It’s the time of year to watch out for the ticks as this is the season they are hatching and out there full force. They are hiding in the dead grasses, leaves that fell last fall and on tree branches and bushes. With the milder winter they have had an easy spell. They are a tiny spider-like bug that can jump on your skin and clothing and just stick there. They are looking to get at your blood and can dig right into your skin. Take care removing them that you get the tiny head as well as the body. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to help fend them off. More than likely the warm spring sunshine will bring out another rash of maple bugs. They are a big nuisance and a pest, but not harmful to people. There will be loads of out little red and black ladybugs. They are helpful little fellows to attack the aphids on tree leaves. They are harmless to people and animals.
Now that the fresh new leaves are soon on the trees, there will likely be an outbreak of the Black Forest caterpillars. They do multiply fast and soon strip all the fresh new green leaves off the trees. They are a real pest and build their cocoons all over the place and like to crawl on sunny sides of buildings and all over the streets and roads. Thank goodness they are harmless, but a pest.
Many municipalities all over Saskatchewan have issued fire bans. Some bans were not put on soon enough. Like we all know, once the snow has gone watch out for these out of control wildfires. They can spread so fast with all the wind to take off quickly in the tinder-dry long grass, bushes and trees. There is not too much green grass and leaves yet. There already have been some big fires in the area of Biggar, Red Pheasant, Mosquito and Poundmaker, scorching a good many acres of land. No one hurt, but a few losses of buildings. It’s just not safe to light any kind of a fire.
Some farmers have started on the land, preparing it for seeding. A little seeding has already started. It won’t be long and the whole countryside will be going. The soil is quite dry and we do need some rainfall soon. It has been the driest April for many years.
There have been a few whooping cranes seen in the local area. They stop to feed and rest as they move on to the northern nesting areas.
Stanley Mills was a recent visitor at the home of George and Linda Casey, John and Lois Syhut of Sonningdale, Lorna Bater of Baljennie and Sam and Margaret Parrish of Willowmoore.
North Battleford Kinsmen held their 49th annual rodeo at the Civic Centre over the last weekend of April. It was well attended.
