A wolf has been captured and killed near Birds Hill Provincial Park. The animal was caught Thursday night in a trap set out by Manitoba Conservation officials trying to nab the wolf that mauled a dog near the park earlier this month. Spencer, a chihuahua, miniature-pinscher-cross, was killed April 3. Janelle Carlson told CBC News at the time that her husband let the two-year-old dog out of their rural home, about two kilometers from the edge of the park. - CBC News

Sky Waters, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Eagan, has won the 2012 Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest with his depiction of a woodland caribou. Sky will be going to Washington, D.C., next month for a reception and will have his name engraved on a special trophy. He’ll also get an art lesson from the artist Wyland, and will receive a plaque and art supplies. - Startribune.com

In recent news (throughout Manitoba) announcements have been released concerning declining moose populations. Following these announcements, full conservation hunting closures were put in place for Game Hunting Areas (GHA’s) 13, 13A, 14, 14A, 18, 18A, 18B, and 18C (Porcupine Provincial Forest east to Lake Winnipegosis, and Duck Mountain) where moose populations declined over 50% (Manitoba Conservation 2011). Closures through agreements reached between the provincial government, First Nation communities, hunter organizations, and interested groups and were announced July 4, 2011. - Beausejour Review

The unusually low snowfall this past winter and the early arrival of spring mean southern Manitoba is very dry at a time when the forest floor is usually moist. For starters, this means there's a tremendous potential for an awful forest-fire season. And given Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship's policy regarding forest-fire management, you can practically bank on another summer when you will not be allowed to hike, bike, paddle or otherwise visit the backcountry in many regions of the province.

Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, the boreal forest is a vital part of Canada's landscape, economy and cultural heritage. The ecosystem is unique in its capacity for carbon storage, is the world’s biggest freshwater reservoir, and contains the world's largest remaining tract of intact forest. More than half of all Canadian logging occurs in the boreal forest, making it a major sourcing area for newsprint.

Manitobans booked campground reservations in record numbers this year with thousands of reservations made through the Manitoba Parks Reservation Service website this morning, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

"Our reservation system is again showing...

Campground Reservations Service Begins April 2 Campers interested in reserving a provincial park campsite can start making bookings at 7:30 a.m., Monday, April 2, as Manitoba's Parks Reservation Service opens for the season, Conservation and Water Stewardship Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

There is a worrisome trend of inappropriate commercial development in our national parks. This trend continues with Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park as the next target. Parks Canada has proposed an amendment to the Riding Mountain National Park Management Plan for Mount Agassiz that would enable the re-development and re-opening of a downhill ski hill which has been closed for over a decade. In our view, this amendment contravenes Parks Canada’s mandate to place ecological integrity as the first priority in park management Write your letter now!

Today is the final opportunity for citizens to comment on the Manitoba government’s proposed plans for recovering threatened woodland caribou populations on the southern east side of Lake Winnipeg. CPAWS believes there are strengths to the plans but also serious deficiencies so we have made several recommendations in the hope of making the final plans effective. “CPAWS is strongly recommending that a combination of permanent and long-term large-scale protected areas be a major focus of these plans,” said executive director of CPAWS’ Manitoba chapter. “Caribou need big intact spaces to avoid predators, find enough food, and relocate in case of a forest fire.” CPAWS believes the plans place too much emphasis on the unproven and expensive approach of restoring caribou habitat rather than protecting it in its natural state.

Restoring Lake Winnipeg, curbing climate change, and protecting wildlife were part of the conversation as experts converged in Winnipeg on Feb. 28th to view Manitoba’s preliminary vision for a Boreal Peatlands Stewardship Strategy. As water filters, carbon stores, and vital habitat, peatlands have an important role to play in all of these pressing issues.