Stewards of Muskoka, Councillors All!

THE NEW MUSKOKA STEWARDSHIP - FOR A NEW TIME

MUSKOKA AS WALDEN

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG OUT HERE. IT'S NOT JUST THE WEATHER, THAT HAS FALLEN OUT OF ITS ANNUAL, BRUTAL TRADITION. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SQUIRRELS. WHILE MY NEIGHBOR WOULDN'T AGREE, AS HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF USE FOR THESE RATS WITH BUSHY TAILS, THE POPULATION OF SQUIRRELS, LIVING HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, IS ACTING QUITE STRANGE. IN FACT THIS MORNING, THEY HAVE BEEN RUMMAGING THROUGH AN OUTSIDE SHELF I USE TO STORE NAILS AND SCREWS, AND A COUPLE OF OLD HAMMERS. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS WEEK, ONE OR MORE SQUIRRELS HAVE GOTTEN UP TO MISCHIEF HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, AND KNOCKED THINGS DOWN LOOKING FOR SOMETHING. NOT SURE IF IT'S JUST ABOUT FOOD SOURCE.

FIRST WE NOTICED THAT THE SNOWSCAPE, ALL AROUND THE HOUSE, IS COVERED IN SQUIRREL TRACKS. WE'VE BEEN IN THIS HOUSE SINCE 1989, AND I'VE SEEN SOME WEIRD STUFF GOING ON, MOSTLY WITH THE NEIGHBORS, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN OUR RESIDENT SQUIRRELS SO FRANTIC…..AND I'M ASSUMING THEY'RE HUNGRY. I WONDER IF THEIR STORE OF FOOD HAS BECOME WATER DAMAGED, IN THE RECENT RAIN, OR IF THERE HAD BEEN A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL SHORTAGE OVER THE PAST SUMMER AND AUTUMN SEASON, THAT AFFECTED THEIR ABILITY TO STOCK-PILE PROVISIONS. I KNOW THEY RAIDED OUR BIRD FEEDERS, AS DID THE CHIPMUNKS, IN AUGUST, TO THE POINT WE HAD TO CURTAIL OUR HOSPITALITY. THE DEER FROM THE BOG ARE ALSO VISITING THE YARD FREQUENTLY, ANOTHER REASON WE HAD TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND FEEDING EVEN THE BIRDS. THE PROBLEM WITH OUR PROPERTY, IS THAT IT IS ON THE DOWN-SIDE OF A CURVE ON SEGWUN BOULEVARD, AND MANY RESIDENTS ON THIS STREET, COME AROUND THE CORNER MUCH TO FAST……ALL TIMES OF THE YEAR. IF WE HAD FREQUENT CROSSING OF DEER TO SNACK AT THE FEEDERS, WE COULD WELL CONTRIBUTE TO A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.

SUZANNE REMINDED ME, THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR IN MEMORY, WE DID NOT HEAR THE SOUND OF ACORNS HITTING THE LANE, JUST ACROSS THE ROAD. SHE NOTICED THE SQUIRRELS UP THE TREE, ON MANY DAYS, WHILE SHE WAS WORKING IN THE GARDENS. SHE WONDERS IF THE SQUIRRELS WERE HARVESTING THEM PREMATURELY, WELL BEFORE THEY WERE READY TO FALL ON THEIR OWN. THE SQUIRRELS WILL EVEN BREAK-OFF CHUNKS OF ACORN-LADEN BRANCHES, TO HARVEST WHAT THEY NEED. THIS YEAR, IT WASN'T HAPPENING. WHETHER THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OR NOT, WE DON'T KNOWN. WE ALSO NOTICED THE FRANTIC WORK OF OUR CHIPMUNK POPULATION, HUSTLING TO CARRY AWAY SEED, AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY COULD INCLUDE AS A WINTER STORE. IT'S NOT THAT WE HAVE MORE SQUIRRELS OR CHIPMUNKS THAN USUAL. I DON'T BELIEVE THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED, OR DECREASED FOR THAT MATTER, BUT WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR FROM FOUR OUR OF SIX SQUIRRELS WE KNOW RESIDE IN OUR TREES.

