Hello Clam Lake!
We wish everyone a happy Memorial Day and thank all those that have served!!! As our summer season begins we say “Welcome back everyone!”
MEMORIAL DAY REMINDER – This year the traditional meal served to the veterans after their Clam Lake ceremony will be held at the Clam Lake Community Center. This is in lieu of the Chippewa Outpost being closed. The chicken and all the trimmings will be provided by the Outpost owners with locals being asked, if they wish to participate, to bring a side dish or dessert. This is not mandatory. All veterans and their families are welcome to attend. The ceremony at the bridge/cemetery will begin at noon on Monday May 27th with the meal being served at 1:00.
ST. GEORGE CHAPEL – Memorial Day weekend always heralds the start of the summer season. In so keeping, our historic St. George Chapel will begin its summer season on Saturday May 25th with service beginning at 6:00 pm. Time to take a step back in time to a simpler era as you worship in our log cabin chapel. Come pray with us!
BOOK CLUB UPDATE – The first meeting of the Clam Lake Book Club held at Ransoms Place was a well attended event. It provided some lively discussion on the book being reviewed – “The Last Wolf” by Jim Crumley. The next meeting of the club will be held on Monday June 10th running from 4:30 to 5:30 at the Elkhorn. The book being discussed at that time will be “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store” by renowned author James McBride. Feel free to join in some “lively discussion, camaraderie, tasty food and inspiring libation”. Hope to see you there!
ELK NEWS – As elk calving season begins it is time to talk about how calf births are being monitored in our current high tech world. With technologies being ever changing, our elk want to stay up to date with the modern world that they find themselves in and so have been outfitted with a new monitoring system put in place by the DNR elk crew this past February. Every February, a portable pen is set up by the DNR in the hopes of enticing elk in for testing. Of course, many do venture in, at which time blood samples and collar replacements can take place. Also injuries or other health conditions are noted. This year, 23 cow elk were outfitted with VITs (vaginal implant transmitters). While under sedation, the transmitters are placed in the elk’s vagina where it is held in place by a wing like structure. The transmitter also features a small anteanna that protrudes outward. When the cow gives birth, the transmitter comes out at which time it begins to emit a signal that a change in movement and temperature has occurred. This alerts the elk crew that a birth has taken place. Since the VITs are matched to each cow’s collar they can then begin their search for the calf based upon the location of the cow. Once found, the new calves are collared and monitored. In years past these calf searches were often assisted by volunteers but, due to concern over calf stress, this is now done solely by the DNR. Josh Spiegel, our elk biologist, reported that one birth has already occurred using the VIT and it worked great! Again, thinking of calf season, it is also time to pay attention to ditches and the sides of roads where expectant cow elk may be trying to cross or mothers are attempting to move their offspring from one location to another due to predators. Under these conditions they often can’t move very fast so it’s time to be on the look out for them and give them some space and time.
Until next week….
Pictured is an expectant cow elk (photo courtesy of Rob Sparhawk) and a photo of the first elk calf born using a VIT (photo by Josh Spiegel).
