Mo*Bee's Blog #15: An appreciation for the significance of Hickory Nut Gorge wildlife

Ready or not, Christmas is right around the corner.  Like most people, this is a busy time of year for us - decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, planning and coordinating family visits, all the while, tying up loose ends at work before travelling.  It is hectic for such a jovial time of year.

  

So, it was with great pleasure that we were able to attend a relaxing holiday gathering with the Friends of the Hickory Nut Gorge at the Lake Lure Inn.  It was a lovely evening with great food and fellowship as well as an entertaining program about the wildlife that inhabit the Hickory Nut Gorge.  Emily Walker (Naturalist and Education Manager of Chimney Rock Park) and Clint Calhoun (Environmental Management Officer of Lake Lure) led the program.  With the recent containment of the Party Rock fire, the duo also touched upon the impact this disaster had upon the wildlife.

Photo from Chimney Rock Park Facebook page.

Lake Lure. Credit:  Skip Love photography.

We heard about the large and small inhabitants of the Hickory Nut Gorge.  From the Eastern Black Bear to the Eastern Box Turtle….From those who fly to those who crawl.  Let me share some of the interesting tidbits we learned.

• While people often say they are afraid that they will be eaten by a bear in the woods, the typical Eastern Black Bear's diet is 75-85% vegetation. 
• Coyotes are relatives to the dog family, but one of their distinguishing features is their yellow eyes.
• A bobcat can pounce 8-10 feet.
• Raccoons tend to be nocturnal, but do not assume just because you see one during the day that it has rabies.  When the raccoon’s young wake, just like human babies, they want to be fed!  The mother goes on a hunt for food day or night.
• On the other hand, raccoons are feisty animals and should be treated with respect. They are a common carrier of the rabies virus.
• There are approximately 15 million white-tailed deer in the United States.
• For all the gardeners out there, white-tailed deer tend to be repelled by St. John’s Wort, garlic, switch grasses and sedges.
• Bats account for 1/5 of all mammals on Earth.
• Agriculturally speaking, bats provide insect control and are invaluable pollinators.
• Opossums are the only marsupial in North America.  They have the shortest gestational period of any mammal.  Actual pregnancy lasts approximately 12 days after which the fetus crawls into the mother’s pouch to develop further.
• Opossums have the thumbs on their feet not their hands.
• 98 – 99% of opossums are immune to the rabies virus.

Opossum.  Photo from Chimney Rock Park facebook page.

• Beavers are considered the largest rodent in North America at an average weight of 45 pounds.  The dams they create help support thousands of wildlife species.
• Waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans) are found on all continents except Antarctica.
• The female birds of prey (eagles, hawks, owls) are larger than males.  Might be the reason they tend to be monogamous!
• The timber rattlesnake can live twenty plus years and tends to return to the same winter den site each year.
• Copperhead snakes may share a den with other types of snakes such as rattle and rat snakes. However, they do not cross breed.
• Cottonmouth snakes do not live in Western North Carolina.
•  A triangular head on a snake does not necessarily mean it is venomous.  The Hognose Snake, for instance, can flare its head to resemble its venomous counterparts.  For the record, we have no plans to be close enough to a snake to determine what shape head it has.

Hognose snake.  Photo:  Jeff Hall, NCPARC biologist

• Snakes gain a button on its rattle each time they shed their skin, not each year of its life.  Also, a button can break off during its lifetime.
• The Eastern Box Turtle can live over 100 years with an average lifespan of 50 years.
• Eastern Box Turtles are home bodies.  They spend their entire life on about 10 acres.  If you see one in the road, help it across in the direction it was going.  They will neglect eating on the search to find home again if you relocate them otherwise!
• Do you know the difference between reptiles and amphibians?  A reptile lays a hard shelled egg with a smaller version of the adult inside.  An amphibian lays a soft egg that goes through a metamorphosis to later resemble the adult form.
• Honey bees die after they sting while yellow jackets do not.  Both are great pollinators.

Bear cub with injured leg rescued at Rumbling Bald.  Photo from CRP facebook page.  

Although we may be frightened or annoyed by particular wildlife in our community, they each serve a purpose.  Imagine your neighborhood if there were no snakes.  The rodent population would soar which is certainly not a healthy scenario for us.

