Podcasts about waterton lakes national park

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 21:40

We took our show on the road and spent a couple of days at Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta experiencing Winter in Waterton. While we were there we did a Dark Sky Tour with Dark Sky Guides in Waterton and after our tour I sat down with the President and co-founder of Dark Sky Guides to talk about their tours. I also met up with the folks from Parks Canada to chat a bit and learn more about the park and some of the other activities to do during winter in Waterton. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/

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Winter at Waterton Lakes National Park

Daybreak Alberta from CBC Radio Calgary

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2022 18:55

We took our show on the road and spent a couple of days at Waterton Lakes National Park in Southern Alberta experiencing Winter in Waterton. While we were there we did a Dark Sky Tour with Dark Sky Guides in Waterton and after our tour I sat down with the President and co-founder of Dark Sky Guides to talk about their tours. I also met up with the folks from Parks Canada to chat a bit and learn more about the park and some of the other activities to do during winter in Waterton. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Kalispell, MT

The Family Vacationer

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 23:47

Kalispell is about 34 miles from Glacier National Park, making it a place to stay if you're visiting the area, the town sits among several mountain ranges in a valley with crystal Clear Lakes. I like the state of Montana itself. Kalispell is known for its outdoor culture. The city offers that old West Charm due to its history as a railroad town forming in 1891 where the railroad quickly made this talent boom with tourists, pioneers and businessman. Today, downtown Kalispell offers up some really cool museums, local restaurants and boutique stores with unique items made in Montana.The area has something to do in all four seasons and ample opportunity to responsibly explore the beautiful outdoors joining us today to talk more about Kalispell is Diane Medlar. Diane grew up in the hospitality industry. So the importance of uniqueness of place and promoting its special attributes was instilled at an early age, Diana and her family settled in Montana in 1995, which was, and continues to be a great place to raise a family while being surrounded by stunning natural beauty and an abundance of outdoor recreation. Diane has a 30 year career in hospitality and marketing, Including as the executive director of Discover Kalispell a role that she's had since 2010.In addition to destination marketing, discover Kalispell serves the critical role of destination stewardship, working closely with community stakeholders to maintain the cultural, environmental and aesthetic integrity of the community and the region helping to protect the qualities that make Montana a special place to visit and live. Diane. Welcome to the show, Thank you for having me, glad to be here. So Diane for families looking for places to visit. What makes Kalispell Montana a family travel destination. Well, there's so much to offer a Glacier National Park flathead Lake basin hiking area.They all provide a fantastic natural playground for families, but we also know that with kids, sometimes it takes more than a nature hike to keep them enthused. So we also, our area has plenty of other fun activities, horseback riding. Whitewater floats, hands-on activities that are museums in the downtown arts center, bouldering wall at a city, local city park stargazing in our abundant dark skies, and summer and winter adventures at Whitefish Mountain resort just to name a few. I want to ask you about the dark skies, You have any, you know, they're, they're actually certified dark sky areas.So I'm imagining in Montana, you guys probably have several of those. Am I correct? We do. And in our area actually, Glacier National Park is a designated Dark Sky Park, one of the few in the United States, actually, that's a partnership with Waterton Lakes National Park across the border, so we're very close to the border, so that's an excellent place to see the dark skies and also some northern lights occasionally. And then there's some, there are some state parks, not too far out of downtown Kalispell, that also offer that viewing as well, so we can dispel being so close to Glacier National Park.For more, listen to Episode 55 with Rob and Danny and special guest, Diane Medler.

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A Scenic Hike Through Alberta Geology

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2021 13:48

It's being called an antidote for the Stay-at-home blues. Geologist Dale Leckie is back with a new book that guides readers through Alberta's landscape evolution with a trek that goes from Waterton Lakes National Park, to Dinosaur Provincial Park, into the Prairies, and across Alberta's North. “The Scenic Geology of Alberta - A roadside touring and hiking guide" is now at local bookstores and award-winning geologist, Dr. Dale Leckie will give a talk from his book, with a focus on parks like Writing on Stone and Waterton Lakes on Wednesday, June 23 via Zoom. You can sign up at https://scenic_geology_of_southern_alberta.eventbrite.ca

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Audio for Dramatic Presentation of "Kootenai Brown" from 1975 ACCESS-TV Film

RadioKBPV's Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2021 36:45

The audio for a Youtube presentation posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbz11ojnYUI&fbclid=IwAR2yUjaRqhnosT1EUS7BvexraasHz8JfngSSRQAZW9oNbSgK-ihiE3JYckkKootenai Brown Pioneer Village Education Coordinator Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_qjGMo5zOjb6GWsygTVNgAbout the film:A Sony video tape V-30H (1/2”) of this short dramatic documentary was recently found (2020) in the Archival collection of Waterton Lakes National Park’s, by Edwin Knox, Parks Canada, Cultural Resource Management for Waterton, and converted to digital. Visually, the video suffers in quality due to the age of the film, but the audio is good, due to the excellent vocal and dramatic performance. The plot is simple: John George “Kootenai Brown” is on horse patrol in Waterton in 1914, battling old age and reminiscing about his life: he discusses the British Army in India, Cariboo goldfields of British Columbia; Conflict with the Blackfoot at Seven Persons Creek; a Metis buffalo hunt; guiding in the Rockies; Olive's burial; the creation of Kootenay Forest Reserve; Oil City and conflict with nature; and his appointment as Forest Ranger of the designated national park. The film was produced for the now-defunct ACCESS-TV, an educational production initiative of the Alberta government in 1975. The film/tape case was dated Jan 16, 1976. The “Pincher Creek Museum” as Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village is now known, is named in the Credit Roll as assisting with the production. Kootenai Brown is portrayed by Peter James Haworth (1927-2014), from a script written by Ted Ferguson. From Peter Haworth's obituary: "Peter passed away peacefully at Cedarview Lodge in North Vancouver on February 10, 2014 at the age of 86. Youngest child of the late Reginald and Florence Haworth and brother to the late Cyril Haworth. Lovingly remembered by his soul mate and dear wife Betty Muriel (nee Phillips). Although Peter began his career as an English teacher, he became an outstanding actor, writer and documentarian. As a writer for CBC radio, his writings included the adaptation of plays by writers such as Chekhov, Ibsen, Brecht, and Shakespeare, documentary series on notable figures such as Captain Cook, Sir Ernest Macmillan, and William Morris and portraits of the great twentieth century actors and directors.As an actor, he performed on national radio, television and the stages of major Canadian theatres in plays by Shakespeare, Shaw, Wilde and many others. His final performance as an actor was at the Vancouver Playhouse in "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde. Peter was a member of UBCP, ACTRA and was a lifetime member of the Writers' Guild. He was, also, presented with the Sam Payne Lifetime Achievement Award by the Union of BC Performers and is in the Walk of Fame at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver B.C.

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Glacier Grizzly

In The Wild

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 16:25

Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana on the United States Canadian border covers more than 1 million acres. The park, established in 1910, contains two distinct mountain sub-ranges and borders Waterton Lakes National Park to the north in Canada. Waterton Lakes National Park makes up almost another 125,000 acres of protected wilderness to the area. Together, the two parks are known as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, established in 1932. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-the-wild/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Glacier Grizzly

In The Wild

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 14:24

Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana on the United States Canadian border covers more than 1 million acres. The park, established in 1910, contains two distinct mountain sub-ranges and borders Waterton Lakes National Park to the north in Canada. Waterton Lakes National Park makes up almost another 125,000 acres of protected wilderness to the area. Together, the two parks are known as Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, established in 1932. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/in-the-wild/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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Waterton Lakes Aerial Timelapse

This. Is. Because.

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2019 4:51

A breakdown of an aerial Timelapse I took just outside of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada.

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada – Protecting our Grasslands (Part 1)

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 30:45

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada's plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC's work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet's most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet's most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world's most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta's Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you'll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada – Protecting our Grasslands (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 31:14

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada's plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC's work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet's most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet's most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world's most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta's Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you'll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

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The Nature Conservancy of Canada – Protecting our Grasslands (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2019 31:14

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada's leading national land conservation organization. A private, non-profit organization, partnering with individuals, corporations, other non-profit organizations and governments at all levels to protect our most important natural treasures — the natural areas that sustain Canada's plants and wildlife. NCC secures properties (through donation, purchase, conservation agreement and the relinquishment of other legal interests in land) and manages them for the long term. Since 1962, NCC and its partners have helped to conserve 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) of ecologically significant land from coast to coast. NCC's work in the Prairie Grasslands is contributing to the conservation of our planet's most endangered ecosystem. People often think of rainforests and coral reefs as the planet's most critical habitats in need of conservation, but in fact grasslands, including those in Alberta, are the world's most endangered ecosystem. Grasslands are also important to prevent flooding, and as well, for carbon storage and sequestration in its deep and extensive root networks. Grasslands are a working landscape that support a wide range of animals and economies, from large grazers like cattle, which are an integral land management tool for NCC, to many species at risk. The speaker will expand on the role NCC plays in protecting Alberta's Prairie Grasslands and will elaborate and highlight ways farmers, ranchers and the general public can assist conversation efforts. Speaker: Leta Pezderic, Nature Area Manager – Prairie Grasslands, AB Leta Pezderic is responsible for the delivery of conservation programs in the Nature Conservancy of Canada's (NCC's) natural areas, specifically the Prairie Grasslands of Alberta. She works with local landowners, partner organizations, conservation volunteers, funders, and other stewards of the land. Leta grew up in Claresholm, AB, but moved to Lethbridge to pursue her post-secondary education. She received her diploma in Renewable Resource Management as well as her certificate in Fish and Wildlife Technology from the Lethbridge College. From there she transferred to the University of Lethbridge where she obtained her Degree in Environmental Science. Leta spent her summers working in Waterton Lakes National Park. After graduating she was fortunate to work at a variety of places including Cows and Fish, Lethbridge College, and Alberta Environment. She spent nearly seven years with the Oldman Watershed Council as their Program Coordinator before joining the NCC team in 2015 as the Natural Area Manager for Prairie Grasslands. She is passionate about all things nature and tries to capture its beauty through photography; you'll rarely find her without her camera in hand. Moderator: Curtis Goodman Date: Thursday, May 16, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

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Bringing together RV owners and renters & Waterton Lakes National Park after last fall's Kenow Wildfire.

