Totally Natural Regional District

Enjoy this video of the wildlife in our region!

Totally Natural Regional DistrictKISS.mp4 from Frank Ritcey on Vimeo.

Bats: A World of Science and Mystery

The University of Chicago Press free e-book of the month is all about bats!

 

BC SPCA asks public to remove bird feeders after salmonella outbreak

-----BC SPCA News Release January 25, 2021-----

The BC SPCA is asking the public to temporarily remove backyard bird feeders in order to stop the spread of a deadly salmonella outbreak that has spread throughout the province. The outbreak is affecting pine siskin birds specifically.

“2021 has gotten off to a rough start for pine siskins on southern Vancouver Island and the rest of the province with a deadly outbreak of salmonella,” says Andrea Wallace, manager of wild animal welfare.

So far in January, the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) has admitted 43 pine siskin birds with many of them showing signs of disease but few surviving.

“Salmonella is a severe and contagious disease so we’re asking people to temporarily remove, or at the very least clean, their bird feeders and bird baths to prevent further spread of the disease,” says Wallace.

Halloween 2020

This is a summary of activities and tips I've heard from residents. I'm also including tips to decrease the risk of getting or spreading COVID-19, along with other general safety information.

• The Halloween Goblin Wagon will once again be touring the neighbourhoods!
• Plan for approximately 30 trick-or-treaters.
• Provide well-lit self-serve outdoor treat stations. 
• This is an excellent safety list from BC Centre for Disease Control
• There will be a fireworks display on Water Street at 7:30 and residents are encouraged to watch from a distance. If you're planning your own fireworks display, please keep to the 7:30 schedule that's already been established.
• Keep your pets indoors and ensure all escape routes are closed off. When terrified by noise from fireworks, animals may bolt and NEVER find their way back home. 
• If your pets are stressed, stay with them.
• Nix the fake spider web decorations; birds and small animals can get wrapped up in it.
• Pumpkins attract bears so bring them indoors at the end of the evening.

Sylvia

Toad migration has begun!

The western toad migration has begun! These little guys cross Lac Le Jeune Road every summer around this time in a stretch of road near the Michell Ranch.

You can help out these little toads by taking the Coquihalla on your trips to Kamloops during migration. They are so small many people don’t even notice them on the road.

sydney Rae

Mice in your house?

This year mice seem to be seeking indoor living spaces earlier than usual! It may be related to the cool start to the season. This information about controlling mice was submitted by biologist Roberta Roberta Olenick.

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Please do not use poison to get rid of mice. I know they can be a problem if they come inside your house, but poison is not an appropriate way to address the problem. A poisoned mouse, even if still alive, can pass the poison on to innocent victims including pets and wildlife.

Poisons used to control mice not only cause a slow and inhumanely cruel death to mice and other rodents, they also kill non-target species including owls and other raptors as well as mammals including cats and other pets. Rodents that have ingested the poison and are thus weakened but not yet dead are easy prey for predators who then die from ingesting the poisoned rodents as secondary victims. Dead rodents are eaten by scavengers who again are secondarily poisoned. Secondary doses of poison that do not kill outright still have serious impacts on the health and long term survival of birds and other wildlife as well as pets.

Even if you put the poison only inside your house, that does not solve the problem of non-target species getting poisoned. A poisoned mouse can easily leave your house before it dies and get eaten by your neighbour’s cat, an owl...

Glue traps are inhumane, causing slow and agonizing death, and may catch non-target species.

The good news is there are far safer and more effective ways to control rodents besides poisons and sticky glue traps. Snap-traps usually kill mice quickly without harming non-target species. Even more humane is a live trap to catch the mice and then relocating them away from your home. Here is a link to how to make your own live trap using common household items.

You could also try cayenne pepper to keep mice away. Also, steel wool to block gaps where they are entering your house works extremely well.

Here are a couple of links about the serious negative impacts of rodent poisons on owls. 

1. "Super-Toxic" Rat Poison Kills Owls 

2. Poisons Used to Kill Rodents Have Safer Alternatives

Moose in mourning

Snapshot from Steve Roy's webcam http://www.laclejeune.ca

What started as a shared moose-spotting from Steve Roy's webcam in our Lac Le Jeune community group soon turned to a tragic story as residents chimed in with reports of a drowned calf.

A moose and calf have been frequent visitors to Provincial Park and east end of the lake for the last few months. Earlier this week the calf fell through a hole in the lake, apparently at a weak spot created by otters. Three men pulled the calf out but sadly it was too late. The distraught mother has been pacing the area since the incident.

Photo by Sandra Putnam

Sandra Putnam and her pug fell in the same hole on the weekend. Luckily Sandra caught herself waist deep and was able to get them both out to safety. She cautions that piles of dirt on the lake are likely caused by otters leaving a hole. These holes can then get covered with snow so it's difficult to know where they're located.

