Issue 06 June - July/2006

creaturesall
creaturesall
sharing the planet with our fellow creatures
 SWIFT FOX: PHOTO BY KAROL DABBS, COURTESY OF COCHRANE ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
The Swift Fox needs you.
Become a Protector today.
Until recently, the swift fox was thought to have disappeared from Canada
forever - the victim of habitat loss on the prairies of Alberta and
Saskatchewan. Today, the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s efforts to
protect tens of thousands of acres of native grassland are providing new
hope for the return of these unique creatures. But the swift fox is still on the
endangered list and its population remains tiny and vulnerable.

You can help to ensure the future of the swift fox and provide hope for all our
native plants and animals by becoming an NCC Protector today. Protectors
commit to protecting nature every day by making a monthly donation
directly through their bank account or credit card. Please join today and
receive an exclusive Protectors canvas tote bag.

Call 403.262-1253 ext. 6860 or 1.877.262.1253 ext. 6860

or visit www.natureconservancy.ca to sign up online.

S AVING C ANADA ’ S N ATURAL M ASTERPIECES

 Issue 06 June-July/2006

Articles and Inquiries

Bob Fielder
publisher@creaturesall.ca
Editorial
Linda Fielder
editor@creaturesall.ca
Display Ad Inquiries
sales@creaturesall.ca
www.creaturesall.ca
Graphic Design
Bob Fielder
publisher@creaturesall.ca In This Issue
Frog Encounters – these beautifully colored
amphibians are very toxic 8
Printing
grafikom Shorty – I spotted a small trail of blood in the snow 16
Mailing address:
creaturesall Annie’s Legacy – I grieved as if I had lost a child 24
P.O. Box 126,
Langdon, AB T0J 1X0
The Other Side of the Door – my whole life
403-512-9544
creaturesall is published 6 times per year (February,
flashed before my eyes 29
April, June, August, October and December) by
1160613 ALBERTA LTD. and distributed freely in
Alberta the first week of the publication month.
Advertisers and contributors assume responsibility
Columns
and liability for the accuracy of their claims and
statements. The opinions and views expressed in Wagging Tales – stories from a veterinarian’s clinic 11
articles do not necessarily reflect those of the
Publisher or advertisers. creaturesall reserves the Creature Feature – the Calgary Zoo 13
right to refuse any advertising. All submissions will
receive a reply if email address is provided.
Writers & Cover Artists may make submissions Taking Down the Fences – A.I.W.C. 15
by email to: publisher@creaturesall.ca
Copyright 2005 by 1160613 ALBERTA LTD.
Youth Said It – bear pause 18
Cover Artist
Janet B. Armstrong
Surrounded by nature Spaces and Species – the Nature Conservancy of Canada 21
in her Bearspaw studio,
Janet creates vibrant
acrylic/oil paintings. She
The Wild File – Canadian Parks and Wilderness 23
studied at A.C.A. and in
Burlington, Ont. in paint- Novel Suggestions – readers contribute book reviews 26
ing, drawing & sculpture.
When not teaching,
Janet is painting another The Gardening Bug – the Calgary Horticultural Society 27
animal or nature scene
on just about any surface
a client requests. She also paints at The Purple
The Final Word – in from my own front porch 30
Door Studio and displays work in the Ruberto-
Ostberg Gallery.
A very supportive husband, Trekker, two sons,
Connor & Kalon and one daughter, Tatum, make
Departments
this all possible.
jbarmstrong@pathcom.ca Publisher’s Note 5
www.ruberto-ostberg.com/jan/jan.htm
(403) 239-2639 (h) 289-3388 (studio)
Letters 7
page3
ROCKY VIEW DOG TRAINING RESCUE, REHABILITATE & RELEASE
www.RockyViewDogTraining.com

Scarlett Luke
Certified Master Trainer
403•836•9758
• Agility • Obedience
• Puppy Classes Protecting Their Future and Ours
• Boarding
• Tracking
Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
946-2361 • www.aiwc.ca
for fun and function Wildlife & Habitat Conservation through Rehabilitation, Education & Research

Enso- Animal Massage and Bodywork

Karen Christensen

403.650.7925

Certified for Acupressure, Energy Work,

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Member of IAAMB, TTeam Guild

The touch of love for your animal friend

page4

It is a real pleasure for me to be
able to introduce to you and to
welcome Dr Richard Weger as our
resident veterinary columnist. I know
you will enjoy Richard’s inventive and
unique writing style and will enjoy
learning about the eclectic mix of
varied and exotic species he is visited
with on a daily basis in his practice.
Turn to page 11 and learn about Max,
the eraser eating ferret.
Someone whom I’ve gotten to
know and learned to respect greatly
over the past couple of months, in
describing our editorial policy said,
“You may read stories about seals in
creaturesall, but you probably won’t
read stories on the seal hunt.”
A part of what I tell all aspiring
contributors is, “When considering
your submission to creaturesall the
thing one needs to remember is that
we are first and foremost, a
storytelling venue. Any points to be
driven home or any causes to be
championed need to be done through
storytelling. That same story can do
more to further your goal than can
exhortation, pleading, guilt or
accusation.” That, in as concise a
manner as possible, lays out what we
are all about. So, thank you.
Thank you to those of you who
have shared your stories or shared
your art. And thank you to those of
you who have shared in your support,
through kind words and gifts,
thereby assuring creaturesall will be
here for many years to come.
You will note, as did I, that the
issue you’re holding highlights a
wonderful oil painting of a Harlequin
Tree Frog by Janet Armstrong on the
front cover, while our back cover is
dedicated to a Families Matter
sponsored “Dad & Me” event.
Advertiser and Story Submission Deadline
for Next Issue – June 30th/06
PUBLISHER’S
NOTE
encouraging you to Read, then write
Bob & Linda Fielder
This confluence of images
bracketing the pages of creaturesall,
set me to thinking of a time when my
daughter was only six years old and I
took it upon myself to take her frog
hunting. What better introduction to
the fauna surrounding our rural
acreage than to share some special
“me time” with her pop?
So, gathering together a couple
of pails, a Woolco purchased butterfly
net, some “gum boots” for her, and an
old pair of runners for her good ol’
dad, we set off for the swamp.
The day was hot, without a
breath of wind, as we pulled up and
prepared to wade into the mosquito
infested slough; just a kid and her
dad spending quality time together. I
vividly remember the scent of grain
dust, road dust and rancid slough
water mixing in my nostrils, all
brought to a simmering boil amid the
intense summer heat and incessant,
dental-drill “buzzzzzz” of mosquitoes.
The water was but eight inches
deep, short of that required to pour
over the top of her gum boots, but
deep enough to fill my runners with
that fetid ooze that can only be found
lining the bottom of a stale and rank
swamp on a hot August day. Still,
braving that and the mosquitoes was
a small price to pay to be allowed to
share in a defining moment in my
daughter’s developing love of nature.
Not a word had passed between us,
for not a word needed to be said.
The silent, self-congratulatory
martyr and all-round “Dad of the
Year” candidate I thought myself to be
was quickly brought back to reality
when she stopped, looked up at me
with her six year old eyes and spoke
for the first time, “This might be fun
for you, but it’s sure not fun for me.”
page5
Peter Prest
PRIME MERIDIAN
a lasting connection between art & travel