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2018 29:37

Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/

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Bringing together RV owners and renters & Waterton Lakes National Park after last fall's Kenow Wildfire.

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2018 29:37

Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/

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Informed Traveler SEG 2 (March 18/18) Prince Of Wales Hotel, Waterton National Park. AB

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2018 11:08

From the panoramic views of Waterton Lakes National Park to the architecture and craftsmanship of the building itself, every aspect of your experience at the Prince of Wales Hotel is filled with unforgettable wonder. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/

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Informed Traveler SEG 2 (March 18/18) Prince Of Wales Hotel, Waterton National Park. AB

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2018 11:08

From the panoramic views of Waterton Lakes National Park to the architecture and craftsmanship of the building itself, every aspect of your experience at the Prince of Wales Hotel is filled with unforgettable wonder. Support the show: https://www.theinformedtraveler.org/

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050 New frontiers for wildlife crossings, and the scourge of scurvy

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2017 28:30

Welcome to Episode 50 of the Mountain Nature and Culture Podcast. I'm your host, Ward Cameron and I'm recording this on November 25, 2017. I can't believe this is actually episode 50. When I started this project almost a year and a half ago, I'm not sure I believed I would actually ever get 50 shows recorded. All I could do was focus on the next episode. Each new episode triggered a new round of research, reading, scripting, recording, editing, and uploading. For me, it's been about the process. Those of you that know me, know that I will always talk about finding the story in the science. Stories are everything to me and I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by an endless number of very talented scientists, historians, park managers, conservation officers, and other lovers of the mountain west. Stories help us to learn, understand, and care for the amazing landscape and culture that surrounds us. Before I started this project, I considered myself a naturalist and guide, and never really got involved in controversial issues. When I really began to do the research though, there were many things that simply needed to be called out. Some of these included: • ill-advised bike trails in Canmore and Jasper National Park • free park passes in National Parks already bursting at the seams • the loss of Bear 148 in Canmore due to flagrant violations of bear closures • and Canmore's wildlife corridor challenges. At the same time, I was amazed by some of the incredible science that is taking place that sheds new light on our landscape and the plants and animals that call it home. A few highlights include: • amazing research on Columbian ground squirrels taking place in Kananaskis Country • revelations on the importance of gravel river ecosystems • a new climate change research centre in Canmore • the reintroduction of bison after 130 years in Banff National Park • new discoveries on dinosaurs across parts of Alberta and British Columbia • the dismantling of the concept of an "ice free corridor" migration to the new world for our earliest indigenous ancestors • a study showing grizzlies will choose berries over salmon if given the opportunity • New insights into ancient Neanderthal medicine and most recently, • A study showing that cougars are not as solitary as scientists once thought. I've also had the opportunity to share a number of historic stories as well including: • The story of outfitter and guide Bill Peyto who's image graced the town entrance for years • The story of the search and discovery of the lost Franklin Expedition ships • The history of snowshoeing • The story of the man behind Waterton Lakes National Park's name • The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway, including the stories of surveyors Walter Moberly and A.B. Rogers, and railroad chief William Cornelius Van Horne. • The trials and tribulations of gold seekers during the Caribou goldrush and in this episode • The history of scurvy and its impact on Canadian exploration. I'm going to keep looking for new discoveries to keep you up to date on all of the great stories behind the scenery. I hope you'll be with me to celebrate 100 episodes in another year or so. What stories would you like to hear? You can send your suggestions by visiting the show page at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep050 and enter your suggestion in the comment field at the bottom of the show notes. I love hearing from listeners and this is your opportunity to influence the direction of future episodes. Thanks for being a part of the story…and with that said, let's get to it. New Directions for Wildlife Crossing Structures Back in episode 34, I talked about the great success that Banff National Park has had with its highway mitigation program of wildlife fences, over and underpasses, and highway twinning. The park has pioneered the use of these structures to both reduce the number of animals being killed along our highways while also improving connectivity across the Bow River valley. If you'd like to check out that episode, you can hear it at www.MountainNaturePodcast.com/ep034. I also mentioned that new designs were being investigated to help the program evolve as it expands to new locations across North America. A design contest was held by Arc Solutions and it invited companies to submit new designs using a wide diversity of materials and construction methods. As more and more destinations adopt similar methods of protecting connectivity and wildlife, it's important that the structures evolve to fit the location, the species being protected, and in some cases, the available budget. We need to avoid looking at a wildlife overpass as if it was a bridge. While they are both structures designed to span some form of crossing, the similarities end there. Bridges are usually narrower and usually much longer. This means they need to be engineered in a very different way. Wildlife overpasses are usually wider and span much shorter distances, such as a few lanes of highway. The more squat design of wildlife overpasses provides more opportunities to alter the design to solve unique challenges. Since they don't have to be over-engineered like a long span bridge, they can incorporate more innovative designs and use lighter materials. In addition to the ability to vary the materials, they could also use more flexible or modular components. While Banff gets a lot of credit for its extensive work on expanding the use of connecting structures in North America, the first wildlife overpass was built in France in the 1950s. A number of European countries have followed that lead, in particular the Netherlands, where they have more than 600 crossing structures. They also boast the longest overpass, the Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailo, which spans 800 metres and crosses a canal, a highway, and a rail line. In Europe, wildlife overpasses are generally referred to as Ecoducts. The goal for the future is to avoid one-size fits all solutions and to be able to take better advantage of material design and landscape contours. New highways, and upgrades to older roads with a history of animal-vehicle impacts are all candidates for considering connectivity as a key component of the planning process. According to Arc Solutions, crossing structures should be: • "considered as early as possible in the transportation planning process so as to avoid the more costly problem of retrofitting or rebuilding; • cost-effective in terms of materials, construction and maintenance; • ecologically responsive to current and anticipated conditions; • safe for humans and wildlife alike; • flexible or modular for possible use in other locations; • adaptive, to facilitate mobility of wildlife under dynamic ecosystem conditions; • sustainable in terms of materials and energy use, and responsive to climate change; • educational, revelatory and communicative to the public; and • beautiful, engaging and remarkable." One of the other benefits of the crossing structures in Banff National Park has been their ability to continue to teach us about how wildlife use the landscape. By constant monitoring of their usage over decades, we begin to understand our wildlife populations, and in some cases, how individual animals move through their territory. Banff is also unique in its focus on making sure the structures are also effective for large carnivores. While elk and deer were quick to adapt the underpasses, it took years for our more wary carnivores to begin to regularly use them. It was largely for this reason that the decision was made to build the first two overpasses when Banff began its second phase of highway twinning in 1996. In order to spur innovation in overpass construction, Arc Solutions sponsored a design competition in 2010. It brought together landscape architects, engineers, ecologists and an array of other professionals to focus on new ideas on how to improve connectivity across landscapes. The goal was to design a structure in Colorado's West Vail Pass along I-70. The competition spurred designers to look beyond a simple function only focus, and to try to push the envelope to create something entirely new. The competition attracted more than 100 firms on 36 teams. The judges narrowed down the entries to 5 finalists. The teams created some incredibly beautiful, yet innovative designs that were functional in achieving the goals of wildlife connectivity. There was a wide variety of materials used, varying from laminate timber, steel, glass-reinforced plastic, and wood-core fiberglass, amongst others. They all took modularity into account in order to create scalable designs that can vary with the landscape and either be extended or have components that can snap together. Also critical is how they all incorporate real-time opportunities for monitoring for both research and educational purposes. Cameras integrated into the structures can connect with phone apps, websites, schools, or kiosks. Unfortunately, the winning design has yet to be built on West Vail Pass. The wildlife still die in large numbers on the pass. Unfortunately, this section of highway has the reputation for killing every species of wildlife in Colorado save three. Whitetail deer, elk, grizzly and black bear, bighorn sheep, wolf, and even wolverine are regularly lost. Locally, it's referred to as the "Berlin Wall" for wildlife. Hopefully, like Banff, funds can be found to build this and many more structures across the mountain west in Canada and the U.S. Vail Pass may be called the "Berlin Wall" today, but just 30 years ago the Trans Canada between Banff and Lake Louise was referred to as the "meat grinder" for the same reason. Today it's a source of inspiration for destinations across North America dealing with challenges of animal impacts and connectivity. Hopefully new designs help to reduce the costs associated with building more and more crossing structures. In a related story, a recent study has found that female grizzlies with cubs have a definite preference for wildlife overpasses as opposed to underpasses when crossing the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff. The study showed that while male grizzlies seem to use both kinds of structures, females with cubs have a definite preference. The study looked at 17 years of crossing data over 5 of the 44 structures within Banff National Park. All of the bears preferred the more open structures like open-span bridges and overpasses as opposed to the more narrow box culverts and tunnels. Males would use the more confined structures, but definitely preferred a bit more space. Despite their preference for open structures, males still made many crossings on the box culvert style underpasses. It may be possible to create crossings focused on male bears which would help reduce the likelihood of females with cubs encountering males while using the crossings. In Canmore, a long underutilized underpass at Stewart Creek is seeing some renewed interest by both grizzly bears and wolves. This underpass is on one of the previously approved wildlife corridors in Canmore. While the corridor is used by a variety of animals, the underpass under the Trans-Canada Highway has not seen a great deal of wildlife traffic. Part of this may be the high level of human use in the corridor, with many of those people being accompanied by off-leash dogs. In recent months though, wildlife cameras have revealed a significant uptick in wolves and bears crossing through the underpass. In the period between Sept 24 and Nov 23, there were 8 wolf crossings - the first evidence of wolves using the underpass in the 20 years since it was first built. 