Photo Credit: Meewasin Valley Authority

If you have yet to watch the flock of sheep graze around the prairie grassland as part of Meewasin’s conservation efforts, there are several opportunities to do so within the next few weeks.

Meewasin’s Director of Conservation, Renny Grilz, says for the next three weeks, the flock will be working their magic at Beaver Creek Conservation area and the Northeast Swale.

He explains that although it is widely known that prescribed burns are used to manage grassland ecosystems, sheep are also a huge component in managing shrubs, reducing wildfire risk, and enhancing biodiversity.

“Meewasin Valley Authority has been using sheep grazing for the last 22 years as part of our conservation management program within the river valley around Saskatoon. Our grasslands have evolved with grazing over the millennia, and they need that disturbance through grazing activities.”

He says the sheep are used for different reasons depending on what the land requires.

“For example, at Beaver Creek Conservation Area this fall, we are targeting a couple areas that have wolf willow encroachments, which are a native shrub, but density is too thick, so we’re trying to open up that site for grassland bird habitat.”

Meewasin also hosts something called the Grazing Dinner, which provides guests with a locally grown meal while they take part in an immersive sheep herding and grazing experience out at Beaver Creek.