Chief Trail Patrol Warden’s Report
(Victor G. Henrikson)
to the CHPTA Board of Directors February 2015 Meeting
Number of Trail Patrol Wardens submitting a January
2015 report: 8
|
TRAIL
|
# OF OUTINGS
|
# OF HOURS
|
|
Heritage Park
|
12
|
18
|
|
Salt Marsh
|
10
|
17.25
|
|
Shearwater Flyer
|
17
|
26
|
|
Bissett Lake
|
10
|
7.75
|
|
Forest Hills
|
1
|
1
|
|
*Other Nova Scotia Trails
|
14
|
24
|
|
TOTAL
|
64
|
94
|
* MacDonald Sports Park in Fall River, 2nd Lake Municipal Trail and Shubie Park
Despite the inclement weather, kudos to the Trail Patrol
Wardens who braved the elements to carry out their volunteer duties.
Comments/Observations Reported by the Trail Patrol Wardens for our
various trails:
Heritage
Park
1. A
tiny, on leash dog, was visibly afraid when approached by a large, aggressive on
leash, barking dog. For their dog’s safety, the owners of the tiny dog left the
Park.
2. As
a result of the recent cold weather, the door to the outhouse has warped and therefore
is difficult to close. A rock is now being used on the outside to keep it
closed. With a little effort, it can be closed from the inside. Our maintenance
volunteers will adjust the door once the weather improves.
3. A
frequent trail walker continues to deposit bird seed along the Costley Farm
Trail. She has been doing this for some years now. The cold and nasty weather
has not prevented her from feeding the birds and squirrels.
Salt
Marsh Trail
4. The
in-ground trail counter was removed for the winter months. This counter tallies
the use of bicycles on the trail. The “people” counter is above ground and can
remain outside year round.
5. Storm
damage between the Canada Goose and Ready Aye Ready bridges has been reported
to the CHPTA Maintenance Chair. Repairs will be conducted once funding is
available and weather permits.
6. Duck
hunters, in boats, were seen near the Trail. Hopefully, they are being careful
as to where they aim their shotguns!
Shearwater
Flyer Trail
7. Household
garbage continues to be dumped at the Caldwell Road Parking Lot site. As well,
birds and animals continue to rummage in the garbage can, which results in
garbage being strewn on the ground.
8. Someone
continues to deposit household garbage around the Caldwell Road trail head garbage
can. Tires and computer parts appear to be the flavour of the day!
9. A
Trail Patrol Warden spoke to two off leash dog owners about the on leash
regulation but they ignored his comments and continued along their way. One owner
said he always leashed his dog whenever he sees others on the trail but did
nothing when his large dog approached and circled the Warden. The other off
leash dog owner kept tossing a stick and a ball to his German shepherd dog.
Both owners had leashes hanging on their shoulders.
10. ATV
damage continues to take place on the trail.
11. Two
Christmas trees were deposited by the Caldwell Road parking lot fence. One appeared
to be the bottom piece of a Christmas tree. Perhaps it may have been from a
tree cut along the edge of the trail. A Trail Patrol Warden had previously been
asked where on the Trails was a good place to cut trees for Christmas.
12. A
CHPTA volunteer replaced the 5 km distance sign which had been beaten off the
post by vandals.
Bissett
Lake Trail
13. An
irate trail walker complained to a Trail Patrol Warden about the number of off
leash dogs on the trails and the amount of dog feces not being picked up. This
walker lives adjacent to the Trail and is considering erecting a sign asking
her neighbours to clean-up after their dogs.
14. Trail
maps were given to a visiting Lower Sackville geocacher who was checking our
trails for geocache sites.
Various CHPTA Trails
15.
On several occasions, cross country skiers and snowshoers have
been seen on several of our trails.
16.
The freezing ice storms have created very trecherous walking
conditiions on many of the trails. Ice grippers on footware is a necessity on the
trails.
Opps, did someone
fall here?
17. Despite
many of the trails being snow and ice covered, cyclists continue to ride our
trails during these winter conditions. One Warden patrolled 95km of the trail
on bicycle. Several cyclists have equipped their bicycles with studded tires
and indicated they have had no trouble travelling on the ice covered trails.
Reported Wildlife Sightings:
American Goldfinches, Artic Tern,
Bald Eagles, Blue Jays, Buffleheads, Black Capped Chickadees, Canada Geese, Chipmunks,
Common Goldeneye, Coyote, Crows, Downy Woodpeckers (male & female), Herring
Gulls, Common Mergansers, Mink, Muskrats, Otter, Pheasant, Porcupine, Rabbit, Sea
Gulls, Starlings, Squirrels, Various Duck species (Black & Mallards) and
White Tailed Deer.
There were several sightings of a
Snowy Owl in the Lawrencetown area.
2014 Trail Patrol Summary:
No comments:
Post a Comment