Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, October 3, 2020

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Mountain View News Saturday, October 3, 2020 


SATCHEL & 
SERAFINA

Super gorgeous and loving! 
They have been with their 
“dad,” a retired Navy 
Chaplain and a church 
minister, since they were 8 
months old. He recently had 
to go into hospice care, and 
the family is too allergic to 
take the kitties. Satchel and Serafina don’t understand why 
they are away from the only home they knew. We need a new 
home for them as soon as possible. Satchel is slightly larger and 
has a sort of hourglass white spot on his lower back. He is a 
calm, mellow, lovebug! Maybe he was named after the famous 
baseball star, Satchel Paige, because he liked to bat his toys 
around. Serafina, whose name is from Seraphim, the highest order of angels, has two tan spots 
on the back of her neck and loves to be petted and play. She’s a busy girl. Both are bright 
and cuddly. They may not be a good fit for dogs or young children. Adopting Satchel and 
Serafina would be a great way of honoring their owner’s service to our country. They will come 
fully vetted, chipped, and neutered. Call 626-676-9505. See more pictures, videos, adoption 
information and application on our website at the Adult Cats page, 

www.lifelineforpets.org. Good news--Princess has been adopted.


A RATTLING TALE 
FROM A LOCAL TRAIL

During a hike in Monrovia with one of my 
four-legged furry friends, a golden retriever 
named Gus, we were enjoying the cool breeze 
and warm sunshine as we ascended up the steep 
hill when we had a rattling encounter with a 
low-lying, lurking creature in the tall grass. Like 
most dogs, Gus is a very curious canine. He notices everything that moves around him, whether it be a 
leaf falling from a tree, a bird flitting about in a bush, or a squirrel scampering across a power line.

When wind-blown objects or whimsical wildlife draw Gus’s attention, it’s easy for him to forget his 
excellent “leash-side manner“, and bolt toward the object in motion. I believe his random responses are 
deeply rooted in his desire to catch and retrieve, in return for a moment of loving praise from his human 
friends. After all, isn‘t that what we bred them for?

Although squirrels, bugs and lizards are most often what Gus and I encounter during our walks, deer, 
coyote and an occasional bear also appear quite regularly in the brush-covered hillsides surrounding the 
area where he lives. That’s pretty commonplace in these local foothills. But on this particular evening, as 
we ascended up the hill, Gus and I came across a creature that took us very much by surprise!

I’m not sure if it was Gus’s nose, ears or eyes that first drew his attention to the would-be elusive crawling 
creature. Perhaps it was a combination of all three. What I do know is that whichever of his keen senses 
kicked in at that moment, he was immediately snapped to attention and within a split second he changed 
his direction toward the object of interest.

Naturally, I looked to see what it was that had captivated Gus’s undivided attention, and I saw what I first 
assumed to be a sagebrush lizard - a harmless reptilian we locals often see slithering over the rocks and 
through the dirt. Some lizards get quite large, and as adults they can develop a heavy coat of colorful 
scales and a broad head with shiny round piercing eyes. Lizards are quite agile and they move very fast, 
which is why dogs and cats love to go after them. It’s all about the challenge of the chase.

When Gus got close enough to the reptile to scare it away, I was surprised to see that it did not move, 
rather it remained still and held it‘s ground. It was then that I realized our new-found friend was not a 
lizard at all. My canine companion had just come face-to-face with a snake lying low and lurking in the 
grass. 

Fortunately I managed to pull Gus away before the snake had the opportunity to strike. When we were 
far enough away for my comfort level, we turned to get a better look at it. I was hoping to figure out what 
kind of snake it was. Per my estimate, the serpent measured about 25 inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide at 
its center. All I could think at that point was that Gus could so easily have been bitten, if I had not been 
paying attention and pulled him away promptly. Feeling lucky that we’d escaped what might have been a 
revolting development, we continued on our way and completed our hike.

