Compared to the tragic world events over the past week, one may easily dismiss the following as a non-event and simply move on to addressing the real problems of the community and the world. This is a story, however, that I feel compelled to tell.
I have just returned from an afternoon of cross-country skiing on Upper River Lot 56. A groomed trail, as in the past years, would have been a treat and hopefully common sense will prevail and we will once again see trails groomed by a dedicated group of community volunteers.
I was being refreshed by my activity, the brisk winter air and a reawakened spirit of beauty and abundance until I noticed a blood-drenched patch of snow on the trail next to the barbed wire fence on the eastern boundary of the river lot. It was not hard to read the story of what happened from observing the profile outline, markings and evidence left on the strands of bloodied, tangled barbed wire. A young deer got tangled in the barbed wire and after hours of struggling and thrashing at the wire and frozen ground, life ended in a final gasp of fright and panic.
Whoever moved the carcass did a reasonable job of cleaning up the area but loose barbed wire in the area and the whole line of barbed wire fence are still hazards. I also noticed that the fence wire has been cut in a few places to open up a few free corridors along this boundary. This, no doubt, is for the purpose of preventing similar incidents. These open corridors are absolutely necessary and I am at a loss in understanding why these corridors were not in place initially and why there is a need for this harsh, aggressive four-strand barbed wire fence around this property. Roads in this area are not an issue. Bloodied tangled coils of barbed wire certainly do nothing to make this natural area a friendly place for animals and cross-country skiers. The bunker design of the river lot border violates not only the aesthetics of the area but also the lives of the animals within the boundaries.
These boundaries should be marked with an organic border such as trees. How about having students in St. Albert schools involved in planting a border of these trees? They will not only learn about nature, they will also have a great experience and have a direct stake and ownership of the area. This would certainly give meaning to what is inscribed on the new sign posted at the entrance of the area, referring to protection and enjoyment for future generations.
This is public property and therefore the Government of Alberta as well as the River Lot 56 Stewardship Society must also answer to the preventable and cruel death of this deer. As stewards of our environment and the natural world, we all have the responsibility of doing a better job.
Wilf Borgstede, St. Albert
