Jeffro

RFOLMAO Nail on the head with the hammer Clive Taco I'm not sure if this map is of sample points, places where MPB have been found, or places MPB have been found that contain blue-stained fungus spores. Whoever made it clearly wasn't lectured hard enough on labelling..... I can't imagine there is too much of an issue with the MPB in the porkies simply due to the fact they would all blow to Saskabush when trying to find new host trees lol.

Thats what I always thought too until some in the expertise told me I was wrong so now I just lump 'em together. deep down my beliefs have never changed though. I know it as the whaleback and not the porkies and my past experience with the C5 FMP labels it as such. However arguing whether it is the porkies or the whaleback with ones superior can lead to unnecessary problems so to speak.... Cheers, Jeff

I think the porkies are still east of the epidemic, but I haven't bothered to look at any maps updated in the last while. On the flip side the price of lumber with blue-stained fungus is on the rise. There is always a silver lining.

Taco upon looking at your photo (which is a nice one at that), it kind of looks more idicative of red-belt than pine beetle. I haven't been out that way in a while but I remember the species composition consisting of more douglas fir than pine. That stratified of a red layer usually is a result of the previous winters thermals drying out the needles. Having said that, I could be completely out to lunch as well Fire suppression and mans uncanny ability to pretend like he is smarter than nature always gets us in to some kind of predicament like pine beetle. Truth be told if they really gave a damn about lodgepole pine they would let it burn to hell and back because without fire the seeds will very very very (did I mention very) rarely release from the cone. Lodgepole evolved with fire and now we have taken fire out of the equation, and when we do let it burn the BUI is so fricken high everything gets nuked. Much the same with our grasslands which had a frequent burn rate, and now it's been manny moons since much of our native grasslands have had a healthy rebirth. Something about the beetles that hasn't been dwelled on too much is host selection. We've mentioned they go for the mature pines, but what rarely gets mentioned is that they cannot survive in younger generation pines. I would have to dig through heaps of old notes which I aint about to do, but it was somewhere in the ballpark of 4" diameter at breast height and smaller are not actively chosen for egg laying. These smaller trees don't have the insulative capacity to protect the bugs in the early season meaning all hope is not lost when a stand goes belly up. Of course the bugs need to move on before these trees can flourish

Consitutional or not, I fail to see how our current government has failed the people of this country. The only thing they have done that is considered so drastic is cut off the money hungry politicians from the peoples pocket a bit more. This doesn't warrant a political coup in my opinion, as well as the majority of Canada.

All I can say is

Given the other option I would much rather go to the polls... My 2 cents

6375 now

Oh ya!!!!! Well my 45" pike caught while FLY FISHING beats the hell out of yer hard water hog. And my dad can also beat up your dad just to keep the sillyness up to par with this post. hehehe Just ribbing you Kyle, that is a nice gator through the glass P.S. thanks to the old guy on campus for taking the shot!

This makes me sick to my stomach. Send off your letters or emails to the governor general to display your thoughts on the issue, I already did. Why did I even vote, and if this goes through I don't see any point in voting in the future. This coalition liberal coup would be considered treason no? How is it fair that the unelected parties that didn't get voted in by Canadians can just up and oust our fairly and democratically voted government

Ok but who's gonna figure the latin name for that one out??!??? :D Where's Clive when you need 'em....

Shenanigans Naturally I had to go back to take some more looks at the critter in question. Based on the footage available, I still can't convince myself that it isn't a hoary marmot, but at the same time I wouldn’t question your ability or experience to figure out what you seen. Having not been present at the time of the observation it makes it difficult to have all the necessary criteria for identifying this mammal (and having the full story certainly helps too.... ). A few things I notice in the video that may be misleading is the color patterning which is unlike any wolverine I have ever seen or heard of (yet exactly like a hoary marmot). Unfortunately nature likes to offer up a wide range of variations among individuals in a species, making it difficult to make black and white descriptions of said species. The shape of the critter and its tail, as well as the gait didn't scream without a doubt wolverine either. These would also be difficult to use based on the unusual circumstances the creature has to react too as well All that being said I will keep savoring the taste of foot in my mouth and congratulate you on a very unique experience very few get the honor of having. Your test reminds me of one I pulled on the "experts" at an old job regarding the difference between grizzly bears and black bears, but that will have to come at another time. Needless to say, the failure rate was quite high cheers,

Some of the larger ones are about the size of an medium sized dog, of course closer to the ground. Bigger than the largest standard dachsund you've ever seen. *Disclaimer this analogy only applies if you have not seen some morbidly obese or freak of nature dachsund.

Enjoyed the video, but in my opinion no one has made the right guess for the critter in question. Looks closer to a hoary marmot to me than anything. They're fairly common in the high country and extremely curious.

Now that things are finally slowing down I have the same commute too......of course it doesn't take me two minutes to put my underwear on. You must be wearing one of them frilly thongs for it to be taking you that long....

We're at a whopping 2 kids so far. Next kid to come is going to be one happy camper....and so will his dentist

Stop peeing in your backyard and the prickled beast will leave you alone......

Guess I'm a freak cause I can squish my tongue with all my teeth.....That or my tongue is really unique (Gene Simmons Watch Out!!!) Of course you could always touch each one of your teeth individually as there is no constraints on time frame.....

Dear Shack nasties, You'll have to wait til the end of hunting season, but come January When the ice is formed, and I may actually have time to fish, you can come bother me while I sip a cold brew of sorts, and catch fish, and wait until the day that I can dream once again of fishing a stream or lake again. You dudes and dudettes and your shack nasties......Can't everyone just find a little something for every season???? Ice fissin' and indie fissin' are essentially the same principle. Although the drama on this board will help me get through some monotonous days ahead!

Happy birthday Greg and hopefully the winter holds some nice trout for you.

Cool pictures Weedy. Definitely a rarity of nature. It is a melanistic duck (and the gene appears recessive). I for one couldn't help you with the ID due to the lack of characteristics in the feathers to use. Mallard would be a good guess based on the size of the bird and shape of the bill. You may have to wait until the little ones go through their first molt to see what lurks behind the mask of white.

SD do you restore rods for others, or just yourself. Reason I am asking is I have my late grandfathers bamboo rod which could use a few touch ups before I put it on the wall for good.

Some amazing shots and even more amazing fish. Kudos!

Certainly one of the soggiest fish I ever seen. Did it fight like an old sock?

Nice shots, Cool shots of the plains garter snake swimming in the grass. I'm off to photograph some squiggly ones with rattles this weekend...