Grasslands National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Geology Grasslands The park is essentially part of the open expanse of Vegetation prairie landscape that covers the heart of the National Park of Canada continent. The most dominant feature of the west The park protects some of the last remaining block is the Frenchmen River Valley and the original mixed-grass prairie of its kind. It is associated river plain. It is a prime example of a the only National Park in North America of Climate glacial meltwater channel. The east block is centered its kind. The dominant prairie species on the Killdeer Badlands and the Wood Mountain include needle-and-thread grass, western Grasslands National park is at the heart of wheat grass, blue grama grass, wild rose, the continent, far from the moderating Uplands, with Rock and Morgan Creeks winding their way among buttes, hoodoos, and plateaux. The shrubby cinquefoil, western snowberry, and effects of any oceans or other large bodies of silver sage. Eroded slopes contain ground water. Temperatures in this continental Killdeer Badlands area was the site of the first dinosaur remains discovered in Canada in 1874. juniper, greasewood, bearberry, moss phlox, climate are extreme with cold winters and and sand grass. There are also pockets of hot summers. The average low in January is specialized communities such as saline (salt) ooLocation -22 C, though this can plunge to -50 C. vegetation, flood plain marshes, and some Average daily July temperatures are 28oC, Grasslands National Park is located in the south end areas featuring tree/shrub/grass o Activities and extremes exceeding 40 C have been of the province of Saskatchewan, bordering on the communities. As in many ecosystems, fire recorded. Precipitation averages 30-40 cm United States. The two parcels of prairie that fall and grazing play a significant ecological role Grasslands National Park presents a variety of a year, with drought years seeing less than within the proposed boundary of the park have a in both maintaining and renewing the prairie recreational opportunities. Most appreciate 10 cm. Most of this falls as rain during 2 combined area of 906 km , and represent Canada’s grasslands. the undeveloped nature of the park. Day evening storms in May and June. The air is Prairie Grasslands Natural Region - specifically the hiking, horseback riding, overnight generally dry, and the additional stresses of mixed-grass prairie. Current land holdings amount backpacking, no-trace camping, nature strong sunshine and high winds can to over 50% of the proposed lands. The park's Wildlife viewing and photography are the main evaporate almost two times the moisture establishment was authorized by a provincial and activities. The best times for wildlife viewing gained from precipitation. federal agreement in 1988. The two parcels are The park's wildlife is plentiful and diverse. are dawn and dusk. Road access is limited to about 27 km apart, and are about 125 km from Swift The resident colonies of black-tailed prairie existing roadways. No off-road vehicles, Current. The nearest communities are Val Marie, dogs along the international Frenchman including snowmobiles and ATVs, are Mankota, Glentworth, Wood Mountain and Killdeer. River Valley are the only ones in Canada that permitted. Please register for camping. From Val Marie, the park's boundaries can be can be observed in their natural habitat. reached with a 10 or a 20 minute drive. Grasslands Other major mammal species include mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyote, Richardson's For more information, contact: is located in the Prairie Ecozone. Grasslands National Park ground squirrel, badgers, skunk, and Box 150 bobcats. Many of the prairie species that Val Marie, Saskatchewan inhabit the park are rare and endangered. S0N 2T0 Val Marie Telephone: (306) 298-2257 Some of these include burrowing owl, swift Fax: (306) 298-2042 k e re fox, sage grouse, loggerhead shrike, black- Website: www.pc.gc.ca/grasslands C Frenc N hman tailed prairie dog, yellow-bellied blue racer, d e e and the ferruginous hawk. Whether it's a Br

Riv prairie rattlesnake (the least venomous of all er k e rattlers), a piping plover (one of the rarest of e k r e

