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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-01-11, Page 16Delayed pregnancy helps polar bears make the most of short Antic summer very feature of the landscape around you J is drawn . in white upon white. It's November and getting very cold on the polar bear reserve at Cape Churchill, 1,000 kilometres north of Win - Nature's Miracles nipeg. Nothing moves except Monte Hummel the two black 'eyes hovering just above the edge of a pfled ice hum- mock. A Targe blacknose appears below the eyes as a female bear steps from behind the hummock. She's nearly as tall as you, weighs about 351) kilograms and her great nose, 100 times more sensitive than yours, is twitching. She's noticed you, but decides to stay beside the hole in the ice she's been patiently watching for hours. A seal will eventually surface for air at this hole and dinner will be served...without an energy -wasting chase. Instead, she must concentrate on storing energy as fat, to help ensure her survival through the coming winter's long fast. She has another goal, as well — a successful pregnancy for the fertilized egg she has car- ried since mating in April. Nature has given the polar bear a special reproductive Strategy that increases the species' ability to survive in the fragile and uncertain Arc- tic ecosystem. The female polar bear has evolved the ability to suspend development of a fertilized egg during the four or five months available for hunting. She mates in the spring but does not proceed with her pregnancy un til later that summer, when her body releases the dormant egg from its sleep. Eight months later, in midwinter, a blind defenseless cub is born deep in a snow den. It will stay there for about three months, until the ring seals give birth to their young. Then, there will be food and an op- portunity to learn to hunt. The young$ter faces few natural enemies but toxic pollutants, carried north by wind and water, do pose a long-term threat by accumulating in the bear's fat layers. Still, by nature's grace and with the help of concerned humans, an.. ,estimated 30,000 polar bears roam Canada's arctic — a substantial comeback from 40 years ago, when the number was somewhat less than 10,000. • v Nature's Miracles is brought to you by the Advance -Times and the World Wildlife Fund Canada. To find out how you can help save wildlife and wild places, call WWF at 1 -800 -26 -PANDA. WWF DID YOU KNOW... In the April 7, 1904 issue of the Wingham Times, it was reported that on the previous Sunday women in the Metho- dist Church Choir appeared without their hats for the first time' Ladies considered this dramatic breach of etiquette "outrageous.". ENJOY YOUR HERITAGE... VISIT THE WINGHAM & DISTRICT MUSEUM. i� January ARIES - March 21/April 20 Your creative juices will be flowing this week. Take advantage by delving into -projects that need an innovative ' flair. You will impress others with your spark for the extraordinary, On Thursday, you'll find yourself in the right place at the right time. Make .sure you dress your best that day. TAURUS - April 21/May 21 Don't make promises you can't keep. In fact, try not to say anything you:re not absolutely certain of this week, or you could get yourself into heaps of trouble later on. A note from an old friend will brighten the week. Perhaps it's time you renewed some long -lost friendships. GEMINI - May 22JJune 21 A situation that once seemed out of hand has turned around to work in your favor. This will have a positive effect on your daily routine. friend's good news will be the cause for celebration this weekend. Watch spending as unexpected bills are like- ly to surface in the coming weeks. CANCER - June 22/July 22 It's time to purchase that luxury item you've been wanting. The cautious Cancer knows when to save and - when to splurge, and this is the time to splurge. An unexpected social invitation will be a welcomed sur- prise this week. A loved one has exceptionally good news for you. LEO -July 23/August 23 A flirtatious episode could turn into more than you bargained for. Make sure you know what you want before you flash that charming smile. A friend may need to borrow some money. Dont let your generous nature let you lose sight of your unbalanced budget. VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Although the advice of friends may come with good intentions, only you know what's best for yourself. Go on gut instinct this week. A stressful work schedule can be lightened up if you learn to delegate responsibility. Believe it or not, you're not the only capable person in the world. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 If single, an invitation from friends this weekend, could lead to the start of an' exciting new romance. Married Libras will find many playful moments with their spouses. Don't be surprised if you're the wanner of a contest you entered months ago: A call from an old friend will be a nice addition to. this weekend. ES 8-14 SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Your life will. seem much more orga- nized than it has for some time. Take adivantage, and get ahead on any long-term projects or indulge in favorite -hobbies. A Gemini of the opposite sex will play a significant role in the week's events. A boost in finances is likely. