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October 11, 2003
Every year Save Our Seine and Constance Menzies
(SOS's volunteer Beaver Management Strategist) paddle the lower
Seine River to do a wildlife survey and beaver inventory. This
information is very important when trying to spread limited resources
(time and material) along the 27-kilometer urban river. click
to see Connie's past article
This year the group was made up of Constance, SOS
Coordinator - David Danyluk, SOS Board Member - Serge LaRochelle,
World renowned Winnipeg Paddler - Don Starkel, Local outfitter
and Quest for the Bay 'celebrity' - Paul Gossen and guest paddler
Winnipeg Free Press Reporter - Aldo Santin. link
to his article
In three canoes we left just before 8:00 am from
the Perimeter highway. Under cloudy skies and light rain we paddled
through the Bois-des-esprits [click
to see virtual paddle video of the Bois-des-esprits]
We paddled passed the new Hindu Temple and under
the Southglen Bridge. We stopped for a rest and warm coffee and
snack under the John Bruce Footbridge.
Don Starkel has almost paddled twice the distance
of the earth on his way to the Amazon River in Brazil, the Artic
Ocean or along the Atlantic Seaboard, is still impressed with
this little urban river. Don would often exclaim, "Haven't we
passed Fermor yet? No! Wow, is this ever a long river!"
Don's keen eye found about $7 dollars worth of beer
cans and bottles (mostly around golf courses) - he even found
a sealed message in a bottle! (No we did not open it and read
it).
In past years, the trip determined that the Seine
River Greenway hosts a healthy beaver population. Beaver lodges,
food caches, and other beaver damage indicate where and approximately
how many beavers are active. Unfortunately these beavers destroy
a lot of precious vegetation (habitat) needed by other animal
species that share the river environment. Since the beavers enjoy
a predator free existence in the Seine River Greenway (absence
of Wolves) they are free to consume the mature trees - so important
in a diminishing environment.
SOS was able to identify several areas of serious
beaver activity and concern. Next year, a large effort to abate
beaver destruction will be dedicated to these hotspots. Wrapping
trees in stucco mesh and City sponsored trapping will ensure the
protection of the vulnerable riparian habitat for many other species
of urban wildlife.
SOS plans on hosting more group paddles over the
spring and summer months next year.
Special thanks to Paul Gossen and Northern Soul
for canoes, lifejackets, equipment and snacks!
Thanks to Aldo "first time paddler" Santin for
his coverage of our trip!
Click here
to see the Annual Fall Paddle photoGallery!
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