The Manitoba government has officially designated the Skylake Wildlife Management Area, in the Interlake.
The Skylake WMA is a large fen–forest near Arborg.
It features low-lying land with islands of tamarack–black spruce forest, trembling aspen, white spruce, wetlands bounded by cattails, sedges and willows, as well as pools fed by artesian springs.
In the province’s release, they say the area supports a variety of wildlife species including white-tailed deer, sandhill crane and songbirds.
“We are committed to protecting and preserving natural habitat, rare plant species and wetlands,” Squires said. “The designation of the Skylake WMA adds another natural area in our province where activities that significantly affect wildlife and habitat will not be permitted.”
There are now 85 WMAs in Manitoba, covering 5.6 million acres of land.