WOODLAND CARIBOU

“Rangifer tarandus”

(Selkirk Mountain Population)

by: Fiona Carlsen

Description and Ecology

Woodland Caribou are a species in the deer family (Cervidae) with brown hair on their back and a white mane. Caribou differ from deer because of their large hooves and antlers. They have been around for over a million years, traced back to times of the woolly mammoth and French Exploration (Recovery Plan). This specific species of Caribou is broken into two ecotypes based on habitat, northern and mountain. The Selkirk Mountain population are of the mountain ecotype.

Geographic and Population Changes

The Caribou’s population has decreased immensely between 1961 and 2000. Before 1900, they could be found throughout much of Canada as well as many northern states in the U.S. (recovery plan). Now, a caribou sighting is rare in Montana and completely unheard of in Vermont, Maine, Michigan, and New Hampshire, where they used to be abundant. The Selkirk mountain population of caribou used to be found throughout Idaho as far south as the Salmon River, whereas now they are restricted to the Selkirk Mountains. The Selkirk Mountains are located in northeastern Washington, southeastern British Columbia, and northern Idaho. From 1950 to the early 1980s, this population has gone down from approximately 100 to 25-30 (recovery plan). In 2008, the 5-year recovery status states that there is up to 47 individuals due to efforts by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Listing Information

The Selkirk population of woodland caribou was emergency listed on January 14^th of 1983 (Recovery Plan). Their final status was listed on February 29^th of 1984. Even though the habitat has not fully recovered since its listing, a proposition is currently asking to downlist Rangifer tarandus from endangered to threatened. This was proposed in early 2014, but still has not been changed.

Cause of Listing/ Threats

Many threats faced the woodland caribou, especially due to their already small population size. Habitat Destruction, poaching, little regulation, and road construction all threatened the woodland Caribou (5-year Plan). In 1983 the Idaho Department of Fish and Game requested an assessment of the woodland caribou population under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (recovery plan). Roads and poaching seem to have caused the most deaths of caribou in the 1980s. Not only was human interaction an issue for caribou, but predation was high. Bears, mountain lions, and coyote are all predators to caribou and are abundant in the Selkirk mountains (Conservation Northwest). Another threat to Rangifer tarandus is their source of food. Lichen grow in old forests that take 80-150 years to grow (Defenders of Wildlife). As old growth forests continue to be burned and cut, Caribou food sources grow thin.

Recovery Plan

After the caribou were listed as endangered, the first recovery plan outlined a recovery zone that included habitat protection, law enforcement, and education programs (Recovery Plan). The most current recovery plan states that the objective is to, “maintain an increasing population, and to secure and enhance at least 179,000 hectares of habitat in the Selkirks (recovery plan).” Poaching decreased since the recovery plan went into action due to increase of police enforcement. Killing an endangered species will cost the poacher a lot of money if caught. The recovery plan also restricted motor vehicle use on many roads in the Selkirks which decreased the amount of deaths by motor vehicle. The main strategy of the recovery plan was to maintain the two herds and establish a third in Washington state (recovery plan).

What Can You Do?

As someone who doesn’t work for an environmental agency or the government, you must be wondering what you can do to help. The biggest thing that civilians can do to help the conservation of woodland caribou is raise awareness. Educating the population about endangered species is extremely helpful. The more people know about these animals, the more likely they are to not do something accidentally to harm them.

Cited

Https://www.facebook.com/DefendersofWildlife/. "Basic Facts About Woodland Caribou." Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., 29 Sept. 2016. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

"Mountain Caribou." Mountain Caribou — Conservation Northwest. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. "Species Profile for Woodland Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus Caribou)." Species Profile for Woodland Caribou (Rangifer Tarandus Caribou). N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2016.

Plan, Recovery. Selkirk Mountain Woodland Caribou (n.d.): n. pag. Web.

Review, 5-Year. Southern Selkirk Mountain Caribou Population (n.d.): n. pag. Web.