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.

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.

Western Toads

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

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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.

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 

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.

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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

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

The curious moose

Hana and Miro Struss sat quietly in their truck to watch a cow and calf moose. The mom left the scene, then the calf followed, but not before getting a good look at the photographer :)

Enjoy

In contrast to the post earlier this week showing the devastation caused by a group irresponsible individuals, this is what you'll find if you wander down the Gus Johnson trail a little further. A beautiful bench made by John Krawchuck. 

Who does stuff like this?

LOCATION: Big Bay (on the beach with the bench)

DATE: During the weekend -- July 12 and/or 13

FOUND: Save On shopping bag (fabric, new), several empty zip lock bags, aluminum foil, beer cans and bottles, Johnsonville weiners, cigarette butts, folding camping chair, roasting fork.

What you don't see in this collection of images is the photo of the campfire site -- the same location that has been used in the past few weeks. These individuals might be interested in this:

Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness may be fined up to $1 million, spend up to three years in prison and be held accountable for associated firefighting costs.

We're watching you.

Campfire Ban

Campfires to be banned within the Kamloops Fire Centre

7/14/2014 3:51 PM

Effective at noon on Wednesday, July 16, all campfires will be prohibited throughout the entire Kamloops Fire Centre. This prohibition will remain in place until the public is notified that it has been rescinded. A map of the area covered by the campfire ban is available online here:See a map This step is being taken to help prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety. The fire danger rating is currently "high" throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, with scattered pockets of "extreme". With the current trend of warm and dry weather, wildfires in the region have displayed very aggressive behaviour and required additional fire suppression resources. Human-caused wildfires can divert critical resources and crews from responding to naturally occurring wildfires. Open burning is also prohibited throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. This prohibition applies to open fires of any size, fires with a burn registration number, industrial burning, fireworks, tiki torches, sky lanterns and burning barrels. The prohibition does not apply to cooking stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes, or to a portable campfire apparatus with a CSA or ULC rating that uses briquettes, liquid or gaseous fuel, as long as the height of the flame is less than 15 centimetres. The open burning prohibition covers all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with local governments for any other restrictions before lighting a fire. Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban, including campfires, may be issued a ticket for up to $345. Anyone who causes a wildfire through arson or recklessness may be fined up to $1 million, spend up to three years in prison and be held accountable for associated firefighting costs. To report a violation of the campfire ban within the Kamloops Fire Centre, please call 1 844 NRO-TIPS (1 844 676-8477) or fill out the reporting form at: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/ To report a wildfire or unattended campfire, call 1 800 663-5555 or #5555 on your cellphone. For the latest information on current wildfire activity, burning restrictions, road closures and air quality advisories, go to: www.bcwildfire.ca You can also follow the latest wildfire news -- On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/BCGovFireInfo On Facebook at: http://facebook.com/BCForestFireInfo