WE HAVE HEARD A STORY, THAT FOUR ROBINS HAVE BEEN SEEN ON PROPERTY IN ORILLIA. WE CAN'T PROVE THIS, BUT THAT SEEMS A LITTLE TROUBLING. WE SPOTTED SOME TINY BIRDS, FLITTING IN AND ABOUT THE SHOPPING CARRIAGES, IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT YESTERDAY, THAT SUZANNE BELIEVED WERE OUT OF PLACE (SHOULD HAVE MIGRATED)…..AND ALSO ACTING STRANGE ON TOP OF THAT. THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A FOOD SOURCE SOMEWHERE THERE, OR SOME MATING RITUAL IN PROGRESS. I HAD TO STOP AND TAKE A LOOK IN THE CART STORAGE STRUCTURE, BECAUSE OF THE WILD AMOUNT OF CHIRPING…..MUCH AS YOU WOULD HEAR ON WARM SPRING EVENINGS…..NOT IN MID FEBRUARY. WHEN I LOOKED UP TO SEE IF THEY WERE IN THE ROOF CAVITY, ONE TINY BIRD….NOT A CHICKADEE, JUMPED UP THROUGH THE WHEELS AND METAL OF THE SHOPPING CARTS, AND I SAW SIX OR MORE BELOW THIS ONE. WE'RE NOT AVID BIRDERS, SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY THEM……AND POSSIBLY, TO THEIR SPECIES, THEIR BEHAVIOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ODD AT ALL. WE SHOP HERE DAILY, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THIS CLUSTER OF BIRDS.

THEN THERE IS THE "WINTER THAT WASN'T!" CLIMATOLOGISTS WILL POINT TO OCEAN CURRENTS AS INSTIGATORS OF THIS WEATHER PHENOMENON. INSTEAD OF A TYPICAL MUSKOKA WINTER, STARTING IN MID-NOVEMBER, AND POUNDING US TO THE CUSP OF APRIL, IT HAS BEEN WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS, A PRETTY EASY PERIOD TO NAVIGATE…….AND A BLESSING FOR THOSE WITH TRADITIONALLY HIGH HEATING COSTS. WHILE EUROPE HAS BEEN BRUTALIZED WITH DEADLY COLD TEMPERATURES, WE HAVE BEEN BASKING IN A MODERATE CLIME. GOOD FOR US BUT MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FOR SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS AND WEE BIRDS.

I HAVE BEEN WRITING A LOT THESE DAYS ABOUT CLIMATE, GLOBAL WARMING AND COMPROMISES TO THE ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE BEEN WRITING MOST RECENTLY ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, AND THE ROLE GOVERNMENT MUST PLAY IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION……WHETHER SOME LIKE IT OR NOT. AND THIS WILL BECOME A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY WITH LANDOWNER RIGHTS SO VIGOROUSLY ARGUED THESE DAYS IN MUSKOKA. WHILE WE MAY AGREE, GOVERNMENT INEPTITUDE GENERALLY, IS MORE TO BLAME FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CARNAGE, THAN THE AVERAGE RANK AND FILE CITIZENRY, THERE WILL COME A TIME, WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE PUT IN OFFICE, TO GUARD OUR NATURAL RESOURCES……NOT SIMPLY EXPLOIT THEM.

