The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, today provided an update on upgrades at Salmonier Nature Park, the provincial centre for wildlife rehabilitation, environmental education, and research.
Budget 2022 allocated $2 million over four years for infrastructure upgrades at the park. This year $500,000 will go towards upgrading the boardwalk trail system and wildlife enclosures, biosecurity enhancements to the park’s animal care building, and improving parking facilities and service roads.
Approximately 40,000 people visit Salmonier Nature Park annually, including nearly 5,000 youth who participate in on-site school programming. The park is also important to the nature-based tourism market. About 10 per cent of visitors are non-residents interested in learning about and viewing the Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildlife species.
Salmonier Nature Park serves as the department’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre for the care, rehabilitation, release or captive placement of injured or orphaned wildlife. Most injured or orphaned wildlife that come to the park for care are returned to the wild whenever possible; animals that cannot be released may be incorporated into on-site educational programming or shared with similar Canadian facilities.
A rescued moose calf currently in care at the park will be ready for public viewing later this summer. Thanks to 155 entries from schools and individual students from across the province, the park’s new moose ambassador will be named ‘Maple,’ as suggested by the Grade 1 class at Donald C. Jamieson Academy in Burin Bay Arm. More info on Maple is available on the Friends of Salmonier Nature Park Facebook page, and the department’s Twitter feed @FFA_GovNL.
Educational displays focusing on Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildlife species and natural heritage are on display in the visitor’s centre, and 84 species of birds, 15 species of mammals and over 170 species of vascular plants have been recorded within the park’s boundaries. Visitors can walk through boreal forest on a three-kilometre long boardwalk trail to view a variety of common species including Arctic fox, Canada lynx, Newfoundland marten, Woodland caribou, Great-horned owls, and other wildlife in their natural surroundings.
Quotes
“Salmonier Nature Park is an extraordinary place where visitors can safely and respectfully come face-to-face with Newfoundland and Labrador’s wildlife species. The park is renowned for its education programs, workshops, wildlife rehabilitation and research opportunities. With upgraded infrastructure and improved services over the next four years, we look forward to welcoming even more visitors to enjoy and appreciate this truly unique and special part of our natural heritage.”
Honourable Derrick Bragg
Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
“Salmonier Nature Park is a huge asset to the district of Placentia-St. Mary’s and incredibly important to the province as a whole. As the MHA for the district, I am delighted to see the work now underway to continuously improve the park. Many memories have been made here in this beautiful boreal forest setting on family visits and school outings. We are very fortunate to have a wealth of expertise in outdoor education and wildlife management right here at home. Thank you to the staff and the Friends of Salmonier Nature Park for the care they take with the animals who live in the park, and the visitors who love coming here to learn from them.”
Sherry Gambin-Walsh
MHA, Placentia-St. Mary’s
“The Friends of Salmonier Nature Park are proud collaborative supporters of Salmonier Nature Park. The upgraded infrastructure and improved services will enable us to welcome even more visitors, families and friends to engage in activities that foster awareness and appreciation of the park. We look forward to the continued development of this exceptional natural environment in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Joan Szangulies
President, Friends of Salmonier Nature Park
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Media contacts
Linda Skinner
Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca
Ita Hatfield
Constituency Assistant for the MHA for Placentia-St. Mary’s
709-227-1304
ItaHatfield@gov.nl.ca
Joan Szangulies
Friends of Salmonier Nature Park
Fosnp2016@gmail.com