You can help eradicate invasive species, but first, determine where they are!
Posted Jun 17, 2010 By Margaret Knott
Email
Print
Tweet ThisEMC Lifestyle - An Invasive Species 'road rally' took place on Wolfe Island when a Peterborough team from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and Ministry of Natural Resources, led by Francine MacDonald, joined a group of 20 island volunteers for a day of hunting invasive island species, an Ontario first. The Invading Species Awareness Program, is a partnership of OFAH and MNR.
"You can help eradicate invasive species but first find, identify and catalogue them," said MacDonald, an invading species/Aquatics biologist, who with Friends of Big Sandy Bay's (FOBSB) Linda Van Hal, organized the event. (On a previous occasion Francine brought information to FOBSB about invasive species affecting waterways.)
Francine explained to the volunteers, ready to examine the island's roadways, how the day would proceed, its purpose to establish what is out there, and to determine the spread of certain species adding that some invasive species are brought into the province and others are sold in garden shops. She and her team provided maps, safety jackets, GPS trackers, tags for samples, invasive species record sheets and pictures of invasive species they might find. There was also a safety light for the top of each of the 5 cars going out.
The pictures identified dog strangling vine, common reed, Japanese knot weed, Purple loose strife, giant hogweed, buckthorn, purple bell flower among others and the pervasive arlic mustard which can wipe out trillium, according to MacDonald.
The day began at the General Wolfe Hotel and ended at the Island Grill where volunteers handed in the results of their searches, some 69 reports locating invasive species and their spread on the island. They expressed satisfaction with what they had learned and the familiarity they had gained in identifying the different species, and complete surprise at the numbers identified.
When OFAH complete their report and develop a locator map based on the day's findings, it will be submitted to the township as information. " But much is up to the community and their volunteer efforts in preventing the spread and eradication of the unwanted plants, (track, monitor, control)" according to MacDonald. For information: www.invadingspecies.com
TRESPASSING AT BIG SANDY BAY LEADS TO CHARGES
The Big Sandy Bay Stewardship Committee took immediate action and called the OPP following a recent incident. It began on Friday evening May 19th and ended late that Saturday when a young man was charged with mischief and trespassing at the Big Sandy Bay conservation area on Wolfe Island.
The Kingston man, in a pick-up truck, presumably cut the lock found under the BSB entrance way gate leading to Big Sandy Bay(a hacksaw was found in the truck) and entered illegally, driving his way into the site along the well maintained 1.3 km walking trail through wetlands and woodlands over the very sensitive dunes and grasses and onto the beach area. Half way down the beach, he eventually got stuck in deep sand. Damage along the trail, at the dunes and on the beach suggested that he was accompanied by at least two ATV's driven in by island friends and that they had had quite a party as evidenced by the number of beer cans and bottles, numerous 12 gauge shotgun shells in the truck and the damage at the site.
The incident came to light on the Saturday morning as the BSB Dune Supervisors came to work, found the entry gate open and proceeded to the beach area where they saw the empty truck stuck in deep sand, the damage done attempting to get it out, etc. They called Councilor Denis Doyle, chairman of the Township of Frontenac Islands BSB Stewardship Committee. (The township operates the BSB Conservation area in partnership with MNR.) Doyle after seeing the damage called the OPP.
Interesting to note that while the OPP had coffee in Marysville the young man identified himself to them as the person they were looking for. After returning with him to Big Sandy Bay to see the damage etc. the OPP laid charges. According to Doyle, the person did not identify his friends, the township will seek damages, and the truck was released and removed Sunday by Dick Posthumus. Doyle added that a township by law states, among other things:. ' no vehicles in the Management area, no entry without a permit, no entry into posted areas, no defacement of property or unruly behaviour.'
"We have updated pricing signs and large no trespassing signs for the beach and at the gatehouse. Doyle said. "We are getting serious about cracking down on trespassing, including illegal entry from the water, and plan to call the OPP or By Law Enforcement Officer each time the rules are broken."
TRAVELLING DOWN MEMORY LANE
Wolfe Island's Ken and Arthur Keyes and a host of island residents were on hand at the town hall when brother Lorne visited the island with a "Gray Dort", the car their father John W. Keyes purchased in 1919 and drove until 1934. John Keyes was a former reeve of Wolfe Island and a Frontenac County Warden.
Driven mainly on island roads his car, the 'Dort', was retired after 17,000 miles and mounted on blocks.
The car escaped war time scrap drives and truck conversions. Back on the road in 1948 Lorne drove it for 2 years.
Islanders John O'Shea, Winfield Woodman, RF Fawcett, Don MacDonald and the Keyes brothers looked fondly at the completely restored vehicle and memories flowed not only from them but from a number of island ladies and visitors who stopped by to have a look. Lorne showed off a picture of his dad at the wheel and his mother waving from the back seat, "before they were married," and donned the original hat worn by his father.
Marysville Public School kids, allowed to climb in, loved the high seats, retracting front bumper and the dashboard gas-fill location.
The car's display on the island was the first since 1950, according to Keyes who is now on tour with it.
"A Gray Dort Story" by Lorne Keyes, complete to June 2009, was published in a number of antique car journals.
Around Town: *Ospreys settled on a communications tower at WI Wind Farm Building.*Many island roads are graded, some tembined, but Road #96 waits. * Beautiful things in Judy's "Summer" retail store.
Coming Events:* Barrett Bay Regatta Sunday June 20th, Island Grill dock, Call Leann or Tom. * Fundraising for Minton & O'Coin families now under way.
blog comments powered by Disqus
