Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

Bells Corners bear becoming a problem

- June 1st, 2011

Bellsbear

For those of you who didn’t catch Larissa Cahute’s article in yesterday’s paper:

A bear has taken up residence in Bells Corners.

A number of community members have reported sightings of the oversized visitor.

Muriel Inglis, who lives on Evergreen Dr., thought raccoons were rummaging through her bird feeders when her motion lights came on Saturday night. When she got out of bed to check, it was “a hell of a shock.”

“There was this nice, great, big, hunk of a black bear,” said Inglis.

Inglis said it was in the backyard for about 15 minutes. He trailed through her backyard, tearing down grass, plants and bird feeders.

According to Inglis, the Ministry of Wildlife and Natural Resources said they’ll only take action if the bear becomes aggressive.

“As far as I’m concerned the ministry should do more about it,” she said Tuesday.

“Behind our hedge, the walk is all kinds of paths — a path to Bell High School where kids walk back and forth to school.

“It’s a good 250-to-300 lb. bear — it was no cub,” said Inglis.

Guy Duxbury lives nearby on Foothills Dr. He spotted the bear Monday just before 6 a.m. — but he said the bear is not new to the neighbourhood.

Apparently, a neighbour reported a sighting last year.

“And it’s a regular visitor now,” said Duxbury.

He said his visit from the bear lasted about three minutes. “It ripped down the bird feeder and it rambled off.”

Duxbury believes the bear is in the swampy area behind Bell High School, which is why he was quick to call the police.

“Being so close to Bell High School … it wasn’t good for the kids going in the morning,” he said.

Laura Sandvold lives on Evergreen Dr., and although she hasn’t spotted the animal, she’s worried for her family’s safety.

“I’ve got two children,” she said. “We don’t let them go out in the backyard anymore — and it’s summer, the weather just started getting nice.”

Sandvold has called the ministry as well and said they only gave her tips for when confronted by the bear. She was told to make noise, look big and walk backwards, slowly.

“That’s useful if you’re in bear country — but I don’t feel that we’re in bear country,” said Sandvold.

“That’s a whole other level of wild life.”

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Categories: Safety | 45 comments

Asian Carp – MNR Rapid Response Plan

- June 1st, 2011

Asiancarp

(Giant Asian Carp caught in American Midwest)

Thanks to Heather Visser of the MNR for sending me details on the Ministry’s Rapid Response Plan – a report for dealing with the dreaded Asian Carp in the Great Lakes.

Here’s the line I like:  “only a week earlier a fish importer had been fined $50,000 for trying to truck 1,800 kilograms of live Asian carp across the Windsor/ Detroit border to sell in the Greater Toronto Area.”  Ok, what was that imbecile thinking???

Here is a copy of that MNR document:

Asian Carp rapid response plan

 

If you fish in the Great Lakes or their tributaries, your favourite catch may be walleye or bass, or perhaps muskie or lake trout.  So how would you feel if you came home empty-handed because nine out of ten fish out there were plankton-eating bighead or silver carp – AKA Asian carp?

 

That’s the reality now in parts of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. And that’s why Ontario, Canada and the U.S. want to keep the voracious, invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

 

The need for a coordinated plan to fight Asian carp led the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, with support from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, to host a “table-top exercise” in March. The exercise simulated an incident where Asian carp get into Ontario waters. The aim was to test if the agencies involved are ready to respond quickly to stop their spread.

 

“Preventing Asian carp from spreading into the Great Lakes is the most cost-effective control measure we’ll ever have,” says Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Linda Jeffrey. “This exercise was about making sure all the agencies involved work together, and identifying areas where we’re vulnerable.”

 

For the March 11 exercise, participants rehearsed how they would respond if an accident on a bridge over the Thames River in southwestern Ontario caused a truckload of live Asian carp to be dumped in and near the river. It was a timely choice – only a week earlier a fish importer had been fined $50,000 for trying to truck 1,800 kilograms of live Asian carp across the Windsor/ Detroit border to sell in the Greater Toronto Area. It’s illegal to possess live Asian carp in Ontario.

 

The term “Asian carp” includes four species – bighead, silver, grass and black carp. The bighead and silver carp currently pose the biggest threat. They weigh up to 45 kilograms and can grow to more than a metre long. As filter feeders that can eat 20 per cent of their body weight a day in plankton, they’re able to grow and multiply faster than native species. In some areas of the U.S. carp populations are doubling every year.

 

After escaping from aquaculture ponds in the southern U.S. in the 1970s and 80s, Asian carp spread northward, raising fears they could enter the Great Lakes through waterways in the Chicago area. Today in parts of the Mississippi River Basin they have outcompeted native fish and make up as much as 90 per cent of all fish by weight. Yet their commercial value is very low compared to native species.

 

As well as causing the catastrophic decline of native fish populations and the economic devastation of sport and commercial fisheries, silver carp in particular are a hazard to people on the water. When they’re disturbed by boat motors the fish jump as much as two metres out of the water. Boaters and waterskiers on the Illinois River have already been hit and injured. 

