In the past, we’ve alluded to the alleged Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times” as being one that suggests exactly the opposite.
In the case of the MD of Bighorn and the Dead Man’s Flats area structure plan (ASP) it is contemplating, there may be interesting times indeed ahead; but not in a positive sense.
It’s understandable that Bighorn would like to see more development in its tiny hamlet that borders the much-travelled Trans-Canada Highway. It’s also understandable that Bighorn council and administration balked at the likes of the Town of Canmore and environmental groups’ negative input on said ASP.
But when you view the work currently being done near the wildlife underpass east of the hamlet (see front page for story), it’s hard to imagine that underpass as now being anything but sterilized by nearby construction work.
It’s hard to imagine deer or elk, let alone a wary bear or cougar, wandering from the Wind Valley area south of the underpass through what is now a construction site on the north side to move within a wildlife corridor along the Bow River.
The topic of wildlife corridors is an ongoing one when it comes to development in the Canmore/Bighorn area. Corridors have been noted as being of concern with a housing project in Three Sisters, with work planned in the Stewart Creek area; even when Canmore council was contemplating what could be done on the old daycare lands in regard to development.
Concerns range from homes being built in too close a proximity, to too many people recreating within wildlife corridors, to the width, location and geographic makeup of said corridors. With the proposed Dead Man’s ASP, even developers already in the midst of constructing housing in the hamlet aren’t enamoured with the situation.
So it’s no surprise that some are suggesting current work and future development in Dead Man’s will render the $1.8 million (2005 dollars) underpass useless and interfere in general with wildlife movement.
Being that concerns are almost always raised in regard to development in our mountains nears wildlife corridors, one assumes the MD of Bighorn knew it would be forthcoming at its recent public hearing concerning the ASP.
But then, one wonders if perhaps the MD is embracing the opposition and welcoming possible appeals from outside municipal governments and environmental concerns as a means of re-starting land swap negotiations with the province.
After all, the MD and Province had long-standing discussions concerning the swapping of land near Dead Man’s for a tract in a less critical, but still developable, location. Talks broke off in 2012, with the last two Progressive Conservative ministers of tourism, parks and recreation refusing to move talks forward or sign off on the swap.
We wonder if the MD isn’t hoping opposition could sway a newly-elected NDP minister into re-opening swap talks.
Busting wildlife feeders
It’s unfortunate it’s come to this.
But, when people just won’t stop feeding our wildlife, despite educational brochures and signage warning of the adverse effects of feeding, Parks Canada likely had little choice in asking the public to lend a hand in reporting feeders (page 13).
As wildlife managers say, “a fed bear is a dead bear” and the same rings true for other wildlife that become habituated to roadside handouts.
If drivers can do so safely, we’d encourage those spotting wildlife feeders to help Parks by taking photos and video of those involved.
