LOVING HIM TO A FAULT | Story of addiction unfolds at public presentation Monday at VSS [A10]
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Friday, May 22, 2015
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Morning Star Staff
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Melecio Calan drives the tractor while Edgar Alvarez plants ambrosia apple trees and Antonio Hernandez secures them in place in the BX.
Snakes scare up anxious calls ROGER KNOX
Morning Star Staff
Rattlesnakes, of course, are familiar residents of the Okanagan. They are one of six species of snakes common to the Okanagan Valley. Corn snakes are not one of the six. But there was Vernon’s Pete Wise, owner/ operator of Wise Wildlife Control Services, dealing with the alien snake found in the lobby of a Vernon apartment building on 32nd Avenue Wednesday morning. “I got the call from the RCMP at 2 a.m., saying there was a snake in the lobby,” said Wise. “When I got there, the snake started to go on a tour of the hallway. The RCMP did an excellent job of keeping it constrained so it didn’t take off.” It’s unclear as to how the blood-red corn snake, about five feet in length, got into the building. Wise said it was quite skinny and took it to a couple he knows that rehabilitates snakes. The corn snake call was one of seven in 24 hours Wise received about snakes. Most of the calls had to deal with rattlesnakes. Wise saw his first rattlesnake of the season
about five-to-six weeks ago in an area where he knew a rattlesnake den existed. But the early warm weather is also bringing snakes out to seek the heat. “It’s hot in the daytime but the ambient air temperature drops quite dramatically in the early evening, so snakes are moving to sidewalks, pathways, driveways and gardens to get that last vestige of heat during the day, and that’s where they’re staying,” said Wise. “That’s where they meet up with humans. Remember, we’ve moved into their world. They’ve always been here.” What Wise likes to do, if it’s possible, is if people come across a snake, take a picture of it with your iPhone and send it to him. “I’ll identify if the snake is venomous or non-venomous and then I’ll give some course of action to take,” he said. “If I can identify the species, I can give the person some instruction as to whether they should be more careful or put them a little more at ease.” Wise will come trap the snake and relocate it if necessary. He said it is against the law in B.C. to kill any species of snake.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Vernon wildlife control specialist Pete Wise has been busy with snake calls this week – seven alone on Wednesday – including one in a Vernon apartment building lobby and this rattlesnake found on a road near the entrance to Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park.
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He gets calls on snakes from Osoyoos to Lytton.
Lumby smokers are facing tighter restrictions. Council instructed staff Tuesday to amend policies to ban smoking throughout all parks, at the salmon trail and at bus stops. “Studies show that children start smoking if they see adults smoking so we want to put a stop to that,” said Mayor Kevin Acton. Currently, smoking is only prohibited in specific areas frequented by children, such as the playground. However, Acton says there is a need to expand the areas where smoking isn’t allowed. “The salmon trail is meant to be a healthy, outdoor experience and we’re hearing complaints that it’s not,” he said. Opposition to the changes came from Coun. Nick Hodge. “I thought it reached too far,” he said of the ban at bus stops and in the parks. “It might stop people from going to the park.” Acton insists the village is not discriminating against smokers. “I smoked for a time and I never smoked in a park or where people were with their children,” he sad. “There are still lots of places to smoke where it’s appropriate.” No-smoking rules could be relaxed by the village if there is a request for groups using parks, such as Lumby Days. “There are still opportunities for special events,” said Tom Kadla, chief administrative officer.
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