Want fewer snakes on your property?  Don’t do things that attract rodents.  Like all critters, where they get their food is where they call home.  So, here are a few tips.  Keep your compost pile away from your home. If you place your trash outside, store it securely.  Consider using bird feeders during the winter months when food is scarce for birds and snakes will be hibernating.  If you like to bird watch year round, place your feeders further away from your home. With a little thought and effort, there are things you can do that don’t harm the environment.

As good neighbors, we must also be careful with the herbicides and pesticides we use. Most everyone has heard about the plight of the honey bee.  The insecticides used to protect crops are harming the insect that helps them to flourish.  Unfortunately, honey bees are now an endangered species which affects the future of our food supply.  

On a more cheerful note, most inhabitants of the Hickory Nut Gorge fared well considering the magnitude of the Party Rock Fire.  Some animals were safely buried underground as it was their time to prepare for hibernation.  Others had the natural instincts to lead them away from the fire.  We thought it surprising to learn that most return to their charred home when it is safe. One contributing factor was that with the leaf litter now gone, a hearty meal of acorns was exposed.

Turtle in Chimney Rock Park.  Photo from Chimney Rock Park facebook page.

A hawk in the bird program at Chimney Rock Park. Photo:  CRP facebook page. 

We ended the night meeting a snake, box turtle, red-tailed hawk, and opossum that are residents of a nature rehabilitation center.  While they are unable to live in the wild, they now help by serving an educational role.  

Lake Lure. Photo from FHNG facebook page.

We would again like to thank Friends of the Hickory Nut Gorge for spreading some holiday cheer with us and for they work they do.  They are volunteers who educate and advocate for the natural beauty, biodiversity and wildlife habitat of the Hickory Nut Gorge.  If you would like to help, contact Friends of the Hickory Nut Gorge.

Find numerous volunteer opportunities on 

Mo*Bee's Class Finder.

Mo*Bee's Blog #14: Seeking Relief For Hand Pain

Like most people, I rather enjoy this time of year, autumn.  The trees give one last hurrah with a vibrant color display.  Gradually, cooler weather is ushered in.

The Mo*Bee-mobile in the beautiful fall foliage in Western NC.

So, surrounded by beauty and crisp temperatures, I looked over my yard to survey the neglect from the hot summer.  I was overtly inspired to tackle the job at hand.  (Pun intended and more to come!)  I was now ready!  It was time to get my hands dirty.

I have spent hours at a time blowing leaves, raking leaves, fertilizing plants, spreading mulch, digging up dead bushes, gathering downed branches and even small trees.  I have gotten a lot done, but there is certainly more to do.  I have my hands full!  For one, those leaves are not done falling.

With all this work to do and just a few short optimal weeks to do it in, “take a break” does not readily come to my mind.  I know that I should take a break, but time is of the essence.  The problem is you see, these middle aged hands are starting to complain.  Chalk it up to another case of the mind is willing but the body is weak.  

Rather than throw my hands up in the air, I made good use of Mo*Bee’s Class Finder.  I found a free class about caring for the painful hand at St. Luke’s Hospital.  Dr. Karol Young, an occupational therapist and certified hand therapist, is an old hand in these matters.   

St. Luke's Hospital Rehabilitation 

Gripping device to help open jars.

Let me share a little of what I learned.  While I have never been diagnosed, odds are that I have some hand arthritis.  Fifty million Americans are affected by some form of arthritis with osteoarthritis being the most common followed by rheumatoid arthritis.  Both conditions result in degeneration of the cartilage (cushioning in the joint) and underlying bone.  This allows the bones to rub against each other and not move smoothly.  Common symptoms can include:  Pain, stiffness, swelling, weakness, deformity and limits in function.  Consequently, hand arthritis can make it difficult to perform tasks that require gripping and pinching.  And that certainly includes my yard work!

