Postcards from the Field: Allison Krause

Shell Conservation Intern Allison Krause

Hi everyone,

My name is Allison Krause and I am one of the Manitoba Shell Conservation Interns working with Nature Conservancy of Canada. I just completed my Bachelor of Science with a major in Ecology at the University of Manitoba. I grew up in Saskatoon and I am a prairie girl through and through. I am a passionate person and I’ve always known that I was destined to be in a conservation-related career.

Working in the field so far this summer has been fun and challenging. We’ve been surveying vegetation in rural southern Manitoba where NCC has secured valuable remnants of Tall Grass Prairie – one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada.

Endangered Western Prairie Fringed Orchid

I am thrilled by the wildflowers we’ve encountered on our backcountry hikes. We saw two of the three endangered flowers found on the preserve: the Small White Lady’s Slipper and the Western Prairie Fringed Orchid. The work is sometimes tiring, with the heat, the bugs and the rough terrain, but it becomes worthwhile when you come across a fox den or a perfectly formed bird’s nest with bright blue eggs inside. It makes you realize that conserving these fragments of habitat is important for the future of the animals and plants that make it their home.

In the fall, I will be looking for more conservation work, either with NCC or another organization. I may stay in Manitoba or I may seek opportunities elsewhere in Canada. Wherever I end up, I know my work this summer will be a valuable experience and a great stepping stone into a satisfying and rewarding career.

That’s all for now,

Allison Krause

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