Posts Tagged: family
Buds, Butterflies and Books...
It's delightful to see a child browsing through an insect book. And it's double...
A children's book on the California state insect, the dogface butterfly, draws the interest of twins Ford and Wyatt Devine, 2, of Vacaville.The book was displayed at the Vacaville Museum Guild's Children's Party. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Fleeing Fleas!
Fleas can be found on pets year-round, but populations tend to increase dramatically in spring and...
They Quickly Learned What All the Buzz Was About
They quickly learned what all the buzz was about. The bees. When longtime beekeeper...
Ettmarie Peterson, known as "The Queen Bee of Sonoma County," stands by her bee observation hive at the Vacaville Museum Guild's Children's Party. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Honey Bee (Dr.George Stock, a retired physician) peeks around to see what's happening by the bee observation hive. Beekeeper Ettmarie Peterson (right) is chatting with Hunter Banks, 3, and his grandmother, Margaret Banks. Hunter is wearing his "Buck, Buck, Moose" t-shirt. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Beekeeper Ettmarie Peterson (right) discusses bees with Damian Strzelczyk, 3, and his mother, Marta Strzelczyk. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Emeline Swank and her grandmother Maryann Henn (far left), a member of Museum Guild, learn about bees from beekeeper Ettamarie Peterson. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
National Moth Week Ended But...
National Moth Week ended July 27 but you can go moth-ing any time. Meanwhile, here's another look...
Moth-er scientist Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, displayed his images of moths. This is the adult form of the tobacco worm, Carolina sphinx, Manduca sexta.
Moth-er Volkmar Heinrich, UC Davis associate professor of biomedical engineering, answers questions about moths at the Bohart Museum Moth Night. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Father and son moth-ers, UC Davis doctoral candidate Peter Coggan (left) and Pete Coggan of Minnesota, answer questions about moths and light pollution. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis graduate student (forensics) Riley Hoffman and fellow Bohart volunteer Barbara Heinsch lead a family arts and crafts activity. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
UC Davis student and Bohart Museum volunteer Kaitai Liu shows a walking stick to Connor Williams, 10, of Livermore, Alameda County. The Bohart Museum open houses draw visitors from all over the region. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Simple tasks make big difference in preparing for wildfire, smoke
UC ANR Fire Network compiles expert advice on preparedness, evacuation tasks
The explosive growth of the Park Fire in Northern California was fueled by recent, intense heat waves and extremely dry vegetation – conditions seen at many locations across the state.
Given the potential for wildfire and smoke impacts during what is expected to be a protracted “fire season,” California residents should think ahead and complete emergency preparations: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Preparedness/.
“If you are concerned that you or someone you know could be affected by fire or smoke, now is the time to take simple steps to prepare,” said Yana Valachovic, University of California Cooperative Extension forest advisor for Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
Valachovic and other members of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network are urging community members to tackle small but significant tasks to minimize potential fire damage. Many of these tasks can be finished in a weekend, such as:
- Clean debris from your roof and gutters.
- Inspect the area around your home and nearby structures and remove all combustibles (dead grass, plants, woody mulch, stored wood, etc.) in the first 5 feet, including under decks and stairs.
- Inspect the foundation, under-eave, and gable-end vents for holes and damage; add a layer of finer metal-mesh screens (1/8” mesh) to the vents to prevent ember penetration.
- Inspect the garage door bottom seal to make sure embers can't blow under the door.
- Replace the first 5 feet of wooden fences that attach to buildings with a noncombustible panel or gate.
A recently published report, “Retrofitting a Home for Wildfire Resistance,” also can help residents prioritize the measures that are most cost-effective and fit their budget.
Six things to do, six hours before evacuation
As evacuation warnings are issued for local communities, there are six important things to do in advance of an actual evacuation order, according to Valachovic:
- Close windows, pet doors and skylights.
- Move inside patio cushions, brooms and door mats; tie open wooden gates that attach to the house or deck to prevent a fire from traveling from the fence to the house.
- Relocate the barbecue propane tank away from home.
- Stage buckets of water and garden hoses in visible locations.
- Dress for evacuation: cotton clothes, sturdy shoes, hat and face protection and leather gloves.
- Put your “go bag” in your vehicle.
The UC ANR Fire Network website also includes downloadable checklists – in English and Spanish – for your go bag (https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Evacuation/Preparing_a_Go-Bag/) and for a host of important pre-evacuation tasks for your household, property, pets and livestock (https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Evacuation/).
“We want communities to be wildfire-prepared – not scared,” Valachovic emphasized.
Smoke exposure a significant public health concern
Hazardous smoke can blanket wide swaths of California – and much of the Western U.S. – during ongoing wildfire events. A primer on harmful health effects, a list of tips for reducing smoke exposure, and other resources and links can be found on the UC ANR Fire Network site: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Air_Quality_and_Smoke/.
“If there's smoke in the forecast for the next few days, I would keep an eye on my local air quality at fire.airnow.gov,” said Katie Low, statewide coordinator for UC ANR's Fire Network. “And if the AQI – Air Quality Index – is high, I would limit my outdoor activity, wear an N95 mask if I do go outside, and run my air purifier.”
For instructions on making a DIY air cleaner, creating a “clean air space” in your home and fitting an N95 mask properly, visit the California Air Resources Board's “Smoke Ready California” page: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/smokereadyca.
Another useful tool is the crowd-sourced #FireMappers fire activity map – powered by the National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation, GISCorps, and CEDR Digital Corps – accessible through the UC ANR Fire Network site: https://ucanr.edu/sites/fire/Safety/Current/.
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