Got a cicada problem? Call Carl.

It's prime cicada season here in Nashville and the little devils are all over the place. In the air, on the ground, everywhere. The other night Ms. Tejas and I were having a libation on the porch when one plopped into her gin and tonic. However, we are fortunate that Carl is on the job. Carl is our 95 lb. labrador retriever/german shepard mix. And Carl likes cicadas...to eat.

Carl has been snapping them out of the air and hunting them on the ground. The other day I watched him do a grid search of our front yard and find somewhere around eight to ten bugs in the grass which were promptly consumed. Last night we watched him eat five on the porch and another three or four on the steps.

Did I say he weighed 95 lbs.? Nah. We had him at the vet this week and his weight was 98 lbs. I'm sure part of his gain results from the bugs.

Carl is on a bug diet now due to his weight gain and a worry he may get blocked up. However, if your Cicada infestation is out of control let me know and I'll ask Carl if he does house calls.

Carl sounds like my last pooch, Grumpy.

Her thing was June Bugs. Same deal, catch them mid-air, hunt them on the ground and if necessary, dig up their larva.