Ball Cactus (Coryphantha vivipara) Ball cactus is found in the southern often sandy areas in Special Areas. As its name suggests, it is small (up to 7 cm tall), globe shaped, and covered in spines. In June it produces beautiful bright pink flowers. In the fall these...
Advisory Council and senior administration members will be coming soon to a community hall near you! Annual ratepayer meetings are planned this May and June, beginning May 21 in Buffalo. These public meetings let residents meet with Advisory Councillors and Special Areas staff right in their...
This year, Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is May 5-11, 2024. EP Week is a national awareness initiative that has taken place annually since 1996. It encourages Canadians to take 3 simple steps to become better prepared for emergencies. Know the risks Make a plan Get an emergency kit This...
Attention campers and outdoor enthusiasts, near and far! Survey is open until October 15, 2024. We want to hear from you about what we are doing right – and where we can improve – at your Special Areas Board municipal parks and campgrounds. Feel free to complete a...
Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) This noxious (MUST be controlled) weed is a long-lived perennial with creeping roots capable of extending 4.5 m laterally and 9 m deep. With explosive seed pods, it should be on your lookout list! With roots like that, imagine the amount...
Did You Know? In Alberta there is a Coyote Predation Management Program (CPMP) to help manage predation of livestock through this provincially designated nuisance pest. Coyotes are listed as a nuisance under the Alberta Agricultural Pest Act regulation, giving landowners the ability to control this species...
By Karin Roen, CARA It was another successful winter of hosting “Grazing Clubs” for the Chinook Applied Research Association. From December 2023 to March 2024 CARA hosted ten Grazing Club meetings and over 170 producers from across the Special Areas. The intention of the Grazing Clubs...
Common name: Ferruginous Hawk Latin name: Buteo regalis Conservation Status: Threatened Range: Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba Lifespan: 20 years or more. The oldest recorded age is 23 years and 8 months Size: Wingspan of 133-142 cm, head-to-talon length of 56-69cm, weight of 0.97-2.1kg, females are larger [caption id="attachment_14557" align="alignright" width="331"] Source: Nature...
Prairie crocus (Anemone patens) Early emerging native plants can be seen throughout the Special Areas as they begin to emerge. One of the earliest flowering species you can spot is the prairie crocus. Prairie crocus is our most conspicuous early flowering species. The prairie crocus is actually...
Sand Dock (Rumex venosus) Sand dock is an interesting plant that grows in disturbed sandy areas in the Special Areas. It has inconspicuous greenish flowers in May which turn into three sided yellow to red fruits (as shown in photo), making for quite a lovely prairie...