Author: lacdesroches

During a late June evening, Eva Bechtel of Boultbee Road was weeding her flower bed when she spotted a fawn curled up between two shrubs next to her. She kept an eye on the fawn into the evening and became worried when there was no apparent sign of the mother doe. Thinking the fawn may be lost or abandoned, Eva called a neighbour for advice, which was to “leave it alone. ” It is common for does to leave their fawns in a safe location while they feed. A resident recounted her story where, on a farm many years ago, her toddler awoke from a nap on the grass in the back yard to find a fawn curled up beside him – the safe place where its mother had left it. Seldom is human intervention the correct response to encountering a baby critter unless it is in obvious distress. Even in the case of the most vulnerable looking fledglings on the ground nearby a winged parent is likely waiting to aid its return to safety. In the case of the fawn at Lac des Roches, it was gone by morning.

Friends share news

The Friends of Lac des Roches and Birch Lake Society hosted several meetings to discuss environmental and forestry issues. These discussions and other stewardship activities underway are explained in the annual community newsletter now distributed to all residences around the lakes. Everyone can read about these activities on the society website at www.lacdesroches.org.

Leaf miner returns

Although delayed by the rain and cool weather, the leaf miner is back and turning the once-green leaves of the local aspen trees into a silvery colour once again.

Movable lawn ornaments

Last year, a neighbour woke up to a small herd of cows in her yard. Other than scaring the beejeepers out of her young dog, she learned that half a dozen cows can make a huge mess on a groomed lawn in a very short period of time and was quick to shoo them away. Last week, she was surprised to see a large grey horse outside her kitchen door. The bark from the dog sent the horse retreating into the bushes. An earlier horse sighting near McCarthy corner and hoof prints on the highway shoulder near Lac des Roches resort confirmed that the “old grey mare ain’t where she used to be,” referencing the old folk song.

Weather forecasting

A neighbour has been texting a seasonal resident not yet at the lake. When the question arose about our weather, the humorous reply went something like; “sunny, windy, rainy, repeat every hour,” a perfect description of our weather pattern so far.

Bears and berries

Two different black bears crossed a neighbour’s property one day last week. They may be attracted to the bear berry (or twin berry) bushes, some of which are now covered with the bitter black berries so popular with bears. Residents should be mindful of anything they can do to detract bears from lingering close to their residence.

Wonderful smells

Around the lake, “the hills are alive” with the blossoms of wild roses. Their scent, mixed with the sweet smell of lilac bushes finally in bloom, are an added bonus to the visual display of blooming flower gardens that dot the yards of so many talented neighbours. While some residents have succeeded in incorporating the popular lupins, columbine, clematis and tiger lilies into their own domestic gardens, these delicate wildflowers can be enjoyed by walking the roads and trials around the lake for weeks to come.

Great fishing is being enjoyed on the shoals at Lac des Roches, as the spring hatches are underway and it seems that many of the fishers are bringing in several good-sized rainbow trout. Some enthusiasts may be taking advantage of the summer-long monthly fishing derby that is underway on several lakes in South Cariboo. The event is sponsored by the Fishing Hwy Tourist Association and encompasses eight lakes and includes three different fish species. Three lakes in our chain – Lac des Roches, Little Lac des Roches and Birch Lake – are included in the derby. While fishing is a very popular pastime and an excellent excuse to get out and enjoy nature, the added challenge of a fishing derby can spark interest among those who might otherwise not be quite so active. Lac des Roches Resort and Opax Mountain Resort Café are both official ticket sellers and weigh-in stations, but details about the fishing derby can be found on the Association’s website at www.fishinghighway24.com.

Angry deer

Several unprovoked attacks on dogs have been reported on Boultbee Road. In all cases, the dogs were being walked by their owners and were charged by an irate deer approaching from driveways or grassy fields adjacent to the road. The doe is accompanied by a newborn fawn, which partly explains the aggressive behaviour. It is possible the doe has experienced a violent encounter with a dog or a dog-like animal, which would further explain its obvious angst toward dogs, simply on sight. There is not much that can be done to prevent these surprise incidents; however, keeping the dogs leashed and close to their walker may help. So far, the doe has stopped short when she nears the humans accompanying the dogs.

