Today’s Ask the PeeMan: Roadrunner – not just a cartoon problem!

Greetings from the still cold and snowy North Woods!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I am not much into celebrating this particular holiday but I certainly don’t mind eating my wife’s corned beef and cabbage or “boiled dinner” as folks up here call it. I also won’t pass on a pint of beer with it – probably not green though.

Today’s question involves a creature that is as rare up in these parts as a leprechaun, but nonetheless is a problem for Tina. . .

Question: Is coyote pee the best way to keep roadrunners out of a yard? There is one that has recently eaten one of our turtles and I don’t want that bird back snacking on the rest of the turtles.

My answer: Birds have a weaker sense of smell than other critters, so the combination of sight and smell seems to work best. Our PeeCoy Combo that includes a Coyote Decoy and CoyotePee is what you need. Here is the direct link: http://www.predatorpeestore.com/peecoy.html

KJ The PeeMan www.predatorpee.com

Enjoy the holiday responsibly.

Until I find more words. . .The PeeMan

Today’s Ask the PeeMan: When Coyotes Attack

Greetings from the North Woods where it is snowing AGAIN! Also, a Happy Pi Day to all those math types out there.

In an attempt to be more consistent in my blogging, I have decided to pass on inquiries that come to my Peemail inbox. I will start with an oldie but goodie …

In October 2012, Lori asked:

“I live in the middle of a residential neighborhood, but my dog was attacked IN MY BACKYARD by two coyotes. Do you have a product to keep them(coyotes)away?”

My answer:

WolfPee is what you need. Here is what Margery in Mass. had to say about a similar problem: “. . .After we bought your WolfPee last year, we did not have any problems with coyotes whatsoever and we thank you for that. New year and we have three cats we must protect. I thank you and will place my big order soon. . .”

Here is a direct link to the How to Use page http://predatorpee.com/use.html

KJ The PeeMan

www.predatorpee.com

If you would like to ask the PeeMan a question, you can always comment on my blog or email your questions to ask-the-peeman@predatorpee.com.

That’s it for today folks.

Until I find more words . . .The PeeMan

To Boldly Go Where No PEE Has Gone Before . . .

Greetings from the North Woods!

It is a balmy 43 degrees and the natives are out buying seed starting kits in force. We have to remain optimistic when there is still 3 feet of snow on the ground.

A nod to the late, great Leonard Nimoy in the title of today’s blog post. NO i am not a trekky, but he was a cultural icon that even I can’t ignore. I am sure that still leaves you scratching your head as to what the heck I am writing about today. Well, here goes. . .

So, it has come to my attention through various means not the least of which is our friend The Chicken Chick that there is a big group of people who have not yet been educated regarding the benefits of predator pee. While it is hard for me as a long time purveyor of animal urine to believe that anyone could be ignorant in this area, I guess there is more work to be done! Accordingly, we have dubbed 2015 the “Year of the Chicken” at predatorpee.com. Now, while it sounds like something right out of the Chinese calendar, it is really just a commitment on our part to let every poultry enthusiast and owner of backyard chickens, ducks etc. that there is a way to keep their precious layers, show birds, and pet hens safe from predation. There are several vile vermin that like to snack on eggs or the poultry that lay them. Foxes, racoons, coyotes, rats, mice, possum, weasels make up a motley crew of animals that pose a threat to to any backyard flock.

Well, what is to be done, you ask? If you know anything about our products, you know that people have been using them for years to keep hungry animals away from garden patches, shrubbery, pets, livestock, etc. It is only logical that this effective tool be carried over in to the ever burgeoning world of backyard chickens. Cities and towns all over the country are passing ordinances allowing people to keep hens in response to the increasing interest in growing and raising one’s own food. So it is time to take our pee where it has not gone before and explore all of the ways that wolfpee, coyotepee, bobcatpee, etc. can help protect innocent poultry and let their intrepid owners sleep a little better at night.

Because chickens have a weak sense of smell, PredatorPee does affect them at all – but the pests will stay away! T Here is a general guide to help you choose the right Pee for the most common pests:
For Mice: BobcatPee,
For Racoons, possum & rats: CoyotePee,
For Foxes, weasels and coyotes: WolfPee

As a way to jumpstart this effort, we are reaching out to this group with an advertisement in the upcoming issue of Backyard Poultry Magazine. Look for it later this month. We are offering a special package for Backyard Poultry readers. Also, we are reaching out to poultry bloggers and using social media to create awareness. If you read this, make sure to share!

