Black bears have awoken from their winter slumber and they're both hungry, extremely cranky and on the move! So, despite how cute and cuddly they appear to be, under no circumstances is it okay to approach nor encourage them...Imagine yourself sleeping in some dark hole for months on end without eating, how would you feel when you woke up? ;)
There have been numerous Black Bears sightings in Ramara, Severn, Tay, Tiny and the Lake of Bays townships along with a recent attack in Coldwater, Ontario!
Some residents who have lived in these areas for decades report having seen Black Bears for the first time this season. Yesterday, a Black bear took a stroll across the golf course at Taboo Resort in Gravenhurst and people were on the green golfing x#yards away!!
Bear Wise
You are in Bear Country
Summary of Bear Safety Tips...
- Keep your household waste, garbage and compost in sealed receptacles or containers designed for the job. Plastic bags are not considered a sufficient barrier where animals are concerned.
- Bird seed, suet and nectar left out for the birds will also attract the Bears.
- BBQ's, Hibachi and any outdoor cooking surface needs to be cleaned after each use. The remaining tidbits of food and grease left in the trap rings the dinner bell.
- Try to remain in a group and on the trails when you're outside hiking. A large, loud group is far less appealing to a hungry Bear than a single person strolling with a chicken wing!
- Fast moving waters make it difficult to hear a bear and for it to hear you as well, if it's a windy day the may not smell you until it's in front of you!
- Avoid or leave trails that broach on a bears food supply such as berries, dead animals or fish along the shorelines.
- Stay in wide open areas and be on alert for bear tracks, droppings, shredded logs and scratched tree trunks which indicate they are in the area.
- Keep your dog on a leash because they may just run back to you when being chased by a bear!
- Never allow young children to wander off ahead of the pack or stray behind nor leave them unattended.
- When you see cute Bear cubs romping around that means their protective Momma is nearby. She will stop at absolutely nothing to protect her young so please don't assume otherwise.
- Make noise while you're on the trails and in while tromping through bushes and forest areas. Bears don't want to make your acquaintance so, let them know you're coming!
TO REPORT BEAR PROBLEMS
Contact the Bear Reporting Line
Phone# 1-866-514-2327
In a life-threatening emergency, call your local police or 911.
How to Survive a Bear Attack...
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label video. Show all posts
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
They may have lifted the Fire Ban but NOT the Littering laws!
I'm sure those residing in cottage country can judge by the recent weather that all fire bans within the central Ontario area have been lifted. So, feel free to responsibly torch away! For those coming up, over or down to this little piece of paradise you've now been enlightened ;)
Firewood will be wet, if it was left uncovered, which is when people tend to get creative with their fire starting skills. What ever do I mean? Well my friend, I'm talking about gasoline or any flammable product. It's dangerous, so please don't do it, talk your buddies out of it too! With the winds kicking up the way they do makes this form of entertainment/firestarting doubly dangerous!!
Check out these 'Redneck's Playing with Fire' and you'll see what I mean...
...and for each and every person that touches the ground when they walk (not just visitors), please don't forget to take your garbage with when you leave paradise! Stashing your junk on some sideroad doesn't count either!! I know garbage is gross and it's much easier to leave it for someone else but seriously, tsk tsk... Yes, I understand there aren't always garbage receptacles nearby so bring an extra bag already, it's not rocket science. Smokers too, just because ciggie butts are small doesn't mean it's okay. I'm not one to scold (well, yes I am ;) but I'm just trying to make a point.
Ontario Ministry of Environment
To Report A Spill, Odour Or Noise Pollution
1-866-MOE-TIPS (1-866-663-8477)
Fire Prevention Website Links
Firewood will be wet, if it was left uncovered, which is when people tend to get creative with their fire starting skills. What ever do I mean? Well my friend, I'm talking about gasoline or any flammable product. It's dangerous, so please don't do it, talk your buddies out of it too! With the winds kicking up the way they do makes this form of entertainment/firestarting doubly dangerous!!
Check out these 'Redneck's Playing with Fire' and you'll see what I mean...
...and for each and every person that touches the ground when they walk (not just visitors), please don't forget to take your garbage with when you leave paradise! Stashing your junk on some sideroad doesn't count either!! I know garbage is gross and it's much easier to leave it for someone else but seriously, tsk tsk... Yes, I understand there aren't always garbage receptacles nearby so bring an extra bag already, it's not rocket science. Smokers too, just because ciggie butts are small doesn't mean it's okay. I'm not one to scold (well, yes I am ;) but I'm just trying to make a point.
