Weaselhead Society News

Join the Weaselhead Society to Protect Biodiversity!

Weasel Weeders gather at the north parking lot shed located on the west side of the intersection at 66th Ave and 37th St. SW. Tools, gloves and snacks provided. Bring water, sunscreen, bug repelent (natural if you have it) and a hat

Saturday August 28, 9-11am

What to wear: We will be working off-trail so wear old clothes – or clothes you don’t mind getting dirty or torn! Wear long pants and hiking boots (or sturdy shoes) and bring a long-sleeved shirt or top to protect against scratches.

What to bring: We will provide all tools, gloves, and have ‘Weasel Weeder’ hats if you would like one… bring your own insect repellent (sunscreen if wanted – though we will be working in a shady area) and water.

What we will be doing: One group will continue with clearing a small area of three different invasive shrubs:  Common Buckthorn (spiny shrub), Peking Cotoneaster and Tartarian Honeysuckle. Once removed the plants can be left in piles at the side of the main path for collection/disposal by City staff. (Please make sure plants left for collection are out of everyone’s way – at least 1m from the path edge.)

If you arrive late: The area most of the team will be working in is about 10mins down the regional bike path from the parking lot. (well before you cross the bridge over the river). Just hike down the hill to where the path levels out and take the second dirt trail on the left after you pass a stretch of wooden fence.

Contact Sarah at 403-200-7738 for more information

INVASIVE PLANTS…. WHY WE SHOULD CARE IF NON-NATIVE PLANTS ESCAPE INTO THE WEASELHEAD? WHAT HARM DO THEY DO?

Here is an example of the problems these species can cause – and why the Society is determined to reduce their presence in the Weaselhead.

THEY SMOOTHER OTHER PLANTS

Yellow Clematis (Clematis tangutica)

This vine often grown in gardens in Calgary has escaped via its copious fluffy white seeds into many of the City parks. It grows rapidly along the ground covering grasses and flowering plants, and where there are trees and taller shrubs will climb up and over them.. Underneath its heavy blanket other plants are starved of light and smothered, or fall victim to disease.

There are many patches of Yellow Clematis growing along the top of the north escarpment, and a few patches along both sides of the river.

This species is one the Society will be targeting for control in 2010.

The Weaselhead Society is pleased to announce that again this year the Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) and the Alberta Stewardship Network (ASN) have granted us funding to support the Invasive Plant Project!

Thank you ACA and ASN!

www.ab-conservation.com , www.ab.stewardshipcanada.ca

Find out how you can help Protect Biodiversity too by contacting Lisa at lisaflaman@talkaboutwildlife.ca

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!!!

Regular hiker in the Weaselhead? Enjoy wildlife? Interested in plants? Join our EDRR team!!

WHAT IS ‘EDRR’???

It stands for EARLY DETECTION of non-native plant species that are known to be invasive – followed RAPID RESPONSE in removing them before they become established…

Species have been identified by the City of Calgary/Nature Calgary that would cause major problems should they invade the Weaselhead: problems caused by their propensity to spread rapidly, out-compete native plants and alter local habitats –impoverishing what is currently a rich and diverse community of plants and animals.

 WHAT WILL VOLUNTEERS DO?

Volunteers for the EDRR team will receive training in identification of the species to be on the look out for – then will be asked to commit to 2 or 3 walks through the Weaselhead during the growing season. During these walks they will actively look for these species and if they find any, report their location to the Weaselhead Preservation Society. Steps will then be taken to deal with the species appropriately.

CAN YOU HELP KEEP WEASELHEAD WEED-FREE? VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL! Sign up, contact Sarah Crook at sarahcalgary@yahoo.ca or call 403-200-7738

Sarah Crook

Invasive Plants Project Coordinator (tel. 403 200 7738)

Weaselhead/Glenmore Park Preservation Society

 (WGPPS gratefully acknowledges the support of the Alberta Conservation Association, the Alberta Stewardship Network, and the Calgary Foundation-Kayak Foundation for this project. Project udertaken in partnership with the City of Calgary Natural Areas ‘Adopt-a-Park’ program.)

Weaselhead is a shared use natural area in which there are rules for everybody.

There are rules for fishermen, rules for birdwatchers, rules for boaters, rules for cyclists and, yes, there are even rules for dogs.

Not all dog owners like these rules, of course. And, as always there are people who believe that the rules apply to every dog in the park except their own.

But most dog owners are just happy that their favourite activity, walking with their pet in a beautiful park, is not completely banned like so many other activities in the Weaselhead area — camping, swimming and picnicing, just to name a few.

So what are the rules? Well there aren’t that many really.

Since there are two large off leash areas adjacent to the Weaselhead on 66th Ave in Lakeview and along the 37th St green belt in Oakridge, off leash dogs in the Weaselhead are strictly forbidden. Owners with off leash dogs are subject to fines handed out by city bylaw officers.

Taking your dog off of the paved pathway in the Weaselhead is also illegal. This has been the case for many years since the city set the area aside to protect south Calgary’s drinking water supply and there are many signs in the park, old and new, making this clear.

Also, as in all city parks, dog owners are required to pick up after their pets. In the specific case of the Weaselhead, this helps to protect our drinking water but it also has the added benefit of reducing the attractiveness of the area to coyotes and other scavengers who derive nurtitional benefits from undigested dog food.

And finally, dogs (like humans) are prohibited from entering the water or going out onto the ice during winter.

So like fishermen, bird watchers, hikers and bikers, dogs are welcome in the Weaselhead Natural Environment Area. Like everyone else, though, they are expected to obey the rules set up to ensure that the park remains natural and open to the public.