2017 has also seen 8 separate crossings by grizzly bears so far as compared to 22 crossings in total since 2009. This year represents 36% of the total crossings in that timeframe. Banff also saw a slow adoption of underpasses by carnivores when they were first built, but in time, they became comfortable traversing them. Of the 8 wolf crossings, several were repeat visitors. It's believed that there are at least 3 wolves that have been counted more than once. In particular, collared wolf 1501, the former alpha male of the now disbanded Bow Valley Wolf Pack. With repeated use, the underpasses can become a typical part of their natural travel patterns. In Banff, the historic movement of wildlife determined the location of the 44 over and underpasses built through the park. In Canmore, the wildlife corridors are being designed by people and not the by the animals that have traversed the valley for centuries. We build house after house in the traditional movement corridors and then pull out crayons on a map and say "let's put the corridor here!". Wildlife don't read maps. They read landscapes. In Banff, the crossing zones are often terrain traps, places where habitat and landscape naturally funnel animals to potential highway crossings. Years of winter track surveys of carnivores helped park managers to locate the most important crossing areas for wildlife. They didn't try to force them to go anywhere, rather they let the animals tell them where they wanted to cross. Wildlife corridors and the crossing structures associated with them are critical to the long-term success of the Yellowstone to Yukon corridor. Canmore still has a lot of battles to help ensure the safety of the corridors within its town boundaries. An uptick in use at one underpass does not signal a win for what companies like Three Sisters and Silvertip would like the community to think is due to their efforts. We all need to keep the pressure on to make sure that Canmore doesn't turn into a cul-de-sac in the greater north-south movement corridors for wildlife. Let's celebrate the increased interest by some of our iconic animals, while continuing to push to make sure that it is a trend and not an anomaly. Next up - the scourge of scurvy Scurvy through the Ages In the 21st century, it seems almost inconceivable that someone could contract scurvy, a debilitating disease caused by a lack of vitamin C. With today's modern medicine, scurvy seems to have joined diseases like polio and smallpox in the dustbin of history. That being said, a story in the Canadian Press dated June 9, 2016 talked about an abused teen in Calgary that was likely suffering from scurvy at the time of his death at the age of 15. It was a horrific story of abuse and shows that even ancient, almost forgotten diseases can reappear if basic nutritional needs are not met. When we turn back the pages of time, scurvy really was one of the most devastating scourges affecting travelers throughout history. It seems to strike people when they were far away from home, and correspondingly, away from good nutrition. The cause of scurvy was not proven until 1747 when a Scottish doctor named James Lind showed through a controlled experiment that the use of citrus fruits would cure the disease. This could have, should have, ended the story of scurvy, but alas, history is often not so forgiving. The cause of scurvy has been repeatedly discovered, forgotten, and rediscovered time and time again over the ages. Even the Greek Physician Hippocrates who died in 370 BCE talked about the disease, as did Egyptians more than 1,000 years earlier. Move the clock forward to the 13th century and Crusaders were regularly plagued by scurvy. However by 1497, Vasco de Gama's crew were well aware of the benefits of citrus fruits. Alas, had the Internet existed so long ago, maybe the local discoveries of cures might have been more widely known. The common denominator seemed to be soldiers, explorers, or mariners traveling far from their homes and lacking the fresh fruits and meats that would have been part of their normal diets. The longer they relied on stored, preserved foods, the more likely that the symptoms of scurvy would strike them. Even Canadian history is riddled with tales of scurvy. One of the earliest explorations in Canada was that of Jacques Cartier in 1535-36 (the same man responsible for giving Canada its name). By November of 1535 Cartier's crew, along with a large group of Iroquois were suffering terribly from the disease. By February, 50 of his 110 member party were beyond all hope of recovery and 8 had already died from the disease. According to his journal, the disease: "spread itselfe amongst us after the strangest sort that ever was eyther heard of or seene, insomuch as some did lose all their strength, and could not stand on their feete, then did their legges swel, their sinnowes shrinke as blacke as any cole. Others also had all their skins spotted with spots of blood of a purple colour: then did it ascend up to their ankels, knees, thighes, shoulders, armes and necke: their mouth became stincking, their gummes so rotten, that all the flesh did fall off, even to the rootes of teeth, which did also almost fall out". The crew was losing hope, and it seemed that only prayer could help. Cartier had one of the recently deceased crew autopsied to see if a cause might be determined. His heart appeared rotten and when cut into, issued a great deal more rotten blood. His lungs were black. There was no answers in the autopsy, only more questions. The crew continued to dwindle until only three healthy men were left on the ships. When all seemed lost, Cartier encountered a native by the name of Domagaia who: "not passing ten or twelve dayes afore, had bene very sike with that disease, and had his knees swolne as bigge as a childe of two yeres old, all his sinews shrunke together, his teeth spoyled, his gummes rotten, and stinking. Our Captaine seeing him whole and sound, was therat marvelous glad, hoping to understand and know of him how he had healed himselfe...He answered, that he had taken the juice and sappe of the leaves of a certain Tree, and therewith had healed himselfe: For it is a singular remedy against that disease." Domagaia immediately: "sent two women to fetch some of it, which brought ten or twelve branches of it, and therewithall shewed the way how to use it... to take the barke and leaves of the sayd tree, and boile them togither, then to drinke of the sayd decoction every other day, and to put the dregs of it upon his legs that is sicke: moreover, they told us, that the vertue of that tree was, to heale any other disease: the tree in their language called Ameda or Hanneda..." "The Captain at once ordered a drink to be prepared for the sick men but none of them would taste it. At length one or two thought they would risk a trial. As soon as they had drunk it they felt better, which must clearly be ascribed to miraculous causes; for after drinking it two or three times they recovered health and strength and were cured of all the diseases they had ever had. And some of the sailors who had been suffering for five or six years from the French pox [syphilis] were by this medicine cured completely. When this became known, there was such a press for the medicine that they almost killed each other to have it first; so that in less than eight days a whole tree as large and as tall as any I ever saw was used up, and produced such a result that had all the doctors of Louvain and Montpellier been there, with all the drugs of Alexandria, they could not have done so much in a year as did this tree in eight days; for it benefitted us so much that all who were willing to use it recovered health and strength, thanks be to God." Other translations refer to the tree as Annedda. Unfortunately, Cartier did not list a careful description or proper name of the tree in his Journal. More recent research suggests that it might be the eastern white cedar, white spruce, or the white pine. All are very high in vitamin C and can make a rejuvenating tea for those suffering from scurvy. The lack of a proper identification, meant that scurvy would continue to plague future explorers. In 1609, Marc Lescarbot's History of New France talks about another expedition: "Briefly, the unknown sicknesses like to those described unto us by James Cartier, in his relations assailed us. Fore remedies there was none to be found. In the meanwhile the poor sick creatures did languish, pining away by little and little, for want of sweet meats, as milk or spoon-meat for to sustain their stomachs, which could not receive the hard meats by reason of let proceeding from a rotten flesh, which grew and overabounded within their mouths; when one thought to root it out, it did grow again in one night's space more abundantly than before. As for the tree called annedda, mentioned by the said Cartier, the savages of these lands know it not… There died of the sickness 36 and 36 or 40 more that were stricken with it recovered themselves by the help of the spring". Soon after, the voyages of Samuel de Champlaine were also ravaged by the disease. In 1613 he wrote: "During the winter there was a certain sickness amongst several of our men, called sickness of the country, or scurvy…There died 35…We could not find any remedy to cure this sickness… "We passed by a bay where there are a quantity of islands and saw large mountains in the west, where is the home of a savage captain called Aneda; which I think is near the Quinibequy River. I was persuaded by this name that here was one of the race who found the herb called Aneda, that Jacque Cartier said had so much power against the sickness called scurvy…which torments these men, savages as well as our own, when they arrive in Canada. The savages knew nothing about this herb, nor know what it is, even though their language contains the name." Had Cartier only taken a little more time to describe the plant so that future explorers could benefit from his good fortune at finding a cure. It was 1747 when James Lind finally issued a cure in his publication A Treatise of Scurvy, where he described the cure. Unfortunately, the book attracted little attention. As a result, scurvy continued to kill. During the Seven Years War which lasted from 1756 until 1763, the Royal Navy records showed 134,708 men listed as either missing or died from disease. Of that number, the vast majority succumbed to scurvy. Scurvy continued to plague explorers as they expanded across Canada. Even during the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In Pierre Burton's book, The National Dream, he writes: "No life was harsher than that suffered by members of the Canadian Pacific Survey crews and none was less rewarding, underpaid, overworked, exiled from their families, deprived of their mail, sleeping in slime and snowdrifts, suffering from sunstroke, frostbite, scurvy, fatigue and the tensions that always rise to the surface when weary dispirited men are thrown together for long periods of isolation, the surveyors kept on, year after year" In one of my favourite books detailing the surveys of Walter Moberly's party, one of his men, R.M. Rylatt kept a journal for his mother. It was published under the title Surveying the Canadian Pacific. I highly recommend it if you can find a copy. At one point Rylatt wrote: "My mouth is in a dreadful state, the gums being black, the teeth loose, and when pressed against any substance they prick at the roots like needles. At times the gums swell, almost covering the teeth. To chew food is out of the question and so have to bolt it without mastication. My legs also becoming black below the knee...My breath is somewhat offensive and I am troubled with a dry cough. In fact I feel like an old man" Rylatt was lucky. He survived the ordeal, but scurvy would continue to afflict other surveyors stranded for long periods in the wilderness with little access to modern medicines. Ironically, Rylatt was also surrounded by a myriad of coniferous trees that would have solved his problems with just a simple tea. If only Cartier had been a little more clear with his journal descriptions. In 1867, England's Merchant Shipping Act required every ship in the British Navy to serve daily rations of lime juice. As news spread, the Brits became known by the ubiquitous term "Limeys". Today, scurvy still persists, in particular amongst impoverished nations and within homeless populations. It constantly amazes me how a simple vitamin deficiency was responsible for the deaths of so many thousands of people over the centuries…all for the want of a little vitamin C. And with that, it's time to wrap this episode up. As I begin to work towards the next 50 episodes, I'm happy to have you along on the journey. For me, I'm always looking to find the stories in the science, the history and the culture. If you know of a good story, drop me a line in the show notes at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep050. You can also send me an email by using the contact page on the site. If you're looking for a snowshoe, hiking, step-on, or photography guide for your mountain adventure, look no further than Ward Cameron Enterprises. We have been sharing the stories behind the scenery for the past 35 years and would love to help you make the most of your mountain adventure. If you'd like to connect personally, you can hit me up on Twitter @ Ward Cameron. I'm excited to say, that's a wrap for the first 50 episodes, and the Chinook has melted a lot of the snow from the mountain valleys so it's time to go hiking. I'll talk to you next week.

