Ecological Relationships Between Threatened Caribou Herds and Their Habitat in the Central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion

Ecological relationships between threatened caribou herds and their habitat in the Central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion

Pine Flats (Kennedy Siding Herd)

Subalpine Forest Alpine (Parnsip Herd) (Quintette Herd )

Annual Report April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004 Forestry Innovation Investment - Forest Science Program - Project #Y051035

Elena Jones, Dale Seip and Michael Gillingham October 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...... 1 INTRODUCTION...... 2 METHODS...... 5 Study Area ...... 5 Caribou Captures ...... 9 Telemetry Locations ...... 10 Population Delineation ...... 11 Population Parameters ...... 11 Annual and Seasonal Ranges...... 11 Habitat Use ...... 12 Caribou Track Transects...... 12 Permanent Snow Transects...... 13 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ...... 16 Population Parameters ...... 16 Annual Home Ranges ...... 16 Seasonal Home Ranges...... 20 Kennedy Siding...... 20 Moberly ...... 20 Quintette...... 20 Parsnip ...... 23 Habitat Use ...... 23 Spring (April 15 to May 31) ...... 23 Summer/Fall (June 1 to October 15)...... 31 Early Winter (October 16 to January 20) ...... 35 Late Winter (January 21 to April 14)...... 36 Caribou Track Transects...... 37 Early Winter ...... 37 Late Winter...... 39 Permanent Snow Transects...... 39 Kennedy Siding Pine Flats...... 43 Population and Ecotype Delineation...... 45 FUTURE WORK ...... 48 LITERATURE CITED...... 49

APPENDICES...... 52 Appendix I. Collar status and telemetry locations - April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004...... 52 Appendix II. Caribou track transect and permanent snow transect distribution...... 53 Appendix III. Number of caribou track transects by population and habitat type...... 54 Appendix IV. Data Forms...... 55 Appendix V. Habitat and Snow Classification Key...... 64

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funding for this project was provided by FII (Forestry Innovation Investment), with additional support from Canadian Forests Products Ltd. and the McGregor Model Forest. Further support was provided by the B.C. Ministry of Forests, B.C. Ministry of Water, Lands and Air

Protection and the University of Northern British Columbia.

We would like to extend a warm thank you to the many people who have contributed to this study. Glen Watts, Brad Culling, Greg Altoff and Andrew Moore did a tremendous job of capturing and collaring caribou. Special thanks to helicopter pilots Ken Knight, Chris Norman and Robert Aylwin (Pacific Western Helicopters Ltd.) who got us safely into the alpine areas on windy days and small meadows under all conditions. Larry Frey (Northern Thunderbird Air Inc.) was the fixed-wing pilot for the majority of telemetry flights and was extremely skilled in navigating through the mountainous terrain to obtain caribou locations.

Tracy Hunter was invaluable as a field technician and was extremely resourceful during the initial stages of data collection. Her suggestions were integral in fine-tuning the field methods. Mike Wolowitz was instrumental in technical GIS assistance and initial telemetry flights. This study would not have been successful without the guidance of Katherine Parker

(University of Northern British Columbia) and Doug Heard (B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and

Air Protection), who provided invaluable recommendations on all aspects of this study. Finally, thanks to Jeremy Ayotte and Dave Gustine for their assistance and support throughout this field season.

INTRODUCTION

Woodland caribou in central British Columbia have been classified into two ecotypes: mountain and northern (Bergerud 1978, Stevenson and Hatler 1985, Heard and Vagt 1998).

These ecotypes are distinguished by their use of different habitat types and forage species throughout the winter (Stevenson and Hatler 1985). Variation in habitat use is believed to be the result of adaptations to environmental and physical habitat characteristics across the range of woodland caribou (Bergerud 1978).

Mountain caribou inhabit mountainous terrain within the southeastern portion of British

Columbia (Stevenson and Hatler 1985, Heard and Vagt 1998). This area is characterized by heavy snowfall during the winter (Stevenson and Hatler 1985), which limits caribou access to terrestrial vegetation. As such, mountain caribou forage almost exclusively on arboreal lichens

(Freddy and Erickson 1975, Bloomfield 1980, Antifeau 1987, Simpson et al. 1987, Stevenson and Hatler 1985, Seip 1992). Mountain caribou typically winter in old-growth subalpine forests, where arboreal lichens are available and abundant (Freddy and Erickson 1975, Antifeau 1987,

Simpson et al. 1987, Rominger and Oldemeyer 1989, Stevenson et al. 1994, Apps et al. 2001).

Northern caribou inhabit the mountainous northern and western areas of British

Columbia. Snowfall is comparatively lower in these areas (Bergerud 1978, Stevenson and Hatler

1985) and northern caribou are able to crater through the snow to access terrestrial vegetation

(Stevenson and Hatler 1985, Cichowski 1993, Wood 1996, Johnson et al. 2000). These caribou forage primarily on terrestrial lichens during the winter in either high-elevation, wind-swept habitat or in lower-elevation pine (Pinus contorta) or black-spruce (Picea mariana) forests

(Cichowski 1993, Wood 1996, Johnson et al. 2000), although foraging for arboreal lichens in subalpine forests has been documented (Cichowski 1993, Wood 1996, Johnson et al. 2000) and is sometimes prevalent (Poole et al. 2000).

The transition zone between the northern and mountain caribou ecotypes occurs in central

British Columbia and initially was thought to follow the height of land along the Hart Ranges of the Rocky Mountains (Bergerud 1978). The recognized boundary between northern and mountain caribou ecotypes has changed over time as knowledge of woodland caribou distribution has increased. Currently, the geographical boundary used to separate northern and mountain caribou lies west of the height of land in the Rocky Mountains to the Anzac River. Woodland caribou south and west of this boundary are considered to be mountain caribou and woodland caribou that range north and east of this boundary are considered to be northern caribou.

Currently, four woodland caribou herds are recognized in the geographical area surrounding the boundary between northern and mountain ecotypes: the Quintette, Kennedy

Siding, Moberly and Parsnip herds. For simplification, we will refer to Quintette, Kennedy

Siding, Moberly and Parsnip caribou as populations, however, it should be recognized that it is unclear at present whether these groups can be considered distinct biological populations.

Furthermore, it is unknown whether these localized populations constitute a metapopulation, in which genetic exchange may be occurring through periodic interbreeding. Delineation of populations and ecotypes within the study area are part of the objectives of this research.

Mountain caribou were provincially “red-listed” in 2000 and northern caribou are currently “blue-listed”. Both ecotypes within the study area have been nationally designated as

“threatened” by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (Hatter 2000).

As such, British Columbia has a responsibility to ensure that woodland caribou habitat is of suitable quality to maintain populations throughout the province (Hatter 2002). The Species at

Risk Act requires that recovery planning be completed for Threatened species. A key part of recovery planning involves the designation of critical habitat, that is, the habitat required for the

survival and recovery of the species. Consequently, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the habitat requirements of a threatened species before critical mapping can be conducted.

Management priorities for woodland caribou focus on providing adequate amounts of suitable habitat, however, woodland caribou populations require different land-management strategies if they use different habitat types or use the same habitat types in different ways.

Appropriate management practices are very different for mountain and northern caribou habitat

(Seip 1998). Applying the appropriate strategy within the transition zone requires that we have a good understanding of habitat use by the different herds of caribou within this area. In mountain caribou habitat, it is important to maintain large areas of uninterrupted old-growth forest stands that support high arboreal-lichen loads (Stevenson et al. 1994, Seip and Cichowski 1996). If logging occurs in mountain caribou habitat, partial-cutting systems or small patch cuts are recommended (Stevenson and Hatler 1985, Seip and Cichowski 1996, Seip 1998, Stevenson et al.

2001). In contrast, northern caribou winter range should contain large areas of mature pine forest containing an abundance of terrestrial lichen species (Cichowski 1993, Seip and Cichowski

1996). Xeric pine stands may support terrestrial lichens indefinitely. Wetter sites, however, may need to be burned or logged once moss has reestablished in order to be capable of supporting terrestrial lichen communities in the future (Sulyma and Coxson 2001). In order to maintain suitable woodland caribou habitat, we need to determine the range of variation in use of habitat and forage types within and among populations and ecotypes. Furthermore, in order to objectively separate northern and mountain caribou by geographical range, we need to examine how woodland caribou are using the habitat in the areas surrounding the ecotype transition zone.

It is possible that variation in habitat selection and foraging strategies by different populations and ecotypes of woodland caribou may be explained by different environmental conditions in different geographical areas. Numerous studies have improved our understanding

of the environmental variation that influences habitat use by both northern and mountain caribou

(Stardom 1975, Rominger and Oldemeyer 1989, Cichowski 1993, Terry et al. 1996, Johnson et al. 2000), however, these studies have focused on one population or ecotype of caribou. Little is known about how caribou respond to different environmental conditions at a landscape scale.

This study is contributing to our understanding of the habitat relationships of woodland caribou by examining the distribution and habitat use of woodland caribou using varying habitat types across a diverse geographical area.

Our objectives are to determine the seasonal distribution and movement patterns of caribou in the central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion; determine the seasonal pattern of habitat use and winter food habits; determine the adult mortality rate, calf recruitment and population status of each population; identify and map important seasonal habitats and recommend appropriate management practices for each; and develop a general model of the relationships between habitat attributes and caribou foraging ecology. This report summarizes preliminary data collected from

April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. These data will be used in combination with future data to address the above objectives.

