County News
www.oglecountynews.com
Ogle County Newspapers, Thursday, June 26, 2014, Page A7
IDNR is urging residents to leave the bear alone From A1 Only 10 feet away from the bear at one point, White said he is “a very healthy, beautiful bear.� The bear next showed up southwest of Mt. Morris on property owned by Sue Felker, Mt. Morris. He climbed up in an oak tree where he yawned, stretched, and settled down for a lengthy afternoon nap. A crowd of at least 30 people followed his progress. A while after the excitement died down and the onlookers returned home, the bear made his way down and went on his way, White said. “If people are concerned about the welfare of that bear, the best thing they can do is leave it alone,� White said. “The worst thing they can do is what happened in Mt. Morris.� The bear’s best chance of survival is for people to keep their distance, so he can find his way back to his natural habitat and not become accustomed to humans, said Chris Young, a spokesman with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. “We have been counseling people to leave him alone. So far, it’s been going really well, so we’re going to keep reiterating that message,� Young said. Not only are crowds of onlookers stressing out the bear, but they’re also irritating the people on whose property they’re trampling. “People need to be aware that you can’t go on private property without permission. Landowners are getting testy,� said Acting Capt. Laura Petreikis, with the
“We have been counseling people to leave him alone. So far, it’s been going really well, so we’re going to keep reiterating that message,� Chris Young, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Spokesman Illinois Conservation Police. “We want to protect the bear, but we’re also going to protect the property that the bear goes onto.� That means anyone caught trespassing on private property, blocking a roadway or creating any other kind of hazard will be ticketed, by the conservation police or any other law enforcement agency involved, she said. “It’s fine to view the bear from a distance, but we want to leave it alone so it doesn’t become aggressive,� she said. “Give it its space. “It’s like any other wild animal, and you should never corner or chase any wild animal.� The bruin is likely a young male, pushed out of his home territory by adults and sent off to make his own way in the world, Young said. He’s minding his own business, doing what bears do: looking for a home, and probably a mate. He’s also not staying in one place. Because he’s not finding suitable habitat here, he seems to be looping his way back toward the Mississippi River, which is a good thing, Young said. The IDNR does not want to trap him, for a variety of reasons: He’s shown no signs of aggression. Finding his own habitat is what he’s supposed to do. No zoo is going to want him, and
there’s no reason to lock him up in a research facility ... in short, they want to let the bear be a bear. “If the bear poses a threat, we will have to re-evaluate, but right now it hasn’t given us any reason to,� Young said. Illinois once had thousands of black bears, but by the mid1800s, settlers had harvested them all for their meat and hides, so “it’s a special thing that the bear’s here,� he said. The IDNR is keeping track of the youngster, which was spotted more than a dozen times in DeKalb County last week before being seen Friday afternoon in a large stack of timber on a farm in Ogle County near Rochelle. Before that, he also was sighted several times in Stephenson, Winnebago and Boone counties, all of which border Wisconsin, where he A black bear looks around a branch after a crowd formed bear the oak tree he had is believed to have originated. climbed southwest of Mt. Morris last week. Photo by Earleen Hinton The little Ogle County bruin probably won’t be the last to visit the Sauk Valley, either. “We can probably expect one from time to time,� Young said. If all goes well, this one should just pad off into his future, wandering off the way he wandered in. “The best bet is just to let him make his way,� Young said. Kathleen Schultz contributed to this story.
Concert will be held in Byron Julie Patchouli, a nationally touring, award-winning songwriter and master guitarist Bruce Hecksel will play on Sunday, June 29 at 7 p.m. at the Byron Forest Preserve.
Their unique “New American Folk Music� is a blend of elements of folk, pop, flamenco, and jazz. The free concert will be held at the Heritage Farm Stage, 7993 N. River Rd.,
Byron. In case of bad weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Jarrett Prairie A crowd of people watch a black bear that was in an oak tree southwest of Mt. Morris Center. Call 815-234-8535 for last week. Police asked the crowd to leave the private lane which enabled the bear to later climb down from the tree and head west. Photo by Earleen Hinton more information.
