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Baby animals are the cutest things on earth. There are lots of sites dedicated to them (I was hooked on this one for a while). At infancy, everything is just so darn small and snuggly… but, as harmless and unwise in the world as they are, when we’re talking wild animals, I think we have to let them be just that.

Wildlife rehabilitator Lil Anderson has to walk that line as part of her job. [Correction: Anderson's work for the OMNR does not include wildlife rehabilitation. See her comment below.] Author of the newly released book “Pond Memories” (I’m a sucker for a pun), Anderson relates stories of taking on rescued animals, such as a baby moose, a beaver, a fawn and others. Anderson works for Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. In her stories, it seems the most of the animals that come to her are delivered by hunters who’ve either startled off a mother, causing it to abandon its young, or the hunter has killed the mother, but felt too guilty to also kill its offspring.

The book does offer interesting insight into young animal behaviour, and shows how Anderson struggles to cut emotional ties and transition her charges back to the landscape.

As I read the book, it struck me as odd that we have resources in place to look after a few babies, rather than robust protection for wild habitats (parks you can log don’t “cut it” for me) since we’ve swallowed up, or at least built roads into so many wild places already. Perhaps the more we let wild things be wild, and stay out of it, the better. But habitats have shrunk, so perhaps they’re becoming more like vast zoos we must actively manage.

What’s your view? Should we be closely involved in managing habitats? Should we just put a fence around them and stay out? Am I overreacting?

As an editor, I often think about the definition and appropriate usage of words. I think the word “gift” is due for an update. It should be more than “a thing given willingly without payment” as Oxford defines it. The word “thoughtful” should be in there somewhere.

This photo shows a present my mother received for Christmas. It’s a mug with “cocoa” written on it, a tin cylinder containing a small plastic packet (a single serving of cocoa) and a cardboard box containing another small plastic packet with a few measly marshmallows. I guess you could say someone gave her the gift of a cup of cocoa, or you could say someone gave her a whole lot of excessive packaging, packaging she would have to deal with, packaging that, aside from the box, is not recyclable and will have to take up landfill space for, likely, centuries. Now, my mom is sweet and gracious, so I’m sure she didn’t complain to the giver. But would she call this gift thoughtful? I don’t think so.

For those who feel compelled to give a gift, but who aren’t really sure what the recipient would like, how about plant-friendly options like baked goods, local wine, or a gift certificate for an area restaurant. But it might be time for gift cards to shine, too.

Gift cards may seem impersonal to some, but when the landfill goes hungry because the recipient can actually get something they want, well, that does seem thoughtful.

Have you ever had trouble making a thoughtful gift choice? Have you received something that you just didn’t know what to do with?

It’s the final countdown to knock off home renovations that qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit. Sunday’s the last day, folks, so get out there and purchase that insulation, caulking, tankless hot-water heater and other great stuff that will make your home more energy efficient. You don’t have to actually install these things before Sunday, but if you’re paying someone else to do the labour, fees for any work done after Sunday don’t count.

The HRTC is a tax credit against your income of 15 per cent of what I’ll call permanent upgrades to your home and surrounding property, as well as the labour fees paid to do the work. You can only claim expenses after your first $1000 spent, and that’s only for receipts dated January 27, 2009 to January 31, 2010. The maximum refund is $1,350. For all the details, see the government website.

So far I think my partner and I are up to about a $500 tax credit, thanks to masonry work, adding insulation to our attic, a lot of plumbing and electrical supplies and many other bits and pieces. 15 per cent isn’t an incredible amount of money, but we’re doing the work, so we might as well get the tax benefit. Hopefully the real payback will come from the ecoEnergy Retrofit program and, of course, in reduced utility costs (and a smaller carbon footprint).

If you’ve collected your receipts but need a tool organize your expenses and calculate what you’ll get back, download the Homemakers HRTC tool here.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen some better product packaging out there. Some soap companies are offering pump bottle refills in plastic bags (which take less energy to create and recycle than the bottles). Some food companies are using foil and paper instead of plastic and plastic. Some household product companies are foregoing any sort of packaging, opting for a hang-tag rather than a bag or box.

But it’s still easy to find hard clamshell packaging. You know, the kind where you’re likely to injure yourself just trying to get it open. The picture above shows how, after working at this thick, rounded plastic showerhead package with scissors, nearly removing my thumb in the process, I’d given up. My partner had a bright idea: use our reciprocating saw. It worked!

Have you had any run-ins with packaging?

I love an opportunity to gather with a bunch of strangers over something in common. You know that feeling, when everyone’s just feeling great about the fact that there are so many others — people from many walks of life — who feel the same way?

I really felt that on the weekend when I joined in the Toronto rally of Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament. After a few speeches, the group walked through major streets of the city, courteously and joyously. Similar events were held in cities across Canada.

Whatever your politics, I think it’s wonderful when people stand up as citizens and shake off the mantle of being consumers. And there were thousands of people, all wanting to see democracy back in action today, the day that MPs should have been back in the House of Commons.

Of course, among the many groups represented (anti-torture groups, political parties and artists showing off their skill with papier mache), I was thrilled to see many banners about environmental concerns, including, “You can’t prorogue climate change!”

