LATEST NEWS
New wildlife underpass east of Crowsnest Pass takes important step forward
A wildlife underpass at the Rock Creek site along Hwy 3 is one of two wildlife crossing projects included in Alberta Transportation’s 2019 Provincial Construction Program.
calgary.ctvnews.ca/new-wildlife-underpass-east-of-crowsnest-pass-takes-important-step-forward-1.4671623
A wildlife underpass at the Rock Creek site along Hwy 3 is one of two wildlife crossing projects included in Alberta Transportation’s 2019 Provincial Construction Program.
calgary.ctvnews.ca/new-wildlife-underpass-east-of-crowsnest-pass-takes-important-step-forward-1.4671623
WildED programming in full gear
Fall brings crisp mornings and shorter days, but also a fresh year of Crowsnest Conservation WildED programming.
Isabelle Sellon School students recently enjoyed field trips led by Classroom with Outdoors educators from Wildsight. All Grade 4/5 classes travelled to Lundbreck Falls area to learn about grassland ecosystems through a variety of activities including interpretive rotations (each group learns about a grassland plant, its growth habits, its uses, etc. and presents to all other groups), I-Wonder-Why? hikes, active games, and personal reflections. Early snow cancelled the Grade 6 field trips to learn about forest ecosystems, but these days will be rescheduled next spring.
Early snow also cancelled outdoor activities for Apple Round-up. Students instead had a classroom presentation and participated in Feeding Frenzy!, a gym-based game to teach foraging risks and rewards for bears choosing apples and garbage sources in town relative to natural food sources in the bush.
Our local schools are moving to incorporate more place-based learning experiences for kids outside the traditional school building and format. Our WildED programming meshes very nicely with this shifting priority, so we will look to find additional ways to engage with the schools in outdoor environments around the area.
These initiatives, in addition to spring Nature Nearby field trips for Grade 1 Horace Allen students and wildlife safety presentations during ISS Safety Day, are funded in large part by Crowsnest Conservation casino proceeds. So, we send out a big thank you to those casino volunteers who help ensure our local kids can receive these opportunities to experience and appreciate our surrounding landscape and wildlife!
Fall brings crisp mornings and shorter days, but also a fresh year of Crowsnest Conservation WildED programming.
Isabelle Sellon School students recently enjoyed field trips led by Classroom with Outdoors educators from Wildsight. All Grade 4/5 classes travelled to Lundbreck Falls area to learn about grassland ecosystems through a variety of activities including interpretive rotations (each group learns about a grassland plant, its growth habits, its uses, etc. and presents to all other groups), I-Wonder-Why? hikes, active games, and personal reflections. Early snow cancelled the Grade 6 field trips to learn about forest ecosystems, but these days will be rescheduled next spring.
Early snow also cancelled outdoor activities for Apple Round-up. Students instead had a classroom presentation and participated in Feeding Frenzy!, a gym-based game to teach foraging risks and rewards for bears choosing apples and garbage sources in town relative to natural food sources in the bush.
Our local schools are moving to incorporate more place-based learning experiences for kids outside the traditional school building and format. Our WildED programming meshes very nicely with this shifting priority, so we will look to find additional ways to engage with the schools in outdoor environments around the area.
These initiatives, in addition to spring Nature Nearby field trips for Grade 1 Horace Allen students and wildlife safety presentations during ISS Safety Day, are funded in large part by Crowsnest Conservation casino proceeds. So, we send out a big thank you to those casino volunteers who help ensure our local kids can receive these opportunities to experience and appreciate our surrounding landscape and wildlife!
Crowsnest Pass to receive $1.2M in disaster relief six years after flooding
The Municipality received word from the Government of Alberta that their long-overdue payment from the Disaster Recovery Program is finally on its way for the spring flood of 2013.
lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/10/02/crowsnest-pass-to-receive-1-2-million-in-disaster-relief-six-years-after-flooding/
The Municipality received word from the Government of Alberta that their long-overdue payment from the Disaster Recovery Program is finally on its way for the spring flood of 2013.
lethbridgenewsnow.com/2019/10/02/crowsnest-pass-to-receive-1-2-million-in-disaster-relief-six-years-after-flooding/
Disruption in Recycling Service
The Municipality currently contracts out recycling to a third-party business who provides the collection bins and organizes the recycling of plastics, cardboards, metals, glass and newsprint. Our recycling contractor advised the Municipality in a letter and in person at the August 21, 2019 Council Meeting that he was running out of storage space at the facility in Frank.
