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by Thelma Gamblin Richardson’s Ground Squirrels or gophers as they are more commonly known, are dime a dozen but albino gophers are exceedingly rare. A 10 month old male, however was live trapped by Dennis Rasmussen of Cadogan, would be very lucky to live to adulthood. He stood out as Rasmussen put it, “like a snow bank on a newly plowed field and should have been the target of every hawk and coyote in the area.” Although the gopher is one of the most hated pests on the prairies, little is known of their lives. Over a 15 year study in southwestern Alberta it was found the population varies from year to year with the 2001 season showing a dramatic increase. This usually brings on an increase in predators of coyotes, hawks, red fox and badgers—so most increases are followed by sharp a sharp decrease. Of young gophers, 80 to 90 percent of males and 60 to 70 percent of females do not make it through their first year. Unlike most gophers in this part of the province, this one is getting a second chance at life. He was taken to a research facility at the University of Lethbridge (biological sciences department) and will be living with other gophers in a man-made habitat where he will help in the on going study of their habits. A person at the U of L studying gophers for the last 25 years said that they know of two other albino gophers caught in Alberta six years ago. Print Version and picture in July 17 Edition of The Provost News Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here.. |
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This unpopular animal on the Prairies—but rare because of its unique colouring is off to school where it will be studied in a biological sciences setting. Photo by Thelma Gambling.
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M.D., Town to Examine Possible Reforms to Provincial Policing
MLA Committee Recommends 35 Sweeping Changes
The reeve of the Municipal District of Provost No. 52 says he has not yet studied recommendations about proposed sweeping changes to policing in Alberta and so could not comment too much on it.
A recent report of the MLA Policing Review Committee includes 35 recommendations on a variety of issues including funding, training, and police accountability. The last review of the Alberta Police Act was in 1988.
Regarding the possibility of change, Reeve Fritz Crone told The News that “There’s always room for improvement, but at what cost?”
In addition to RCMP services, the M.D. has its own special constable, Ian Green hired to patrol rural areas.
Mayor of the Town of Provost, Ken Knox said that he had not yet read the report that was recently released. But he says the town would not be interested in paying extra for policing. If extra costs were forced on the town, Knox suggested that it would have to come with a guarantee that there would be at least one person on patrol at all times.
Rest of story in July 17 edition of The Provost News
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| Local Baseball Teams off to Provincial Finals Story and Picture in July 17 edition of The Provost News Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here. |
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| Hardisty Pipeline May be Affected as EnCana Looks to Divest Story and Picture in July 17 edition of The Provost News Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here. |
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| Street Spokesman We asked: What's Going to be the Best Part of Your Summer?". Check out the July 17 edition of The Provost News for the answers. Want to Subscribe to The Provost News? Click here. |
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