NEW CHAPTER | Local athlete shares her life story in No Limits, now on book store shelves [A12]
Morning gStar
The
Sunday, June 14, 2015
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
EXECUTIVES REALTY LTD.
Connected to More® www.century21executives.com
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
O K A N A G A N
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
2 5
2907 32nd Street, Vernon, BC
250-549-2103
Y E A R S
Residents urged to be bear aware JENNIFER SMITH Morning Star Staff
If the bears don’t get it, someone else is lurking the streets of Vernon at night, on the hunt for garbage. WildSafe B.C. has deployed a new tactic to make residents bear aware – Tessa Coulthard. Thanks to the City of Vernon, the newly hired WildSafe B.C. ambassador is helping to keep wildlife wild and communities safe. Part of that job includes garbage tagging. She’s armed with a keen eye, education in the field and an arsenal of sighting reports so she knows where high target areas area. She will be out at night hunting for garbage each week in Vernon neighbourhoods which have had bear sightings (she doesn’t work in the outlying communities). Any garbage cans left out the night prior to garbage pickup will be tagged with an easily removable warning sticker that identifies the garbage as bear attractant. “People don’t understand their actions cause bears to stick around,” said Coulthard. Some Blue Jay/Goose Lake residents may have already pulled their bins in to discover the stickers, as Coulthard was out last week. “We find it’s the most effective way to get people to keep their garbage in a secure place until morning.” Coulthard has already been going doorto-door letting people know if a bear has been spotted in their area – and that includes almost every outer region of town. “In the last couple of weeks we’ve had bears up Bella Vista Road, out Old
Kamloops Road by Goose Lake, Eastside Road, Keddleston...,” she said, noting that while there are other wildlife sightings, bears are the No. 1 issue. Although bear sightings aren’t uncommon, the number so far this year is not unusual, according to conservation officers, whom Coulthard is in close contact with. “We don’t really like to see them out in neighbourhoods though.” As a result, steps to prevent animals from needing to be destroyed can be taken. “Once you see a bear in your neighourhood, it’s time to take down your bird feeders, manage your compost and keep your garbage secure until morning pickup. “It reduces the number of bears that have to be destroyed because we don’t relocate bears here,” she said, as once a bear gets a taste for garbage, it will continue to seek out garbage as a food source. Residents can assist WildSafe B.C.’s efforts by mapping their sightings through the Wildlife Alert Reporting Program. The interactive map shows sightings for particular areas. For example there was a cougar on Pinto Road (above Bella Vista) recently and someone spotted a black bear in Enderby Wednesday. “We live here because it’s beautiful and there’s lots of nature and wildlife and we have to respect that,” said Coulthard, who is working locally until August, when she returns to the University of Victoria. For more information, visit www.wildsafebc.com or check out the Facebook page at WildSafeBC Vernon.
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
Tessa Coulthard, WildSafe B.C. ambassador, will be out tagging garbage cans around Vernon that are left out overnight.
Deep divisions wash in over Shuswap boat ban RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
The Regional District of North Okanagan is navigating turbulent waters over a proposed boat ban on parts of the Shuswap River. A range of opinions flooded in during public open houses in Enderby Wednesday and rural Lumby Thursday. “We’re hearing a lot of different views,” said Anna Page, sustainability co-ordinator. The proposed regulations for the river include no motorized vessels from south Mabel Lake upstream to Shuswap Falls and from Trinity Valley Road upstream to the eastern end of Skookumchuck Rapids Park. It’s also suggested that there be a vessel engine size limit
of 10 horsepower from Mara Lake upstream to Trinity Valley Road. “A lot are not in agreement and some are not comfortable with it but they recognize something must be done. Those in support were also there,” said Page. “It’s a good starting point and it shows us there’s a lot of interest and people want to be involved.” RDNO’s intent is to improve recreational safety, reduce bank erosion, reduce disturbance to salmon spawning grounds and minimize conflicts between river users. About 242 people attended the meeting at the Enderby Drill Hall and there were about 50 at the Mabel Lake Community Hall. “People had time to give their input and the (public)
OVERSTOCKED
IN PRE-OWNED TRUCKS!
BANNISTER
process will go on until the end of August,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. Surveys can also be completed online at www.rdno.ca/ boating and they will be mailed to property owners adjoining the river in the affected areas. “The whole goal is to get a feeling for what the community wants,” said Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director. Halvorson insists that a final decision on the regulations has not been made. “We will then take a look at it and then see where it goes,” he said of maintaining the proposal as is, amending the plan or scrapping the concept altogether. If RDNO proceeds with some form of regulations, the final decision will be made by Transport Canada.
2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 4X4 Only 42,000 kms 15-319A
“A Family Business, with Family Values”
PRICED UNDER BLACK BOOK VALUE:
25TH
ANNIVERSARY
$
23,777
4703 27 St, Vernon BC bannisters.com • 250-545-0606 *Price is plus $499 doc fee & taxes.
DL#9133