Owner: Inside British Columbia URL:http://bc-interior.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2006 15:00:23 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: The British Columbia interior is sometimes described as "beyond Hope", Hope being the town you drive through when leaving the Lower Mainland. I thought that "The Interior" - loosely-speaking, the part of the province not on the coast - could use more expo Site statistics:Click here
Fairyslipper / Calypso Orchid - spring beauty 2007-05-21 23:56:00 Here in central BC it's the season. Fairyslippers are still fairly common, despite significant loss of habitat and being very fragile. For those who express their appreciation for flowers by picking them, these flowers are vulnerable because of their beauty and because picking a bloom can easily uproot the whole plant. Join me in a salute to the Calypso
orchid (I prefer that name - more dignified).And, yes, that is a little insect crawling up our beauty's face.More on Wild BC.Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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Kamloops/Thompson School District gets free software 2007-06-11 02:34:00 Some interesting news on the computing front:-------------------------------------------------Kamloops school district gets an education in free softwareTuesday June 05, 2007By: Bruce Byfield The Kamloops/ThompsonSchoolDistrict
in British Columbia, Canada, is a free software success story. Gregg Ferrie, manager of information technology for the district, believes its infrastructure may be "the largest Linux on-the-desktop implementation in Western Canada" in public education. According to Ferrie, hardly a week goes by without another of British Columbia's more than 60 school districts consulting Kamloops. Currently, five other districts are considering or planning to implement the Kamloops district's custom-built thin client solution, and the department of education at the University of British Columbia is also investigating the possibility.Read onInside British Columbia - the blog.
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Mosquito Repellents and Deterrents 2005-06-24 18:32:00 Word has it that this is the worst summer in a long time for mosquitoes. I guess I should say it's a very good year for mosquitoes and a bad year for humans and other warm-blooded mammals. It's also a good year for swallows and other flying insectivores, including dragonflies. "Dragonfly naiads consume mosquito larvae in the breeding waters, and adult dragonflies eat adult mosquitoes." (Wikipedia). Which brings me to the helpful part of this post:Mosquito
Deterrents: This is the best information I could find. I certainly haven't tested all of these recommendations so use your own judgement and feel free to let me know directly, or as a comment below, what your experience or knowledge is.NOTE: It is generally agreed that for most reliable protection, (e.g. where West Nile Fever is a risk) the best product is DEET. Note that DEET can damage synthetic fabrics and there are questions about its effect on the human body. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that repellents used
Birds from a Cariboo Deck No.5 - American Robin 2007-06-28 17:21:00 A pair of robins have honoured us with setting up a nest nearby. They join others in the neighbourhood in their sweet evening singing. Aside from singing, the most popular visible activity of robins is their flamboyant bathing:More Birds
from A Cariboo DeckInside British Columbia - the blog.
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The pine beetle aftermath requires a fundamental culture change 2007-07-03 16:31:00 Dave Neads writes from knowledge and experience about the forestry industry in BC. After hoping it would go away or some miracle cure would appear, the reality of the pine beetle aftermath is beginning to set in. This is going to require a deep, cultural change from those of us in affected areas, whether we are involved with forestry or not. Dave's article provides a welcome perspective. (The photo is mine - taken today in my backyard).LET'S JUST FIX IT"Why can't they just fix it, spray the trees or something?" This question came from a European traveler visiting the Chilcotin Cariboo, but it may have just as easily been posed by someone from the lower mainland or even from Williams Lake.Even though this person had driven from Williams Lake to Anahim Lake, had done a flightsee over the West Chilcotin, had spent a lot of time on back roads, and had seen the size and extent of the beetle kill, the scale of the problem was still incomprehensible. The question still came "Why can't Read more:culture
Chris Czajkowski's Chilcotin Photo-journal 2007-07-10 00:38:00 Chris Czajkowski, author of Wildfire in the Wilderness, The Cabin at Singing River and other books, is back home at Nuk Tessli, hiking and paddling "her" piece of Chilcotin wilderness. Join Chris, as the early summer sun begins to melt last winter's heavy snows and she records in words and pictures the spectacular scenery and fascinating plant and animal life of this beautiful corner of British Columbia.Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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Foxes in the Cariboo and London 2007-07-14 18:46:00 This is an image of a fox, fairly common around here (the South Cariboo):For contrasting lifestyle and season, here's a picture, from a friend, of a fox making itself at home in a London garden. Apparently this is not uncommon, especially around Hampstead Heath:Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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Wildcrafting Strawberries 2007-07-16 20:31:00 For a few years now I've been giving a little help (occasional watering and weeding) to a patch of especially large wild strawberries. Each year they reward me with a special harvest - not large but very sweet. This year's gift was substantially greater than last year's:Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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Birds From a Cariboo Deck No.6 - Northern Flicker 2007-08-19 15:10:00 The Northern
Flicker is a favourite of mine: beautiful and a little shy, it enjoys the usual woodpecker favourites - bugs and suet - and also likes to pick off a few ants on a nearby berm.Apparently many years ago the flickers got separated into two populations: west and east. The eastern flickers developed a yellow wing colour and we in the west can enjoy the more dramatic orange.More Birds
from A Cariboo DeckInside British Columbia - the blog.
