Beaver Island Michigan

Open question to Jeff Powers,

What kind of risks do mosquitoes pose to cats? Mine finds them very entertaining.

No problem with mosquitoes and cats over here on Whiskey Island. I let Dinghy run through the brush and flush them up while I shoot them like skeet. We both get our entertainment.

Here are some links to diseases cats can develop as a result of mosquitos. I will rank them in order of what is most likely a condition here on the island.

1. Miliary Dermatitis http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=2969

2. Feline Infectious Anemia http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... C=0&A=1692

3. Heartworm Disease http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Conten ... &C=0&A=593

I have seen the first two cases on the island, I have only seen Feline Heartworm disease in cats that spent a significant amount of time in warmer climates such as Florida. There are however heartworm hotbeds in the state of Michigan

http://www.heartwormsociety.org/downloa ... ce-Map.pdf


This is the link to the 2013 Heartworm Disease Incidence Map. As you can see Northern Michigan is not a real high incidence area. Areas such as the Bay City and the very southeastern point of the state, have incidence rates as high as anywhere in the USA. Our big concern here would be positive dogs traveling from those areas bringing the infection here to get established into the domestic or wild canine population, which could yes travel the ice in the winter and take Heartworm Disease to Whiskey Island, which could be a concern since rare human cases have been documented.

The Pirate doesn't have to worry about heart worms- the worms from his peg leg have worked their way north to his brain!

Hey, Pirate,

Sounds like you have the same kind of sport that I have over here in Hanniganâ?￾s Swamp. The difference is that our skeets require a .30-.30 shot, well placed. Thatâ??s where the dust on the roads come in handy. It coats the little beggars, slows them, down, and makes them an easier wing target. Do you fillet the ones you get like we do? With a nice light BBQ sauce they are hmmm... hmmm good.

Keep your powder dry.

Jim Stambaugh

Jim, I ran out of shot the other day so I brought them down with my .22. I haven't fileted them but their wings done in peanut oil and a little salt come out better than potato chips. I might try fileted and BBQ sauce tonight because I won't be eating Jim's Pizza for some time.

I am wondering with that new Beaver Island Radio station about to air if a blindfolded reporter showed up on Whiskey Island would the pirate consent to an on air interview?

You bet