The tides have changed in the last decade, living in the suburbs is no longer desirable. Instead, people are going to extremes. Full on city, or extremely rural. While the latter might seem to be a safer choice for new families, the realities of living in the country, woods, outback, or any place truly rural, can come as a harsh awakening to the uninitiated.
So, what dangers should you look out for, and how can you protect your family against them? This list will provide some essential tips.
1. Coyotes
If you have small children, a family dog, or you plan to make the most of the great outdoors by raising chickens, you’ll need to be aware of common regional predators. Coyotes and foxes are common examples.
The solution: many farmers and ranchers have realized that if you place a pvc pipe along the top of any fence, it becomes much more difficult (even impossible) for various animals to scale.
2. Deer
Wait, deer are just cute little woodland prey with big sweet ears, and helpless faces–right? No. Deer are carriers of ticks, which are carriers of Lymes Disease, which is something you don’t want your family (or your pets) ever to have to deal with.
So, keeping deer away from your cute little veggie garden isn’t just about protecting your crops, it’s also important for your family’s health. There are a number of great ways to keep deer at a happy distance, placing ice licks strategically (so they draw attention away from your home), and using deer fence rolls are two ways to start.
3. Poison Oak and Poison Ivy and other dangerous plants
When you’re in the city, any and all flora feels like a cause for celebration, but the reality of plant wildlife can be much different. The variety of plants you’ll encounter once you’ve stepped off the grid will astound you. Many of them are medicinal, smell great, or taste yummy atop a salad (seriously, give dandelion greens a try) but there are an equal variety that can be truly life threatening.
To keep yourself safe from potentially hazardous plant life, education is absolutely crucial. Children, especially young ones, should know how to spot the most prominent varieties of poisonous plants in the area where you live.
4. Insects and reptiles
When you move to a rural home, you will encounter more insects, rodents, and reptiles than you ever thought possible. Many of these are harmless, but the rare few, which are poisonous can pose a serious risk to safety and health.
Old homes are particularly guilty of welcoming in critters, so keeping your space well sealed, clean, and free from dark dank spaces (where dangerous spiders like to lurk), is crucial to preventing infestations.
Originally posted on June 16, 2015 @ 1:29 pm