Ontario Ministry of Environment
To Report A Spill, Odour Or Noise Pollution
1-866-MOE-TIPS (1-866-663-8477)
Fire Prevention Website Links
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Music Video & Lyrics - Canada's Really Big! - The Arrogant Worms
The musical trio known as The Arrogant Worms originates from Ontario, Canada and began performing together back in 1991. The bands sense of humour shines through with their funny lyrics that poke fun at my/our/their country and it did have me chuckling! This comedic and musical group loves to make fun of us but it's all in good fun, check it out unless you're the sensitive type and take things too personally ;) ...
Canada's Really Big - Music Video
Canada's Really Big
by... The Arrogant Worms
Lyrics
When I look around me
I can't believe what I see
It seems as if this country
Has lost its will to live
The economy is lousy
We barely have an army
But we can still stand proudly
'Cause Canada's really big
We're the second largest country
On this planet Earth
And if Russia
Keeps on shrinking
Then soon we'll be first
(as long as we keep Quebec)
The USA has tanks
And Switzerland has banks
They can keep them, thanks
They just don't amount
'Cause when you get down to it
You find out what the truth is
It isn't what you do with it
It's the size that counts!
Most people
Will tell you
That France is pretty large
But you can put
Fourteen Frances
Into this land of ours
(it'd take a lotta work, it'd take a whole lotta work)
We're larger than Malaysia
Almost as big as Asia
We're bigger than Australia
And it's a continent
So big we seldom bother
To go see one another
But we often go to other
Countries for vacations
Our mountains
Are very pointy
Our prairies are not
The rest is
Kinda bumpy
But, man, do we have a lot
(we gotta lot of land, we gotta whole lot of land)
So stand up and be proud
And sing out very loud
We stand out from the crowd 'cause
Canada's really big!
Canada's Really Big - Music Video
Canada's Really Big
by... The Arrogant Worms
Lyrics
When I look around me
I can't believe what I see
It seems as if this country
Has lost its will to live
The economy is lousy
We barely have an army
But we can still stand proudly
'Cause Canada's really big
We're the second largest country
On this planet Earth
And if Russia
Keeps on shrinking
Then soon we'll be first
(as long as we keep Quebec)
The USA has tanks
And Switzerland has banks
They can keep them, thanks
They just don't amount
'Cause when you get down to it
You find out what the truth is
It isn't what you do with it
It's the size that counts!
Most people
Will tell you
That France is pretty large
But you can put
Fourteen Frances
Into this land of ours
(it'd take a lotta work, it'd take a whole lotta work)
We're larger than Malaysia
Almost as big as Asia
We're bigger than Australia
And it's a continent
So big we seldom bother
To go see one another
But we often go to other
Countries for vacations
Our mountains
Are very pointy
Our prairies are not
The rest is
Kinda bumpy
But, man, do we have a lot
(we gotta lot of land, we gotta whole lot of land)
So stand up and be proud
And sing out very loud
We stand out from the crowd 'cause
Canada's really big!
Summer Road Construction 2010 - Hwy 12. North of Gamebridge to Atherly
I'm a summer girl so living in cottage country right near Lake Simcoe is fantastic. No running the roads unless I'm headed over to Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay! However, thousands and thousands of cars travel both north and south daily during the summertime. From the GTA right up to Huntsville. It's those drivers who may want to consider an alternate route at least for the time being or at least just be aware there could be delays.
One of the newest highway construction projects currently underway for summer 2010 involves the Highway 12 Rehabilitation Project (repaving) which extends from Gamebridge to Atherly. Ramara township website will be posting notices and closures when necessary. As well, the Ministry of Transportation has information on all current and future road and highway projects if you have a completely different route.
As many are aware Highway 12 handles single lane traffic both ways so, for those travelling north or south getting onto Highway 169 or another sideroad will shorten your actual contact with that particular stretch of highway. Try to avoid some drastic, never before taken or seen on a map shortcut ;)
How many men does it take to move pylons?...
One of the newest highway construction projects currently underway for summer 2010 involves the Highway 12 Rehabilitation Project (repaving) which extends from Gamebridge to Atherly. Ramara township website will be posting notices and closures when necessary. As well, the Ministry of Transportation has information on all current and future road and highway projects if you have a completely different route.
As many are aware Highway 12 handles single lane traffic both ways so, for those travelling north or south getting onto Highway 169 or another sideroad will shorten your actual contact with that particular stretch of highway. Try to avoid some drastic, never before taken or seen on a map shortcut ;)
How many men does it take to move pylons?...