METHODS

Study Area

The study area is approximately 8000 km2 and is contained within the Central Canadian

Rocky Mountains Ecoregion in the Hart Ranges of the Rocky Mountain (Figure 1). This area is characterized by mountains and rolling hills with highly variable terrain, ranging from low- elevation pine (Pinus contorta) and hybrid white spruce forests (Picea glauca x engelmannii) at

650 m to alpine summits at 2520 m. Prevailing westerly winds typically stall over the Hart and

Misinchinka Ranges of the Central Rocky Mountains resulting in high precipitation on the western side of the Rockies. Four biogeoclimatic zones occur within the study area; Sub-boreal

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R R

E L M O N R

20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Kilometers

# Mountain Ecotype Elevation Contours (200m) # Parsnip Highways Northern Ecotype Rivers # Kennedy Siding # Moberly Lakes N # Quintette

Figure 1. Study area and population distribution within the study area, based on telemetry and GPS locations - April 2002 to March 2004. Each population is labeled and outlined in black and the area was created by joining the outermost GPS and telemetry locations for collared caribou inhabiting each region. Caribou were considered to be in the Kennedy Siding population if they had ever inhabited the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding.

Spruce (SBS), Boreal White and Black Spruce (BWBS), Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir

(ESSF) and Alpine Tundra (AT) (Meidinger and Pojar 1991). The SBS zone occurs in the valley bottoms up to elevations of approximately 1100 m. This zone is dominated by hybrid white spruce and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), with occasional occurrences of lodgepole pine in drier areas and black spruce (Picea mariana) in wetter regions. The BWBS zone ranges in elevation from 650 to 1050 m, and is typically colder and dryer than the SBS zone. Dominant tree species include white spruce, black spruce and lodgepole pine. Fire is common in this zone and early-seral stands containing trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) and cottonwood

(Populus balsamifera) are numerous. The ESSF zone occurs in subalpine habitat between the

SBS and AT zones at elevations that range between 1100 m to 1500 m. The dominant tree species within the ESSF zone are engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and subalpine fir. As elevation increases in the ESSF zone, subalpine fir dominates and the forest becomes more open, eventually turning into a parkland habitat where stunted subalpine fir grows in clumps interspersed with alpine meadows. The AT zone occurs at elevations greater than 1500 m and is for the most part treeless. This zone is dominated by permanent ice and snow, rock, dwarf shrubs, forbs, mosses, grasses, sedge and terrestrial lichens.

The Parsnip and Kennedy Siding populations occur in the western portion of the study area (Figure 1) and are separated from the eastern Moberly and Quintette populations by the

Burnt River in the northern region and the Sukunka River in the southern region. The climate in the eastern portion of the study area is drier than in the western portion, as reflected by the different subzones that occur in each region. The western portion of the study area is dominated by SBSwk2 (wet, cool) with areas of SBSvk (very wet cool) at lower elevations. The mean annual precipitation in these subzones is 905 mm (MacKinnon et al. 1990) and 1247 mm (Delong

2003), respectively and the annual mean temperature is 1 (MacKinnon et al. 1990) and 2.6

(Delong 2003) degrees Celsius. The dominant shrubs in these subzones include huckleberry

(Vaccinium membranaceum), highbush-cranberry (Vibernum edule), and devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus) with devil’s club occurring more commonly in the SBSvk (Delong 2003). In contrast, the lower-elevation regions of the eastern portion of the study area are predominated by SBSwk2 and to a lesser extent BWBSmw1, and the wetter SBSvk does not occur in this area.

The subzone ESSFwk2 (wet, cool) occurs in the western portion of the study area between 900 and 1300 m with a mean annual precipitation of 1537.8 mm and a mean annual temperature of 0.3 degrees Celsius (Delong 1994). White-flowered rhododendron

(Rhododendron albiflorum) and sitka alder (Alnus crispa spp. sinuata) are common shrubs in this subzone. The subzone ESSFwc3 occurs in between the ESSFwk2 and AT at elevations that range from 1300 to 1550 m. The ESSFwc3 subzone is similar to the ESSFwk2 subzone, but is slightly colder with a snowpack that remains longer. The distribution of trees in this subzone is typically patchy (Delong 1994).

The subalpine regions in the eastern portion of the study area consist of both ESSFwk2, in the westernmost region and ESSFmv2 (moist, very cold) on the eastern side. The dryness of the

ESSFmv2 subzone is emphasized by a mean annual precipitation of 780 mm (Delong 1994), a little over half the amount that occurs in the ESSFwk2 subzone. The ESSFmv2 subzone occurs at elevations of 950 to 1550 m on the lee side of the Central Rocky Mountains and has a mean annual temperature of -0.3 degrees Celcius (Delong 1994).

Highway 97 intersects both the Kennedy Siding and Moberly populations, while the railway intersects all four of the populations. Logging has occurred and continues in the valley bottom and low-elevation subalpine forests throughout the majority of the study area. The

Quintette area is more heavily fragmented than the Parsnip, Kennedy and Moberly areas due to a combination of logging, oil and gas exploration and mining. During the 2003/2004 field season,

snowmobiling tracks were observed often in the Moberly, Kennedy Siding and Quintette winter ranges and on one occasion in the Parsnip winter range. Other mammals present in the study area include moose (Alces alces), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), elk (Cervus elaphus), mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus), wolf (Canis lupus), black (Ursus americanus) and grizzly bear

(Ursus arctos), wolverine (Gulo gulo), hoary marmot (Marmota caligata), snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) and beaver (Castor canadensis).

Caribou Captures

In April 2002, the Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection captured eight female woodland caribou within each of the four populations by net-gunning from a helicopter. Caribou were fitted with VHF (Lotek Fish and Wildlife Monitoring, 115 Pony Drive, Newmarket,

Ontario, Canada L3Y 7B5) collars.

In winter 2002/2003, 15 more caribou were collared; 12 caribou were fitted with GPS

(Televilt, TVP Positioning AB, Bandygatan 2, SE-71134 Lindesberg, Sweden, Model GPS -VHF remote download) and 3 with VHF (Lotek Fish and Wildlife Monitoring) collars. The Televilt

GPS collars had a 100% failure rate; 9 collars did not download following the first download period, and 3 collars stopped emitting a VHF signal.

In the winter of 2003/2004, 16 more caribou were collared for a total of 39 collared caribou. Six caribou were fitted with GPS (Advanced Telemetry Systems, 470 First Ave. No.,

Box 398 Isanti, Minnesota, USA 55040. Model: GPS Remote-Release Collar) and 10 with VHF

(Lotek Fish and Wildlife Monitoring) collars. During this capture period, 7 caribou wearing failed Televilt collars were recaptured and collars were replaced. Four caribou were fitted with

GPS (Advanced Telemetry Systems), and 3 with VHF (Lotek Fish and Wildlife Monitoring) collars. Advanced Telemetry Systems GPS collars are programmed to take fixes every 20 hours and are scheduled for recovery from each animal in March 2005.

Currently, 33 caribou are being monitored; 10 are fitted with GPS (Advanced Telemetry

Systems) collars, 21 with VHF (Lotek Fish and Wildlife Monitoring) collars, and 2 with Televilt collars that are transmitting a VHF signal but not collecting GPS locations (Appendix I). Of the original 39 collared caribou, 3 Televilt GPS collars stopped emitting a VHF signal and could not be recovered and 3 mortalities have occurred.

Telemetry Locations

We located both VHF and GPS-collared caribou using radio-telemetry from a fixed-wing aircraft weekly in the winter and spring, and bimonthly in the summer and fall. We recorded caribou locations obtained by aerial telemetry in UTM’s using both a handheld GPS unit and the internal GPS unit in the plane. We assigned a numerical code to each location as an estimate of our confidence in the accuracy of the aerial location. Locations that were thought to be greater than 100 m from the actual caribou location were not used in the habitat analysis. We obtained

682 locations between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004; Kennedy Siding = 180, Moberly = 231,

Quintette = 84, and Parsnip = 187 (Appendix I). If a visual observation was obtained, we recorded the caribou activity to determine if the location accuracy was influenced by caribou movement from its original position. Caribou were visually observed for 73% of the telemetry locations. We also recorded the number of caribou in a group, number of adults and number of calves for each visual location.

We recorded the macro habitat (alpine, subalpine parkland, subalpine forest, valley- bottom forest), dominant tree species (fir/spruce, pine, deciduous), age (young, mature, old), canopy closure (0-100%) and elevation for each collared caribou location during telemetry flights. We also took a picture of each caribou location using a digital camera, for verification of appropriate habitat classification.

Population Delineation

We delineated caribou populations based on seasonal range overlap and migration patterns. Caribou that migrated in early winter to the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding were separated from the Moberly and Parsnip caribou and classified as Kennedy Siding caribou.

Quintette caribou were distinguished by geographic separation from the other populations and seasonal range overlap among individuals in that area.

