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Beware the ravening Woods, Water and Wildllfe By: Ron Reid - Federatton of Ontario Naturaliste "A ravening beast, feign- ing itself gentie anid tame, but, being to3zched, it biteth deep, anid poisoneth deadly." That's how Reverend Topseli, a 17th Century naturalist, described one of Canada's commonest marri- mais, the short-tailed shrew. This bit of Europeari folklore about the poisonous bite of the shrew was dismissedi by serious scientists until 1942, when Dr. O.P. Pearson discovered that the shrew's saliva does contain a poisonous compound similar to cobra v'enom. While this poison is usually employed to help subdue a shrew's prey, it cari also cause local swelling and pain in humans. Fortunately, the chances of being bitten by a shrew are remote. A velvety mouse-like creature bareiy five inches mn length, the short-tailed shrew spende most of its time in underground burrows. While- usually a shrew will construot its own tunnels i the soft leaf litter of the forest floor, it will also make use of the tun- nels of other species, or even hit occasionally above the ground. A shrew may share Floyd Nicholson R.R. 4, Undsay Carp.ntry General Repairs JO Ym s *«sooe go.d wor*manshlp roosonablrutes Caiu C~.c 705-324-0907 MeI Hartwig Excavatlng ORONO ONTARIO 983-5140 Bulldozlng- Back Ho. SePtlc and TiIe B.d. Sand, Gravel and Top Soli Clarke Publie LIBRARY Tues.-Thurs. 1-9 P.m. Fr1.1-6 p. m. Sat. 9-5 P.m. Closed Mondays 983-5507 Newcastle Public Library Board ILKKw 0U'IE its underground nest with a few others of its kind, anid mated pairs seemn to stay together for some time. Shrews are active year round, arid feed frequently around the dlock. Their diet makes themn an e conomic asset for mari, for they destroy forest insects in great quaritities. Close to half of their diet consists of insects, with the remainder includîng a variety of worms nd in- vertebrates, and even meadowý moles when these, are common. One of their more interesting, feeding habits is the hoarding of woodlarid snails,,which they store live-in their subterra- neari chanibers. The small piles of snail sheils sometimes seen on the forest floor could be the discarded. remains from a shrew's feast. Short-tailed shrews are fourid in deciduous woodlarids across eastern North America, with an acre of woodland continuing anywhere from one to eleven shrews. If you happen to find one, its velvety grey fur and pin snout, tai, and feet will soon mark it as a shrew. With a pair of gloves and reasonable care,-there is no reason to fear the poisonous bite of this fascinating creature. Durham la ndlords cal meeting Landlords from across Durhami are going to meet later this week to discuss the existing proposed govern- ment legislation concerning rental accommodations. The guest speaker at the meeting will be George Cot- tage, Chairman of the Niagara Region Landiords Association. Georg Van Dyk, Chairman of the Landlords Association of Durham Region says ail landlords either owning one basement apartment or 500 unit apartment building are invited. Van Dyk aiso commented that the Association is not a group of landiords bandîng against tennants. Farm .cens us (Continued from page 8) 236 had sales of $ 10,000 or more and of the 236 farnis there were 57 with $250,000 or more ini total sales volume. These then are some of the relevant production trends in agriculture over the last 10 years. Agriculture is a big business generating a tremen- dous value of gross product. Framirig as other businesses is in a tremendous squeeze cost-wise, at the moment, and it will take sound plann- ing, good management and a lot of effort on everyone's part to change that situation. We need your extra support t0 ensure that our United Way Agencies receive their necessary funding, which in thl's difficuit economic period is needed more than ever before. If you haven't given to the United Way, please give now. If you have already given - please consider making an extra contribution. You can make it happeni Please fMI out thîs coupon below and send it 10 the United Way Office, 52 Simcoe Street South, in Oshawa. * OSHAWA-WHITBY-NEWCASTLE UNITED WAYi * 52 Simcos Street SouthI * Oshawa, Ontarlo Il H 4G3 Name:I * Address:I * Amount of Donation: _______________________ I * (Tax receipt wilI be provided upon request) i Needed Mre...asaw I Whitby : tha everNewcastle i beforeUnited immmmmm mm mmmWayml