If you have read my blog, you know that I keep chickens and know how devastating it can be to lose any of them to a predator. PredatorPee can make it so that doesn’t happen again. Predator Urine stops the problem. They fear a predator is nearby and they leave. It is as simple as that. Help us get the word out!

Hope the sun is shining where you are.

Until I find more words . . . The PeeMan

February 2015 – A month to remember or try to forget?

Greetings from the frigid North Woods!

I promise that not every post will be about weather, but this particular season has been remarkable in my neck of the woods. But, as I like to say – you don’t have to take my word for it . . . Just listen to what the experts have to say and then check out the pictures.

Caribou, ME

Weather Forecast Office

A Record Cold February, updated 2/26

Weather.gov > Caribou, ME > A Record Cold February, updated 2/26

This February will end up as the coldest month ever observed at Bangor. Through February 25th the average temperature at Bangor of 6.1 degrees was 14.2 degrees below normal. Based on our forecast temperatures through the end of the month, we project that the average temperature for the month will be near 6.4 degrees. This would break the all-time record for not only the coldest February, but also the coldest month ever observed at Bangor by about 2 degrees.

Here are the top 5 coldest months on record at Bangor with their average monthly temperatures:

1. January 1994 8.4F
2. January 1971 8.7F
3. January 1982 9.8F
4. January 2004 10.0F
5. January 2009 10.1F

Prior to this February, the coldest February on record was in 1993 with an average monthly temperature of 11.3F, so Bangor will shatter its coldest February on record by about 5 degrees. Records in Bangor began in 1926.

.PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CARIBOU ME 1116 AM EST MON FEB 23 2015 ..BANGOR HAS SNOWIEST 31 DAY PERIOD ON RECORD… BANGOR HAS RECEIVED 67.9 INCHES OF SNOW FROM JANUARY 24 TO FEBRUARY 23. THIS IS THE SNOWIEST 31 DAY PERIOD ON RECORD FOR BANGOR…BREAKING THE PRIOR SNOWIEST 31 DAY RECORD OF 59.4 INCHES FROM FEBRUARY 1 TO MARCH 3 1969. RECORDS IN BANGOR BEGAN IN 1926.

Pretty impressive, right? Reminds me of 69 after I just moved up here from Jersey. I was living in an unheated camp and I woke up with a layer of ice on my sleeping bag. Then I went outside only to discover that I had to dig down through the snow drift to get to my car!

Speaking of things past and present, this time of year is always a little slower for the pee business, so I like to spend the time getting ready for the “season.” This year’s efforts include once again trying to wrap my old brain around everything that the internet and technology has to offer the small business. Things have changed quite a bit since I started as an entreprenuer.(For one, I don’t sleep in an unheated camp) I used to spend hours with an x-acto knife and rubber cement getting brochures and mailings ready for the printer. Now, I just sit in front of my computer and use a graphics program. I used to spend a lot more time on the phone and in face to face interaction with clients and customers. Now, so much of it is all done through email and social media outlets. I am not one to sit back and pine for the “good ole days,” instead I want to embrace the technology, and that is why our pee business is almost entirely web based. But, it is challenging to take in all the changes, understand them and then take the step to actually utilize them to help grow a business and raise product awareness. I know there are plenty of whipper snappers out there with an amazing grasp of the technology, but I am hoping that years of experience and the die hard entreprenuerial spirit combined with a slowly growing technological arsenal will still give this old guy the edge. Stay warm wherever you are!

Until I have more words . . .

The PeeMan

The Long Winter

Greetings from the FROZEN North Woods,

It has been four months since I last blogged. Four months of winter. I live in Maine, I should expect it, right? It may come every year, but each Maine winter has its own surprises. This winter is no exception. Big snow storm and freezing first of November. Early December more snow. Then, it all melts and it is near 50 for Christmas! January is colder but no snow. And then, the Emperor of the North(I stole that phrase from somewhere)descended on a carpet of white and has yet to recede one bit. We now have 4 feet of snow and February is going on the books as the coldest month in this part of the world. Not only the coldest February – the coldest month – jumping ahead of four Januarys in the top five coldest months on record. So, I have just been on shovel, snowblow, plow, roof rake and repeat mode for a month. My stink pipe has frozen over multiple times, the roof of the greenhouse almost collapsed under the weight of snow, my transmission went in the truck, I substituted the Scout for plowing, got the truck back, one of my laying hens died, and meanwhile the snow drifts just keep growing and blowing. My driveway disappears regularly with the drifting which means more plowing. In between snow duties, I have to find time to make sure the pee gets out the door. I have to have inventory deliveries made at my daughter’s house in town because the UPS guy can’t always make it down the driveway. So I haven’t had much time for blogging. I have complained an awful lot and I don’t like just letting problems hang out there without resolution. Advice to self – “So, quit your bellyaching and do something!”

