Wascana marsh is home to a large number of creatures. Many of these mammals, birds, reptiles and insects go unnoticed, while others garner a lot of attention. The news is quick to report a moose on the loose and many of us have heard of Olga, the western painted turtle that might be the largest painted turtle in North America. Many creatures are missing from our list. We have not mentioned the moths, bees, wasps, dragonflies, ants and beetles that we can find in the marsh. We hope to add them as volunteer time allows. During the WOW festival, Ducks Unlimited, staff will be happy to help you pond dip and identify one of the smallest creatures in the marsh – the mosquito larvae, a very useful skill for those with rain barrels. Interestingly, they are not that easy to find because minnows and dragonfly nymphs find mosquito’s delicious.
Below you will find wildlife lists that number just under 350 species. How many of them have you heard about and how many have you actually seen? Wascana marsh is teaming with life, and each creature has a role to play in the ecosystem. We invite you to take a walk along Wascana’s shores and see how many species you can identify.