Extension offers June 30 class on raising backyard chickens The University of lllinois Extension will offer a class on home-scale poultry production called Raising Backyard Chickens Right on Monday, June 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ogle County Extension office, 421 W. Pines Rd., Oregon. The class is being offered because many people, whether they are on a rural acreage or an urban homestead, are becoming increasingly interested in raising chickens in their backyards. “Whether motivated by extremely local food, or simply having a showy pet to decorate the yard, there are a number of things you need to know about raising chickens so that your family and your birds can live happy and healthy together,� said Andy Larson, a new local foods systems and small farms educator with University of Illinois Extension.
Larson recently joined University of Illinois Extension serving Boone, DeKalb and Ogle counties. While new to the position, Larson is no stranger to poultry farming, or the Extension program. He has been working in agriculture with extension in both Iowa and Illinois since 2004, with programs on planning, growing, and marketing for small, alternative, and diversified agriculture enterprises. Larson and his young family have returned to the family farm in northern Illinois, where he is helping his wife and kids add to the family business with a poultry enterprise. It is this experience that has led him to record a series of informational videos for extension about raising backyard poultry, which are in post-production and will be
released on YouTube in the coming weeks. Participants will discuss: choosing chicken breeds and starting the chicks; considerations for building a coop and designing a chicken run; overcoming winter weather and pressure from predators; and handling and selling eggs in Illinois safely and legally. The program fee is $5, payable in advance or at the door. Pre-registration is preferred to ensure adequate space and materials. To register or for more information on Raising Backyard Chickens Right, call University of Illinois Extension office at 815-7322191. Participants can also go to the website at web. extension.illinois.edu/bdo or email extension program coordinator, Lisa Valle at lkvalle@illinois.edu.
ANDERSON FEED COMPANY Pre-order Chicks, Quail & Pheasants Exotics & Domestics
Different Breeds Available. We can place orders through October - Call for Details Shavings & Straw Available Organic Poultry Feed Kent Poultry Feeds
Volunteers are needed to help at Ogle fair The Ogle County Fair Association is in need of volunteers to assist with some activities at this year’s Ogle County Fair. The 2014 Ogle County Fair will be held July 30 - Aug. 3 at the Ogle County Fairgrounds located just west of Oregon. Volunteers age 18 and older
are needed to sell tickets at the gate. Volunteers will work threehour shifts or whenever they are available. To volunteer call Roseanne at 815-4403601. Help is also needed with parking. Volunteers must be age 15 and older.
Volunteer work schedules can be adjusted. Call Jon at 815-978-2264 to volunteer. The Ogle County Fair Association board members wear many hats during fair week and would appreciate any help volunteers can give them. It is also a great community service activity.
Sheaffer’s Town & Country Tractors, Inc. 3ALES s 2ENTALS s 0ARTS s 3ERVICE
We can now supply you with these name brand parts! 0ALMYRA 2D $IXON s
We have a great selection of products at prices that will keep you coming back!
* Premium NutriSource pet foods, When you have purchased your 12th bag the 13 th bag is free * Feed and bedding for all types of caged birds, pets and fish * Weldy Bale Feeders * Stronghold Chutes & Gates * Franklin & Mirafont Waterers * NuZu 12% Sweet Feed * NuZu 14% Sweet Feed * NuZu Stabul 1 Horse feed * NuZu Stabul 1 Plus Horse feed
* NuZu Goat Feed * Kent Beef Feed * Kent Pig Feed * Kent Sheep Feed * Kent Horse Feed * Pigeon Feed * Bagged Solar and Driveway Salt * Bagged Rust Out Salt * Easyway Mineral Feeders * NuZu Alpaca Feed * Anderson Beef 33 * Anderson Beef 42-22
Bag and Bulk Delivery Available Low Ogle County Taxes
3338 S. Chana Rd. * Chana, IL 61015
815-732-3338 * www.nuzufeed.com * nuzufeed@gmail.com OPEN: Mon, Thurs. 11 AM - 6 PM Fri. 11AM -5 PM Sat. 9AM -3PM
“We are more than just feed