r/FortMcMurray

Hi everyone I’m looking for recommendations on where to and where not to live I hear a lot about not living downtown can someone give me some insight I’m new to the province

I have never experienced this level of betrayal before and im really struggling with understanding it. Im replaying everything. Im going insane. Was i too much or not enough. Im beyond broken. Really thought I found the one for me. The one Id spend the rest of my life with. Any advice is appreciated or anything to make me laugh please. Im broken beyond repair.

Also, if anyone knows jasm..ine wandering spirit shes an absolute homewrecker. Stay super far away from that gross junky...

Hello, any hiking recommendations here in town? I'm new and been here for just a month. We're about 7-9 people- ages are between 56M (physically active) to 2yrs old.

Not everyone are physically active in our group, so somewhat manageable between 30mins-1hr hike is preferable.

Thank you so much

Looking to buy 2 tickets for tomorrow nights show! Sunday!

My wife and I were driving southbound across the bridge tonight at about 11:30pm and we both noticed a bright white light moving across the sky in front of us. It looked fairly close, it wasnt blinking, just arching across the sky. No sooner had it caught both our attention it just disappeared. It didn't fade out or change direction, it was just no longer there. The sky was dark, but not black. It was definitely odd. I wish we were in my vehicle as the dash cam may have captured it.

Eh, I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask here....I was looking through my childhood Pokemon card collection and based on what I found online, 2-3 of them could be worth some money. Has anyone had their cards appraised locally and sold them? Or has anyone sold their cards on Ebay? Only thing, from what I understand you need the cards professionally graded in order to sell and get what they are worth.

In recent weeks, there have been news reports in Alberta about the explosion of the forest tent caterpillar population in some areas. The forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) is a pest of broadleaved trees and shrubs. When young, they’re black, hairy and about 3 mm long. When mature, they are about 50 mm long, with wide blue bands along the sides of the body, and a row of white keyhole shaped spots along the back. 

Forest tent caterpillars have currently been popping up mainly in forested areas, camping grounds, parks, and in backyards in Alberta. Though large, the numbers still pale in comparison to the massive population explosion that occurred in central Alberta in the late 80s. Any Albertan who lived in this region at the time remembers; in 1987 and 1988, the furry little creatures literally took over entire areas, engulfing trees and clustering in massive groups on buildings and the ground. 

“My friend’s house in Athabasca backed onto a forest and when the caterpillars came they were piled 4 feet high on the sides of the house and on the doors, and had to be shovelled daily to even open the door,” said LeeAnna Binder, of Sherwood Park, AB.  “The dead ones at the bottom of the pile smelled so bad. It was unbelievable.” 

Entire woodland areas back then would be decimated by the caterpillar’s voracious appetites, trees and shrubs would appear to be moving as thousands would overtake each plant, stripping the foliage. The roads and walks weren’t spared either, as hundreds of thousands of caterpillars met an untimely end, inadvertently at the bottom of vehicle tires and pedestrian shoes. 

Though essentially harmless to humans, forest tent caterpillars can cause some physical discomfort to people, as rashes on the skin can form caused by direct contact. Their bodies are covered in tiny, stiff hairs that can cause mechanical irritation or mild allergic reactions.

“I remember my buddy in school back then covering himself in caterpillars and getting a rash,” said former longtime Alberta resident Robert Gettman, currently living in Wollongong, Australia. “He ended up missing school.”

Questionable youth behaviour aside, a child having the ability to cover himself with large amounts of caterpillars exemplifies the population explosion central Albertans faced at the time, having only dealt with them occasionally to varying degrees since. 

 ”FTC (forest tent caterpillar) populations naturally exhibit cyclic dynamics, with outbreaks occurring every 10 years or so and lasting a few years,” said Dr. Leah Flaherty, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

When asked about the outbreak in Alberta in the late 80s, Dr Flaherty replied “For the 1987 Edmonton outbreak, the most likely explanation is that several factors aligned just right to create conditions favourable for rapid population growth. FTC populations had likely been increasing for several years, weather conditions were probably favourable for survival and development, and Edmonton has an abundance of trembling aspen, the preferred host of FTC in western Canada.”

Adding, “At the same time, natural enemies had likely not yet increased sufficiently to suppress the growing population.”

As the river valley and park areas in Edmonton and surrounding communities currently get inundated by the caterpillars, it’s notable to point out that these population booms are temporary, usually lasting only a few years. Eventually, natural controls such as parasitic wasps, viral diseases, and starvation cause the caterpillar populations to crash, allowing the ecosystem to recover. 

“Populations increase when natural enemy pressure is low, but high densities are eventually followed by increased mortality from pathogens and parasitoids, whose populations lag behind those of FTC. This leads to the characteristic outbreak-and-collapse cycle,” Flaherty explained. 

As for the late 80s outbreak, Dr.  Flaherty not only knows why the caterpillars showed up in abundance, but also why they seemed to be more noticeable and prevalent in certain areas during that time. 

“The 1987 event likely represented the peak of a regional outbreak cycle affecting much of central Alberta, not just Edmonton,” Flaherty said 

“The city (of Edmonton) simply made the outbreak more visible because so many caterpillars were concentrated around people, homes, and streets.” 

 

  

Trent McMartin 

https://preview.redd.it/hgd4c7evhpah1.jpg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c425e9cc30f17a2d59a7c0f7f1b54b107fe738b2

Hey everyone, just wanted to share a local Fort McMurray Discord server for anyone who wants to chat with other people in town.

It’s a place for local discussion, questions, recommendations, events, road/weather updates, gaming, and general community chat. Whether you’re new to town, have lived here forever, or just want another way to keep up with what’s going on locally, feel free to join.

Link: https://discord.gg/jrzg2MWv79

I can’t say why or how I know but I’m pretty sure the sulpher blocks are on fire at syncrude right now. Obviously no need to panic (yet) but a sulpher fire the size of 2 football fields is no joke so stay ready to evacuate if it’s needed.

Wind is currently blowing south east about 10-15 degrees away from the city. So sulpher dioxide isn’t a concern yet I don’t believe.

Update: Crews have been working on the fire for almost 10 hours. Both CNRL and Albian have provided support.
Some areas of site were temporarily evacuated due to wind. It is unclear whether or not the situation has gotten better.

Where in town can I get my F-250’s undercarriage pressure washed to remove dried mud and dirt?

Hey everyone, my partner and I just moved to Fort Mcmurray, AB from Saskatchewan.

Wondering if anyone knows someone that does a out of province inspection that won't break our bank lol

Thanks!

Where is everyone getting cheap vapes?
Is the place in wood buffalo really the cheapest?

I have commented several places that I believe for safety reasons the 50km section north of Wandering River on the southbound side should be shut down. Traffic could be moved to the northbound side. Since the first of May we have driven it 6 times and there has been zero attempt at filling any of the broken pavement. Because our dealership in Edmonton does drive through wheel alignment checks I have had 2 alignments done this spring/summer. The road is littered with dead animals because you don’t dare focus on surroundings for fear of driving into a bathtub sized pothole. If you are lucky you might get away with a flat tire. If you’re unlucky you will destroy a wheel or break a suspension/steering component. If one of the thousands of semis breaks a steering arm or blows a front tire who knows how bad it could be. Everyone should message Brian Jean and Tany Yao. If the government can’t afford it they could always cancel the referendums and save over $100 million.

Hey everyone. I'm planning to drive to edmonton tomorrow evening.

Been hearing lots of stories and posts about potholes going there. And it looks like the weather isn't cooperating tomorrow evening as well. I'm looking to get a second opinion on the recent road report. Should I just postpone it to go Wed Morning

Thanks