Tall-grass prairie snowshoe tour planned
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This article was published 15/02/2024 (311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Summer is not the only time to see the Manitoba’s tall-grass prairie and the organizer of a free snowshoe tour is hoping people will be willing to see it from a different perspective.
Norm Gregoire, community liaison for Species at Risk is hosted the snowshoe tour on Saturday, and said he welcomes the chance to use his five years of experience as a snowshoe guide in the Canadian Rockies right here at home.
“I’ve always enjoyed snowshoeing and I think it’s a great way to see an area from a different perspective,” he said. “Snowshoeing allows the opportunity to move at a slower pace, which in turn opens up the chance to observe what is around you in greater detail.”
“For example, I love wildlife tracking,” he added. “It’s amazing to find a set of tracks and read the animals story, like a coyote following a cottontail, or a grouse exploding from its bedded area.”
This is the second year Gregoire is hosting the tour, and while snow levels are below level, he said the event will go on, adding the forecast looks promising.
The tall-grass prairie is home to unique species such as the western prairie fringed orchid and the poweshiek skipperling.
“They are highly adapted species and as is true with any tall-grass prairie species, they have unique ways of surviving a Manitoban winter,” he said. “On the tour attendees will learn of this in detail.”
Gregoire is hoping to lead a full group and said he has 20 pairs of snowshoes to lend out.
However, he’s open to taking other groups as well.
“If snowshoes are all reserved or if you want to attend as a larger group or family I am happy to work out a time to show off the amazing diversity of the tall-grass prairie,” he aid.
The event takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.
The two kilometre walk begins and ends at the Agassiz Interpretive Trail, located seven kms west of Vita on Hwy. 201.
Participants are asked to pre-register by email at info@sharedlegacymb.ca or by calling or texting 204-408-6166.
Weather appropriate clothing and boots are necessary for the experience.