This program has been sponsored by Southern Health-Sante Sud Public Health, Healthy Living and Healthy Together Now funding.

This program has been sponsored by Southern Health-Sante Sud Public Health, Healthy Living and Healthy Together Now funding.

Residents and landowners of the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn are being invited to share their perspectives in a new Species at Risk community survey.

The survey, conducted by Probe Research on behalf of the RM of Stuartburn and its Shared Legacy partners, builds on original research completed in 2020. That earlier study established baseline information about community awareness, attitudes and priorities regarding the region’s tall-grass prairie ecosystem and conservation efforts.

Six years later, organizers say the follow-up survey will help determine how public understanding and attitudes may have evolved between 2020 and 2026. The findings will help guide future planning, community engagement, and stewardship initiatives in the region.

“Residents and landowners of the RM of Stuartburn are invited to share their views in a new community survey being conducted by Probe Research on behalf of the RM of Stuartburn and its Shared Legacy partners, said Monique Chenier, Economic Development and Tourism Manager for Sunrise Corner Economic Development. “This follow-up survey builds on the original 2020 Species at Risk research, which established important baseline information about community awareness, attitudes and priorities related to the tall-grass prairie and conservation in the region. Six years later, this new survey will help us understand how attitudes and understanding may have evolved.”

All residents are encouraged to participate. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and responses will remain confidential. Participants can complete the survey online via a QR code available on community posters, the RM of Stuartburn newsletter and the Shared Legacy Partnership Facebook page, or by visiting ca1.voxco.com/S2/291/Stuartburn/. Paper copies are also available by contacting maryagnes@probe-research.com or calling/texting 204-470-8862. Mailed surveys include a stamped return envelope.

As an incentive, participants may enter to win one of three $150 prizes, each consisting of $100 cash and $50 in local gift cards. The survey remains open until March 25.

Shared Legacy is a cooperative working group led by the RM of Stuartburn and The Nature Conservancy of Canada, in partnership with Sunrise Corner Economic Development and the Province of Manitoba. The initiative is funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada and aims to advance understanding of Manitoba’s Tall Grass Prairie Natural Area, its relationship with agriculture, and the natural heritage that benefits residents across the region.

March 20th is the spring equinox, which officially means we can welcome back spring to the tall-grass prairie! It is on this date that in the Northern Hemisphere we have equal parts daylight and darkness, and going forward, daylight increases.

Community members are in a more cheerful mood as we move into longer days, which are also slowly getting warmer. We look forward to beginning all the spring chores, followed by summer vacations. If we consider the wildlife members of our community, this time of year poses many changes and challenges for them to overcome. Depending on how Mother Nature acts, spring can be a reprieve from winter or a final obstacle that is too hard to get through.

I don’t have any official numbers in front of me, but in my opinion this winter has been erratic. We have had weeks of -40 degrees Celsius followed by above 0 degrees Celsius. Warmer temperatures brought multiple days when we had winter rain! Rain in December and January is not something I remember much of as a kid. Compared to the last few years, we have also received a fair amount of snow as well.

This type of weather can negatively impact grazing animals, as rain or warm-weather melt can create a layer of ice that makes it very hard to get to food sources underneath. This is one of the reasons species like white-tailed deer switch from being grazers in the summer to browsers in the winter, focusing on the easier-to-reach woody browse such as buds, twigs, and bark. This woody forage is hard to digest and not as nutritious compared to what they would be focusing on in the summer, so they will slowly lose weight. Simply walking in this terrain can be exhausting as well; crunching through that ice layer while still having to punch through a deep layer of snow will burn calories that wouldn’t be an issue in better terrain.

On the other hand, a hard winter can benefit certain species. For example, the white-tailed deer, who are becoming weaker with each passing day, become an easier target for predators like coyotes or wolves. Winter-killed wildlife also means scavengers like ravens will have an easier time finding a meal. Nature has a way of balancing out, and different species have adapted to make the best of others’ misfortune.