One of Canada’s largest buyers of recycled material, China has stopped taking certain types of recyclables, which has caused widespread stockpiling of recycled products in many jurisdictions across North America. On August 21, 2019, Council passed a motion to allow our Contractor to use some Municipal land to store the recyclables in the hope the market will rebound. Since then, Council has actively been lobbying higher levels of government regarding our recycling crisis in the Crowsnest Pass.
Unfortunately, due to the poor market for recyclables, our contractor has served the Municipality notice that he will cease providing the recycling service to the Municipality effective October 6, 2019. The Municipality will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and start the process of locating another contractor, however based on the widespread issues facing other communities it is not known when and if one can be located. As such there will be a disruption in recycling service for an unknown length of time for cardboard, newsprint, plastic, metal and glass. The bottle depot will continue to operate as normal. During this disruption, the recycling fee on the Municipal Utility Bill will not be levied starting in October. The Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Landfill will continue to accept recycled items.
Municipal Council will continue to look at possible solutions so we can bring this program back to our residents. We would like to thank Pass Beverages for their years of service providing recycling to the Crowsnest Pass.
The Municipality currently contracts out recycling to a third-party business who provides the collection bins and organizes the recycling of plastics, cardboards, metals, glass and newsprint. Our recycling contractor advised the Municipality in a letter and in person at the August 21, 2019 Council Meeting that he was running out of storage space at the facility in Frank.
One of Canada’s largest buyers of recycled material, China has stopped taking certain types of recyclables, which has caused widespread stockpiling of recycled products in many jurisdictions across North America. On August 21, 2019, Council passed a motion to allow our Contractor to use some Municipal land to store the recyclables in the hope the market will rebound. Since then, Council has actively been lobbying higher levels of government regarding our recycling crisis in the Crowsnest Pass.
Unfortunately, due to the poor market for recyclables, our contractor has served the Municipality notice that he will cease providing the recycling service to the Municipality effective October 6, 2019. The Municipality will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) and start the process of locating another contractor, however based on the widespread issues facing other communities it is not known when and if one can be located. As such there will be a disruption in recycling service for an unknown length of time for cardboard, newsprint, plastic, metal and glass. The bottle depot will continue to operate as normal. During this disruption, the recycling fee on the Municipal Utility Bill will not be levied starting in October. The Crowsnest Pass/Pincher Creek Landfill will continue to accept recycled items.
Municipal Council will continue to look at possible solutions so we can bring this program back to our residents. We would like to thank Pass Beverages for their years of service providing recycling to the Crowsnest Pass.
Bear Dog Program
The hopes for Karelian Bear Dog program’s return to the area took another hit as council received a letter from Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer, stating it is not something they are looking at implementing.
In the letter, the program is said to have little success and that the cost outweighs the results.
“When the Karelian Bear Dog Program began in the spring of 2001, the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch had a small number of Karelian bear dogs that were used for aversive conditioning and shepherding of bears away from urban area. Those techniques had limited success, yet required considerable effort and resources during times when bears frequented urban areas.”
It also states in the letter that the program had little success in other areas as well.
“The assessment took into account the review of other bear aversion programs that had been attempted in our province, including a bear aversion program using dogs that previously operated in the Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.”
The end of the letter states that at this time, there is no plan to re-introduce the program.
“Alberta Environment and Parks Is responsible for wildlife management in the province, including the educational component of the Alberta BearSmart Program. The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch is responsible for the protection of life and property in relation to problem wildlife and delivers prevention, mitigation and compensation programs aimed at meeting those objectives. For the reasons I have mentioned, bear aversion does not form part of that response. Alberta fish and wildlife officers will continue to support, when possible, the BearSmart volunteers who champion the program in their communities.”
In response to the letter, council discussed ways of moving forward.
Councillor Sygutek advised council to not let the issue end and to continue pressing forward in different ways.
“In regard to this letter, I don't think we should let this issue die. I think we should bring it up again and we'll say if it's a cost issue we'll bear the brunt of the cost as a municipality as long as the officers can carry the dogs. We need to keep moving on this. We can't just accept this. We can send in the letters, newspaper articles and we can do all the things we need to keep this at the forefront.”
Councillor Glavin also commented to the point made in the letter that it didn’t work in the Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial park by saying that while it may not work everywhere it did work in the Pass.
After the discussion, Councillor Sygutek made a motion that council send a letter to the Solicitor General along with all the petitions from community members and that if funding is a problem, tell them that we are willing to fund the program internally.
The motion was carried and council will now move forward with this plan and wait for another response.
Residents are also asked to continue signing letters the letters at the Pass Herald as these letters will be part of the push to re-instate the program in the Crowsnest Pass.
