Kennisis Cottage Rentals

It’s Going to be a Hot One!

Webmaster — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:42:20 +0000

While Environment Canada may not have the best track record as of late for their long range forecasting, something tells us they’ve got this one right!

“Environment Canada is predicting a hot summer for 2012” – forecast map.

It’s never too late to book that week at the lake!

Photo of the Week – Dock Spider

Lea — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:01:16 +0000

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Picture courtesy of Cleary Cottage, Kennisis Lake

Ongoing Events

Lea — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 01:53:05 +0000

Most of the cottages on our site are within a few minute’s drive from the Haliburton Forest and Wildlife Reserve. www.haliburtonforest.com Adults and kids are equally enthralled by the Wolf Centre and Observatory. There is also an astronomy observatory, canopy tour, dog sledding and 70,000 acres of groomed hiking, biking and snowmobile trails and lakes and rivers to explore. And while you’re near the Forest gates , why not take a stroll over to the barn to see the pigs and horses, the donkey and the moose? — Yes, moose. Hershe was rescued after his mother was hit by a car in Petawawa. He arrived at Haliburton Forest when he was two weeks old and has been hand-fed and lovingly cared for since. Hershe was introduced into the herd in the Fall of last year.

The animals may greet you through the fence, but please do not feed them as they are on strict diets and have very sensitive digestive systems — well…except for the pigs. They’ll eat just about anything in the way of fruits and vegetables. Even so, be sure to inquire at the Forest office before letting the hogs do your composting for you! And on your way to the landfill site (best place to encounter a bear!) drop in at the Haliburton Forest Wood shop.

Haliburton Forest hosts the Forest Festival each August. This summer Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo will be among the entertainers performing at the outdoor amphitheatre at Bone Lake and the historic logging museum. Details to follow.

Photo of the Week – Married at Moose Haven

Lea — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 01:49:51 +0000

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A Game of Fox and Mouse

Lea — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:45:52 +0000

Mice are a part of life in the country. Some cottages do have to contend with mouse or two. Because we have pets, poison is out of the question and to our guests a dead mouse in a trap can be less appealing than the brief flash of one disappearing into the woodwork. Provided we are not overrun — they aren’t scooting across the bed or the kitchen counters — it’s something one can live with. A few years ago, we had an mouse epidemic in our area. Homes and cottages that had never seen mice were plagued by the varmints. As it turned out, the fox had developed mange and did not fare well that year. Fox tend to keep the mouse population in check. You may be pleased to learn, healthy, bushy-tailed fox are thriving this year. Still, I give you my heartfelt advice: If you’re terrified of mice, you’d be better off staying at the Holiday Inn.

Owner Tips: A good mouse deterrent? In the Fall ,when you’re closing up the cottage for the winter, place bounce sheets in the drawers and on the mattresses. Sprinkle whole cloves on the floors. Mice hate the smell.

The Lure of Fishing

Lea — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 01:39:02 +0000

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There are over 600 named lakes to fish in the Haliburton Highlands and the lakes are regularly stocked. Our deep, clear lakes are ideal for trout. We also have walleye, small and largemouth bass, muskie, pickerel and pike . As well as brook and rainbow trout, Redstone Lake has a unique strain of trout — a glacial relic — very sleek and very tasty — an angler’s dream.

One visitor to Kennisis Lake left us some decent instructions about luring the trout after the success he and his son had the week they spent at Loon Landing cottage.

They can only be caught down-rigging and we used blue and silver hammer finished Williams spoons ( Try different colors if Blue and silver isn’t working, like silver and gold etc.) ( 4 to 6 inches in length) 40 to 60 feet down trolling depth and about 50 to 75 feet behind in about 80 to 100 feet of water on the opposite side of the lake from Loon Landing; fairly close to the dam and island area at the edge of the deep water (around 150 to 200 foot drop off). We trolled the edge at 80 feet water depth and not more than 1 to 1 1/2 mile per hour. Hope that helps your renters a bit. — S. Dorey.

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If you are between the ages of 18 and 65, a fishing license is required. Call anywhere in Canada 1 800 387-7011. A temporary fishing license can be procured for those who just want to try fishing and there are also license-free fishing dates like the annual Ontario Family Fishing Weekend. For more information contact:

www.hhoa.on.ca
www.haliburtononthefly.com
www.familyfishingweekend.com

Septic Care and the Health of our Lakes

Lea — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 01:31:00 +0000

Urban centres have sewers. At the lake, we have septic systems. Over the years, septic systems have improved, not only by their safer location in proximity to the lake, but by their ability able to handle waste. Even so, an overtaxed septic system can result in leeching, and put the health of our lakes in jeopardy. It’s as much the septic system as the sleeping arrangements that dictate an owner’s decision on cottage capacity. So given due consideration, rather than risk saturating the tile bed, stagger water use: Don’t shower one after another or while running the washing machine or dishwasher.

