Not a good night last night. Many websites proclaim that there are no poisonous animals here in the DR capable of killing people. This statement is not quite reflective of the actual reality. There are two species of Black Widow spider that can result in death if intensive medical intervention is not sought promptly. These are relatively small spiders that prefer to live in dark corners and crevices and under things. One needs to be careful when reaching into the back of a rarely used cupboard or moving patio furniture etc.
All spiders are poisonous and quite capable of and willing to bite. Most bites are just painful and prone to infection in people. Your dogs and cats on the other hand do not fair quite so well in some of these encounters. At around 9 pm last night my wife sounded the alert to a large spider on the prowl. It was a Sparassidae Stasina saetosa. I haven't found a common name for this beastie yet but it was large and very fast. It covered a distance of 20 feet in mere seconds when Mr. Broom was introduced. I dislike spiders. They are quiet and creepy. Big or small, they all give me the shivers. No big problem though, he left and was not seen again. He is still around but out of sight out of mind.
At around 10:30 we let the dogs out for the final time. We have long since learned that in our area, the dogs cannot be turned loose after dark without supervision. Very quickly, one of them discovered a large cane toad in the middle of the yard. Normally, these guys are only seen briefly at dusk & dawn out in the open but not tonight. Cane toads, deadly to dogs and cats and very quickly at that. For smaller pets, just coming in contact with the neurotoxins secreted by these toads is enough to dispatch a Chihuahua in 30 minutes. For larger pets, picking one up in their mouth sets in motion a chain of events that will result in death quickly if treatment is not immediately administered.
Both of our dogs are Dominican citizens. One, is every adept at looking after herself. She is normally the one that actively seeks out these denizens of the night and attempts to dispatch them in short order. Last night we were lucky. Vanessa did not actually interact with the toad only because we were present and watching. Had we just let the dogs out and gone back to watching the Black List, we would have an entirely different situation on our hands. I dispatched the toad. This invasive species serves no useful purpose and poses too much of a risk to be allowed to set up residence anywhere near my dogs. If you decide to interact with one of these toads, wear gloves. If you decide to whack one of these toads, be careful that no secretions splash into your eyes or mouth - can you say magic carpet ride - ask any Australian for clarification if needed.
These damned centipedes - Scoleopendra, large, fast, very painful to people and potentially deadly to pets. We normally see one or two a month. Usually smallish ones. Both dogs are really good at finding these in the grass at night. Vanessa the "death machine" is pretty good at killing them without getting bitten. The other dog, just like with the toad would probably elect to make friends and play with one rather than exercise the due caution that these creatures deserve. Again for us, it's important to closely watch our pets at night. These centipedes are fast and when provoked can be very aggressive, not shying away from a fight. I found this one, this morning. It drowned in the pool last night and is the largest I have seen to date at 10.5 inches. We have to vacant lots in front and next to us. Recently cows have been introduced to eat back the overgrowth. I suspect this is what is causing the wild life to migrate through our yard with increased frequency.
I am a bare foot person. I have long since stopped walking around without footwear at night. During the day, I am observant of where I put my feet but at night, it is just not worth the risk.
Residents and visitors alike, need to remember that there are creatures here that we are not used to looking for at home. Those residing in a downtown area will encounter very few of these creatures, but spiders are everywhere and there is one guaranteed to sharing your living space right this very moment. Most do not pose a problem or hazard but some do and you need to be very observant of where you put your fingers and feet. It is not at all paranoid to take a good look at the walls, ceiling and floor when you enter a room. You will never see a cane toad in your house except in exceptional circumstances, but both spiders and our friend Scaleopendra love to come inside and will do so at any opportunity.
If you live here and have pets, ask your vet for a "poison kit". Whether by creature or person, if your beloved pet becomes poisoned, you have a very limited window in which to administer treatment. Since most of these poisoning incidents will happen at night, outside of normal business hours, your vet will probably not be available to respond right away and if you have to drive to the vet, chances are you'll be too late.
Pets, kids, you, day or night, resident or tourist, you need to be aware of the existence of these potential hazards and remember to think about them everyday. If you don't tap your shoes before slipping them on your feet, you may be startled when a gecko comes scurrying out or even more surprised to find something a lot more painful has taken up residence when you weren't looking. If you don't look for them, you won't see them except by happenstance. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they aren't around. Don't obsess, just be aware and observant.