Correction fluid

In a previous column, I mentioned that several neighbours were tapping birch trees to make syrup. Apparently no amount of rendering will produce a thick, syrupy consistency but with patience and time, birch sap will produce a sweet watery liquid.

Critter watch

The bucks are now distinguishable from the does by the short fuzzy nubs which appear on their heads this time of year and are rapidly growing into antlers. Badgers are actively digging out the ground squirrel holes and eliminating these small and annoying rodents. Several different bears are feeding in the area and have been seen in yards. The next birding outing is scheduled for June 24 led by Wendy Marshall at 250-593-2327.

Ghastly garbage

Late in the afternoon last Monday, a resident made a report to the Road Hazard line. No doubt, aided by birds and animals, garbage left by travellers in plastic bags was strewn from one end of the rest stop to the other, resulting in both a terrible eyesore and a distraction. Many thanks to Interior Roads personnel who responded quickly and had the mess cleaned up.

Positive thoughts

For those neighbours lamenting the continuous rain, remember there are many upsides. Rain is good for the garden containers that can dry out fast in the day’s warmth. Rain will wash the pollen off of the edible wild foliage like dandelions and domestic greens like spinach and lettuce. Rain helps keep the dust off the laundry hanging out to dry and on the gravel roads – where it belongs. Rain is needed to initiate the germination of dormant fungus spores growth – many of which produce edible and tasty mushrooms. Rain and the scrubbing effect of some of the hail we have experienced is Mother Nature’s way of scrubbing the slippery remnants of loitering ducks and geese from docks and ramps.

In mid-May, all the lakes in the Lac des Roches chain were stocked with Pennask and Blackwater rainbow trout. Depending on the size of the lake, the numbers of fingerlings ranges from 1,200 to 12, 000. Craig Adamson was one of the drivers stocking with fish from the Clearwater hatchery. Several residents witnessed the stocking activity and were not surprised to see a lot of interest in these vulnerable baby fish generated among the local fish-eating loon inhabitants. Residents and visitors fishing these lakes can assist biologists’ analysis of stocking programs by maintaining a creel report of their catches. Call the writer for more information on contributing to this valuable exercise.

Testing one, two …

Annual level one water testing has begun at all the lakes by the volunteer monitors. Level two testing has been conducted for the second year on the 3 small lakes by Marge Sidney of the Ministry of Environment. This year, she brought a volunteer assistant Leah Apeldoorn. Leah is a recent graduate from BCIT’s Fish, Wildlife and Recreation Diploma Program and hopes to have a career involved with wildlife. The data from both level one and two testing will be analyzed and compiled by the BC Lake Stewardship Society in a report of the overall health of each lake. These reports are linked to the local website, www.lacdesroches.org.

Birthday party

A dozen ladies gathered on May 24 to celebrate a milestone birthday for friend and neighbour Dale Yeager. It was a great turnout as there were a surprising fourteen ladies at Boultbee Road on that day. Eva Bechtel’s delicioius European baking is always a popular draw to get the local ladies to put down their garden and housework tools for a tea cup or mug and enjoy some laughs and companionship.

Flotsam and jetsam

Rising water is freeing debris from the shores and causing some ater hazards. Residents often do their part to secure floating trees to protected south shores and pick up and dispose of floating garbage, but many of those neighbours have not yet arrived for the summer. Boaters should be cautious.

Invasive plants

Residents may qualify for either spraying of their private land or receiving an amount of herbicide for spot spraying of invasive plants. Last year, the team targeted thistles, burdock and orange hawkweed, all of which are a concern in the Cariboo. Contact the CRD for more information on available invasive plant treatments.

Bloom’n good

It is thrilling to see the Saskatoon bushes finally in bloom. Many of the bushes still resemble peeled bananas, having had so many limbs broken down to the ground by the bears last year. Now we need a break in the rain and some warm temperatures to encourage the flying critters to pollinate so we can enjoy berries later this summer.

