Nature House Week 3: July 16-19

This week we're exploring the connections that hold our island ecosystems together - from the mucky business of green crab monitoring with TIME Jr., to the buzzing world of native pollinators at the PAG, to the remarkable journey of a salmon from forest stream to open sea at the SLC. And it all builds toward something very special: the Nature of Forests Weekend on July 18 & 19 - a remarkable two-day program put together by our friends at Community Climate Resilience, with ThINC's proud support. Two days of field workshops, indigenous knowledge, and expert talks!

Thursday, July 16
2-3 TIME Jr: European Green Crab Monitoring (youth 8-15)

Friday, July 17
10-12 Tides to Trails: Pollinator Bioblitz (all ages)
1-3 SLC Drop-in: From the Forest to the Sea (all ages)

Saturday, July 18

10-12 Wild Creatives: Hapa Zome Plant Prints
1-3 SLC Drop-in: From the Forest to the Sea (all ages)

Sunday, July 19

9-11 Harvest Hours (all ages)
1-3 SLC Drop-in: From the Forest to the Sea (all ages)

Nature of Forests Weekend - Schedule

Saturday, July 18

9:30-11:30 Fire Management through an Ecological Lens with Mitch Sherrin
1:30-2:30 Fabulous Plants and their Fungal Friends with Andy MacKinnon
2:30-4 Lawrence Trail Walk with Andy MacKinnon (Note: spaces are limited - reserve your spot by contacting ann@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

Sunday, July 19

9:30-11:30 Quw'utsun Cultural Connections and the Xpey' (Cedar) Project
1:30–2:45 The Past, Present and Future of Gulf Island Forests with Dr. Richard Hebda
3-4:30 Q&A Panel

Full details on the ThINC blog - and daily reminders via eSPOKES.https://www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org/single-post/nature-house-week-3-july-16-19

Call out for Musicians

ThINC is looking for any local musicians who may be interested in participating in an event aiming to combine the beauty of music with the serenity of nature. Any age, any instrument we are excited to create an immersive listening experience!

If you are interested and would like more information please email maya@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org

Dead Bats and Cats

Hello, all Thetis Island friends of bats and batty friends. 

Listen up, there is trouble in paradise. 

May 2^nd a dead bat was found on the Lawerence valley trail and reported to me. The next day another dead bat found on the trail in a similar location, and over the following 2 weeks 8 more were found along the trail from the first location all the way to the Firehall on Mission Road.  I contacted the B.C. bat program to enquire about testing these bats with a full necropsy to find the cause of death.  I wondered if it could be the dreaded White Nose Syndrome finally arriving here or perhaps rabies or even starvation, at this point, a mystery.

The bat program agreed to the necropsy testing at a total cost of about $175.00 per bat totalling $1,750.00, a very serious effort to determine what is happening.  The results are disturbing. The bats were primarily the small brown myotis species with 4 females.  They all tested negative for any disease, not WNS, not Rabies, and not starvation, however, all the bats showed “Puncture” marks, a trauma, according to the lab report, indicative of CAT PREDATION!

Subsequent to sending the 10 bats in for testing a further 7 dead bats have been found in the same area with possibly more lying unfound.  This is a disaster for any bat colony.  The females only have one pup a year and a colony may only have about 20 individuals.  It is possible that the 17 bats are from one or two bat roosts and it is likely that they will never recover from this kind of loss. 

But what have we lost?  Certainly, some mosquito control at a potential 600 mossies consumed per hour per bat, do the math.  Bat guano is an excellent fertilizer spread through the forest by these little extraordinary flying mammals.  We are still learning from the many unique skills they have which we may apply in all manner of ways. 

Why the loss?  My opinion, given the facts we have.  The culprit is a domestic cat that is allowed outside at night for an hour or two or perhaps left out to roam for a day or days, as some are.  This cat leaves the owners home, it hunts or rather reacts to triggering stimuli, kills but does not consume and moves on, then returns home enjoying the food their owner has provided.  How can a cat kill a bat flying high and erratically?  Bats need to drink and will fly in very low to skim a water source.  Bats are hunting insects which may gather within a few feet of open ground, perhaps a trail. 