What can you do about it?  The good news is there are several treatment options, but it begins with respecting the pain in your hand!  Because the hand is comprised of many little joints, one should be wary of the stresses applied to them.  Just 1 pound of pinch pressure through the tip of thumb translates to 7-9 pounds of pressure at the CMC (carpometacarpal) joint which is at the base of the thumb.  This is a prime reason this joint commonly develops arthritis.  Pain is the body’s way of warning you something is not quite right.  Ignoring the pain and proceeding with activity can cause further damage to occur.  Quite simply, listen to your body, pace yourself and take that break when you need it.  Perhaps ask a friend or neighbor to lend you a hand. 

Until your hands hurt, one might take for granted how frequently they are used in normal day to day activities.  

















This is yet another reason why the hand joints are prone to degenerative changes.  Fortunately, there are many hand friendly tools readily available online or in your local retail store.  Generally speaking, larger handles permit the hand to work effectively but require less grip strength.  Therefore, there is less wear and tear on the joints in your hand. Pictured below are a few examples. 

Fiskars spring loaded scissors

Pen with large grip

Garden trowel with enlarged grip

Arthritic joints tend to respond well to the old standby, heat.  This can be in the form of a warm water soak, heating pad or even paraffin bath which is now available to the general public for purchase.  Thermal modalities help decrease joint stiffness and pain.

If after trying the above suggestions you still require a hands-off approach to life, you might should seek the help of a professional. Occupational therapists have a variety of tools on hand to get you going again.  Once you have been evaluated, a treatment plan will be specifically designed for you.  Let he or she know what activities you find difficult to perform with your hands.  Therapists can instruct you in joint protection techniques such as using 2 hands to lift something heavy.  The larger wrist joints can withstand the pressure much better.  For example, people typically use one hand to lift a gallon of milk out of the refrigerator.  Look at your index finger supporting all this weight!  According to Karol, this position is termed a posture of deformity.  In other words, this causes undue wear and tear on the joint. 

Once the occupational therapist is familiar with your needs, he or she can also suggest adaptive equipment to make the task at hand easier.  For instance, if you are having trouble writing, there are several helpful options to try.  Look for a pen with a larger grip or modified writing instrument.  Also, gel pens do not require as much downward pressure to apply the ink to paper. 

Pen Again

There are many treatment options available in the clinic to help alleviate your hand pain.  While you can apply heat at home, your therapist may use other thermal modalities such as fluidotherapy, moist heat packs, paraffin baths or ultrasound to decrease pain and stiffness.  Manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue massage, mobilization and stretching may be used to improve your function by decreasing pain and edema as well as improving range of motion. You likely will be required to perform a home exercise program to ensure hand mobility and strength.  “No pain.  No gain.” is not the adage to follow here.  After all, if you are like me, following this mantra likely got you into this predicament.  

Try these home techniques and modifications to gain the upper hand on your particular situation.  If you still need some help, individualized care from an occupational therapist might be necessary to address your specific needs.  Let Karol from St. Luke’s Hospital give you a hand with some therapy or a splint to rest and protect your joints.  Rest assured, you will be in good hands!

Don’t live near Polk County North Carolina.  No worries.  Visit the American Society of Hand Therapists website or call 856-380-6856 to locate a hand therapist in your area.  

Until next time...

Kelly & Dee (a.k.a. Mo*Bee)

Mo*Bee’s Class Finder.Com can help you find the class you want or need to take.  It’s so easy, we practically hand it to 

you on a silver platter!

Mo*Bee's Blog #13: Understanding Man's Best Friend

Mo*Bee's Blog #13:  Understanding Man's Best Friend

One of the great benefits of starting Mo*Bee’s Class Finder.com is that we get to meet all sorts of gifted instructors and educators.  In the blogs to follow, we hope to share a little of what we have learned with you!   Maybe you will decide to pick up a new hobby, be able to answer the next Jeopardy Challenge question or in this case, we hope you will volunteer your time with a shelter dog.

We have been volunteering at Foothills Humane Society to help train shelter dogs.  Kayla Parrish, owner of 2 Lead with Love, is our fearless instructor for an hour twice a week.  Don’t let her small stature fool you.  These dogs know she is the boss and not by being mean or an incredibly strict disciplinarian.  In fact, our dogs in training absolutely LOVE to sit by Kayla to get her affection and verbal praise.

Kayla teaching, "Walk with me."