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Hour 2, Segments 1 and 2 - Jim Garner

Roy Green Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2017 18:52

Alberta rancher Jim Garner's home and business were reduced to rubble after the Kenow wildfire ripped across his property and the Waterton Lakes National Park. He's furious at Parks Canada and is demanding an inquiry into how his ranch and others were left exposed and not given proper warning before the fire was set to engulf his home. Guest: Jim Garner, owner of Rocking Heart Ranch, which was destroyed by the Kenow wildfire (Photo: HO-Sierra Garner/The Canadian Press) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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How is Alberta rancher Jim Garner dealing with losing his home and business to the Kenow wildfire? How should small businesses be treated in Canada? What will be the outcome of the latest lawsuit against Bill Cosby?

Roy Green Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2017 68:57

The Roy Green Show 67% of Canadians told Ipsos the proposed small business tax changes are fair. 60% agree that the changes could cause businesses to leave Canada, and 40% have heard of the proposed changes but only know a little about the issue. Guest: Darrell Bricker, CEO of IPSOS Public Affairs - Catherine Swift and Conservative Senator Denise Batters respond to Ipsos findings about Canadians' views of the proposed small business tax changes. Guests: Catherine Swift, former president and CEO of the CFIB Conservative Senator Denise Batters - Alberta rancher Jim Garner's home and business were reduced to rubble after the Kenow wildfire ripped across his property and the Waterton Lakes National Park. He's furious at Parks Canada and is demanding an inquiry into how his ranch and others were left exposed and not given proper warning before the fire was set to engulf his home. Guest: Jim Garner, owner of Rocking Heart Ranch, which was destroyed by the Kenow wildfire - “Plunging Canada into massive debt, squinting at entrepreneurs, leaving Canada's prosperity in the ground, delivering $billions to the UN = who?” In light of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's family vacation to the Bahamas costing taxpayers over $200,000, Roy posted this tweet. It generated a great deal of activity over a span of several days. Guest: Aaron Wudruck, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation - Los Angeles lawyer Gloria Allred was in court on Thursday for a status conference hearing on her client Judy Huth's lawsuit against Bill Cosby. The suit deals with an alleged sexual assault by Cosby at the Playboy Mansion when Huth was 15-years-old. Guest: Gloria Allred, lawyer for Judy Huth - Roy and the Beauties chat about the Energy East pipeline's uncertain future, the federal government going after small business owners but not those avoiding paying billions in taxes, and more. Guests: Catherine Swift Linda Leatherdale Michelle Simson See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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034 Bear Spray containers, Wildlife overpasses, Bear 148 in trouble, new bear research methods and Waterton Park's namesake

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2017 37:32

Last week I spoke with Lyndsay Kearns about a canister of bear spray that exploded in her car. It was a horrible situation and the damage to her car was significant. If you'd like to hear her interview, check out www.mountainnaturepodcast.com/ep033. During the podcast I mentioned bear spray safety containers sold by Kodiak Wildlife Products. I've since received one and decided to give it a test. Yesterday I placed it in a car parked in the hot sun with a thermometer inside the canister. I also placed an oven thermometer in the windshield to see how hot the interior of the car became after a few hours in the hot sun. The outside temperature was a scorching 28C, but the interior of the car, it reached 70C or a whopping 158F. When I picked up the bear safety container it was extremely hot to the touch. When I opened it to check the thermometer, it had exceeded its maximum temperature of 50C. The website says that it protects against "accidental impact and heat that could damage or discharge your bear spray canister". It's clear from testing that it does not keep the bear spray below the maximum storage temperature of 50C as shown on the label of the Sabre Max bear spray canister. Will it still protect your car in the case of a canister explosion? I contacted the manufacturer and they said that they had not specifically tested whether it would stop an exploding canister from piercing the container. They are considering using more 'cooler' style materials thought to try to reduce the chance that the temperatures keep climbing beyond dangerous levels. I'll keep you posted as this story evolves. Next up - wildlife crossings Wildlife Crossing structures are expanding and changing The wildlife crossing structures in Banff National Park are an amazing success story of protecting wildlife and people from high speed collisions along park highways. Studies have shown that a properly designed and implemented combination of highway fencing along with under and overpasses for wildlife can reduce animal vehicle collisions by up to 95%. Banff National Park led the way in terms of building the first series of under and overpasses along a major highway. Their studies have documented more than 200,000 individual animal crossings so there can be absolutely no doubt as to their effectiveness. The average cost of hitting wildlife can be very high, if not fatal. Deer impacts typically exceed $6,000 while moose average out at around $30,000 or more. Banff has shown that investing in wildlife is effective for wildlife and dramatically reduces loss of life along highways - both for people and wildlife. I remember in the early 1990s, we used to call the Trans Canada Highway between Banff and Lake Louise the meat grinder because of the number of people and animals that were being killed. Thankfully, we can now look at that same stretch of highway as an inspiration for other destinations to aspire to…and that's what I want to talk about today. The work that Banff has done has shown that not only do the structures reduce mortality but they dramatically increase connectivity as well. A large highway can have the effect of completely dividing a landscape into two. In the past 20 years, more and more research has shown that good habitat for wildlife is not good enough. We need corridors that allow for a steady stream of fresh genetic material to move through landscapes. In many cases, a stretch of road with as few as 3.2 deer-vehicle collisions per kilometre per year would actually see a net benefit by building structures. Studies have shown that in cases like this, the cost benefits of building the structures can quickly exceed any costs involved in their construction. In 2015, Banff saw a total of 19 moderate to large animals killed along the Trans Canada Highway. This was less than half of the 41 animals killed in 2006. The stats in Banff show an 80% reduction in wildlife collisions. Carnivores are seeing a huge reduction in deaths but the real winner seems to be elk. Virtually no elk die in fenced sections of highway in Banff as opposed to 100 or more prior to the fences being constructed. Today in Banff, there are a total of 44 different crossing structures of which six are overpasses and 38 underpasses. While Banff got the ball rolling, by 2010 the research had finally led to interest from other jurisdictions. That’s why in 2010, an organization known as Animal Road Crossings or ARC, sponsored a design competition designed to bring fresh ideas and potentially cost savings to the design and implementation of future crossing structures. Every dollar saved in the construction can help to move the political process towards a yes decision in terms of expanding the use of crossing structures to new destinations. In fact in a 2012 survey of U.S. State Department of Transportation professionals, 84% indicated that their state considers the building of crossing structures to improve safety and connectivity. Unfortunately, those numbers don't translate into implementation. Funding was the number one reason given for not including them in the planning of highways and upgrades to road systems. Despite resistance in some areas, other areas in Canada and the U.S. are going full-steam ahead with new projects. Now that the Trans Canada is twinned and fenced all the way through Banff National Park, crews are working hard on expanding the twinning and fencing through neighbouring Yoho. They are already working on both an overpass and an underpass just west of the British Columbia Border. Perhaps the most ambitious one at the moment is taking place along Interstate 90 in Washington State which runs between Seattle and Spokane. The first overpass is being built near Snoqualmie Pass, just an hour east of Seattle. Like the overpasses in Banff, it will eventually be a forest covered crossing. When the project is finished, there will be a total of 27 over and underpasses along a 24 km stretch of highway. Programs have also taken place or been started in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and Nevada. Jackson Hole, Wyoming is also looking into creating a series of structures as well. Florida has a long history of using crossing structures particularly to protect the endangered Florida panther and California has used them to protect desert tortoises. More and more, the value of these structures are being applied to a wider diversity of wildlife - even salamanders. In Waterton Lakes National Park, specially designed underpasses were built specifically for the long-toed salamander. In a study conducted in 2009, research showed the salamanders had suffered a 60% loss in population since 1994. By building the underpasses, 130 salamanders were able to safely cross the road, dramatically reducing highway mortality. Banff should be very proud of the role it has played in helping spread the word about fencing and crossing structures and their role in helping to reduce wildlife mortality. Over the next decade, we can hope to see them spread far and wide as new jurisdictions begin to add them to their normal planning process for highway improvement projects. After all, 200,000 animal crossings in Banff has to say something about their effectiveness, not to mention an 80% reduction in animal deaths caused by vehicles. Wildlife Crossings Next up…Bear 148 gets one more chance Bear 148 in Trouble Grizzly 148, the well-known daughter of Banff most famous bear, number 64, has once again run afoul of provincial conservation officers by leaving the protection of Banff National Park and hanging around Quarry Lake and the Peaks of Grassi neighbourhood in Canmore. Despite the fact that they are built on a primary wildlife corridor and that they are right on the route that any bear would need to take were it to connect with the (hopefully) soon to be established Three Sisters Corridor, it seems provincial conservation officers have little tolerance for 148. She has never made contact with people, but she does not do well with dogs. This past week, she bluff charged a man with a child in a stroller that also had two dogs on leash. Any time dogs are involved in bear encounters there is a chance that the encounter may escalate. In most situations, when bears encounter people, they are looking to see whether we pose a threat or not. Two barking, growling dogs can definitely be interpreted that way and so she escalated to a bluff charge just to let them know that she was in charge. Bluff charges are just that…a bluff. It's a way to let something know that she is ready for business if need be. Like most bears, she then left them alone. No injuries occurred, just some shaky nerves. She essentially just did what she was supposed to do. She warned them to stay away and then she moved on. She is collared and so officials should have known she was in the area. As a result of this encounter, officials live trapped her and moved her back to her main turf around the town of Banff. They did state though that if she comes back to Canmore and has another similar encounter that they will euthanize her. As Bill Hunt from Banff National Park stated in a recent story in the Rocky Mountain Outlook: "Female bears are the reproductive engines of the population and she's lived her entire life in Banff National Park and surrounding area without incident so far." There's also a very good chance that she has mated for the first time this spring. At 6-1/2 years old, she's right at the age when bears in the central Rockies tend to begin mating. As it is, we have one of the lowest productivity rates of any bear population and so the loss of even one breeding female can make a big impact on the population. Canmore is her territory, just as much as Banff. As a community we need to find ways to live with bears or we will see more and more of them shot simply for hanging out where people can harass them. Just after closing off the area where 148 had her incident, Conservation Officers charged two people with a dog for crawling under the closure tape and ignoring the closure. Unfortunately, all it takes is a few more morons like these two that will help ensure that bears are no longer welcome on the landscape. It makes no sense to fight for a corridor along the Three Sisters lands if bears are not allowed to move through the Canmore Nordic Centre, Power Line Trail, Quarry Lake and Peaks of Grassi in order to actually reach it. They are all connected. We already have the most developed landscape in the world where grizzlies still exist and unless we as a community vow to share the mountains with bears than the bears will simply be shot one after the other. Let's hope that 148 stays put in Banff, but the buffaloberry season is now upon us. I spotted my first ripe berries last week, right in the heart of Canmore. Even if 148 stays away, bears WILL be moving into the valley bottoms to feed on these berries. A bear like 148 can eat up to 200,000 buffaloberries every day. That's the equivalent of you eating 75 Big Macs, every day for the next 6 weeks. It's the one food that allows them to build their fat layers for winter. The safety concern is that the berries need sunlight to grow. That means they need an opening in the forest canopy…which is exactly what a trail or a road provides. This means that almost all low elevation trails in the area are lined with grizzly bear buffets. If there are buffaloberries, there will be bears nearby. If you learn to identify just one plant in the central Rockies, make it this one. This summer, instead of complaining about the closures that will be coming as bears gather to feed on berries, forget about the low elevation trails. This is a great time of year to do some of the higher ridgewalks like the Mount Allan Centennial Trail or Sunshine Meadows. You can avoid the bears simply by avoiding the berries. It doesn't mean you won't encounter a bear, but you can dramatically shift the odds in your favour by avoiding areas with large patches of buffaloberries. If you're a mountain biker, sloooooow down. The bears are so focused on feeding that if you scream down some of the nordic centre trails, you may find yourself with a very close encounter. Everyone needs to carry bear spray, even along local town trails. Make sure it is on your belt and not strapped to your pack or your bike. If you get separated from them, you will still have your spray only if it's on your person. Bears are an amazing part of the mountain landscape. They are one of the key reasons that visitors state for visiting this area. We all rely on tourism for the lifeblood of the valley and we need to do our part to make sure that the grandchildren of today's visitors will still be able to see grizzlies 50 years from now. I hope to be around to see bear 148s great grandchildren as well. New Method to Count Bears Biologists have developed a new method to estimate bear populations and densities in the mountains. By placing hundreds of remote wildlife cameras along trails throughout the mountains, and combining this with radio collar data, they can get a much more accurate estimate of grizzly populations. Historically, they would need to do extensive field work to collect dna from hair and scat samples. As biologists look at the cost of another dna study in Banff, the estimate runs at almost a half a million dollars and hundreds of man hours in the field. During the study, researchers Jesse Whittington and Mark Hebblewhite trapped and collared 22 grizzlies. This was followed up by placing 214 remote cameras they were able to track the collared grizzlies as well as unknown individuals as they were captured on the cameras. Without the help of cameras, they would have come to the conclusion that the population had dropped by as much as 51%. The use of cameras makes it much easier for researchers and land managers to estimate population densities for animals like grizzlies. Parks Canada cameras have captured more than 2,000 images of bears in just the past 3 years. They are also regularly capturing photographs of five females and their young. The important thing in this method is that the combination of collar data and cameras is what allows them to estimate density. In the central Rockies, they estimated around 13 bears per 1,000 km. These are fairly stable numbers and compare well to studies done 10 or more years ago. However, this stability relies on keeping breeding females like 148 on the landscape. If we start to lose the reproductive engines of the population, we could see a steep decline in numbers. Let's all do our part in not just staying away from bear prone areas during buffaloberry season but also reporting violations like off-leash dogs that could result in a very negative interaction with a grizzly. If a bear has to die because you thought it was your God given right to have your dog illegally off-leash, then you should not be living in a community that prides itself on being bear aware. And I would hope that everyone around you would report that violation to the appropriate authorities. Let's celebrate that our bears are doing well, but maintain our vigilance so that the trend continues. Next up…Where did Waterton get it's name. Carol Patterson has spent the last two decades traveling the world. She writes and speaks extensively about reinventing your business and your life with travel. Her writing has been featured in BBC Travel, Avenue Magazine, Roadstories.ca, Alaska magazine and more. More recently, one of her stories won second place in the Best Sustainable/Responsible Tourism Feature category at the Travel Media Association of Canada Conference. In June, Carol presented at the Waterton Wildflower Festival about the naming of Waterton Lakes National Park and about the park's namesake Charles Waterton. Recently she was nice enough to share some of her story with me in an interview. I hope you enjoy it.