The hopes for Karelian Bear Dog program’s return to the area took another hit as council received a letter from Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer, stating it is not something they are looking at implementing.
In the letter, the program is said to have little success and that the cost outweighs the results.
“When the Karelian Bear Dog Program began in the spring of 2001, the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch had a small number of Karelian bear dogs that were used for aversive conditioning and shepherding of bears away from urban area. Those techniques had limited success, yet required considerable effort and resources during times when bears frequented urban areas.”
It also states in the letter that the program had little success in other areas as well.
“The assessment took into account the review of other bear aversion programs that had been attempted in our province, including a bear aversion program using dogs that previously operated in the Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.”
The end of the letter states that at this time, there is no plan to re-introduce the program.
“Alberta Environment and Parks Is responsible for wildlife management in the province, including the educational component of the Alberta BearSmart Program. The Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Branch is responsible for the protection of life and property in relation to problem wildlife and delivers prevention, mitigation and compensation programs aimed at meeting those objectives. For the reasons I have mentioned, bear aversion does not form part of that response. Alberta fish and wildlife officers will continue to support, when possible, the BearSmart volunteers who champion the program in their communities.”
In response to the letter, council discussed ways of moving forward.
Councillor Sygutek advised council to not let the issue end and to continue pressing forward in different ways.
“In regard to this letter, I don't think we should let this issue die. I think we should bring it up again and we'll say if it's a cost issue we'll bear the brunt of the cost as a municipality as long as the officers can carry the dogs. We need to keep moving on this. We can't just accept this. We can send in the letters, newspaper articles and we can do all the things we need to keep this at the forefront.”
Councillor Glavin also commented to the point made in the letter that it didn’t work in the Bow Valley and Peter Lougheed Provincial park by saying that while it may not work everywhere it did work in the Pass.
After the discussion, Councillor Sygutek made a motion that council send a letter to the Solicitor General along with all the petitions from community members and that if funding is a problem, tell them that we are willing to fund the program internally.
The motion was carried and council will now move forward with this plan and wait for another response.
Residents are also asked to continue signing letters the letters at the Pass Herald as these letters will be part of the push to re-instate the program in the Crowsnest Pass.
Government puts hold on Alberta's Castle Parks Trail closure plan
The Alberta government has quietly paused a planned phase-out of OHV trails' use in the Castle Parks area while they meet with stakeholders.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/government-puts-hold-on-castle-parks-trail-closure-plan-1.5234811
The Alberta government has quietly paused a planned phase-out of OHV trails' use in the Castle Parks area while they meet with stakeholders.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/government-puts-hold-on-castle-parks-trail-closure-plan-1.5234811
Alberta’s water scientists team up with EPCOR for improved data collection
AB Enviro & Parks – The North Saskatchewan River is Canada’s 12thlongest river, discharging an average 210 cubic meters of water every second. To protect the source of drinking water for over 800,000 people, Alberta Environment & Parks has teamed up on a 4-year project to improve knowledge of the health and quality of the river.
albertaep.wordpress.com/2019/08/09/albertas-water-scientists-team-up-with-epcor-on-885-kilometer-quest-for-improved-data-collection-along-the-north-saskatchewan-river/
AB Enviro & Parks – The North Saskatchewan River is Canada’s 12thlongest river, discharging an average 210 cubic meters of water every second. To protect the source of drinking water for over 800,000 people, Alberta Environment & Parks has teamed up on a 4-year project to improve knowledge of the health and quality of the river.
albertaep.wordpress.com/2019/08/09/albertas-water-scientists-team-up-with-epcor-on-885-kilometer-quest-for-improved-data-collection-along-the-north-saskatchewan-river/
Second bear euthanized in Crowsnest Pass
By Crowsnest Pass BearSmart Association
A really sad day for our team and officers. After hundreds of volunteer hours and every possible effort made to keep the little yearling bear in Frank out of trouble, we lost the battle AGAIN.
Due to the extreme level of habituation caused by garbage and bird feeders in Frank, the little bear was relocated a long distance and she returned. Her homing instinct drew her right back to her food caches.
On July 6, she had to be euthanized according to policy and procedure for public safety. The safety of those who continued to leave garbage out after every possible warning and bird feeders full and hung. This has been a very busy start to the bear season and so many people are still NOT getting it. Social media posts have gone out, the local radio and newspaper has been incredibly helpful in reminding residents, and our municipal council and enforcement agencies have been 100% proactive and supportive. Fines have been issued...so what is it going to take?? We would like to thank those residents who tried so hard to help keep her out of trouble and to Goat Mountain Get-A-Way for your support, you guys are amazing!
