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Leader Wildlife Sculptures
Red-headed Woodpecker
Sculpture by Grant McLaughlin
Photo by Erin Trautwein |
Leader and area is the most northerly range of the Red-headed
Woodpecker.
The adult woodpeckers are best identified by their
bright red head, neck and throat, and can be found on both farmland and along
the South Saskatchewan
River.
The Red-headed rarely
bores holes to find insects. Instead, they will forage on
both tree trunks and the ground for insects and berries.
Burrowing Owls
Sculpture by Ralph Berg |
Burrowing Owls are comical little birds that generally look
like short, fat owls on stilts.
These owls live in a burrow in the ground. They are active
during the day, and prefer to eat insects and small rodents.
This owl's migration patterns are a mystery, but it is known
that some spend their winter in the southwestern U.S. and
Mexico.
Ferruginous Hawk
Sculpture by Grant McLaughlin |
The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest hawk in North America, with
the female being one-third larger than the male.
Ferruginous Hawks live in sparsely treed grassland habitat
in Southern Saskatchewan during the summer months.
Prey consists mainly of ground squirrels (gophers). Their most
successful hunting technique is a long, low flight close
to the ground.
Lake Sturgeon
Sculpture by Grant McLaughlin |
One of the largest freshwater fish in North America, sturgeon
may reach a length of 2.5 meters (8 feet) and weigh more than
140 kg (300 lbs).
These fish have been known to live more than 150 years. They
are also slow growing, weighing less than 5 kg at age 20.
Sturgeon are found in the South Saskatchewan River north of
Leader.
Mule Deer
Sculpture by Ralph Berg |
Mule Deer in Saskatchewan are found in rough, open, semi-arid
country, and tend to form into herds, particularly in winter.
Mule Deer are characterized by a jumping gait, large mule-like
ears, and a white rump with a short black tail.
The greatest percentage of the Mule Deer's food is twigs, leaves
and buds of shrubs and trees.
Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Sculpture by Ralph Berg |
The Ord's Kangaroo Rat is a true wildlife species that has little
to do with humans, and lives in sandy soils where it burrows
its den.
The name Kangaroo Rat comes from its kangaroo-like large hind
legs, and the name rat is associated with its long tail.
The Ord's Kangaroo Rat are known for their jumping ability,
and can hop a distance of 8 feet in a single leap.
Western Meadowlark
Sculpture by Ralph Berg |
The Western Meadowlark is best known by its song, which is familiar
to almost everyone on the prairies, and is considered to be the
first sign of spring.
The Meadowlark is typically a prairie bird that builds its
nest on the ground and spends most of its time close to the nest.
Males sing their unique and melodious song from a perch, often
a fence post.
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