Snow Scout reporting for duty!

Well, I can’t make the snow disappear but I can use the time inside forced on me by the brutal wind and snow to do something productive. So, I am updating the blog, changing some things up and broadening the scope of my posts. Don’t worry, I will still pass along tidbits about all the wonderful uses of pee – I am the PeeMan after all! But, I will start posting about what life is like for me. Now, I don’t know why anyone would really want to take time to read about a 60 something entreprenuer who lives in the woods of Maine, but my daughters tell me that this blogging is an important part of the whole internet commerce thing. On that note, think backyard chickens(2015 is the year of the chicken at predatorpee.com), think gardening – seedlings going to be started soon, don’t forget airstream refurbish #2, the Scout project, pig husbandry, and maybe even some excerpts from the book I wrote for my daughters for Christmas 2014.

“Green” Car Wiring Tickles Rodent Tastebuds

Greetings from the North Woods!

It has been a few weeks since my last post. I think I am still recovering from the church harvest party preparation blitz. The weather has been on average above normal for this time of year, and we finally got a ton of rain after a month long drought. Winterberry pond is filled to the brim! But, in case we forgot that winter will come, there is snow in the forecast for Sunday. It won’t stick around long since temperatures are forecast to rebound quickly, but it is a harbinger of things to come.

As a I was perusing the internet the other day, I came upon some interesting information about rodents and car wiring. Obviously, we have heard lots of reports of damage to vehicle wiring from rodents and we have sold plenty of our PeeShots for this problem, but I didn’t realize that car wires actually are more attractive to rodents nowadays. Apparently, carmakers’ attempts to use more “green” materials in the manufacture of cars has created a rodent buffet under the hood.

Here is an excerpt from just one article on the topic. For the full article read: http://www.synlube.com/IncredibleEdibleCar1.htm

The unintended consequence of going “GREEN” !

Cars just taste way too good !

There are several systems where we have observed substantial damage caused by rodents:

Electrical Wiring harnesses

Air Conditioning and Heating Ducts

Seat Cushions

Trunk and Storage Area Carpeting

Various fluid containers made from plastics

Why does this happen?

It can be understood by looking at the composition of the materials that are eaten and what they contain:

Soy

Rice Husks

Wood

Sugars

Sweet smelling substances like Vanilla

Peanut Oil

Straw

Why vehicles were not eaten before ?

Simply because “before” automotive OEMs went on being “green” binge, almost everything in the car was made from metal, glass and plastic which was made 100% from petroleum.

None of those material particularly tasty or suitable for nest building by rodents.

Then in mid 1980’s first in Germany through the infinite wisdom of Euro politicians, regulations were passed without much objection by anyone, that a vehicle manufacturer bears responsibility for their vehicle from “cradle to grave“, that is from the time it is made to the time it is retired from service and disassembled so that the materials can be easily recycled.

While these regulations do not yet exist in USA, since manufacturers make cars to be sold in many parts of the world, making items from “different” materials for different markets is not cost effective.

Thus a silly regulation in even one country where it is enacted affects all vehicles sold all over the world made by that particular OEM.

The first unbelievable attempt at this “green” correctness was by Daimler on their Mercedes-Benz cars made from 1991 to 1995, where they started to use “bio-degradable wiring harness” !

There no action by rodents was necessary just heat and time did the ultimate damage and insulation on the wiring would start to deteriorate, crack, fall off and cause infinite combinations of wiring “shorts”.

Of course this would not happen until after the vehicles were out of warranty. Generally in 5 to 7 years after manufacture with almost 100% fail rate by the 12 year anniversary from date of manufacture.

Typical cost to fix this “predictable” damage ?
From about $1,600 to as much as $6,000 per vehicle.

Why are vehicles being eaten NOW ?

The quest for being “Green” correctness started also in 1990’s.

OEMs started by replacing the durable components that really did not need to last as long as they did, with generally untested improvements in material composition and with the use of “natural” materials to substitute for the petroleum in plastics.

OEMs also started replacing were possible any durable metal parts with limited lifespan plastic components.

Soy – has been utilized in just about anything from wiring harness covers, to wire insulation, to seat cushion foam and interior carpeting and trim.

Cars just started to taste way too good !

