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Across the Fence:  Do you help turtles cross the road?  |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 1:45:15 PM
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Do you, pull over and help them to the other side? Do you slow down for squirrels? Try not to run over snakes crossing the road? I do. My hubby believes it is good luck to help a turtle on its way, suicidal squirrels are just confused about where they are going and need more time to decide and snakes have it tough, most people kill them on sight. He is afraid of spiders but doesn't kill them, he has me catch them and put them outside. I admit a snake in the nest box in the hen house gives me a big pause, but I herd them back out side and get the eggs later, we have not had a rat problem in the hen house since that snake moved in. It stays out of sight and I don't hunt for it. We believe in "let it be" and I know lots of others do too.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 2:13:08 PM
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I don't mind the critters- except rodents like mice and rats. Ick. Non poisonous snakes are welcome!
My nieces and nephews came out of the back room this weekend all pleased with themselves that they had killed some HUGE spiders. Mom and I were horrified. I asked them if they like Mosquitos? Do they like flies? When they answered "no" I told them spiders eat those bugs and so are good to have around. They shouldn't kill them but take them outside to live.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 2:46:00 PM
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Kathryn, your post made my heart swell, thank you to you and your husband
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Hallie
Video Sister
79 Posts
Hallie
Pullman
WA
USA
79 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 4:49:45 PM
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I remember my mom used to stop for turtles back when I was growing up in Texas, but since I've moved to Washington I haven't seen a single one. I hadn't thought about it before, but I miss all the critters back home.
It sounds like you have been blessed by that rare breed: the Guard Snake!
Hallie
Sister #1112
www.maryjanesfarm.tv |
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Lin
True Blue Farmgirl
807 Posts
Lin
Sioux City
IA
USA
807 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 4:50:48 PM
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Oh Kathryn, thank you, thank you for sharing! It brings tears to my eyes and I'm so thankful for you and all like you and your husband. I ache so for the critters and fight the tears every time I see one dead on the roads.
Alee, what a good lesson for your neices and nephews and so happy your were there to give it to them. Too late for those spiders, but there will be others. Our spiders live peacefully in the garage, a few in the basement and occassionally corners. They're good and are only trying to live. Hugs, Lin
"Our beautiful earth is worth saving"!! |
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craftystranger
True Blue Farmgirl
525 Posts
Barbara
Franklin
NC
USA
525 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 5:38:47 PM
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I always slow down for critters. Saw a fox crossing the road this morning going to work at 540am. I love to see them stop on the side and look at you as if to say thank you for not harming me:) I do say a mini prayer for the poor "road kill" (sorry for the lack of a better term). I will stop when I see a turtle flipped over in the road and flip them back. I have never understood people who try to hit the critters, Barbara
Don't forget to laugh! |
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Sarahpauline
True Blue Farmgirl
672 Posts
sarah
Ringgold
GA
USA
672 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 5:45:19 PM
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Oh yes, my son and I keep a count, we are at 6 turtles so far this year. Three summers ago there was a porcupine momma killed on the road, there were three babies right by her, bless their little souls. We took them home, took care of them for a few days and then brought them to our local nature center which raised them and released them into the wild when they were old enough.
When we were kids my cousin was in the car behind another car right near the drive to their house. He watched the car in front of them swerve way onto the verge to hit his kitten "alexander the great" on purpose. He was 6 years old. There are many evil people in the world.
fat people are harder to kidnap.
www.SarahPauline.com
www.AbraxasBaroque.com
www.whimsyscents.com
www.etsy.com/shop/daltonfabrics |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 09 2010 : 6:14:48 PM
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... Hubby says that I need a bumper sticker in bold saying "I will swerve to avoid critters"
:oD
Karrieann ~ Farmgirl Sister #766 (29 Sept 2009)
My Blog: ...following my heart, dreams and Jesus
...http://karrieann-followingmyheartandjesus.blogspot.com/
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 03:35:34 AM
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I'll slow as best as possible. Will assist turtles if its not in a blind curve. There are lots of those around here---so it's kind of dangerous for me too!
I had swerved to miss what I thought was a snake from time to time and it oftentimes turnes out to be a bungee cord.
Sometimes if its first thing in the morning and an animal is confused, I'll turn off my lights (I know dangerous) for a second or two |
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Grammygail
True Blue Farmgirl
172 Posts
Gail
Chattanooga
Tennessee
USA
172 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 06:19:25 AM
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You are right about suicidal squirrles......and we have alot of them.....dart out, back in, stop, and just as you are about stopped they run under the car!! Crazy little things! They don't stay under the car long enough to get hit, at least so far I have been lucky. Just can't handle thinking of running over any critter.