C re C all prairie birds), a short-horned lizard (as r k te e Ot e lt r a C long as your finger), or a prong-horn antelope r e k h ee gan 0 11 727 m t e Cr Mor (the fastest mammal in North America), you W Rock CANADA © Parks Canada UNITED STATES are sure to discover an amazing world of life here in the park. Grasslands National Park of Canada Spring 2005 Geology Grasslands The park is essentially part of the open expanse of Vegetation prairie landscape that covers the heart of the National Park of Canada continent. The most dominant feature of the west The park protects some of the last remaining block is the Frenchmen River Valley and the original mixed-grass prairie of its kind. It is associated river plain. It is a prime example of a the only National Park in North America of Climate glacial meltwater channel. The east block is centered its kind. The dominant prairie species on the Killdeer Badlands and the Wood Mountain include needle-and-thread grass, western Grasslands National park is at the heart of wheat grass, blue grama grass, wild rose, the continent, far from the moderating Uplands, with Rock and Morgan Creeks winding their way among buttes, hoodoos, and plateaux. The shrubby cinquefoil, western snowberry, and effects of any oceans or other large bodies of silver sage. Eroded slopes contain ground water. Temperatures in this continental Killdeer Badlands area was the site of the first dinosaur remains discovered in Canada in 1874. juniper, greasewood, bearberry, moss phlox, climate are extreme with cold winters and and sand grass. There are also pockets of hot summers. The average low in January is specialized communities such as saline (salt) ooLocation -22 C, though this can plunge to -50 C. vegetation, flood plain marshes, and some Average daily July temperatures are 28oC, Grasslands National Park is located in the south end areas featuring tree/shrub/grass o Activities and extremes exceeding 40 C have been of the province of Saskatchewan, bordering on the communities. As in many ecosystems, fire recorded. Precipitation averages 30-40 cm United States. The two parcels of prairie that fall and grazing play a significant ecological role Grasslands National Park presents a variety of a year, with drought years seeing less than within the proposed boundary of the park have a in both maintaining and renewing the prairie recreational opportunities. Most appreciate 10 cm. Most of this falls as rain during 2 combined area of 906 km , and represent Canada’s grasslands. the undeveloped nature of the park. Day evening storms in May and June. The air is Prairie Grasslands Natural Region - specifically the hiking, horseback riding, overnight generally dry, and the additional stresses of mixed-grass prairie. Current land holdings amount backpacking, no-trace camping, nature strong sunshine and high winds can to over 50% of the proposed lands. The park's Wildlife viewing and photography are the main evaporate almost two times the moisture establishment was authorized by a provincial and activities. The best times for wildlife viewing gained from precipitation. federal agreement in 1988. The two parcels are The park's wildlife is plentiful and diverse. are dawn and dusk. Road access is limited to about 27 km apart, and are about 125 km from Swift The resident colonies of black-tailed prairie existing roadways. No off-road vehicles, Current. The nearest communities are Val Marie, dogs along the international Frenchman including snowmobiles and ATVs, are Mankota, Glentworth, Wood Mountain and Killdeer. River Valley are the only ones in Canada that permitted. Please register for camping. From Val Marie, the park's boundaries can be can be observed in their natural habitat. reached with a 10 or a 20 minute drive. Grasslands Other major mammal species include mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyote, Richardson's For more information, contact: is located in the Prairie Ecozone. Grasslands National Park ground squirrel, badgers, skunk, and Box 150 bobcats. Many of the prairie species that Val Marie, Saskatchewan inhabit the park are rare and endangered. S0N 2T0 Val Marie Telephone: (306) 298-2257 Some of these include burrowing owl, swift Fax: (306) 298-2042 k e re fox, sage grouse, loggerhead shrike, black- Website: www.pc.gc.ca/grasslands C Frenc N hman tailed prairie dog, yellow-bellied blue racer, d e e and the ferruginous hawk. Whether it's a Br

Riv prairie rattlesnake (the least venomous of all er k e rattlers), a piping plover (one of the rarest of e k r e

C re C all prairie birds), a short-horned lizard (as r k te e Ot e lt r a C long as your finger), or a prong-horn antelope r e k h ee gan 0 11 727 m t e Cr Mor (the fastest mammal in North America), you W Rock CANADA © Parks Canada UNITED STATES are sure to discover an amazing world of life here in the park.