Early gardens

While some local gardeners are lamenting over the continuous rainfall and worrying about soggy seeds and seedlings, there is a positive side. Dense cloud cover has night time temperatures staying above freezing which means no more 2 am awakenings to cover seedlings with buckets and tarps.

Concerning wildlife

Everywhere, sightings are down for all critters, large and small. Even waterfowl seem to be sparse this year. A family of Canadian geese at Taylor’s Bay has only 2 goslings whereas a dozen are more common. Something is definitely amiss with our animals.

Winged wonders

Wendy Marshall has scheduled the next birding excursion for Monday, June 10. This will be an all day trip including several special destinations known for diverse sightings. Call 250-593-2327 for more information.

While any day is a good day for a coffee gathering, May 10 was particularly timely for the ladies of Boultbee Road to get together. The group is saying its final goodbyes to longtime resident Elsie Clarkson, and welcomes to several ladies who spend most or all of their warm months enjoying the lake. Two of the group just happened to be visiting the lake for an extended weekend and were able to join in on the fun. Most of these ladies plan to partake in the daily tradition of the Boultbee noon walking group, at least during the summer months.

Local trainer

Curt Roy, owner of the Opax Mountain Resort east of Lac des Roches, recently returned from the Firearms Training Centre in Cloverdale with new credentials as a certified instructor for Conservation Outdoor Recreation Education training (CORE). This is mandatory training for citizens of British Columbia wishing to obtain a hunter number. The 16-hour course that Curt will provide to anyone interested is the first step in the process, which includes application and fees paid to the BC Wildlife Federation and permit pickup through FrontCounter BC. He explained the process has been streamlined, and with the aid of technology, a hunter number can be obtained in about one week. Curt is one of several private trainers in the South Cariboo and will cater his courses to client’s needs beginning this spring, in plenty of time for the late summer opening of hunting season.

Area development

Residents may be interested in attending an upcoming meeting on another proposed strata-titled subdivision in the area – this one at the Crooked Lake Ranch at the end of Lee Road. The proposal is for existing farm land to be rezoned for private residential lots on Webb Lake and common livestock facilities, pastures and hayfields. The public meeting is scheduled for June 1 at the Interlakes Hall.

Troubling trees

High winds, high lake water levels and soggy ground have taken their toll on leaning trees that were not removed from the shoreline this winter. Several properties have lost large patches of shore land as it was lifted away from the bank when the uprooted trees fell into the water.

Sweet success

White buckets and milk jugs hanging on local birch trees are accumulating sap that has been running on warm days since April. Several residents are experimenting with gathering birch sap, which can be boiled down to thick syrup. While the trees do most of the work, the fact that it takes 100 gallons of sap rendered down to produce one gallon of syrup means this is a tedious process and requires watching a pot boil on the stove for a very long time.

Planning ahead

As firewood-gathering season is here, residents are reminded to carry valid free firewood cutting permits. Permits for the Kamloops district expire on Dec. 31 of each year and those for the 100 Mile District expire one year after the application date.

Early risers

The early heat wave in late April prompted several neighbours to plant seedlings early. Protecting those young plants from the cool nights and frosty mornings in May have been a challenge, but most local gardeners report they got a good head start on this year’s vegetable crop.

Wonderful wildlife

Residents have reported several badger sightings along Boultbee Road and expect the ground squirrel population to soon decline. Bears are now roaming through the area and sightings range from a baby black bear near Boultbee Road to a returning four-year-old bear on McCarthy Road.

