The Bambi Epidemic

[Baffinland Archer]

Gents,

I came across a magazine article that will likely be of interest to many in this group. It covers a little deer population problem in s.Ontario.

 http://www.macleans.ca/science/environment/article.jsp?content=20080723_93691_93691

Not sure if "Pow Wow" is the right place to post this so to the keepers of the Trad Gang site, I will not be insulted if you choose to move this to another location.

Robert

[speedbump]

Interesting article ...thanks for sharing

[Mike Orton]

A good article for the archives.....I suspect that many communities will go through the same process.  A careful read of this article could save time and money re: the decision process of what to do.

[buckeye_hunter]

Interesting how the news in Canada often mirrors that of the United States.  I bet you could find an article on urban sprawl and its ecological effects not too far away. I fish up near Ottowa every year and the news papers are shockingly similar to ours. Land is gaining value up there faster than in the states I believe.  The problem will continue, but it may provide some opportunities for our traditional brothers of the north.

Best regards,
Charlie

[Baffinland Archer]

Right you are Charlie,

I have found that many of my American brothers, at least those who do not frequent Canada, are under the mistaken impression that there is a vast area of unpopulated wilderness immediately north of them. What many folks do not realize is that most of our population is concentrated along the US-Canada border and that most of them are vying for the same recreational space within a few hours of the big cities. The result is that a lot of property within reach gets bought up, thus the apparent shortage of free wilderness.

To be sure, we still have vast areas -- a half a continent's worth -- where no one lives, however, this is only accessible to the hardy few who want to take the time, effort and money to get there. No roads in most cases. You have to fly in. I am one of those few, but I chose to live in a remote area full-time, rather than just visit.

I grew up in the Ottawa area. I left 30 years ago but visit often. I am astounded and dismayed by the level of development in those areas that, in my boyhood, were mostly unpopulated wilderness. Ottawa, like other mid-sized to large cities, has grown/is growing exponentially and as it does, the rural areas are being invaded.  Not much different from the USA in that respect.

Robert

[R.W.]

The problem is that once a "pristine" area is brought into the public focus (ie. Banff/Canmore, Crow's Nest Pass, Waterton National Park boundary area, etc) the "trendoids" all want to "live in a pristine wilderness area."

But, once these neon peons have bought property, and built their huge, ugly houses on the land, the land is no longer "pristine" nor "wilderness." And once inhabited, the land will never again be "pristine wilderness."

Thank God so much of Canada is accessable only by foot, or air. It keeps the slobs from moving in, and destroying even more wilderness areas.