For the first time in KMC’s two-decade-long history, we went with an illustrated cover for this issue. What better way to make a point about the plight of bears euthanizing humans?

It’s also the first time we’ve written about off-road lawn mowers, stink bugs, illegal firewood collecting, and a fishing guide’s pet boat goat. In fact, there is no shortage of fascinating things to write about in the Kootenay region of British Columbia because, as editor-in-chief Mitchell Scott writes in this issue’s Backside column, “modern humans are nuts.”