Population Parameters

We conducted a calf survival survey in November 2003, and a calf recruitment survey in

March 2004. Surveys were conducted solely by aerial location of each collared caribou within the study area, although incidental groups encountered along the flight path were also included in the survey data. We located collared caribou by radio-telemetry using a helicopter and obtained visual locations to determine if a calf was present. We classified all individuals observed with the collared caribou into age and sex categories (bull, cow, calf). Data were used to determine the number of calves per collared caribou, number of calves per 100 females, and number of calves per 100 caribou for each population.

We identified adult mortalities from changes in collar signal rates during each telemetry flight. We accessed mortality sites with a helicopter as soon as possible to determine the cause of death. Annual mortality rate was calculated for female caribou based on the number of collared caribou that were being monitored at the time of each mortality.

Annual and Seasonal Ranges

We determined annual home-range sizes only for individual caribou that were monitored for the entire period between April 2003 to March 2004. We used a minimum convex polygon

(MCP) home range estimator (Mohr 1947), to delineate and measure the area of an annual home range for each caribou.

We categorized caribou location data into spring, summer/fall, early-winter and late- winter based on migration patterns and snow data: Spring - April 15 to May 31; Summer/Fall -

June 1 to October 15; Early Winter - October 16 to January 20; Late Winter - January 21 to April

14. The spring season encompasses the spring migration period for woodland caribou. The summer season begins when most of the snow has dissipated from the mountainous areas. The early winter season begins when snowfall remains in the mountainous areas and caribou migrate to the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding. The late winter seasons begins when caribou migrate from the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding back to subalpine and alpine habitat.

Habitat Use

We queried each caribou telemetry location for biogeoclimatic zone, tree species composition, stand age and elevation using biogeoclimatic zone, forest cover map (FCM) and digital elevation layers obtained from the BC Ministry of Forests. We recorded macro habitat type for each caribou location from the plane during telemetry flights. Forest cover map queries were cross-referenced with habitat data recorded during telemetry locations to ensure accuracy of habitat classification.

We pooled caribou locations within each population by season and determined the percentage of telemetry locations in each biogeoclimatic zone, macro habitat type, stand type, stand age category and elevation category by dividing the number of locations in each habitat type by the total number of locations in all habitat types for each population.

Caribou Track Transects

Following each telemetry flight, we chose a subsample of caribou locations for habitat ground-sampling that represented the range of different habitat types used by all of the collared caribou in each population. We then examined this subsample of woodland caribou telemetry locations on the ground in each habitat type used by woodland caribou in early and late winter.

We used this data to examine variation in use of forage types in different habitats and snow conditions. Sampled habitat types included alpine, subalpine parkland, high-elevation subalpine forest (1300-1550 m), low-elevation subalpine forest (1100-1300 m), and valley-bottom forest

(below 1100 m). Subalpine parkland occurs above the subalpine forest and was defined as krummholtz trees interspersed with alpine meadows. We defined alpine as treeless habitat occurring above the subalpine parkland. We ensured that caribou track transects were distributed throughout the area used by each population (Appendix II). Sample size in each habitat type reflects the intensity of use for each population (Appendix III).

Habitat ground-sampling consisted of collecting data along a 100-m transect following fresh caribou tracks in the snow. We started each transect at the first feeding site closest to the telemetry location and recorded foraging site type (terrestrial, arboreal lichen, shrub browse) and distance between foraging sites for every foraging incident along the length of the transect

(Johnson et al. 2000). We classified terrestrial feeding as cratering in the snow and arboreal lichen feeding as trampling, broken twigs or fallen arboreal lichen species at the base of lichen- bearing trees (Johnson et al. 2000). We recorded snow depth at 10-m intervals and took 5 measurements of biologist and caribou sinking depth at random points along each caribou track transect.

Permanent Snow Transects

In order to examine variation in snow conditions among populations, we established permanent snow transects throughout the study area (Appendix II). We identified five habitat types that are typically used by mountain and northern caribou throughout the winter; alpine, subalpine parkland, high-elevation subalpine forest, low-elevation subalpine forest and low- elevation pine forest. We set up five permanent transects, one in each habitat type, within the range of each of the four populations for a total of twenty permanent transects. In order to reduce

topographic influence on snow variability, we tried to keep aspect and elevation similar among transects established in each habitat type throughout the study area. We accessed nineteen of the permanent transects by helicopter and one transect by vehicle at Kennedy Siding.

We measured snow depth and biologist sinking depth at each helicopter-accessible, permanent transect by establishing two transects in each habitat type, one to be measured by each recorder. For the alpine and subalpine parkland habitat types, each recorder took five snow depth and sinking depth measurements each every 10 m. For the three forested habitat types, each recorder took two snow depth and sinking depth measurements in the open, and three snow depth and sinking depth measurements within the forested habitat. Snow measurements were taken at helicopter-accessible sites at least once per month from December 2003 to March 2004.

We conducted a more intensive permanent-transect sampling effort at Kennedy Siding due to the accessibility and feasibility of collecting data in this area. We established three permanent 100-m transects in each of five different habitat types at Kennedy Siding based on tree species composition, canopy closure, stand density and stand age; clearcut, natural pine regeneration, spaced pine forest, mature pine forest and old pine forest habitat types. We defined clearcut as a stand that had been logged and was less than 10 years of age, natural pine regeneration as a pure pine stand between the ages of 20 to 60 years, mature pine as a pure pine stand between the ages of 60 to 80 years, spaced pine as a mature pine forest in which single trees had been selectively removed by logging uniformly throughout the stand, and old pine forest as a pine-dominated forest over the age of 80 years. We measured snow depth at 10-m intervals and biologist sinking depth at five random sites along each of the 15 transects, twice per week from

November 2003 to March 2004.

We calculated mean snow depth for each permanent transect and derived mean caribou sinking depth using the regression between depth of caribou tracks and our own sinking depth in the snow when wearing heavy snow boots (Figure 2). Although the slopes and intercepts of the two regression lines did not differ (p > 0.05), we used observer-specific equations to minimize estimation error in caribou sinking depth. We calculated snow height by subtracting mean caribou sinking depth from mean snow depth. Snow height corresponds to the height that the snow supports the weight of a caribou above the ground and is an indication of whether arboreal lichens are accessible to the caribou.

Observer 1 y = 0.8826x + 1.8342 r2 = 0.9577 60

Observer 2 y = 0.7693x + 5.7242 2 50 r = 0.8739

30 Caribou Sinking DepthSinking (cm) Caribou 20

0 0 10203040506070 Observer Sinking Depth (cm)

Observer 1 Observer 2 Linear (Observer 1) Linear (Observer 2)

Figure 2. Regression between caribou sinking depth and biologist sinking depth used to determine caribou sinking depth along permanent snow transects. Caribou and biologist sinking depth were collected randomly along caribou track transects in a variety of different habitat types and snow conditions from December 2003 to March 2004.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Population Parameters

A population survey was conducted in winter 2001/2002 and supplemented with additional surveys where applicable (Table 1). Surveys indicate that populations in the study area range from approximately 100 to 200 animals. Adult mortality, calf survival and recruitment rates can be used to assess whether a population is stable, increasing or declining. Populations that are declining typically have a calf recruitment rate that falls below 10% and low adult survival (Bergerud and Elliot 1986). Mean calf recruitment (23%) and adult mortality (10%) indicate that the populations in the study area were stable during the 2003/2004 year (Table 2).

These parameters only represent the population status for the 2003/2004 year; more data are necessary to identify long-term population trends.

Annual Home Ranges

Annual home range sizes ranged between 500 to 673 km2 for Kennedy Siding caribou,

108 to 278 km2 for Moberly caribou, and 167 to 446 km2 for Parsnip caribou. Annual home range sizes calculated for the two collared Quintette caribou were 152 and 522 km2 (Table 3).

Preliminary data suggests that Kennedy Siding caribou have the largest home range sizes, which is due in part to caribou migration to the Kennedy Siding pine flats in the southwestern portion of their range.

Spatial location of annual home ranges indicate that overlap exists among individuals in each population but may not occur among individuals in different populations (Figure 3).

Preliminary data suggest that Highway 97 may act as a barrier between northern and southern

Moberly caribou groups but not between caribou in the Kennedy Siding population.

Table 1. Population Status of Woodland Caribou in the Central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion, Winter 2001-2002. Data are based on results from Seip (2002). Corrected estimate is based on previous censuses and adjusted for sightability (Seip 2002).

Corrected Population Adults Calves Total Estimate Moberly 17 1 18 191* Kennedy Siding 114 24 138 166 Quintette 123 31 154 154 Parsnip 70 12 82 99

*Tera Environmental Consultants Ltd. 1997. Large mammal surveys of the Upper Pine River/Carbon Creek Watersheds in British Columbia. February and March 1997.

Table 2. Calf survival, calf recruitment and adult mortality - April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004.