Have to be careful about locking brakes to miss something, especially if someone is on your bumper. I need the "brake for critters" sign that Karrieann was talking about. I had a nasty accident a good while back trying to miss a dog that walked out right in front of me just about the time I got to him. Locked my brakes.......thank God that I missed the kids that were walking beside him! We couldn't find the dog so we decided that he high- tailed it to the house! Did some body damage to another car when I locked my brakes. It is just reflex But........the police officer told me never to try to avoid hitting an animal because it causes accidents most of the time............sorry, not in me to not try to stop!! It is those reflexes!!
And because of my EXTREME dislike of snakes.....I just pray to God not to let me even see one when I am driving or any other time!
Enjoyed this topic!!
Farmgirl Sister #61 |
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mscountrygirl
True Blue Farmgirl
552 Posts
Michelle
Lucedale
Mississippi
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 08:02:12 AM
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I read this and found it so amusing. I am a turtle helper too. I a not fond of spiders but do have some in areas that are not "traveled" often. Here in MS we have dangerous spiders. I kill those with extreme prejudice!!! I also have a black snake in the yard, and have no problem killing rats!
It's all good!
http://mscountrygirl.blogspot.com/ |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 11:49:41 AM
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Nice post.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 4:41:13 PM
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Awe Sarah so sad about the porcupine!
Funny we had a huge spider living on our porch for years. One time a neighbor called the police on me, because I had gotten a new pc and it was after 9pm and I had forgotten to let the dog in. Our dog would bark at her drug dealer! (yes you read right! She couldn't stand us cause grandma wouldn't smoke marijuana with her.) So any way, the police came to my door, knocked, I looked out the window and see the police man hunched over and waving his paton in the air! lol
I opened the door and asked him what was going on? He said he walked in a spider web and now bats were attacking him! lol
He walked through the big spider web our porch spider would spin every night, and it wasn't bats (even though we tried to attract bats to eat the skeeters too!) it was Barn Swallows that lived on our porch, they were dive bombing him because they had new babies they had to protect, and didn't recognize him! haha
Any way, I told him it was birds not bats, and to come in. Well he was so flustered he couldn't remember quite why he was at my house, but after a while I figured it out and just thanked him and hurried and brought the dog in the house! haha It was a funny funny thing for a long time in our house! haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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craftystranger
True Blue Farmgirl
525 Posts
Barbara
Franklin
NC
USA
525 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 5:22:55 PM
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Heather thanks I really enjoyed reading your post...... I cann't stop laughing , Barbara
Don't forget to laugh! |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 5:23:23 PM
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I am so glad to know I am not the only one. We do not have many turtles, but I sure have been know to stop for all kinds of critters. I even once roped a steer that was wondering in the road - one guy yelled at me and said he was trying to killing dinner for the next year. Now, I would have rather ran him down. Just kidding or maybe not.
I must admit I am not a spider person - if they sneak up on me I will flatten them. We have some black widows and brown ones that are nasty - sorry but if it is my saftey of my animals well we win out. I do have a post on my blog today about "What is our Value"? Not everyone values the same thing in God's creatures and I wanted to share my view on those without a voice.... Hope you might read it and leave a comment if it strikes your fancy.
So for all of those who rescue those without a voice - stand up, be proud and make sure you have good working brakes...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 7:33:49 PM
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lol Barbara I still laugh about it myself! haha
What makes it so funny to me, is he was so scared of the very things that relaxed me!
There was nothing more relaxing to me in the evening then to sit on my porch swing in the dark (the light would scare the birds), and watch the mama and daddy bird care for their babies, and the spider spin it's HUGE (went clear across the whole front of the porch!) web so diligently each night. I would just sit and swing gently, on a cool summer night there was nothing more relaxing then just watching the nature right there in front of me.
