Cicadas!!!

[Jennifer Tramell]

Here in Middle Tennessee, the cicadas are back.  Every 13 years they come with a vengence; I mean, they are EVERYWHERE and it has just started.  Cicada skins are all over the grass, ivy, tree trunks, leaves, you name it - they are on it.  What does this have to do with doodles, you ask?  Well, I was outside and I noticed that Webster & Charlotte and their fellow doodle buddy, Charlie, were eating cicada skins.  Sucking them off the tree trunk like an anteater. 

Uncertain about the dietary implications of cicada eating, I immediately consulted the internet.  According to the cicada website, they are not toxic unless they have been treated with a pesticide.  The website does say "Big stupid dogs love them".  I am not going to promote the eating of cicadas, but I am relieved to know that they are relatively harmless.  Now, if I can keep my big stupid dogs from eating them....

[Lynda Kamrath]

What a great photo! I actually love to hear the cicadas and we don't have them here in California. But I think you are correct about the crunch. My pup loved to find and crunch a snail between his teeth but I was warned about letting him eat them because they could make him sick. Now I check my garden daily for snails and throw then against or over the fence. He has seemingly passed the snail phase because I don't see him smiling at me with a snail crunched on his teeth anymore.

[Lynda Kamrath]

What a great photo! I actually love to hear the cicadas and we don't have them here in California. But I think you are correct about the crunch. My pup loved to find and crunch a snail between his teeth but I was warned about letting him eat them because they could make him sick. Now I check my garden daily for snails and throw then against or over the fence. He has seemingly passed the snail phase because I don't see him smiling at me with a snail crunched on his teeth anymore.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Just helped with our Commencement ceremonies and a lady from CA said "WHAT ARE THOSE????" asking about the cicadas.  I told her and she said "Oooh we don't have those in San Diego and we certainly don't have the rain".  It is monsooning here and the cicadas are turning to nasty mush on the sidewalks. Help us!

[Anna and Achilles]

Always bad in NJ, I hate the sound they make.

 

[Susan, Zeke. Lily & Jasper]

In the national park where we often walk the cicadas are everywhere.  My 3 have not tried to eat any but Lily is especially bothered by their loud noise.  She cowers like she's being attacked from the air.  After a few minutes she settles down some but is on the lookout for the noise maker.

 

[L.M.]

It figures....we are traveling to Gatlinburg, TN for the first time in August......will they still be there???  Honestly, I'm more concerned for my own selfish reasons.....I have the curliest, thickest hair EVER and if they fly into it.....forget it!! lol

[Jennifer Tramell]

Don't worry about it - they are supposed to be gone mid-June.  I don't thing Gatlinburg got as many cicadas as the Nashville area - I guess they got a big cicada crop a couple years ago.

[Val MacQueen and Jasper]

I know a lot of you don't like snakes so I thought I would send you a pic sent to me from Nth Queensland after the Cyclone Yasi. I think but I'm not sure that it's a King Brown Highly venomus with a large does of Neurotoxin but it may be a Python of some kind  but it doesn't have any markings on it that I can see..  Now I know why I live in the City.