Category: Fauna


Local ranchers are saying that their cattle have come home from summer grazing here in Merritt BC Canada. A local rancher says he is looking forward to the cycle again that will see him put his spring calf’s born in March and April out on some good grass grazing in some meadows he has on Iron Mountain. Iron Mountain is within sight of the city and has some residences on the south east side. He says his calf’s always do well on the grass lands there. Keeping calf’s and selling them as yearlings can be profitable but timing , weight and the length of time to keep them is a risk that needs some expertise. The Local ranchers voiced concerns about the return of wolfs in this area. as ” some where seen by some naturalists on the Thompson River side of Styoma mountain” in recent years. Bruno Mailloux, of Douglas lake agrees that loss of calf’s however it happens can be a hardship on ranchers.
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Wolfs in British Columbia were hunted to near extinction under a bounty system by Government, in recent years their value to the overall ecology has been reinforced by science and in particular the health of Elk heards coexisting with wolfs in Yellowstone park in the US.
Merritt has recently seen a change to feed lots for dairy cattle. The dairy cows having a two year stay in feed lots before being returned to the lower mainland to produce milk. Grass grown here for feed lots puts grazing land in high pastures at a more interesting level of use.
Today in history: November 6th 1869
In new Brunswick the first American, intercollegiate Football game New England Rutgers College defeats Princeton University.

Free Flu shot- Dec 5th

Free range Turkeys out and about on Garcia street, poultry workers are considered at risk for the flu and qualify for free flu clinics. Photo KDG

Free range Turkeys out and about on Garcia street, poultry workers are considered at risk for the flu and qualify for free flu clinics.
Photo KDG

The public health people are offering flu shots to those at risk on November 5th, 10 AM -5PM at the Merritt civic center..This is the last opportunity for this clinic as a previous day on October 29th precedes this, at the 1950 Mamette Avenue location. There is a catch up clinic at the Public health Center 3451 Voght street, December 3rd 9AM to 4PM , an appointment is necessary for this clinic. Call 250-378-3400.
Watch out for the advanced poll for the November 15th general election that is on that day to avoid confusion. It is next door at City Hall, 2185 Voght Street from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Today in history: November 4th 2008

The United States elects its first African-American president:

SERUM

Opinion:

The news that a nurse hosting the Ebola Virus has been declared free of the disease is well received and hopeful. Logic says that a person once quarantined now free is also carrying antibodies against the virus, making serum from her blood is now a possible  treatment for carriers, this use of her blood could be as expediential as the cotangent could have been. With thousands of forces going to West Africa to treat the source of the outbreak it gives us calm to know this resource exists.

The WHO has stated that transfusion of whole blood or purified serum from Ebola survivors is the therapy with the greatest potential to be implemented immediately, although there is little information as to its efficacy.[209] September 2014, WHO issued an interim guideline for this therapy.[210] The blood serum from those who have survived an infection is currently being studied to see if it is an effective treatment.[211] During a meeting arranged by WHO, this research was deemed to be a top priority.[211] Seven of eight people with Ebola survived after receiving a transfusion of blood donated by individuals who had previously survived the infection in an 1999 outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[97][212] This treatment, however, was started late in the disease meaning they may have already been recovering on their own and the rest of their care was better than usual.[97] Thus this potential treatment remains controversial.[18]Intravenous antibodies appear to be protective in nonhuman primates who have been exposed to large doses of Ebola.[213] The WHO has approved the use of convalescent serum and whole blood products to treat people with Ebola    source Wikipedia

Stay safe and take all reasonable precautions in this interconnected world we have.

Today in history:  Oct 28th 1538

The first university in the new world is established in the Hispaniola  (Dominican Republic)

 

 

 

Busy time CO

Speaking to a local CO this week we became aware that it is a busy time for the conservation office office. ” hunting season is full on we are busy said a local officer. When asked if court time takes up a lot of his time he replied that not himself but others in the office time is taken up by it. “I will prosecute minor ticketed offences myself serious cases are referred to crown council” Is there a motion for confiscation of sporting equipment? If its evidence it can wind up in a punitive forfeit said the officer.
Merritt is in region 3 Thompson it is always good advice to follow the published regulations.
Today in History: October 16th 1997
The Cassini probe is on its way to Saturn

Nicola Naturalist Society

The local Naturalists had there AGM on September 18th, they reported 63 members after its 4th Year of operation. they have a schedule of monthly meetings in the non summer part of what they do. Speakers included Bruce Archibald ( Fossils of the BC interior),Richard Doucette, ( mine reclamation) Barbara Pryce ( nature conservancy of Canada) and they reported others. The group had outings over the year including the Christmas bird count, Spius Creek Hatchery, and many frogging outings. They had two nature presentation in elementary schools by members. They report their website as having 5 50 visits on average per month, http://www.nicolanaturalists.ca/ .They report a healthy balance sheet with a three fold increase in income over last year to $14,119.11 after paying $11,259.62 in expenses they had a net income of 2,859.49. The club has a balance of $6,936.02 in cash and $4,310.26 in assets, with outstanding liabilities of 75 dollars in cheques to clear, and 1500 dollars in liability to BC nature. they report 15 dollars in petty cash reserve. Directors for 2014/15: Alan Burger Norm Hanson D. Kerridge Anne Pang Chris Lepsol Margret Carlson

The next meeting is on October 16th 2014 with Doreen Olson on the Similkameen Natural park proposal, the presentation starts at 7:00 in the NVIT Lecture Theater

Today in history, October 8th 1904 The Canadian City of Edmonton Alberta is incorporated.

