"...unbelievable loss of wildlife."

This month the world has witnessed the terrible fires that have been exploding across the Australian landscape. It is frightening to imagine having only moments to escape one's home or perish in an inferno. But that is what has happened there. Tragically, at least 108 people have lost their lives. (I would urge readers who wish to help the citizens affected by the fires to contact the American or International Red Cross.)

Then the numbers of animals dead began to reach the news. Livestock, pets, wildlife. The estimate last week was that well over one million animals were probably killed. Thousands are reported injured. Wildlife sanctuaries destroyed. And wildlife that have survived are likely to starve or freeze to death in Australia's upcoming winter months now that the landscape is nothing but ash.

On Tuesday, February 10 The Washington Post ran the photo above and an article about the devastating wildfires in Australia:

"Local CFA firefighter David Tree shares his water with an injured Australian Koala at Mirboo North after wildfires swept through the region on Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. Suspicions that the worst wildfires ever to strike Australia were deliberately set led police to declare crime scenes Monday in towns incinerated by blazes, while investigators moving into the charred landscape discovered more bodies. The death toll stood at 181.(AP Photo/Mark Pardew)"

This week some of the Australian astrologers I know issued an appeal on Facebook for contributions to the Wildlife Victoria fund. In an email, thanking me for my contribution Brian Clark of The Chiron Center in Victoria wrote:

Today I spoke to one of the vet nurses in the field who was thrilled and overwhelmed as we all are by the support and kindness of everyone. She said when she is able to that she will send on some pictures of kangaroos, koalas, possums and wombats that have been rescued and attended to in what is an unbelievable loss of wildlife....

...While it all remains shocking it is the great response of generosity and support that soothes many of the sores...

If you wish to send even just some small donation on behalf of Australia's wild life you may either contact Steve Clarke at steve@wildlifevictoria.org.au or you can go directly to the fund's webpage by using this link: Wildlife Victoria If you need help converting what your contribution is in your own currency, you can do so using this page: Currency Exchange Calculator 

I send many prayers and blessings to all God's creatures in Australia affected by this month's infernos.

"Ag pesticides not uncommon in trapped pollen"

From Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping

"Researchers in Connecticut, during the 2007 growing season monitored pesticides found in pollen collected in pollen traps. Colonies studied were under normal conditions and were not collapsing or in any other way ill. No colonies died during the experiment.

"The researchers collected the pollen twice a week from four locations in Connecticut during the season. Samples were analyzed using HPLC/MS.

"Results: 102 samples were collected and analyzed. 37 pesticides were detected. 15 insecticide/acaracides, 11 fungicides, 10 herbicides and 1 plant growth regulator. All samples had at least one pesticide detected. The most commonly detected pesticide was coumaphos. Carbaryl and phosmet, both highly toxic to bees were the most commonly detected field pesticides. Imidacloprid was detected 30 times, mostly at low levels. The pesticides found at the highest levels were both fungicides: myclobutanil and boscalid."

Most of us don't realize that coumaphos and imidacloprid, possibly implicated in Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), are in use around us nearly every day.

Ever use a flea and tick treatment on your dog or cat? You're probably exposing them, yourself, and the environment to imidacloprid. Using chemicals to kill grubs, those pesky larvae left behind by Japanese beetles, that chew up your lawn? Imidacloprid again. Coumaphos is used by cities and towns to kill mosquito larvae in standing water, even though it's proven highly toxic to birds which eat...mosquitoes and their larvae.

Hate those dandelions on the lawn--even though they're the first food available each Spring for honey bees, bumble bees, and other pollinators? If you're broadcasting a treatment or treated grass seed, or spraying any sort of herbicide on them, you may be contributing to this increase of chemicals in pollen. Pollen gathered by honey bees is used to feed the larvae in their hives and contains the essential food elements for their growth and development.

If there's an alternative to the chemical treatments you use--essential oils, Milky spore, soapy water and a few drops of alcohol in a spray bottle--they might be a little more labor-intensive, but surely they are safer for us all.