All spiders are poisonous and quite capable of and willing to bite. Most bites are just painful and prone to infection in people. Your dogs and cats on the other hand do not fair quite so well in some of these encounters. At around 9 pm last night my wife sounded the alert to a large spider on the prowl. It was a Sparassidae Stasina saetosa. I haven't found a common name for this beastie yet but it was large and very fast. It covered a distance of 20 feet in mere seconds when Mr. Broom was introduced. I dislike spiders. They are quiet and creepy. Big or small, they all give me the shivers. No big problem though, he left and was not seen again. He is still around but out of sight out of mind.
At around 10:30 we let the dogs out for the final time. We have long since learned that in our area, the dogs cannot be turned loose after dark without supervision. Very quickly, one of them discovered a large cane toad in the middle of the yard. Normally, these guys are only seen briefly at dusk & dawn out in the open but not tonight. Cane toads, deadly to dogs and cats and very quickly at that. For smaller pets, just coming in contact with the neurotoxins secreted by these toads is enough to dispatch a Chihuahua in 30 minutes. For larger pets, picking one up in their mouth sets in motion a chain of events that will result in death quickly if treatment is not immediately administered.
Both of our dogs are Dominican citizens. One, is every adept at looking after herself. She is normally the one that actively seeks out these denizens of the night and attempts to dispatch them in short order. Last night we were lucky. Vanessa did not actually interact with the toad only because we were present and watching. Had we just let the dogs out and gone back to watching the Black List, we would have an entirely different situation on our hands. I dispatched the toad. This invasive species serves no useful purpose and poses too much of a risk to be allowed to set up residence anywhere near my dogs. If you decide to interact with one of these toads, wear gloves. If you decide to whack one of these toads, be careful that no secretions splash into your eyes or mouth - can you say magic carpet ride - ask any Australian for clarification if needed.
These damned centipedes - Scoleopendra, large, fast, very painful to people and potentially deadly to pets. We normally see one or two a month. Usually smallish ones. Both dogs are really good at finding these in the grass at night. Vanessa the "death machine" is pretty good at killing them without getting bitten. The other dog, just like with the toad would probably elect to make friends and play with one rather than exercise the due caution that these creatures deserve. Again for us, it's important to closely watch our pets at night. These centipedes are fast and when provoked can be very aggressive, not shying away from a fight. I found this one, this morning. It drowned in the pool last night and is the largest I have seen to date at 10.5 inches. We have to vacant lots in front and next to us. Recently cows have been introduced to eat back the overgrowth. I suspect this is what is causing the wild life to migrate through our yard with increased frequency.
I am a bare foot person. I have long since stopped walking around without footwear at night. During the day, I am observant of where I put my feet but at night, it is just not worth the risk.
Residents and visitors alike, need to remember that there are creatures here that we are not used to looking for at home. Those residing in a downtown area will encounter very few of these creatures, but spiders are everywhere and there is one guaranteed to sharing your living space right this very moment. Most do not pose a problem or hazard but some do and you need to be very observant of where you put your fingers and feet. It is not at all paranoid to take a good look at the walls, ceiling and floor when you enter a room. You will never see a cane toad in your house except in exceptional circumstances, but both spiders and our friend Scaleopendra love to come inside and will do so at any opportunity.
If you live here and have pets, ask your vet for a "poison kit". Whether by creature or person, if your beloved pet becomes poisoned, you have a very limited window in which to administer treatment. Since most of these poisoning incidents will happen at night, outside of normal business hours, your vet will probably not be available to respond right away and if you have to drive to the vet, chances are you'll be too late.
Pets, kids, you, day or night, resident or tourist, you need to be aware of the existence of these potential hazards and remember to think about them everyday. If you don't tap your shoes before slipping them on your feet, you may be startled when a gecko comes scurrying out or even more surprised to find something a lot more painful has taken up residence when you weren't looking. If you don't look for them, you won't see them except by happenstance. Just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they aren't around. Don't obsess, just be aware and observant.