And to think the very same thing shook the poor police officer to his core! haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 7:37:43 PM
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oh BTW, did I mention my uncle liked to call our house the Adam's Family house. lol hahahaha
That night with the police officer always reminds me of some episode of the Adam's Family, I'm sure he thought he was in a episode of it too! hahahaha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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Lin
True Blue Farmgirl
807 Posts
Lin
Sioux City
IA
USA
807 Posts |
Posted - Jul 10 2010 : 10:21:58 PM
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Heather, I absolutely love your story!!! Sounds like the police officer needs to come sit on the porch for a spell and learn to appreciate our beloved nature!!! We also have huge fat spiders that spin amazingly huge webs close to our side door. Once they show up, we have to be careful when we head outside, but once we establish where they are, we can duck under or walk around! Their webs are amazing, but they move them every night....we love "Charlottes Webb" and always think about Charlotte when the fat spiders show up!! Hugs, Lin
"Our beautiful earth is worth saving"!! |
Edited by - Lin on Jul 10 2010 10:25:54 PM |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 12:06:56 AM
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We do it too!
Hugs,
Channah
Farmgirl sister #1219
Just a small town country girl trying to live her dreams. :) |
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Sarahpauline
True Blue Farmgirl
672 Posts
sarah
Ringgold
GA
USA
672 Posts |
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craftystranger
True Blue Farmgirl
525 Posts
Barbara
Franklin
NC
USA
525 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 04:25:58 AM
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We had a large old wood spider, is what I have always called them, at an old house we lived in...my boys 4 and 7 (long time ago) would love to see how large his web would grow. We never would have messed up his web for anything. Hey, I have a black cat that I rescued she would have added something to your story. LOL Those poor birds just think what they must have been thinking:) Barbara
Don't forget to laugh! |
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KathleenL
True Blue Farmgirl
84 Posts
Kathleen
Littleton
Colorado
USA
84 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 11:20:07 AM
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Well, we don't have turtles on the road around here but we get lots of other critters. Even though I hate the pesky rabbits and deer eating my flowers and garden I go out of my way to avoid hitting them. Of course, a deer would damage my car so that's another good reason not to hit them. :-) The rabbits are nearly impossible to avoid. They go one way, then the other, then the other. It's best to just stop and wait, if possible.
When I'm out on my walks I always see beetles on their backs flailing their legs around so I stop and flip them back over. I see this so often I'm beginning to wonder if they flip over to die or something and I'm just thwarting their efforts.
Spiders I usually ignore but we have had a couple of HUGE spiders in the basement where the girls' bedrooms are and I'm afraid to touch them or try to catch them so they get squashed. But snakes terrify me! Lucky for them I'm even too scared to try and kill them. I know they're beneficial in the garden but for some reason I'm still terrified of them. A couple of years ago I was in the front yard pulling weeds and I reached down and nearly grabbed a snake. It really freaked me out. I started sending hubby out to rustle the garden before I'd go out and pick anything. It took me until this year, two years later, to get up the nerve to work in the yard again.
Kathy |
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barefootmama
True Blue Farmgirl
133 Posts
Jennifer
BLOOMSBURG
Pennsylvania
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 1:33:40 PM
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What a delightful post! I too am a "critter crusader" and will stop to help turtles and lizards and anything else that crosses my path to cross the road. I get teary eyed at the site of a dearly departed animal and used to (before I had my kids) keep a shovel,old towels,and rubber gloves in my truck to get them off the road and bury them..I know its odd but If a cat was dead along the road I always felt better if I gave him/her a proper burial.
Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves,for they shall never cease to be amused:) |
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missmuffcake
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
kendy
modesto
ca
45 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 2:00:51 PM
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Yesterday at a craft show I was vending at me and 2 other people all allergic to bees trapped a bee in the venue and took him/her out to the garden!
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http://www.missmuffcake.com/ |
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texdane
Farmgirl Legend Chapter Leader Chapter Guru
4658 Posts
Nicole
Sandy Hook
CT
USA
4658 Posts |
Posted - Jul 11 2010 : 6:53:46 PM
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I giggled reading this sweet post. I do the same thing! I saw one about a month ago, and I pulled over and helped him across. People fly through our little roads and I just knew he would get squished. I've seen a couple of them this year on walks with the dog. I used to not mind spiders but since December and the nasty poisonous bite I got (that resulted in a scarred chin) I have not been so nice to them. (Except for Daddy Long Legs).
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
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knitnpickinatune
True Blue Farmgirl
1140 Posts
Sherrie
Gardena
California
USA
1140 Posts |
Posted - Jul 12 2010 : 07:46:25 AM
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I've saved a turtle or two on our residential street that got loose from their pen in different neighbors yards. I cringe when I think they may be hit by a car or something!
http://www.mandolinbabe.info
http://www.mandolinbabe.net
@MandolinChick on Twitter
mando pickin & fiddle sawin' Farmgirl #702 |
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Across the Fence: Do you help turtles cross the road? |
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Do you help turtles cross the road?