September, 2006 AMA Travel Centre

4700-17th Ave SW Calgary Peterprestart.com rosehipgallery.com

page6

paw prints and pen scratches
I look forward to picking up
your creaturesall magazine... I just
wish it was published more often.
In issue 04, Taking Down the
Fences - I was so happy for that
little owl being able to fly again.
The staff and volunteers at the
AIWC should be praised for their
generous and caring work.
Corinne Stehr
First, may I say how absolutely
delighted I am to read your
wonderful magazine dedicated to all
the fabulous creatures with whom
we humans have the privilege to
share the planet. Comma, tabby cat
extraordinaire and Dash, saved
crunchies and requested that they
be changed to Canadian currency to
help with your work!
I have promoted your magazine
to friends and at my displays, and
people have commented on the high
quality of each issue. I have also
suggested to people/businesses to
consider advertising in your
magazine.
With warmest regards,
Carol Tracey
I love reading your magazine
and was very interested to learn
about the work of the Nature
Conservancy. It's very encouraging
to know that there are agencies
such as AIWC and CPAWS who are
bringing attention and care to
wildlife in danger.
Keep up the good work.
Sheila Penn
You have hit upon a great idea
with your column by the Calgary
Horticulture Society. For all of us
amateur gardeners, the information
is timely. I love the plants, I love the
bugs and I love the birds!!!
I can't wait for each new issue.
Happy Spring,
Eleanor White
LETTERS
Where
We want to thank you once
to find
again for your interest and the
wonderful magazine that you have
created! I have distributed several
us
copies and have heard high praise
for the magazine and its unique
approach to the animals that we
love. There will be a few more
hunting for the next issue.
John has brought copies in to
small cafes like Kaffa and they
absolutely love it. We would also
like to send a small donation as our
way of saying thanks to you and as
a practical encouragement to keep
doing what you do. We have high
hopes that your magazine will
continue to flourish!!!
Cindy and John Homer
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your Available for FREE pick-up
magazine! I discovered it at the 2nd
issue, because of a dear friend of
at over 170 locations
mine who knew I would love it too.
I have an Aunt in Kingston who Safeway • Sobeys
is 91 years old. She lives by a river
and she daily feeds an array of Co-op
birds, ducks, geese etc. I think she
would love your magazine. Libraries • 7-11
Jane Langton
I must admit that I was, and
Devonian Gardens
am, very impressed with the quality Eau Claire Market
of your magazine and with the
content. I particularly enjoy the Foothills Hospital
fact that the articles are short,
making them good bedtime reading,
Langdon Drugs
and concern a very diverse subject Beddington Centre Mall
matter, albeit all creature related.
I am not particularly an animal Chestermere
person and cannot relate to the Dockside Food Market
(to my mind) excessive devotion
and adoration some of your writers
express, but I do respect their
feelings and enjoy reading of
Calgary l Airdrie
their experiences. I have learned
a great deal from some articles and
Strathmore
some bring back memories of my Okotoks l High River
youth.
J.C. Ernieson Cochrane l Canmore
page7
 encounters that I I wa s for tun ate to see this bizarre loo
by
Cyril Brass

king creature at
ary 2004.
ing wildlife encounters e in Tortuguero in Febru
ome of the most reward l of the Ma wa mb a Lo dg
s raising these

S have experienced in Co
the smallest creatures
over 175
nu
spe
mb
cie
er.
s of
In
am
the
ph
No
ibi
sta Rica are with severa
, amphibians. Costa Ric
ans, with frogs making
rtheastern region of the
a has
up most
country
Pa
fro
ulo

din
gs
ne
,

era
on
to
r,
l
e
be
Pa
gla
of

ulo
ss
the
rel eas
ask
tan
lod

ks
ed
ge’s groundskeepers, wa
ed into the jungle. On
me
full of developing tadpo
e evening before
to follow him. We wa
lked passed
les and stopped
of tha t an area of sev one of the broad
pic al low lan d rai nforests of Tortuguero, a lar ge tro pic al plant. He turned over
is the tro tion and a at ing. Green was
als , fre shw ate r swamps, dense vegeta ves to sho w me a Gaudy Leaf Frog sleep
river can an ideal lea with the leaf.
beach for the gre en sea turtle. But it is also on ly col or of the fro g blending in perfectly
nesting the
habitat for frogs.

Ga ud y Le af Frog

dy, blue
colors; deep green bo
is the With all their bright d blood red
be found in this region nge fingers and toes an
One species that can af Frog. stripes on its sides, ora t them. But
also called the Ga ud y Le it would be easy to spo
Red-Eyed Tree Frog, d pla nts eyes, you would think pearing leafy
ir adult lives in the tre es an ytime camouflage, ap
Although they spend the ter for they have excellent da s and knees
young are depe nd en t on wa leaf. The colored elbow
of the tropical jungle, the green stuck to a green
their development.
are tucked closely along the
sides
of the body with hands
and conceal them from predators,
feet underneath and eyes
closed surprise would-be attackers
completely removing any sight of
colorsudden burst of bright colors, star
except green.
their enemy for a moment
Po iso n Da rt Fro g
If the green camouflage fails
to was back in Costa Rica and
headed up
they to Tor tuguero once
aga in to
with a photograph this Am
azon-like region
tling and its protected inhabita
nts. Maybe
and to see the Gaudy-Leaf Fro
allowing them to g again.
One evening after enjoying dinn
escape to safety. er
with a German couple and with
Rich ,
Paulo picked a travel mate,
at our lodge, Samoa
one up and set it Lodge, Rich
asked what everyone was
on his opened doing for
the evening. My response to
hand to show the the group
was, “I am going to look for
growing crowd. frogs to photograph”.
Now all the bright We said our good nights and
colors appear ed headed off -
on different paths from the
on the frog as open-air
rest aurant; the German
it slowly moved its couple to
their bungalow and Rich and
way across Paulo’s I to sear
ch for frogs. We started
hand. The Red- across a woo
den bridge crossing over a
Eyed Tree Frogs shallow slow
moving creek. I leaned
are very agile crea- over the
railing, and shone my
tures, able to leap flashlight
along the edge of the creek
away quickly when and the
nearby grass. I wasn’t sure
it proves neces- what species
of frog we might find but
sary. Otherwise that did not
matter to me. We contin-
they are very mel- ued over
the bridge following the
low individuals. well-groomed trai
l that was lined with
They tend to walk short trop
ical hibiscus plants dotted
and climb rather with red,
pink, and peach flowers.
than hop. Each Panning the
flashlight from side to side
hand and foot have on the gro
und, I checked closely along
sticky suction pads the edge look
ing for frogs or any other
at the end of the creature that
may be out that evening.
toes allowing them The path led us to an intersection
to stick and climb where a
right turn would take us to
on the vegetation. our cabin.
As I turned the corner, my
I thanked Paulo for flashlight
rays caught a large object on
showing me and the edge
of the path. I shone the light
allowing me to directly on
the object, illuminating a
take some pictures big brown
frog. It was sitting
of the Gaudy Leaf motionless.
I didn’t know what type of
Frog, one frog I frog it was
at the time as I had not
may not have seen seen this
species on any other trip I
without his help. had been on in Costa Rica. Not
If a per son my professiona having
l camera with me, just
knows a little a good poin
t and shoot camera (one
about frogs, their that I call
my “just in case” camera), I
behaviors and ran back to the room abo
habitats, and the from the ut 10 meters
sighting. Rich stayed close to
per son searches the frog,
shining the flashlight on the
hard enough, they amphibian
to track it if it should
will be rewarded. attempt a
get away before I got back.
Just a couple of Quickly I returned and took a few
months ago in nice shots.
Afterwards, I checked my
February 2006, I amphibian field guide to learn that
this
 was the Smoky Jungle Frog, the 2nd largest amphibian in Costa Rica, which
can grow up to 18 cms (8 inches). These cannibalistic amphibians eat other
smaller frogs, insects, scorpions and even small snakes. It is more challenging
to find frogs in the jungle because many species like the Red-Eyed Tree Frogs
and Smoky Jungle Frogs are nocturnal and are well camouflaged in the dense
foliage of the tropical rainforests during the daytime.

