Southern Mountain Caribou
Southern mountain caribou designatable unit (DU9), formerly the mountain caribou ecotype, are a globally unique population though they are genetically indistinct. They are one of the world's southernmost caribou populations, found from central British Columbia down to northern Idaho and Washington states. These are also one of the only remaining caribou that live in rugged, mountainous terrain and feed on arboreal lichens in winter. These caribou are listed as threatened under the federal Species at Risk Act.
Decline
The southern mountain caribou population has drastically declined over the past 100 years, with a sharp decline from about 2500 animals in 1995 to about 1540 in 15 herds today. The decline of these herds is mainly due to high mortality linked to predation and disturbance in the short-term. In the long-term, southern mountain caribou are threatened by habitat fragmentation, alteration and loss of old growth forest.
For more about the ecological status of southern mountain caribou and probable reasons for their decline:
Results from the 2006 Mountain Caribou Population Survey, including population trends:
- Mountain Caribou Population Survey (PDF)
- Progress Report - January 2006 (PDF)
- Progress Report - March 2006 (PDF)
Governance
Recovery planning for mountain caribou began in 2005. A draft recovery strategy was developed for public consultation. An independent mountain caribou science team also created a number of reports and made recommendations to the Province of British Columbia on identifying habitat and necessary management actions to recover or maintain population.
- Reduction and Recalibration of Caribou Winter Range Models (PDF)
- Analysis of Habitat Options for Forest Industry Stakeholders (PDF)
Mountain Caribou Science Team
An independent, 14-member Mountain Caribou Science Team (MCST) convened to identify core mountain caribou habitat and the necessary management actions to recover or maintain their population.
Read the MCST’s reports and recommendations:
- Science Team Management Actions Summary (PDF)
- Science Team Management Actions Table (PDF)
- Review of Management Actions to Recover Mountain Caribou in B.C. (PDF)
Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan
The cross-agency Mountain Caribou Recovery Implementation Plan (MCRIP) is endorsed by the Government of B.C. and based on results from the MCST and consultations with provincial officials.
Learn about the province's commitments to the recovery plan:
Recovery Management
The following resources provide information about the efforts made by the Government of B.C. to preserve and manage the mountain caribou population.
Population Management
Initiatives intended to increase the population of these herds include maternal penning to provide a predator-free area for mother and child pairs until both are stronger and are able to escape predation.
Habitat
- Terms of Reference for Forest Health Component (PDF)
- Terms of Reference for Protecting Habitat Component (PDF)
- Approved Ungulate Winter Ranges
- Approved Wildlife Habitat Areas
- Wildlife Habitat Areas and Ungulate Winter Range Map (PDF)
- Mineral Exploration Permit Conditions and Guidelines (PDF, 1.9MB)
- Heli and Cat-skiing Standard Operating Practices and Guidelines (PDF)
Recreation
Public Recreation
- Terms of Reference for Snowmobiling Component (PDF)
- Public Recreation Decision Framework (PDF)
- Flow Chart for Implementing Snowmobile Closures (PDF)
- Snowmobile Closures within Mountain Caribou Recovery Area
- Snowmobile - Mountain Caribou Interactions (PDF)
Commercial Recreation
- Memoranda of Understanding - Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (PDF)
- Memoranda of Understanding - Helicat Canada (PDF)
- Helicopter Skiing Compliance Monitoring Report (PDF, 1.7MB)
- Terms of Reference for Commercial Winter Recreation Component (PDF)
- Heli and Catskiing Compliance and Effectiveness Monitoring of SOPs (PDF)
- Heli and Catskiing Operating Procedures Monitoring Form (DOC)
- Heli and Catskiing Wildlife Sighting Template (XLS)
- Definitions of Wildlife Sighting Template (PDF)
Land Act Map Reserves
Issuance of any new commercial recreation tenures is suspended in some parcels of Crown land situated in the vicinity of:
- Selkirk Range
- Monashee Range
- Columbia Range
- Purcell Range
- Kootenay District
- Pine Pass to Highway #1 at Revelstoke
This reserve will remain in effect while mountain caribou recovery implementation is undertaken. Learn more about the Section 16 Land Act Amendment (PDF).
| Planning Unit | Map |
|---|---|
| Planning Unit 1A | SW Kootenay (PDF, 3.9MB) |
| Planning Unit 1B | SE Kootenay (PDF, 4.7MB) |
| Planning Unit 2A | South Monashee (PDF, 5.8MB) |
| Planning Unit 2B | Central Kootenays (PDF, 5.9MB) |
| Planning Unit 3A | Revelstoke-Shuswap (PDF, 6.8MB) |
| Planning Unit 3B | Kinbasket (PDF, 4MB) |
| Planning Unit 4A | Wells Gray-Thompson (PDF, 4.3MB) |
| Planning Unit 5A | Upper Fraser (PDF, 4.7MB) |
| Planning Unit 5B | Quesnel Highlands (PDF, 5MB) |
| Planning Unit 6 | Hart Ranges (PDF, 4MB) |
Predator/Prey Management
- Terms of Reference for Predator/Prey Component (PDF)
- Interim Strategy for Predator/Prey Management Actions (PDF)
- Recommendations for Predator/Prey Management Actions (PDF)
- Benefit of Wolf Management to Mountain Caribou Herds (PDF)
- Evaluation of a Wolf Sterilization Program (PDF, 2.8MB)
Augmentation Management
Caribou near Dease Lake were captured and transported to the Purcell-South herd in the East Kootenay region to complete the first phase of a transplant project. A total of 19 caribou were transplanted.