What do you think, is it worth taking to the streets over political issues?

Our computers, cameras, MP3 players and other electronic gadgets have become a little greener in the past couple of years. For example:
- Many computer and TV companies are switching from fluorescent to LED lighting in screens and monitors. We don’t yet know if LEDs will actually last longer, but they use a bit less power and they don’t contain mercury.
- Manufacturers have reduced phantom loads by cutting the power devices suck back when not in use.
- They’ve also reduced or eliminated use of many toxic materials from electronics, and some try to avoid sourcing materials from conflict zones (coltan, particularly).

But, to call themselves green, there are still a couple of big hurdles for electronics companies to cross. I got thinking about these when reading this article on the Guardian website. First, they have to try to standardize all the connectors and adapters so that we don’t need a new cord for every device. I’m talking to you, cell phone chargers! Computers, USB is a great start, but please, don’t make me buy another adapter for external monitors and projectors!

Second, electronics companies have to make gadget gear fixable. By us everyday folk. I’m pointing at you, laptops, phones and other gadgets with the built-in batteries that can only be replaced at a repair centre. And you’re not getting off completely, computers that can’t be upgraded with bigger drives or more RAM.

The more we have access to fix and upgrade our gadgets, the better and longer they’ll serve us. Couple that with robust electronics recycling (it’s happening in many areas) and we’ll make a big step toward sustainability.

Do you think electronics companies can do better?

Happy Thursday, readers!
I have a contest for you to help alleviate those January blahs. (The days are getting longer now! Really!)

I have two family packs of Otterbottles to give away in today’s contest. You could win five stainless-steel water bottles that come with both screw lids and sports caps. They are adorned with cute designs suitable for men or women.

To enter, just post a comment below about how you try to avoid excess garbage. You know, the stuff that you can’t recycle, compost, donate. The stuff that just goes to the landfill.

I’ll e-mail the first two writers to be published below regarding sending you your prize.

Over the Christmas holidays I enjoyed some wintry walks in the woods. I’m learning that, when trying to identify birds and other wildlife, you don’t have to see them to know they’re around. I’m trying to learn bird calls, although, for now, I couldn’t tell you who’s singing beyond Chickadees, Red-wing Blackbirds, Jays and few others. But animal tracks, evident after a recent snowfall, are another way to see who’s in the neighbourhood.

Here are a few pictures of tracks I took while on one of those Christmas walks, while visiting the Frontenac Arch area. (I kinda think that seeing tracks is one of the best ways to see wildlife. I would rather let habitats be wild, and that means free of human encroachment.)

These are deer tracks. I wasn’t surprised to see them — there is an overpopulation of deer in the area, and, mainly through devouring young trees, the deer have taken a serious toll on the habitat. (And, lovely, their little round poops are everywhere. Ech.)

These are turkey tracks. Yes, wild turkey are living the good life in the Frontenac Arch!

These are coyote tracks. A lot of coyotes inhabit the area, but they aren’t generally aggressive toward people.

Have you enjoyed wildlife… without actually seeing any animals?

On Friday I took in a presentation by someone from the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations. The Center is trying to promote geotourism, which they define as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of place.” They see geotourism as having benefit to the environment, heritage, culture, aesthetics and the well-being of local residents. This is in contrast to increasing pressure on popular destinations — the deluge of people can degrade the very places people seek to see.

The representative from National Geographic noted that cruise ship travellers have a major impact on destinations, because they tend to require a lot of resources while putting very little back into the local economy, primarily because they don’t spend a lot of time on land. In contrast, geotourism is low-impact, sustainable travel that involves enjoying a landscape without using undue resources, and contributing to local elements of the economy, such as small-scale adventure travel companies, food producers, artisans and more.

I enjoy sailing in the Thousand Islands, and I’d say that’s a geotourim activity. My annual week-long voyage involves buying provisions from local food producers (as well as some at the regular grocery store), visiting local restaurants, and using very few resources in general since my partner and I rely mainly on wind power to go tack to and fro.

However I think I can do better. Whether I’m traveling for business or pleasure, I’m going to try to stay at small inns and B&Bs instead of big hotels, seek out restaurants that serve local food, look for artisan markets to visit, and try to take in a cultural event, whether it’s live music or theatre. After all, I can see a Hollywood movie anywhere — I have to learn to track down and enjoy the things that makes communities unique.

What’s important to you when you travel?

Today is a big day in the area where I grew up, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized area. In a ceremony today in Gananoque, Ont., National Geographic is signing FAB to its Geotourism Charter. FAB is only the ninth in the world to be signed to this charter, and it’s the first biosphere. I was so excited that this nod to my home region’s beauty and sustainability was coming up, I wrote a song for the event. Talented local photographers and multimedia artists put it all together in a presentation.

The Geotourism Charter recognizes the sustainability of the Frontenac Arch region, and I hope this presentation and all of the other great events going on in the region spur more visits here – because I do think it’s a beautiful place to visit, and it’s great to have options in discovering new places without making a big impact on the environment.

For a nice little video tour of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, along with a little song sung by me, have a look at this video.

If you have any trouble with the video above, here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbcA_7ZzijI