Cats are “smart” and can learn bat behaviors.  They observe and wait patiently, a low flying bat is swatted out of the air with a quick paw and then killed on the ground with a bite or two.  This behavior has been documented on Thetis before but not to this extreme extent.

I now have an appeal to all pet owners.  Pets are a responsibility that we assume and are a projection of ourselves out to the world.  I seriously doubt the owner of the cat has any ill feelings towards bats and may actually enjoy their presence around the home.  I encourage everyone to limit their cat’s outside time and if allowed out at any time equip your cat with a “cat bib”, found here  https://catbib.ca/ .  If your cat is a “barn cat”, make sure it stays in the barn.

We love our pets and they can be a great comfort and solace, but we need to take the responsibility that comes with ownership seriously.  We wouldn’t kill island creatures indiscriminately so don’t allow your pet to do something you would not do.

Thank you,

Rob Welsh -- coordinator for the Thetis Island Bat Program

rmwelsh@telus.net or 250-246-1547

Where are You?

Dear Residents,

As weeds and bushes grow rapidly this season, please take a moment to ensure your Lot Number sign is clearly visible and not being covered or is missing. In an emergency, the Fire Department needs to be able to locate your home quickly, especially at night.

Please check the following:

- Is your sign visible at the driveway entrance from both directions?
- Is the Lot Number large enough to be seen easily without passing it?
- If you have multiple roads branching off your main driveway, are they clearly marked with your Lot Number and an arrow?

Posting a clear Lot Number ensures we can find you as quickly as possible when every second counts.

Thank you,

Thetis Island Vol. Fire Dept.

Bat Season Message from the BC Community Bat Program

Had direct contact with a bat? Seek medical attention immediately from a healthcare provider or local public health unit https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/ or contact 811.

Your pet has had contact with a bat? Contact a veterinarian immediately. It is recommended that pets are given a post-exposure rabies vaccine within 7 days of the exposure. All BC veterinary practices must follow the https://www.bccdc.ca/Documents/BC_Rabies_Guidance_for_Veterinarians.pdf If your veterinarian requires further assistance, contact publichealthvet@bccdc.ca .

Found a dead bat with no human or pet contact this summer? Dispose of the bat where it will not be encountered by pets.

Single bat on ground outside? Visit: https://batworld.org/what-to-do-if-youve-found-a-bat/

Bats roosting on your house? See https://www.bcbats.ca/attachments/Bats%20in%20buildings20%20pages_2017_web.pdf

Want to evict bats? Visit our website or contact your local bat program at info@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org. Do not evict bats in summer as pups will get trapped inside. Wait until after September 1st.

Got a bat colony? To participate in the https://bcbats.ca/get-involved/counting-bats/ contact your local bat program at info@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org.

Support the BC Community Bat Program by donating to our program via Donate Now - British Columbia Conservation Foundation.

You are invited Monday Morning Gentle Chair Yoga

10 -11 am Forbes Hall

July13th and 20th

Cancelled July 27th and August 3rd yet, but we will continue when I return begin August 10th.

You are invited to come join a gentle class to explore stretching, strengthening, lengthening movements for better balance and skills for healthy aging. Yoga simply yokes the breath to the movement helping with emotional and physical well-being. By donation.

Just a yoga mat, a blanket and we practice with a
Questions? Concerns - text Dawn at 250.Two10.0826 and set up a time to explore any concerns you have.

Free Stuff!

Cleaning out the shop and have a couple of items to give away:

• Delta jointer – needs a little TLC and new blades.
• Older steel scaffolding – might be just what someone is looking for.

Free to anyone who can use them. Pickup on Thetis Island.

Chad Kerr
250-701-1595 can send a photo

For Sale and For Free

FOR SALE

Frigidaire dual fuel (propane top, electric (self-cleaning range) 30” wide one year old.  $500

Westinghouse 14 cu. ft. upright freezer 28” w x 28 1/2” deep x 59 1/2” high.    $200

Jotul GF300 DV IPI Allagash propane fireplace.   $2000

Dimplex electric stove (heater).  $250

FREE

7 interior wooden doors with hinges and doorknobs. 30” x 29 1/2”

1 pocket door  30” x 80”

2 half louvered 2 piece doors 18” x 77”

1 white louvered 2 piece door 14 1/2 x 77”

1 bifold 2 piece door 12” x 78”

12 glass doors with pine trim 14” w x 57 1/2 high ideal for bookcase or shelving.