Smoky Jungle Frog

KITCHENWARE
JEWELLERY
WOMEN'S CLOTHING
One species that does not behave like other frogs is the Poison Dart Frogs
PURSES • CRAFTS also called the Blue Jeans Frogs or Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs. This partic-
BATH PRODUCTS ular species is active during the day (Diurnal). Growing to no more than 5 cms
(2 inches), these colorful tiny frogs really stand out in the rainforest dotting the
HOME & GARDEN tropical greenery. However, these beautifully colored amphibians are very toxic
because of the poisonous alkaloids found in the skin. The Blue Jeans Frog has
LINENS • CANDLES no need for their body colors to blend into their surroundings for protection.
FURNITURE Instead, they advertise their toxicity with bright colors alarming predators to
imminent danger. Many poison dart frog species have developed striking colors;
BABY GIFTS yellow, red, blue, purple – the colors of poison recognized in the animal world.
The Native Indians of Central America used to dip the tips of their hunting
TEDDY BEARS arrows or blowgun darts in the poison to instantaneously paralyze monkeys and
FRAMED ART birds, hence their name, Poison Dart Frogs.
Rich and I had a free afternoon so we decided to take a walk into the lush
CARDS • STATIONERY rainforest next to our resort. Shortly into our hike, Rich noticed and alerted
me to something moving just in front of me in the grass covered trail. He
AND wasn’t positive what it was. I stopped in my tracks, cautious as to what I may
MUCH, MUCH, MORE. step on, knowing about the deadly snakes that live in this country but also not
wanting to hurt any other animal. I focused my eyes on the area in front of my
feet. A tiny creature shuffled through the brown and green foliage catching my
223 - 3rd Ave eye. I crouched down to get a closer look. Out hopped a tiny brightly colored
Strathmore, AB Blue Jeans Frog onto a fallen leaf. “Oh Wow, it’s a Blue Jeans Frog,” I informed
Rich. A bright red head and body with dark blue legs, enabled us to follow this
(403) 934-6112 miniature frog as he hopped about the large blades of grass and fallen leaves.
We took a few steps further spotting more and more of these colorful amphib-
ians. Tiny red dots popped out from under the thick green ground cover.
The smallest of creatures found in tropical rainforests have provided me
with the best wildlife encounters, my most memorable experiences and many
extraordinary photographs. So on your next hike, wherever that may be, keep
Hours: your eyes open for the little creatures, the frogs. ca

9:30 - 5:30 Mon - Fri Cyril Brass is a Wildlife and Sports Photographer living in Calgary.
10:00 - 5:00 Sat brassphotography@shaw.ca
403-999-1908

page10

nce I
O h a d
open-
ed my eyes I
realized that my first official day in
my new home with my foster humans
had arrived! With unbelievable ease I
pushed my cage door open and
slinked my way over to the adjacent
wall mirror. What a handsome ferret
I was! No living creature could resist
the lure of my pink nose, beady red
eyes, and luxurious fur coat. It was
entirely understandable why some
humans might want to transform me
into a flashy garment!
Taking advantage of my newly
found freedom, I decided that I would
do a full reconnaissance of my
surroundings. In the distance I
spotted an alluring object near a free
standing object the humans called a
“couch”. It was small and pink (much
like my very own nose!) and I could
hear the soothing siren song of this
“eraser” thing calling to me.
With ferrety vigor I gobbled this
rubbery treasure down. Yummy
tummy! I could not believe my taste
buds, this stuff was good! Suddenly, an
unholy gurgle sprang from my
stomach. Ouch! My gut was in tremen-
dous turmoil! No possible bodily
contortion could relieve
my sufferings. It all
was becoming
clear to me
now… the
“couch”
w a s
angry
with
me for
steal-
ing its
prize.
T h e
gurgle
in my
tummy
stories from a veterinarian’s clinic
became more insidious and the great
purging began. This gastrointestinal
agony was only intensified by my
human foster mother screaming, “Oh
my gosh Max, what’s wrong?”
With supernatural speed she
picked me up and squished me in her
pocket, like some rather ordinary,
down-on-his-luck-hamster. Flash for-
warding many air deprived moments
later, I found myself staring into the
somewhat kindly face of a human my
foster mother called “Dr.Weger”. He
smiled at me and rubbed my head
just the way I like it. “Hello, little guy,
what’s going on with you?” he said.
Rudely, my foster mom took it
upon herself to answer for me. “Max
was vomiting on my new carpet!”
“It’s not uncommon for ferrets to
eat things that they find on the floor.
I recommend that we take an X-ray to
see if he has swallowed anything
unusual,” he replied.
My fate was now left in the hands
of this “doctor” fellow. What followed
was a circus of lights and flashes
which finally culminated into this “X-
ray” thingy. Using my super ferret
hearing I listened intently to a
discussion between Dr. Weger and
my foster mom.
“Unfortunately,” he said, “it’s as I
suspected, there is a foreign object
lodged in Max’s small intestine.
Surgery is our only option.”
Surgery! Oh No! What could that
mean? Could surgery be a good
thing? Could it mean treats and food?
Then, without warning, a plastic cup
was placed over my face and a
strange smell exuded. This smell was
unlike any food that I had
encountered and I began to slowly
fall asleep.
Alien abduction! It was the only
explanation! I tried to fight the gas
but my will power became weak and
all became black. Losing all track of
time, I woke up in a bundle of
page11
WAGGING TALES
by Dr. Richard Weger, B.Sc., DVM
blankets trapped in a clear plastic
container. Peering up, I gazed upon
a smiling Dr. Weger staring down
at me.
“You’ll be fine now little one, just
rest.” he said. It was then that I
noticed that my stomach didn’t hurt
anymore! Maybe Dr. Weger had a
cure for that poison the “couch” had
slipped me.
Shuffling off the towels I decided
to have a look at my stomach…my
hair was gone! My beautiful hair! In
its place, a chorus line of expertly
tied knots! Thoughts of tummy
toupees ran through my head as I suc-
cumbed to the lingering effect of the
gas and passed out.
Several uneventful days later
I was discharged from the “barber
shop of horrors” to my loving
home. Finally I was back where
I belonged!
As I contemplated the events of
the past week, leaning against my
cage door, I found that it came open.
Feeling mildly claustrophobic I
decided to go for a small walk. I
carefully avoided the “couch” and
came upon an object I have heard the
human’s call a “bed”. Sniffing around
the floor I found a small red spongy
object. My eyes greedily inhaled this
new culinary vision. Now that I was
feeling better, I was ready for a
delicious treat!...ca
Dr. Richard Weger is a graduate of the
Western College of Veterinary
Medicine. He has committed the
majority of his continuing education to
the development of his skills in the field
of exotic veterinary medicine. He is
currently owned by his Senegal parrot,
Tiko and his cat, Mendel.
Exotic Veterinary Care and Referral
Service • Calgary North Veterinary
Hospital (403)277-0135
 tious and d
‘Nutri elicious lunches
d e liv er e d di rect
to schools.’
info@rocketlunch.com P: 403.274.7700
www.rocketlunch.com F: 403.274.0151

