Sunday, 15 September 2019

Chapter 169: Jasper: Words


Jasper

We go for a walk in a national park and encounter many pet dogs on leads being taken for a walk. The locals react to every dog they encounter by patting the dog and saying: How cute.

I respond by saying nothing and silently wishing the dogs were banned from national parks. People should be in national parks to get close to the natural environment. Any animal that isn’t indigenous can potentially alter any balance in the local environment.

The guide has been to Australia. After I say I come from Tasmania he proves he has been to Australia by asking to see my scar. So even in Canada our reputation exists.

He then tells us about elks, bears and wolves. A lady from the USA then tells us how wolves kill cattle and ranchers have the arduous task of going out and shooting them.

For the first Europeans the beaver was very important. The early Europeans traded with the first nation people and acquired pelts which were sent back to Europe to make hats. Europeans settled in some areas primarily to get pelts. The beaver and its pelt were a big part of Canada’s history.

Today the Canadians are very proud of their beavers. They love the animal and love beaver pelts. Beaver pelts are still very much prized. Outside a national park no permit is required in order to trap and skin a beaver.

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