DISTRICT OF LAKELAND NO. 521

Wildlife / Bears

The District of Lakeland is located within the Boreal Forest. We are home to a variety of birds & animals. This insert is number 3 in a series of informational reference cards distributed in the District of Lakeland mailouts or available at the Environmental Advisory display in the District office. Save them for your future reference.

No. 3: Living with Wildlife

The key to harmonious living with wildlife is to keep wildlife in the wild & reduce
human/animal conflict. This is most effectively done by NOT attracting wildlife
into our subdivisions. Wildlife, including bears, is attracted to
odours & opportunities from barbeques, garbage, pet food, composters & bird seed.
The flip side of this insert provides some useful tips to keeping wildlife wild.

Loons and leisure craft

Written by Jacquie Moore
Signs are posted around the Lakeland lakes reminding boaters and jet skiers
to “Control Your Wake”. But why? If there aren’t kayaks, canoes or swimmers
nearby, what’s the problem? There is a deeper, systemic problem with boat
wakes. Boat wakes erode the shorelines, which muddies and clogs up the
lake waters. They destroy the living lake ecosystem; the fish spawning habitat
and the nesting loons.
Loons are a territorial bird; they return to the same lake each year to breed.
According to the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey, there has been a decline
in chick production over the years. However, not in the Lakeland – not yet
anyway. In fact, Anglin Lake has the highest population of loons per acre feet
of lake in western Canada. Al Christensen, former reeve of the Lakeland, has
been one of the volunteers counting loons at Anglin Lake for some 12 years
now. Asked why he cares about these birds, Al laughs: “Well, anybody that
lives at Anglin Lake is in love with loons! We have so many of them and the
call is so haunting that you can’t help but enjoy it.”
“We count the loons three times in the summer,” explains Al. “In mid-June,
mid-July, and mid-August. In the June count we found three viable nests that
had eggs in them. You stay well back so you don’t disturb the bird on the
nest. The male and the female take turns so that someone is on the nest at
all times.” Al says the numbers vary each year, but in general Anglin Lake is
home to some 100 permanent resident loons.
“Because loons don’t walk,” says Al, “they build the nest within a foot or so
of the edge of the water. So if the water comes up two inches within a short
period of time, you’ve drowned the nest out. Boat wakes, the wash, will drown
out a nest.”
“Quite frankly,” Al adds, “a little fishing boat with a 15-horse motor on it, if the
boater isn’t paying attention, can do almost as much damage to the birds as
a wake boat. My mantra the whole time I was in public service is that if we
operate as a bunch of good people, which we all are, there is enough room
for all activities up here. You’ve just got to be mindful that your activity isn’t
screwing somebody else up.”
If the Golden Rule isn’t enough to motivate respectful boating practices, there
is a federal rule. Transport Canada states that the province of Saskatchewan,
among others, has a speed limit of 10 km/hour within 30 metres of any
shoreline – whether it is posted or not.
Jarett Taylor is a Special Constable within the province, and is Supervising
Officer of Lakeland District Protective Services (LDPS). Complaints regarding
speeding boats come to him. “When we have had reasonable complaints
and have been able to locate the boat operator, we’ve let them know – as an
educational tool. We’ll engage them and say ‘just to let you know, there is a
Vessel Operation Restriction Regulation that requires you to travel at a speed
not greater than 10 kilometres an hour when you’re within 30 metres of any
shores’. The regulation is under the Canada Shipping Act 2001. If they’re not
compliant, there is the ability to undertake enforcement – to levy fines and
have them attend court.”

Under the Canada Shipping Act, the maximum fine for speeding watercraft is $500 or 6 months imprisonment. “But ideally,” says Jarett, “with federal legislation we try to default to the RCMP as the primary enforcement agency. So any interaction we’ve had with people has been more so educational and compliance based. That’s not to say that we won’t issue a fine, but most of the time it’s just a friendly reminder.” Speeding watercraft concerns can be directed to LDPS at (306) 982-4466 or text  eports@ld-ps.ca.

Writer Jacquie Moore is a member of the District of Lakeland Environmental Advisory Committee.
Addendum: Jarett Taylor says that hull numbers are not a great way to identify a boat. “Right now a lot of people don’t register their vessels,” he explains. “The sea-doos are required to have them, the wake boats, pontoon boats, fishing boat – it’s the law. Right now it is free to apply for a license, which is good for 10 years. However, that is changing in September and there’s going to be a cost to do it. We have the forms here at the RM office, we have cards with QR codes that we gladly hand out so that you can properly get all the documentation and get your hull numbers on. We like to see it because there’s times when boats are found in the middle of the lakes. We’d much rather return it to a dock than tow it away.”

From: Vacationland News EAC Articles