I’ve been in an 18-year love-hate relationship with a black walnut tree.

It’s a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs threaten the skulls (头骨) of you, your children, your neighbors and those that reside next door to them. Umbrellas in the yard are a must while dining in early August, and as for me, I wear my bike helmet while working in the garden.

The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a competitive strategy. It’s poisonous to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with hopes that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to flourish.

What does work are native plants that naturally grow in the area. Native plants are important to have around since they provide beneficial pollinators (传粉者) like birds, bees and butterflies with seeds and contribute to a healthy and biodiverse environment. Native plants for this area are generally easy to grow, so they experience less stress.

Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87-inch trunk is next to impossible. It’s also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it.

Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can’t imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I’d miss falling asleep on lazy weekend afternoons as I look up into its leaves.

Every spring, I wonder what the season holds: What are the chances of being knocked unconscious while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I’ll never be pleased. I’m stuck with this tree, so I’ll listen to its needs and give it the space it requires. In return, my walnut offers a habitat for wildlife and a reminder.

When going on holiday, you normally expect nothing but to relax, enjoy yourselves and above all stay safe. Sometimes, you may sadly have to face certain unexpected problems that would end your sweet holidays without any warning, such as a typhoon or an earthquake. But holidaymakers at the Red Sea resort in Egypt are facing a different problem, which you may have never thought of before.

The resort is famous for its golden beaches, warm sea and nice weather, and it is an excellent place for scuba diving(带水肺潜水). But at the moment, no tourists are willing to take the risk of diving into the water due to the recent shark attacks. These attacks have caused one death and several injuries over the last few weeks.

According to some biologists, these sharks live in the open ocean, and are frequently seen in the ocean of this region. But as they have pointed out, it was not common for swimmers to run into them in shallow waters.

Experts are still not sure what has lured the sharks into these waters and to attack people. However, they all believe that shark attacks are extremely rare and they are definitely not man-eaters as shown in films like Jaws. One thought is that animal carcasses(尸体) were recently thrown into the sea from a ship close to the shore. Some experts believe that it could just be a case of people being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

A shark attack might make you think twice before stepping into the sea, but things may not be as severe as you've thought. According to recent research, there are about 70 to 100 attacks on humans per year, and only a small number of them are fatal.

Mark Williams runs a scuba diving company at the resort, and he is concerned about how the local authorities will deal with these sharks. ''Tens of millions of sharks have been hunted and killed by humans every year!'' Mark points out. ''They are an essential part of the marine(海洋的) ecosystem.''

It’s Time to Stop Hugging Your Chickens

If you’re an urban or suburban chicken farmer, there’s a chance you may consider your egg-producing, feathered friends family. You may have even given your chickens names, and you certainly care about them deeply. But do you hug and kiss them?

So far in 2019, there have been 1,003 cases in 49 states linked to salmonella (沙门氏菌) poisoning from contact with backyard chickens, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). Two people have died from the infection and 175 have been hospitalized.

The outbreak of salmonella can be traced back to chicks, ducklings and other poultry from multiple hatcheries (孵化场) in several states. People who have gotten birds that began life in these hatcheries are getting sick after close contact with the birds. However, the CDC notes, all live poultry can carry salmonella bacteria, regardless of where they were purchased and even if they look healthy and clean.

Of course, not all of those who have gotten ill have kissed their chickens. Any human contact with an infected bird can lead to illness. The CDC explains how:

People can be infected with Salmonella germs when they put their hands or equipment that has been in contact with poultry, in or around their mouth. Children younger than 5 years are more likely to get sick because their immune systems are still developing, and they are more likely to put their fingers and other objects into their mouths.

People can also get sick without actually touching a bird. Germs on your hands can spread easily to other people or surfaces. That’s why it’s important to wash hands immediately with soap and water after touching poultry or anything in the area where they live and roam.

To minimize the risk of salmonella poisoning from live poultry, the CDC recommends always assuming that contamination (污染) can happen and recommends the following:

·After touching live poultry or an area where they’ve been, wash your hands with soap and water. If none is available, use hand sanitizer (消毒杀菌剂).

·Don’t let children under age 5 handle or touch live poultry without adult supervision.

·If you have clothes and shoes soiled from being around poultry, wash your hands after removing them.

·Cook eggs that you’ve collected from backyard hens thoroughly since salmonella can pass to the interior (内部的) eggs.

· Clean equipment and materials associated with the birds.

·Don’t bring live poultry inside your house.

And you might love your chickens, but the CDC specifically points out, “Don’t kiss backyard poultry, or embrace them and then touch your face or mouth.”