~Sylvia Currie~

Let's talk about fireworks

Photo by Alexander Kagan on Unsplash

Aside from the mention of fireworks in the context of fire bans, we haven't shared very much on the Lac Le Jeune blog about this practice. There was one post to pass along advice from the SPCA for keeping pets safe. Then there were several reminders about the dangers of fireworks, but all related to wildfires. We haven't really addressed fireworks in the context of noise pollution and the impact on humans, pets, and wildlife. Given the firework activity during the holidays, including Christmas Eve, it seems like a good time to raise awareness.

Fireworks are a common form of celebration, obviously enjoyed by many. In Lac Le Jeune we have a long-time tradition of fireworks to bring in the new year. Some years we hear fireworks on halloween night and during Canada Day celebrations if weather/wildfire situation permits. In any case, the dates and times we could expect to hear fireworks have always been fairly predictable.

This winter there has been both scheduled and random firework activity. In some cases residents have made an effort to warn others through the LLJ Facebook group. Thank you! This is helpful for those of us who need to prepare our pets.

How do you help nervous pets?

It's multi-step and time-sensitive. You can download an entire book on the subject, but here's a quick list is from my own experience.

1. Get a thundershirt or other body wrap on well before the fireworks begin
2. Ensure all escape routes are closed off -- pets may bolt and NEVER return
3. Help pets gain access to locations where they can feel less traumatized -- e.g. basement, under a bed, corner of a bathroom -- there's something appealing about tile floors.
4. Play calming/drowning music. Vivaldi works for us.
5. Stay with them!
6. Help them recuperate (which is why it's helpful to know when the fireworks are going to end). I use treats and play.

What's it like for wildlife?

This is a well researched topic. The issues are too many to list -- permanent hearing loss, nesting animals flee,  panicked and disoriented animals get separated from their young, death from impact with buildings and traffic... and so on.

Trends 

What is the appeal of fireworks? Noise for some, but there is also the spectacular light display. I don't know if we have these spectacular displays in Lac Le Jeune because I'm in the basement :) However, some cities like Banff have implemented silent light shows.

Complete bans on the sale and use of fireworks are being implemented around the world because of the negative impact on wildlife.

What's legal?

There are no no bylaws governing fireworks in the Thompson Nicola Regional District. There is a bylaw regarding "excessive and persistent" noise. I don't expect it would ever come to that but it's good to know there is some recourse. And if we do feel there should be a specific fireworks bylaw this is something we can work toward.

Other solutions?

Personally I prefer a more community-oriented approach which involves education to raise awareness about the downside of fireworks. I've contacted WildSafeBC to see if there are any resources and programs in place.

What's the ask? 

Nobody wants to be the fun police! My attitude is occasional noise in our community is fine as long as it's about having fun. Even though I don't personally understand the appeal of fireworks I appreciate that others enjoy them. A lot! So the ask is the same for any type of noise and for any day or occasion:

Consider celebrating with everyone in mind. 

In that vein, Christmas Eve is definitely not the time for fireworks. Let's not do that again, ok?

Sylvia Currie

Moose alert

Keep an eye out when in and around the provincial park campsite area. Yesterday Dana Mattice was charged by a cow moose protecting her calf. 

Not the actual moose :) 

Bear spray workshop for outdoor enthusiasts

We are coordinating a workshop in collaboration with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District WildSafeBC Community Program for Lac Le Jeune residents to learn how to use bear spray effectively.

The workshop will be held on Thursday, September 13th, 4:00 - 6:00pm. Topics to address include:
- what bear spray is
- how and what to purchase
- proper storage when at home or travelling
- proper deployment of the spray (allowing everyone to deploy inert bear spray for practice)

There will be a nominal fee based on the number of participants. It is payable on the day of the workshop. The cost of each can of inert training bear spray for a group of 4 people to practice with is $25.

Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by a guardian and must show respectful maturity when using inert bear spray.

By completing this registration form you are stating that you are interested and available at this date and time. If there are any changes to your circumstances please email sylvia.currie at gmail dot com.

You will be contacted closer to the workshop date with further information about venue and what to expect.

 

The toads are crossing the road!

The western toad migration has begun! These little guys cross Lac Le Jeune Road every summer around this time in a 1-kilometre stretch of road near the Michell Ranch.

You can help out these little toads by taking the Coquihalla on your trips to Kamloops during these few days of migration. They are so small many people don’t even notice them on the road.

sydney Rae

Bears around Lac Le Jeune

Residents have spotted bears in and around Lac Le Jeune in the past couple of weeks. There was a bear grazing along Ridgemont earlier today. With the very dry weather the bears are no doubt coming to lower ground in search of food.

It's not unusual for bears to move through the community in search of food. As long as they continue to eat vegetation, insects, and small rodents and NOT garbage or other human-caused attractants, there will be no conflict.

Please check the WildSafeBC website to learn about black bear habits and behaviour, and how to keep everyone safe.

Further comments or follow-up questions for AJAX?

The following document from KGHM is a response to the questions and concerns that the Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association submitted during the recent Ajax Project Public Comment Period. 

Do you have any comments or follow up questions to the response we received? Please add your comments below or contact a Lac Le Jeune Conservation Association area rep. The Association will compile your input and send a letter of concerns. 

