Save Star Lake from:

Developing Information

I am reviewing the status of protected species that may be impacted by Parks' proposed development. Some information is listed below (Doug C.).

Star Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park lies within the "Lake of the Woods" district of the "Boreal Shield Ecoregion". This district contains the highest biodiversity found in Manitoba, owing to the confluence of a number of biogeographic systems. This district contains elements of the Boreal Forest, the Great Lakes St Lawrence Forest and the Tall Grass Prairies. Overall the biodiversity of this region is poorly documented (I continue to find plant and animal species around Star Lake that have not previously been recorded in Manitoba and are often hard to identify as they are not contained in any local accounts of flora and fauna - Doug C.) So far, I have identified three species, two bats and one bird that have protected status in this region of Manitoba (see below).

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From the Manitoba Conservation and Climate website:

Species and Ecosystems at Risk

The Wildlife and Fisheries Branch is responsible for the administration of The Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act. Under the Act:

- it is unlawful to kill, injure, possess, disturb or interfere with the species;

- destroy, disturb or interfere with the habitat of the species;

- damage, destroy, obstruct or remove a natural resource on which the species depends for its life and propagation;

- endangered or threatened ecosystems are protected.

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Species known to occur near Star Lake

Endangered:

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

Threatened:

Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

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Hibernacula:

- Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) hibernacula have been identified adjacent to the proposed CLISS site at Star Lake

- Old mine shafts in the area of Star Lake (not all of them have been filled in!) may be hibernacula for both endangered species of bats.

More to come . . .