Calf Survival Survey - November 11, 2003 Population Mean Calves per Cow Mean Calves per Collared Cow Parsnip 0.44 (n=9) 1.00 (n=3) Quintette 0.35 (n=20) 0.00 (n=1) Kennedy Siding 0.42 (n=19) 0.33 (n=3) Moberly 0.27 (n=50) 0.57 (n=7) Total 0.33 (n=106) 0.57 (n=14)

Calf Recruitment Survey - March 29, 2004 Population Mean Calves per Cow Mean Calves per Collared Cow Parsnip 0.27 (n=73) 0.44 (n=9) Quintette 0.21 (n=75) 0.00 (n=7) Kennedy Siding 0.20 (n=46) 0.29 (n=7) Moberly 0.24 (n=21) 0.38 (n=8) Total 0.23 (n=215) 0.29 (n=31)

Adult Mortality - April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004 Population Adult Mortality Cause of Adult Mortality (Season) Parsnip 0% (n=9) Quintette 0% (n=4) Kennedy Siding 11% (n=8) Unknown (Late Winter) Moberly 17% (n=8) Wolves (Fall) Total 10% (n=29)

Table 3. Annual home range sizes for individual caribou monitored from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. Area was calculated using a minimum convex polygon (MCP) home range estimator (Mohr 1947).

ID No. Population Annual Home Range Area (km2) car001 Parsnip 167 car002 Parsnip 446 car003 Kennedy Siding 500 car004 Kennedy Siding 505 car005 Moberly 108 car006 Moberly 239 car007 Quintette 522 car009 Moberly 137 car011 Kennedy Siding 673 car012 Quintette 152 car019 Parsnip 325 car020 Moberly 190 car021 Moberly 217 car022 Moberly 278

# # # # #$Mt.# # #McAllister ### # ### ### # # ## # ##### # # ## # # # # # # # #

# # # # ## Chetwynd # # # # # ## ## # # # # ####### ## ## ## ##### ### ### ## ### # $# Mt. Bickford # ## ## ## ## # ### ## # # ## ## # # ### #### # # ## # #### # $Mt. Murray# # # ## # # # # # $ # # ## Powder# King # # # # #MacKenzie # # # # # ### # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ##$ # ## ##Old# Friend Mountain # # # # # # # # # $Mt. Reynolds # # # # # ### # # # ### # ### # # #### # # ### ####### ######## # ## # ### Kennedy# Siding # ## # # # # # # # $# # # # # ##Mt.# Collier## # # # ## # # # # ## ## $ # # Mt. Crum # # ## # # # # # # # # McLeod Lake # #### # # ## ### # # # # # # # # # # # $Sentinel Peak # # # # ## ##### # # # # ## # # # ## ##### # # # # # # ## # ##### # # # ## # # # # 100 102030405060708090Kilometers

Telemetry Locations Elevation Contours (200m) April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004 Roads # car001 # car006 # car019 # car002 # car007 # car020 Rivers # car003 # car009 # car021 Lakes # car004 # car011 # car022 $ Mountains # car005 # car012 N

Figure 3. Telemetry locations and annual home ranges for 14 collared caribou that were monitored from April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. Annual home ranges were created using a Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) estimator by connecting the outermost telemetry locations.

Seasonal Home Ranges

Kennedy Siding

In spring, Kennedy Siding caribou inhabited the mountainous region in the northeast portion of their range. In summer/fall they used alpine and subalpine habitats spread out across their entire range and occasionally crossed Highway 97 between the MacKenzie Junction and

Azouzetta Lake. In early winter, caribou migrated to the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy

Siding where they remained until late January. In late winter, the caribou returned to mountainous terrain on both the east and west sides of the Pine pass (Figure 4).

Moberly

Moberly caribou occurred in three spatially distinct groups: two groups inhabited the north side of Highway 97, and one group remained on the south side. In winter and spring, the most northerly group used subalpine forest habitat near Mt. McAllister and Mt. Frank Roy. In summer/fall, these caribou moved southwards and used alpine and subalpine forest habitat. The majority of caribou in the Moberly population resided slightly north of Highway 97 and spent the winter and spring in the alpine regions around Mt. Bickford. In summer/fall, these caribou moved west and used subalpine forest habitats. Caribou on the south side of the highway spent the winter in the alpine ridges of Mt. Le Hudette and moved west to the Mt. Le Moray area in spring and summer/fall (Figure 5).

Quintette

Three caribou were monitored in the Quintette area in spring, summer/fall and early winter. This small sample size likely under represents the important areas for the Quintette population during these seasons. Location data suggests that Quintette caribou spend the winter and spring in the alpine regions of Mt. Collier, Mt. Reesor, Mt. Spieker, Quintette Mountain, the

$ Mt. Murray

# # $ # # # # Powder King # # ## # MacKenzie ## # ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # # ## # # # ## # # ###$# # # ### # # #Old# Friend Mountain # # # # # ## # # # # # # # ### # # # # $ # # Mt.# Reynolds# ### # # # # # # # # ## ###### # ##### # ##### # # ## # ## ## #### ### Kennedy# # # # Siding # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # #

#McLeod Lake

100 10203040Kilometers

Kennedy Siding Telemetry Locations Elevation Contours (200m) # Spring # Summer/Fall # Early Winter # Late Winter Roads Alpine Tundra Rivers Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir Lakes Sub-boreal Spruce $ Mountains N . Figure 4. Telemetry locations for the Kennedy Siding population by season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Seasons were distinguished based on migration patterns and snow data.

# # $ ## # # Mt.# McAllister# # ### ### # ## ### # # # ## # # # ## # # # # ## # # # # # # # # #

# # # # # # # ## # # # # ### # # # ## # # # ## # # #### # # # # # ##### # #$ ## ### ## # ### # # # # # # Mt. Bickford # # # # ## # # ## # # # # ## # # ## ## ## # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # ## # ###

# $ # # Mt. Murray #

# # ## # # # #

$ Powder King

# # #Ma cKe nzie #

100 10203040Kilometers

Moberly Telemetry Locations Elevation Contours (200m) # Spring # Summer/Fall # Early Winter # Late Winter Roads Alpine Tundra Rivers Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir Lakes Sub-boreal Spruce $ Mountains Boreal White and Black Spruce N

Figure 5. Telemetry locations for the Moberly population by season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Seasons were distinguished based on migration patterns and snow data.

Bullmoose mountain complex and the alpine areas between the Murray and Wolverine River. In summer/fall they were typically located in the subalpine forest surrounding these alpine ridges

(Figure 6).

Parsnip

Parsnip caribou remained year-round in the rolling hills between Reynolds Creek and the

Anzac, Table, Hominka and Missinka Rivers (Figure 7). This area is bordered by the Parsnip

River to the west and the more rugged mountains to the east. In early and late winter, caribou concentrated in the more western region of this range, closer to the Parsnip River and moved to the more eastern region in the summer/fall. In spring, some caribou used low-elevation forests on the hills bordering the Parsnip River. These areas became snow-free in late spring and foraging site investigations revealed that caribou were digging for emerging green vegetation at these sites.

Habitat Use

Spring (April 15 to May 31)

During spring, Kennedy Siding caribou were primarily located in alpine habitat with some locations occurring in subalpine parkland and subalpine forest habitat types in the

ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone (Figures 8 and 9). Kennedy Siding caribou were typically located above 1500 m in elevation with occasional locations in the 1300-1500 m elevation class

(Figure 10). Locations in the subalpine forest occurred in pure subalpine-fir stands between the ages of 141-250 years (Figures 11 and 12).

Moberly caribou were predominantly located in alpine habitat at elevations greater than

1700 m, with some locations occurring in subalpine parkland and subalpine forest habitat types in the ESSFmv2 biogeoclimatic zone (Figures 8, 9 and 10). Locations in the subalpine forest were typically in subalpine-fir dominated stands, and to a lesser extent in spruce-dominated stands

# # # # # # # ##

# ### # # # # ####

# # # ## # # # # # # # # # # # $ # # # # # Mt. Collier ###

# $ Mt. Crum

# ## # ## # # # #### # # $ Sentinel Peak

# # #

100 10203040Kilometers

Quintette Telemetry Locations Elevation Contours (200m) # Spring # Summer/Fall # Early Winter # Late Winter Roads Alpine Tundra Rivers Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir Lakes Sub-boreal Spruce $ Mountains Boreal White and Black Spruce N

Figure 6. Telemetry locations for the Quintette population by season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Seasons were distinguished based on migration patterns and snow data.

# # $ # ## Mt. Crum ## # ## # # # # # # # #### # # # # # # # ## # #### # # # # # # # $ # Sentinel Peak # ## # # # # ## # # # ## # # # ## # # # # ## # ## # # # ## # ## # # # # # # # ## # # # # # # # # ## # ### ## # # # # # ## ###### # # # # # # # # # # ###

#### # # # # # # # # # ## # ## # # # # # # ## # #

100 10203040Kilometers

Parsnip Telemetry Locations Elevation Contours (200m) # Spring # Summer/Fall # Early Winter # Late Winter Roads

Alpine Tundra Rivers Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir Lakes Sub-boreal Spruce $ Mountains Boreal White and Black Spruce N

Figure 7. Telemetry locations for the Parsnip population by season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Seasons were distinguished based on migration patterns and snow data.

