 Come Dine on Wild Potatoes from Potato Mountain, Smoked Salmon from Chilko River and Grass Fed Beef from the Chilcotin River Valley.
The Chilcotin Forest District range program administers and manages approximately 150 grazing tenures including those found in the Bella Coola Valley. Cattle grazing began in the late 1800’s: some of those original pioneer families are still ranching in the Chilcotin to this day. Ranchers rely on Crown range for forage and hay production for both cattle and horses. Local stock associations include Anahim Lake, Tatla Lake, Chilcotin, and Big Creek. Cattle generally graze Crown range from mid May through till the end of October. Expansion of cattle numbers on Crown range is limited by the finite amount of spring and fall range. Tenures are issued for about 14,500 head of cattle, 530 horses and 650 tonnes of hay.
Crown Range plant communities vary from the open grasslands of the Chilcotin River Valley, meadow/wetland complexes found within the lodgepole pine forests of the Chilcotin Plateau, sub-alpine communities of the Coast Mountains and rain forest of the Bella Coola Valley. In addition to cattle, these communities provide forage for a large number of feral horses (over 1000 head at last count), a thriving mule deer population, white tailed deer, caribou, moose and both black and grizzly bears. Local ranchers report that cougar,wolf and grizzly bear numbers are on the increase.
You might encounter knapweed along Highway 20 and toadflax in the Tatlayoko Valley but for the most past our weed problems are minor in the Chilcotin compared to elsewhere in the province. We’d like to keep it that way. Both the Cariboo Regional District and the Ministry of Forests and Range have annual spray programs; biological control of both nodding thistle and leafy spurge has been undertaken.
Agriculture capability of the Chilcotin is limited primarily by climate. The growing season is short and frost can be expected any time of the year. Irrigation is required for forage crop production. Drought of the past decade has negatively impacted range health throughout the District - many of the potholes have dried up and forage production has decreased.
The latest Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic is another hurdle facing ranchers in the Chilcotin. Blowdown is damaging fences and trails and access to grazing in the forested region is being reduced. Logging is expected to alter cattle distribution but forage production will undoubtedly be enhanced.
Photo Credit ~ Cameron Klause Range Agrologist, A. Ag.
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Taunis Hodgson
My name is Taunis Hodgson and I am working for the Ministry of Forests and Range in Alexis Creek for the summer of 2007. My position is as Range Auxiliary. I am aspiring for a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Environmental Biology at Thompson River University in Kamloops, where I have been for four years. For the past two weeks I have been learning plant species, biogeoclimatic zones, walking fence lines and building grass cages for a feral horse study that will be conducted this summer.
I grew up in Big Creek, which is also in the Chilcotin, so I know the area, the people and love the scenery. I am really excited about this job and have high hopes to have an eventful, knowledge packed, fun summer out here in Alexis Creek.
 
August 2007
My summer in Alexis Creek was jam-packed with information, adventure and fun. I gained knowledge that I will be able to use in future careers and endeavours. People in the Alexis Creek office made me feel like one of the team within days of my arrival and treated me well throughout the summer. There is just something about working in such a beautiful setting that makes time fly by. This summer was one to remember, I recommend the experience!
Taunis
Range Auxillary 2007
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Legislation and other information related to range management can be found on the Range Branch website found below:
