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Show JULY 6,2006 Page 6 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER ESCALANTE NEWS p? ...by Chris Haycock. 435-826-4832, plateofdreams@scinternet.net How about that rain. Nothing like a There will be a gathering for the ball playgood soaking rain and watching it run ers and families on July 19th at 6:00 p.m. off the rocks to the north of town. at the park. There will be fixin's for Hot Well baseball is about to the end of Dogs and a movie to watch. NOW rethe season for our young ball players. member to go support their last games Their last games will be held July 6th, of the year on Thursday evening. starting the T-Ball games at 6:00 p.m. Sandra Porter was telling me that her at the Escalante City Park. All of the son Jay Hales (he teaches auto mechanteams have played equally well. Let's ics at Riverton High in Riverton, Ut.) introduce the teams and their coaches. had taken 2 of his students to Dearborn T- Ball Team A Coach: Alan Torgersen Michigan for the National Finals of the Players: Lori Torgersen, Klint Ultimate Master Technician Challenge Torgersen,Kolton Schraft, Jaden Young, sponsored by Fort Motor Company. His Jered Leavitt, Layden Leavitt, Braxton students finished in the top half of the Barney, Danyle Leavitt, Dakota Stowe, competition. While he was there he hapKrystelle Noyes, Abbie Crawford. pened to run into Christopher Haycock. Team B Coach: Jeff Brinkerhoff, PlayTalk about a small world when your not ers are Josh Brinkerhoff, Jake Brinkerhoff, Adam Christensen, Alyssa looking. They took some time for a little Fischer, Camri Fischer, Taylor Phillips, chat and he met Christopher's wife, Jana Patrick Ganz, Michael Mortenson, Cody who had went with Christopher to the Hatch, Qade Adams. Team C, Coach: event. Brent Griffin, Players are Karline Christopher Haycock while at the comRoundy, Cayse Barnson, Cache petition had placed 3rd in the Finals. This Barnson, Jessica Wall, Karma Benward, is a very precise, intricate competition. Chessney Steed, Chacen Steed, Gracie You really have to go beyond the obviDutton, Josie Dutton, Kai Griffin, Bobbi ous to compete let alone place in this Griffin. Baseball Team A Coach: Nephi challenge. Noyes, Players: Alex Christensen, Caleb Sreta Lefevre & Tyson Torgensen was Christensen, Gus Torgensen, Trace 2 out of 20 students chosen to attend Torgensen, Jared Noyes, Sydney the Rural Cooperatives which will be held Cornforth, Shelby Cornforth, Damon July 10 - 14th on campus at Snow ColCopeland, Stash Cornforth, Kix Roundy, lege in Ephraim Utah. To be chosen to Erica Alvey, Maddie Alvey. Team B represent the Rural Cooperatives they Coach: Mike Wall, Players are Benny have to go through a application process Carrizosa, Wyatt Phillips, Jesse Barney, which includes a test and interview. They MJ Wall, Wyatt Dutton, Lindsey Phillips, will be joining representatives from five Bowdy Stowe, Brian Dutton, Drew states to learn about electrical safety, Fischer, Dylan Barney. Team C Coach: leadership skills, legislative issues, coBrandi Schraft, Players are Brandon operatives, self esteem and many other Nez, Jaycee Nez, Afton Nez, Canyon subjects. Congratulations to these stuOwens, Kayson Durfey, Cort Durfey, dents for looking toward their future. Cody Dragt, Savannah Steed, Shelby "Made ya think" Do you have flies bothSteed, Dalton Quilter, Kasia Schraft. ering your birds in their little bird houses Coaches say all of the players have im- that you made for them? Place a 1/2" proved in their games and had a really tall platform of hardware cloth in the fun season. We really appreciate all the bottom of each box. It'll keep nesting time the coaches have spent with the material off the floor, and let air circuplayers. late underneath, which flies just hate! fit l&GGtf ifi Kniics P. Perkins |r. ' "LLLliliSl" Garfield County Sheriff Dedicated & Experienced! A special thank you for everyone who supported me in the recent election. Thank you again, Danny Perkins FEEDING BABY ANIMALS IS BEST LEFT TO THEIR MOTHERS It's not unusual to find a deer fawn in the woods, or a baby bird in your backyard, this time of the year. Division of Wildlife Resources staff know because of the calls they receive from people wanting to know what to do with a fawn, an elk calf or a bird they've found. Ron Stewart, a conservation outreach manager with the DWR, says the best thing to do is to leave the animal or bird in its natural environment, and to not bring it home. "Feeding baby animals is best left to their moms and dads," Stewart