page12

any people say they don’t
M like snakes; I fortunately am
not one of them. I think
snakes are very, interesting creatures.
Let me share with you why.
Here at the Calgary Zoo we have
a number of different species of
snakes, but I want to tell you about
one of them, an African Rock Python
named Pebbles.
This beautiful snake lives in the
African Savannah Building and the
number of times I have heard people
say, “Look at that snake... yuk”, is
absolutely amazing. Poor Pebbles, I’m
happy she doesn’t realize what people
are saying about her.
Pebbles, was born in captivity
sometime in September 2001 and has
been at the Calgary Zoo since
December 7, 2002. When she first
arrived at the Zoo she was approx-
imately seven feet long (213.4cm.)
and weighed nine pounds (4.1kg).
Since that time she has grown into
a beautiful snake that now
measures fourteen feet in
length (426.7cm.) and
weighs in at an enormous
one hundred fifty-five
pounds (70.3kg.)and is
now so heavy and large
that it takes four keep-
ers to handle her safely.
When she first
arrived at the Calgary
Zoo, Zookeeper Garth
Irvine used to go into her
habitat, sit on a rock and
hold Pebbles in his lap He
would talk to her while he
stroked her body, she loved
it. You see snakes are
ectothermic, which means
they get their body heat from
outside sources. They are
unable to keep themselves
warm, so lying in a keepers lap
was naturally warm and a
comfortable spot for Pebbles.
CREATURE FEATURE
Before anyone says Yuk!, let me
tell you that a snake is not wet and
slimy. It is dry, smooth and cool to the
touch and the scales merge into a very
beautiful pattern. Snakes are usually
gentle unless they are hungry,
provoked, startled or attacked.
Pebbles, is still not a full grown
snake and although her growing speed
has slowed down, she will eventually
reach a massive eighteen feet in
length. During her faster growing
period she was being fed two chickens
a week. Since her growing spurt has
slowed down she now gets one
chicken a week, always on a Sunday.
Although the chickens are dead
when they are given to Pebbles, she
still wraps them in her coils and
squeezes them, as she would in
the wild to kill her prey. She
then eats the chicken whole,
head first. The acids in a
snake’s stomach will dissolve
feathers, bones, beak, feet,
claws, hide or hooves of any
animal it eats.
African Rock
Pythons in the wild
are known to eat
both small and
large ante-
lope. Snakes
have a spe-
cially designed
jaw that unhinges
so the mouth
can open wide
enough to eat
the prey whole,
head first. The
size of the prey
animal is what
determines when
the snake will
need its next
meal and some-
times a snake will
go for over one
year without a
photo courtesy: Garn Morris
getting a grip
by Kathleen Hewitt
meal while it is digesting a large
animal.
While a snake is growing, it
frequently has to change its skin.
When this happens, its eyes cloud
over and go a milky colour and the
snake stops eating. The moult usually
starts around the mouth as the snake
frees its head first, then, twists out of
its skin by rubbing itself on the rocks,
sand or branches that are around.
The process takes one to five hours
with the skin coming off inside out
much like a sock that has been pulled
off quickly.
When the moult is complete the
colours of the snake look much
brighter. Pebbles recently shed her
skin and the colour of her new skin is
beautiful with a lovely rainbow sheen.
Often one can see the old shed skin
hanging in the habitat on a branch or
on rocks. However, if the skin is in
one piece, it is taken out of the
habitat and preserved to be used for
educational purposes.
In the summer of 2005 a young
boy, eight years of age was killed and
eaten by an African Rock Python in
Africa. These accidents happen, but
are rare.
Pebbles, our Rock Python loves
the water and almost every morning
she can be seen in the water in her
habitat, then she will slide up to her
favourite rock, coil her body round
and go to sleep. Of course she doesn’t
need to hunt for food or keep watch
for the predatory animal, man.
Snakes have been killed by man
for generations, either because of
beliefs and superstitions or so that the
skins could be used to make ladies
handbags and shoes. These items are
now a banned product and are
confiscated by Canadian Customs
should anyone try to bring them into
the country. Besides... a snake’s skin
looks much better on Pebbles than it
would on someone’s feet! ca
 artist
specializing in acrylic wildlife paintings

a featured artist at Zoogala September 9, 2006

www.calgaryzoo.com

Avenida Art Gallery The Rose Hip Gallery

www.avenidagalleries.com www.rosehipgallery.com

. the very best

in care for you
and your pets.

Debra Howe is an Animal Health Technologist with

several years experience in clinical pet care. She is a graduate
of both the Animal Health Technology and Fish & Wildlife Programs.

Phone: (403)569-9474 • Cellular: (403)807-3702 • Fax: (403)204-7593

Email: owner@dhpetcare.com www.dhpetcare.com

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page14

t begins with a chase. She zig zags,
I in 12-20 foot horizontal leaps,
maintaining a speed of 55km/hour,
with him at her heels. They collide and
she aggressively rebuffs him and flees.
Determined, he perseveres. After a
few hostile encounters, they cooperate
momentarily to get the job done. A
delayed ovulator, her eggs are
released and fertilization occurs.
The now newly
pregnant
female doe,
snubs any further advances. The buck
leaves in search of another chase or
perhaps a kicking and biting match
with a competing male! Hares are
synchronous breeders – the timing of
an individual’s breeding cycle is the
same throughout the population of
hares. One night, such courting antics
are taking place all over Calgary’s
green spaces, and maybe even in your
own backyard!
Does fatten up on new shoots,
and native grasses. Litters of three to
six young white-tailed prairie hares,
commonly known as jackrabbits, are
due in six weeks. Hares do not build
nests or burrows. Unlike true rabbits,
born hairless and with eyes closed,
young hares are precocial – born fully
furred, with eyes open, and ready to
hop! At 100 grams, these newborns
are surprisingly independent. They
TAKING DOWN THE FENCES
hide alone and wait for the doe, as
they depend entirely on mother’s milk
during their first weeks. This strategy
may seem quite non-maternal, but
hares are devoted mothers! They
separate from their offspring to pre-
vent their scent from attracting
predators. Unfailingly, they return at
dawn and dusk to nurse their
offspring, reuniting using vocalizations
and scent. Occasionally a baby hare is
flushed from hiding, but unless it is
injured, or in the mouth of a cat or
dog, it should be left alone. If in a
vulnerable location, it can be moved to
a protected spot within a 150-metre
radius. Young hares should never be
fed anything other than hare milk as
they cannot tolerate anything else and
quickly succumb to diarrhea and
dehydration. Hare milk is enriched
with necessary antibodies. From their
mother, young hares acquire
beneficial gut for digesting cellulose as
they transition to eating vegetation.
In 5-6 weeks, young hares are
nearly fully independent. A prey
species, hares are specialized to avoid
predation. They moult twice annually
to maintain their camouflage and are
a tawny grey-brown in summer and
white in winter. Powerful back legs
help them burst to top speeds of
75km/hour and change direction
without slowing down. They have eyes
page15
hare raising
by Robyn Roper
on the sides of their head and large
ears for detecting danger. Hares
freeze when predators that locate
prey by looking for movement are
nearby. Always alert, hares have
escape routes that lead from open
feeding sites back to an area of cover.
If caught, hares emit a startling
high-pitch scream in hope the
predator retreats.
White-tailed prairie hares benefit
native grasslands around Calgary by
dispersing seeds of
native plants. They first reproduce in
the spring following their birth.
Prolific reproducers, each female has
3-4 litters per year, providing ample
food for young coyotes, foxes, hawks,
owls and golden eagles. Well adapted
to city life, they may, when native food
sources are particularly scarce, turn
to eating garden plants. For dismayed
gardeners, the best solution is to erect
2-foot high fences. Though hares are
capable of jumping that high if being
chased, they rarely do so otherwise.
A hare’s life is a typically short, 1
to 2 years in the wild, full of
excitement and blasts of adrenaline as
they race to outrun predators and
speeding cars. They are high strung
and easily stressed, as being too laid
back could land them as dinner. They
live knowing they sit on the fine line
between life and death. ca
Shorty
by Helen E. Willy