But mind you rodents (or Mother Nature, if you must) are not that stupid, indeed they are far more evolved and “smart” than humans give them credit for !

What one mouse or pack rat discovers is not kept as top secret for that individual rodent, or the immediate clan or family, that knowledge is very quickly “shared” with other rodents and becomes the knowledge of these creatures all over the world !

How that happens or how that is even possible is beyond the scope of this article, but there is definite proof that such animal knowledge “sharing” exists.

If one or two mice will eat something tasty and die shortly because of it, for example common automotive coolant that tastes sweet to animals, even if there are hundreds more starving mice near-by, they will no longer lick it, somehow they quickly learn that it is a deadly poison.

But if the stuff is not only tasty but also very nutritious, mice living hundreds of miles away will somehow gain this knowledge, and put the wiring harness or seat foam made with soy on their snack list.

Rodent damage after block party

I don’t think the “green” movement is going anywhere, so that means consumers are left to find ways to protect their vehicles from the potential of thousands of dollars in damage. Our PeeShots are perfect for this application. They come in an 8 pack and are “Pee-Loaded” with PredatorPee. Remove the lids and place the PeeShots near each tire and in engine compartment or other target areas in the vehicle. Remove before driving. Choose BobcatPeeShots for mice, CoyotePeeShots for rats and ‘coons, FoxPeeShots for squirrels, and WolfPeeShots for domestic and feral cats.

Until I find more words. . .The PeeMan

Hunting the Airstream – PeeMan’s Gotta Have Hobbies

Greetings from the North Woods!

It is a balmy 57 degrees outside, and even though the weather hasn’t quite made up its mind, the leaves have decided that autumn in Maine is here. Currently, I am spending A LOT of time readying Winterberry Farm for the annual church harvest party. I have been painting the house, mowing, and moving any and all unsightly debris from view. Also, I have put the Scout, the boat, and the new Airstream inside the pee warehouse for the winter.

Yes, I was quite proud of myself for backing the metallic beast into place in the building, but unfortunately no one was around to witness my incredible maneuvering skills. But, the Airstream is in the building, and it didn’t get there by itself! Anyway, the Airstream just happens to be the topic of today’s post. As you may recall, I have completely renovated an Airstream in the not so distant past. Well, I thought that I was going to have more ready access to that particular camper when I was done with it than I actually did. So, this summer began the hunt for an Airstream of my very own.

I soon came to discover that many other baby boomers have also decided that the “silver bullet” campers are desirable, and availability is limited. I spent hours scouring Craigslist, perusing the latest Uncle Henry’s(Maine’s very own paper Craigslist), and ramming back roads in search of THE one that I could refurbish and make my very own. Needless to say, this search led to a few adventures. One example involved a trip in the pouring rain to a remote wooded lot where we were to meet a man who was selling the camper for a friend. Well, when my wife bailed out of the truck in the torrential rain and sought refuge in the sorely neglected camper to wait for the man to show up, the seemingly abandoned Airstream was actually occupied by the very inebriated “friend”! Being the gracious person that she is, my wife tried to make small talk as she backed slowly towards the door. No cash changed hands that day!

Long story short, eventually I was able to secure at an excellent price a camper that is actually bigger than the one I refurbished previously. So, when the snow starts flying and my outside activities are limited, I plan to spend a good deal of time lovingly turning this giant aluminum can once again into a thing of beauty as I daydream about warm summer breezes and reading by the campfire.

Until I find more words. . .The Peeman

Update from the PeeMan’s Farm

Greetings!

It has been a busy, full summer, and I have spent most of it outside on the farm and not in front of the computer – obviously. This post is long overdue. Even though I failed to document it on the blogosphere, amazingly life at Winterberry Farm has kept buzzing along. I used last year’s pigpen to plant my garden. Apparently pig manure is very nutrient filled as I have pumpkins coming out my ears and mounds of

corn. This year’s pigs, Peter and Oreo are growing but they are not nearly as hefty as Stanley was at this point last year. The eight chicks from this spring are now full grown, and one has actually turned out to be a rooster. With nine hens surrounding him, he is one happy man.

Last night, SEPTEMBER 19, we had a killing frost! So, our growing season is pretty much over up here in the North Woods. Chilly temperatures and changing leaves means it is time for cider making. The apple trees on the farm this year are all heavy with fruit. Even trees that have not fruited since we have lived here are covered with apples. In fact, I have been making apple pie which according to my youngest daughter are more than just edible. The PeeMan can bake!