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British Columbia Grasslands book 2007-08-28 23:53:00 BC photographer and author, Chris Harris, is launching his next book: Spirit in the Grass The Cariboo Chilcotin's Forgotten Landscape.The Cariboo Chilcotin grasslands are one of the ecological wonders of the world and BritishColumbia
's most endangered ecosystem. It covers less than 1% of the province yet supports over 30% of its threatened or endangered plant and animal species.The book will be launched in Chris' home town of 100 Mile House on October 19th and then the promotional tour will move on to locations around BC.The travelling Grasslands Gala multimedia presentation will include slide-sound sequences in combination with stories behind the images and how they and the book were created. As a photographer, I will speak from the creative visual arts perspective rather than the science perspective. In this way I hope to provide a new and fresh avenue to appreciate our beautiful British Columbia
grasslands.DetailsInside British Columbia - the blog.
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Bear viewing in the Bella Coola Valley 2007-10-19 22:03:00 Autumn is fishing time for bears. Chris Czajkowski (of Nuk Tessli fame) and a friend went to look for bears in the Bella Coola Valley
. They didn't have to look for long:The grizzly came ashore:Soon after the grizzly left, a black bear came a-fishing:and came pretty close too:The grizzly, who hadn't gone that far must have picked up black bear scent (supper?) and stood up:It wasn't long before they saw a black bear taking refuge high up in a cottonwood tree:A little later, an uncomfortably close view of a mother and cubs:A final comment from Chris:There is some concern about the number of bear watchers and bears in such close proximity, especially the "watchers" who yell or throw stones towards the bears (not at them) in order to make them look up and be more interesting for the photos. I saw a group from a drift boat do just that. The bear was between us and the boat. If the bear had got angry she would have come up the bank to us in a bad mood. Bears don't recognise peopl
Radio New Zealand interview on Pine Beetle 2007-10-17 22:41:00 Chris Bramwell of Radio
New Zealandinterview
s Dave Neads, BC-based environmental consultant for the forest industry, about the "Canadian Pine Beetle
Plague".See Dave Neads' article: The pine beetle aftermath requires a fundamental culture changeInside British Columbia - the blog.
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Corky Evans speaks up on BC's dysfunctional meat slaughter regulations 2007-10-30 15:09:00 No pictures this time . . .I want give a little more exposure to an issue that's been around a long time. A couple of years ago new slaughter
ing regulations were tabled for B.C. Now they are being out into effect and the insanity of it all is becoming apparent. In the BC legislature, Corky Evans
has been prominent among those attempting to restore sanity. Here's what he had to say a few days ago - with a response in the middle from the woman who chaired the government's agriculture committee on this matter:.....................................................................................October 22, Private Member's statements“TIME TO CLEAN UP” THE MEAT REGULATIONSC. Evans: I rise today to speak on the subject of the meat regulations that came into effect three weeks ago in British Columbia, making it a criminal act for a farmer to kill his chicken and sell it to me or to kill her cow, cut it up, and sell it to me or to you, hon. Speaker, or to anybody else in the province
Bear rescue - not on BC bridge but in California 2007-11-03 17:09:00 This bear found its way onto the new bridge
near Golden. We can only imagine how disruptive our great construction achievements are to wild animals. This worked out OK for the bear, thanks to highway people who used their time and experience to bring off a remarkable rescue.I wasn't able to find out who took these pictures. If you or someone you know took them, please let me know so I can give credit (or remove them, if you prefer).UPDATE Nov.5/07: Thanks to a comment from Gary (see below), I've learned that this bear rescue was in fact near Lake Tahoe in California
. I recommend you go to the article at Tahoe.com where you'll find the full story and a much more extensive slide-show of this remarkable rescue - which loses none of its impressiveness through not being in British Columbia! I'll leave the images below as a sampler.Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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New blog on the block: Chilcotin Ark - by Dave Neads 2007-12-10 14:34:00 A special welcome to Dave Neads and his blog, Chilcotin Ark. Dave has been a guest writer in this blog on a few occasions:Factory fences: aliens in the ChilcotinOf Mice, Packrats and MenPerspective on the Lodgepole PineThe pine beetle aftermath requires a fundamental culture change. . . and now he's out there on his own. No stranger to writing, Dave has written many articles for, amongst others, the Williams Lake Tribune and the Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society.Drop over and visit him in his new milieu. I think you'll like what you find. Inside British Columbia - the blog.
