This edition of ALO news comes to you from Long Pond Elk Farm in Minnesota where summer has yet to arrive after a late spring. The delay has created an unusual amount of bird activity, perhaps because of delayed nesting. This pair of birds wandered through the yard during a telephonic court hearing.
Luckily not much was happening at that moment, so a picture was taken quickly. Sandhill cranes have made a huge recovery in Minnesota, and nest several places on the farm. A typical 2-3 mile walk often features pheasants, ducks, geese, cranes, turkeys and herons, plus too many songbirds to count. Throw in a deer or two and birds of prey, and its well worth getting off the couch every day.
Legal news in May was dominated by a dog bite story out of Big Lake, Alaska, where a two year old was bitten by a sled dog and ALO was asked to help out. The story is not pleasant, but well worth reading. The first hearing in this case will happen in June at which time the fate of the dog will be debated, and a civil suit is likely to follow. Stay tuned. Another dog case resolved as predicted here earlier when PETA issued an apology to Iditarod musher Paige Drobny. PETA disguised the apology and retraction in a longer press release which included more of its attack on the Iditarod, but most Alaska news outlets were able to focus on the retraction and report it accurately. Many folks expressed regret that PETA caved on this case, as they were looking forward to a trial in Alaska pitting an Alaska musher against PETA. The national organization doesn't have much support in Alaska, where dog racing is a fixture.
This ALO client made the Anchorage news, and created quite a discussion. There is more to this story than has appeared in public, as you can well imagine.
A late spring in Alaska has created problems for river break-up. Serious flooding in the village of Galena affected Dolly's grandmother Virginia Johnston, who has lived there for many years. Most of the 300 residents were evacuated, and it is not clear where Virginia is located at this time. Bethel's ice went out on the 28th, and much ice is stuck up river which still could create problems for Bethel. ALO is located on a piece of land that is prone to flooding, but the highest flood in memory only came to the base of the front step at ALO. This very short video shows break-up in Bethel, and one guy who must have had a long winter.
The late spring resulted in some May dog mushing in Bethel. This shot shows the latest trip across Hangar Lake ever for Old Friendly Dog Farm.
Hangar Lake is one of the main trails out of Bethel, and the location of the first run ever for Myron in 1976 with a five dog team led by Old Friendly. Unfortunately, no one brought their cell phone that day, so no pictures exist.
Elizabeth Aarons sent this month's mandatory moose shot which was taken right outside her home in Anchorage.
The moose in Anchorage have little to fear and make themselves right at home in yards with tasty shrubs. Musk ox are not common around Bethel, but this photo shows part of a herd of about 20 that passed through town in May. There would be more if a guy hadn't shot 6 in one bunch a few years ago on the Gweek River north of Bethel.
He got a month in jail for each animal.
Here is a new twist on an old idea.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be eaten by a bear? Check out this video for a hint.
Finally two articles on water. One is a sobering reminder that we are running out of water and the other provides one of the many reasons why water is important.