“Our story
begins on
a sunny
winter’s
morning
of 2004.”
 was making my usual rounds on our acreage to refill
I feeders with a bucket of seed for the birds and some
peanuts for the squirrels. The suet feeders still seemed
fine. I stopped and silently chuckled as I looked up at the
glorious nest one of our squirrels had made high in a
Spruce tree. When the squirrels started gathering supplies
for their Winter nests in the Fall I had assisted them by
cutting up old yarn
and leaving it on
the porch along
with some cotton
balls. Any supplies
of the like that I
left for them were
gone within a half
hour. As I was
looking up at its
nest I noticed the
red, brown, and
gray yarn inter-
twined with a
variety of natural
materials. I didn’t
see the cotton
balls but imagined
that they were likely inside the nest making a warm and
cozy little mattress. One always knows when it is time to
help the squirrels out with nesting material as they start
attacking the lounge chair cushions and helping themselves
to sponge overnight. We learned that the first year we lived
here and now try to remember to take our cushions in
every night whether it is nest-building time or not. Again,
this year, I forgot one night and now have a little hole with
some sponge missing on one of the cushions.
The red squirrels in our yard have spread out nicely
and have all secured their own territories near a bird
feeder. As we have six bird feeders around the house, they
have fanned out, constructed their own homes and
developed their individual routines. One squirrel, for
instance, dries his mushrooms on the fence post pile, while
another one does the same on the boughs of the Spruce
tree that he lives in. They each have their own series of
tunnels, tree holes, and other hiding places. Occasionally
we see them chasing each other and we assume they are
playing, interested in each other romantically, or one has
breached the territorial boundaries of the other.
On this particular morning everything seemed normal
until I spotted a small trail of blood in the snow. It was easy
to follow and ended up right under one of the bird feeders
on the West side of the house. Along with obvious signs of
a struggle in the snow I found a section of a squirrel’s tail,
which I determined to be about half. My heart sank. Which
predator had nabbed one of “my” squirrels? It seemed as
though he had almost made it home to this big tree but just
hadn’t run quite fast enough. I went back to the house with
page17
my “show and tell tail” to show my husband. We watched
regularly for him for the remainder of the day but, alas, the
usual squirrel that frequented that bird feeder was
nowhere to be seen.
The next morning greeted us with a squirrel back on
the feeder. We both grabbed our binoculars to have a
closer look. Was it the survivor or was it another squirrel
photo courtesy: Bo Semchyshyn
who had taken over the territory? It was the survivor and
he was eating happily minus half of his tail! We named him
“Shorty” and watched him with interest as the Winter
progressed. He didn’t seem to have any trouble negotiating
his treetops and other usual routine but we did wonder
whether he had a cold back, not being able to curl his tail
all the way up to his neck. (Yes, I did consider knitting him
a sweater, but he would likely just have unraveled it for
nesting material!)
During the course of the next year he gradually grew
a new length of tail. The new and second half, however,
grew back black, not the reddish brown colour of the rest
of him. There is a little kink where the black begins.
Shorty maintains his regular routine in his same
territory. He gets four peanuts every morning at the side
garage door stoop and if I am late getting out there, he is
usually waiting on the fence post right outside the door. He
comes up on the deck to see if there is anything of interest
for him there and sometimes sits on the barbecue in the
sunshine to check out the world and soak in some rays.
This morning he was wrestling with an acrylic pile cushion
I had put out on the bench, trying to pull some of the pile
out. I decided he can have it if he wants. I wouldn’t have
left it out there otherwise. It is now nearly the end
of March and Spring is in the air. He has made it through
another Winter. Or perhaps, she has made it through
another Winter? We’re not sure. Regardless, whether
Shorty is a Mom or a Dad, I’m sure the offspring will be
clever, feisty and adventurous. ca
 Victoria Sam Elise Sara-Maya
Kristine

The grade one students were studying the question, Can people
and bears live together?. They first went to the Calgary Zoo to
see the bear cubs that were sent there last fall. At the zoo they
learned about the bears we have in Alberta. Once back in class, they
spent time on the internet finding information on the needs of
bears. A conservation officer, photographer, hunter and camper came
to explain their points of view of people and bears together. The
students then wrote a paragraph giving their point of view.
The students were so excited about bears and their safety, they
decided to raise money by selling Bears Snacks (Bears cookies and
candy). The work displayed here was randomly chosen from 74
grade one students at Foundations for the Future Charter Academy.

page18
 YOUTH SAID IT
bear pause
by grade 1 students of Foundations for the Future Charter Academy

Aspen Aasim

creaturesall encourages input from young people and will word biography) and attach to an email, with “Youth Said It”, in
enthusiastically consider for publication any written works dealing the subject line. Address to publisher@creaturesall.ca. The author
with all things fur, feathers, fins, skins and scales. Persons should also attach a head and shoulders photo of themselves
18 years of age and under should send their submission (plus a 50 as a 300 dpi tif or jpg.

page19
 LOOKS GOOD SMELLS GOO
D SOUNDS GOOD
403-652-1633
custom All of our
112 Center Street SE
High River, AB
products are Just a short
T1V 1P6 gift baskets fresh and 20 min.
and candy kabobs kept in sealed drive south
according to customer desires containers of Calgary

page20
 SPACES and SPECIES
the salamander scoop — a species of special concern
by Kimberly Pearson, M.Sc., P.Biol

lberta’s ponds and lakes are they hit one and the salamanders’ longer to develop than their counter-

A fascinating ecosystems that

are often and
overlooked. Take the time to peer
easily
slow speed prevents them from
avoiding vehicles. A few efforts have
taken place in Alberta when
parts residing in warmer, valley-
bottom ponds because the mountain
lakes are colder and thus less
into one and get to know some of the caring volunteers lifted migrating productive. In other words, there’s
creatures that make it their home. One salamanders across busy roadways – not a lot to eat, so growing is a slow
such fascinating, but not well-known, that’s a huge help to the lit- process. Another challenge to
creature is the long-toed salamander tle salamanders! long-toed salamanders in many of
(Ambystoma macrodactylum). Long- Alberta’s alpine lakes is avoid-
Long-toed salamanders are toed sala- ing fish predation. Trout
unassuming, rarely encountered m a n - make a quick meal out of
amphibians that inhabit the forests ders salamander larvae, often
and ponds of Alberta’s Rocky wiping out entire popula-
Mountains and foothills. A number of tions in a relatively short
the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s amount of time.
(NCC) properties within the Alberta Amphibians have seen
and British Columbia Regions protect their numbers decline around
their terrestrial and aquatic habitats. the world and are invaluable
Long-toed salamanders are indicators of environmental
beautiful little creatures. Adults change. The long-toed salamander is
are dark brown in colour with a recommended as a “Species of
striking, yellow-orange Special Concern” in Alberta because
band from head to tail, its populations are isolated and the
light speckling on species is vulnerable to habitat
their sides and legs, destruction and alteration associated
and big, dark eyes. with industrial, recreational and
Salamander larvae transportation development. The
look similar to frog attach species is currently designated as
tadpoles, but have their eggs “Sensitive” in Alberta, meaning that
slimmer bodies and a in clusters to the species is not at risk but atten-
set of gills on their vegetation or rocks tion should be given to factors
heads that look like within ponds. The eggs impacting its long-term survival,
rson

a pair of feathery develop quickly into such as protecting habitat.