WHEN I OPINE, THESE DAYS, ABOUT STEWARDSHIP, AS IT RELATES TO MUSKOKA, AND MY HOME BASE HERE IN GRAVENHURST, IT'S USUALLY ABOUT PARKLAND ALLOCATIONS, AND THE CONSERVATION OF CRITICAL URBAN OPEN SPACE, WETLANDS, AND OF COURSE OUR LAKES AND RIVERS. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTOCOLS, AND AWARENESS IN THE PAST THIRTY YEARS, IT ISN'T ENOUGH. AND EVEN TODAY, WHILE OUR FEDERAL DEBACLE CONTINUES TO UNFOLD, ALMOST EVERY DAY, THERE IS A GREAT NEED OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, TO STEP OVER PARTY LINES, AND POLITICAL AGENDAS, PERSONAL PROJECTS AND SUNDRY OTHER SELF-SERVING INTERESTS, AND GO GREEN. SERIOUSLY. AN I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JOINING THE GREEN PARTY…..THOUGH I WOULDN'T DISCOURAGE IT BECAUSE I THINK VERY HIGHLY OF ELIZABETH MAY, AND THE GREEN MOVEMENT GENERALLY. BUT THIS IS MORE THAN BELONGING TO A PARTY, OR RECYCLING, OR DISPOSING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE SAFELY AT AREA DISPOSAL SITES. IT REQUIRES OUR STEWARDS TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. THE EXAMPLE OF CITIZENS WHO KNOW THAT CLIMATE CHANGE HAS TO DO WITH ABUSE…..IT HAS TO DO WITH NEGLECT…..IT HAS TO DO WITH OVER-DEVELOPMENT, POPULATION EXPLOSION, UNCONTROLLED POLLUTION…….OODLES OF CONTAMINATION, STILL MAKING IT INTO OUR WATERWAYS. AND YES, HERE IN MUSKOKA.

THE PRE-OCCUPATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS NECESSARY. THE PROCEDURAL WORK FOR A WORKING COUNCIL, IS WHAT THEY'RE PAID TO PERFORM. THE ROUTINE STUFF, LIKE RUNNING PUBLIC WORKS OPERATIONS, MAINTAINING SERVICES, AND KEEPING THE CYCLE OF MUNICIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES CLICKING EFFECTIVELY AND SAFELY, ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY……ALL THE DAYS, OF ALL THE YEARS. BUT THERE IS AN OBSTACLE, THAT MIGHT WELL FALL INTO THE COGS OF THIS MECHANISM OF BUSINESS AS USUAL. MAYBE IT IS TIED INTO THE STRANGE BEHAVIOR OF THE SQUIRRELS AND BIRDS……I DON'T KNOW. BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE. THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGES WILL EFFECT US ALL……NOT JUST THE SQUIRRELS.

I WOULD LOVE TO INVITE COUNCILLORS, EVEN ONE, TO A GENTLE TRAVERSE OF A MUSKOKA WATERWAY BY CANOE, TO EXPLORE THE AMAZING NATURAL RESOURCES STILL FLOURISHING IN THIS REGION. I WOULD VERY MUCH ENJOY A COUNTRYSIDE MOTOR-TRIP, TO EXAMINE MORE CLOSELY, WHAT THIS REGION HAS, THAT MAY SOON BE LOST. I WOULD ADORE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WALK THROUGH THE WOODLANDS, ON A SPARKLING SPRING AFTERNOON, TO SEE WHAT REJUVENATED PLANT LIFE, HAS BEGUN TO RISE UP FROM THE COVER OF LEAVES, OF A PAST AUTUMN SEASON. I WOULD LIKE TO STAND WITH THEM, TO ENJOY AN INSPIRING SUNRISE OVER A MUSKOKA LAKE, AND THEN, WATCH TOGETHER, OUR CANOE'S REFLECTION RACES BESIDE, AS IF WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE SPIRIT-KIND, THE LEGENDS OF THE LAKELAND. I KNOW OF WHAT I WRITE. THERE ARE TOO MANY DE-SENSITIZED FOLKS TODAY……JUST AS OUR OWN REPRESENTATIVES, HAVE FOUND LITTLE TIME TO RE-CONNECT WITH THE NATURE OF MUSKOKA. STEWARDSHIP WILL FAIL OTHERWISE, AND SO ULTIMATELY WILL THIS VULNERABLE, SENSITIVE REGION.