It has been many years since a bear had to be euthanized in the Pass so what is the difference? To us, it's the absence of the Karelian Bear Dogs!! Bears never had the chance to become so habituated as the dogs made sure they could not get near that point. TWO bears have now been euthanized because of habituation and this needs to stop!! The decision rides heavily on the officer who has to make it as there’s nothing more frustrating than protecting people from their own lack of respect and responsibility. Please help us in getting the bear dogs reinstated and tell the government what a huge mistake was made in cancelling the Karelian Bear Dog Program!!! Help us keep our bears wild and safe from those who cannot seem to understand a fed bear is a dead bear!!
We are asking for as many letters as possible to be sent to our MLA to reinstate the Karelian Bear Dogs - Roger Reid, MLA, 6 Floor Federal Building, 9820 107 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1E7
By Crowsnest Pass BearSmart Association
A really sad day for our team and officers. After hundreds of volunteer hours and every possible effort made to keep the little yearling bear in Frank out of trouble, we lost the battle AGAIN.
Due to the extreme level of habituation caused by garbage and bird feeders in Frank, the little bear was relocated a long distance and she returned. Her homing instinct drew her right back to her food caches.
On July 6, she had to be euthanized according to policy and procedure for public safety. The safety of those who continued to leave garbage out after every possible warning and bird feeders full and hung. This has been a very busy start to the bear season and so many people are still NOT getting it. Social media posts have gone out, the local radio and newspaper has been incredibly helpful in reminding residents, and our municipal council and enforcement agencies have been 100% proactive and supportive. Fines have been issued...so what is it going to take?? We would like to thank those residents who tried so hard to help keep her out of trouble and to Goat Mountain Get-A-Way for your support, you guys are amazing!
It has been many years since a bear had to be euthanized in the Pass so what is the difference? To us, it's the absence of the Karelian Bear Dogs!! Bears never had the chance to become so habituated as the dogs made sure they could not get near that point. TWO bears have now been euthanized because of habituation and this needs to stop!! The decision rides heavily on the officer who has to make it as there’s nothing more frustrating than protecting people from their own lack of respect and responsibility. Please help us in getting the bear dogs reinstated and tell the government what a huge mistake was made in cancelling the Karelian Bear Dog Program!!! Help us keep our bears wild and safe from those who cannot seem to understand a fed bear is a dead bear!!
We are asking for as many letters as possible to be sent to our MLA to reinstate the Karelian Bear Dogs - Roger Reid, MLA, 6 Floor Federal Building, 9820 107 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1E7
North Coal’s plans in Elk Valley
Members of North Coal made a presentation to Chamber members to discuss plans for a project in the Elk Valley.
passherald.ca/archives/190710/index1.htm
Members of North Coal made a presentation to Chamber members to discuss plans for a project in the Elk Valley.
passherald.ca/archives/190710/index1.htm
14-Year-Old Wildlife Photographer is Impressing the Pros & Winning Awards
Young Josiah Launstein is continuing to sharpen his skills and win awards with his stunning images of animals in the wild.
mymodernmet.com/josiah-launstein-teenage-wildlife-photographer/
Young Josiah Launstein is continuing to sharpen his skills and win awards with his stunning images of animals in the wild.
mymodernmet.com/josiah-launstein-teenage-wildlife-photographer/
Conservation agreement to protect 1,600-acre ranch along Castle River
A 1,600-hectare ranch along the Castle River, that has been in the Zoratti family for more than a century, will be protected under a conservation agreement announced by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservation-agreement-to-protect-1600-hectare-ranch-along-castle-river
A 1,600-hectare ranch along the Castle River, that has been in the Zoratti family for more than a century, will be protected under a conservation agreement announced by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC).
calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/conservation-agreement-to-protect-1600-hectare-ranch-along-castle-river
13th Annual Crowsnest Pass Christmas Bird Count a Success
On January 2, 2019 Crowsnest Conservation Society held its 13thannual Christmas Bird Count. Despite powerful winds, volunteers turned out in good numbers and were able to cover all count areas. The birds also turned out. We found the second highest number of species in the 13-year history of our count.
The table below notes the species we counted this year, the number of each species found, and the number of years in the 13 years of the count that we have observed that species on count day, giving an idea about how likely that bird will be found in Crowsnest Pass at this time of year.
Birds common in winter months that we did find were Wild Turkey, Rock Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker & Pileated), Merlin, Jay (Canada, Steller’s & Blue), Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Crow, Raven, Chickadee (Mountain & Black-capped), Nuthatch (Red-breasted & White-breasted) and Waxwing. Also found were Townsend’s Solitaire, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, House Finch, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Junco and House Sparrow.