When I got home that evening, I did a web search on snakes most often seen in our area and I determined 
that the one we saw was likely a Southern Pacific Rattler, which is one of the most common rattle snakes 
in the San Gabriel foothills. Although it’s venomous bite can be lethal, this snake is not known to be 
aggressive. It just wants to be left alone to continue it‘s quest for survival, which explains why it refrained 
from striking and simply laid still in the grass. While I was on-line I also did a little research to refresh my 
memory on emergency procedures for rattle snake bites in the wilderness.

One of the many important things I learned is; dogs that spend time on the roads and trails of our local 
canyons should receive a snake bite vaccine before venturing out. There are various kinds of vaccines 
designed to prevent snake bite demise, so it’s best to let your vet help you choose the right one for your 
pet. There’s been some research on the outcome for vaccinated dogs versus non-vaccinated dogs bitten 
by snakes, and the data implies that it’s definitely worth vaccinating your dog before engaging in frequent 
wilderness hikes.

Paramount to helping avoid the risks and detrimental results of a canine snake bite is to stay vigilant 
and attentive to what the dog shows sudden interest in during your hike. Basic canine training and 
maintaining control are very important as well, as exemplified by my reaction when Gus first saw the 
snake. If I had hesitated to call him back, he would probably have been inquisitive enough to aggravate 
the snake, in which case he would most likely have been bitten.

If a dog (vaccinated or not) is bitten by a rattle snake, immediate veterinary attention is imperative. In the 
case of a time-lapse between the biting and veterinary care, keep the dog well-hydrated in the meantime. 
If the dog is not willing to drink, use a syringe to force fluids down his throat and keep the dog as calm 
and relaxed as possible. Finally, and perhaps most obviously, do not panic! Stay focused and use your 
energy to handle the situation efficiently. The happy side of this potentially not-so-happy tale, is the fact 
that the rattle snake is known to be way more passive than aggressive. I often say “Love and let live”, but 
in this case, I’ll say “Love, let live and leave it alone.” A rattle snake will typically hide in lieu of striking 
when left to itself, so give it some space and continue on your way. Here’s to a healthy, hearty, happy hike!

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Pet of the Week

 
Four-year-old Max absolutely loves being around people! 
He has lots of exuberant puppy energy and loves walks, and 
he’s super smart and picks up on commands really quickly. 
With his happy smile and constantly wagging tail, Max is 
a joy to be around. Max would do best as your only pet, 
but he truly loves people and will give so much love to his 
forever family! 

 If you’re wanting to spend some time with Max before 
you adopt, he’s eligible for a 30-day trial. Take him home 
for a month, get to know and love him, and we’ll provide 
all the supplies. At the end of 30 days, you can make your 
adoption official. Email foster@pasadenahumane.org to 
get your adoption trial started!

 The adoption fee for dogs is $140. All dog adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and 
age-appropriate vaccines.

 New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal 
Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.

 Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone 
calls or email.


HEALING WITH NATIVE HERBS

CHRISTOPHER Nyerges


Nyerges has led and organized ethnobotany 
walks since 1974. He is the 
author of Guide to Wild Foods and 
Useful Plants, How to Survive Anywhere, 
and other books. He was the 
editor of Wilderness Way magazine 
for 7 years. Information about his 
classes and books is available from 
School of Self-Reliance, Box 41834, 
Los Angeles, CA 90041, or www.
SchoolofSelf-Reliance.com.

It seems that sore throats, coughs, colds, and flus 
have afflicted people forever, whether resulting from 
the proximate causes of pollen, dust, woodsmoke, 
or from talking too much, or yelling, or even from 
“catching” something from another person. This 
season we also have Covid-19 to contend with.

Fortunately, there are quite a few natural remedies 
which help relieve the pain and discomfort these 
conditions, and many of these have been used for at 
least centuries. 

First, keep in mind that the best defense is a strong 
immune system, so do everything you can that 
maintains a strong immune system.

I spoke with Dr. James Adams, a doctor of pharmacology 
at USC, and a student of Chumash healing 
for about two decades. Dr. Adams wrote the book 
“Healing with Medicinal Plants,” which is the source 
for my information today.

Each of the plants described are commonly available 
in the wild, and typically can be purchased in the 
dried form in herb shops. You can contact me if you 
cannot find these herbs.