With the recent sale of their lakeside home at Lac des Roches, John and Elsie Clarkson will soon be making Barriere their new home. During their 21 years at the lake, both John and Elsie have extensively served this community through both their employment and volunteer activities. “Long” John, known to the locals as the Mayor of Boultbee Road, is well-respected for his expertise as an excavator operator and was a fixture at Levick Enterprises for 18 years. John is well-known for the several seasons he spent as a snow plough operator throughout the Bridge Lake area. Elsie has spent the years donating her time and remarkable organizational skills to community groups as a treasurer, secretary and baker, to name just a few of her volunteer roles. Both John and Elsie are well-known for their sincere dedication to their family and their friends. Several of their seven grandchildren would choose a visit with their grandparents at the lake as their preferred vacation, even into their young adult years. John and Elsie often go out of their way to greet new neighbours, which has contributed to the exceptionally close-knit community most of us enjoy. Since their new home is less than an hour away we expect the couple to return regularly for community events, particularly if there is a need for either Elsie’s famous coconut cake or John’s various homemade sausage delicacies. What will be a loss for our community will be a gain for the community of Barriere where they have already made lifelong friendships and volunteer their time at the local Legion fundraising meat draws. Goodbye and good luck dear friends.

Beautiful birds

Early on April 24, Wendy Marshall led a group of seasoned birding enthusiasts to a nearby lake in search of returning and migrating birds. The group recorded an abundance of sandhill cranes, harriers, mountain bluebirds and ruby crowned kinglets. At Lac des Roches, residents were excited to see the return of loon pairs and hummingbirds. The next outing is scheduled for May 13.

Ice show

Strong wind on April 27 started to break up the rotten ice on Lac des Roches but unlike Little Lac des Roches and nearby Bridge Lake, which were ice free in a few hours, the drop in temperature throughout the week slowed down the melt. Days of strong winds shifted ice sheets at the west end of the lake, dislodged snags and exposed docks, but each night, low temperatures refroze much of the open water each. Despite the minor damage to several docks and ramps, ice off was quite a spectacular week-long show.

Forest renewal

Tents and tarps in the lakeside camping area at Lac des Roches Resort are evidence that the tree planting season is underway. The crew will spend about one month planting pine seedlings in the harvested forest near North Bonaparte Road and Horse Lake Road.

Waiting and hoping

Saskatoon bushes to the south of us may be in full bloom, but there is evidence of new buds appearing locally. Residents are anxious to see how well these popular berry bushes produce after the severe damage they received last summer from a pair of marauding black bears.

Wonderful wildlife

White-tail and mule deer, as well as moose, are frequenting the fields. Not-so-popular ground squirrels are back although the numbers may be down due to last year’s badgers voracious appetites. Otters were sighted poking their heads through the rotten ice last week. There have been no reports of bear yet, but they have been spotted at nearby Bridge Lake.

Although the ice on the big lake looks very inviting, it is no longer recommended for either travel or play. Test holes early in April indicated the lower layer of ice is very soft. Since most of the ice melts from the bottom, the ice may feel firm on top from cool night temperatures, but it can have very little substance below.

Litter bugs residents

Garbage along the side of the Highway 24 and secondary roads is a surprisingly huge problem, and the fact that half of the litter is empty liquor containers is disturbing. Spring cleanup is underway with several residents adopting portions of the highway and rural roads. Thanks go to all the neighbours who take the time to pick up after the hundreds of thoughtless travellers who continue to litter this pristine area.

Final ride

Easter Monday’s snowmobile excursion proved to be this year’s last ride for local sledders. By all accounts, the typical spring ride was excellent. There are several destinations in the northern hills that can only be accessed with very deep snow to cover stumps and other development hazards and the repetitive late winter snowfall provided just enough snow to accommodate. With relatively few injuries and equipment failures among the neighbours and their visitors, this year’s snowmobiling season was labelled “excellent” by local riders.

Water watch

An early ground thaw is welcomed by those residents troubled in the past by overflowing ditches and frozen culverts. Much of this year’s melting snow is draining directly into the ground rather than flowing above ground. While there is still plenty of snow melt to come down from the hills, the warm days and cool nights seem to be self-regulating the runoff and saving local roads and driveways from excess water and washout.

Burning ban

Many residents conducted yard burning right up until the open burning bans went in place on April 15. For most land owners, snow was still piled high in yards and on burn piles making earlier burning a real challenge. By holding off as late as possible, some residents were able to rid their yards of winter’s debris, but many seasonal residents will have to wait until after Sept. 30 for their cleanup work.

