The INDEPENDENT, August 1, 2012
Backyard chickens can bring bears
by Chris Thomas, Oregon
News Service
Free, fast food is an irre-
sistible lure for bears, and
education campaigns have
long been in place in Ore-
gon to encourage people
to keep trash, and even
bird feeders, away from
bears. But the rise in back-
yard chicken-keeping of-
fers bears a new attrac-
tion: chickens.
Erin Edge, Rocky Moun-
tain region associate with
Defenders of Wildlife, says
the good news is that mul-
ti-strand electric fencing
can keep bears away from
chickens, “People taking
these small measures to
protect their investment in
their chickens also pro-
tects bears and increases
human safety.”
The Oregon Department
of
Fish
and
Wildlife
(ODFW) estimates there
are between 25,000 and
30,000 black bears in the
state, and says they’re
very active in midsummer,
when their breeding sea-
son begins. Reports of
black bear sightings are al-
ready on the rise along the
coast and in the Eugene
area.
Edge says a shock from
a strong electric fence is a
quick lesson for any bear
and can stave off future
problems that could lead to
a bear being put down or
relocated, “We’re seeing
bears that are escalating
behavior faster with chick-
ens than they do with
garbage. They may break
into structures faster. They
may stick around longer.”
Edge adds that bear
fencing has additional ben-
efits because it keeps out
almost all other predators,
too, such as coyotes, foxes
and mountain lions.
Guidelines for fencing
design and voltage can be
found at www.LWWF.org.
ODFW black bear informa-
tion
is
available
at
www.dfw.state.or.us.
50 Years Ago This Month
The August 9, 1962, issue of
the Vernonia Eagle included
the following news story on the
front page:
Much of the meeting of the city
council Monday evening was de-
voted to consideration of the
sewage lagoon and the correction
of its inefficiency.
A report from the engineers in-
dicate that their study revealed
that the present condition was due
to low sewage flow, high evapora-
tion and excessive seepage.
Their recommendations for
correcting it were as follows:
1. Return sewage flow to for-
mer septic tank disposal system
and allow floor of the lagoon to
dry out.
2. Remove all vegetation.
3. Divide area into two sections
by a four or five foot dike.
4. Rip bottom area to depth of
one and a half to two feet in two
directions, wet loosened earth and
compact with sheepsfoot or grid
roller.
The first recommendation has
been followed out now and the en-
gineers are arranging with the
original contractors to do the other
work as soon as possible.
The council took action, also,
to have an ordinance prepared
lowering the sewer use charge
from $1.50 to $1.00.
A representative of the Jay-
Cees appeared before the council
to present suggestions from Bruce
Roberts for deepening the swim-
ming pool at the diving board by
moving bottom material upstream,
thus creating an area of medium
depth for use for swimming in-
struction. It was the opinion of
council that the area on the east
side of the pool at the end of North
street formerly used for instruction
could still be used for that and that
it was too near the end of the sea-
son to make changes now.
Information from Crown Con-
struction company was that water
lines in Second addition were pro-
gressing satisfactorily and that
sewer lines were the next problem.
A supplier for sewer pipe is to be
here this week to figure material
needed.
Other business included a
change in names on a contract for
a house in the OA addition and in-
structions of the recorder to notify
certain residents of defective side-
walks which need repair. A deci-
sion was reached to engage a sur-
veyor to lay out the extension of
Idaho avenue in the Oregon-
American addition.
Clean Teeth are
Happy Teeth!
We now offer Complete
Dental Ser vices for Dogs & Cats
Vernonia Veterinary Clinic
Call for appointments
503-429-1612
Monday, Wednesday
Wednesday & & Saturday
Saturday
Monday,
a.m to
to 4 4 p.m.
p.m.
9 9 a.m
700 Weed Avenue,Vernonia
Page 9
Bits & Bites
By Jacqueline Ramsay
It was so nice the other afternoon to
just sit on my 4’x8’ concrete block they call
a patio and enjoy the sunshine. All of a
sudden I notice a funny bump on one of
my tomato plants. I stewed over this for
several days. A friend came in, looked
puzzled over it for a spell and said, “I think
your plant is trying to tell you ‘I don’t be-
long growing down side up’.” The bumps
seem to be root nodules. Since they can’t find any dirt to sink into
they will probably just sit there and be cute. Nice to know, I
thought it might be a fungus of some sort. But, better still, was the
fact that my Crab cactus had two big beautiful peach colored
blooms on it. It hasn’t seen a bloom in over two years. I don’t
know what it is celebrating. The fact there is sunshine, or the fact
it stopped raining for a day or two.
Now, down to the bee I seem to have that keeps buzzing
around in my life these days. Have you ever had the feeling you
were standing on the curb watching life go by?? Thinking of all
the folks I knew in Vernonia (strange, my spell check doesn’t
know Vernonia is a correct spelling) that have passed away in the
last three or four months. Now since I have changed treatment
days, I have heard of three acquaintances that are much worse
off than I. One had a stroke, #2 had a heart attack, and #3 who
is a diabetic with gangrene in one of his legs. Only way to stop it
is amputation, he and his family say NO. He is up in age, mental-
ly unstable, really in poor health. It seems to me there are a lot of
us in dialysis fighting to stay ahead of our final destiny, waiting for
the other shoe to drop. Yes, I’m in a FUNK. Look at the sunshine,
enjoy it while you can. Eat sensibly, eat healthy, laugh and smile
and maybe you can ward off some of the other bad side affects
of what we call bad health.
For now, bye.
I’m off to Blue Grass again tonight. Wheeee…