Students help with Moose Creek-area rewilding project

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The effort to rewild an old family farm is ramping up.

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Since Butternut Creek Nature Reserve director Jeanie Warnock began managing her family’s 150-acre property in the Moose Creek area, she’s had a focus on protecting wildlife, enhancing biodiversity and protecting species at risk.

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This summer, Warnock is joined by two students who will be assisting with a bio-inventory project.

“We want to put a face and a value on what we’re losing,” said Warnock. “Fields, wetlands, and woodlands that seem ‘empty’ to some, or unproductive are in fact bursting with life and providing us with valuable ecological services. Every time hedgerows are cleared or wetlands drained, species vanish quietly. This project is about making these on-going losses visible.”

According to the South Nation Conservation Authority, forest cover in the area has fallen below 30 per cent – the recommended minimum for ecological health. Research shows that 30 per cent forest cover only supports half of potential species and barely supports healthy aquatic systems.

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“I don’t think people really realize there are hundreds of species in a small farm like this… there’s so much life, it’s amazing,” said Warnock.

Throughout the summer, Livia Dewar and Maddison Godin have been busy. Within only a few days of the eight-week long initiatives, and the team has already documented over 300 unique species at the Butternut Creek Nature Reserve and farm.

Dewar is a biology student at Acadia University and Godin is a master’s student at the University of Guelph. Maddison is also currently completing a research project with the Ottawa-based Canadian Museum of Nature.

“I have always been about protecting the environment,” said Godin. “Looking into biodiversity is so important for functioning ecosystems… there’s a lot of species that maybe you don’t think of as being there, but when you look around you realize there are a lot of different species of plants, and bugs.”

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“As a kid I was super interested in wildlife,” said Dewar. “What motivates me is knowing how much biodiversity loss we’ve been having due to human interventions. A lot of it has been irreversible.”

Butternut Creek Nature Reserve was the location of a dairy farm until the 1980s. Warnock’s family bought the property and operated it as a hobby farm for a number of years. Since taking over ownership of the site, Warnock’s main goal has been allowing the property to become a refuge for a number of at-risk species in the area.

Last year, Warnock teamed up with Ducks Unlimited Canada and local advocacy group SDG Turtles to enhance the reserve’s biodiversity goals and scientific value. Potential visitors interested in checking out Butternut Creek Nature Reserve can do so by booking an appointment. There are also volunteer opportunities available.

mbenoit@postmedia.com

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