2/14 Mink, hot Antarctica, BC LNG protests, TMX protests, wood chip barge, fisher release, oily tubeworms

American mink [Kurt Schlimmel]

American Mink Neovison vison
Mink are found throughout the United States, appearing in parts of every state except Arizona. They are also present in most of Canada, including an introduced population on Newfoundland. Only along the Arctic coast and some offshore islands are they absent. Although mink are found throughout North America, they tend to frequent forested areas that are in close proximity to water. Streams, ponds, and lakes, with some sort of brushy or rocky cover nearby are considered optimal territory. (Animal Diversity Web)

Temperature in Antarctica soars to near 70 degrees, appearing to topple continental record set days earlier
A weather research station on Seymour Island in the Antarctic Peninsula registered a temperature of 69.3 degrees (20.75 Celsius) on Feb. 9, according to Márcio Rocha Francelino, a professor at the Federal University of Vicosa in Brazil. The nearly 70-degree temperature is significantly higher than the 65-degree reading taken on Feb. 6 at the Esperanza Base along Antarctica’s Trinity Peninsula on Feb. 6. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is reviewing that reading to see if it qualifies as the continent’s hottest temperature on record. Andrew Freedman reports. (Washington Post)

2 in 5 Canadians support Wet'suwet'en solidarity protesters — but half say yes to pipeline, new poll finds
A new poll by a national non-profit research institute finds that two in five Canadians support the Wet'suwet'en solidarity protesters, who have shut down bridges, ports, roads and rail lines across the country.  The Angus Reid Institute survey paints a picture of a country divided along political, regional and economic lines over the protests, the Coastal GasLink pipeline itself and how the pipeline company might proceed...Thirty-nine per cent of people polled say they support the Wet'suwet'en solidarity protesters...On the flipside, the poll finds that just over half of people surveyed say they support the Coastal GasLink project itself. Clare Hennig reports. (CBC) See also: Protesters blocking West Coast Express say they're in it 'for the long haul'  A blockade on the Pitt River rail bridge forced cancellation of commuter trains beginning Thursday. (CBC) Also: Mission-Coquitlam bus bridge to replace West Coast Express after protest forces cancellation of trains  (CBC) And also: Injunction bars protesters from blocking legislature, amid plans to shut down government buildings in Victoria Wet'suwet'en supporters have planned to shut down all government buildings in Victoria. (CBC)

Trans Mountain confident court orders will protect against pipeline protests
A Trans Mountain Corp says it already has the court orders will prevent workers from being barred from its job sites along the route of its oil pipeline expansion project. Protests in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to the gas pipeline have led to stoppages in service for Via Rail, freight rail traffic east of Prince Rupert, and blockades of Metro rail lines, port terminals and arterial roads. There have been numerous protests against the Trans Mountain pipeline over the years and spokesperson Allison Hounsell said the company is expecting more as construction to twin the line ramps up this spring. (Kamloops This Week)

Seaspan barge full of wood chips nearly tips off Vancouver Island coast
A Saanich mariner on his way to the Gulf Islands on Wednesday morning posted a photo of a Seaspan barge drifting sideways between Pender and Salt Spring islands. Ian Hinkle was headed to salvage a derelict boat with the Cold Water Divers crew when he first saw the barge at about 7:15 a.m. He tweeted a photo of the listing barge and some of its load, wood chips, floating in the Salish Sea. The tug boat operator was circling in an attempt to right the barge. Travis Paterson reports. (Coast Mountain News)

Final batch of fishers reintroduced in habitat near Darrington
four fishers were released  Thursday afternoon and "ran away really well" into habitat around Bedal Campground, about 15 miles Southeast of Darrington, said Jeff Lewis, lead biologist on the program with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Bellamy Pailthorp reports. (KNKX)

Impact of oil contaminated water on tubeworms and brittlestars
A new study adds a new layer to understanding how an oil spill could impact marine life. A diverse community of worms and other marine organisms on the seafloor plays a large role in nutrient cycling, organic matter burial, and remineralization. The burrowing and feeding activities of these organisms or bioturbation helps in the oxygenation of the sediment. (Science Daily)


Now, your weekend tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  236 AM PST Fri Feb 14 2020   
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT   
TODAY  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 1 to 2 ft. W swell 13 ft  at 15 seconds. A chance of rain in the morning then a slight  chance of rain in the afternoon. 
TONIGHT  SW wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft. W swell 10  ft at 14 seconds. Rain.  SAT  SE wind 15 to 25 kt easing to 10 to 20 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft subsiding to 1 to 3 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 8 ft at 13 seconds. Rain in the morning then a  chance of rain in the afternoon. 
SAT NIGHT  NW wind 15 to 25 kt. Wind waves 2 to 4 ft. W swell 9  ft at 11 seconds. 
SUN  NW wind 10 to 20 kt becoming W 15 to 25 kt in the  afternoon. Wind waves 1 to 3 ft building to 2 to 4 ft in the  afternoon. W swell 9 ft at 17 seconds.



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