Moth Chronicles

For those of you new to NoCo, those annoying moths fluttering around in your garage and home are called miller moths. They come from Army Cutworms and migrate from the fields in eastern Colorado to the higher elevations in late spring each year. Aside from being a complete nuisance, they are harmless; they won't bite, don't carry diseases, and, most important to we animal lovers, they are not poisonous to cats, dogs, or Bearded Dragons. Although, like any "all you can eat buffet" there are side effects to over indulgence.

Why did we mention Beardies, you ask? Dr. Combs has a client whose Bearded Dragon escaped to the garage during miller moth season last year. Normally this could have been fatal for the creature. However, due to warm temps and ample food supply he was found fat(ter) and happy 2 weeks later. Not recommended... but happy ending.

While they are harmless, we discovered recently that they can actually bring about a visit to the vet! Last week Dr. Hubert had to REMOVE a miller moth from the deep ear canal of a hapless Bulldog. After drenching the moth with vinegar and water, Dr. Hubert was able to remove all the parts from the canal, instantly relieving the SEVERE itching for the poor pup. A first for us - moth payback attack!!!

In his spare time, Dr. Combs occasionally finds himself pondering the following: How many calories is the average miller moth and does it vary on westerly or easterly migration? How many calories does the average cat burn chasing a moth? What is the value of the home furnishings destroyed by cats chasing moths? They really do make you wonder...