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The snakes at the Narcisse pits emerge in massive numbers each spring to mate. ( THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES / MANITOBA CONSERVATION)

Narcisse snakes late due to frozen ground

MANITOBA'S famed red garter snakes of Narcisse could be a little late emerging from their underground lairs this spring due to heavy freezing over the winter.

Manitoba Conservation wildlife biologist Dave Roberts said most years the snakes are fairly active by the fourth weekend in April. This year, it likely won't be worth the trip for curious visitors until the first weekend in May.

"Because of the extended cold we've had this winter, the frost is deep in the ground," Roberts said.

Some 70,000 red garter snakes come to the Narcisse snake dens to mate every spring before heading to marshes around the Interlake, where they will remain until heading back to their dens in the fall.

Updated information on snake viewing should be available in the coming weeks at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/wildlife/managing/snakes_status.html

Youville Diabetes Centre opens expanded facility

A $500,000 expansion of the Youville centre to help fight diabetes in Manitoba opened Thursday.

The Youville Diabetes Centre provides day and evening one-to-one and group education sessions for clients living with, or at risk for, diabetes and its complications.

The expansion of the facility will improve accessibility for clients, as well as enhanced prevention services.

Temporary walleye ban to keep stocks strong

MANITOBANS are not allowed to fish for walleye on the Turtle and Valley rivers between April 20 and May 3.

The temporary ban will help keep walleye populations healthy in future.

Anyone exercising an aboriginal or treaty right to fish for food during the prohibition period will be limited to a daily limit of six walleye caught by angling only from other tributaries of Dauphin Lake, including the Wilson, Vermillion and Ochre rivers, and Edwards and Mink creeks.

Offer province input on auto-sale info disclosure

THE provincial government wants to hear from Manitobans about what, when and how information should be disclosed to consumers when buying or leasing a motor vehicle.

The government has amended the Business Practices Act to allow for the creation of rules that will outline information that must be disclosed in the purchase or lease of a motor vehicle by a consumer.

Interested members of the public can review a discussion paper and offer their feedback by May 29.

The discussion paper can be found at www.gov.mb.ca/finance/cca/consumb

Feedback should be sent to the Manitoba Consumers' Bureau. For more information, call 945-3800, 1-800-782-0067 or contact consumersbureau@gov.mb.ca.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 17, 2009 A8