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027 Bison babies, conservation wins and new transportation options for the mountains

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2017 23:30

Story 1 - First Bison Born in Banff Well, today, I'm able to share several good news stories that makes all the work worth it. While we are constantly being bombarded with bad news, it's always exciting when the hard work of thousands of people has a tangible impact on decisions taking place in the places we love. So let's take a look at the great announcements filling the newswires this week. First on the list has to do with the cutest thing on earth – baby animals. Spring is the time of new life in the mountains. Over the next month we'll begin to see mule and white-tail deer fawns, elk calves, and those oh so cute black and grizzly bear cubs. So what makes this year so special? How about the first bison calf in 140 years to be born in Banff National Park? Now if that's not cool enough, not only is it the first bison in more than a century, but it was born on Earth Day, April 22, 2017. Story 2 - Icefields Trail Stalled Parks Canada has been planning a paved bike path running all the way from Jasper to the Columbia Icefields, and eventually all the way to Lake Louise and possibly Banff. This 86.4 million dollar trail has been hugely unpopular by conservationists, researchers, and as was revealed recently, Parks Canada's own scientists. Freedom of Information crusader, Ken Rubin peeled back the curtain of secrecy and has been revealing the long trail of public documents and emails that led up to the decision to build this trail. One of the most telling signs was the fact that Parks Canada actually posted a tender for engineering firms to begin the design of the actual trail. This is especially troubling since the trail is not even through the public consultation phase and has not been given any official go-ahead from the powers that be. Well it seems that the overwhelmingly negative response to this tender has finally caused Parks Canada to pay attention. This week, the tender was withdrawn. According to a story in the Fitzhugh Newspaper, Minister McKenna's press secretary, Marie-Pascale Des Rosiers said: "This was determined to be premature given that the agency is currently focused on the consultation process and the environmental assessment for the proposed project". Story 3 - Big Wins in Canmore's Wildlife Corridor Battle This has been a week of very good news in Canmore particularly in terms of the struggle to designate the last critical wildlife corridor on the south side of the Bow River valley. On April 26th, Alberta Environment and Parks announced that they will not be making a decision on the Three Sisters Mountain Village and Smith Creek Wildlife Corridors for at least another four to eight weeks. The very next day, Three Sisters withdrew from consideration, its area structure plan for its Smith Creek Development until the provincial government renders it's decision on the corridors. They did move forward with their submission for first reading of the Stewart Creek Village Centre area structure plan. But in a third blow to the developer, on May 2nd Canmore Town Council unanimously rejected Three Sisters asp for its village Centre development. Story 4 - Anglers Beware If you're one of the many anglers that love to cast a fly in the Bow River to test your luck against the prevalent trout population, you'll want to pay attention to this story. Beginning on April 1, the entire stretch of the Bow River from its headwaters at Bow Lake in Banff National Park to the Bassano Reservoir is now catch and release only. And speaking of Whirling Disease, it has now been confirmed in the entire Oldman River watershed as well. The disease now affects rivers throughout the western boundary of Alberta from Bow Lake south to the Montana Border and Waterton Lakes National Park. Despite this recent report, the Oldman River system will not see any changes to fish regulations at this time. Story 5 - Updates on Transportation and Parking for Banff In the past, it has been difficult to get to and from the mountains without a vehicle. There are a number of airport shuttle companies and a few regularly scheduled buses, but not really a proper transit system connecting Calgary with Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise. This summer, it looks like a number of players are combining to help solve this problem. One of the first stories was a new transit service between Calgary, Cochrane, Canmore and Banff. The service will run on weekends and holidays, beginning in mid-June and ending on Labour Day. The buses will be run by the Calgary Regional Partnership and will also allow valley residents to use the buses to travel to Calgary for the day. The cost of the buses will be $10 each way per person. The program would dedicate 3 buses to do approximately 13 round trips per day. The first bus will arrive in Banff around 8:30 am and the last one would leave Banff approximately 10:30 pm. The buses will pick-up and drop-off at the Crowfoot LRT Station in Calgary. A few morning and evening trips will pick-up and drop-off in Okotoks, Somerset-Bridlewood in South Calgary. There will also be additional bus service this summer between Banff and Lake Louise, as well as the Lake Minnewanka Loop. Both of these buses are also intended to encourage people to park their cars and reduce some of the strain on the busy road systems. On sunny summer days, the highway interchange at Lake Louise is completely closed as the roads become overwhelmed by the number of cars that want to visit. And finally some great news for traffic in and around Banff Townsite. On April 25th, Karen Sorensen, Mayor of Banff announce a new transportation hub and 900 stall parking area to be developed adjacent to the Banff train station.

babies freedom spring story mayors options parks mountains calgary transportation conservation earth day parking big wins bison cochrane banff labour day three sisters canmore lake louise parks canada banff national park okotoks bow river ken rubin waterton lakes national park alberta environment columbia icefields