Septics are extremely sensitive to the introduction of any foreign materials — the rule of thumb being: If you didn’t eat it, don’t flush it. Nothing will ruin a holiday faster than a backed-up septic system. To cottage guests and renters, we cannot emphasize this enough. An oversight can be a costly mistake. Cottage owners make note in their information packages and generally post a sign in the loo as a reminder.

Use 1 ply toilet paper if possible, and eco-friendly soaps. And please don’t bathe in the lake. Many residents draw their drinking water straight from the lake, which is filtered against bacteria not soaps and chemicals. And for those of you introducing boats into our lakes from outside areas, be sure to wash the hulls thoroughly before launching. We do not have zebra mussels here in Haliburton County, an invading species that litter the lake floor making wading in a lot like walking on broken glass. With the seeming abundance of fresh water in Ontario, we often forget that what we have is a precious and finite resource. The health of our lakes and our own health are inextricably linked. We would like to maintain the clear, pristine waters of the Highlands for future generations to enjoy.

The Bear Truth

Lea — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:26:29 +0000

There is arguably more wildlife in this region now than there was 50 years ago. From the late 1950s to the early 70s, I spent my summers on Kennisis Lake. It was a rare treat to see a deer on the road (rarer still to find him in your garden, chowing down on your lilies and hostas), and back then the wolf population had been pretty much decimated. Current hunting regulations have radically changed the animal demographic. Nowadays, deer are a real hazard on the roads. One must develop sharp peripheral night vision to spot the mob of eyes staring from the ditches. Wolves move with greater stealth and secrecy, but you may catch a glimpse of one trotting along the ice-bound lake in winter or dashing into the bush as you drive down a back road. Last summer, two rangy fellows appeared frequently at the landfill site to steal an illicit morsel or two before the bears would get grumpy about their grub, and chase them off.

I saw only two wild moose between 1960 and 1975, and in those days, the bears stayed at the dump. It’s not uncommon now to observe a moose crossing the road at snail’s pace. Ten years ago, my family and I moved to the lake permanently. Within a week, I encountered a moose blocking my path to the mail box. It hardly seemed worth arguing with him for the gratification of picking up a hydro bill. A bull moose can weigh up to 1,800 pounds. Just saying.

People in cottage country like to feed the wildlife. A chipmunk or squirrel is easily tamed with a peanunt. A chickadee will perch on your shoulder. Some residents in the Haliburton area feed the deer in the winter. Come hunting season when the intrepid hunters are off tracking their elusive prey, these docile creatures are grazing happily in backyards with only the wild turkeys to fend off.

I’ve heard that some city folk feed racoons — often with dire consequences as the critters take up residence in roof and garage. A racoon can break a dog’s leg, and I know of one instance where a masked marauder clamped down on a man throwing a fist on his bedroom balcony, a fiasco that culminated in a 3 am trip to ER for a rabies shot and 60 stitches.

But the real danger in feeding wildlife is that it attracts bears . Pitch a tent and forget that bag of potato chips under the sleeping bag? Big no no. To leave a bag of garbage on the porch or in a shed or boathouse until you can make it to the garbage dump is to invite disaster. Not only can a bear easily barrel through a shed wall, he/she will keep coming back for more. A nuisance bear is either live trapped by the MNR and failing that, shot.

Bears will try to avoid humans, but don’t like to be startled. Even a noisy little dog will often send them scuttling into the bush. So when walking in the woods, make your presence known — sing, whistle (bears don’t care for music apparently) and talk (I know one woman who carries a tambourine whenever she walks to the marina). You can also purchase an air horn or bear pepper spray.

To be honest, I have yet to meet a bear face to face on the road. And I like to walk. However, if you should encounter a bear: raise your arms to make yourself big and maintain eye contact with him while backing away. Bears have poor eyesight and would rather avoid confrontation if they are unsure of you. But should the bear begin to huff and puff and paw the ground, it means he wants you to retreat further. If he continues to advance, it’s time to get aggressive: yell, jump up and down, and wave your arms; in short, stand your ground. By no means run or attempt to climb a tree. The bear is better at both.

In terms of woodland security, there’s really no need to batten down the hatches. Bear attacks are relatively rare. Bears are only attracted to human habitation by the smell of food or garbage (that includes your bird feeder and your barbecue grill). The bear is not the enemy. He too has a right to be here. With the inevitable encroachment of civilization, their habitat has been greatly diminished. As well, the foraging abilities of our black bears have become impaired by easy access to garbage dumps. They’ve grown accustomed to our food and their berry picking days are all but over.

We welcome you to submit your own titillating animal tales, tips and advice.