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Yup… it’s been one of those again….
You may know that I live in Spain. And it’s not ‘tourist Spain’, all ‘Oley!’, bikinis, fake Flamenco dancing and undrinkable cheap plonk. I live in rural Spain.
In fact, I live up in the mountains. It’s utter Paradise, but it comes with its difficulties. My electricity is off/on, my broadband is unreliable and as for the water supply….
Anyway, I get quite a lot of questions from friends and family along the lines of ‘What about the dangerous wildlife; the snakes and things?”
In fact, the ‘snakes and things’ are really not a problem. I’ve encountered a few snakes; one turned up in His wardrobe (That was fun!), but they’re never looking for trouble and are as happy to get away from me as He is to see them go. And it’s true that the insect and other many-legged life around here is pretty impressive, especially the spiders. But for the most part, I’m happy to live and let live.
In fact, we have only two really dangerous native locals. The local wild boar can be pretty scary (more of that another day), but the only really dangerous animal around here is what the locals call ‘processionaria’. ‘Processionaria’, or as the Brits call it, the ‘processionary caterpillar’. It is the larva of a kind of silk moth. The caterpillars’ diet is pine. And we are surrounded by pine forest.
Most of the year they’re not a problem. You know they’re around in winter because you see their silk ‘tents’ up in the pine trees. This is where they over-winter.
But they become dangerous in the Spring – which around here is February/March. At this time, they come down from the trees looking for somewhere to bury themselves to pupate into the adult moth. And this is where they acquire their name. They walk in a ‘procession’; single file, head to tail, in groups of around twenty or thirty. They are quite distinctive and cannot be mistaken for anything else.
The caterpillar is covered in hairs, and it is these hairs that are the problem. Brittle as glass, they break off at the slightest touch or disturbance, even a breeze, and they carry a virulent toxin. They are dangerous to humans and lethal to dogs.
So, it is a standard warning at this time of year. Watch out for processionaria, and if you see them, don’t let your dog sniff them. The results are vomiting, massive salivation, the swelling of the tongue and throat, and eventually, if untreated, death.
And there we were last Monday when I get a call from Him, who is working in the garden. ‘Is this them?’
Yes, it is. They have never been a problem for us in previous years because they never got this far up the mountain. But this year it has been a mild winter….
I know what to do about them and am always prepared: first, squirt them with hairspray to stop the hairs flying, then burn the lot. I don’t like it. Normally, with even the most alarming of small life, I’ll catch it in a jar and set it free somewhere it can’t do any harm. Processionaries are different. They are too dangerous for that. So, I poured cooking oil over the lot, set screwed up newspaper over that and set fire to the result. After five minutes, there wasn’t a lot left, so I swept up the ashes and dropped it out of the way.
And then, we went out for the afternoon. The dogs were inside, so when we returned about four hours later, the first thing I did was let them out ‘for air’, then started to light our fire indoors. Two minutes later I went out for logs, just in time to see Honey polishing off the remains of the processionaria ashes, licking her lips and wearing a big smile.
Oh, fuck!
Within a minute, she was vomiting up her feast. Thirty seconds after that, I was ringing our vet who agreed that I needed to get down to the surgery ASAP.
Forty minutes later, I arrived at the surgery with Honey salivating pints of drool over the back of the car and constantly coughing….
The good news? I was in time. Honey was treated promptly; anaesthetized, stomach pumped, and dosed with God-knows-what, amid ‘comic’ comments from the vets along the lines of ‘una barbacoa de processionaria’. And I will still be treating Honey for some time to come with anti-toxin and against the irritation of her stomach and gut.
That’s another 300 euros I’ll not be seeing again…
So, when you buy one of my stories, you can tell yourself with an inner glow, that you helped to pay to save Honey’s life…
….. Now…. pass me the wine…
Buy me a coffee?
So glad to hear you got her there in time. Glad we don’t have those around here. I have had rescues and my rescues babies all my life and losing them as pups as young adults or senior citizens doesn’t matter. When one of our furbabies dies it leaves a hole in the heart. I still ache for the dog I lost 40 years ago as much as every one to follow. And my 18 year old shih Tzu is making me face that decision I HATE to make. And be glad that you have the money. Because the vets in this area of ky won’t even let you set up payments anymore. There’s nothing worse than watching your baby sick or dying and can’t help
you have no money and they look at you begging for help. Yakut has had several spells lately where she just started screaming literally obviously in pain. So far it’s only been maybe 3min but it might as well be hours. And i still have no idea what is causing it. No warning whimpers or anything. I was reading an article that says it’s better to let them go in peace before they are suffering once the signs start. She is snuggled up to me now and I love her so much. My head agrees. My heart is selfish. Those caterpillars must be distant cousins to some they have here in the states. There’s a tent caterpillar here in the states they love to emerge in spring setting up housekeeping in flowering fruit trees like cherry trees. Several years ago after a mild winter there was a huge amount of them all over. And thoroughbred mares started losing foals. Mostly spontaneously aborting but sometimes mares were dying as well. And this being the heart of horse country we are talking hundreds not just a few. Caused a major panic since there wasn’t an obvious cause. When they finally tracked it down it was linked to those caterpillars. suddenly horse farms were cutting down all the flowering trees that were around any areas the horses grazed in. Others hired on someone to go around and burn them out of the trees. They were using kerosene lamp oil. Then taking up the soil under the trees. All because of the toxins from those voracious caterpillars. So many new and unborn babies died before they ever figured it out. Just a suggestion…if u burn anymore maybe use kerosene or gasoline
If the cooking oil u were referring to is same as you would fry food in maybe that is what attracted her to eat the ashes. Or is she one of the mischevious types. hindsight is 20 20. You were blessed this time. So was your vet. I am so happy for you.
Thanks for that Judy, and for taking the time to write such a long reply.
Yes, I understand completely. I’ve had a long line of rescues myself, and I remember them all. The one I think most about, I had to let go of six years past. He’s been with me seventeen years.
My rescues are my great love in life, and indeed, are what i write about when I am ‘not Simone’.
I’m guessing there are many related species of those caterpillars around the world. From their point of view, it’s an ideal defence – kill anything that comes near enough to breathe you in…. As you say, horrible!
Wow Simone – so very scary. Thank heavens you were watching and were able to get her to the vet so quickly. Our furbabies depend on us for everything and it’s such a responsibility but we bear it with love for them.
So happy you were able to save Honey. Our furbabies mean so much to us. I bought only one dog. The other 12 were rescues. I have had well over a hundred cats in my life. All were spayed/neutered and very loved. Hope your coming days are more tranquil.
lol! That’s a lot of cats. And yes, all my dogs have been rescues. 🙂
Thoroughly enjoy your books, so I will definitely continue buying no matter what it’s paying for. So glad Honey is doing well.
Thanks for that Theresa. That’s good to know 🙂
I have never heard of anything like this. Glad everything turned out okay.
Yes, the processionaries are horrible things. But Honey is fine now.
Oh my goodness!
I’m so glad you were in time to save Honey.
Those caterpillars sound incredibly frightening…
Well done on your quick action Simone – and sending many hugs to you. xx
Thanks, Emmanuelle. and yes, it gets the blood pounding when these things happen….
Really frightening when you 4 legged children are I’ll.
It is yes. I’m a serial dog rescuer and thirty years of dealing with it doesn’t make it any easier….
Awww, as a dog lover……..that is so sad. Glad you puppy with be alright <3
Thanks Barb 🙂 And yes, she’s fine.