MACRO HABITAT

n=9 n=16 n=4 n=19 n=27 n=58 n=17 n=30 n=63 n=65 n=22 n=54 n=81 n=92 n=41 n=84 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations Telemetry of Percent

20%

10%

Valley-Bottom Forest Subalpine Forest Subalpine Parkland Alpine

Figure 8. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different macro-habitat types by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Macro-habitat types were classified from the plane for each caribou telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

BIOGEOCLIMATIC ZONE

n=9 n=16 n=4 n=19 n=27 n=58 n=17 n=30 n=63 n=65 n=22 n=54 n=81 n=92 n=41 n=84 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations Telemetry Percent of

20%

10%

SBS wk1 SBS wk2 SBS vk ESSF wk2 ESSF mv2 AT p

Figure 9. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different biogeoclimatic zones by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Biogeoclimatic zones were determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

ELEVATION

n=9 n=16 n=4 n=19 n=27 n=58 n=17 n=30 n=63 n=65 n=22 n=54 n=81 n=92 n=41 n=84 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations Telemetry of Percent

20%

10%

700-1100 m 1101-1300 m 1301-1500 m 1501-1700 m 1700-2100 m

Figure 10. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different elevation classes by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Elevation classes were determined by querying a digital elevation model layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

ESSF BIOGEOCLIMATIC ZONE – STAND TYPE

n=3 n=3 n=14 n=21 n=41 n=13 n=30 n=16 n=3 n=52 n=51 n=32 n=1 n=84 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations

20%

10%

0% Siding Siding Siding Siding Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Quintette Quintette Quintette Quintette Spring Summer Early Winter Late Winter Parkland Non-Forested Subalpine Fir Subalpine Fir Dominated Spruce Dominated Pine Dominated Black Spruce Dominated

Figure 11. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different stand types in the Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (ESSF) biogeoclimatic zone by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Biogeoclimatic zone was determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer and forest stand type was determined by querying the forest cover map layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

ESSF BIOGEOCLIMATIC ZONE – AGE CLASS

n=2 n=3 n=13 n=21 n=38 n=11 n=29 n=14 n=3 n=46 n=47 n=22 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations of Telemetry Percent

20%

10%

0% Siding Siding Siding Siding Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Quintette Quintette Quintette Quintette Spring Summer Early Winter Late Winter 0 years 1-40 years 41-60 years 61-80 years 81-100 years 101-120 years 121-140 years 141-250 years 251 years

Figure 12. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different age classes in the Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (ESSF) biogeoclimatic zone by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Biogeoclimatic zone was determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer and stand age class was determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer and stand age class was determined by querying the forest cover map layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Locations in non-forested habitat (e.g. meadows/bogs) were removed from data set. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

(Figure 11). All locations in the subalpine forest were in stands over the age of 141 years at elevations between 1100 to 1500 m (Figures 10 and 12).

Quintette caribou were all located in alpine habitat above 1700 m elevation (Figures 8, 9 and 10). Use of subalpine forests by Quintette caribou was not observed, although the number of collared caribou and subsequent locations were considerably less than those from the other three populations.

Parsnip caribou were typically located in subalpine forests at elevations above 1100 m, with some locations in alpine, subalpine parkland and valley-bottom forests ranging between

700-1100 m in elevation (Figures 8 and 10). Parsnip caribou locations in subalpine forest were in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone (Figure 9). Caribou were predominately located in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands, although some locations occurred in spruce and pine-dominated stands (Figure 11). Locations in the subalpine forest were typically in stands greater than 141 years of age, with rare use of 81-140 year old stands (Figure 12). In valley- bottom forests, locations were evenly distributed among pine, subalpine fir and spruce-dominated stands (Figure 13). Two locations were in stands greater than 140 years of age, and one location was in a stand in the 1-40 year age class (Figure 14).

Summer/Fall (June 1 to October 15)

During summer/fall, Kennedy Siding caribou were predominately located in subalpine forests in the ESSFwk2/wc3 biogeoclimatic zone at elevations above 1300 m, although they occasionally used alpine, subalpine parkland, and were rarely located in valley-bottom forest habitat types (Figures 8, 9 and 10). Kennedy Siding caribou typically used pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands greater than 141 years of age, with occasional use of spruce- dominated stands and stands between the ages of 101-140 (Figures 11 and 12). The one location

SBS BIOGEOCLIMATIC ZONE – STAND TYPE

n=3 n=1 n=1 n=61 n=2 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations

20%

10%

0% Siding Siding Siding Siding Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Parsnip Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Moberly Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Kennedy Quintette Quintette Quintette Quintette Spring Summer Early Winter Late Winter

Non-Forested Subalpine Fir Subalpine Fir Dominated Spruce Dominated Pine Pine Dominated

Figure 13. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different stand types in the Sub- Boreal Spruce (SBS) biogeoclimatic zone by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Biogeoclimatic zone was determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer and forest stand type was determined by querying the forest cover map layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

SBS BIOGEOCLIMATIC ZONE – AGE CLASS

n=3 n=1 n=1 n=61 n=2 100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30% Percent of Telemetry Locations 20%

10%

Figure 14. Percentage of radio-collared caribou locations in different age classes in the Sub- Boreal Spruce (SBS) biogeoclimatic zone by population and season: Spring - April 15 to May 31, Summer/Fall - June 1 to October 15, Early Winter - October 16 to January 20, Late Winter - January 21 to April 14. Telemetry locations were pooled for individuals in each population. Biogeoclimatic zone was determined by querying the biogeoclimatic zone map layer and stand age class was determined by querying the forest cover map layer using Arcview for each telemetry location. Sample size (n) refers to the number of telemetry locations.

in valley-bottom forest habitat occurred in a spruce-dominated stand 141-250 years of age

(Figures 13 and 14).

Moberly caribou were typically located in subalpine forests in the ESSFwk2/wc3 biogeoclimatic zone at elevations above 1300 m, although they occasionally used alpine, subalpine parkland, and were rarely located in valley-bottom forest habitat types (Figures 8, 9 and 10). Moberly caribou were most often located in pure subalpine-fir or subalpine-fir dominated stands greater than 140 years of age, but commonly used spruce-dominated and to a lesser extent pine-dominated stands between the ages of 81-100 years (Figures 11 and 12). The one location in valley-bottom forest habitat occurred in a spruce-dominated stand 61-80 years of age (Figures 13 and 14).

Quintette caribou were mainly located in subalpine forests, although they also used alpine and subalpine parkland habitat types (Figure 8). Quintette caribou used subalpine forests in both the ESSFwk2/mc3 and ESSFmv2 biogeoclimatic zone (Figure 9). Caribou were equally located in pure subalpine fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands over 140 years of age or pine and spruce- dominated stands between the ages of 61 and 120 years (Figures 11 and 12). One caribou location was in a strip-logged cutblock. Most locations were above 1300 m in elevation with occasional locations in the 1100-1300 m range (Figure 10).

Parsnip caribou were primarily located in subalpine forests in the ESSFwk2/wc3 biogeoclimatic zone, with rare use of subalpine parkland habitat (Figures 8 and 9). Locations were always in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands, mainly between 141-250 years of age with one location in a 1-40 year old stand (Figures 11 and 12). All Parsnip caribou locations were above 1100 m in elevation with the majority of locations occurring at elevations greater than 1300 m (Figure 10).

Early Winter (October 16 to January 20)

In early winter, Kennedy Siding caribou locations were concentrated in valley-bottom forest habitat between 700-1100 m in elevation (Figures 8 and 10). Kennedy Siding caribou were most often located in the SBSwk2 biogeoclimatic zone with occasional locations in the SBSwk1 zone (Figure 9). Caribou were most often located in 61-80 year old pine forests, although they commonly used pine forests between the ages of 41-60 years, and occasionally used pine forests between the ages of 81-120 years (Figure 13 and 14). Use of pine forests between the ages of 0-

40 years was common in October and November when snow was shallow.

Moberly caribou were most often located in alpine habitat types, although use of subalpine parkland and subalpine forest was common (Figure 8). In subalpine forest habitat,

Moberly caribou were typically located in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone with occasional use of the ESSFmv3 zone (Figure 9). Caribou were commonly located in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands over 121 years of age, with occasional use of pine stands 61-80 years, and rare use of spruce-dominated stands (Figures 11 and 12). Moberly caribou were typically located at elevations greater than 1300 m, and rarely used elevations between 1100-1300 m (Figure 10).

Quintette caribou were mostly located in alpine habitat, with occasional use of subalpine forests in the ESSFmv2 biogeoclimatic zone (Figures 8 and 9). All subalpine forest locations were in spruce-dominated stands that ranged between 81-140 years of age (Figures 11 and 12).

Quintette caribou were always located above 1300 m in elevation with the majority of locations occurring above 1700 m (Figure 10).

Parsnip caribou were always located in subalpine forest stands in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone, with the exception of two locations in valley-bottom forest habitat (Figures

8 and 9). Locations in the subalpine forest were evenly distributed between spruce and fir-

dominated stands greater than 141 years of age with rare use of 121-140 year old stands (Figures

11 and 12). Caribou were located in all elevation classes with the majority of locations occurring between 1300-1500 m (Figure 10). In the valley-bottom forest, one location was in a 180 year old spruce-dominated stand and one was in a 90 year old fir-dominated stand (Figures 13 and

14).

Late Winter (January 21 to April 14)

In late winter, Kennedy Siding caribou moved from valley-bottom pine forests to alpine and subalpine forest habitats in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone (Figures 8 and 9).

Caribou in subalpine forest habitat were typically located in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated stands greater than 141 years of age, with rare use of spruce-dominated stands

(Figures 11 and 12). Kennedy Siding caribou were primarily located at elevations above 1300 m, but occasionally used elevations between 1100-1300 m (Figure 10).

