Ask A Grackle
Dear Grackle,
My son came home from school the other day scratching his head. It turns out he has lice! I know birds sometimes deal with parasites in their feathers; do you have any tips for getting rid of itchy little critters?
Sincerely,
Nit-picker
Dear Nit-picker,
BOY DO I HAVE A TIP FOR YOU! THIS IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE SELF-CARE RITUALS; IT’S CALLED ANTING. TELL YOUR SON HE SHOULD PICK UP SOME ANTS AND RUB THEM ALL OVER HIMSELF - OR EVEN JUST LIE DOWN IN AN ANT BED FOR A WHILE. GRACKLES AND OTHER BIRDS HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. HUMAN SCIENTISTS THINK WE DO IT TO GE RID OF THE TINY MITES LIVING IN OUR FEATHERS. ALL I KNOW IS THAT AFTER RUBBING ANTS ALL OVER MYSELF, I HAVE A NICE FRAGRANCE OF FORMIC ACID. YOUR SON SHOULD GIVE IT A TRY. WHAT COULD GO WRONG?!
Yours,
Grackle
Have a question for the grackle? Email us at magazine@tpwd.texas.gov and we will pass it along to our avian adviser. The grackle's opinions are its own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
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