There is much more that falls at Lac des Roches these days than orange leaves from the trees. The autumn windstorms have begun and neighbours should use caution with several outdoor activities. The wind from the southeast will take its toll on dead or weak trees, but it is the short and extreme gusts from the northwest that seem to do the most damage, taking down even the healthiest trees. The trees get stirred up, do a type of circular hula dance, and then snap — the direction of the falling piece totally unpredictable. Even if the trees survive these gusts, yards can be littered with branches. Luckily, yard cleanup work is an excellent form of exercise in the fresh fall air. While outdoor burning bans have been lifted, the area is still very dry and the sudden wind gusts and their unpredictable direction can surprise even the most prudent neighbour. If you do burn your yard waste, keeping your fire small and feeding it gradually will provide both a good physical workout and a warm way to spend a chilly day.
Frogs for friends
Frogs don’t have teeth – I get that now. They were not the late season nibblers in my garden as suspected. Thank you to the readers who explained frogs are excellent for a garden as they eat – without chewing – a variety of bug-like pests that do have teeth and will happily chomp on zucchini and strawberries. My apologies to the frogs; they are welcome to live in my garden every year.
Deer, oh dear
Since the arrival of cooler weather, the sightings of deer in the area, especially those crossing Highway 24, have increased. Several mule deer families, frequenting the yards around Lac des Roches have neighbours talking. Two young does, likely siblings, have displayed very white tails as they bound through the fields to the safety of the trees. Most locals are pretty certain that despite their tails, they are definitely mule and not whitetail deer. A cautious and obviously attentive mother is leading three healthy fawns around. Three offspring is a relatively rare sight for deer and unexpected if they are crossing the highway. It serves as an excellent reminder that drivers should slow down for a deer that has crossed the highway, as there is a very good chance it is being closely followed by a companion or an interested buck.
Ground hazards
Neighbours are reminded there are many hazards in the surrounding forests and grasslands that have been supporting ranching for many years. It is not uncommon to find a piece of wire – often barbed – amid the grass and trees. Whether it got there by abandonment, was dropped by accident or dragged by an animal, it poses a hazard to humans, livestock and wildlife and should be retrieved and disposed of appropriately. Although the lodging grasses this time of year will often reveal the existence of an otherwise invisible wire fence, it is usually a tug at one’s boot or pant leg that reveals these hidden hazards on the ground. Recently, on a popular animal trial near our fence, I tripped over what I thought was a root, but it turned out to be four abandoned telephone cables, originally snipped off at ground level, but now poking out of the ground as the surrounding dirt is steadily packed down by the animal’s hooves. With a bit of digging and pruning shears, the hazard has been mitigated although not entirely removed. We must do what we can.