Moberly caribou were typically located in alpine habitats, but commonly used subalpine parkland and subalpine forest habitat types (Figure 8). In subalpine forest habitat, Moberly caribou were typically in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone with occasional use of the

ESSFmv3 zone (Figure 9). Caribou were commonly located in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine- fir dominated stands but also used spruce, pine and black-spruce dominated stands (Figure 11).

All caribou in subalpine forests were located in stands greater than 121 year of age (Figure 12).

Caribou were commonly located at elevations greater than 1100 m, with the majority of locations occurring above 1500 m in elevation (Figure 10).

Quintette caribou primarily used alpine habitat and occasionally subalpine parkland habitat in the ESSFmv2 biogeoclimatic zone (Figures 8 and 9). All caribou were located above

1500 m in elevation with the majority of locations occurring above 1700 m (Figure 9).

Parsnip caribou remained in the subalpine forest in the ESSFwk2/mc3 biogeoclimatic zone with rare use of subalpine parkland habitat (Figure 8 and 9). Caribou were predominately located in pure subalpine-fir and subalpine-fir dominated forests over 141 years of age, with rare use of spruce-dominated forests (Figure 11 and 12). All Parsnip caribou were located above

1100 m in elevation with the majority of locations occurring between 1300-1500 m (Figure 9).

Caribou Track Transects

Early Winter

Data collected along caribou track transects in early winter showed that all caribou using alpine habitats were feeding on terrestrial vegetation, and all caribou in subalpine forest habitats were feeding on arboreal lichens (Figure 15). The majority of craters in alpine habitat consisted of terrestrial lichen, moss, sedge and dwarf shrubs. Terrestrial feeding was not observed along caribou track transects in subalpine forest habitat, however, track transect investigations were not conducted until mid-December. Terrestrial feeding may have occurred earlier in the winter when snow was shallower, as a Parsnip caribou was observed cratering in the subalpine forest during the November calf survival survey.

Mean snow depth along caribou track transects was 14 cm in the alpine, 108 cm in the low-elevation subalpine forest and 98 cm in the high-elevation subalpine forest (Figure 16).

Caribou track transects were not conducted in subalpine parkland habitat during this period, as only the Moberly population used this habitat type and these locations were inaccessible.

Sinking depth in low- and high-elevation subalpine forest habitat was approximately 30 cm, indicating that a snowpack of approximately 70 cm in height is adequate to support arboreal lichen feeding (Figure 16). Terrestrial feeding in subalpine forest habitat would have involved cratering through a meter of snow.

Caribou in the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding foraged for terrestrial

120

n=3n=4 n=1 100

Transects 20

0 Alpine Subalpine High- Low-Elevation Parkland Elevation Subalpine Subalpine Forest

Percent of Feeding Types at Caribou Track Types at Caribou Track Percent of Feeding Forest Arboreal Lichen Feeding Terrestrial Feeding

Figure 15. Percentage of different feeding types used by woodland caribou along caribou track transects in alpine and subalpine habitats - Early Winter. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

220 200 180 160 140 n=4 120 n=1 100 80 60 40 n=3 20 Mean Snow Measurements (cm) 0 Subalpine Subalpine High- High- Low- Low- Alpine Alpine Parkland Parkland Elevation Elevation Elevation Elevation Arboreal Terrestrial Arboreal Terrestrial Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Forest Forest Forest Forest Arboreal Terrestrial Arboreal Terrestrial Mean Snow Depth Mean Snow Height Mean Sinking Depth

Figure 16. Mean snow height and caribou sinking depth along caribou track transects with different feeding types in alpine and subalpine habitats - Early Winter. Snow height and caribou sinking depth sum to equal mean snow depth. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

vegetation and arboreal lichen in all habitat types, and fed on shrubs in all habitat types with the exception of natural regeneration (Figure 17). Craters in low-elevation pine flats consisted mainly of terrestrial lichen, moss and blueberry. Caribou typically fed on terrestrial vegetation in the natural regeneration and clearcut habitat types, although arboreal lichen feeding was observed on one occasion in natural regeneration and in a small retention patch in the clearcut. Caribou primarily foraged on arboreal lichen in mature and spaced pine habitat types, although terrestrial lichen feeding was also extensive (Figure 17). Preliminary data suggests that snow depth did not influence feeding type within low-elevation habitat categories, with the exception of the clearcut

(Figure 18). This may be due, in part, to snow depths not exceeding 70 cm in other habitat types.

Late Winter

Data collected along caribou track transects in late winter showed that caribou in alpine habitat foraged for terrestrial vegetation, while caribou in subalpine forest habitat primarily fed on arboreal lichens (Figure 19). We observed terrestrial feeding only along one caribou track transect in subalpine forest habitat. Snow was notably shallower along this transect than along arboreal lichen feeding transects (Figure 20).

Mean snow depth and snow height increased with elevation in the subalpine forest and subalpine parkland and ranged between 130-210 cm and 90-190 cm, respectively (Figure 20). A deeper snowpack in the high-elevation subalpine forest may have provided better access to abundant arboreal lichens, and we found that the majority of caribou locations were in high as opposed to low-elevation subalpine forests. Mean snow depth along caribou track transects in the alpine was 12 cm.

Permanent Snow Transects

Snow conditions likely influence feeding type as caribou must crater through snow to access terrestrial forage, and walk on top of the snow to access arboreal lichens. Snow conditions

100

n=2 70 n=6 n=3

n=13 50

40 n=1 n=2

10 Percent of Feeding Types at Caribou Track Transects

0 Bog Clearcut Natural Mature Pine Spaced Pine Old Pine Regen

Arboreal Lichen Feeding Terrestrial Feeding Shrub Feeding

Figure 17. Percentage of different feeding types used by woodland caribou along caribou track transects in valley-bottom habitat - Early Winter. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

100

n=2 n=1 n=2 80 n=1

n=11 n=8 n=5 n=3 n=2 n=2 n=2 60 n=1 n=1 n=1 n=5 n=2

Mean SnowMeasurements (cm) 20

0 l l b l b l l b a ial u ia u ia ub al ia u tri rea tr r tr real tr r e tr oreal s b bo es Sh es es Sh es - Shrub rr - rrestrial r r r - Shr erre g Ar t e Arbo e - Arbor e T - Ter Ter n - Ter - - Te cu - T in Bo ut t ar Pine - Shr ne P c e e e - d Pi i e - Bog - Arog cu n P n B Cl ce d Old ar egen ed Pine - l Clear e R re Pine - d Pi O Cl u Matur ac Spa ral Old Pi u Natural RegenMature - PineShrub - Arboreal Sp ace Natural Regent - Arboreal Mat Sp Na

Mean Snow Depth Mean Snow Height Mean Sinking Depth

Figure 18. Mean snow height and caribou sinking depth along caribou track transects with different feeding types in valley-bottom habitat - Early Winter. Snow height and caribou sinking depth sum to equal mean snow depth. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

120

n=15 n=2 n=15 100 n=6

0 Alpine Subalpine High-Elevation Low-Elevation

Percent of Feeding Types at Caribou Track Transects Parkland Subalpine Subalpine Forest Forest Arboreal Lichen Feeding Terrestrial Feeding

Figure 19. Percentage of different feeding types used by woodland caribou along caribou track transects in alpine and subalpine habitats - Late Winter. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

220 n=2 200 180 n=15 160 n=6 140 120 100 80 n=1 60 40 n=15 20 Mean Snow Measurements (cm) 0 Subalpine Subalpine High- High- Low- Low- Alpine Alpine Parkland Parkland Elevation Elevation Elevation Elevation Arboreal Terrestrial Arboreal Terrestrial Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Forest Forest Forest Forest Arboreal Terrestrial Arboreal Terrestrial Mean Snow Depth Mean Snow Height Mean Sinking Depth

Figure 20. Mean snow height and caribou sinking depth along caribou track transects with different feeding types in alpine and subalpine habitats - Late Winter. Snow height and caribou sinking depth sum to equal mean snow depth. Sample size (n) refers to the number of transects sampled.

favorable to terrestrial feeding are soft and shallow, while snow conditions favorable to arboreal lichen feeding are deep and hard. Snow depth provides information on how much snow caribou have to crater through, and sinking depth is an indication of how difficult it is for caribou to move through the snow. Snow height provides information on how high above the ground the caribou are supported by the snowpack. Snow conditions along transects in the range of each population may partially explain choice of foraging types throughout the early and late winter.

We measured snow depth, sinking depth and snow height along permanent transects established in different habitat types throughout the study area. We found that snow conditions were highly variable across the range of populations and that further sampling is required to examine relationships among snow conditions and habitat use, although some clear patterns are apparent from the preliminary snow data. Across the range of the four populations, snow was consistently shallower in alpine areas than in subalpine forests or valley-bottom forests. As well, snow became deeper and harder in the subalpine forest as winter progressed. Snow on the western side of the study area was notably deeper than on the eastern side.