The local fire men were in front of the downtown community policing office with an information table on Monday. They were promoting National Fire Prevention week. One of the fire fighters when asked about a national statistic said that 50 percent of people who die in fires did not have a smoke detector. He said that people should have them and make sure they are in working condition.The young man thought that the average live of a smoke detector is 10 years; ” they don”t always chirp when that batteries are low” he cautioned.

The man in response to the question are fires in beds and couches are caused by smoking he replied< "they are down as less people smoke" National Fire Protection Week is coordinated between Canada and the US and always occurs in the week that October 9th is in. this year it is October 5th through 11th, however it should never end.

Today in history: October 7th 1987
Jeremy Brockie, New Zealand , footballer born

Demolish

demolition of the 2000 block Quilchena avenue building: underway Photo KDG

Demolition of the 2000 block Quilchena avenue building: underway
Poto KDG


The Excavator came back, tarps and traffic cones with warning tapes for asbestos in place demolition of the old pool hall started at 2PM the 23rd of September/14.
Today in history: September 25th 1912
The Columbia Graduate school of journalism is founded.

Nicola Naturalists

The local naturalists are starting their fall/winter program on Thursday the 18th, they will have their member photo night and annual meeting at 7 PM in room 0001.
President Alan Burger, a PHD and artic explorer is the president at this time, and will present a brief AGM. The group has monthly meetings with guest speakers open to the public with a request for membership or donation.

Today in history: September 18th 1906

A typoon kills ten thousand people in Hong Kong.

Spawning salmon

Salmon, Photo: KDG

Salmon, Photo: KDG

Returning salmon, look for spawning opportunity, Photo KDG

Returning salmon, look for spawning opportunity, Photo KDG

Returning salmon, look for spawning opportunity, Photo KDG[/caption]Salmon are seen in the Coldwater River, some dead after spawning some still looking for the right bit of gravel bed that was the water temperature from the time  the fish were fry here. Water temperature is all important for the navigation of returning salmon.

Black bears are also being seen near the water of the two rivers that meet in our Nicola Avenue, with piles of scat about town it makes for a caution that needs to be respected.

Today in history: September 16th 1987

The Montreal accord is signed for the protection of the ozone layer:

Bears about!

bears leaving fish in park

A fish dropped by bears when feeding. file photo KDG

A lady reported that bears have been about and one took a piece out of her iron gate. Helen a resident of the north end of Garcia street says that a big black bear is about and a mother with two cubs.

Its been said that when bears are feeding on meat they are more dangerous to people then when eating berries and grubs, regardless care should be taken  the regional district has a bear aware program.

Bears On The Prowl Before Hibernation

Thompson-Nicola Regional District

tnrd.ca

For Immediate Release (November 19/12): The Bear Aware program and the Thompson-

Nicola Regional District would like to remind everyone to ensure their community stays free of

bear attractants this month as bears make final preparations for hibernation. Bears aim to gain

two to five pounds per day during this period, so they are on the lookout for any easy meals.

Surveys conducted in the last two weeks revealed that

garbage bins, barbecues, and yard waste are the top three bear

attractants in many neighbourhoods. Compost, bird seed, and

outdoor fridges make up the rest of the items noted in the surveys.

Bears have recently been sighted throughout the TNRD

and reports indicate that garbage left outside was the attractant

in most cases. Help your neighbourhood be Bear Aware this

year and next by following these simple steps:

• Store garbage inside or in a bear-proof container until disposal. Do not put garbage

outside the night before pick-up.

• Do not place bird feeders outside until Dec. 1.

• Keep barbecues clean and free of residual food and grease.

• Feed pets inside and store pet food indoors.

• Mix compost regularly or treat with lime to reduce odour.

• Pick any remaining fruit and share with friends if you have too much to handle.

The Bear Aware program would also like to extend a warm welcome to two new

enthusiastic volunteers in Clearwater.

To view bear sightings in your area, check out the new Bear Aware interactive online map

at http://www.bearaware.bc.ca that locates bears and identifies attractants. For more on bears sightings,

go to http://www.facebook.com/BearAwareBC.

The Bear Aware program is sponsored by the TNRD and the Ministry of Environment.

Please report sightings or conflicts with bears to the Conservation Officer Service’s RAPP hotline

at 1.877.952.7277.

Bears and humans cannot coexist at some point there will be an action taken.

Today in history September 11 1941:

Ground is broken for the Pentagon</code>

TGIF-Two hundred and Fifty tons

There is a computerized trainer at the local community college NVIT, the trainer simulates the operation of haulage trucks in an industrial application, such as an open-pit mine. A student that was a professional driver with a class one highway licence says that it is used in a month-long course that certifies participants to drive 250 ton haulage trucks. He says it is necessary to get employment in an open-pit mining operation regardless of your highway qualification.
The 180 degree visual simulator trainer is like an aircraft simulator and gives the potential driver a leg up to be able to acquire a job and go right to work without interfering with production at a mine. This is according to an instructor with The College of the Rockies that puts the course on.
Although a regular drivers licence is not required for the course a sourse says it is a requirement for hire, making it essentail for the industrial training as well.
Editors note: It takes a lot to make a livelihood these days and Kudos to the operations that help make the workplace safer.

Today in history: August 8th 1991
The “8888” uprising in Burma.

Sprinkler system

A contractor was flushing out the sprinkler system at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena on the 29th. Fire safe from Salmon Arm had hoses connected to the system on both sides of the building, and water was flushing through a fine filter at the end of it and into the storm sewer. the rusty water was the result of the 15 year time since any flow had been in it, according to a worker that identified himself as just a helper.
The Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, is home to the oldest BCJHL hockey team in the province, and had a major reno and expansion some two decades ago.
Today in history: July 30th 1729
The foundation of the city Baltimore.