Of special note are Wild Turkeys, which seem to be spread very generously around the Pass. We rarely find Killdeer, but this year spotted a whopping five of them. We also have very high numbers of Waxwings and Juncos. And the intriguing American Dipper totalled 51 this year, not our highest total but still a very generous number and most likely the highest in Alberta. In the winter they seem to concentrate on the unfrozen sections of the Crowsnest River when the smaller tributaries upstream are frozen.
Winter waterfowl are minimal in the Pass. We find Mallards every year and maybe a few birds of another species, but this year there were no others.
Common winter birds that we did not find this year are Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Starling, and Evening and Pine Grosbeak.
Brand new for this year is White-winged Crossbill.
In count week, three days before and after the January 2ndcount day, we also found Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeak and Rough-legged Hawk. (Report compiled by Pat Lucas)
christmas_bird_count_table.pdf
On January 2, 2019 Crowsnest Conservation Society held its 13thannual Christmas Bird Count. Despite powerful winds, volunteers turned out in good numbers and were able to cover all count areas. The birds also turned out. We found the second highest number of species in the 13-year history of our count.
The table below notes the species we counted this year, the number of each species found, and the number of years in the 13 years of the count that we have observed that species on count day, giving an idea about how likely that bird will be found in Crowsnest Pass at this time of year.
Birds common in winter months that we did find were Wild Turkey, Rock Pigeon, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Woodpecker (Downy, Hairy, Northern Flicker & Pileated), Merlin, Jay (Canada, Steller’s & Blue), Magpie, Clark’s Nutcracker, Crow, Raven, Chickadee (Mountain & Black-capped), Nuthatch (Red-breasted & White-breasted) and Waxwing. Also found were Townsend’s Solitaire, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, House Finch, Redpoll, Pine Siskin, Junco and House Sparrow.
Of special note are Wild Turkeys, which seem to be spread very generously around the Pass. We rarely find Killdeer, but this year spotted a whopping five of them. We also have very high numbers of Waxwings and Juncos. And the intriguing American Dipper totalled 51 this year, not our highest total but still a very generous number and most likely the highest in Alberta. In the winter they seem to concentrate on the unfrozen sections of the Crowsnest River when the smaller tributaries upstream are frozen.
Winter waterfowl are minimal in the Pass. We find Mallards every year and maybe a few birds of another species, but this year there were no others.
Common winter birds that we did not find this year are Common Goldeneye, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Starling, and Evening and Pine Grosbeak.
Brand new for this year is White-winged Crossbill.
In count week, three days before and after the January 2ndcount day, we also found Northern Pygmy-Owl, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeak and Rough-legged Hawk. (Report compiled by Pat Lucas)
christmas_bird_count_table.pdf
AltaLink unveils route for Chapel Rock
AltaLink unveiled the proposed routes and substation locations for the Chapel Rock to Pincher Creek Area Transmission Development at recent open houses.
passherald.ca/archives/181031/index1.htm
AltaLink unveiled the proposed routes and substation locations for the Chapel Rock to Pincher Creek Area Transmission Development at recent open houses.
passherald.ca/archives/181031/index1.htm
Southwest Alberta wildlife corridor named after former premiere Jim Prentice
Nature Conservancy of Canada announced a swatch of land roughly five kilometers wide from east to west will connect Crown forest reserve land in the north to Castle Park as well as Waterton Lakes National Park in the south. The province contributed $1M to help leverage further fundraising toward the campaign.
globalnews.ca/news/4599435/alberta-premier-jim-prentice-land/
Nature Conservancy of Canada announced a swatch of land roughly five kilometers wide from east to west will connect Crown forest reserve land in the north to Castle Park as well as Waterton Lakes National Park in the south. The province contributed $1M to help leverage further fundraising toward the campaign.
globalnews.ca/news/4599435/alberta-premier-jim-prentice-land/
Crowsnest Pass bear numbers decrease by half
Each year between spring and fall, Crowsnest Pass sees on average 30 black bears and three to five grizzlies enter the community. In 2018, however, the Crowsnest Pass Bearsmart Association observed a significant drop in bear occurrences, recording only 12 black bears and no grizzly bears.
passherald.ca/archives/181212/index1.htm
Each year between spring and fall, Crowsnest Pass sees on average 30 black bears and three to five grizzlies enter the community. In 2018, however, the Crowsnest Pass Bearsmart Association observed a significant drop in bear occurrences, recording only 12 black bears and no grizzly bears.
passherald.ca/archives/181212/index1.htm
