KINDLING


Moose Radio


Three-year study on mortality and behaviour By Pat Kerr


TAGGING AND COLLARING a moose calf isn’t easy. At only four days old they can run, swim and weigh as much as a 10-year- old boy. But assessing a calf in an unsteady aluminum rowboat is not the challenging part of the research taking place in Algon- quin Park, the rest of the volunteers stay on shore with the stressed cow moose during the 10 minutes needed to examine her calf. Marianne Sperling, a purchasing agent who


volunteered on the project, described watch- ing the moose’s body language. “If the ears go back and she stomps, get behind a large tree. If she moves, keep the tree between you.” What she doesn’t mention is moose calves


are born in dense bush. Volunteers hike through swamp for hours during black fly season in line formation to find the calves. When they see a bull moose or another ani-


Brent Patterson and Trent University’s


Stacey Lowe radio-collar a new-born moose PHOTO: AARON KETNER


mal they stay quiet and allow the animal to pass by. When they see a cow they encourage her to walk toward a lake. Collaring calves is a small part of a three-


year study on moose mortality and behav- iour led by research scientist Brent Patterson of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in a joint project with Michigan State Univer- sity. One hundred adults and as many calves as they could find were tagged and collared with either GPS or VHF collars. Samples and statistical information were also collected.


Bottle Ban


MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP was one of the first companies in the world to respond to what they said was growing public con- cern about the chemical bisphenol A in plastic products. This winter MEC removed polycarbonate water bottles and utensils from their shelves. Although an interim health report clears normal use of the popu- lar Nalgene water bottles from health risks, MEC continues their bottle ban. A spokesperson for MEC, Tim Southam,


said, “We are standing behind our decision. We will listen to our members and consider the gaps in our product line,” after the gov- ernment report is complete. Those gaps in- clude eating utensils, plastic beer steins and wine glasses. In 2006, Health Canada started a system-


atic examination of chemicals and the in- terim report on bisphenol A was released this spring. It states, “Preliminary research


“Calf survival is highly variable,” says Patterson. Following a warm winter they noted an increase in twins. Wolf and bear kills were almost evenly split. In the spring of 2008, two calves died of malnutrition and tick infestation. Unlike the moose populations in Michi-


gan, the population in Algonquin Park has remained relatively stable. Knowing what affects moose will help establish how habi- tat fragmentation, interaction with campers and other influences affect moose survival.


Health report: thumbs up for cool drinks of water By Pat Kerr


tells us the general public need not be con- cerned.” The report states that bisphenol A migrates into the contents of a container when heated, while migration of bisphenol A at serving or drinking water temperature is minimal. MEC did not remove water filters with


polycarbonate parts because as they said, “the risk of drinking bad water is greater than the risk of bisphenol A.” This common product is also found in dental sealant, tin can lining, plastic baby bottles, and medi- cal equipment. Recyclable polycarbonates are marked with a “7PC” inside the recy- cling symbol. Unmarked containers cannot be identified. Health Canada says, “more research is


needed to determine if heating food in poly- carbonate containers increases the risk.” Until then dig out the glass baby bottles and stop cooking your beans in the can.


Better to have a


bottle in front of me… PHOTO: IAN MERRINGER


FAMILY CAMPING 5


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