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While we weren't looking, control of our rivers has been taken away from us 2008-02-26 01:44:00 500 BC streams risked for private profit.By Rafe MairPublished: February 25, 2008TheTyee.ca Thanks to the Campbell government, British Columbia will be a much different place when they're finished. It will not be a pretty picture and unless there is a public protest of sufficient impact to get the government's attention, the new B.C. will be in place with no turning back.Read onInside British Columbia - the blog.
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Birds From a Cariboo Deck No.7: Pileated Woodpecker 2008-02-22 01:52:00 This is the big one around here - and reputedly the inspiration for Woody Woodpecker
: not just in its looks: the calls we hear when they make their way, sometimes as many as four at a time, through the woods towards our chief attraction - suet - are pretty close to that irritating call of the cartoon version.I say this is "the big one" but that status is among the woodpeckers. One of my most impressive backyard sites was a Sharp-Shinned Hawk chasing a Pileated Woodpecker through the fir trees: like a scene from Star Wars.For an interesting perspective on the part this woodpecker plays in the forest ecology, read Woodpeckers, Fir Snags and Hummingbirds by Dave Neads. I chose the Pileated Woodpecker as No.7 to coincide with his publishing of this post.For more on Cariboo birds, see my Bird Read more:Birds
Birch syrup is healthier and fetches a very good price 2008-02-17 20:10:00 It's that time of year again: the sap is rising - the sugaring season is upon us.Not here, you say? You were thinking maple, I presume . . . Think again . . . Try birch. Three of the country's 11 birch syrup
producers are in BC. And, according to my source, an article in today's Province, a 250ml bottle sells for $22 - when you can get it. Demand far exceeds supply. Here's a reason to be careful what we do with the living trees amidst the dead pines "everyone" seems so keen to take out. And, of course this little value-added enterprise leaves the trees alive and good for another season.As if that's not enough, unlike maple syrup which is largely sucrose, birch syrup is comprised largely of the healthier fructose and glucose.If I've got you thinking, there's lots more in the article Read more:price
Tyee article sheds some light on BC Native land claims 2008-02-13 15:08:00 Aboriginal land claims
in BC appear so complex that, given so many other matters that take my time, I seek to find simple principles amidst the details. There is little written in the mainstream media that has brought me much closer to understanding. This opinion article by Dave Porter, Chief Judith Sayers and Grand Chief Edward John in The Tyee (which is not quite mainstream), seems to cast some light
on the processes and principles involved:New Day for BC Native
Claims 'Xeni decision' casts doubt on provincial authority over First Nations land dealings. The inspirational words in the judgment of Justice Vickers of the Supreme Court of British Columbia in Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia ("Xeni decision") ought to convince both Prime Minister Harper and Premier Campbell of the exis
Developer proposes South Cariboo island project 2008-02-06 22:16:00 If you live in a rural or semi-rural area, is it ever good when a developer gets to work? What can be said at a public hearing to justify keeping the aliens at bay? Is there fairness beyond selfishness? Here's an example in the South
Cariboo - an area where many house prices have doubled in the past few years.100 Mile development undergoes public scrutiny 100 Mile House Free Press • Feb-06-2008 Bridge Lake residents are gearing up for a public hearing.The locals make their caseInside British Columbia - the blog.