K. Pea

antennae. larvae, which, like frog The Nature Conservancy of

The adult long- tadpoles, develop within the Canada’s securement work helps to
Photo courtesy

toed salamanders waterbodies for a number of conserve amphibian habitats

spend most of weeks until they metamor-
their time hidden phose into their terrestrial
on the forest floor form. Metamorphosis is an
and migrate to amazing process – during my
lakes and ponds research on long-toed salaman-
for breeding some- ders, I’ve watched their eggs
time in the spring. develop into mini-salamanders,
Unfortunately, our all within just a few months.
roadways will often Can you imagine spending
intersect their migra- three winters beneath the ice of
tion paths between a frozen lake? Long-toed
land and water habitats. salamander larvae that reside in
These salamanders are only 16 Alberta’s high, cold, mountain lakes
cm long, so drivers don’t realize when often do just that! It takes them
throughout Alberta. During our
annual property monitoring,
NCC Stewardship staff conduct
surveys to monitor amphibians,
including long-toed salamanders,
in these valuable aquatic
environments. ca
If you would like to learn more about
amphibians and the NCC, or would like
to volunteer to conduct amphibian
surveys, please contact:
alberta@natureconservancy.ca
or call: 1-877-262-1253.

page21
page22

amping near Manyberries, you
C make a shivering midnight trip
to use the “facilities” when you
hear a rustle in the bush to your left.
Your breath catches and you swing
your flashlight toward the noise. For
just an instant you catch a glimpse of a
housecat-sized, rusty-grey animal with
a black-tipped tail before it vanishes to
resume the hunt you interrupted.
You’ve just been fortunate enough to
see a swift fox, once extinct in Canada.
This diminutive species is making
a remarkable recovery, but is still an
endangered species. The swift fox,
Vulpes velox, is a member of the canid
family and is related to wolves,
coyotes, and man’s best friend, the
domestic dog. Nicknamed “The Prairie
Phantom,” its top running speed of 60
km per hour mean few of us will have
the pleasure of seeing one for too long.
It is mainly nocturnal, another reason
spotting one is rare. That being said,
you may be lucky enough to spot one
of the elusive creatures sunning itself
on a warm winter day.
The swift fox dines on gophers,
mice, birds, eggs, amphibians, reptiles,
carrion, as well as insects such as
grasshoppers. Their speed enables
them to treat themselves to the
occasional jackrabbit as well. The
range of their diet has certainly played
a part in their successful reintroduc-
tion to Canada.
The swift fox’s historic range
stretched from Canada to eastern
Wyoming, the Dakotas, Nebraska,
Kansas and Colorado to Texas,
Oklahoma and New Mexico. Often
living in mated pairs, although not
necessarily for life, the swift fox raise
their pups in sparsely vegetated mixed-
grass prairie. They modify badger
dens, or dig their own, often located
on the sides of hills near water. They
use multiple dens, having some single
burrow dens used for protection, and
more complex, maze-like dens with
multiple tunnels and entrances, that
are used for birthing.
Males assist in hunting for their
pups and both parents will act as
decoys if a predator gets too close to a
den with pups. Breeding occurs in the
chilly months from January to March
with pups being born from mid-April to
mid-May. Litters usually contain four to
five pups. Their eyes and ears open at
about two weeks and by two months
they look fully adult and leave the den
by late summer or early autumn. The
average lifespan of the swift fox is eight
to ten years in the wild and up to 13 in
captivity. The fox’s main predators are
coyotes, hawks, eagles, but primarily,
you guessed it, humans.
Although the swift fox was once
abundant on the Canadian prairies –
117,025 were killed between 1853 and
1877 – the last one was sighted near
Manyberries in 1938. The reasons
behind this extinction are not clear but
page23
THE WILD FILE
the swift fox
by Jen Goertzen
there are several strong possibilities.
The rapid spread of farms across the
Canadian prairies denied the swift fox
suitable habitat, they were caught in
traps intended for more valuable fur-
bearing animals and were poisoned in
poisoning campaigns aimed at coyotes,
wolves and ground squirrels. However,
because the swift fox managed to
retain a foothold in the central United
States where the same factors existed
it is thought that the severe winters
and droughts of Canada’s prairies also
played a significant role.
But there is a cautiously happy
ending to this seemingly tragic story.
Reintroduction occurred between 1983
and 1997 in Southern Alberta and
Saskatchewan. About 900 foxes, either
captive-bred or captured in the U.S.,
were released during this period.
Initially mortality was high, however
census’ taken in 1996-1997 and then
again in 2000-2001 indicate that the
ratio of wild-born to captive-born or
relocated foxes has steadily increased;
in 1996-1997 81% of captured foxes
were wild-born and in 2000-2001 99%
of foxes were wild-born. They are also
increasing in abundance and in range.
The research concludes that further
releases are not necessary, at this
time, to increase the swift fox
population to a healthy number.
However, to ensure that the swift
fox is successful in re-establishing itself
in western Canada it is necessary to
continue monitoring the population.
Education will prove the key as swift
fox territory is mostly in unprotected
areas and it is thus essential that
ranchers and farmers continue to be
key partners in the protection of the
swift fox. So the next time you are out
walking in the Southeastern corner of
Alberta around dusk or dawn, keep
your eyes peeled, you might be lucky
enough to catch a glimpse of the
tenacious swift fox. ca

Annie’s Legacy
“Not to hurt our humble brethren [the animals] is our first duty to them, but…
we have a higher mission — to be of service to them whenever they require it.”
e had assembled for a heritage livestock
W meeting in a member’s home during an
uncommonly snowy April in 2004. To the other
farmers, the rejected twin lamb wandering the house was
little more than a distraction whose bottle-feeding meant
extra work at an already hectic time. To me, she was a soul
in search of her destiny.
Jacob Horned Sheep are one of the world’s oldest
breeds of domesticated livestock, but as a new member of
Rare Breeds Canada, I had never seen one until that day. I
felt an intuitive connection with the spotted lamb, and
offered to give her a home.
We named her Anastasia, meaning spring and rebirth.
Her irrepressible spirit filled the quiet hours left vacant by
the death of our aged Border Collie two months earlier. I
was soon answering to a new name of my own: “Ma-a-a-a-a!”
The preparation of a bottle every two and a half hours, the
removal of droppings, and a wild dash for the mop and pail
each time her puddles migrated across our kitchen floor,
were duties offset by sublime moments when Annie slept
and dreamed in my arms, or frolicked in our fenced yard
with our hen Cassandra.
We weren’t actively looking for a dog, but a week after
Annie arrived we learned of a Border Collie-cross with fear
issues who needed a calm environment where he would not
be left alone. We brought Annie with us to the pre-adoption
interview to temperament test for a low-prey-drive. Ten
month old Salem proved to be as gentle as we had hoped.
page24
by Elisabeth Dowson
St. Francis of Assisi
At his new home, he was at first wary of Annie’s attempts
to play, but Salem eventually found the self-confidence to
join her in a game of tag — an uplifting breakthrough for
him, and valuable exercise for our spunky wee lamb.
On Mother’s Day, we packed Annie and Salem into
our van and drove to see my family in Edmonton. Our
nephew was thrilled to hold and feed Annie and tried to
teach her how to play soccer. My mother recounted
stories of blissful summers on her uncle’s farm, feeding
bottle lambs and calves. When my dad first held Annie,
his eyes glistened with the wonder of such an ancient
creature.
I can neither knit nor spin, so we had never
considered raising sheep, but the longer we lived with
Annie the more we pondered her breeding potential. We
dared to imagine springs filled with lamb-demonium and
harvests of high-demand fleeces for hand-spinners. Before
we could act on the idea, Annie became suddenly and
gravely ill.
Heritage breeds are known for their vigour, but Annie’s
robust appetite produced a potentially fatal compromise of
her digestive tract. Enterotoxaemia, or “overeating disease”,
is caused by Clostridium perfringens, a bacterium common
in all soils. Usually, these bacteria live innocuously in the
lower digestive tract. When a lamb overeats, as many
bottle babies and single lambs do, undigested starches and
sugars can reach the lower tract and trigger rapid bacterial
growth, which releases gaseous toxins.
 On a Friday evening, Annie devel-
oped bloating of her left (rumen) side
that grew to football proportions, and
her front legs filled with fluid. All
livestock vets had closed for the
weekend and were responding only to
equine emergencies. Without access
to the right antibiotics and painkillers,
we struggled with a mixture of liquid
antacids and mineral oil to contain the
toxic gasses, nursing our colicky lamb
through two perilous days of pain and
fever until our vet could treat her.
After several hours of IV fluids,
antibiotics and pain medication, Annie
came home with an array of prescrip-
tions and a new feeding regimen. At
first her feet were too sore to play. By
the time she was able to romp again,
she seemed to have out-grown her
light-hearted lambhood. The slightest
change in her diet caused her front
legs to swell and we knew our action
had to be swift. She bloated twice
again before she was a year old.
Ethically, we could not breed her.
Trained to walk on a lead, Annie
became an enthusiastic ambassador
for heritage livestock conservation.
She appeared on Heritage Day in
August 2004 and 2005 at Calgary’s
Heritage Park as part of Rare Breeds
Canada’s display. Basking in attention
from hundreds of delighted visitors,
with line-ups of children waiting to
meet her, Annie prompted important
discussions about the need to
conserve heritage livestock genetics
for future generations.
When Annie was seven months
old, a Jacob breeder offered us a ram
of the same age. Potter had been
injured as a lamb, suffering
permanent damage to his cervical
spine that affected the coordination of
his hind legs. His owners loved his
lofty lilac-spotted fleece, but they didn’t
have room to house him separately
from other rams to prevent further
injury. Creatures with special needs
were not new to us, so we took him.
Annie was indignant about sharing
us with Potter, but he plodded dutifully
behind her for several days until she
deemed him worthy. After a few weeks,
we noticed a marked improvement in
Potter’s coordination. Annie’s “sheep
therapy” had restored Potter’s physical
potential for an auspicious breeding
future, and in the process had rekindled
his self-worth. He was especially
pleased the day he learned to use his
formidable horns to define a radius that
kept Annie from his hay. They enjoyed
a heart-warming year together.
Annie’s intelligence was our biggest
worry. On a devastating day in
December 2005, Annie breached a
fence and gorged on the mixed grain in
a duck feeder. Despite our best efforts,
bacterial toxins overwhelmed her
vulnerable system. That evening, the
lamb who had immeasurably blessed
our lives passed away in my arms. I
grieved as if I had lost a child.
Alone for the second time in his
life, Potter grieved too, calling endlessly
for his pasture mate. I sat with him
every day after chores, talking with him
and rubbing his face. Gentle when
facing us, he became increasingly
aggressive when our backs were
turned. We were faced with a difficult
choice: we could re-home Potter, or
prepare for a small flock.
Potter’s needs prevailed. After
upgrading our fencing, we honoured
Annie’s memory with the purchase of
two unrelated bred Jacob ewes from
Potter’s previous owner. Naomi and
Pebbles arrived in February 2006 and
were due to lamb in late April.
page25
On Easter Sunday evening, missing
Annie far more than usual and
indulging in a few wistful tears about
what might have been, I felt the need
for some “sheep therapy” of my own.
I wandered down to the barn,
surprised to find both ewes indoors
during such mild weather. I quickly
realized Naomi was in the last stages of
labour, pawing a nest in the shavings
and breathing hard.
I ran to the house to get my
husband and son, and the lambing kit I
had assembled but wouldn’t need.
Together we witnessed the unassisted,
uncomplicated births of precious ewe
and ram twin lambs, born an hour and
a half apart. Two thousand years of
Jacob evolution had brought us to this
moment in time. Naomi cleaned each
babe in turn, and nursed within 20 min-
utes of their delivery. Although these
weren’t Annie’s lambs, they did symbol-
ize a rebirth of her endearing spirit.
The poignant journey of Annie’s life
embraced extremes of joy and
heartbreak, but also brought new
opportunities for our personal and spir-
itual growth. Throughout our time with
her, she confirmed two long-held
beliefs: every creature has a value and
purpose, and everything happens for a
reason.
Annie fulfilled her destiny, not
through a new generation of lambs or
by producing prized fleeces, but by
transforming the lives of an abandoned
dog and a desolate ram. In the higher
mission of raising awareness for
heritage livestock conservation, she
raised hundreds of eyebrows in awe and
delight. Her legacy lives in the hearts of
all who were touched by her. Her
spirit endures in two lambs who leap
and bound in rambunctious testament
to their heritage. ca
 NOVEL SUGGESTIONS
readers contribute their book reviews
send your review to editor@creaturesall.ca

A Dog’s Life
The Autobiography of a Stray
by Ann M. Martin
Scholastic Press, New York
182 pp., ISBN 0-439-71559-8
Hard cover.
reviewed by Linda Kayschild
Squirrel and Bone spent the first days of their life
curled up beside their Mother on a burlap bag in an old
wheelbarrow. They shared a cozy, dry shed with mice and
cats on the Merrion's property. But they were not pets —
they were strays.
Life went along happily for awhile as the pups watched
and learned. Then one day, Mother did not return. With
no alternative in sight, the pups set out to see the world.
Adventures followed and Squirrel soon found herself
alone. This is her life’s story, told in her own words, and it
shares with us her sense of loss and abandonment as she
makes friends, survives misadventure and ultimately makes
the reader feel privileged they have been asked along for
the ride. Any paragraph which begins, “When a truck
whizzed by me, I jumped back, yelping. But Bone looked as
though he were getting ready to run—to bolt across the
road and hope for the best.” can not remain unfinished for
long.
Anyone who owns a dog or simply remembers the now
gone time from their youth when owning a dog was a right
of passage, will enjoy Martin’s heart rending and hopeful
tale of the adventures of a ragamuffin stray dog. The story
is simply written and would be an excellent read-aloud book
to share with children five to ten years of age. And for
those who enjoy a less complicated story as an interlude to
an otherwise busy life, A Dog’s Life, The Autobiography of
a Stray, will fill the bill nicely. Read to one’s self or shared
with a young person the story of Squirrel the stray will
prove to be time well spent.
Ann Martin is an award winning author of several
other books, who lives in upstate New York and,
besides writing books, also works with an animal rescue
organization there. ca

