RABID DEER? American articles about deer suffering from rabies inspired a query to the MNRF concerning deer in Ontario. Here is what I learned. The most common rabies vector species in Ontario are raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. Although rabies in white-tailed deer is rare, any mammal can be infected with the disease, including humans, […]
SMELLY SOCKS In 2012 scientists started a study of silver nanoparticles in the water at the federal Experimental Lakes Area of Ontario. In 2013 there was a delay as the existence of this facility was uncertain. However, with the decision to continue the ELA the study also continued. Silver nanoparticles are used in some socks, […]
ABOUT LOONS Much of this information is provided by Kathy Jones (Volunteer Manager, Ontario Programs and the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey) and Dr. Doug Tozer (Director, Waterbirds and Wetlands), Birds Canada. Should your memory be flickering, Tozer’s father Ron was an Algonquin Park Naturalist and his mother Pat a founding General Manager of The Friends […]
NEW MOOSE DETAILS A new point-based system will be implemented and replace the former draw system for the 2021 moose hunt. The MNRF will look at a hunter’s data as far back as 1993. A point will be awarded for each year that a hunter applied, unsuccessfully, for an adult moose tag. The points will […]
FALL TURKEY Not all Wildlife Management Units have a fall turkey hunt. To qualify a WMU must record a harvest of 200 or more birds for at least three out of the four previous years. That relied upon hunters reporting as asked. Now that hunters are obliged to report the chances of more units hosting […]
THE COVID-19 DEER HUNT Or, the hunt that was not to be. The Corona virus Disease of 2019. Who could have foretold? Apparently many. A recent Times question regarding how the virus would impact hunting generally was that ‘it wouldn’t’. Well, as a member of an old farts’ deer camp I am here to say […]
CHANGE THAT TUNE Male White-throated Sparrows used to croon “Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada” but since 2000 researchers have been hearing a new two-syllable version – “Oh sweet Cana, Cana, Cana.” It seems even the language of birds can evolve; just like humans. It appears that this began in B.C. (British Columbia not Birds Creek) […]
WATERFOWL BANDING Ontario’s airboat duck banding program in which I took part in 2009 for one night requires extensive travel and group work. Based on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health this program was cancelled for 2020. “There is no anticipated impact from this decision. Seven regular banding stations operated by individual […]
FUR HARVESTER UPDATE No surprise; the 26th annual Ontario Fur Managers Federation Rendezvous at Sioux Lookout was cancelled this summer past. And as mentioned in an earlier column only local buyers could physically attend the live fur auction at North Bay. The Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Downey wrote that Kopenhagen Fur […]
WATERFOWL RESEARCH Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I took part in an all night duck banding program with the then MNR. Yet it was 11 years ago! It seems that bird banding was first recorded in 1595 when one of France’s King Henry 1V’s peregrine falcons flew away only […]