Kayla has a different approach.  But before I spill the Scooby Snacks, let me just say we treated our animals the wrong way too.  This is not to say that we neglected or abused our pets, but we treated our canine clan like little humans.  We comforted and loved our dogs how WE thought they would want to be treated.

So, as silly as it sounds, here is the magic,…dogs don’t think like humans despite our best efforts.  We can dress up our furry friends in rain slickers and galoshes or tell them (in our best baby talk) they are the cutest little canines ever, but dogs still don’t think like humans.  Dogs are instinctively pack animals.  And actually, most dogs don’t want to be the pack leader.  They are seeking your leadership.  When you establish yourself as the leader, your dog is at peace and can find calm within your household.

Dee with Honey

With the dogs at the shelter, our goal is to teach them how to trust and interact with us humans using positive reinforcement (i.e. lots of treats).  We volunteers come from varied backgrounds and dog training skill levels, but we all have a desire to help find homes for these animals.  Obviously, a dog that is better behaved and socialized is more likely to be adopted.  You might be surprised to learn that the “average mutt” at the pound is incredibly intelligent and would make an excellent addition to a family.

With Kayla’s guidance, we have had the pleasure of helping several shelter dogs find their forever home.  It is not at all that we are superb trainers, but that Kayla expertly matches us with the dog best suited for our personality and skill level.  And what an awesome feeling it is to help our furry friends find a loving forever home. 

Gwen

Queenie

We hope you will consider making a difference in your local community animal shelter or join us at Foothills Humane Society!  As a bonus, you will learn how to train your own family pet and all it will cost you is some time!  

No worries if dog training is not for you.  There are plenty of other volunteer opportunities to match your talents and interests such as photography, video creation, transporters, landscaping, event planning / promoting and for the cat lovers out there, cat snugglers.  Yes, cats need socialization too. 

Until next time...

Kelly & Dee (a.k.a Mo*Bee)

Knowledge not shared is knowledge lost.  Find your next class on Mo*Bee's Class Finder.com!

Mo*Bee's Blog #12: Using Classes As A Marketing Opportunity For Your Business

Mo*Bee's Blog #12:  Using Classes As A Marketing Opportunity For Your Business

Hi everyone! I know it's been a minute since I have blogged, but it's been crazy busy. At last check, we had over 800 classes available on Mo*Bee's Class Finder. Each day we work very hard to promote these classes and build brand awareness. When you list your class on Mo*Bee's, that's just the beginning. Our goal is to help fill your class to capacity.

For instance, we have recently had the opportunity to attend a few classes and film several great tips. We edit this footage then share it on Facebook, YouTube, Google+ and Twitter. Instructors not only get the chance to promote their products or services, but also can establish themselves as an expert in their field. We do everything in our power to get the word out about your class.

As Mo*Bee's Class Finder has developed, I realize that conducting a class, even if under normal circumstances your business wouldn't hold classes, is is an outstanding way to market your business.

Let me give you some examples. Let's say that you are a dentist. As a promotion of your business, you could offer a class for parents to bring their small children in for a lesson on the proper way to brush their teeth. This is a great way for you to attract new patients. By having this class, this gives you an opportunity to build a relationship with these parents. The next time they need a dentist, odds are, you are the one that is going to come to mind.

As another example, if you owned a pool and spa company. You could offer a class on how to prepare your pool for the summer as well as a demonstration of some of the latest pool cleaning supplies and equipment. This class shows your potential customer how keeping a pool clean and ready for use is easier than it ever has been. This is a great way to get people into your business, meet them and make a connection.

The person contemplating buying a pool will more than likely think of you when he or she decides to make that purchase. You have taken the time to provide a class with helpful information that your customers feel is useful. Someone who comes to the class that already has a pool may come to learn about the new equipment. As a result of attending the class, they may purchase equipment from you, buy cleaning supplies from you or they may decide after watching your class that they would rather just hire you, the expert, to come clean their pool. Either way, you've obtained a new client.

So, as you can see offering a class in your place of business may be just the marketing strategy you need. If you decide to offer a class, we at Mo*Bee's Class Finder will be happy to help you promote that class.

I'll try not to be so long the next time before I blog again.

Until then...

Dee
a.k.a. Mo*Bee

We are happy to help promote your next class.  List your classes today!