10/5/09

If you're heading away this weekend and worried about refilling the bird feeder, don't stress out. Even if all the feed is consumed, wild birds are resourceful enough to find food someplace else. When you return, just refill as you normally would and they'll come right back.

10/4/09

While many people eschew wearing real fur because it's cruel and inhumane, they see no reason not to wear faux fur to keep warm on a chilly night. The problem? Many faux fur jackets are actually REAL fur, and are being mislabeled by the manufacturers. The Humane Society of the United States discovered jackets labeled as faux fur were actually the real deal and made from raccoon dogs, which are found in parts of Asia and Europe. These inexpensive fur products often come from China. So, when in doubt, avoid fur -- real or faux -- altogether.

10/3/09

If you've hung up a new bird feeder but still haven't attracted any guests, give it a shot of bright color to get their attention. Tie a brightly colored ribbon at the top of the feeder. Birds will be attracted to the color of the ribbon first, and then will notice the feeder is also a source of food. Once birds have identified the feeder and come back regularly, remove the ribbon.