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.

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!

A recent lynx sighting in southeastern Manitoba is a reminder that wild cats continue to live quietly across the region, even if most residents never see them.

Nature interpreter Norm Gregoire with Shared Legacy says he recently encountered one of the elusive animals in Sandilands Provincial Forest, a rare experience despite decades spent outdoors studying wildlife.

“And I’ve only ever seen five lynx in my entire life,” he said.

Gregoire spotted the animal just days before speaking publicly about Manitoba’s wild cats, underscoring how uncommon sightings remain even for experienced naturalists.

Wild cats at home in Manitoba

Wild cats are often associated with distant wilderness or tropical environments, but Manitoba is home to several species, including lynx, bobcat and cougar. All three can be found within the province, and southeastern Manitoba sits in a unique overlap zone where multiple species may pass through the same landscapes.

“We don’t think about them in Manitoba so much because we just don’t see them, right? We don’t see the cats that we have here,” Gregoire said.

Across the tallgrass prairie and surrounding forests, suitable habitat exists wherever there are wooded areas, prey animals and limited human activity. While residents may rarely encounter the animals themselves, signs of their presence can sometimes be found by those who know what to look for.

Lynx most common but rarely seen

Gregoire says lynx are likely the most common wildcat in southeastern Manitoba, particularly in wooded areas connected to the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Even so, sightings remain rare.

Lynx prefer forested habitat where their primary prey, the snowshoe hare, is abundant. The two species are closely connected through population cycles that rise and fall together.

“For any sort of naturalist that looks up a little bit about lynx or even snowshoe hares in general, they’ll find that these two species are really connected,” he said.

He explains that lynx and snowshoe hare populations follow a boom-and-bust cycle lasting roughly seven to eleven years. When hare populations decline due to disease or environmental changes, lynx expand their hunting territory and may move into more open areas searching for food.

In some regions, snowshoe hares can make up more than 90 per cent of a lynx’s diet, though the animals will also hunt birds and smaller mammals when necessary.

Bobcats share the region

Bobcats also inhabit southeastern Manitoba but are harder to identify without a clear view. Gregoire says the species’ geographic range provides an important clue.

Generally, lynx are more common farther north in boreal forest regions, while bobcats are associated with areas closer to the Canada-U.S. border. Southeastern Manitoba lies within a transition zone where both species can occur.

Tracks can also create confusion. Lynx have large, snowshoe-like paws that leave prints similar in size to wolf tracks. Unlike wolves, however, cats retract their claws, meaning claw marks are usually absent in tracks left in snow or mud.

Understanding wildcat behaviour

Despite their presence, wildcats rarely interact with people and typically avoid human contact.

“When they see you, if they let you see them, they’re just going to go their own way,” Gregoire said.

Lynx and bobcats usually weigh between 30 and 40 pounds and are not considered a significant danger to humans.

Cougars, also known as mountain lions or pumas, are much larger animals. Adult males can exceed 200 pounds, though attacks across North America remain extremely rare.

Gregoire says people who encounter a cougar should avoid running, stand their ground and make themselves appear larger while maintaining eye contact.

“These attacks… are few and far between,” he said.

Cougar sightings increasing

Reports of cougars in southeastern Manitoba appear to be increasing, something Gregoire attributes partly to the growing use of trail cameras by hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.

Currently, provincial officials do not recognize cougars as an established breeding species in Manitoba because there is no confirmed evidence of kittens being raised in the province.

So technically, the mountain lion’s range doesn’t exist in Manitoba, he said, noting confirmation of a breeding population may simply require more documented evidence.

Unlike lynx, cougars are highly adaptable and can survive in forests, grasslands, deserts and mountainous regions, allowing the species to expand into new territories over time.

Learning more about Manitoba’s wild cats

Gregoire will share more about lynx, bobcats and cougars during an upcoming Adventures with Nature Norm event this Saturday at the Weston Family Interpretive Centre in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve near Stuartburn. Participants will explore outdoor trails, conditions permitting, before moving indoors for a presentation about the wild cats that share the region’s landscape.

“We’ll try to spend some time out on the trail learning a little bit about the life cycles of these cats,” he said.

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.

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

Foxes are rarely seen in the Tall Grass Prairie, but they play an important role in keeping rodent populations in check across the Southeast.

That is the focus of the next Adventures with Nature Norm program, where naturalist Norm Gregoire says foxes are most visible when they are hunting in tall, grassy fields.

Hunting behaviour

“They are out in these tall grassy fields hunting. That is pretty much the only time I really ever see foxes is when they are out hunting and they have that unique characteristic of jumping up, zoning in on their prey and head down first into the grass or even sometimes in the snow if you are in the winter.”

Gregoire says the tall prairie grasses provide ideal cover for rodents, which means those same spaces are also ideal for foxes.

“They are going to be going for mostly things like rodents and those little, small critters. So that is the perfect habitat for them. They go where their prey is essentially.”

Tracks, double imprints and other clues

While foxes may be elusive, Gregoire explains their tracks can sometimes be identified by a behaviour that causes people to mistake them for domestic cats.

“They have quite small paws and they do something, especially in deeper snow, called a double imprint, meaning that they are sort of walking on their own tracks.”

Using the Earth’s magnetic field to hunt

Fox behaviour contains surprising complexities, including an ability that scientists are still studying. Red foxes appear to use the Earth’s magnetic field to improve the precision of their hunting pounce.

“Scientists believe that red foxes have a type of protein in their eyes that lets them sort of use the Earth’s magnetic field to their advantage. That allows them to zone in precisely, to the millimeter of where their prey is, making their pounce when they jump up and then go head down into the grass or snow really, really accurate.”

This means that when foxes jump to catch prey hidden beneath grass or snow, they are aligning their head with the magnetic field to gauge distance and direction, making their attack extremely precise.

Family structure and litter size

Fox family structure also stands out in the Southeast.

“Fox are one of the few mammals in our area that are actually monogamous. So they will stay with their partners for multiple seasons.”

Litter sizes vary widely across North America.

“We can have an average of anywhere from 5 to 10 kits and even some records being over 25 kits in one litter.”

Gregoire says foxes are essential predators in the tall grass prairie.

“They are for sure big pest rodent controllers.”

Observing foxes takes patience

For those hoping to see a fox, he says patience and time outdoors are key.

“With wildlife viewing in general, the more time that you spend out there observing nature, the more of a chance you get to see them.”

He encourages people to slow down and pay attention to the smaller details of the tall grass prairie.

“It is a matter of really taking your time and really noticing the small things that are in our area.”

Event details for Saturday

The next Adventures with Nature Norm program takes place Saturday, November 22 at the Weston Family Tallgrass Prairie Interpretive Centre. The event runs from 10am to 12pm and begins with an interpretive hike on the life cycle of foxes, followed by an indoor presentation.