025 Icefields Chalet upgrades, Mount Edith Cavell permits and going Batty

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2017 27:19

This week we're looking at some important changes to the tourism infrastructure in Jasper National Park as well as some insights into the life of bats in the mountain west http://traffic.libsyn.com/mountainnature/Ep025_Mountain_Nature_and_Culture_Podcast.mp3 Story 1 - The Tourism Files As the summer season approaches, there are a number of new announcements taking place within Banff and Jasper National Parks that are definitely worth taking note of this year. If you work in the guiding industry, definitely stay tuned as these stories will affect your tours in a good way this summer. One of the big announcements is a complete overhaul of the food services at the Columbia Icefields Chalet. For years, the scenery has been spectacular, but the food…well..not so much. Over the years, options for motorcoach tours and family travelers have been slim along the scenic corridor between Banff and Jasper. A few years ago, the Chateau Lake Louise closed down its famous lunch buffet in the Victoria Dining Room and this left a huge hole in the dining options outside of the major centres of Banff and Jasper - especially for larger groups. Brewster this year has hired a new company to help manage the Chalet. Forrec is a global company specializing in developing attractions all around the world. They're the people behind sites like LegoLand in the U.S. In Canada, they developed the Bat Cave at the Royal Ontario Museum and also worked on the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. In a recent article in Jasper's Community Newspaper, Fitzhugh, Matt Dawson, Forrec's senior director of visitor operations stated: “The building is crowded and underwhelming, It’s a missed opportunity – Brewster ranks high (on online travel sites and apps) but the building gets poor or non-existent reviews. People are just blanking it out of their minds. So we want to have complementary experiences inside that enhance what they have outside.” I can certainly agree with this characterization. The building has historically been the pain before the pleasure. It has been a cram of people, all in a rush, pushing their way through a crush of equally rushed crowds. Their first order of business has been focused on cuisine. There have always been two separate restaurants in the hotel. The first, located just above the main staircase, has been a buffet restaurant largely catered to motorcoach tours. The food was adequate at best and never changing. The second restaurant was the public cafeteria style free-for-all. The food was passable but really uninspiring. It was simply…necessary. The day is long, ya gotta eat, so eat. Nobody ever remarked about remarkable food. To be fair, these two restaurants feed some 600,000 hungry visitors every year. The buffet restaurant is now known as "Altitude". According to Dawson: “Altitude is a 450-square-metre buffet style servery,” Dawson explained. “It takes inspiration from the natural environment. So the colour palette is inspired by glaciers, lots of icy blues and whites, harder surfaces – it’s cool and contemporary, and would not be out of place in downtown Vancouver.” When it comes to the food, in an article in this week's Crag and Canyon, menu items will include "rack of lamb with mint sauce, fish, steaks, burgers, flatbreads, and pizzas." Well- hay…I can work with that. An upgrade to the Icefields Chalet has been a very long time coming and this is welcome news. One thing I would like to see is a way to better design the human traffic flow. I'm stoked about the improved food because, as a guide, I eat a lot of meals there every summer. The newly designed restaurants look great as well. If you want to see some images, Check out this story in the Crag and Conyon Newspaper: http://www.thecragandcanyon.ca/2017/04/12/glacier-discovery-centre-completes-interior-renovations-to-restaurants Can Forrec improve this iconic destination? If they can, I'll be impressed. Let me know if you visit. I'd love to hear some first-hand impressions. Mount Edith-Cavell is one of Jasper National Park's premier destinations. The interpretive walk to the Angel Glacier overlook is one that inspires awe and, a few years ago, terror. Permits Required for Mount Edith Cavell Road In 2012, the Ghost Glacier came loose from the steep slopes of Mount Edith-Cavell and into the tiny tarn known as Cavell Pond. The resulting tsunami-style wave erupted from the tiny lake and swept down the valley taking out an interpretive trail as well as much of the public parking area. This event really brought to the fore, the dangers of a rapid glacial melt. It also led to the closing of the Mount Edith Cavell road for the remainder of the 2012 season. While it reopened in 2013, it was clear the combination of increased visitation as well as increased risk due to rapid glacial retreat meant that Parks Canada needed to do some redevelopment in order to move the parking lot out of the danger zone while also increasing the capacity. As of this summer, there is now a limit on the number of cars that can travel the Mount Edith Cavell Road. If you want to visit the area…and you really really DO want to visit this site. Limited access is a really really good idea. It makes sure that the people that do get an opportunity to visit the site will get a great experience. Starting this summer, in order to visit Mount Edith Cavell, you'll need a permit issued by Parks Canada. The free permits will be available outside of the Jasper Information Centre in the heart of Jasper between 08:00 and 10:00 every day. Only one permit per vehicle is required. It is being put in place primarily to ensure that each vehicle should have a place to park in the main lot. It will also help to reduce the overcrowding challenges at the site as well as the long line of vehicles parking along the really narrow access road as it approaches the parking area. For those of us that are part of an organized group tour, we won't need vehicle permits, nor will backcountry users, cyclists, or hostel guests. Parks Canada staff will be on location at the start of the road to check permits for vehicles as well as tour operator licenses, reservations for the Tonquin Trail, Tonquin Valley Backcountry Lodge, Amethyst Lake Lodge and the Edith Cavell Hostel. This is a great development for Mount Edith Cavell. We need to make sure that the access to the location is both safe and sustainable. If you are a repeat visitor, I truly believe that this will improve the access to the location. While fewer visitors will be able to snap photos of the glacier, it will help to reduce the impact and the crowds. Story 2 - Going Batty As days slowly warm up, it won't be long until, if you're lucky and very watchful, you may be able to see dark objects flitting across the night sky in search of flying insects. Bats are still largely a mystery in the mountain west with scientists in the dark on most aspects of these furry mammals. Researchers don't know very much about their population, distribution, or even where non-migratory bats overwinter in the Rockies. In most instances, the bats we see locally are likely to be big brown or little brown bats (also called the little brown myotis). The remaining 7 species are more solitary and less likely to be spotted by the average viewer. If you're lucky enough to a rarity, you'll likely not know, for as the saying goes, they all look mostly alike when flitting across the night sky. Alberta is home to the Big and Little brown bat, Eastern Red Bat, Hoary Bat, Long-eared Myotis, Long-legged Myotis, Northern Myotis, Silver Haired Bat and the Western Small-footed Bat. All bats are members of the order Chiroptera which loosely translates to 'hand wing' in Greek. Essentially, the bones that form the structure of the wing, are the bat's finger bones, which are connected by a thin skin membrane called the patagium. Because the wing is essentially, well, a hand, bats can move it like a hand while flying, which allows them to literally swim through the air. Only the thumb remains exposed, extending from the wing as a small claw used for climbing. Bats represent one of, at least, four times in history that self-propelled flight has evolved. In addition to bats, birds, and insects, my personal favourite, the pterosaurs, took to the air some 228 million years ago. The first known ancestral bat dates to around 50 million years ago. Canada's bats are all a member of the family Vespertilonidae which means "evening bat". This refers to their preference for hunting at night when insects are more active. Birds, with their rigid wings are better at providing lift but the wings of bats are more flexible allowing them to bend them into different shapes which in turn almost instantly varies the direction and degree of lift. Their flight is also more efficient than that of both insects and birds. As an example, a hovering bat uses 40% less energy than hawkmoths and 60% less than hummingbirds. Unlike the rigid wings of birds, they have almost two dozen wing bones that can each be controlled independently to some extent. Add to this the pliable nature of the wing membrane, and you have an aerial predator of unmatched flying abilities. If you ever have the chance to watch the beautiful flights of bats as they fly, tumble, barrel roll, and almost instantly change direction to hone in on a their dinner, you will have marveled at their nimble aerial displays. Bats combine aeronautic agility with active sonar to hone in on flying insects using echolocation combining millisecond timing and millimetre accuracy. While not all bat species use sonar, all the bats in Canada DO. Bats emit high frequency pulses of sound at a rate of up to 200 per minute. While we can't hear these pulses, they can hear the pulses reflect off of objects in their flight path. Depending on circumstance, bats produce three different types of pulse. One pulse is used when searching for prey. Once located, they change to an approach pulse and at the last minute, change to a feeding pulse as they prepare to capture dinner. Sonar allows the bats to literally see with sound! It helps them find all manner of flying insects, but also to navigate around obstacles. Echolocation is an almost magical way for bats to navigate the night skies in search of dinner. As autumn approaches so does the mating season. Bats swarm together for this purpose and once impregnated, female bats carry the active sperm for several months, waiting for late-winter or early spring before fertilization takes place. This delayed implantation is often talked about when referring to black and grizzly bears, but bats and some members of the weasel family also utilize the same strategy. Once the pups are born, usually one, or rarely two, per year, they're fed milk by their mother for the first 6 weeks, beyond which they are on their own to fend for themselves. Occasionally, female bats gather in maternity colonies in frequently used locations. When we think of bat swarms and winter hibernation in bats, we think of caves. In fact, Banff National Park has just discovered the very first cave to show evidence of hibernating bats within its boundaries. The cave is in the northern reaches of Banff, close to the Columbia Icefields. Biologists believe the bats are little brown myotis, but they are sending out bone samples in order to get a more accurate identification. Outside of Banff, Canmore's Rat's Nest Cave also shows evidence of bats using the warm cavern for hibernation. I have photographs of bat skeletons that I took back in the 1990s from this cave. A 2013 study stated that: "There are four known bat hibernacula in the Province of Alberta: Wapiabi (Chungo) Cave, southwest of Nordegg, Cadomin Cave, south of Hinton, Procrastination Pot (or NDP Cave), east of Jasper and Walkin Cave south of Fort Smith. The nearest hibernacula west of Banff in British Columbia are a couple abandoned mines near Cranbrook sheltering Townsend’s bigeared bat (Plecotus townsendii). Recent research by Lausen 2006 has determined, using radiotelemetry, that big brown bats (Eptesicus fiscus) use narrow deep rock crevices or erosion holes located in steep valley walls in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The potential possibilities of sub-human size cracks and crevices suitable for over-wintering bat use in the Canadian Rocky Mountains verges on uncountable." Very little is known as to the winter use of bats in caves within the Canadian Rocky region. Within Banff National Park, there are at least 11 caves that have been explored by spelunkers, but the potential is there for many more caves to be hidden within the vast wilderness that is Banff. There may also be many smaller caves that would not attract the attention of people due to their inaccessibility, but that may serve bats just fine. There is another potential habitat in Banff as the same 2013 study mentioned: "One fairly unique Banff habitat that might be used by bats is the geothermally warmed zone around its hot springs. Both caves and crevices, plus sub-human size cracks and holes may provide seasonal roosting and nursery bat habitat." Along with caves, abandoned mines can create a perfect location for hibernating bats, Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks each have abandoned mines with open entrances that could be worth closer inspection by researchers. And of course, caves are not the only places bats will hibernate. Many species, like the big brown bat, are fond of rafters, air vents and other man-made structures that may have some artificial heat. Bats also use hollows in bridge structures as well. One bridge in Waterton Lakes National Park has been very popular with little brown myotis. Bats look for warm, moist, dark places in these structures, ideally with a temperature in the 39-42 C range. They rely on existing openings in order to access buildings because, unlike rodents, they lack the gnawing teeth to excavate their own entrance. Potential hibernation and maternity sites worth investigating are the Banff Springs Hotel attic, some of the areas older churches, the Park Administration building, Banff Park Museum, Deer Lodge, Num-ti-jah Lodge and any other classic old structure that still has not been fully modernized. One trend that has had an impact on bats over the past few decades has been the move towards updating old buildings, many of which may have been home to large colonies of overwintering bats. One 1983 study indicated: “Although the big brown bat is clearly associated with the townsite area, no nurseries have been located and only one roost has been identified. Old buildings with accessible attics are being replaced by well-insulated and generally inaccessible attics. Thus, artificial nurseries, roosts and hibernation sites are disappearing. Natural sites used by these bats may need protection if the species is to remain in the mountain national parks.” Alberta's bats do not gather in the huge numbers that you see in movies. Many hibernate in small groups or even as individuals. The eastern red, hoary and silver-haired bats avoid hibernation altogether by migrating south. Understanding where bats spend their winter is critical in helping to mitigate the effects of white-nose disease when it eventually makes its way to western Canada. This deadly disease has been steadily migrating westward since its discovery in 2007. Last year, it made a sudden western jump and was for the first time identified in Washington State. To the east, it's approaching the Ontario-Manitoba border. It's inevitable that it'll make its way to the Rockies and researchers are hoping to be prepared. As they find locations, like the recent cave discovery in Banff, they are looking at seasonal use while also studying temperature and humidity. White-nose fungus grows best in temperatures between 5 and 14 C. It appears to disappear in areas where the temperature reaches 20 C. . As the fungus attacks a bat, it will be spread to neighbouring bats through physical contact, with each developing a white colouration on the hair around the mouth. The fungus doesn't kill the bat, instead it creates discomfort, causing the bat to wake more often. The bat then wastes energy grooming in a futile attempt to be rid of the fungus. This, in turn, uses precious energy and depletes fat stores. They slowly starve once they've drained all their fat reserves. In areas where white-nose has gained a foothold, bat mortality ranges from 75 to 99%. So far some 5 and a half to 7 million bats have been wiped out in the 10 years following its arrived in North America. It's for this reason that renewed interest in bats winter strategies is critical in the mountain west. One advantage we may have is that bats often don't gather in densely populated hibernation sites. The greatest mortalities occur where the bats are tightly grouped and can spread the fungus from one to another across an entire colony. Once infected, the fungus can remain in the cave until the next year's hibernation begins, starting the cycle anew. (https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121218094216.htm). This means that once a hibernation site is infected, it is likely to stay that way, infecting successive generations of hibernating bats. So how do researchers learn more about the bats found within the mountain west? Field research into potential hibernation and maternity sites is just one step. Some bats can be fitted with tiny tracking devices allowing them to share their location for a brief period before the devices naturally fall off. Since most bats are incredibly light, most can only carry a minuscule 0.35-gram transmitter. This would transmit over a 1 to 3 km range and would fall off after 8 to 10 days when the adhesive naturally breaks down. Acoustic monitoring is another up and coming technique for monitoring bats. Audio detectors can be purchased for use in stationary locations, mounted to vehicles, and even used in a hand-held manner. This allows for a variety of uses. Unfortunately, most equipment is designed for a single monitoring method. As an example, a stationary monitor can be set up near, or in suspected hibernation sites to monitor bat vocalizations. Vehicle mounted detectors would allow mobile, wide range detection along routes that can be traversed on a regular basis. Handheld detectors allow active monitoring of bats in an area with the acoustic pulses being displayed as real-time sonograms on the screen to assist in identification. All three techniques will be needed to get a handle on bat populations in the Rockies, and they'll be needed soon. The thought of white-nose disease devastating our bat populations is terrifying. Bats are an essential part of the mountain ecosystem - especially when we realize that many eat up to half their body weight in insects every night. That's a lot of mosquitoes that don't need swatting. Conclusion Please remember that Ward Cameron Enterprises is your one-stop shop for getting the most out of your visit to the Canadian Rockies. Step away from packaged tours and let us create your custom experience. You can drop me a line at ward at wardcameron.com or check out our show page at www.mountainnaturepodcast.com. There you'll find show notes, links to additional information and all of our back episodes. If you want to connect personally, hit me up on twitter @wardcameron or check out us out on facebook at: www.facebook.com/wardcameronenterprises.