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Upcoming CBC Week-long Series on Pine Beetle 2008-01-04 15:08:00 From a press release issued by the Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle
Action Coalition:CBC Radio (Almanac) is producing a week-long series of shows on the beetle issue running from Mon. Jan. 7 through Friday, Jan. 11. The shows should be broadcast on your local CBC station. A community forum will be held on Wednesday, January 9 at the Williams Lake Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex - Gibraltar Room, 7pm - 9pm, moderated by Mark Forsythe (host of Almanac).If at all possible, it would be helpful if you could attend this event or take part in the call-in session. The purpose of your participation is to bring balance to the audience and to present any relevant, accurate information to the forum from your community. Here is the line-up for the week as supplied by CBC.Monday, January 7Impact of the Pi Read more:Upcoming
Is Green Power 'Theft'? 2008-03-24 12:43:00 My previous post reflects only a small part of the concern that's growing amongst many regarding the plan to privatize hydro-electric dams to extract power from BC rivers.As with all "stories", there is another side. In my view the story of what's already in the works with these dams has been a hidden story, hidden because the rationale for use of our river resources in this way was never clearly disclosed to the citizens of this province. All the same, there is a case to be made and Murray, the author of this fair-minded, clear and informed counter-argument has agreed to have his views re-printed hereNOTE: I've added links to a few of his references and moved his footnotes into the body of the text, though in a smaller font.As he says, he is open to comments, questions and argument. You Read more:Green
Rafe Mair speaks at hearing on privatizing power on BC's Upper Pitt River 2008-03-28 23:29:00 Well, the Pitt River
project has been stopped (one down, many more to go) and here's likely one reason why:
It seems there are many more plans like this one (similar enough) so those of us in the Interior will soon be more directly involved. This is a province-wide plan. Read more:power
, Upper
Great Horned Owl family on livecam at Thompson Rivers U in Kamloops 2008-03-31 00:52:00 Thompson Rivers
University has a pair of horned owls nesting on Campus and is sharing the experience around the world via streaming live video. The parents are taking care of two offspring. Urban nesting is unusual and the nesting is a little earlier than usual. The family seems to be doing well.
Live Video - Horned Owls nest on campus
More about the Great
Horned Owl
Great Horned Owl photo by Read more:Thompson
With Pitt River hydro plans stopped, what now? 2008-04-04 11:26:00 Matthew Burrows in the Georgia Straight looks at plans
some are making to introduce proposals for other private hydro operations. He quotes BC Liberal Randy Hawes:
Despite its sudden withdrawal in the legislature on March 31, B.C. Liberal whip Randy Hawes says he still plans to introduce his motion supporting independent power producers. “It is going to get introduced, I would expect,” Hawes, Read more:River
Corky Evans speaks in the BC Legislature on meat regulations 2008-04-09 21:53:00 The implications of BC government regulations governing slaughterhouses and on-farm meat processing continue to ripple. At the forefront of the movement to bring sanity and viability to the legislation is NDP MLA Corky Evans
. Here he speaks at the BC legislature:
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Farm to School opportunities for farmers 2008-04-09 20:52:00 I thought this would be of interest to those in the listed towns. I think this is a natural if we're looking to support healthier eating in our schools and promote local food.
I am getting many calls from many eager schools who would like to pair up with a local farm (or a couple of farms) to make Farm to School
happen. Calls are coming from Masset, Kitwanga, Terrace, Telkwa, Houston, Smithers, Read more:farmers
'Green' power project kills fish; ducks and frogs 'disappear'. 2008-04-30 12:14:00 Smaller power
generation projects are quickly building up a pretty poor track record.From a recent report in the Vancouver Sun:
An independent power project on Miller Creek near Pemberton is failing to meet its commitments to produce "green power" and to protect species at risk, according to an environmental consulting report.
The 33-megawatt power project, owned by the City of Edmonton's Read more:Green
, disappear
BC meat-inspection rules putting good farmers out of business 2008-05-25 17:55:00 This fight is still being fought but already many farmers
have lost their ability to sell locally, mostly because the new BC meat inspection rules have resulted in greatly-increased costs and deterioration of the quality of meat processed. Mass processing and stressful travel does not produce better meat - and, arguably can often increase the likelihood of contamination. Carlito Pablo, in the
CBC: Feds plan on turning good lakes into dump sites 2008-06-16 21:23:00 Long time no post!
Well, this one's not very original but it does seem important. Sounds like the federal government is trying to sneak one over on all of us; and some of it will happen in BC, turning
perfectly good lakes into dump sites.
CBC News has learned that 16 Canadian lakes are slated to be officially but quietly "reclassified" as toxic dump sites for mines. The lakes include p
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