ABOUT THE project

In collaboration with local stakeholders, we have developed an innovative approach for managing snowmobiling, and reducing impacts on Central Selkirk caribou. We developed a dynamic system to allow snowmobiling in areas of un-occupied habitat and prohibit snowmobiling in areas occupied by caribou by using GPS collar data to inform moving closures as the winter progresses. The system will use a total closure across the caribou range and then manage access through exemption permits. 

Under this system all caribou habitat in the Central Selkirks will be closed to snowmobiling year-round under the Motor Vehicle Prohibition Regulation within the Wildlife Act (Figure 1). This is the same legal mechanism as most snowmobile closures in the province, however, with one key difference. Access to the closed areas or management areas will be granted through exemption permits to two local clubs and their members (Arrow Lake Ridge Riders and Trout Lake Recreational Club). Members will have access to these exempted areas according to a web map, that will be updated daily, available via internet link.  Closed zones within the management area will be determined by caribou locations via daily GPS collar transmissions. A condition of the permit will be that members are required log-on to view the web map daily before riding. 

Over the summer of 2019 government caribou biologists and local snowmobile club representatives developed this system. The system is a fully automated model that uses watershed boundaries, elevation and major geographical features to create zones that are turned off or on based on the presence or absence of caribou. We used 2 winters of GPS collar data to help understand the needs of the caribou and we use the location of riding areas and the access to riding areas to understand the needs of the snowmobile community. We made every attempt to create a model that would work for both caribou and snowmobilers.

stewardship management agreement

This Stewardship Management Agreement (SMA) describes the shared stewardship roles and responsibilities of the Parties for the Central Selkirk Snowmobile Management Area (CSSMA). The CSSMA model is a new approach to snowmobile and caribou management in British Columbia. The intent of the CSSMA model is to provide protection to caribou from snowmobile disturbance while at the same time, allow flexibility for snowmobile access by using real-time GPS collared caribou to inform open and closed areas. 

ABOUT THE CENTRAL SELKIRK CARIBOU HERD

Historically, there were Southern Mountain caribou populations in the Monashee, Selkirk, and Purcell Mountain Ranges near Upper Arrow Lake and Kootenay Lake. Population declines have led to caribou only occupying the Selkirk Range near Nakusp (Upper Arrow Lake), Trout Lake, and Duncan Lake. This group of caribou is called the Central Selkirk subpopulation. 

The Central Selkirk subpopulation are a mountain-dwelling herd that migrates seasonally to occupy habitat at different elevations. When there is a consolidated snowpack in winter, the caribou occupy mid- to high-elevation, sub-alpine fir forests where they can eat lichen out of the trees. As the snow melts in the spring, they migrate downslope to denser spruce, cedar, hemlock forests to forage on shrubs and vegetation. In the summer and early fall, the herd moves back up to high elevation alpine habitat until the snow becomes too deep, at which point they move into sub-alpine forests again.

These unique seasonal migrations allow caribou to avoid predators, reduce overlapping habitat use with other ungulates, and follow the seasonal availability of different forage types. 

hERD NUMBERS

Caribou in the Central Selkirk subpopulation have been monitored since 1992, when biologists became concerned about the decreasing population. The census in 1997 showed there were 222 animals in the herd, which is the highest number recorded for the subpopulation. The 2021 census reported 28 animals, meaning there has been an 87% decrease in population since 1997. Only two of the 28 animals seen in the 2021 census were calves. 

There has been no known adult caribou mortality over the last three years, but the overall population trend is still decreasing and there are not enough calves in the herd to support a healthy population.

REASON FOR POPULATION DECLINE

Southern Mountain caribou throughout B.C. and Alberta have been declining due to direct and indirect impacts from human activity and climate change. 

Industrial activity (e.g., forestry, mining) has led to habitat degradation and fragmentation which limits the caribou’s habitat use and abundance, alters food availability, and increases the risk of predation. Forestry operations create roads and cutblocks that fragment caribou habitat and limit foraging areas. Young, regenerating forests do not provide the appropriate habitat type or food for caribou. Mining leads to loss of habitat as well as habitat avoidance because of human activity in the area. 