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page26

hat’s all that Buzz about??
W It has happened to all of us….we
are just settling down to a nice
barbeque in the garden when the bees
and wasps show up. We thrash
around, cover our drinks or just pick
everything up and move into the house
to avoid these party crashers. There
has to be a better way.
There is. A little bit of
information can go a long
way to avoiding harass-
ment from these critters.
To begin with we should
know that there are
various types of bees,
wasps, hornets and
yellow-jackets, in sci-
entific terms known
as Hymenoptera.
They don’t usually
bother people and go
about their business of
nest building, eating and
food gathering. They eat
tremendous amounts of
insects from our gardens
continuously and in the process of
collecting nectar they are very
important pollinators. Can you
imagine how our gardens and world
would look without crops and
flowers!! They don’t plan to sting you
unless you are bothering their nests or
step on them.
Honey bees
can only sting
one time and
end up leav-
ing their
stinger in
you, so it kills
them. Bumble
bees can sting
several times,
and yes, they hurt.
Only the Queens
overwinter and start out in the spring
THE GARDENING BUG
to find a nice nesting site. They forage
and nest build and establish a colony
around them of workers to maintain
the nest. The number of bees and
wasps in a nest varies a lot by the type
they are, so you should always be vigi-
lant. If you want to move a nest, spring
is the time to do it while the numbers
of occupants are at
their low-
est.
As summer
days progress and fall begins, dry con-
ditions, the amount of food available
and evening temperatures can cause
these creatures to turn aggressive.
The many types of bees that you
see all seem to have the cute “furry”
body. Not all of them live in
groups. Leaf-cutter bees and
Orchard bees live alone and cre-
ate burrows for their young.
They line and fill the burrows
with pollen and the round bits
of leaves that you see missing,
or use mud. They are very
entertaining to watch so keep your
eyes open.
Hornets usually nest underground
or in very well hidden above ground
page27
what’s the buzz
by Judi Schofield
nests. Hornets are black and white.
Yellow-jackets also nest underground
and above ground they make papery
nests. They are easily spotted yellow
and black, or sometimes yellow and
brown. Wasps are also yellow and
black but are more slender and
streamlined with three curvy seg-
ments. There are also solitary wasps
that are much smaller than the social
wasps. They make burrows in sandy
soil or hollow stems with alive and par-
alyzed insects to feed the egg once it
has hatched. They can be black, black
with white or black with yellow, and
yes, they do sting.
If you have small children,
nosy pets or allergies to bee and
wasp venom it would be a good
idea to guard against nesting in
your garden. Prevent the Queen
from establishing a nest in the
spring by covering up her hole,
getting a bee “catcher” or making
one yourself from a 2 litre pop
bottle or by using a spray available
at gardening centers. Try not to
spray everything since, as we saw
above, many of these creatures do
not harass people and are very
helpful in the garden.
A good way to keep these critters
off your picnic is to set them out their
fruit or sugar-water picnic in a far
corner of your garden. Once they
have found it, they will leave you
alone. Alternatively, plant some
bright flowers in a sunny spot away
from your house to keep them in the
back sections of your garden.
Another technique is to light some
incense or citronella to keep them
away. Do not thrash around as
this will just agitate them. Do
not dress up like a flower wearing
bright yellow, orange or red or they
will think you are a flower. Take
the time to see what they are and
the wonderful work they are doing
for you. ca
page28
The tale I will tell
the as I thought on that

other
and I’ll tell it well and had an inner chat
regards a ferocious beast my whole life flashed before my eyes
that both lurks and skulks of school and tests

side
and pouts and sulks of being the best
‘til allowed its horrific feast never losing sight of the prize

of
I heard it last night was I teacher’s pet
as I shivered in fright perhaps so... but yet
‘twas just outside my bedroom door I couldn’t help but think my time

the
I heard it tearing on earth was too short
pictured nostrils flaring I heard the beast snort
I tried not to picture the gore to give up now would be a crime

door
I tried to get up putting others first
but I heard it sup © has been my life’s curse
on its meal of whatever it was I mustn’t succumb to the beast
though I wanted to see now more than ever
I didn’t want to be I must be clever
a part of whatever it does I’ll not be a part of its feast

I’m brave as you know my feet on the floor

at least mostly so I crept to the door
but this was a whole other thing and quietly pulled it wide
so I lay in my room not blood and bones
foreseeing the doom not groans and moans
the impending sunrise would bring just papers were all that I spied

I was so sleepy the beast was asleep

I became weepy amid the trash heap
I was in deep and dire straits obviously finished his part
but you would be too laying there now
for brother... no zoo I couldn’t see how
holds such a beast within its gates he’d struck such fear in my heart

I heard it ripping I humbly relate

I heard flesh stripping ‘twas my homework he ate
the dark masked none of the ruin deny it... alas I cannot
‘twas 2 parts polecat sadly dear teacher
5 parts sewer rat that beastly creature
and a final 7 parts bruin was none other
than my dog
I thought I should call Spot
‘cause just down the hall
I know I heard my dad snoring
I decided to not
lest my calling out got
confused with the beastly roaring

far better thought I

‘twas I who should die
and spare the lives of my folks
they’d remember me
that he didn’t flee by Trebor Redleif
and stands strong before he croaks
 THE FINAL WORD
in from my own front porch
by Cheryl Spence

rrrrr . . . yip, yip, yip, grrrrr . . . yip . . . would open themselves up to that kind of pain again?

G Who, or what, was this white, two-pound, fluff ball on

Yes, puppy had to be returned to my well-meaning, but
misguided, friend. Tomorrow.
And now it’s bedtime. I carry puppy upstairs – he’s
my carpet and why was it “talking” to me? And how the still too little to navigate the steps. I put him in his puppy
heck did he end up in my living room? Sure, he was kennel, but leave the door open, just in case he wants to
adorable, and cute beyond words, but he was explore.
also dangerous – to my heart. And I shut off the lights, but leave a
What was I thinking – letting night light on, just in case he gets
my friend convince me it was scared. It is, after all, his first
time for another puppy? “sleepover”.
Puppy – I refused to And I crawl into bed,
name him because that but sleep with one arm
implied commitment hanging over the side,
– was already wrig- just in case he needs
gling his furry self to sniff my hand to
into my well- reassure himself
guarded heart. he’s not alone.
This curly mop He really is a
was not only good puppy.
opening long- Yup, it’s
forgotten doors final. He can’t
to my soul, but stay.
was flinging Fast forward
open windows, two years. He
leaving me vul- stayed. But then
nerable in the you already knew
breeze. that, didn’t you. I
Suddenly it be- named him Mercury
gan to make sense to Benz (Merc, for short).
me, why love had contin- And I don’t know how he
ued to elude me in the did it, but that first night
years since my divorce. I Merc found a place in my heart
thought I had invited love into my and moved in - permanently – as
life but now this furball – barely big- though there had never been any doubt
ger than the lint on my socks – was show- in his mind as to what the outcome would be.
ing me I hadn’t really invited it into my life, or my Since arriving on the scene, this social convener in
house, after all. In fact, I was still living in the porch a fur coat, has introduced me to individuals of all ages,
myself! backgrounds, and interests. And, ironically enough, has
Yes, all cuteness aside, puppy had to go. In our first caught the eye of a single neighbor of mine and his little
hour together, he had already made me laugh more, and boy who live four blocks down the street. Merc has not
feel more, than I had in a long time. And I began to only succeeded in opening the doors and windows of my
remember what it felt like to love someone – or something heart, but he has also wagged his tail in invitation to oth-
this much. And it scared the hell out of me. Why, the last ers he deems deserving of getting past the front porch.
time I’d felt like this was... 17 years ago? Can that be Am I scared? Yes. Will my heart get broken again?
right? Yes – 17 years ago – when I was 24 and had just lost Probably. Do I have any regrets? Absolutely none.
my first dog, Spotty. This white, wriggling, curly-mopped, fluffy piece of
The awful, raw pain of the loss came rushing back and lint, now weighing 12 pounds, has healed my heart and
I remembered why I had sealed up the house and moved restored my belief in possibilities. Who knew it would take
to the porch in the first place. Who in their right mind a dog to call me in from my own front porch! ca

page30
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