said. "Every year the division gets calls from well-intentioned individuals who 'found an abandoned baby bird or mammal' and would like us to take care of it. While we appreciate and share the concern of the caller, the best caregivers are its natural parents." Stewart says birds and mammals have numerous strategies to avoid predation and raise their young. "Often these strategies make it look like the adults have abandoned their young, when actually they are doing their best to protect it," he explained. "For example, deer fawns learn to walk soon after birth, but they are farfromcoordinated or strong enough to run awayfromtheir predators. So, evolution has added a few safety measures. "Most of the animals that prey on fawns have a good sense.of smell, which helps make up for their inability to see color," Stewart said. "Deer have adapted so that the fawns are born scentless, meaning they don't have an odor, so predators can't smell them. Also, their creamy brown coats are the same shade of color as the new grass and leaves, if you look at it in black and white. Add a few spots and they are well camouflaged. "With these adaptations, the fawn's best strategy for survival is to hide for its first few weeks of life. The doe usually moves away, to feed or rest, but still remains reasonably close by. If she senses danger, such as a human, she will leave in hopes of luring the 'predator' away from her fawn. "Humans, which have good color recognition, often see the fawns in their hiding places. Since the doe is hiding, many people assume the worst and jump to the conclusion the fawn has been abandoned, and they pick it up. That's the worst possible thing they could have done; they just took a fawn from its mother. Stewart provides tips on the right things to do if you see a deer fawn or elk calf. "If you see a fawn or calf elk, don't approach it," he said. 'Take a look or a photo from a distance, if you like, but if you approach it, your scent could kill it. Numerous studies and observations have documented predators following human tracks. I've watched coyotes and other predators cross a path that someone just walked and immediately turn and follow it. I don't know if the predators are curious or if they have learned humans can lead them to food, but if you've just checked out a fawn, you'll lead the predator right to it. It's best to stop quite a distance away from the fawn or calf and then continue on in a loop so the predator follows you around, away from the animal. If you retrace your steps, the predator will likely continue forward and gorightto the hiding animal. "Another problem is humans like to pet baby animals. Survival depends on staying scentless, and if you touch it, you have placed your scent on the animal, so now the predator can find it. Abandoned baby birds "Birds have also developed some strategies for raising their young which often leads people to think they need to lend a helping hand," Stewart said. "Young birds will often leave their nests before they are able to fly. They usually spread out along the branches of their tree and call for their parents to bring them food. This is a 'don't-keep-the-eggs-inone-basket' type of adaptive strategy. "It's not uncommon for a good wind to blow them off of the branch and for people to find them on the ground. The best thing to do is to get them out of reach of house cats and dogs by simply placing them back up onto a safe branch. The baby will squawk and the parents will find it Birds generally do not have a good-sense of smell, so you can pick them up and place them back on the branch. Stewart also advises people to not feed the birds prior to replacing them in the tree. 'Trying to hand feed a baby bird is not a good idea," Stewart said " Baby birds will try and eat anything that comes close to their mouths, but bird species usually have a specific diet, and being fed something else could kill them. For example, 'the early bird gets the worm' doesn't work. The robin is one of a very short list of birds that can safely eat worms. The best thing you can do is let the bird's parents feed it because they know what it can and cannot eat. " . DWR offices also receive calls when a nest is found after a good windstorm, a tree is taken down or birds have nested on a house or on machinery. 'The best thing to do is leave the nest where if is, but if you can't, then relocate the nest to a nearby tree or another safe place," Stewart said. "Birds are extremely good parents and^viil almost always find the new spot by following the sounds of their young." |