I HAVE USED THIS EXAMPLE MANY TIMES, BECAUSE IT IS OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE, TO DEVELOPING ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY…..ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO HAD NO IDEA JUST HOW DISCONNECTED, THEY HAVE BECOME WITH THE PLANET, THEY REQUIRE FOR LIFE. MY OWN REGENERATION CAME WHEN I ATTENDED AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM, FOR INNER CITY STUDENTS FROM HAMILTON SCHOOLS. I WAS AT CAMP KWASIND, ON SKELETON LAKE, TO DO A FEATURE ARTICLE ON THE ARTS AND NATURE PROGRAM, BEING OFFERED TO THESE CITY DWELLERS, IN ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL RETREATS I'VE SEEN……ON ONE OF OUR TRULY MAGNIFICENT LAKES. DAVE BROWN, ONE OF THE TRUE INNOVATORS OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION, IN THE PROVINCE, INVITED ME TO JOIN A GROUP OF STUDENTS ON A NATURE HIKE. HE DIDN'T TELL ME IN ADVANCE WHAT THE PROTOCOL WAS, OR THE PURPOSE, GENERALLY, OTHER THAN TO ENJOY THE NATURE ENCOUNTERED ALONG THE WAY.

AFTER A SHORT LAKESIDE HIKE, WITH DAVE POINTING OUT MANY SPECIES OF FLORA AND FAUNA, TREES AND VISIBLE INSECTS, HE ASKED THE YOUNGSTERS TO SIT ON A LOG, AT THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL. AFTER A LITTLE REST, AND SOME MINOR PUSHING AND SHOVING, AS COULD BE EXPECTED OF BORED STUDENTS, DAVE ASKED THEM TO IDENTIFY THE SOUNDS AROUND THEM. HE DIDN'T SPECIFY ANY PARTICULAR SOUND. ANY SOUNDS. MAN MADE OR OTHER. THE STUDENTS IDENTIFIED A DISTANT CHAIN SAW, A MOTOR BOAT OUT ON THE LAKE, A HAMMER FROM A CONSTRUCTION SITE FURTHER UP THE SHORE, AND AN AIRCRAFT PASSING OVERHEAD. IT TOOK THEM A LONG WHILE, AND MANY MORE STEPS DOWN THAT TRAIL, TO IDENTIFY ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEIR NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. THEY COULDN'T HEAR THE SOUND OF LEAVES RUSTLING FROM A CHIPMUNK, OR THE NOISY APPROACH OF BUGS BUZZING ABOUT THEIR EARS. THEY COULDN'T EVEN IDENTIFY THE LAPPING OF WAVES ON THE SHORE. THIS SENSITIZING TO THE REALITIES OF NATURE, WOULD TAKE PLACE ALL THAT WEEK. DAVE TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT THREE DAYS OF INTENSE CONCENTRATION, AND SHARPENED AWARENESS, FOR THOSE KIDS TO IDENTIFY THE SOUNDS OF NATURE, OVER AND ABOVE THE INTRUSIVE RACKET OF MAN-MADE DIN. THE POINT, FOR THESE BUDDING ART STUDENTS, WAS THAT THEY REQUIRE THE FULL ENTERPRISE OF SENSORY PERCEPTION, TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AROUND THEM…..TO APPRECIATE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATURAL WORLD AND ITS WELL BEING.

THESE SAME YOUNGSTERS, WERE FROM AN URBAN ENVIRONS. THEY WERE USED TO SIRENS, JACK-HAMMERS, AIR TRAFFIC, RUMBLING TRUCKS AND TRAFFIC ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. THEY WERE DE-SENSITIZED TO THE NATURE AROUND THEM.

THE PROBLEM IS, WE HAVE STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES, EVEN HERE IN THE GLORIOUS HINTERLAND, WHO ARE EQUALLY DE-SENSITIZED TO THE ENVIRONMENT……AND SPEND THEIR TIME READING DOCUMENTS AND DIRECTIVES, INHALING THE AIR OF A COUNCIL CHAMBER…..AND SELDOM BEING IMMERSED, BY JOB RESPONSIBILITY, IN THE MIDST OF WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF THIS REGION…..THE GOOD OLD WORLD. AS I SAID EARLIER, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE COMPANY ON THESE NATURE WALKS, BECAUSE ENLIGHTENMENT IS NINE TENTHS OF OUR BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL.

WHEN I WRITE ABOUT STEWARDSHIP…..WELL, NATURE COMES FIRST.

WHEN I READ QUESTIONS ASKED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT…….ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO BE MUSKOKAN……WELL THAT'S EASY. "TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC CONSERVERS OF ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH."

I AM YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT. A CANOE AWAITS.