Vanities:  

1 metal box with 3 mirror front doors 3’ wide x 2’ high

2 metal b0x with mirror front 16” wide x 22” high

Kohler toilet and pedestal sink with faucet 

American standard sink with faucet

Black Out Drapes

For windows 15’ long x 6’ 10” high - 2 sets

For windows 5.6” wide x 6’ 10” high

Phone/text 250-706-5345

Pauline Harwood

stove

Propane Fireplace

electric fireplace

glass doors

toilet and sink

sink

drapery fabric

Today's Nature House Events

Here's what's on today!

9-11 Harvest Hours (all ages)
Location: The People’s Apothecary Garden, Lot 62

What's in season: July is one of the most rewarding times to visit - Borage stars are opening, Lavender is at its fragrant peak, Yarrow is in full bloom, and Mullein towers above everything on its second-year spike. The aromatic herbs - Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Rosemary, and Bay Laurel, are loaded with essential oils right now, and the bitter beauties (Mugwort, Wormwood, Betony) are putting up their best growth of the year.

The PAG is open to the public during daylight hours - come wander and explore anytime.

1-3 SLC Drop-in: Edible Oceans (all ages)
Location: Sea Life Centre at Telegraph Harbour Marina

Same great activity running again today - see Friday for details.

2-4 S4: Growing Food & Community with Alistair Howes
Location: Forbes Hall

Providing access to healthy, sustainable food for local communities often requires thinking outside the box. Join Alistair Howes as he shares how communities can strengthen their food systems and explores the variety of food security projects FED Urban Agriculture has underway. FED's mission is to create high-impact urban food system projects that contribute to an equitable and regenerative future - through garden spaces, educational programs, and advocacy for urban agriculture.

About the speaker: Alistair Howes works with FED Urban Agriculture, a food security initiative based in Victoria, BC. With a background in fine dining and urban farming, Alistair's work is driven by a passion for reconnecting people with the food systems that sustain them, and a belief in local food production as a catalyst for transforming our relationship with the environment.

A Big Thank You to the TIVFD

In response to our 911 call, Chief Caldbeck, her deputy Chad Kerr and a number of volunteers provided paramedic assessment/care to my wife Janet who had injured her foot, was in severe pain and showed other worrying symptoms. Chief Caldbeck and her team concluded Janet was to be taken by water taxi to Chemainus and then to hospital where tests confirmed a broken bone.

We are deeply grateful for TIVFD's prompt response and professional care. 

THANK YOU.

Mario Strauss (203)

TIVFD/RCMSAR 29 Summer 2026 Kids Don’t Float Program

The Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue 29 Ladysmith crew visited Thetis Island on Saturday morning, July 11th, to check up on the Kids Don’t Float lifejackets loaner program that the Thetis Island Fire Department co-sponsors.  We are up and running for the summer and encourage parents who visit the community dock and the beach below it to put a lifejacket on their children. Return the lifejacket to the hook when you leave and if you find a problem with the lifejacket, let the Fire Department know. 

Be safe and have fun this summer!

Pictured from left to right: TIVFD Lieut. Norm Kasting, Fire Chief Jeannine Caldbeck, RCMSAR Ladysmith 29 Crew Chief Sue Wisely and their new recruit Colin.  

Window Cleaning Service

Due to popular demand,

I am now offering a window cleaning service as well as the usual men’s haircuts and general labour and services throughout your homestead.

With brand new 20-foot reaching cleaning for those hard-to-reach windows without the hassle of climbing ladders and roofs whenever possible.

Also, ideal cleaning for solar panels and similar.

Your local hardworking Irishman

Aaronmalone32@gmail.com

+1 (250) 882-3162

Thetis Island Visitors' Guide - Final Call for Listings

The update of the Thetis Island Visitors’ Guide is almost complete. If you operate a roadside stand, shop, service, or local business and would like your information included in the guide, and have not yet responded, please email tirracommunications@thetisisland.net by July 14.

The guide is distributed at numerous businesses, organizations, and public locations throughout the island. A copy of the 2024 guide is available at https://www.thetisisland.net/info/Thetis_Island_Visitors_Guide_2024-web.pdf

Thank you.

Karl Unger, TIRRA Communications