The Wolf Howl

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next general meeting on March 13. We are very pleased that the founder of the Penokean Hills Field Naturalists, Erwin Meissner, will be our presenter and Erwin will show us some of his slides. Also one of us will have the opportunity to take home an artist’s print by Robert Kakegamic, a painting which continues the Woodland Aboriginal tradition. Robert lives in Sandy Lake, Ontario and is a member of the Swampy Cree (Ojibway) First Nation. Thank you to Brenda and Ian Clark for donating this beautiful artist print.

We would also like to remind everyone of the major initiative launched by Ontario Nature to save our Boreal Forest (one of the largest intact forests left on Earth). The Boreal Forest is home to a wide variety of plants, mammals, insects, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The Boreal Songbird Network expresses concern for the 1.5 billion acres of some of the world’s last remaining pristine habitats. They note The Boreal is host to up to 5 billion birds and more than 50% of the total world populations of nearly 100 bird species. This vital breeding ground and has been nicknamed North American’s Bird Nursery. Currently Canada is losing about 1 percent of its boreal forest each year to logging plus the increasing use for hydroelectric generation and mineral extraction. This is equivalent to the disappearance of the tropical rainforests. Ontario Nature stresses the importance of recycling paper products. For every ton of paper we recycle – 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water are saved.

Thank you to Claudette Ladouceur, Dave Young, Terry Carr, and Dan Humeniuk for assisting with our 2008 Sherriff Creek calendar. Details will follow on how you can submit your photos of Sherriff Creek.

Thank you to Debye’s Pet World for providing us with such wonderful service and hospitality on our visit to her store. We are now purchasing all of our bird seed and suet for the Sanctuary from Debye.

Upcoming Outings
Please note: The Penokean Hills Field Naturalists Club, its officers or agents will not be held responsible for any accident or liability whatsoever incurred as a result of participation in any meeting, activity or field trip organized by them.

Come to outings dressed appropriately for the day (check the weather forecast). Trip leaders have the right to refuse people who are not properly equipped. Participants must make leaders aware of any serious medical condition that may arise during an outing. Bring water, a snack or lunch depending on duration of outing. Also your binos, camera and field guides.
For general outing information, call Hans Kamps at 461-7737
For scheduled outing information, please call the leader of the outing
Sign up sheets will be available at the PHFN general meeting, and any member interested in participating in any activities should obtain more specific information by calling the trip leader(s).

Every Saturday, stroll through Sherriff Creek
Meet at the Sherriff Creek parking lot at 10:00 a.m. for the stroll. Duration of walk: 2 hours.

Wood Duck & Saw-Whet Owl boxes to be checked and cleaned during March
Signed up members will be contacted with a date, time and where to meet.
Whistling Woodcocks A Courting. This evening event can occur during March and April
Leader: Jim Johnston 848-7377 Signed up members will be contacted with a date, time and where to meet.

Monday, March 19th, Landfill Sites Bird Sanctuaries of the North (snow date: March 23)
Leader: Terry Carr 461-9123. Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 10 a.m. to carpool to sites in Elliot Lake and Blind River. Dress for the weather. Duration: 4 hrs.

Monday, March 26th, Star Gazing with Hans (clear conditions)
Leader: Hans Uhl 848-9609 Signed up members will be contacted with a date, time and where to meet.

Wednesday, March 28th, X Country Ski & Snowshoe Chutes Provincial Park.
Leaders: Hans Kamps, Clarence Paris 461-7737. Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 9 a.m. to carpool to Massey. We will visit the Seven Sisters rapids and the twin bridges. Dress for the weather. Duration: 4 - 5 hrs.

Saturday, March 31, Sugaring off time on St Joseph Island (providing the sap is running)
Leader: Hans Kamps 461-7737. Meet at Brunswick Walk parking lot at 8.30 a.m., to carpool to St. Joseph Island. Duration: 7 - 8 hrs.

Outings – coming soon
April: North Shore Spring Bird Migration
April 22: Earth Day
May: Wild Flowers and Medicinal Plants
May or June: Chutes Provincial Park Trillium Tour

THE SANCTUARY SPEAKS……………
Last month my thoughts turned to the red fox, an interesting member of the dog family because it combines characteristics of both dogs and cats. Like cats, foxes have partly retractable claws, eyes with a vertical slit, and they stalk their prey and pounce on it. Sometimes they will play with their catch, tossing it in the air as cats do.

This is the month when fox pups – also called kits or whelps – are born. Five is an average-size litter. Foxes locate their dens under tree roots, by hillsides, or by dense brush, always near to open areas, and may actually have more than one den, often with several escape routes. The dog fox remains with the vixen, bringing her food for the first month. Together they raise their young, and teach them the finer points of hunting until the pups are ready for independence by autumn. The dog fox and vixen also go off on their own, but the following January he will be looking for the same vixen to mate with her again.

Foxes have a huge dietary advantage: they are omnivores, and as that suggests, will try just about anything. This is one reason they can live successfully in urban areas: they don’t mind sampling your garbage. Basically, they are carnivores, and mice really have to be on their toes, as a fox can eat up to 40 mice a day! Rabbits and groundhogs are also on their menu, as are eggs, insects, and baby birds in spring. For a change of pace, in fall their diet often includes apples and berries. At one time considered unwelcome around farms, foxes are now seen as good pest controllers in keeping rodents out of grain.

And what animal has the fox on its menu? Wolves, coyotes, and lynx will kill foxes to protect their territory. Eagles will kill foxes for dinner.