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Happy Groundhog Day! THE WILD FILES

It’s our nature

By Chadd Cawson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Happy Groundhog Day! There are 15 species of groundhogs across the globe, three which reside in Canada. The species we see burrowing on the unceded territories of the Secwépemc, and Ktunaxa Peoples, and the land chosen as home by the Métis Peoples of B.C., is the species known as marmota monax petrensis. Groundhogs, which thrive in prairie and wooded areas, belong to the group of large ground squirrels known as marmots, and are the second largest member of the ground squirrel family next, to the hoary marmot.

Groundhogs have four incisor teeth, white to ivory white, which grow 1.5 millimetres (mm) per week, as their constant usage wears them down them the same amount weekly. As herbivores, groundhogs eat a variety of plants and are known for taking tasty fruit and vegetable treats from people’s farms and gardens. They are also eat insects, snails, and grubs. Predators include grey wolves, badgers, coyotes and cougars. The length of the average adult groundhog is 68.5 centimetres (cm) including a tail up to nearly 19 cm. The average yearround weight of males is 3.83 kilograms (kg) while females weigh in a little less at 3.53 kg. In the wild they live up to six years of age; in captivity have reached the age of 14.

Chuck in repetition: Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are distinguished by gender as he-chucks and she-chucks; their young are called chucklings, or pups. A group of groundhogs is called a repetition. Out of the entire ground squirrel family, groundhogs are the most solitary and do not form stable, long-term bonds, and only court to reproduce. Mating happens after groundhogs come out of hibernation at the end of February or beginning of March. After a gestation period of 32 days, she-chucks birth three to five chucklings that are born naked and blind. They are independent by two months of age.

Hibernating hogs: Groundhogs hibernate; they retreat to their burrows in mid-fall and go into a deep slumber. Their body temperature drops from 37 to 3.3 degrees Celsius; their heart rate drops from 80 to four beats a minute. Aside from arising a few times to relieve themselves or step outside for a moment, hibernation can last up to five months for groundhogs. When they emerge from it, their bodies are thin and depleted. They make up for this during the spring and summer months. They are ravenous eaters and can consume rows of farmers crops.

Whistle pigs: Groundhogs are also called whistle pigs because they let out a whistle-like warning call when they sense danger. This alerts all other groundhogs around of dangers such as a low-flying hawk or another predator. Groundhogs fight and squabble with each other for their territories. Their defense tactics also include teeth chattering and tail swishing.

Down to earth Groundhogs are said to have a significant connection to the earth and they represent stability and earth energy. In Indigenous cultures, it’s believed if a groundhog arrives as a spirit animal it’s an opportunity for self-examination and personal growth; it appears to help you leave negativity behind, while clearing the path for the emergence of one’s genuine self.

Without a shadow without a doubt: The first Groundhog Day dates all the way back to February 2, 1887, when a rodent meteorologist was celebrated for the first time at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. In 1887, a newspaper editor who belonged to a group of groundhog hunters called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, declared that a groundhog called Phil was America’s only true weather-forecasting groundhog. Since, the groundhog has always been referred to as Punxsutawney Phil. According to tradition, if the groundhog does not see his shadow, then without a doubt, spring will come early. If he is startled by his silhouette, then then it’s six more weeks of winter for all.

Distric T Of Invermere

914 – 8th Avenue, PO Box 339

Invermere, B.C. V0A 1K0

Tel: 250-342-9281

• Fax: 250-342-2934

2023 LO C A L B Y - E L E C T I O N S

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN AS FOLLOWS: NOTICE OF ADVANCE VOTING

PUBLIC NOTICE IS GIVEN AS FOLLOWS:

ADVANCE VOTING DATES AND LOC ATION

ADVANCE VOTING will be held as follows:

Wednesday, Februar y 22nd, 2023

Between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. -and-

Thursday, March 2nd, 2023

Between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Loc ation Address

Distric t of Invermere Office 914 – 8th Avenue, Invermere, BC

Elec Tor Registration

You may register at the time of voting by completing the application form available at the voting place and making a declaration that you meet the requirements to be registered as set out below:

RESIDENT ELECTORS:

To register as a resident elec tor you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day March 4th, 2023;

• be a Canadian citizen;

• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);

• be a resident of the [municipalit y or elec toral area] on the day of registration (at time of voting); and

• not be disqualified under the Local Government Ac t or any other enac tment from voting in an elec tion or assent voting and not other wise disqualified by law

NON-RESIDENT PROPERT Y ELEC TORS:

To register as a non-resident proper t y elec tor you must:

• be 18 years of age or older on general voting day March 4th, 2023;

• be a Canadian citizen;

• be a resident of British Columbia for at least 6 months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);

• be a registered owner of real proper t y in the [municipalit y or elec toral area] for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting);

• not be entitled to register as a resident elec tor; and

• not be disqualified under the Local Government Ac t or any other enac tment from voting in an elec tion or assent voting and not other wise disqualified by law

In addition, for non-resident proper t y elec tors:

• The only persons who are registered owners of the proper t y, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the proper t y in trust for a corporation or another trust

• If more than one individual is registered owner of the proper t y, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majorit y of the individual owners, register as a non-resident proper t y elec tor

In addition, in order to register at time of voting:

Resident elec tors must produce 2 pieces of identific ation (at least one with a signature). Pic ture identification is not necessar y The identification must prove both residenc y and identit y.

Non-resident proper ty elec tors must produce 2 pieces of identific ation (at least one with a signature) to prove identit y, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the proper t y, and, if there is more than one owner of the proper t y, written consent from the majorit y of the proper t y owners

T Ypes Of Documents That Will Be Accepted As Identific Ation

You must produce at least t wo (2) documents that provide evidence of your identit y and place of residence, at least one (1) of which must contain your signature The following classes of documents will be accepted: a) a Driver ’s Licence; b) an Identification Card such as i. a photo BC ser vices card; ii. a non-photo BC ser vices card; c) an Owner ’s Cer tificate of Insurance and Vehicle Licence issued by ICBC d) a BC CareCard or BC Gold CareCard; e) a Ministr y of Social Development and Economic Securit y Request for Continued Assistance Form SDES8, (now “Monthly Form EA181); f ) a Social Insurance Number card; g) a Citizenship Card; h) a real proper t y tax notice; i) a credit card or debit card; or j) a utilit y bill, (such as elec tricit y, natural gas, water, telephone or cable ser vices).

The above listed identification documents MUST be accepted by elec tion officials An elec tion official may also accept other forms of documents that provide evidence satisfac tor y to the elec tion official (e.g., a valid, current passpor t).

Mail Ballot Voting

REQUESTING A MAIL BALLOT PACK AGE:

Mail ballot applications are available and can be submitted to the Distric t of Invermere office bet ween Februar y 7th, 2023, to March 2nd, 2023 at 4 p.m

If you would like to receive a mail ballot to vote by mail, an application must be submitted to the Distric t of Invermere office by Februar y 10th, 2023, at 4 p.m

If you would like to receive a mail ballot and submit it to the office an application must be submitted to the Distric t of Invermere office by March 2nd, 2023, at 4 p.m

Applications are on the Distric t of Invermere website at w w w invermere.net, or can be requested by email corporateser vices@ invermere.net and the municipal office located at 914 – 8th Avenue

To be counted, your mail ballot must be received by the Chief Elec tion Officer no later than 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 4th, 2023, of General Voting Day

For fur ther information on the elec tion process, please contac t:

Kindr y Luyendyk, Chief Elec tion Officer 250-342-9281 corporateser vices@invermere.net