Caribou Habitat

Columbia Mountains Study - Mountain caribou, moose, and wolves are being monitored using radio-telemetry to determine the distribution, movements, population size and trend, habitat use, and predator/prey relationships across these 3 Forest Districts. Results of these projects are used by Land-Use Planning Tables (LRMPs and KBLUP), Recovery Implementation Groups, and Species at Risk Office to delineate where habitat will be managed from caribou, and what types of management leavers to apply. Habitat Fragmentation - Quantifying forest stand and landscape attributes that influence mountain caribou habitat fragmentation and predation rates. Implications of snowmobiling on mountain caribou - The amount and distribution of recreational backcountry snowmobiling has rapidly increased in southeastern British Columbia in the last 10-15 years. The growth of this activity has led to concern with the conservation of threatened populations of mountain caribou due to overlap of areas used by caribou and snowmobilers. While snowmobiling has the potential to impact caribou populations, the socio-economic benefits of snowmobiling is considerable to many small BC communities, thus, greater understanding of caribou-snowmobile interactions is required to assist with their integration. The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary examination of the historical use of late winter ranges by caribou relative to snowmobile activity. We are retrospectively analyzing historical data on snowmobile use, caribou census data, and Very High Frequency (VHF) and Global Positioning System (GPS) radio collar telemetry locations from caribou in late winter ranges to assess change in caribou use of snowmobile areas over time and space relative to the frequency and intensity of snowmobile activity. In particular we will determine: Determine if the proportion of time caribou spent in snowmobiling areas has declined over time as the amount of snowmobiling increased. Determine if the density of use by caribou (locations/km2) is lower in high snowmobile use areas than in moderate, and once again in low snowmobile use areas. Examine data from GPS collared caribou to assess if caribou use snowmobile areas more at night than during the day and more during the week than the weekend when there is more snowmobiling. Mechanisms Influencing Mountain Caribou Population Trend Across British Columbia - This project uses mountain caribou data collected across British Columbia to test hypothesis on factors influencing caribou survival, recruitment and population trends. Subpopulations have been delineated using movements of 380 radio-collared caribou. Vital rates of these caribou have been contrasted between areas with varying amounts of forest harvesting to identify the relationship between changes in landscapes and caribou status.

2005 The role of predation in the decline and extirpation of woodland caribou. Population dynamics of the endangered mountain ecotype of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia, Canada. 2001 Scale-dependent habitat selection by mountain caribou in the Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. Mountain caribou in managed forests: recommendations for managers. 2000 Winter habitat ecology of mountain caribou in relation to forest management. Population characteristics of the Lake Revelstoke caribou. Multivariate habitat modeling for mountain caribou in the Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. Early winter habitat characteristics of mountain caribou foraging areas, north Cariboo Mountains, British Columbia. 1996 Early winter habitat use by mountain caribou in the north Cariboo and Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. 1994 Mountain caribou in managed forests: preliminary recommendations for managers. Deer habitat in a visualized programming environment.

Nature Serve Species and Ecosystem Explorer

Bruce McLellan - Wildlife Habitat Ecologist, Ecology and Earth Sciences section Don Morgan - Wilflife Habitat Supply Research Coordinator, Ecology and Earth Sciences section