Category Archives: Environment

animals, Environment, Nevada County Information

Black Bears in Nevada County

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American Black Bear
American Black Bear

Coming home late from the office the other night, late enough that it was pitch dark, I saw a black bear crossing Banner Mountain Quaker road.  Fortunately, I was driving slowly so I did not hit the bear and I got a good look at him. What a beautiful animal, big, with huge feet.  From the back, other than its feet, it looked like a giant long haired black dog.

Black bears are fairly common in Nevada County and every once in a while they get a little ornery. One of my neighbors had his garbage can pilfered several times, dumping garbage all over the road. So he thought well, I’ll just strap the cover down and the bear will not be able to get into the garbage can. The next morning, he found his garbage can down the side of the mountain with big claw marks on the can. The solution was to put the garbage out first thing in the morning instead of the night before garbage was to be picked up.

The American Black Bears are from 5-6 feet in length and about 2.5 to 3 foot tall. They can stand as high as 7 tall which would be enough to scare anyone away. They can weigh as much 600 pounds for the male and about 400 pounds for the female. There have been reports of a male bear that weighed 880 pounds, but that is unusual.

Most of the time, they are as scared of you as you might be scared of them, so they tend to run when approached by humans.  However, be careful if you come across of a female with cubs, then it is different story. They’re out to protect their cubs at which point they can become aggressive.  If it’s any consolation, there are only 56 documented cases of black bears killing humans in the United States in the last 100 years.

black-bear-mom-cub

According to Wikipedia

“The cubs are generally born in January or February. They are very small, about 283 to 397 grams (10 to 14 oz), and are blind, nearly hairless, and helpless when born. Two to three cubs are most common, though up to four and even five cubs have been documented. First-time mothers typically have only a single cub. The mother nurses the cubs with rich milk, and by spring thaw, when the bears start leaving their dens, the cubs are fur-balls of energy, inquisitive and playful. By this time, they are about 2 to 4 kilograms (4 to 8 lb). When their mother senses danger, she grunts to the cubs to climb high up a tree. They are weaned between July and September of their first year and stay with the mother through the first winter. The cubs become independent during their second summer (when they are 1.5 years old). At this time, the sow goes into estrus again.

Cub survival is totally dependent on the skill of the mother in teaching her cubs what and where to eat, how to forage, where to den, and when and where to seek shelter from heat or danger.”

There have been numerous sightings of black bears in the Cascade Shores Subdivision, in which I live.  I had one standing on the road in front of my house last year during the night. Have you seen any black bears around your house or had some experience with them?

Environment

Brain Interface to Twitter

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU3ly2gGiTk

There is no sound, just watch the monitor screen, you can see the letters coming up, due to brain activity.

Wilson, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering, was confirming an announcement he had made two weeks earlier — his lab had developed a way to post messages on Twitter using electrical impulses generated by thought.

That’s right, no keyboards, just a red cap fitted with electrodes that monitor brain activity, hooked up to a computer flashing letters on a screen. Wilson sent the messages by concentrating on the letters he wanted to “type,” then focusing on the word “twit” at the bottom of the screen to post the message.

The development could be a lifeline for people with “locked-in syndrome” — whose brains function normally but who cannot speak or move because of injury or disease.

More on these developments at Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Environment

Fun Tuesday-Slow Loris

Slow Loris are  primates 10 to 15 long and weigh about 610 to 1000 grams. Although very cute with their large eyes, they can give you a very painful bite, since their teeth are full of toxins. Because of their cuteness they are sold on the open markets as pets in Asia and with destruction of the rain forest, they may become an endangered species. They are really cute and maybe we can bring awareness to help save these beautiful animals.

After watching these videos, for more information go to Slow Loris Research 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLdQ3UhLoD4
Tickle me some more!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb12bAaKzvA
Time for lunch.

Business, Environment

The Flu, the Real Danger to You and the World Economy

flu-virus

What’s the big concern about this flu that’s going around now? According to Daniel J. DeNoon and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD is that this is an unusual strain of virus.