ELDERBERRY FLOWERS (Sambucus nigra; formerly 
Sambucus Mexicana)

Different species of the elderberry tree can be found 
world-wide, often near water. It can be a large 
bush or a small tree, with pinnately divided leaves. 
Though the fruit has long been cooked and used for 
juices, wine, jam, and jellies, it is the flowers that are 
used for colds and flus. Indigenous people of California 
used the flowers to cure colds and flus. The 
flowers are made into an infusion and drunk. The 
flowers are only available in the spring, so you’d need 
to collect and dry them to be available year-round.

One popular liquer, St. Germain, is made in France 
from elder flowers; it is commonly used as a safe 
remedy for colds and flus.

EVERLASTING, CALIFORNIA (Pseudognaphalium 
californicum)

This one, and several related species, are somewhat 
widespread in the West. Leaves have a sweet odor, 
akin to butterscotch or oranges. It’s easily grown 
in backyard gardens, and the flowers can be collected 
and dried, so that the herb can be available 
year-round.

I learned about its uses from Dr. James Adams, 
author of “Healing with Medicinal Plants of the 
West.” Whenever I feel congested and have difficulty 
breathing, often after a day of being out in the 
willow forest, I drink an infusion of the everlasting 
flowers. They have a quick and immediate effect. (I 
often drink this along with stinging nettle tea, which 
also has mild decongestant effects.)

Dr. Adams recommends using these flowers at the 
first signs of a cold, or flu.

The flowers contain flavinols which stimulate the 
immune system and help get rid of flu virus. 

The medicine is the flowers. For a cold or flu, put 
1 teaspoon of flowers into a cup of water, and heat 
until it simmers. Dr. Adams suggests drinking it for 
4 nights in a row for colds and flus.

YERBA SANTA (Eriodictyon spp.)

This is a very common western herb, with several 
species that are more or less used a like.

Yerba Santa leaves are boiled in water, and the fumes 
are inhaled for upper respiratory issues. The infusion 
can also be drunk for a sore throat, cough, or 
breathing issues.

Herbalists use this herb for many afflictions, and it 
is particularly good for coughs, breathing, and congestion 
issues. The indigenous peoples of California 
used this herb for coughs. This is commonly consumed 
by drinking the boiled decoction. Another 
method is to boil the leaves in a covered container, 
and then open the container and inhale the fumes. 

For information about classes by Dr. Adams, go to 
www.abeduspress.com.

All Things By Jeff Brown

THE COVID LONG-HAULERS

It’s been six months since Zach got Covid, and he hasn’t yet recovered. Zach, a previously fit, 
healthy 33 year old attorney who’s the son of two good friends was never admitted to a hospital 
because of an acute shortage of ICU beds. But over two months of coronavirus hell, he developed 
pneumonia, struggled to breath, coughed constantly, shivered under three blankets, and barely 
slept or ate. His chest felt like it was on fire. 

“There wasn’t an inch of my body(truly)that wasn’t in excruciating pain” he recounted in a 
Facebook post last week. Despite sophisticated medical care and an endless battery of tests, 
his chest still aches, he’s breathless after a short walk and he’s too weak to work. Zach is one 
of a largely invisible legion of “long-haulers”-covid survivors who continue to suffer a host of 
mystifying maladies. Studies suggest that about three-quarters of those who get sick remain ill for 
months. No one knows if and when long-haulers will return to their pre-Covid selves. “for now, 
this is my new normal” Zach said.

Whenever I see people highly congregating without masks or social distancing, I think Zach and a 
younger member of The Week’s staff who is a long-hauler. Many younger Americans falsely assume 
that because most of the people Covid kills are over 70, they are safe.. In reality, the coronavirus 
makes some younger people very sick for reasons no one fully understands;Covid roulette is a 
high-risk game. Long-haulers like Zach would tell you that this nasty virus is not “a little flu” and 
that you don’t want it inside your body, attacking cells in your blood vessels,lungs,heart and even 
the brain. President Trump would have told you that, too, if you were speaking to him privately. 

The virus is “easily transmissible” and “a killer.” Trump told Bob Woodward back in April. “This 
rips you apart” That’s no lie. William Falk, Editor-in-chief of The Week


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com