Spring weather has a huge impact on how the rest of the year will shape up for many of our tall-grass prairie species. Warm, sunny weather will help with a quick “green up,” which will benefit a lot of the struggling herbivores; however, if we get a cold, snowy March, this could be the tipping point on whether certain animals make it or not. With spring migration, birthing season, and just a general increase in wildlife activity, I would urge everyone to give wildlife the space it needs to get through this time of the year so they can enjoy the beautiful tall-grass prairie summer ahead of us.

Adventures with Nature Norm
If you are looking to welcome back spring, please join me on the next Adventures with Nature Norm, March 28th, 10am-12pm at the Weston Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre. We’ll be on the lookout for the first signs of spring and saying goodbye to the past winter. For more information, please contact info@sharedlegacymb.ca. I hope to see you there!

This follow-up survey builds on the original 2020 Species at Risk research, which established important baseline information about community awareness, attitudes and priorities related to the tall-grass prairie and conservation in the region. Six years later, this new survey will help us understand how attitudes and understanding may have evolved between 2020 and 2026. The results will guide future planning, community engagement, and stewardship initiatives in the region.

All residents are encouraged to participate. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and responses are confidential.

How to Participate

Online: Scan the QR code (on the community poster, mailed postcard, RM of Stuartburn newsletter, and Shared Legacy Partnership Facebook page) or visit ca1.voxco.com/S2/291/Stuartburn/

Paper copy: Contact maryagnes@probe-research.com or call/text 204-470-8862 to request a mailed survey with a stamped return envelope.

As a thank you, participants can enter to win one of three $150 prizes ($100 cash and $50 in local gift cards).

The survey is open until March 25.

Community input is essential. Whether you completed the survey in 2020 or are participating for the first time, your perspective will help shape how conservation, agriculture and economic development move forward together in Stuartburn.

Shared Legacy is a cooperative working group led by the Rural Municipality of Stuartburn and The Nature Conservancy of Canada along with partners Sunrise Corner Economic Development and Province of Manitoba, funded by Environment and Climate Change Canada. The goal of the Partnership is to help advance understanding of the wonder of Manitoba’s Tall Grass Prairie Natural Area, its relationship with agriculture, and the natural heritage that benefits all residents.

 – 30 –

Media Contact:
Monique Chenier, Economic Development Manager
Sunrise Corner Economic Development
monique@sunrisecornermb.ca
www.sharedlegacymb.ca

Many years ago, while I was working in the Rockies, I had a unique wildlife experience. After guiding a full-day hike, I was driving guests back to their hotels. It was a very quiet ride as all had fallen asleep. Suddenly a shape walked out in front of the vehicle: a cougar! I slammed on the brakes, and although I can’t remember what I had said, I know I was ecstatic. The guests looked around, but the big cat was already gone. One of them asked if we would see another cougar, not knowing what a rare sighting it was. I replied with a very opportunistic “There’s always a chance!”. That was the first and last cougar I have ever seen.

Since I have moved back to Manitoba, I have heard of more encounters with cougars than what I can remember as a child. My wife saw a cougar only a few kilometres from our house. We also have the chance to see other wildcats like the bobcat and lynx. These rare felines share the landscape with us but are seldom seen. Due to the rarity of a sighting, we tend not to think about these animals as much as we would a more commonly sighted creature, so there is a lot to learn about the wildcats of Manitoba.

Let’s start with the cougar, also known as a mountain lion, puma, and a host of other names. Cougars have the largest selection of common names of any mammal. One reason for this is they have the most widespread range of any large land mammal in the Western Hemisphere, from Yukon to the South American Andes. Each region has a specific name they commonly use for Puma concolor.

Although a cougar sighting is rare in Manitoba, if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse, they are unmistakable. Averaging over one hundred pounds with a tail that is one-third of the total body length, these are impressive creatures. They are top predators who can reach speeds of eighty kilometres per hour and hold the record for the highest standstill jump of any predator: over seven meters! Prey varies depending on where the cougar’s range is, but in Manitoba it is thought that white-tailed deer would be a preferred target.

