Thursday, August 28, 2014

Western Gall Rust

Lodgepole pine with multiple galls.
Old stem gall. Note rough surface of bark.
Symptoms resulting from complete girdling.
Infections on stems of young trees often result in hip cankers as the trees grow.

Do any of these images look familiar to you? You may have pine trees invested with Western Gall Rust. Kathy Wyse contacted the Ministry of Forests to ask about this problem, and was advised that this is a common health issue in young pine. Galls on the main stem will girdle the tree and kill it.

What can you do about it?

  • Cut off and burn all galls that are on branches. This will reduce the spread on your own trees, but keep in mind that spores travel several kilometres. 
  • Cut off the main stem below the gall and burn the tops. The tree will then grow like a bush, but it will live. 

If we all check the trees in our yards and do what is recommended, it could save some of our young trees.

From the Ministry of Forests and Range website:

Distribution: Throughout B.C. Host 
Susceptibility: Highly susceptible species are lodgepole and ponderosa pine. 
Signs & Symptoms: Western gall rust produces round woody swellings on stems and branches. Orange spores are produced on galls in late spring. These spores directly infect other pines through elongating leaders and branch shoots. Suitable climatic conditions that occur every few years result in "wave years" of infection. The fungus is an obligate parasite and remains alive as long as the host branch or stem. However, infections stop releasing spores after about age 10. Most stem infections occur below a height of 3 m. Hip cankers result in distorted growth from partial stem girdling. Infected bark can be fed upon by squirrels.  
Damage: Western gall rust is very common throughout the range of lodgepole pine. Stem galls often lead to mortality either through girdling or through stem breakage. Branch galls do not cause serious harm. The disease is usually more evenly distributed throughout stands than blister rusts, which require an alternate host. 
Can Be Confused With: Small galls can be confused with Comandra infections, particularly when spores are present. Gall rust produces distinct woody swellings while blister rusts do not.
Thank you, Kathy Wyse, for looking into this!

Photos from Forest Practices Branch, Ministry of Forests and Range.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Missing: 3 Black Labs

UPDATE: Good news. The dogs were found by some people out geocaching near Knutsford -- quite a few kilometres from home! They are a little tired but in good shape.

Have you seen black Labrador Retrievers in your neighbourhood or on the trails?

They escaped from Ken and Gina Mcpherson's yard on Osprey Road this morning around 9am and have not yet returned home.

If there have been any sightings please phone Ken - 250-819-2023 or Gina 250-819-0656. These phone numbers are also on the dogs' tags.

Thank you so much for your assistance locating them.


Thursday, August 14, 2014

Western Toads

Thanks, Sonia Walczak, for alerting us that the Western Toad migration has begun!



These little guys migrate across Lac Le Jeune Road, starting around the Michell Ranch for about 1 km south, every mid to late August. The migration takes a few days.

If all residents took the Coquihalla during these few days there would be many less toads being killed on the road as they cross. They are so small right now I’m sure many people don’t even notice them on the road.

Today I saw 2 biologists meeting with the Ministry of Transportation to see if we can build a culvert for the toads to use to cross the road.

Western Toads are on the provincial Yellow List, and are considered a species of conservation concern!
Visit the “frogwatch” website for more information.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

RCMP News Release


news release

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

File Number: 2014-428

Summary: Break and Enter to a residence August 2, 2014

In the early morning hours of August 2, 2014, a residence in Logan Lake had its front door broken into with a lot of force, causing significant damage to the door jam and frame.

Unknown person(s) entered the residence where an elderly couple were sleeping and unaware. Nothing was taken from the residence and only a light was left on in the dining area of the residence.

A person of interest was described as being observed in the immediate area at approximately 6 AM and police are interested in identifying the male and speaking with him. It is unknown of the male's involvement, but he was descibed as a white male, 5'10" - 6' tall, between 17-25 years of age wearing beige pants, white camoflage shirt and a ball cap.

If anyone has any information that could lead to the identity of these suspects or vehicles please contact the Logan Lake RCMP at 250-523-6222 or Crimestoppers at 1(800) 222-(TIPS) 8477.

Respectfully,

Cpl. K. THAIN 
Logan Lake RCMP 
250-523-6222 

Monday, August 4, 2014

Dog found in lake

I just received this information, and will update this post if we receive a description of the dog or further news.

UPDATE: The dog is mid-large and brown. She is recovering nicely, and in very good hands with Dawn.

UPDATE #2:  Happy ending! The dog has been reunited with her family -- Kim and Clay on Marmot.


A dog was found in the middle of the lake today. She was exhausted and hungry. She barely kept her head up as she swam in, and seemed disoriented when she got out.

 The dog is currently with Dawn Killough in Kamloops 250-573-3755

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Hold the date

https://flic.kr/p/Dmr74
The Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association Annual General Meeting will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2014. Location and time to come.

Draft Agenda


  1. Approval of AGM minutes of September 1, 2013 
  2. President's Report
  3. Treasurer's Report
  4. TNRD Representative Report
  5. Citizens On Patrol Report
  6. RCMP Report
  7. Discussion Topic
  8. Lake Monitoring Program Report
  9. Ajax Mine Citizen Advisory Committee Representative
  10. Elections