The Saamis Archaeological
Site
Walking
Trail Loop
Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Prickly Pear Cactus
The Prickly Pear is a common Cactus in this region. They are smaller than their
southern cousins but have wicked spins with barbed hooks. (Prickly Pear Cactus
spines have been known to penetrate steel belted tires.
To survive the winter in Southern Alberta the cactus dehydrates
when the weather turns cold to avoid problems of water freezing in their cells.
In the spring after the snow has melted the cactus reabsorb the moisture from
the ground and bloom in June.