What Parameters should be Considered in Drafting a Management Plan for the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks? (Part 1)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 30:10

Many Albertans identify with wild landscapes and in southwestern Alberta, the Castle region is iconic. The struggle for protection dates back more than a century, when the young government of Canada set aside much of the Eastern Slopes in Alberta as a forest reserve to protect water sources and to benefit future generations on the Prairies. For several decades in earlier times, the Castle was part of Waterton Lakes National Park. Fast forward to January 20, 2017, the Alberta Government announced the establishment of the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks. That all came about after years of advocacy and lobbying by many individual and groups, among them the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) and Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y). The widely applauded protected area covers 105,500 hectares. However, there are concerns and voices about what a protected area should look like. The speakers will present science-based research and area-focused surveys that suggest legally protecting the area is in the best long-term interest of Albertans, despite special interests concerns. Speakers: Andrea Hlady and Connie Simmons Andrea Hlady is passionate about working to protect our natural spaces. In her current role as President of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition she leads a group of scientists, land-owners, and concerned citizens to use their voices and skills most effectively to advocate for legal... protection of the Castle Wilderness area in SW Alberta. Andrea has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge and a Master's of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In addition to her work in conservation, Andrea advises NGO's on how to increase the numbers and strength of women supporters to the organizations. In 2013, she founded the Women Pronghorns Basketball Endowment fund at the University of Lethbridge. Connie Simmons has been actively involved in watershed stewardship, environmental education, and activism for over 30 years. She has a PhD. from the University of Alberta within the discipline on environmental ethics and conservation history, and has used this focus to chart paths through many positions, including working as a coordinator for the First Nations led Keepers of the Athabasca; as Executive Director of the Athabasca Watershed Planning and Advisory Council; and as Planning Manager with the Oldman Watershed Council to complete the Oldman Headwaters Action Plan 2014. Currently, Connie is actively working with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative to bring their perspectives to the Draft Castle Management Plan process, and will be continuing her work with Y2Y as their Crown Program Coordinator. Moderator: Klaus Jericho Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

What Parameters should be Considered in Drafting a Management Plan for the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks? (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 30:16

Many Albertans identify with wild landscapes and in southwestern Alberta, the Castle region is iconic. The struggle for protection dates back more than a century, when the young government of Canada set aside much of the Eastern Slopes in Alberta as a forest reserve to protect water sources and to benefit future generations on the Prairies. For several decades in earlier times, the Castle was part of Waterton Lakes National Park. Fast forward to January 20, 2017, the Alberta Government announced the establishment of the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks. That all came about after years of advocacy and lobbying by many individual and groups, among them the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) and Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y). The widely applauded protected area covers 105,500 hectares. However, there are concerns and voices about what a protected area should look like. The speakers will present science-based research and area-focused surveys that suggest legally protecting the area is in the best long-term interest of Albertans, despite special interests concerns. Speakers: Andrea Hlady and Connie Simmons Andrea Hlady is passionate about working to protect our natural spaces. In her current role as President of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition she leads a group of scientists, land-owners, and concerned citizens to use their voices and skills most effectively to advocate for legal... protection of the Castle Wilderness area in SW Alberta. Andrea has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge and a Master's of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In addition to her work in conservation, Andrea advises NGO's on how to increase the numbers and strength of women supporters to the organizations. In 2013, she founded the Women Pronghorns Basketball Endowment fund at the University of Lethbridge. Connie Simmons has been actively involved in watershed stewardship, environmental education, and activism for over 30 years. She has a PhD. from the University of Alberta within the discipline on environmental ethics and conservation history, and has used this focus to chart paths through many positions, including working as a coordinator for the First Nations led Keepers of the Athabasca; as Executive Director of the Athabasca Watershed Planning and Advisory Council; and as Planning Manager with the Oldman Watershed Council to complete the Oldman Headwaters Action Plan 2014. Currently, Connie is actively working with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative to bring their perspectives to the Draft Castle Management Plan process, and will be continuing her work with Y2Y as their Crown Program Coordinator. Moderator: Klaus Jericho Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

What Parameters should be Considered in Drafting a Management Plan for the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks? (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2017 30:16

