the link below is for the one we'd replace it for.

http://www.duncraft.com/Babbli...

http://www.duncraft.com/Deluxe...

http://www.duncraft.com/Water-...

I've seen these advertised and thought about purchasing one ... and wondered how good they are. Thank you for the useful information.

Yeah...I'm going to get one! Probably wouldn't need a heater...might just take it in if it's going to get all that cold here. I've had my water containers freeze over from time to time, but I can usually just break the ice in them. Had some trouble with frozen nectar in the hummer feeders last year, had to thaw some out in the morning. That was the first winter that the winter hummers were around. I wonder if that will happen again. I think there's just one hummer around right now..

LindaTX8 said:Yeah...I'm going to get one! Probably wouldn't need a heater...might just take it in if it's going to get all that cold here. I've had my water containers freeze over from time to time, but I can usually just break the ice in them. Had some trouble with frozen nectar in the hummer feeders last year, had to thaw some out in the morning. That was the first winter that the winter hummers were around. I wonder if that will happen again. I think there's just one hummer around right now..

Been missing our Hummers here! We saw some through most of November (passing thru) and still had nectar flowers and feeders for them.

My backyard pond which is 36 inches around and 12 inches deep. It is popular for birds to get drinks and the racoons love it for summer wading!

Rita, you should get one of those wildlife cameras and mount near your pond, then we could see what visits to drink or fish, I think they are pretty inexpensive.