Changing times

Despite the very mild winter we enjoyed, residents are anxious for the longer and milder days of spring and all the changes that can be expected. Receding snow banks are revealing toys, tools and thousands of little rocks that went astray during snow storms or were pushed when plowing driveways. Indoors, the changing angle of the sun reveals window streaks, cobwebs and dust bunnies that were previously hidden by the darker, shorter days of winter. Open windows fill the otherwise silent neighbourhood with unfamiliar sounds of music and voices and also let in the occasional fly, which prompts the hunt for flyswatters and bug zappers stored away in the fall. The distraction of flies and butterflies outdoors take some getting used to having been absent for so many months. Even our neighbours adjust to the spring with shorter haircuts, lighter jackets and different treads on their summer boots, which take a little getting used to.

Spotting wildlife

A bobcat was seen near Peaceful Cove at the east end of Lac des Roches at the end of March. Several sightings of deer herds have been observed near Boultbee Road and deer and moose have been observed repeatedly along the side of Highway 24. No bear sightings yet, but there are green shoots of grass coming up in the bare pastures, which could attract hungry bears.

Weather, snow and ice conditions could not have been better for the residents who were able to enjoy so many different activities at the lake during the last weeks of March. Residents say they can’t remember seeing so many people, pets and animals on the frozen lake at once. Moose, deer, coyotes and wolves were observed several times travelling on the ice, usually along the south shore. While picnics on the islands and sunbathing on the shores were common pastimes, many families took advantage of some more active opportunities available out here on the edge of the wilderness.

Snow golf

Jamie and Jacquie Moberg of Lakeside Bed and Breakfast hosted another spring golf tournament on Little Lac des Roches for 10 of their friends and neighbours. Pools of water on the lake provided natural hazards for their games, but it was the melting and thin ice along the shore line that made access to the golf course extra challenging for players and their dogs.

Downhill speeders

The sloped yards offered plenty of fun for those who had the need for speed on skis, boards and sleighs. One grandpa in the neighbourhood spent many hours of his time and many litres of fuel, using his snowmobile as a mobile tow lift for his visiting grandsons to practise their downhill and jumping techniques. The flat expanse of lake ice provided a safe and lengthy backstop.

Ice fishing

Several neighbours tried their hand at catching rainbow trout during the day and burbot during the night from under the foot-thick ice on the lake. Initial reports indicated that few fish were detected – let alone caught – but that did not deter the anglers from enjoying the hot sunny days and mild clear nights throughout the entire spring break.

Easter egg hunt

At least one family with grandchildren was seen searching their snow-covered yard enjoying a traditional Easter egg hunt. The soft snow provided plenty of clues for the young sleuths as to where the size 13 booted Easter bunny hid his sweet treasures on Easter eve.

Sparse skiing

The protective south shore provided several kilometres of shallow snow drifts for spring Nordic skiing. In order to bypass the slick wind-blown ice, several skiers were shuttled back-and-forth across the lake by friends on ATVs. By the end of the Easter weekend, most of the snow had melted and, therefore, for most, skis have been stored away for next year.

Wild skating

While many families enjoyed cleared areas on the ice for skating and pond hockey, several residents discovered the sport of Nordic skating. The heat of the afternoons slowly melted the remaining snow on the lake into pools of shallow water which froze during chilly nights. This typical spring weather pattern provided the perfect conditions for touring the entire lake on ice skates, aided with balancing poles for the rough sections.

Rocky roads

Load restrictions on provincial roads have shut down logging activity on Wavey Lake Road. While the road is clear of industrial traffic, there is also the absence of snow for the first few kilometres. Snowmobilers can only access local trails from 202 Road and must trailer their sleds to that unloading point, but are rewarded with excellent snow at higher elevations. Heavily-used access trails are badly worn down to rocks and dirt. They will be beaten down and without new snow, and will hamper future excursions.

Wildlife warning

The sound of nearby yipping coyotes and howling wolves heard throughout the nights for the last few weeks is an excellent reminder to be cautious.