Mammals of Wascana
Wascana Centre is home to a diverse array of mammal species. To date 32 species have been noted in the centre. Some species like the Whitetailed Jackrabbit are a common sight here year round, while others like the Masked Shrew are very secretive and are rarely seen.
This checklist includes all of the land within Wascana Centre’s boundaries, from the manicured Legislative grounds to the tame grass prairie found east of the Ring Road. Most of the species will not be seen throughout the entire park but rather will occur only in certain habitats. The habitats described beside each species are general guidelines ‐ animals will do as they wish ‐ but these are good places to start looking.
Goats Grazing
On August 17th to August 20th, 2012, a herd of 40 goats was brought in to the Habitat Conservation Area to help control caragana in an eco-friendly manner. Over the last four decades the caragana has expanded dramatically in the Habitat Conservation Area into the grassland ecosystem around it
The goats proved over the course of the four days of grazing that they were very effective at targeting caragana and are a useful tool to manage this shrub in the Habitat Conservation Area. The photos below show the before and after grazing of the same spot in the Habitat Conservation Area.
Due to the success of this project in 2012, the goat herd will be brought back to the Habitat Conservation Area on an ongoing basis. Come visit the HCA to see how the goats have positively impacted this area! Check out the self-guided tour of the HCA.
Birds
“The Great Sit” is a bird watching event that happens along Wascana Marsh each year as part of the Wings Over Wascana Nature Festival. Local volunteer naturalists sit just north of Wascana Hill in front of the overlook during the public day festival and count every bird they see!