Category: Outdoors

Little did I know when I woke up this morning that two moose would be on the loose a stone’s throw from my daughter’s school in Orleans.

The two young moose (yearling bulls I believe) were discovered roaming around L’Ecole des Pionniers this am, and officials have been trying ever since to tranquilize the uneasy ungulates. 

Disoriented moose are nothing new to the Ottawa-area, often getting pushed out of the forest by black flies or mosquitoes this time of year, and occasionally becoming sick from brain worm, they tend to loose their fear of humans.

It is unknown whether these particular bullwinkles are sick or simply disoriented. The public is being urged to steer clear of the Merkley Drive /Charlemagne area of Orleans.

Outdoorsguy

By the latest count, there are over 50 forest fires burning in the province of Quebec, many of them out of control. 

It is such a shame to watch the forest fire footage on TV, and realize what devastation it is causing. Sure, some tree species like the jack pine actually need heat and fire on order to propagate, but this fire is crazy!So far the blazes have not threatened human life of livelihood, but what about the all wildlife?

I can recall a huge forest fire 20-some years ago in the town of Parent in North Central Quebec. Part of the town burnt and reports at the time indicated that over 200 moose carcasses were recovered following the blaze. 

These are the unknown causalities of such an out of control fire. Great stands of timber will be lost to be sure, but the number of wildlife displaced or killed from these raging infernos may never be known. 

Some reports have fires burning as close as Buckingham/Masson, but according to the information on the SOPFEU Website, these is not that large:

http://www.sopfeu.qc.ca/en/etat_de_la_situation/carte_des_incendies.php 

Residents in eastern ON and western QC were reminded of the severity of these fires this am, when they awoke to lingering smoke and black clouds moving in from the north.

Weather forecasts seem to indicate rain this week for many parts of Quebec, let’s cross our fingers! 

Outdoorsguy

This morning, in my home town of Arundel, Quebec, a full Military burial ceremony is being held for Canada’s highest ranking soldier to fall in Afghanistan. I’m proud to say my parents and other relatives will all be there. 

The man is question is Colonel Geoff Parker and he was my cousin Mary Jane (MJ) Baugh’s husband. Although I believe I only met Parker (that’s what MJ called him) once, it is clear he was a very fine man – salt of the earth. 

Colonel Parker left behind a great wife too. I have such fond memories of MJ visiting her family’s home on nearby Caribou Lake.  She was and still is such a beautiful vibrant girl and I cannot even imagine the pain she and her two children are going through right now. Her son Charlie (named after his grandfather) is 11, and her daughter Alexandria is only 9. They are basically the same age as my kids for goodness sake, what a terrible, terrible loss for them. 

Although MJ was a ‘city girl’ as we would tease her..she always had a close connection to the country and her Caribou lake ‘home-away-from-home’ where she spent time hanging out with other cousins, and with my friends and I in Arundel on occasion.

I see it as only fitting now that her husband Geoff – a proud soldier who fought and died for what he believed in – be put to rest in one of the most scenic areas of Canada – a region MJ loved so dearly.

And to think now that such a fine man as Colonel Parker will be resting a stone’s throw from all four of my grand-parents and a countless number of other relatives, it is comforting in a way. 

One day, my own family and I will be put to rest in the same Arundel cemetery, and knowing Geoff  is nearby to watch over us will serve as added comfort to the whole community….yes, a bit of comfort indeed and a whole lot of pride. 

My condolences to the Baugh’s, Ronnie, MJ, Charlie, Alexandria and all of Geoff’s family at the very difficult time. 

Kindest regards, 

Jeff Morrison

The following is a Press Release from the OFAH:

 Conservation partners celebrate two millionth milestone: Atlantic salmon restoration effort is enhancing biodiversity in Lake Ontario

 In a fitting lead up to The International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22, conservation partners working to “Bring Back the Salmon” to Lake Ontario will stock the ceremonial two millionth Atlantic salmon into the Credit River. The May 20 event will take place at the Belfountain Conservation Area in the village of Belfountain, with the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, assisting in the release.

Since 2006, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) have been leading the Lake Ontario Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program (LOASRP) with the support of more than 50 partners. The goal is to bring the extirpated (locally extinct) Atlantic salmon back to Lake Ontario, where they were once abundant.

“As conservationists, we recognize the value of biodiversity to our lives, so it is fitting that during the International Year of Biodiversity, we are achieving this significant milestone,” said Mike Reader, Executive Director, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. “With the continued support of our partners, we are optimistic that Atlantic salmon will once again thrive in Lake Ontario and its tributaries.”

“Today is a good day for biodiversity, a good day for Atlantic salmon and now we have two million reasons to celebrate,” said Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey. 

The LOASRP has received major sponsorship from Australia’s Banrock Station Wines, with a $1.25 million commitment over the first phase of the program, and from the LCBO, who have contributed $250,000 over the same time frame.

“Banrock Station Wines is proud to play a role in this important conservation initiative, and with our partners, we are pleased to celebrate the achievement of two million fish released,” said Banrock Station Winemaker Paul Burnett.

“The Atlantic salmon restoration project is the cornerstone of LCBO’s Natural Heritage Fund and part of our broader environmental commitment,” notes LCBO President and CEO Bob Peter. “Today’s milestone shows what can be achieved when conservation organizations, business and government work together.”

Program partners also include the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association, Fish For Ever Foundation, Fleming College, Trout Unlimited Canada, Credit Valley Conservation Authority and several other conservation authorities, community groups and private landowners.

Event:          Stocking TWO MILLIONTH Atlantic salmon in a Lake Ontario tributary

Date:           May 20, 11:00 am – noon

Attending:   Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources, major partners, political representatives, and other VIPS

Location:     Belfountain Conservation Area, 10 Credit Street, Belfountain (Caledon)

Map:     http://www.creditvalleycons.com/recandleisure/maps/belfountain.pdf