According to Mr. DeNoon, “there are four different types of swine flu strains that commonly circulate among pigs. Most recent swine flu viruses have belonged to the H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes. Pigs typically get sick but usually don’t die from swine flu.”

“What is alarming about the current flu that has started is that it’s acquired genes from swine, bird and human flu bugs. It also has genes from Eurasian swine flu viruses that aren’t supposed to be in North America.”

So we have a “cocktail” of virus that could mutate into something more dangerous. I’m not a scientist, but I believe that is the real concern of the government.

Just how concerned:

“We are declaring today a public health emergency,” Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said today at a White House news briefing. That declaration is “standard operating procedure,” Napolitano said. “It is similar to what we do when we see a hurricane approaching a site. The hurricane might not actually hit but allows you to take a number of preparatory steps. We really don’t know ultimately what the size or seriousness of this outbreak is going to be.”

For more information on the flu and how to protect yourself, go to WebMD Health News

We’ve covered what the current flu worries are. Now here are some of the ramifications that are already happening to the economy because of the flu outbreak. According to CNN An article about how the could derail the fragile global economy:

“Already, Russia has banned imports from Mexico, California and Texas. As the flu progresses, the fear is an overreaction and the banning of exports, perhaps worldwide.

But if the outbreak does grow into a large-scale pandemic, Auger said global trade could be disrupted through export restrictions.

“It could lead to travel restrictions for goods and people through major control over ports and airports,” he said.”

My wishes and prayers are with all of you, be safe and stay healthy.

Environment, Weather

Scotts Flat Lake Winter 2009

Scotts Flat Lake Feburary 2009
Scotts Flat Lake Feburary 2009

There was a nice blanket of snow which fell last night at my house. I would guess that there was a little over one foot of snow which made everything outside look like a winter wonder land. My house is located in Cascade Shores about 11 miles from Nevada City and at an elevation of 3,700 feet.

From my house you can overlook Scotts Flat Lake and notice that the water level is very low. It is normal for the lake not to be full this time of the year, but it is lower then normal. In January according to Susan Sindt, of the Nevada Irrigation District, the level of the lake was 31,000 acre feet. (An acre foot is one acre filled one with water one foot deep). We have gained some benefits from the recent rains, since the water level has gone from 31,000 acre feet in January to 32,200 acre feet as of today, according to Susan.

Scotts Flat Lake Febuary 2009
Scotts Flat Lake Febuary 2009

The last time the lake was lower was in the 1988-89 season at which time the water level was at 30,000 acre feet. Susan also said that NID’s overall water supply for the district is at 87 percent of normal for this time of the year. Hopefully we’ll get a lot rain this winter-spring season and the water supply will get back to normal.

By the way, if you are interested in camping, boating or fishing at Scotts Flat Lake go to the website of the Scotts Flat Lake Resort

Environment

Malcom Gladwell on the SUV Phenomenon

Malcom Gladwell is one of the funnier and more interesting writers of our time. His book “The Tipping Point” is one of my favorites. His recent article from the New Yorker, “Big and Bad” is a fascinating look at the history and marketing of SUVs, why people like them, and what the auto manufacturers have learned about how to make and sell them, to satisfy our craving for them.

When John wrote the article below, Gas Prices Too High? it brought home that, in a roomy and comfortable Prius, a 3,500 mile drive he took on his recent vacation cost him all of $249 in gas (at an average $3.35 gallon).

In an area where many people (my wife included) commute to Roseville or Sacramento, or beyond to get those perpetually necessary paychecks, the result is quite a financial squeeze if you don’t own efficient vehicles. What’s the point of getting a higher paycheck if it is eaten up by the commute to work?

There are plenty of reasons for big powerful vehicles. Towing and hauling is a real requirement for many people. But you should really read Gladwell’s article to see why people REALLY buy SUVs.

It’s a hoot. 

This article posted by Richard Webster