 

Canadian and U.S. experts agree that Asian carp would thrive in the Great Lakes, and that quick action is the only way to prevent Asian carp from spreading if they are found in the Great Lakes Basin.

 

During the table-top exercise, local MNR staff described how they would place nets upstream and downstream to catch and identify fish in the river, test the fish to find out if they could reproduce, and confirm if the river habitat was suitable for Asian carp. The agencies involved also had to decide if any local species at risk might be harmed by the control measures, and keep governments, partners, the public and the media informed.

 

“Ontario’s recreational fishery contributes $500 million to the province’s economy each year, our commercial fishery is worth up to $215 million a year, and the Great Lakes ecosystem is priceless,” says Minister Jeffrey. “With so much at stake, we have to be prepared.”

 

How You Can Help:

 

  • If you believe you have seen or caught an Asian carp, or you have found one in your bait bucket, DO NOT release the fish. Humanely kill it and report your sighting. Please visit www.invadingspecies.com to fill out an online Invasive Species reporting form, or call 1-800-563-7711 toll-free.

 

  • Check your bait and don’t dump your bait bucket in the water.

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Categories: Safety | 12 comments

Invasive species call Ontario home

- May 9th, 2011

Asiancrap

In today’s Ottawa SUN, Antonello Artuso reports on Invasive Species entering the province at an alarming rate:

“The province has more invasive plants and fish than the rest of the country and the government may need special powers to go onto private property to deal with the problem, says the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan, posted this week on the province’s environmental registry for public comment.”

This week, the Ontario Invasive Species Strategic Plan was unveiled on the province’s environmental registry for public comment.

I wonder at this rate how long before the Asian Carp enters our waters and completely wipes out everything in its path?

Outdoorsguy

Here is Antonello’s article, if you haven’t read it:

http://www.ottawasun.com/2011/05/08/the-aliens-have-landed

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Wayward moose dies in Orleans

- October 13th, 2010

Orleansmoose2

It was certainly a Thanksgiving Day out of the ordinary for residents in the Fallingbrook neighbourhood of Orleans, as yet another wayward moose made its way through the backstreets. 

This time, however, the City reacted swiftly and contrary to some news reports, Ottawa’s new wildlife response team was on the scene quickly. 

According to one of the City’s wildlife officers, it was evident from the onset that the 2.5 year old bull moose was already in serious trouble:

“It was apparent that something was seriously wrong with the animal. It was heaving noticeably and its back legs were in constant motion indicating abdominal pain.”

Upon arrival, the wildlife response team noted that the bull appeared wet as if it had been swimming, although they believe it to be perspiration caused from over-exertion and stress. 

Orleansmoose1

According to the City’s lead wildlife officer – who asked not to be named due to contract restrictions – the Orleans moose situation was handled well and police who were first on the scene did everything correctly, unfortunately, the story did not have a happy ending. 

The wildlife officers had hoped that, since the animal was resting in a sheltered shady spot, it might recover. That, however, was not to be the case. 

“The moose stood up once in the next hour; turned 180 degrees and lay down again facing away. It expired approximately half an hour later.”  

Although wildlife officers extensively trained in the use of tranquilizers were at the ready – none were used in the situation because of the animal’s obvious distress and because it posed no immediate danger to the public. 

There is, however, some evidence to show the young bull may have been pursued by helicopter prior to its arrival in Orleans.  The City’s lead wildlife officer wants residents to know they should never, under any circumstance, chase wildlife and he urges the public not to harass game animals within City limits. 

It is unknown at this time if the moose was, in fact, being pursued by helicopter and whether that played any part in its death. It is clear that such an act would certainly exacerbate the situation; with an already stressed and confused animal. 

If you should spot any wayward wildlife within City limits, please call the City of Ottawa immediately so that the experts may be dispatched. Dial 3-1-1 or (613) 580-2400 

Outdoorsguy

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You thought our bears were dangerous

- August 9th, 2010

  sloth-bear

Over in India there is a fierce predator known as the Sloth bear – an animal perhaps the most dangerous of any land animal on earth. 

It truly puts all grizzly bears and black bears to shame, as far as aggressiveness and history of attacks and human disfigurement. 

According to Wikipedia: 

“The sloth bear is more inclined to attack man unprovoked than almost any other animal, and casualties inflicted by it are unfortunately very common, the victim being often terribly disfigured even if not killed, as the bear strikes at the head and face. Blanford was inclined to consider sloth bears more dangerous than tigers…” 

Last Wednesday alone, a sloth bear in Jarida village India went on a rampage and killed 4 people in one gruesome attack.

Killing rampages, for some reason, seem to be the Sloth bear’s speciality. According to statistics, one famous killing spree in India saw a single sloth bear responsible for the deaths of 12 people and injuries to 2 dozen others.

Let’s be thankful these angry bears don’t live in North America, as even our resident bears probably wouldn’t stand a chance against them!

Outdoorsguy

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Categories: Safety, Strange | 16 comments

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