tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369079780186902262.post7696062134247062681..comments2024-03-19T03:48:51.284+00:00Comments on Esther & Dan - Adventuring Together - Life, Love, Health & Travel: Puppy Progress Weeks 11 & 12 - Vet's, Beaches & Dad Home AloneDaniel Colegatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11778514618738418487noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369079780186902262.post-64972927149040124712017-04-23T17:29:00.961+01:002017-04-23T17:29:00.961+01:00Hi Mary,
It is something we worry about, especial...Hi Mary,<br /><br />It is something we worry about, especially during Feb - April when we have read they are most active. I should say from the outset we haven't been doing very remote walks so our experience this year is limited to the areas in the Cabo de Gata natural park. We just haven't gone much further afield with the pups being so young. <br /><br />Here in San Jose, throughout late Feb and March particularly we often saw processionary caterpillars on the streets that have pine trees along them. Sometimes they were crawling across the road, but since they are nocturnal usually we saw remnants of processions of 20-30 caterpillars that had been run over showing just how many were out at night.<br /><br />We are less worried now, but still vigilant. In theory I think in southern Spain by now most of the caterpillars should have buried themselves and started turning into the moths they become. We can certainly see fewer nests in the trees and haven't seen any on the streets for a few weeks.<br /><br />Still we continue to be cautious. Our routes in and out of town when we have the dogs avoid roads with pines trees on them. We take our outdoor shoes off at the door or rinse the soles if we have gone down a pine tree street when out without the dogs for example. <br /><br />In the wild it really depends where you walk. Some hikes we have done have what seems like thousands of pine trees on them, others not so much. Near San Jose there are plenty of hikes with no sign of pine trees. Up in the Almahillas behind Nijar I remember there being lots. <br /><br />If we were to go on a hike (and this will be true next year when we come back) I think we would still avoid certain areas or turn around outright if we saw a big patch of pine. As I said above, in theory the caterpillars go to ground around now in this area and don't come back until next year (varies with latitude/temperature as I understand) but that doesn't mean there won't be a dead one in the scrub a dog could decide to eat.<br /><br />So I reckon we'll stay cautious as long as we have a dog with us from now on. <br /><br />That said, on the flip side, we see many people walking their dogs off the lead along pine tree lined roads here right through the caterpillars most active season. I guess it's about what risks you're willing to take?<br /><br />I hope this helps. It's just our point of view. We have chosen to be quite risk averse, reasoning there are plenty of places without pine trees to explore as well.<br /><br />Best wishes,<br /><br />Dan <br /><br />Daniel Colegatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11778514618738418487noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4369079780186902262.post-70439607115809199592017-04-21T10:47:09.396+01:002017-04-21T10:47:09.396+01:00Hi guy's, do you have to worry about the proce...Hi guy's, do you have to worry about the processionally caterpillar issue at all while on your extensive walks? We will be bringing our 4 to this area for a month May/June. Regards, Mary.Nelson VanDwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05240125660241867634noreply@blogger.com