Bug feeders … wild caught …

I have read about those that feed ‘wild’ caught bugs… june bugs, moths … so I want to know more ….

I love the idea about allowing my gliders to stalk and catch bugs … had some early fun with crickets … but I am terrified to feed them now … and wild caught … I just am so scared of the possibility of toxins / pesticides …

So how do you get over it … ??? or justify … ??? may be those that do live in more rural areas … this is suburbia here … and I know there is a lot of spraying going on …

Input is welcome and appreciated … I would love to add the enrichment … but as I mentioned … I am even scarred of store crickets ….

I wouldn't risk it. I know many in rural areas where there is no spraying do feed them, but I'd just be too nervous. I figure my girls are fine with their mealies, so why chance it?

Ah yes, Junebugs. My gliders LOVE them and I LOVE to watch them going after them.

June bugs near me come out much earlier than June! I think they have their calendars wrong or something. I actually started catching the first couple in Feb. this year.

I will feed my gliders a couple here and there as long as the squito wagon isnt out and about. Once I see or hear it no more bugs for my kiddos. Been doing this now for years and thank God I have had no ill effects.

The way I justify it? Well, any of us can get sick at any time. No matter how careful or uncareful we are. I love my gliders and try with all that is in me not to do anything harmful to them, but I also like to give them those extra somethings when I can, knowing there wont me buch of them to offer.

dont thoses things migrate?

I live in a very rural area (about 15 miles to the closest town, altough I do have a "village" closer) and I don't feed anything wild caught. I have lots of farmers nearby and I have no idea what they use if anything. If I want to give them something fun to chase, I'd get them waxworms and let them turn into moths. I did that with Charlotte (to try to get her to gain weight) and she loved them.

Like Peggy, I too feed June Bugs. I feel much the same as she does.

I also live in a rural area, and no spraying goes on much around this area till late summer.

They do absolutely love them. Mine eat every bit!! Wings and all!

Johh, June Bugs are out now here but it is almost the end of the season for them. Well, it IS the end for me because my hubby sprayed RoundUp over the weekend. GRRRR

We live in a rural area. But it is more like mini ranches; not farms. We don't worry much about pesticides since we have no neighbors. LOL.

Ya know it is a decision that each of us have to make. There really isn't a clear cut right or wrong. I can take all sorts of precautions and something can still happen to my gliders. I am just one of those who love seeing them do natural things and hunting down bug makes them happy.

Stormy was sitting on my shoulder the other night when she spotted one of the june bugs that I had realeased. It was hanging on the window screen. It was amazing how fast she can be when motivated by that sound of wings buzzing. LOL

We gave them a rhino (dang, i can't spell it) beetle once. One of the babies found it first but apparently if faught back because that baby let it go real quick...hard to tell in the dark. Then Mama Echo found it and there was no contest. Let the crunching begin. Also we occasionally get those green anoles in the house. Now let me tell you gliders will fight over those. I don't give them the lizards but they will catch the on their own. Also we have done grasshoppers. No I don't do the big green one. GROSS! but they love them. And yes moths are alway a favorite.

We leave the light on in the garage and catch bugs that come to the light. Also, I have a friend in Jacksonville who used to leave the light on in her screened in poarch with the door open. Once the poarch got full of yummys, she would close the door an let her flyers out to catch them.