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The burning of wilderness cabins

The mystery of the burning of Yukon wilderness cabins is gaining some interest.
robb

The mystery of the burning of Yukon wilderness cabins is gaining some interest. Who is burning the cabins? Is it the Yukon government lands branch? Or who, and why?

Thank you to the following people for their letters:


Dear Jim,

You know, it’s said that there is a dumbing down process going on in recent generations. Set fire to a $46-million plus ‘facility’ in Whitehorse (Canada Games Centre) and it’s called a crime. But hire a chopper pilot, plus the cost of the helicopter at how much per hour for the required hours, plus throw in the added expense of a paid ‘public arsonist’ or two specifically hired for their “larger than life” mission to fly to who knows how many wonderful, beautiful, and lovely destinations in the Yukon to set fire to cabins that may have, at any time, contributed towards saving the lives of human beings, and it’s not called a crime!

Used to be that it was understood by previous generations that you just don’t do that. But now it’s OK. Go figure!

G. Beamis

Whitehorse


Dear Jim,

I totally agree - old cabins are a resource and part of our heritage. I am totally opposed to this ill-considered attempt to sanitize the bush.

Leave old cabins as is.

Pete Neilson

Braeburn


Dear Jim,

I think the idea of burning cabins out in the bush is awful. Over the many years, some have survived, whether lost or hurt, because they were close or relied on these cabins.

As for the mice, we have them in our sheds, garages and sometimes in our homes and heritage buildings. What are they going to do, burn everything down that has mice? Mice are a fact of life in the food chain for animals such as coyotes, foxes, lynx, etc. As for the virus caused by mice, guess what: The mice were imported from Alberta when you brought feed for cows and horses.

If one was to go into these bush cabins and see the dung of mice - it should be wet down before cleaning. Dry spores will enter your body if you don’t. I think that people who have lived here for a long time know that. Funny that the powers that be don’t know or is there another reason for this stupidity?

The government doesn’t go in and burn crack houses that have been taken over by addicts. Leave the cabins alone, as they might save more lives in the future. Is this a mandate of your job description? Have the mice been tested to see if these particular cabins have the virus?

As for the bird-observation cabin being burned down, why didn’t you ask the scientist to find out if there was a problem. People can set traps for these vermin. Burning is not the answer. Shame on you.

Rosalie Brown

Whitehorse


Anyone with information about this subject, please write Jim Robb: The Colourful Five Per Cent Scrapbook - Can You Identify? c/o the Yukon News, 211 Wood Street, Whitehorse, Yukon, Y1A 2E4, or email through the News website, www.yukon-news.com.