Dawson Trail Dispatch, written by Norm Gregoire, February 2025
Page 17 https://issuu.com/dispatch222/docs/dawson_trail_dispatch_february_2025
February is the month of love; at least that is what my wife reminds me every year as we approach the 14th. For many couples, Valentine’s Day is seen as slightly gimmicky by modern standards, but I can’t argue against a day that encourages us to spend time with the one we love. When we think about what love means in the animal kingdom, it is unknown if they experience the “romantic” side of things, but some evidence suggests that animals can feel certain emotions just as a human can. Regardless of the range of love wildlife can feel, folks may be surprised to know that here in the tall-grass prairie, February is when things start to heat up for certain prairie species.
In very basic terms, the main objective of any living creature would be to pass on their genes through offspring to guarantee the survival of their species and, in turn, a part of themselves. How romantic! There are different strategies that species use to accomplish this.
We can group species on whether they are monogamous or polygamous. It is important to note that these are broader terms when used in the animal kingdom compared to when they are used to describe a human relationship. Monogamous is used to describe a species that has one mated partner at a time. This can be for a period or for life; many researchers prefer the term “pair bonding.” Polygamous refers to an individual with more than one partner.
Great examples of Manitoban species that can be classified as monogamous would be rodents such as beavers and prairie voles, as well as canines such as red foxes, coyotes, and wolves. Mating for many of these pair-bonded species happens throughout the month of love. It may surprise you that approximately only five percent of the world’s mammal species can be considered monogamous.
This is quite the contrast compared to the over ninety percent of bird species being monogamous. Monogamous birds that are seen in a Manitoban winter include the black-capped chickadee, blue jay, and Manitoba’s provincial bird, the great grey owl. The main reason why monogamy is so prevalent in bird species compared to mammals is mostly due to the basic biological fact that birds lay eggs outside of the body. This means that if the male wants to increase survival odds, they need to help raise the young by either helping to incubate the egg or by bringing food.
We have many polygamous species in the tall-grass prairie area, such as white-tailed deer, black bears, and snowshoe hares. White-tailed deer bucks will battle during the rut, and the healthiest will then go on to breed with the doe or does, ensuring that the doe is gaining the strongest genes. Black bear boars (males) will also fight to gain rights to breeding with the sow (female). The female of both these species may mate with multiple males, so when you see a black bear sow with four cubs, they may be from four different boars! A snowshoe hare will give birth up to four times a year and have upwards of thirty leverets (offspring) per year. There is strength in numbers!
The diverse techniques that species in the tall-grass prairie use to ensure their species survives represent what is needed to live in such a complex ecosystem. Winters are harsh, and summers can be extremely plentiful. Nothing is guaranteed, but everyone that calls this area home does their best to give the next generation the greatest chance for success.
Adventures with Nature Norm
Why not spend Valentine’s weekend with Nature Norm? On Saturday, February 15th, we will be learning about love in the tall-grass prairie with a short snowshoe followed by an indoor presentation at the Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre. Please contact me at info@sharedlegacymb.ca for event details and to register.