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It's a great time of year to ...
CAMPING
Yurt spurt
EVER WONDER what it would be like to live
in a yurt? OK. Maybe not. But if you are visiting
Manitoba this summer, you will find
more opportunities than ever to experience
a little slice of nomadic Mongolian life.
WILDLIFE
Mall owls
HEAD TO the big-box shopping district in Moose Jaw, Sask., and you'll find that nature appreciates
irony. Here, an owl whose numbers are threatened by human land use has found a haven
a stone's throw from Wal-Mart. Set on an abandoned racetrack, the 10-year-old Saskatchewan
Burrowing Owl Interpretive Center is home to about a dozen endangered Athene cunicularia
that have been rescued and given a rare second chance at survival. The modest facility, where
visitors can watch the owls eat and fly (within outdoor
aviaries), has attracted cultural royalty. Birders and
authors Margaret Atwood, Adrienne Clarkson and John
Ralston Saul dropped by last year after attending a
local writing festival. In the interpretive area, staff offer
tours. There are several breeding owls whose owlets are
released into the wild, adding to the struggling population.
Open daily from Victoria Day to Labour Day.
Admission is free. www.sboic.ca
— Jim Chliboyko
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As an alternative to tent or trailer camping,
Manitoba Conservation has built versions
of the Mongolian living quarters in five provincial parks: Asessippi, Bakers
Narrows, Clearwater Lake, Whiteshell and
Spruce Woods.
Round, domed and made of cloth, the
yurts have a skylight and a door. At almost
five metres across, the Manitoban yurts are
cozy, but big enough to accommodate a
family of five. They are furnished with bunk
beds and are heated. Cooking must be
done outside.
You can rent a yurt for about $40 a night
(plus taxes and fees). But make sure to book
early — they are a popular option. Reserve at
https://prs.gov.mb.ca/.
— J.C.
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