Over thousands of years, humans have developed reflexes and learned to avoid certain animals and other creatures.
Even while most animals pose little threat to people, it is nevertheless advisable to exercise caution when you are outside.
She had been out with the kids on a normal day until she noticed a strange fuzzy ball-shaped creature.Mother Leslie Howe did that while she and her family were in a local park.
Leslie, a Georgian mother, saw an odd object near her children at the local playground in 2014. Before Leslie noticed an odd, hairy, ball-shaped monster, the day out with the kids had been normal.
The mother followed her instincts. In the end, it would turn out to be a smart decision. “It feels worse than a wasp sting.”
Leslie was in the park in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with her infant and two other young children when she noticed the “fur ball.” Despite its small size and first harmless aspect, she felt compelled to stay away from it.
This tale was first published a few years ago, but it is now making a comeback online to warn all American parents about the danger.
Leslie had hoped that by sharing her story, people would be warned not to approach the suspicious fur ball, which turned out to be a Megalopyge Opercularis larva, sometimes referred to as the puss caterpillar.
Perhaps the name alludes to the caterpillar’s velvety fur’s resemblance to a cat’s. Despite injecting venom, the bug’s exterior gives the impression that it is harmless. The venomous bristles underneath are covered in hair.
These larvae, which may grow up to about 1 inch in length, are found throughout most of the United States. According to NPR, they were “feasting on foliage in states as far west as Texas and between New Jersey and Florida.”
Avoid handling the puss caterpillar at all costs since its sting is excruciating. If you do that, they may adhere to you and inject their poison.
It is more painful than a wasp sting. When the organism sticks, the agony starts right away and gets worse. It can even cause bone pain. Where it becomes trapped and how many tags have penetrated your skin will determine how badly it gets stuck. According to Expressen, ethnologist Don Hall told National Geographic that those who had it trapped on their hands had complained of discomfort that went up to their shoulders and lasted for up to twelve hours.
Eric Day, manager of Virginia Tech’s Insect ID Lab, has undoubtedly been harmed by the puss caterpillar’s sting. While mowing the lawn at his rural Virginia home, he was bitten by the peculiar-locking caterpillar.
“That blister and the irritated area that followed were visible for several weeks,” he recounted, “but the burning sensation went away in about a day.”
If this caterpillar stings you, remove the dangerous hairs with tape and then carefully wash the area with soap and water. The National Capital Poison Center suggests applying hydrocortisone cream or baking powder to the stung site if it begins to itch. If it worsens, get medical attention.
Although puss caterpillars seldom cause death, their stings can result in anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.
Check out this strange and enigmatic caterpillar:
Michael J. Fox’s Twin Daughter Has a ‘Picture Perfect’ Wedding on Her Mom’s Birthday – See the Stunning Photos!
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan’s 29-year-old daughter, Schuyler, found a special way to celebrate her mom’s 64th birthday.
On June 22, Schuyler had a beautiful wedding in the Catskills, and it just happened to be on the same day as her mom’s birthday. Schuyler, who is the twin sister of Aquinnah, was the bride in a storybook wedding.
Here’s more about Schuyler’s wedding and the sweet birthday message Michael J. Fox shared for his wife of 36 years.
Michael J. Fox, 63, and Tracy Pollan, 64, first met almost 40 years ago when they were cast as lovers on the popular TV show *Family Ties*.
Tracy Pollan remembers Michael as “very cocky” and “funny,” but she also says he had a lot of confidence back then.
At the time, Michael J. Fox was dating Nancy McKeon, the star of *The Facts of Life*, while Tracy Pollan was dating Kevin Bacon. Kevin Bacon and Tracy broke up in 1987, and he later started dating Kyra Sedgwick.
Despite these past relationships, Michael and Tracy’s on-screen romance blossomed into real love, leading to their 36-year marriage and a happy family.
Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan reconnected on the set of the 1988 film *Bright Lights, Big City*. Both were single at the time, so they took the chance and got married later that same year.
“It sounds really horrible, but it was one of those things,” Fox told People in 1989. He joked about their situation, saying, “Someone goes, ‘Did you hear that so-and-so aren’t together anymore?’ And you go, ‘Hmm, that’s too bad. Where’s the phone?’”
Just after their wedding, Michael and Tracy became parents for the first time when their son, Sam Michael, was born on May 30, 1989.
Only two years later, Michael was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Tracy stood by him through it all, offering her unconditional love and support.
In early November 2023, Michael J. Fox appeared on CBS Mornings and talked about how his loving wife, Tracy Pollan, has been his biggest supporter for the past 35 years.
Fox shared that dealing with his Parkinson’s disease was tough because he knew it would get worse, but he didn’t know how quickly or what to expect. “The hardest part of my diagnosis was grappling with the certainty of the diagnosis and the uncertainty of the situation,” Fox said. “My wife made it clear that she was with me for the duration.”
Despite the challenges, Michael and Tracy grew their family. They welcomed twins, Aquinnah Kathleen and Schuyler Frances, on February 15, 1995, and their daughter Esmé Annabelle was born in November 2001.
Fox gives this parenting advice to other parents: “Always be available to your kids. If you say, ‘Give me five minutes, give me ten minutes,’ it will turn into fifteen, then twenty. By then, they might not be as excited about sharing what they wanted to tell you.”
Now that their children are grown up and moved out, Michael and Tracy are enjoying life as empty nesters. Michael jokes, “We get more food because they’re not here to eat it all!”
Their children are also starting their own families. On June 24, People magazine reported that Schuyler, 29, married her long-time partner on June 22 in a beautiful wedding at Hayfield Catskills in New York.
“The weather was absolutely perfect, despite the heat wave,” a source told People. “They dined under a tent, and it really looked like a picture-perfect garden party. They seemed like such an adorable, gentle family.”
Michael shared a photo of the family on a trail in North Dakota from July 12, 2015, and it shows them enjoying time together.
Recently, political commentator George Stephanopoulos and his comedian girlfriend Ali Wentworth, along with Dirty Dancing star Jennifer Grey, attended a special event. The celebration was for Schuyler’s wedding and Tracy Pollan’s 64th birthday.
Guests stayed at two beautiful places: the rustic Bluebird Hunter Lodge and the stylish Scribner’s Catskill Lodge. Scribner’s Catskill Lodge has also welcomed famous guests like Olivia Wilde and Rami Malek, known for playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
Even though Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan haven’t talked much about Schuyler’s wedding in public, and their daughters usually stay out of the spotlight, their son Sam did share a sweet birthday message for his mom.
Sam, now 35, posted a photo of Tracy dancing with one of the twins. He wrote, “Happy birthday Teep!! I love you so much and I’m very excited that I actually get to spend the day with you!! ([Schuyler] don’t worry, your post is coming later).”
Michael J. Fox also shared a loving birthday message for Tracy on Instagram. He wrote, “In every beautiful way, it’s beautiful Tracy’s beautiful day. I love you and today will be magnificent.” He added a black-and-white photo of Tracy and signed it, “Always forever your Mike with so-much love. Happy birthday. It’s gonna be an epic day.”
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