Although cougars certainly exist in Manitoba, there remains some debate as to their official status in the province. There are many photos, videos, and accounts of seeing cougars across a wide geographic area; however, it is still unknown if there are breeding adults raising kittens in Manitoba. This is a key factor in being able to move cougars from being “data deficient” in Manitoba. If the uptick of sightings continues, there is a good chance kittens will be detected, and the question of if the cougar is a breeding species or not will be put to bed.

A quick note on the other felines of Manitoba the bobcat and lynx. Although very similar in appearance, the lynx is slightly larger than the bobcat, and the lynx has more pronounced black tips on the ears. These felines share a range throughout the border region of Canada and the USA, where the lynx will generally range north and the bobcat south. With a size on average of one-third the size of a cougar, they are generally looking for smaller prey, such as snowshoe hare.

Seeing any wildcat in Manitoba can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience; it’s time with nature that you won’t forget. Even though they are rare to see, I take great pride in living in an area where it is still possible for these wildcats of Manitoba to be seen.

Adventures with Nature Norm

To learn more about wildcats of Manitoba, please join me on the next Adventures with Nature Norm on February 28th from 10am to 12pm at the Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre. Please contact info@sharedlegacymb.ca for more information. See you there!

This program has been sponsored by Southern Health-Sante Sud Public Health, Healthy Living and Healthy Together Now funding.

Winter offers a unique window into the hidden lives of animals, and local naturalist Norm Gregoire says snow-covered landscapes make it the ideal season to learn the art of wildlife tracking.

Gregoire, who leads the Adventures with Nature Norm program through Shared Legacy, says winter simplifies what can otherwise be a challenging outdoor skill.

“Winter, it just lends itself to wildlife tracking, just basically because of the snow,” Gregoire said. “The snow really just captures different prints and different animal signs,” he added.

In warmer months, tracks are often lost in grass or mixed woodlands, but fresh snow provides a clear canvas that reveals where animals have been and what they were doing.

Reading more than footprints

While tracks are often the first thing people notice, Gregoire says they are only one part of the story animals leave behind.

“There is a lot more than you might think,” he said.

He explains that learning to read wildlife signs takes time and practice, noting many people walk past clues without realizing what they are seeing, such as plant damage left by animals from feeding.

“Just walking through the trails, you can see tons of signs from different brows on the different willows and things like that from deer, rabbits and hares and everything like that around,” Gregoire said.

Chew marks on trees, day beds in the snow, and even owl pellets can all offer insight into animal behaviour. Gregoire says an owl that frequented the Interpretive Centre last winter has returned, leaving pellets beneath a regular perch.

“It sort of tells a story of what these owls have been up to over the last couple of weeks,” he said.

Common and surprising tracks

Some animal tracks are familiar to most residents, especially in southeastern Manitoba.

“I think most people in our area are pretty familiar with what a white-tailed deer track looks like,” Gregoire said.

Coyotes and foxes are also common trail users, but Gregoire says some of the most interesting signs are the smallest.

“These little animal highways that zip through the deep snow over the trail… are from little rodents, voles and mice and things like that,” he said.

More surprising finds can include tracks from weasels such as ermine and pine marten, which turn white in winter, and even larger animals that are rarely seen.

“Sometimes with animals we rarely see, like a wolf or an elk, we have a much more likely chance of spotting their tracks,” Gregoire said.

Knowing how old a track is

Determining whether tracks are fresh or days old is another skill Gregoire encourages people to practice.

“One of the easiest ways… is just simply sort of looking back on the last few hours or day or even days to remember when was the last time we had snowfall in the area,” he said.

He adds that temperature and how the snow has frozen around a print can also provide clues, something that becomes easier with experience.

“It’s all about getting outside and seeing what you can see,” Gregoire said.

Why tracking matters

For Gregoire, wildlife tracking adds depth to any outdoor experience.

“With tracks, they just give you more of an opportunity to learn from the animal, know that they’re in the area,” he said.

