Features
Milk River-Sage Creek Features
Area
- Geologic features include:
- rare igneous rock intrusions
- extensive badlands
- eskers
- drumlins
- kames
- a diversity of fossils
 Township and Range map: JPG | PDF |
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 Natural Subregions map: JPG | PDF |
Natural Regions
- The Grassland Natural Region contains four Subregions, each with distinctive climate, soils, vegetation and wildlife.
- Dry Mixedgrass
- Mixedgrass
- Northern Fescue
- Foothills Fescue
- Comparison of conservation attributes in selected blocks within the Dry Mixedgrass Subregion
Biodiversity
- Milk River-Sage Creek area is a natural diversity hotspot in the grasslands of Alberta. It has representative northern and Glaciated Plains bird and plant species and rare plant communities.
- 211 birds, 127 breeding
- 18 fish
- 5 amphibians
- 8 reptiles
- 47 mammals
- 82 butterflies and skippers (including almost all the rare and common grassland species)
- 453 vascular plants (almost 90% of Alberta's Dry Mixedgrassland vascular plant species)
High concentration of species of special concern:
- 50 birds (including over half the species of special concern in Alberta and all of the Grassland breeding bird species of concern in Alberta)
- 5 fish
- 2 amphibians
- 8 reptiles
- 22 mammals (including over half the species of special concern in Alberta)
- 72 vascular plants (including almost 80% of the Dry Mixedgrass and Mixedgrass vascular plant species on the provincial tracking list, representing the largest concentration of rare vascular plant species in the glaciated plains of Alberta and, possibly, Canada)
- Degradation and loss of grasslands means more Species at Risk
Swift Fox
(COSEWIC endangered, formerly extirpated)
As a result of habitat change, trapping and predator-control programs, the Swift Fox was eliminated from Alberta almost 70 years ago. Milk River-Sage Creek is one of the strongholds of the reintroduction effort and individuals have been observed widely in the region. Swift Fox has been moved to the province's RED LIST and it is designated as an endangered species.
Mountain Plover
(COSEWIC endangered)
In 1874, Mountain Plovers were common along the 49th parallel, near the Milk and Frenchman Rivers. Populations have declined in recent years throughout North America and they are one of the rarest grassland species. Mountain Plover habitat is an example of a habitat "extreme" which is not currently considered desirable by range managers. It prefers to nest and feed in heavily-grazed native grassland.
Sage Grouse
(COSEWIC endangered)
Sage Grouse are limited in Canada to the extreme southeastern part of Alberta and the southwestern part of Saskatchewan. The species has been extirpated from British Columbia and, although once widespread, it is now a local resident throughout its range. In Alberta, populations have undergone a "rapid decline".
Soapweed — Yucca glauca
(COSEWIC vulnerable)
In Canada, soapweed reaches the northwestern limits of its range. There are only two known populations, both occur in Alberta in the Milk River/Lost River area.
Western spiderwort — Tradescantia occidentalis
(COSEWIC threatened)
Western spiderwort is known in Canada from southeastern Alberta, south-central Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba. Populations in southeast Alberta occur in the Pakowki Lake sand hills, northeast of Pakowki Lake. Continued stabilization of the dunes would be detrimental to the long-term survival of the western spiderwort.
Short-horned Lizard
(COSEWIC vulnerable)
In Canada, this species is localized and rare, being restricted to southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta. In Alberta, the Short-horned Lizard is on the BLUE LIST as a species that may be at risk.
Great Plains Toad
(COSEWIC vulnerable)
This toad is found in the southeast corner of Alberta. Total populations are unknown, but apparently declining. This species is on the RED LIST for Alberta.
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