scoops & scrapes
TuesDAY
the basics
history
free classes
A trip through Kimberley’s past with Brian Crowe.
COTR Kimberley Campus is offering free beginner’s computer classes.
See LOCAL NEWS page 35
See LOCAL NEWS page 3
december 11, 2012
The Bulletin
Proudly serving kimberley and area since 1932 | Vol. 79, Issue 239 | www.dailybulletin.ca
Local pet store saves injured owl Annalee Gr ant Townsman Staff
He wasn’t your average customer, but for Clyde the owl, his visit to Just 4 Pets two weeks ago saved his life. The pet store welcomed in an injured Great Horned Owl a few weeks ago and helped re-home it with a local raptor specialist until he can be released back into the wild. Brian Walker, a sales associate with 20-year experience with birds of prey, said staff became curious when a customer had a strange request. “A customer came in, he was looking to buy some mice,” Walker said. While the request itself isn’t strange with reptile owners, the inquisitive staff asked what the rodents were for, and discovered the customer had found a Great Horned Owl on the side of the highway between Wycliffe and Cranbrook and was looking to get him a snack. “Working in a pet store, we get to meet a lot of interesting pets,” Walker said. “Unfortunately, we also sometimes have people come in with wildlife which they have either found injured or have captured and wish to keep as a pet.” Luckily for Clyde, Walker was working that day and offered to take a look at the injured raptor. He determined it was a younger male owl that had most likely been struck by a vehicle. He said it’s not uncommon for younger owls to be injured in that way. “There’s a huge mortality rate in their first year,” Walker said. “They’re young, they’re inexperienced.” In an owl’s first year of life their job is to reach a healthy body weight by hunting for small animals. Great Horned Owls will eat almost any small prey, from mice
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MADD Kimberley/ cranbrook
MADD event planned for new year Krista Lynn Madd Dash
C AROLYN GR ANT editor@dailybulletin.ca
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Clyde the Owl is recovering well after his ordeal.
to small birds to rabbits. “All birds of prey are fairly opportunistic,” Walker said. Clyde was underweight and missing an eye when he was found, but generally in good health. He had no broken wings. “He was in fairly good shape,” Walker said. The bird was taken into the care of Just 4 Pets until a local raptor specialist took over. Walker said he will be rehabilitated and released if possible.
It’s not uncommon for concerned customers to reach out to Cranbrook’s many pet stores when they come across an animal injured in the wild. “We get quite a few people coming to us with wild animals,” Walker said. In his experience, Walker said he’s had about a half a dozen injured owls brought to him in the past 20 years. But while picking up an injured animal may seem like the right
thing to do, Walker said wildlife is best left where it belongs – in the wild. In fact, it is illegal to keep a wild animal as a pet. “In situations such as this, the first thing we need to remind people of is that all wildlife is considered protected under the Wildlife Act, and it is against the law to have wildlife in your possession without a proper permit,” Walker said.
See CLYDE, Page 3
The MADD chapter of Kimberley Cranbrook is looking to raise their profile and some funds with an event planned for Saturday, January 26, 2013. The first annual Krista Lynn MADD Dash will be a fun day of skiing and snowboarding says Katryna Sigurdson of MADD, with games, a barbecue lunch, door prizes, silent auction and more. Tickets, which include lift passes are $80 for adults, $65 for youth 13-17, $50 for under 12 and $30 for those who have annual passes or just want to come support and not ski. For information and pledge forms, you can contact Sigurdson at 250-432-9590. Tickets are available in Cranbrook at Core Fitness and Bridge Interiors, and in Kimberley at Bear’s Eatery and Guest Services at Kimberley Alpine Resort. MADD Kimberley/Cranbrook officially launched its first ever red ribbon campaign in the two communities on November 1. They will be distributing red ribbons throughout the holiday season, and will continue into the new year, bringing awareness to the fight against drinking and driving.
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