Miami residents are used to squirrels frolicking in their trees and rabbits scampering across the yard, but certain wildlife isn’t always the norm. For some residents though, other critters are making their homes in their backyards. Foxes have become frequent visitors in many neighborhoods and at least one resident has a groundhog living beneath a shed it burrowed under. “One of the neat things about living in Oklahoma for a lot of us is that we don’t live that far away from wildlife,” said Micah Holmes, Assistant Chief of the Communication and Education Division at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Originally published in the 10/15/2021 edition of the Miami News-Record - Page 1 and continues on Page 8

Miami pups will be strutting their stuff for a good cause at the 1st Annual Pup Strut on Saturday, October 9th from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Rotary Centennial Park. The event, which coincides with National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, is being co-sponsored by the Community Crisis Center of Northeast Oklahoma and the Miami Animal Alliance. The organizations hope to raise awareness of the connection between domestic violence and animal abuse. Originally appeared in the October 5, 2021 edition of the Miami News-Record

Read about Jessica S. Stout, a talented mural artist, and how she's creating a one-of-a-kind mural for Chapters, a cozy little book and coffee shop in downtown Miami, that features classic children's stories and one newer one. This story originally appeared on the front page of the Miami News-Record on September 24, 2021

Administrators at hospitals around the nation are issuing mandates for COVID-19 vaccines to their entire workforce in light of spiking cases primarily due to the Delta variant and vaccine hesitancy among their staff. Many facilities also cite that enforcing vaccination across their facilities helps protect their staff, who’ve borne the brunt of the pandemic, and their patients and facility visitors. While these healthcare facilities have always encouraged their staff members to get vaccinated, some going so far as offering incentives to do so, many now feel they must require the shots as a condition of employment to ensure facility-wide compliance and protection against the virus. The number of facilities requiring vaccinations is rapidly growing and those who are hesitant to draw the hardline won’t have a choice when the federal government steps in. -- View the entire list on Vivian Health --

Stressful work environments and neglecting self-care can swiftly lead to nurse burnout and other mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and compassion fatigue. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, fueled by the Delta variant and vaccine hesitancy, has exacerbated nurse burnout rates and put nurses at higher risk for acute stress disorder, PTSD, and other mental health issues. It’s important now more than ever that nurses have the support they need from their healthcare facilities during this unprecedented time of stress. There are numerous offerings a hospital can provide their staff to help improve mental health. If you’re a nurse, here are a few things to look for in a healthcare facility.

COVID-19 numbers are on the rise again, largely fueled by the Delta variant and vaccine hesitancy, and ICUs across the nation are filling up fast. Many healthcare systems are still recovering from previous surges, but ICU nurses are bracing themselves for yet another spike in COVID-19 patients and wondering whether the pandemic will ever end. ICU nurses are superheroes, but even superheroes can get tired when fighting a seemingly ceaseless battle without the proper support.

Prepper pantries help many feel more prepared for the unknown. Stock your own prepper pantry with these items for a well-stocked food supply. Whether you’re concerned about a zombie apocalypse or another unprecedented pandemic disrupting the supply chain, prepper pantries help prepare you for unforeseen events that can cause a very real concern over food shortages at local grocery stores. This article appeared in Living Off the Grid, a 2021 specialty publication produced by the editors and writers of Hobby Farms magazine.

Instead of the pitter-patter of little paws, your adoption aspirations may involve the clip-clop of large hooves. Adopting a horse from an adoption organization is a great way to provide a stable home for a horse in need while freeing up space for them to house another. But before you adopt one of these large, lovable animals, there are a few things you need to know. Print Version Originally Appeared in Horse Illustrated April 2021 Issue

When you walk into your local feed mill or farm-supply store during the spring, you’ll likely hear the cheep, cheep, cheep of baby chicks. Those little balls of fluff are adorable! But it’s important to resist the cute factor and focus on health to ensure your new flock or additional flock mates survive. Picking healthy chicks isn’t difficult when you know what to look for—from their peepers to their feet. This article originally appeared in the March/April 2021 issue of Chickens magazine.

Prescription pain reliever misuse was the second most common form of illicit drug use in the United States in 2018, with an estimated 9.9 million people aged 12 or older misusing painkillers, corresponding to 3.6% of the population. This guide explains the effects, trends, and dangers of painkiller use, as well as an unbiased analysis of the medicinal and behavioral treatment methods for painkiller addiction based on current research and publicly available statistics. In some cases, usage statistics are derived from general prescription painkiller use, and others are from specific painkillers, including oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, meperidine, codeine, morphine, and tramadol, among others.

Probiotics are good bacteria that are good for people. And probiotic farming can pump up plant health, which is also good for people. Healthy crops start with healthy soil. Probiotic farming not only makes your soil healthier, but it also offers a wealth of other benefits for farmers who want better crops while improving the growing area and the environment as a whole. Probiotic farmers utilize live microbes that are beneficial bacteria, just like the beneficial bacteria people ingest in probiotic foods or dietary supplements. In this sense, probiotics in farming act as supplements for the soil and ultimately the plants. This article originally appeared in the May/June 2020 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.

You don’t have to live on a rural route to own chickens ... City dwellers often have all sorts of interesting neighbors. But one that goes cluck-cluck and scratches around in the dirt probably isn’t the norm. While urban chicken farming has had its highs and lows, lots of people are still interested in raising fowl that are big on personality. The most common reason for raising city chickens is access to fresher eggs. But some are surprised that they also make great pets. It’s typically easy to care for chickens, but before you start your flock, learn more about what’s involved. This story originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Chickens magazine.

People become nurses for a multitude of reasons, but one reason cited most frequently is the desire to help people. This may be difficult for your family and friends to understand, especially if they've never had any desire to go into medicine. From your nursing code of ethics to well-deserved acknowledgement, here are seven things your family should know about nursing.

Technicians Stepping Up During COVID-19 Pandemic | Healthcare professionals are on the front lines during the response to the COVID-19 outbreak. While they tend to work behind the scenes, medical laboratory technicians and pharmacy technicians are an important part of this response and have vital roles to play. Throughout the nation, lab techs ensure the completion of critical testing for accurate patient diagnosis and treatment, and pharmacy techs put essential prescriptions in the hands that need them. During the ongoing pandemic, support staff are more important than ever.

Therapist Precautions While Treating COVID-19 Patients | Healthcare professionals should always protect themselves because they come into contact with many people suffering from a wide array of illnesses. When you're on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19, this is even more important. Because this is primarily a respiratory related illness, respiratory therapists providing therapy to COVID-19 patients are busier than ever and at greater risk than before. Take appropriate therapist precautions to keep yourself healthy and fit enough to continue the fight.

Pests can wreak havoc in a greenhouse. Literally thousands of insect species feed directly on the tissues of living plants. The warm, humid conditions and abundant food supply inside a greenhouse provide an ideal environment for pest development on a year-round basis. Natural enemies that keep these pests under control outdoors aren’t always present in a greenhouse. Pest situations can develop rapidly and become chronic without early detection and immediate eradication. Year-round greenhouse pest management can be challenging for small-scale hobby farmers. Here's what to look for and how to keep pests outside. This story originally appeared in the November/December 2019 issue of Hobby Farms magazine.