Introduction

Saskatchewan covers 651,900 square kilometres--more than a quarter million square miles. Contrary to popular belief, fully one half the province is covered by forest, one-third is farmland and one-eighth is fresh water--with nearly 100,000 lakes! Saskatchewan is home to a million people, many with family roots in Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and the British Isles. Although the province is dependent on the farm economy, two-thirds of its people live in cities and towns. Saskatchewan is located in the heart of North America, neighboring the provinces of Manitoba and Alberta. To the south it borders the American states of Montana and North Dakota. To the north is the Canadian territory, Nunavut.

A Saskatchewan holiday can leave with memories of a haunting howl of a wolf on a quiet northern night, antelope bounding across the southern grasslands, sage grouse strutting their stuff in an elaborate mating ritual, hundreds of thousands of waterfowl filling the sky during fall migration... all this and much more !!

Southwest Saskatchewan is particularly good territory for viewing wildlife. Pronghorn antelope, unique to the prairies, are often seen right from the highway. Grasslands National Park contains habitat for sage grouse, rattlesnakes, mule deer and white-tailed deer and for endangered burrowing owls that nest in abandoned prairie dog holes. The park is home to several black-tailed prairie dog colonies ­ fascinating burrows found nowhere else in Canada. Not far away, in the west block of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, you can spot prairie falcons, many unique songbirds, elk and the occasional moose.

Birds abound in south-central Saskatchewan''s Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Sites, which include Chaplin Lake and the Quill Lakes. Chaplin Lake''s shallow waters cover over 6,000 hectares (15,000 acres) and are used by over 30 species of shorebirds, some of these endangered. More than 300 species either nest or stage in the Quill Lakes region during migration, including rare ferruginous hawks, peregrine falcons, hudsonian godwits, and nearly seven per cent of North America¹s nesting piping plovers.

Close to five million acres of protected provincial and national parkland, thousands of prairie potholes, sun-drenched grasslands, and boreal forests create an endless variety of wildlife viewing and birding opportunities in Saskatchewan. Whether you¹re hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, or simply out for an evening stroll, Saskatchewan¹s serene and beautiful nature is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression!

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