Ducks Unlimited Canada says a massive plot of land about an hour southeast of Calgary, constitutes the largest and most important land deal in its history.
With help from Shell Canada and a local rancher, the conservation group has acquired 2500 hectares of grasslands and wetlands about 110 kilometres southeast of Calgary.
The organization says the acquisition will allow it to protect the waterfowl that live there, in particular, the northern pintail. Locally, the species has been declining in numbers.
Shell Canada contributed $3 million to buy the land from rancher Gordon Marsh and his family. The deal will still allow the family to run their herd of one thousand cattle there.
“We believe firmly that cattle ranching and wildlife can co-exist… particularly waterfowl and cows do really well together,” says Marsh. “We want to see this be a working ranch and the grass stay intact for ever and ever.”
The area’s topography features rolling land filled with deer, elk, hawks and smaller animals as well as 800 basins for ducks and geese.
The area is now called the Shell Buffalo Hills Conservation Ranch and will soon be open to the public.
Ducks Unlimited Canada says it is creating a public space where people can walk through the grasslands.
-With files from Doug Vaessen
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