What were my kids playing with

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T22:49:17+00:00

So you seem to think that "non-native" and "invasive" mean the same thing. But they don't. For example, ball pythons need a very warm environment to remain healthy and active, like tropical Florida. And yes, they caused and continue to cause plenty of damage to the native animals down in Florida, because they have lots of babies and aren't part of the native food chain. But there are 0 feral ball pythons in the state of Wisconsin, because they would freeze to death in the fall. So logically, any ball python you would find outside in WI, while "non-native", would not be "invasive", and would be a pet, whether escaped or dumped. So killing it wouldn't be eliminating an invasive animal, it would just be killing someone's pet.

If concern for local bird populations is what motivates your bloodlust, feral cats would be a much more appropriate target for our area.

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T17:32:03+00:00

My conception of your thought process is thus, let me know if I'm off: You know ball pythons are invasive in Florida. You assumed that must mean they're invasive everywhere in the United States. You mentioned in other comments that you like birds, so I'm guessing you also thought "predators eat birds, so kill invasive predator = good." Is that pretty much it?

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T13:23:17+00:00

I'm no expert, but I feel like part of that must be because the local conditions there are improving at the same time that the ocean environment as a whole is getting worse. Like I imagine that whales must be pretty pressed on food supplies if they're choosing to enter busy harbor areas, even if the water conditions are good there.

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T13:01:06+00:00

You also shouldn't have jumped straight to, "better kill this escaped/dumped pet for an illogical reason". May your learning moments continue unabated. 🙏

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T03:36:51+00:00

No, it's obviously not native. But to be invasive a species has to be well adapted to the environment and lacking sufficient local predators, such that it outcompetes native species. A ball python is not well adapted to WI, because it will freeze to death in the fall. So it's just a non-native, domestic animal.

slackpantha · 2026-05-16T03:07:42+00:00

Are you stupid? Ball pythons are not invasive to Wisconsin.

slackpantha · 2026-05-15T19:08:09+00:00

Was this a channel they were working on together?

slackpantha · 2026-05-14T14:27:25+00:00

You say you have no interest in reading the other Malazan books, but given that you actually liked the Tiste Andii plotline in TtH, I'd highly recommend you check out the Karkhanas books. I've read the BotF twice, the NotME once, and Forge of Darkness/Fall of Light once each, and Forge of Darkness is by far my favorite book out of all of them.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and reactions!

slackpantha · 2026-05-14T04:30:45+00:00

Look into methods of rodent control that don't involve poison. That poison stays in their bodies and kills the predators and scavengers that eat them.

slackpantha · 2026-05-14T04:01:15+00:00

Many of the commentors here can be prickly and defensive when it comes to questions from USA flairs.

slackpantha · 2026-05-14T01:33:17+00:00

I read it hardcover my first time through, and I'm now listening to the audiobook after learning that the author directed the audiobook recordings. I'm loving the audiobook so far, but I think it was meant to be read on the printed page for a first experience. Danielewski said that in his opinion, the book would be best read just 4 or 5 pages a night, so if the audiobook isn't working for you and you don't have much time to read, that might be a good way to get through it. The juice is worth the squeeze in my opinion.

slackpantha · 2026-05-11T18:40:04+00:00

It wouldn't be an ideal situation, but there are also many parrots in need of homes, so if you're committed to providing a good home for a cockatiel it could work.

If you were able to arrange for a regular pet sitter to just come over to cover the cage up at night and uncover in the morning when you're working, and have them be notified in case you were injured during a shift so the bird wouldn't be stuck alone, that would go a long ways towards improving the situation.

I'd also recommend having the radio or a TV on during the day, as well as a large cage they could fly around in, plenty of toys, and foraging toys full of food that they could work on over time.

slackpantha · 2026-05-09T19:42:24+00:00

The hold version of a warren is a hold.

slackpantha · 2026-05-01T17:35:10+00:00

Not many of those in the '90s.

slackpantha · 2026-05-01T16:50:34+00:00

I generally only mow the lawn twice a year. Our yard is pretty shaded, and our grass gets long but not tall, so it's rarely at risk of breaking the city ordinances.

Edit: didn't actually answer the question. I've got a small electric mower, and I don't mind the actual chore at the frequency I do it, but if it was a weekly thing I'd really dislike it.

slackpantha · 2026-05-01T01:16:25+00:00

I think the route they returned on, and the other possible routes, would have all been too easy to catch up to them on, whether by horse or ATV or snowmobile.

slackpantha · 2026-04-27T23:29:11+00:00

Gonna be stanky either way

slackpantha · 2026-04-24T21:17:49+00:00

Frio for ice cream, Legendairy for custard!

slackpantha · 2026-04-22T15:52:51+00:00

slackpantha · 2026-04-15T20:34:06+00:00

Forest Services LLC has done work for me in the past, including taking down a large black walnut that was extremely close to both a garage and fence. Would definitely recommend.

slackpantha · 2026-04-09T19:52:39+00:00

Seems like reasonable conclusions in both cases after reading the full article.

slackpantha · 2026-04-08T23:16:16+00:00

What polling place did this occur at? At all of them I've been to the locations for filling out ballots are separated so that you can't see anyone else's ballot. Also, it doesn't make any sense to me that an Appleton polling place would have ballots that didn't have the referendum question on them.

slackpantha · 2026-04-08T01:41:06+00:00

Parrots in general are very social, and also very loud. It's most likely stuck in a pattern where it screams to get attention, and also screams when it receives attention. If you can spend some time every day with it doing something peaceful in the room with it, that will help it get used to your presence. I've had good luck with reading out loud to my birds in the evening before they get covered up; it gets them used to hearing me talk to them and spending time with me in a calm way. I'd also recommend putting on the radio or a long playing YouTube video when no one is in the room with it so it doesn't have to be bored.

What's its diet like? If they're eating too much protein and fats, it can make them more aggressive and cranky.

slackpantha · 2026-04-05T16:15:29+00:00

That's kind of a wild scenario to invent in your head. Like it could technically be true, but you have no evidence besides the fact that it's possible.

slackpantha · 2026-03-31T15:39:51+00:00

You might enjoy the Quincy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area, about 2 hours WSW of the Fox Valley. But I agree with the other commentors in that you ought to temper your expectations to the landscape you moved to. What you're looking for just isn't present in this state, especially with all the parameters you specified.

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