Acreage Living - Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan

llne of the
U greatest
benefits of
Iiving on
an acreage
is the
opportunity
to observe
wild animals, birds and insects.
Watching a whitetail doe and her
two fawns meander through the
yard while you have breakfast,
sighting a Cooper's hawk nest in
your "backyard" or spotting a
long-tailed weasel bound through
the snow brings nature up close.
All species are interconnected and
dependent on the native plant life
which forms the base of our
prairie ecosystem. From the
perspective of the animals that
previously lived where you now
make your home, how you
manage your acreage will
determine whether or not they
can continue to live there. Ifyou
destroy the native habitat that
existed before you moved into the
"neighbourhood'l you will
eliminate the places that wildlife
need to survive.
The advantages of living with
wildlife most often outweigh the
disadvantages. The enjoyment of
wildlife viewing and the
opportunities for young
people to learn about nature
are tremendous. If you
destroy as little ofthe native
habitat as possible when you
build, and restore native
vegetation when you landscape,
you will enhance your
opportunities to observe wildlife.
Plantings should include food
and cover for everything from
hummingbirds and butterflies to
deer. Supplemental feeding and
the provision of water are
especially effective for attracting
birds. By planting trees and
shrubs for cover and nesting, and
placing feeders where they can be
easiJy viewed, you can enjoy
hours of wildlife viewing. As
much as you may like trees, be
sure not to turn your acreage into
a solid "forest" that can no longer
support the grassland species
native to southern Saskatchewan.
Don t forget that different species
have vastly different
requirements. Keep your acreage
diverse. The little pile of rocks or
the dead tree snag that you may
be tempted to "clean up" is more
than likely "home" or a place to
find food for several species.
Wetlands provide a particularly
rich environment on the prairies
and should be preserved and
enhanced where possible.
Anltime people live in close
proximity to wild creatures there
is, unfortunately, the possibility of
conflict. Here, in Saskatchewan,
this may take the form of pocket
gophers harvesting your carro$,
snakes in your basement or deer
feeding on your favourite fruit.
The easiest way
to handle many
of these
problems is
preventlon:
putting a fence
around the
garden,
eliminating
access for skunks
(or snakes) under or into your
house or garage and not leaving
pet food (or pets) out overnight to
attract unwanted guests.
Pets on acreages often have a
major impact on wildlife. Freely
roaming dogs may get into the
habit of chasing deer and other
wildlife, and cats can become
major predators of native birds. It
is very tempting to Iet the acreage
pet have free rein, but much safer
for your pet, easier on the wildlife
and more enjoyable if we make a
habit of accompanying our pets
on outings and keeping them
under control.
Always keep in mind that we
are the intruders on the
Iandscape and should attempt to
tread lightly. Coeristence is not
only possible; in most cases it is
advantageous. Acreage owners
have a tremendous opportunity
to contribute to the conservation
and well being of the prairie
ecosystem. Living in close
association with the beautiful
creatures that inhabit our
province is a privilege as well as a
pleasure. Enjoy them!