Monday, May 3, 2010
Are you Lovin' your Dandelions?
As I look outside at my freckled lawn masses of Dandelions wink back at me snickering their heads off! ...and next it will be their offspring!!
What shall we do with all of these Dandelions that our 'green' society won't allow us to poison; must we must make like Marie Antoinette and cut off their heads?... or shall we harvest them!?
For the creative types a natural, dark red dye can be obtained from the root or for the hungry thirsty type you can make n' partake in Dandelion salad chased by some alcoholic Dandelion wine! Dandelions have health benefits too and are used in herbal teas both for pleasure and as a medicinal agent or tonic. Even the milky sap is used as a wart removal method. Who'd have thought such a bounty existed at our doorstep ;)
Dandelion Salad Recipe
- Tear 1 cup young dandelion greens into bite sized pieces then eat!
Upon trying a leaf, I recommend trying the other option below and to top it with a generous portion of creamy garlic dressing and crispy bacon bits!
Deluxe Dandelion Salad Recipe
- 4 cups young Dandelion greens
- 2 cups fresh Spinach
- 1/2 cup Alfalfa Sprouts
- 1/2 Red Onion, thinly chopped in rings or half slices
- 1/4 cup fresh Parsley
- 2 chopped, ripened Tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp. fresh or dried Basil
- 1/4 cup Dandelion petals (sprinkle atop the salad as a finishing garnish)
- Bacon bits
Or...
You could kick the healthy salad and whoop up a party! Those Dandelion heads you wanna hack off make fine Dandelion Wine and for that you'll need these recipes and a party theme such as a Pig Roast BBQ. You'll also require loads of Dandelion flower heads with equal amounts of boiling water and sugar combined with lemons and oranges. Readily available ingredients and a fairly simple process makes this the option seem somewhat appealing, if only I liked wine!
I'm thinking your family will either love these creative approaches or they'll appreciate why 'they' need to cut the grass ;) ...my version of reverse psychology.
Tips...
- Do make sure young kids know and understand it's not safe to eat all flowers!
- Do use unfertilized Dandelions
- Do use the smaller, younger greens rather than older, large ones
- Do wash the greens thoroughly
- Do choose greens from a pet free zone (we don't want to taste their dislike of Dandelions)
- Do pick your greens (Dandelions, not your nose) before the flower blooms to lessen the bitterness
What shall we do with all of these Dandelions that our 'green' society won't allow us to poison; must we must make like Marie Antoinette and cut off their heads?... or shall we harvest them!?
For the creative types a natural, dark red dye can be obtained from the root or for the hungry thirsty type you can make n' partake in Dandelion salad chased by some alcoholic Dandelion wine! Dandelions have health benefits too and are used in herbal teas both for pleasure and as a medicinal agent or tonic. Even the milky sap is used as a wart removal method. Who'd have thought such a bounty existed at our doorstep ;)
Dandelion Salad Recipe
- Tear 1 cup young dandelion greens into bite sized pieces then eat!
Upon trying a leaf, I recommend trying the other option below and to top it with a generous portion of creamy garlic dressing and crispy bacon bits!
Deluxe Dandelion Salad Recipe
- 4 cups young Dandelion greens
- 2 cups fresh Spinach
- 1/2 cup Alfalfa Sprouts
- 1/2 Red Onion, thinly chopped in rings or half slices
- 1/4 cup fresh Parsley
- 2 chopped, ripened Tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp. fresh or dried Basil
- 1/4 cup Dandelion petals (sprinkle atop the salad as a finishing garnish)
- Bacon bits
Or...
You could kick the healthy salad and whoop up a party! Those Dandelion heads you wanna hack off make fine Dandelion Wine and for that you'll need these recipes and a party theme such as a Pig Roast BBQ. You'll also require loads of Dandelion flower heads with equal amounts of boiling water and sugar combined with lemons and oranges. Readily available ingredients and a fairly simple process makes this the option seem somewhat appealing, if only I liked wine!
I'm thinking your family will either love these creative approaches or they'll appreciate why 'they' need to cut the grass ;) ...my version of reverse psychology.
Tips...
- Do make sure young kids know and understand it's not safe to eat all flowers!
- Do use unfertilized Dandelions
- Do use the smaller, younger greens rather than older, large ones
- Do wash the greens thoroughly
- Do choose greens from a pet free zone (we don't want to taste their dislike of Dandelions)
- Do pick your greens (Dandelions, not your nose) before the flower blooms to lessen the bitterness
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