Community Leaders Tour Rabbit Creek Wildfire
Local leaders attended a guided aerial tour of the Rabbit Creek wildfire to better understand the effects of the fire on the landscape and to learn more about Parks Canada’s prescribed fire program. Ecologist Team Leader Dustin Guedo was onsite. He explained how the fire came about and provided information about the ecology in the area.
“The post-fire environment is diverse. The fire burned very unevenly, causing the fire disturbance to vary from completely burned areas all blackened with soot; to areas of green islands untouched by the fire as the fire burned around it,” said Guedo.
The ground throughout the burnt area has grown over with vegetation. Some of the same species of plants and trees that were previously there are have grown back while in other areas, the vegetation has sprouted from seeds that were lying dormant in the soil layers. Animals and birds have returned to the area and appeared in images captured by trail cameras.
Participants on the tour came from the rural municipalities of Lakeland, Canwood, Shellbrook, and Big River. Representatives from Great Blue Heron Provincial Park, Waskesiu Lake Community Council, and local businesses also took part.