His advice for beginners is simple.

“Patience and also just awareness of what’s around you,” Gregoire said.

To hear the entire conversation with Gregoire, listen to the podcast with host Carly Koop.

Event details

Residents can put these skills into practice this weekend during a free guided winter wildlife tracking event.

Adventures with Nature Norm: Winter Wildlife Tracking takes place Saturday, Jan. 17, starting at 10 a.m. at the Weston Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre, just outside Stuartburn. The approximately two-hour event includes time on the trails, weather permitting, as well as an indoor presentation on identifying animal tracks common to the area.

This program has been sponsored by Southern Health-Sante Sud Public Health, Healthy Living and Healthy Together Now funding.

SPECIAL NOTE: This is also Vita & Area Winter Festival weekend, so plan to come out and spend the rest of your day in Vita enjoying dog sled races, curling, kids activities and so much more.

The next Adventures with Nature Norm session will focus on overwintering birds in the tall-grass prairie and how residents can support them through the colder months.

Helping overwintering birds

Norm Gregoire from Shared Legacy says these non-migrating birds are well adapted to harsh prairie winters, but there are still ways people can help.

“If you’re a nature lover why not feed the birds by providing a nice fat-rich diet to them when they’re sort of struggling. A lot of times they can be in a calorie deficit, we can really help these birds survive. Without this food source maybe some of them wouldn’t make it.”

Feeding guidelines

Gregoire encourages bird lovers to follow a few simple rules when feeding birds. The first is to provide quality, nutrient-dense food.

“A lot of times we’ve seen the movies and that sort of thing where folks are throwing out things like pieces of bread and scraps out for the birds. That’s not recommended. Bread especially is really bad for birds. It’s just high sugar. It fills them up and gives them no nutritional value.”

He adds, “If you’re going to feed them, invest in something like black oil sunflower seeds is very common in our area. We can pick them up in all sorts of different stores. That’s a really good one.”

His second rule is to keep feeding them consistently throughout the winter.

“If all of a sudden you stop, let’s say in a month’s time, your, your bag of bird seed runs out. Well, those birds, those local birds you have in your area are going to be so conditioned they’re coming to get their food source from your feeder, all of a sudden we get a cold snap of negative 40 in February, and they have no food to rely on. And that can be really damaging to the birds.”

The final rule is to keep feeders clean, especially closer to spring.

“There’s a lot of different diseases that can be spread and a lot of things like mold build up when you’re starting to go freeze thaw, freeze thaw, and that can be harmful to the birds as well. So, a nice little cleaning every once in a while will help keep your bird friends safe.”

How overwintering birds survive

Gregoire says overwintering birds use several strategies to cope with extreme cold, such as growing a thicker layer of feathers and increasing their body fat.

“They’re going to be trying to get a higher body fat percentage. That’s why I say fatty foods are important for them. But then they also do simple things like huddling together in trees.”

He notes that some songbirds enter a short hibernation-like state called torpor.

“Even a bird like a chickadee can go into torpor for a day, two days to sort of get them through a really cold spell in the winter. So they’ll find a nice warm place and they’ll go into this sort of like hibernation.”

Birds to watch for

Manitobans may spot several notable species during the winter months, including the province’s own great grey owl.

“It’s just a stunning bird, and huge wingspan. You see them in the snow-covered trees out hunting for different rodents, that sort of thing.”

Snowy owls also make appearances.

“Which is a little bit more rare. It depends what part of Manitoba you go to. Some areas, it doesn’t take you long to find snowy owls. But in the tall-grass prairie, we see them sporadically. They are around. They’re always a treat to see, though.”

Event details

Residents can learn more at Gregoire’s upcoming event at the Weston Family Tall Grass Prairie Interpretive Centre on Saturday, December 20.

“We’re going to be going out about 10 o’clock, going for a little walk, and I’ll provide binoculars for folks, and we’re going to be taking our time going down the trail here, seeing what we can see.”

With files from Carly Koop