Many Albertans identify with wild landscapes and in southwestern Alberta, the Castle region is iconic. The struggle for protection dates back more than a century, when the young government of Canada set aside much of the Eastern Slopes in Alberta as a forest reserve to protect water sources and to benefit future generations on the Prairies. For several decades in earlier times, the Castle was part of Waterton Lakes National Park. Fast forward to January 20, 2017, the Alberta Government announced the establishment of the Castle and Wildland Provincial Parks. That all came about after years of advocacy and lobbying by many individual and groups, among them the Castle Crown Wilderness Coalition (CCWC) and Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y). The widely applauded protected area covers 105,500 hectares. However, there are concerns and voices about what a protected area should look like. The speakers will present science-based research and area-focused surveys that suggest legally protecting the area is in the best long-term interest of Albertans, despite special interests concerns. Speakers: Andrea Hlady and Connie Simmons Andrea Hlady is passionate about working to protect our natural spaces. In her current role as President of the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition she leads a group of scientists, land-owners, and concerned citizens to use their voices and skills most effectively to advocate for legal... protection of the Castle Wilderness area in SW Alberta. Andrea has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Lethbridge and a Master's of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. In addition to her work in conservation, Andrea advises NGO's on how to increase the numbers and strength of women supporters to the organizations. In 2013, she founded the Women Pronghorns Basketball Endowment fund at the University of Lethbridge. Connie Simmons has been actively involved in watershed stewardship, environmental education, and activism for over 30 years. She has a PhD. from the University of Alberta within the discipline on environmental ethics and conservation history, and has used this focus to chart paths through many positions, including working as a coordinator for the First Nations led Keepers of the Athabasca; as Executive Director of the Athabasca Watershed Planning and Advisory Council; and as Planning Manager with the Oldman Watershed Council to complete the Oldman Headwaters Action Plan 2014. Currently, Connie is actively working with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative to bring their perspectives to the Draft Castle Management Plan process, and will be continuing her work with Y2Y as their Crown Program Coordinator. Moderator: Klaus Jericho Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

020 Castle Park Announcement, Whirling Disease Updates, Shocking Grizzly Stories and Frigid Pine Beetles

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2017 28:32

Story 1 - Castle Parks are Expanding Whenever we hear about new parks being established, it's great news - and this January, we got a double whammy as the Alberta Government finalized the boundaries of Castle Wildland and announced the creation of Castle Provincial Park on January 20, 2017. These two parks protect more than 1000 square kilometres or almost 400 square miles of the southern Alberta Rockies known as the crown of the continent. They provide a critical habitat that encompasses the spine of the Rockies which is one of the most diverse ecological areas in the entire Rocky Mountain chain. Bordered on the south by communities like Missoula and Great Falls Montana, it follows the Rocky Mountain Ridge northward to Alberta's Kananaskis Country. These newly established parks will help to provide more consistent protection along the Rocky Mountain Ridge and runs all the way from Waterton Lakes National Park to the Crowsnest Highway, or Highway 3, in southern Alberta. The Wildland Park will focus more on low-impact access and will contain the most critically sensitive landscapes in terms of headwater protection, wildlife movement corridors and critical plant and animal habitat. The provincial park will have more frontcountry development and includes former Provincial Recreation Areas like Lynx Creek, Castle Falls, Castle River Bridge, Syncline, and Beaver Mines provincial Recreation Areas. Story 2 - Whirling Disease Updates Just this week, aquatic specialists with Parks Canada announced plans to remove all the fish from Johnson Lake. Parks is planning to use nets and electrofishing this spring to begin the removal process. They'll pack it in for the summer months between Canada Day on July 1 and the end of the Labour Day weekend in September. The lake will be open for visitation this summer, but all watercraft will remain banned. This includes stand-up paddleboards as well. The spores are just too easily spread by watercraft and all too often the boats are not cleaned well enough to make sure they are spore free. In the fall they'll continue to collect fish and also lower the water level using pumps in order to make it easier to force the fish into a smaller area and facilitate their capture. It's also a better time to lower the water level as park biologists are worried about the local amphibian population and they're more prevalent in the lake during springtime. Story 3 - Shocking Bears As part of a recent study undertaken by Parks Canada in coordination with Canadian Pacific Railway, park officials are continuing to investigate the use of electrified mats or electromats along with electrified fencing in areas that have become hotspots for bear fatalities. The mats are still in the experimental phase and the heavy snowfalls that occur in the mountains still provide limitations to their effectiveness. A number of different solutions are being investigated and many different solutions may eventually be incorporated to reduce the number of bears fatally struck by trains passing through the mountain parks. Story 4 - Pine Beetle Updates The past 2 decades has seen our mountain media full of stories of the mountain pine beetle. This tiny beetle has decimated pine forests through the mountain west for the past 10-20 years. Pine beetles are barely the size of a grain of rice, yet they are the most damaging insect pest in North America. The odd thing is that they are not some introduced pest from Europe or Asia, but a natural part of the mountain forest ecosystem. Every species is a reflection of its habitat as reflected in the climate, landscape, and plant communities. The mountain pine beetle has always been a part of this larger ecosystem, but in the last 20 years, it has exploded in numbers and in many ways overwhelmed the forests that it has called home.

Moving Waterton Lakes National Park Visitors Centre: How and by whom are Relocation Decisions Made? (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2016 33:02

Parks Canada is investing in a new Visitors Centre in Waterton Lakes National Park. A Visitors Centre is a primary service offered in national parks and the current Waterton Lakes Visitors Centre, in its present location, can no longer support the over 400,000 annual visitors adequately. A decision to relocate the Visitors Centre to the often congested “downtown” area of Waterton village has been made despite much local opposition. Parks Canada argues that they engaged a range of stakeholders and leaseholders before the decision was made, including Improvement District #4, the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Waterton Park Community Association and individual cottage and commercial leaseholders. Parks Canada manages national parks on behalf of all Canadians and supposedly welcome input from the community and visitors alike. They have heard a wide range of comments on the Visitors Centre, its purpose and its location and say they are committed to working collaboratively with all interested Canadians in the planning of this important facility. The speakers will describe the process of local consultation and collaboration by Parks Canada. (Parks Canada was contacted by SACPA, but declined our request for a speaker on this topic) Speakers: Lesley Little and Garry Ursenbach Lesley Little has spent at least part of the past 55 summers in Waterton. Her oldest daughter worked there for two summers and now her grandchildren have discovered life at "The Mountain House", as one grandson describes it. Lesley has served on the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association (WLLA) Board since 2013 and has produced the WLLA Newsletter since then. Garry Ursenbach honeymooned in Waterton in 1957 and have spent time there every year since then - except when doing volunteer work in Africa and Mexico. Bought a Waterton cottage in 1975. As a professional engineer spent 40 years with oil/gas pipelines. Served 25 years on CSA Pipeline Code Committee and Chaired Western Canada Section of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other community work. Moderator: Heather Oxman Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

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Moving Waterton Lakes National Park Visitors Centre: How and by whom are Relocation Decisions Made? (Part 2 Q&A)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2016 33:02

Parks Canada is investing in a new Visitors Centre in Waterton Lakes National Park. A Visitors Centre is a primary service offered in national parks and the current Waterton Lakes Visitors Centre, in its present location, can no longer support the over 400,000 annual visitors adequately. A decision to relocate the Visitors Centre to the often congested “downtown” area of Waterton village has been made despite much local opposition. Parks Canada argues that they engaged a range of stakeholders and leaseholders before the decision was made, including Improvement District #4, the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Waterton Park Community Association and individual cottage and commercial leaseholders. Parks Canada manages national parks on behalf of all Canadians and supposedly welcome input from the community and visitors alike. They have heard a wide range of comments on the Visitors Centre, its purpose and its location and say they are committed to working collaboratively with all interested Canadians in the planning of this important facility. The speakers will describe the process of local consultation and collaboration by Parks Canada. (Parks Canada was contacted by SACPA, but declined our request for a speaker on this topic) Speakers: Lesley Little and Garry Ursenbach Lesley Little has spent at least part of the past 55 summers in Waterton. Her oldest daughter worked there for two summers and now her grandchildren have discovered life at "The Mountain House", as one grandson describes it. Lesley has served on the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association (WLLA) Board since 2013 and has produced the WLLA Newsletter since then. Garry Ursenbach honeymooned in Waterton in 1957 and have spent time there every year since then - except when doing volunteer work in Africa and Mexico. Bought a Waterton cottage in 1975. As a professional engineer spent 40 years with oil/gas pipelines. Served 25 years on CSA Pipeline Code Committee and Chaired Western Canada Section of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other community work. Moderator: Heather Oxman Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

moving mexico canadian africa speaker institute decisions commerce chamber bought visitors national parks served electrical relocation keg parks canada mountain house waterton electronics engineers ieee waterton lakes national park

Moving Waterton Lakes National Park Visitors Centre: How and by whom are Relocation Decisions Made? (Part 1)

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2016 24:49

Parks Canada is investing in a new Visitors Centre in Waterton Lakes National Park. A Visitors Centre is a primary service offered in national parks and the current Waterton Lakes Visitors Centre, in its present location, can no longer support the over 400,000 annual visitors adequately. A decision to relocate the Visitors Centre to the often congested “downtown” area of Waterton village has been made despite much local opposition. Parks Canada argues that they engaged a range of stakeholders and leaseholders before the decision was made, including Improvement District #4, the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Waterton Park Community Association and individual cottage and commercial leaseholders. Parks Canada manages national parks on behalf of all Canadians and supposedly welcome input from the community and visitors alike. They have heard a wide range of comments on the Visitors Centre, its purpose and its location and say they are committed to working collaboratively with all interested Canadians in the planning of this important facility. The speakers will describe the process of local consultation and collaboration by Parks Canada. (Parks Canada was contacted by SACPA, but declined our request for a speaker on this topic) Speakers: Lesley Little and Garry Ursenbach Lesley Little has spent at least part of the past 55 summers in Waterton. Her oldest daughter worked there for two summers and now her grandchildren have discovered life at "The Mountain House", as one grandson describes it. Lesley has served on the Waterton Lakes Leaseholders Association (WLLA) Board since 2013 and has produced the WLLA Newsletter since then. Garry Ursenbach honeymooned in Waterton in 1957 and have spent time there every year since then - except when doing volunteer work in Africa and Mexico. Bought a Waterton cottage in 1975. As a professional engineer spent 40 years with oil/gas pipelines. Served 25 years on CSA Pipeline Code Committee and Chaired Western Canada Section of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other community work. Moderator: Heather Oxman Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 Time: Noon - 1:30 pm Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $12.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea)

moving mexico canadian africa speaker institute decisions commerce chamber bought visitors national parks served electrical relocation keg parks canada mountain house waterton electronics engineers ieee waterton lakes national park

Moving Waterton Lakes National Park Visitors Centre: How and by whom are Relocation Decisions Made? (Part 1)