FRIDAY
S I N C E
MARCH 22, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 47
110
$
Flaherty delivers federal budget Page 5
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Bears ready to come out of slumber BY CHRIS STEDILE Times Staff
As spring arrives the temperatures rise, the snow melts, and before you know it the bears are out. Sharon Wieder, Rossland-Trail Bear Aware community coordinator, says these animals will be emerging between April and May, and encourages everyone to do their part in keeping human-bear conflict to a minimum. With bear encounters down in recent years Wieder says people tend to forget the risk bears pose to communities. In 2012 there were 173 problem wildlife occurrence reports (PWOR), up from 164 in 2011, but a massive decline from 327 in 2010. “The drop is likely due to so many bears being destroyed in 2010,” she says, “the population needs time to recover.” Twenty nine black bears were destroyed in the Rossland-Trail area in 2010 compared to only eight in 2012. “So many of these bears are needlessly destroyed,” Wieder says. Adding that proper waste management would prevent most of these deaths. “The bears are just following their noses and are motivated by hunger,” she explains. “If they can’t find any food then they will go
somewhere else.” There are several ways in which people can reduce the number of bear attractants in their communities. The primary sources of food for bears in populated areas comes from garbage, fruit trees and bird feeders. “What most people don’t realize is, sunflower seeds in the feeders offer a large calorie count for the bears,” she says. As for the garbage problem, the Bear Aware B.C. website recommends putting garbage out immediately before pick-up, freezing any strong smelling items, or investing in a bearresistant household container. While these containers, such as the TyeDee Bin, can cost upwards of a few hundred dollars, Wieder says it is better to have one of these containers rather than run the risk of a bear damaging your property or injuring a person. Throughout the spring and summer months when bear activity is at it’s highest, Bear Aware will be holding workshops and educational public events to raise awareness for bear activity and how to effectively handle situations involving bears. “In reality we are in bear territory, and need to act accordingly,” Wieder says.
SPRING
SAVIN’
CLEARANCE
about 300 Mopar/Jeep/Ram, and all makes
SHOP MANUALS in stock
From $4.99 while they last
Debt threatens future of camp
TAKING AIM
BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
CHRIS STEDILE PHOTO
Thursday afternoon, kids sampled arts, crafts and games at the Cominco Gym as part of the Camp Chaos and Story Time in the Community. The joint effort by Trail Parks and Recreation and the Trail and District Public Library offers programs for children during spring break. For more information contact the library.
A summer camp that has delighted and hosted Greater Trail children for over 80 years is in danger of disappearing. Camp Koolaree is teetering on the edge of financial ruin as the society that operates the facility prepares to meet early next month to determine if there is the wherewithal to continue its legacy. Members of the board of directors of the Camp Koolaree Society—a group that operates the popular children’s camp on the shores of Kootenay Lake on land owned by the United Church of Canada—were “stunned” to find that the Society had significant debts recently. Board member Keith Simmonds said the camp’s growing debt—around $25,000—was reported to United Church members two weeks ago and that it did not have money in the bank to cover operating expenses for the coming year. He said rising costs—fuel, propane, wages—and reduced donations hit the camp society hard. Although the provincial body of the United Church has recommended the society not run camps this year, a Hail Mary meeting is being held on Saturday, April 6 (3 p.m.) at the Castlegar United Church to gauge what will was still out there to keep the camp. Simmonds said it will take a large influx of donations and new folk on the board to help resurrect the camp from its current calamity. “(The United Church of Canada) tells us the world is changing. People don’t want to send kids to a camp like this,” he said. “I told them we live in rural B.C. And that’s what we do when we go on vacation.” There is no power in the campground, located 10 kilometres east of Nelson, across the water of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake at Six Mile. See CAMP, Page 3
FOR YOU
All Mobil 1 and Mopar fluids
All Oil /Fuel/Air/ Cabin filters
30%
off
*Some clearance accessories @ cost *
25%
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in stock items
discounts expire May 5/2013
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