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Something that happens on Thurs- day will make you realize that you are pretty luck*. If finances .are a problem, it may be tithe to make out a more stringent budget. Perhaps you can cut back on certain expens- es. If you feel stifled in a relation- ship, make sure to say so. CAPRICORN - Dec 22//an 20 You sill be honored in some way this week. Whether it's professional- ly, or personally, you should feel very proud of your • achievements. A long and busy week will make you feel emotionally drained by Friday, especially if you have a tendency to skimp on sleep. Try to get more rest. AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 Schedule interviews and important meetings for the beginning of the week when your' energy level will be at its highest. An upcoming social event will need a bit -of planning on your part. Do your best to see that everything runs smoothly. A family member will have a surprise for you. PISCES - Feb 19/March 20 Your moodiness is enough to drive anyone nuts. One minute you're way up, and the next you're in the pits. Can't you find a happy medi- um" Your loved ones and associates would certainly appreciate it. Admit it. You'd hate to deal with someone who is as moody as yourself. YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK The next 12 months: Change is something we all fear and crave at the same time. This is espe- cially true for Capricorns who prefer a stable existence. But at some point we all have to make a move. You know that, and you will live it this year when you realize a part of your life isn't working anymore, no matter how hard you try. Although this sounds like bad news, there will eventually be a happy ending. After a period of hard decisions, you will find something that makes you feel happier. This could take place in any aspect of life. from a love relationship or a work sit- uation to a domestic setup. But there will be a dramatic change come June. FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY Six hundred projects CURB pollutian Hundreds of area farmers have been doing their part to improve water quality in the Maitland Riv- er. Over the past three years, al- most six hundred projects de- signed to reduce bacteria and phosphorus pollution have been completed by landowners with the financial assistance of the CURB (Clean. Up Rural Beaches) Pro- gram. Under the program, grants are available to construct manure storages, to fence livestock out of watercourses, to install milkhouse washwater disposal systems, and to repair private septic systems. "Farmers and homeowners who are interested in taking advantage of grant assistance in 1995 should make an application as soon as possible," noted Anne Loeffler, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority water quality techni- cian. Application forms and fur- ther information are available by calling the MVCA at 335-3557. The CURB program is de- signed to help clean up sources of bacteo s and phosphorus pollution that affect water quality in the Maitland, Nine Mile and Eighteen Mile rivers. This voluntary pro- gram is funded by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy and the MVCA. Financial assistance is limited to applicants who are polluting surface waters. Proposed projects with. the greatest potential for re- ducing pollution will be consid- ered first for funding. The CURB program offers 50 per cent grants up to $2,000 to re- pair or replace a septic system that is polluting a watercourse. Farmers can receive a 75 per cent grant up to a total of $10:000 to pay for the costs of fencing live- stock out of watercourses. Grants are also available for the construc- tion of a crossing and an aiternate water source as part of a fencing project. Manure storages are eligi- ble for a 50 per cent grant up, to $12,000. The grant fQr milkhouse washwater disposal systems is 50'i, per cent, with a maximum grant::: of $5,000. The presence of bacterial water" pollution does not change the ap-, pearance of water, but it does pose an immediate health hazard'',. if the water is used for swiinming?;: or drinking. Waterborne infec-- tions include stomach flu and di- arrhoea. Eye, ear and throat infec- tions can also occur. cattle watering in the rivercan also be infected with disease causing or- ganisms from upstream herds. r `It's For Yo esb The 1995 edition of The Wingham Advance -Times Local Phone Book is now in production.' Now is the time to update our personal listings. We would appreciate your help. If you know of any changes, corrections, newcomers or deletions we look forward to hearing from you. We rely heavily on our readers to update us on the more recent changes in our neighbourhood. Please ive us a call, we welcome your information. 111 Qj . : : mown _ AkitiancelZimto 0 Call. Us Phone: 357-2320 Fax: 3572900 Or Drop in to:. our office 5 Diagonal Road Wingham Ontario The /, igha s,-&ilatuel and Mann' wone4I PLUS Neutipap ns. aim ' p.leadecd i paced ate *kaki" PIasuse4 '95. 4ppea4449. the uta a /cuu;a4v 23, ir..t edition will 4eac4 °owl. 4 Rtes 19,000 homes iws vaiez taii9e1 arta„ 1/8 parte ...........................570.00 �� .... Zrvs�bara 1/4 pa $130.00 //2 page ................. 5250.00 qua page ............... $450.00 loorniue jasseavul, 18, 1995 Ori Male acicvunaticum audacl vaa,, koal�/��up�t„ntatlir 4`rdher , eu�/form is as a gall ' w i44j 2thilancteei 5.3tn9orraI Road P d: Ban 390 Wiay/ram, Oatatio 357-2320 4a/z: 357-2900