Once again my wife and I are hosting the annual church harvest party/hayride, and the preparations have already begun. In fact between now and then I will be lucky if I have time to do anything other than get the property up to my wife’s high aesthetic standards.

As far as business goes, this is the time of year when we start to remind people, as much as they might not want to think about it, that winter is coming. With the onset of winter comes the threat of rodent invasion of attics, basements, stored vehicles, boats and rvs. That is why we are letting everyone know about our PeeShots – they come in an 8 pack and are “Pee-Loaded” with PredatorPee. Just remove the caps and place the vented canisters under sink, in basement, attic, garage, shed etc. Choose BobcatPeeShots for mice, CoyotePeeShots for rats and ‘coons, FoxPeeShots for squirrels, and WolfPeeShots for domestic and feral cats.

And speaking of storing things for the winter, I now have in my possession an Airstream of my very own. As you may recall, I have already refurbished one that belonged to some friends. This beauty, however, is my very own. Look for a post about that “PeeMan Project”soon.

Until I find more words . . .The PeeMan

Power of Pure PredatorPee – buyer beware of diluted urine repellents

Greetings from the North Woods!

It has been quite a while since my last post, and I really have no excuse except maybe for the fact that summer in Maine lasts only about two months, and every true Mainer(which status I can’t really claim since I was born in NJ)knows that you have to squeeze as much out of it as possible. So, summer projects – boat painting, Scout restoration, gardening, care and feeding of two piglets and 10 hens as well as mowing, mowing and more mowing seem to take up a lot of my time these days.

Today it is raining, and I have unearthed the keyboard in order to reconnect with the blogosphere. My post today concerns the fact that some of the companies out there that sell similar products to those of predatorpee.com, do not have a problem delivering a diluted urine product to their customers. I am not about to name names or sling mud, but I just want consumers to know that this can be a problem.

What is the big deal, anyway? Wolf urine is still wolf urine even if it is diluted, right? Yes, that is true, but according to some research, diluted urine repellents are actually less effective than undiluted urines when field tested against each other. I have included a link to one such study below. If you are the scientific type, you will probably understand it better than I did. But even for a layperson like me, it is pretty clear that the bobcat urine worked very well against woodchucks and voles in its undiluted form and not well when diluted.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/symposia/repellents_symposium/pdfs/swihart.pdf

So, when you buy predator urine to protect your gardens, yards, etc. this summer, even if you aren’t buying from us, make sure that the product you are purchasing is actually 100% undiluted urine. This will ensure that those unwanted critters go away and stay away.

Hope your summer is going well and your gardens are critter free!

Until I find more words. . . The PeeMan

Sure Signs of Spring: Chicken Wrangling and PeeMan in the Garden

Greetings!

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. We owe a deepest debt of gratitude to those men and women who have fought and died in the fight to keep our great country free. Thank you.

Well, it is 58 degrees out. No worries about getting the air conditioners in any time soon. I haven’t even thought about getting the pool ready(and I am usually ready for it in April!). Spring is definitely taking her sweet time this year. We have had plenty of moisture but sunshine has been a rare commodity. However, certain events of this past weekend are undeniable indicators of Spring’s return(however reluctant) – the 8 chicks were moved out of their “chickubator” and into the hen house.

First day in hen house

That was the easy part.

New Chicken Run

Getting Brown Betty and The Amish Hen into their new spacious digs was a bit more challenging.

It involved some tricky manuevering, some edible motivation, and a little coaxing with a badminton racket, but I am pleased to announce that the girls are now enjoying a much bigger run and spacious hen condominium.

Secondly, last year’s pig sty(R.I.P Stanley)was disassembled and a new, much more luxurious and commodious pen was built in a new location in anticipation of the arrival of 2 piglets.

New pig digs

The environmentally conscious man that I am, I simply couldn’t let all that rich, nutrient filled earth left behind by pig pen #1 go to waste. So, that is now officially the PeeMan’s garden patch. Since it is mine, and it is hidden so as not to offend my wife’s aesthetic sensibilities, I get to grow what I want in it, so the corn has been planted and squash and pumpkins will soon follow.

PeeMan’s garden

My daughter has also laid claim to some of the land for her own garden this year and the peas and lettuce have already been planted. As soon as the seeds sprout, the WolfPee will be put around the garden plot to protect the tender shoots from any hungry animals.

Pea trellis

Well, that just about brings things up to date here at the PeeMan’s farm. I hope it is warm and sunny where you are, and don’t forget to protect your gardens this summer with 100% PredatorPee – Accept no substitutes!

Until I find more words . . .The PeeMan