(Click to access full document (PDF)

Click to access full document (PDF)

BC Wildlife Federation - Invitation to Town Hall Meeting

Photo by Peter Sulzle, taken in Lac Le Jeune

The BC Wildlife Federation has organized a series of Town Hall meetings across the province to discuss declining wildlife populations, strains on natural resources and a lack of funding for fish and wildlife management. Please plan to participate in the Kamloops meeting. There is no cost to attend.

Kamloops - Tuesday, April 4, 7.00 p.m. at the Calvary Community Church, 1205 Rogers Way

Information for Waterfront Land Owners

Neighbours,

Please be advised of the following information related to waterfront property around Lac Le Jeune (all documents can be reviewed on-line):

From the Quick Guide brochure

1. Quick Guide For Waterfront Land Owners and Developers - Province (PDF)

2. Riparian Areas Regulation Guidebook For Waterfront Home Owners and Property Developers - Province (PDF)

3. Riparian Areas Regulation FAQ Sheet - Thompson Nicola Regional District (PDF)

4. Lakeshore Development Guidelines -Thompson Nicola Regional District (PDF)

5. On The Living Edge, Your Handbook For Waterfront Living - Sarah Kipp and Clive Callaway (Excerpts from this book are available online)

Regulations are in place that restrict removal of natural landscape beside the lake. The basic intent is to retain the integrity of natural conditions that protect fish and wildlife habitat, as well as maintain water quality. Clear cutting of lakeshore property within the riparian area (30 meter setback from lake), especially steep slopes, and removal of shoreline vegetation are not permitted.

~ Gregg Lindros ~

Blue Heron

Photos by Harvey Dalley - HJDalley Photo Art and Web Design - www.hjdalley.ca - Photos were taken in the Fall of 2016

Thanks to Kathy Wyse for connecting with Harvey to share these photos of Blue Heron at Lac Le Jeune.

Neighbourhood moose

This cow moose and calf have been making the rounds around our LLJ neighbourhoods and hiking trails. These photos by Hana Struss are from this morning on Lookout Road. 

What do you do if you encounter this pair? Here are some moose safety tips from WildSafeBC

• Never approach a moose. Give the animals a wide berth and ensure they always have an escape route. 

• Female moose with calves need extra space. Moose cows are very protective of their young and may attack if they perceive a threat. If you come across a cow and calf, calmly leave the area immediately. 

• Be aware of moose body language. A threatened moose may lower its head and flatten its ears before charging. If you see these behaviours, find an escape route. 

• If a moose does charge you, getting inside a nearby building or car is the safest option, but hiding behind a large tree or other solid object may effectively block the charge. 

• Dogs and moose don’t mix. A moose can seriously injure or kill a dog if it feels threatened. Likewise, loose dogs can harass moose, causing undue stress. Never let your dog out if there is a moose in your yard. 

Bear and Cub on Gus Johnson

John Krawchuck reported a sow bear and cub sighting on the Gus Johnson. They were spotted this morning around 8am at 50.47634, -120.48322, near the gate close to Big Bay, known as Pirate Bay to some.

I added a Wildlife Sighting marker to our new Lac Le Jeune Community Map. If you spot wildlife you can add a marker to the map, along with the date and approximate time. No log in required. Adding markers is mostly for fun, but it might also help us to make decisions about where to venture out if there are persistent sightings, and over time we might begin to see patterns. Feel free to add historical data as well!

Western Toad Migration

Although we don't have an official program in place to assist with the western toad migration across Lac Le Jeune Road, we can all do our part to protect these little guys. The migration has begun, and most of the toads cross in the area between Michell Ranch and Inks Lake overpass (Jacko Lake turn off). Please slow down to a snail's pace when passing through that area, or take the Coquihalla Highway instead. Western Toads are protected under the British Columbia Wildlife Act.

What else can you do to help?
Participate in the BC Frogwatch Program by contributing information about the Western Toad -- incidental sightings or long-term monitoring. Visit the BC Frogwatch Program website for more information.

From the Species Fact Sheet:

One of the greatest impacts on Western Toad populations in B.C. is habitat destruction. Development in and around wetlands can destroy or isolate populations. Migrating toads are killed by traffic on roads. Pollution, the introduction of aquatic predators (e.g., stocking lakes with fish), and the spread of diseases are also harmful. Large-scale concerns such as global warming and ozone depletion can affect Western Toads by changing temperatures, affecting water levels, and increasing ultraviolet radiation. Western Toads are on the provincial Yellow List, and are considered a species of conservation concern. 

A Chance for the Best Possible Outcome thanks to Three Mikes

Submitted by Jacquie Brugger

Many thanks to Mike Ritcey of Search and Rescue, and Mike Anfield of Crazy about Loons Photo Tours. Another call to Conservation about a loon with a red fishing bobber around its neck resulted with these two volunteers coming here to see what they could do. The loon had taken up a spot on a grassy area by the lake on Water Street. With help from resident Mike Brugger, the loon was a successfully captured. It was decided that the loon had possibly swallowed the hook and would be taken to the Wildlife Park for care.