Kennedy Siding Pine Flats

Snow depth and sinking depth followed a consistent pattern and was relatively similar in all habitat types, although typically higher in the more open habitats, such as clearcut, natural regeneration and spaced pine stand (Figure 21). In the first part of the winter, caribou used clearcut areas when snow depth was less than 22 cm. As snow depth increased above 22 cm, caribou mostly used forested areas and we only observed the use of clearcut habitat on one occasion. Caribou left Kennedy Siding and returned to subalpine and alpine habitat following a couple of notable changes in snow characteristics. Ten days prior to departure, a heavy snowfall

80 Feeding Feeding in Pine Forest Migration to Alpine and Subalpine Forest in Clearcut 70 Snow Depth 60

Caribou 30 Sinking Depth

10 Mean Snow Depth and Corrected Sinking Depth (cm) Depth Sinking Corrected and Depth Snow Mean

0 10-Nov- 28-Nov- 16-Dec- 3-Jan-04 21-Jan-04 8-Feb-04 26-Feb- 15-Mar-04 2-Apr-04 03 03 03 04 Clearcut - Snow Depth Regeneration - Snow Depth Mature Pine Forest - Snow Depth Spaced Pine Forest - Snow Depth Old Pine Forest - Snow Depth Clearcut - Sinking Depth Regeneration - Sinking Depth Mature Pine Forest - Sinking Depth Spaced Pine Forest - Sinking Depth Old Pine Forest - Sinking Depth Migration to Subalpine/Alpine Moved from Clearcut into Mature Forest

Figure 21. Mean snow depth and caribou sinking depth for permanent transects in different valley-bottom habitat types, Kennedy Siding. The blue vertical line represents the date that caribou inhabiting the low-elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding migrated to subalpine and alpine habitats. The red vertical line represents the date that the caribou moved from feeding in the clearcut to feeding in the mature pine forest.

resulted in high snow and sinking depths in all habitat types. Caribou typically used the plowed road following this snowfall to move between foraging sites. During the next several days, warm weather compacted the snow resulting in a lower snow depth while sinking depth remained above

30 cm. Snow was difficult to walk through under these conditions and we observed caribou struggling as they moved through the snow. Three days after these conditions were recorded, the caribou had all left Kennedy Siding. Snow transects at this point showed that snow depth was still the same, but the snow had hardened to a point where it was possible to walk on top of the snow pack, with sinking depth being less than 10 cm. We observed caribou tracks on top of the snow indicating that the caribou had left Kennedy Siding after the snow had hardened. Two possible explanations for Kennedy Siding caribou returning to subalpine and alpine habitats under these conditions are; snow conditions made traveling to late winter ranges easier or it was difficult to crater for terrestrial lichens under the hardened snow. Snow and sinking depth remained high at Kennedy Siding following caribou departure and remained this way for the rest of the winter (Figures 21 and 22).

Population and Ecotype Delineation

Populations and ecotypes were delineated based on migration patterns, habitat use and foraging type. Populations were spatially separated during all seasons from April 2002 to March

2004 (Figure 23), although some Kennedy Siding and Moberly animals were quite close in summer. Kennedy Siding, Moberly and Quintette caribou were previously classified as northern caribou, while the Parsnip caribou were classified as mountain caribou. In conclusion, our preliminary data suggest these classifications are correct. Kennedy Siding, Moberly and

Quintette caribou foraged on terrestrial vegetation in wind-swept alpine habitats, while all the

Parsnip caribou foraged on arboreal lichens in subalpine forest habitat. The Kennedy Siding caribou were the only animals that used low-elevation pine flats. All northern ecotype

60 Feeding Feeding in Pine Forest Migration to Alpine and Subalpine Forest in Clearcut

20 Mean Snow Height (cm) Height Mean Snow

0 10-Nov-03 28-Nov-03 16-Dec-03 3-Jan-04 21-Jan-04 8-Feb-04 26-Feb-04 15-Mar-04 2-Apr-04

Clearcut Regeneration Mature Pine Forest Spaced Pine Forest Old Pine Forest Migration to Subalpine/Alpine Moved from Clearcut into Mature Forest

Figure 22. Mean snow height for permanent transects in different valley-bottom habitat types, Kennedy Siding. The blue vertical line represents the date that caribou inhabiting the low- elevation pine flats at Kennedy Siding migrated to subalpine and alpine habitats. The red vertical line represents the date that the caribou moved from feeding in the clearcut to feeding in the mature pine forest.

# # #$# ### ### ###Mt.#### #McAllister #### ### # # ##### ## # ## # # # ## ### ### ## ## #

# # # ### Chetwynd # ### ### ##### ##### # # # ######## ## ##$## ### ####### #####Mt . Bickf ord ## # #### #### ### # # ## # ## # ## # # ### # ### ## # ### # $Mt. Murray# # ### # # ## # # $ # # ## Powder# King # # # # # # # # ## MacKe nzie # # # ## ### # # ### # ### # # # # #### ### # # ## # ## # ## ##$# # ## ## ##Old# # Friend Mountain # ## ## # # # $ # # # # Bullmoose Mountain # # ##### ### # # # $Mt.# Re# ynolds ## # # # # # # ## # ### # # # ## ### # # ## #### # ######## # # # ### ######## # ## # # ## # # ##Kennedy######### Siding# ### # ### ## ## ## # # #### ### #$# # # # ## ## # ## # # ##Mt.# Collier## ## ## # ## # # # # # # # $ # # # ## ## # Mt . Cr# um## # # # ## # # # # # ### ## # # McLeod Lake ## ### # # # ### ### # ## #$ ### # ### ## ###Mt. Babcock # # # #### # # # # # # # # $Sentinel Peak ## ## # # # ##### # Quintette Mountain##$# ## ## ##### # # ## ######### # ## # # ###### ### # ## # ### # # ### ## ## ###### ## # ##### ## ## # # ## # ## # ## # # ## # ## ### #### # # # # # ## ## # # ## # # ## # # #

#Bear Lake

20 0 20 40 60 80 100 Kilometers

Mountain# Ecotype Elevation Contours (200m) # Parsnip Roads Northern Ecotype Rivers # Kennedy Siding Lakes # Moberly # Towns N # Quintette $ Mountains

Figure 23. Population delineation within the study area, based on telemetry and GPS locations - April 2002 to March 2004. The current ecotype delineation is outlined in black and bisects the distribution of the Parsnip mountain ecotype population.

populations foraged on arboreal lichens in subalpine forests during the winter. In late winter,

Kennedy Siding caribou commonly inhabited subalpine forests and foraged on arboreal lichens.

Moberly caribou foraged on arboreal lichens in subalpine forests in both early and late winter.

The Quintette population rarely used subalpine forests, but foraged on arboreal lichens when in this habitat type. We found that the previous boundary used to separate the northern and mountain ecotypes did not encompass the mountain ecotype range along the northwestern side

(Figure 23). Parsnip caribou used the hills between the Anzac River and Reynolds Creek and the northwestern boundary would be more accurate if it followed Reynolds Creek.

FUTURE WORK

This report summarizes data collected between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.

Caribou will continue to be monitored by aerial telemetry and winter tracking will continue in

2004/2005.

Future data will be combined with current data to address the objectives of this project.

Data collected throughout the course of this study will be used to increase our understanding of population parameters, seasonal distribution and winter food habits for each population of woodland caribou. Data analysis will focus on developing a model of the relationships between habitat attributes and caribou foraging ecology by comparing environmental and habitat variables between used and available areas.

LITERATURE CITED

Antifeau, T.D. 1987. The significance of snow and arboreal lichen in the winter ecology of mountain caribou (Rangifer tarundus caribou) in the North Thompson watershed of British Columbia. M.Sc. Thesis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC. 142pp.

Apps, C.D., McLellan, B.N., Kinley, T.A., and Flaa, J.P. 2001. Scale-dependent habitat selection by mountain caribou, Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. Journal of Wildlife Management 65: 65-77.

Bergerud. A.T. 1978. The Status and Management of Caribou in British Columbia. Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Recreation and Conservation. Victoria, BC. 150 pp.

Bloomfield, M. 1980. Patterns of seasonal habitat selection exhibited by mountain caribou in central British Columbia, Canada. Proceedings of the Second International Reindeer/Caribou Symposium: 10-18. Direktoratet for vilt og ferskvannsfisk, Trondeim.

Cichowski, D.B. 1993. Seasonal Movements, Habitat Use, and Winter Feeding Ecology of Woodland Caribou in West-Central British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. Victoria, BC. 54 pp.

Delong, C. 1994. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Northern Rockies portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Management Handbook Number 29. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. Victoria, BC. 141pp.

Delong, C. 2003. A field guide to site identification and interpretation for the Southeast Portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Management Handbook Number 51. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. Victoria, BC. 262pp.

Freddy, D.J. and Erickson, A.W. 1975. Status of the Selkirk mountain caribou. Proceedings of the First International Reindeer and Caribou Symposium, Biological Papers of the University of Alaska, Special Report Number 1:221-227. University of Alaska. Fairbanks, Alaska.

Hatter, I. 2002. A Strategy for the Recovery of Mountain Caribou in British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. Victoria, BC. 73 pp.

Heard, D.C. and Vagt, K.L. 1998. Caribou in British Columbia: a 1996 status report. Rangifer Special Issue No. 10:159-172.

Johnson, C.J., Parker, K.L., and Heard, D.C. 2000. Feeding site selection by woodland caribou in north-central British Columbia. Rangifer Special Issue No. 12:159-172.

