On Wednesday night, Oct. 27th, North Americans can see a total eclipse of the moon. According to folklore, October's full moon is called the ''Hunter's Moon'' or sometimes the ''Blood Moon.'' It gets its name from hunters who tracked and killed their prey by autumn moonlight, stockpiling food for the winter ahead. You can picture them: silent figures padding through the forest, the moon overhead, pale as a corpse, its cold light betraying the creatures of the wood. The Blood Moon rises this year on Wednesday, Oct. 27th. At first it will seem pale and cold, as usual. And then ... blood red.
We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream. Wandering by lone sea breakers, and sitting by desolate streams. World losers and world forsakers, for whom the pale moon gleams. Yet we are movers and the shakers of the world forever it seems. Arthur O'Shaunessey
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Alberta rancher fears for family's safety after fourth horse in five years shot--Canadian Press--October 26, 2004
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alta. (CP) _ A rancher in northern Alberta says he fears for his family's safety after seeing his fourth horse killed by gunfire in the last five years. Don Nelson said his top breeding mare was recently gunned down after dark on private property near a house. Nelson, a former hunting guide, said he blames hunters
`We have lost control of sanity out here and it is now only a question of when and where a reckless hunter ends up accidentally shooting someone,'' said Nelson. ``Horses, cows, dogs and even road signs are falling victim to hunters willing to shoot at anything, anywhere, at anytime. It's frightening.''
Nelson said it's not unusual for rural residents to pull bullets out of livestock that are mistaken for the deer, elk and moose that share their pastureland. ``Ranchers up here are fed up with hunters shooting holes in our animals, our wallets, wrecking our fencing and endangering the lives of anyone working in areas that have animals,'' he said.``People are fed up and are going to do something about it.''
Seth Barnfield said he has lost six of his Great Pyrenees sheep dogs to hunters over the last five years.
``Hunters in the region seem to be getting more and more irresponsible,'' said Barnfield. ``It's so bad it makes you wonder if they would accidentally shoot you. There is no doubt in my mind something like that is going to happen soon.''
County officials are also complaining about hunters shooting up rural deer-crossing road signs.
Grande Prairie Fish and Wildlife officials admit there are usually one or two complaints of local livestock being shot annually, but said the problem is not growing larger.
RCMP officers also confirmed there are numerous cases of reckless firearms use annually, but add they don't see the problem as being out of control.