An Animal control officer in Orange County actually has written a warning to an owner of a barn that they wanted the cob webs cleaned up.

Immediately I was confused when I heard of this not knowing that their jurisdiction included spiders. I guess we will have to catch some and hope one is an endangered species. Then we can bring in the Federal Government.

This is what I have learned. Spiders eat Flies. In a barn area there is always a constant attempt to keep the fly population down. Spiders make webs to catch flies. Is there a way to have the spiders take down their webs when they build another? Do we want them to?A natural method of fly control. I guess they will have to find a way to catch flies without a spider web if this animal control officer has his way.

Then we will have to use a lot more pesticides to kill the flies. We currently use fly traps. Much the same as the spiders. We have not been told to take them down yet. It makes sense that we will be told that. If the spiders are not allowed to do it how can we be?

Ah but won't animal control come out and write up the owner for using pesticides around the animals? Will not the environmentalist picket the place for disrupting the flow of nature?

Is not PETA going to fight for the right of the spiders to exist or are they going to take the flies side?

Sunset in Tehachapi taken 7/12/2003 © JMS

The Weather..

Weather continues to change and really does not care if lives adjust to it or not. This attitude makes it one of  life's problems. Life can adjust with the weather or not. Weather will not recognize that it has lost its neighbor.

To help you be properly prepared for the weather at each class site on class day I have added the weather information (both current and the forecast) to each of the class site's web page.

In addition do not forget to keep a foul weather kit where you can get at it at all times

Herding trials and class go on and so do their expenses. The exception being if a facility becomes unusable. 

I suggest you support class on bad weather days (hot, cold, raining, windy, whatever!)
so that you have practiced in all types of weather, before you have to trial in it.