Arctic vets

I managed to remember that I wanted to clean out and tidy the linen cupboard, and then to find the will to do it. My attention span is not great these days, nor my motivation! I was looking for a particular pillow case, after I'd changed sheets, but I didn't find it! The space looks pretty good, though. For now! 😹

The walking is still tragic outside. A layer of ice lies on top of the snow cover. Indoor chores and exercise are a better option. I love the fresh air. I'll go out and refill feeders wearing my cleats, and penguin-walk back indoors. 

We've been having fun with TV in the evening. We are watching CBC's Arctic Vets. Assiniboine Park Conservancy and the zoo are an amazing example of people helping animals. They only keep the animals if they cannot be released. They released an eagle who was experiencing electrocution symptoms one episode. Male and female vets, they are wonderful role models. They love the animals, know them well, and are committed to keeping them as healthy and happy as possible.

They have 9 unreleasable polar bears, trained to mark positions. This way, the keeper calls out 'mark' and holds her hand up high (they are big bears!), they can administer booster shots of annual meds, as well as antibiotics, if necessary. It allows them to visually inspect the beasts, as well. Sometimes, they have to do procedures, and they bring them in and dart them. 

Polar bears are a big problem in Churchill, Manitoba. They wander into town and cause trouble looking for food. With Global Warming the ice they need on which to hunt seals has been precarious. They've come up with a strategy to keep them out of town. A park ranger looks for them, and uses truck horns and sirens to send them around town. Sometimes, a cub is orphaned, and they take them in. This provides great opportunities to do research. Two biologists are experimenting with a photographic computer program to identify individual bears.

In one show, they feature a seal, taken in from a German breeding program that didn't have any where else to put him. All their rescue seals are males, and they train them both to provide healthcare, and to keep them busy during mating season. 

In Canada, watch any time on CBC Gem! Download the CBC Gem app from iTunes or Google Play, or watch in your browser. Season one of Arctic Vets is now streaming in the US on National Geographic and internationally on Roku!

Cinnamon jumped up on my lap during the show, and he was fascinated with the seals (big fishies!) as well as the polar bears (bear, Cinn!)! JB can see his face, and Cinnamon turned around to watch them. The paw of the polar bears can be 30 cm (12") wide. 

🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌🦌

We had ice pellets last week. The sound was both amazing and sad. The poor deer had ice accretions on their backs. Not a great photo, but you can see what I mean. By the time I fetched the camera, they were headed down the hill.

You can why on the trailcam. dear deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The cottontail is a frequent visitor. cottontail from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

  

The deer like to browse under the feeders, as well. deer from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

 

When I was up this morning in the dark, there were three deer sleeping under the big white pine tree.

They do this often. It's a safe place. The predators avoid the back yard.