Industrial activity has made more young forests and habitat suited to other ungulates, such as deer, moose, and elk. These species are the primary prey of predators like wolves, cougars, and bears. When the other ungulates’ ranges start to overlap more with caribou, the predators follow and start to prey on the caribou herds as well. High predation rates in recent decades have resulted in low calf survival and are a major reason for population decline.

Recreational activity at any time of year will cause caribou to avoid the area and may disrupt their movement and foraging. Summer recreation is usually related to roads and trails, which can assist predator movement within caribou habitat. Winter activities (e.g., heli-skiing, snowmobiling, cat-skiing) are especially impactful because caribou have an extremely low energy budget in the winter. The lichen they rely on as food in the winter does not provide much nutritional value, so any unnecessary stress or extra energy spent avoiding humans causes a severe depletion to their minimal resources. Similar terrain is preferred by both winter recreationalists and caribou, which increases the risk of encounters and overlapping terrain use.

DIStURBANCE, WHY IT MATTERS

Caribou survive on a lichen based diet throughout the winter months. The crude protein content of lichen is ~3%, which is very low, and means caribou are on a negative energy budget over winter. Cow caribou depend on body fat reserves built up during spring/summer/fall to survive the winter while growing a healthy calf to be born in spring. Unnecessary energy expenditures or stress can impact their calves’ survival. 

There are two types of disturbance that caribou can experience as a result of back country recreation: 

1. Behavioural Response, a visible change in observed behaviour

• increased movement and vigilance 

• reduced foraging and resting

• increased energy expendure

• avoidance or displacement from preferred ranges

Areputable example of a literature on this type of disturbance is from (Seip et al. 2007): Seip, D., C. Johnson and G. Watts. 2007. Displacement of mountain caribou from winter habitat by snowmobiles. J. Wildl. Manage. 71(5):1539-1544.

2. Physiological Response, an invisible change in internal body processes:

• Acute stress (fight or flight response) serves a purpose – immediate mobilization of energy that depletes fat reserves, can last for hours to days until the body returns to normal

• Chronic stress – prolonged or repeated stress responses can decrease a caribou’s individual fitness. Can lead to suppression of appetite, poor body condition, hypertension, decreased disease resistance and reduced reproductive output

A reputable example of literature on this type of disturbance is (Freeman 2008): Freeman, N. 2008. Motorized backcountry recreation and stress response in mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). MSc. Thesis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. 75p.

RECOVERY EFFORTS

The Central Selkirk subpopulation has almost 300,000 hectares of core winter habitat protected from industrial activity. The caribou’s range also includes Lew Creek Ecological Reserve and Goat Range Provincial Park. 

The Central Selkirk range is being used as a pilot project for a snowmobile management area. The Central Selkirk Snowmobile Management Area uses the GPS collars on caribou to create real-time, moving closures around the herd. This new adaptive management tool allows recreationalists to use terrain that is not occupied by caribou and gives caribou the space needed to minimize stress and disturbance. 

Heli-skiing companies use similar collar data to give caribou a four-kilometre buffer to minimize impacts from helicopters and skiing. 

Predator control has been ongoing in the Central Selkirks since 2019. The provincial government has hired crews to control wolf populations in caribou habitat across the province. The Central Selkirk range is one of two herd areas in the province where cougar populations are also being controlled. In 2021, the government renewed the predator control plan for another five years. Local hunters and trappers also hunt wolves, cougars, and bears in the Central Selkirk range.

The Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS), based in Nakusp, provides a local voice in land-use decision making regarding caribou recovery efforts for the Central Selkirk subpopulation. ALCS membership includes representation from outdoor recreational groups, local industry, and local and regional government. 

ALCS started the Central Selkirk Caribou Maternity Pen project in 2019 as a way to increase calf survival. Female caribou will be captured in March 2022 and placed in the pen. They will be fed and cared for while they are pregnant and when their calves are young. This penning period provides females with high-protein feed, protection from predators, and veterinary assistance while pregnant and giving birth. It will protect young calves from predators when they are most vulnerable and increase their chance of survival when they are released with their mothers in July. The first year of maternity pen operations will be 2022 and the project is planned to continue for five years.