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nature trail

Carman's Tall Grass Prairie

Carman's Tall Grass Prairie was initially planted in 1996 by the University of Manitoba's Botany Department.  Several studies on grasses and insects are on-going at Carman's Tall Grass Prairie.

In 2002, the Province's Department of Agriculture and Food - Soils & Crops Branch "adopted" the prairie with plans to rejuvenate the grasses and control the weed infestation.

Maintenance plans include controlled burning or mowing (simulates grazing) and biological control of weeds (using insects).

Before settlers arrived, grass fires used to sweep across the prairies, burning from horizon to horizon. Fire breaks down dead vegetation returning nutrients to the soil and allowing the sun to warm the ground earlier in the spring.

More on the history of the tall grass prairie

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animals, birds, plants

Grasses

Today less than one per cent of the original tall grass prairie in Manitoba remains.