MacKinnon, A., Delong, C., and Meidinger, D. 1990. A field guide for identification and interpretation of ecosystems of the Northwest Portion of the Prince George Forest Region. Land Management Handbook Number 21. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. Victoria, BC. 116pp.

Meidinger, D., and Pojar, J. 1991. Ecosystems of British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Forests Special Report Series No. 6. 330pp.

Mohr, C.O. 1947. Table of equivalent populations of North American small mammals. American Midland Naturalist 37:223-229.

Poole, K.G., Heard, D.C., and Mowat, G. 2000. Habitat use by woodland caribou near Takla Lake in central British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78:1552-1561.

Rominger, E.M. and Oldemeyer, J.L. 1989. Early-winter habitat of woodland caribou, Selkirk Mountains, British Columbia. Journal of Wildlife Management 53:238-243.

Seip, D. 2002. Ecological Relationships Between Threatened Caribou Herds and Their Habitat in the Central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion. Prince George, BC. 15 pp.

Seip, D.R. 1998. Ecosystem management and the conservation of caribou habitat in British Columbia. Rangifer Special Issue No. 10:203-211.

Seip, D.R. 1992. Habitat Use and Population Status of Woodland Caribou in the Quesnel Highlands, British Columbia. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. Williams Lake, BC. 50 pp.

Seip, D.R. and Cichowski, D.B. 1996. Population ecology of caribou in British Columbia. Rangifer Special Issue No. 9:73-80.

Simpson, K., Herbert, K., and Woods, G.P. 1987. Critical Habitats of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Mountains of Southern British Columbia. British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Parks, Wildlife Branch. Nelson, BC. 12 pp.

Stardom, R.P. 1975. Woodland caribou and snow conditions in southeast Manitoba. Proceedings of the First International Reindeer and Caribou Symposium, Biological Papers of the University of Alaska, Special Report Number 1: 324-341. University of Alaska. Fairbanks, Alaska.

Stevenson, S.K., Armeleder, H.M., Jull, M.J., King, D.G., McLellan, B.N., and Coxson, D.S. 2001. Mountain Caribou in Managed Forests: Recommendations for Managers. Second Edition. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.Victoria, BC. 58pp.

Stevenson, S.K., Armeleder, H.M., Jull, M.J., King, D.G., Elliot, T.L., Watts, G.S., McLellan, B.N., and Child, K.N. 1994. Mountain Caribou in Managed Forests. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Research Branch. Victoria, BC. 31 pp.

Stevenson, S.K., and Hatler, D.F. 1985. Woodland Caribou and Their Habitat in Southern and Central British Columbia. Volume 1. British Columbia Ministry of Forests. Victoria, BC. 355 pp.

Sulyma, R., and Coxson, D.S. 2001. Microsite displacement of terrestrial lichens by feather moss mats in late seral Pine-Lichen woodlands of North-central British Columbia. The Bryologist 104:505-516.

Terry, E., McLellan, B., Watts, G., and Flaa, J. 1996. Early winter habitat use by mountain caribou in the North Cariboo and Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9:133-140.

Wood, M.D. 1996. Seasonal habitat use and movements of woodland caribou in the Omineca Mountains, north central British Columbia, 1991-1993. Rangifer, Special Issue No. 9:365-37.

APPENDICES

Appendix I. Collar status and telemetry locations - April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004.

No. Capture Collar ID No. Status Population Ecotype Age Sex Telemetry Date Type Locations car001 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 35 car002 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 33 car003 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 34 car004 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 33 car005 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 31 car006 8-Apr-02 VHF Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 32 car007 9-Apr-02 VHF Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 27 car008 9-Apr-02 VHF Mortality Quintette Northern Adult Female 0 car009 2-Dec-02 VHF * Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 31 car010 2-Dec-02 GPS * Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 19 car011 4-Feb-03 VHF * Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 34 car012 12-Feb-03 GPS * Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 30 car013 12-Feb-03 GPS Missing Quintette Northern Adult Female 1 car014 12-Feb-03 GPS EBM1 Quintette Northern Adult Female 0 car015 12-Feb-03 GPS Missing Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 1 car016 6-Mar-03 VHF * Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 19 car017 6-Mar-03 GPS EBM1 Parsnip Mountain Yearling Female 12 car018 6-Mar-03 GPS Missing Kennedy Northern Adult Female 0 car019 6-Mar-03 GPS * Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 35 car020 23-Mar-03 GPS * Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 31 car021 24-Mar-03 VHF Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 32 car022 24-Mar-03 VHF Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 30 car023 24-Mar-03 VHF Mortality Moberly Northern Adult Female 8 car024 1-Dec-03 GPS Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 15 car025 1-Dec-03 GPS Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 17 car026 2-Dec-03 VHF Good Kennedy Northern Juvenile Male 17 car027 2-Dec-03 VHF Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 16 car028 2-Dec-03 VHF Mortality Kennedy Northern Adult Female 12 car029 10-Dec-03 GPS Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 15 car030 10-Dec-03 GPS Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 16 car031 10-Dec-03 GPS Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 14 car032 11-Dec-03 GPS Good Moberly Northern Adult Female 17 car033 11-Dec-03 VHF Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 15 car034 9-Feb-04 VHF Good Parsnip Mountain Adult Female 6 car035 13-Feb-04 VHF Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 6 car036 24-Mar-04 VHF Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 2 car037 24-Mar-04 VHF Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 2 car038 24-Mar-04 VHF Good Quintette Northern Adult Female 2 car039 24-Mar-04 VHF Good Kennedy Northern Adult Female 2 * Replaced Failed GPS Collar 1 EBM = Emergency Battery Mode

Appendix II. Caribou track transect and permanent snow transect distribution, November 15, 2003 to March 31, 2004.

$ # Mt. McAllister

# %#%%% Chetw ynd # # ## $#Mt. Bickford ##

% # # $Mt. Murray

$Powder King

#MacKenzie # # # % # #$#%#%%Old Friend Mountain # # # $ # Mt.# Reynolds % ###

Orange Do u g Mik e Da le %%Ka thy %##Ty # #%#Mur ray ###%Elen a Gle#% n Tracy ##He a ther # Co# n n# o r #%#%#%Stan Kennedy Siding## %Ch e ryl %%% #%Kev in % # # # $Mt. Collier # $ # # Mt. Crum

#McLeod Lake # # # %%%% # $Sentinel Peak # # # % # # #

200 20406080Kilometers

# Caribou Track Elevation Contours (200m) Transect Locations Highways % Permanent Snow Rivers Transect Locations Lakes N

Appendix III. Number of caribou track transects by population and habitat type.

Number of Caribou Track Transects in Alpine and Subalpine Habitat Types Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Subalpine Total No. Forest - Forest - Population Alpine Parkland - Forest - Track Fir/ Pine Fir Fir Transects Spruce Dominated Kennedy Siding 5252 0 14 Moberly 8031 1 13 Quintette 5001 0 6 Parsnip 0010 3 0 13

Number of Caribou Track Transects in Valley-Bottom Habitat Types Mature Young Mature Black Total No. Pine Old Pine Population Clearcut Pine Forest Pine Spruce Track Forest - Forest (Regen) Forest Bog Transects Spaced Kennedy Siding 6 2 13 3 2 127 Moberly 0 0 0 0 0 00 Quintette 0 0 0 0 0 00 Parsnip 0 0 0 0 0 00

Number of caribou track transects accessed by helicopter 46 Number of caribou track transects accessed by vehicle 27 Total number of caribou track transects 73

Appendix IV. Data Forms

CENTRAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN CARIBOU TRACK TRANSECT FORM Date of Location: / / mm/dd/yy car Plot No. - Biologists: Date of Collection: / / mm/dd/yy Weather: Temp: Time: Location UTM: Habitat Description: Track UTM @ 0m: Approximate Age of Tracks: Bearing @ Track: Comments: General Site Information @ 50m Class Species % Cover Species % Cover Easting: A1 %% Northing: %% Macro Habitat Code: A2 %% Micro Habitat Code: %% Micro Habitat Code: A3 %% Forest Stand Type: %% Age: B1 %% Canopy Closure: % %% Elevation: m B2 %% Aspect: %% Slope: Shrub %% Movement Impediments: Samples Collected: Distance to Nearest Ecotone: m Photo Photo Ecotone Type: Photo Photo Comments: Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Snow Depth Measurements and Characteristics Photo Photo Dist. Snow Depth Class Hardness Dist. Snow Depth Class Hardness Biologist Caribou 0m cm 60m cm Sinking Depth: cm Sinking Depth: cm 10m cm 70m cm Sinking Depth: cm Sinking Depth: cm 20m cm 80m cm Sinking Depth: cm Sinking Depth: cm 30m cm 90m cm Sinking Depth: cm Sinking Depth: cm 40m cm 100m cm Sinking Depth: cm Sinking Depth: cm 50m cm Track UTM @ 100m: Elevation: m

0m - Tree Species Condition Fed On DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access Canopy Closure 1 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 2 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 3 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 4 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 5 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No Density 6 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 20m - Tree Species Condition Fed On DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access Canopy Closure 1 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 2 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 3 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 4 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 5 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No Density 6 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 40m - Tree Species Condition Fed On DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access Canopy Closure 1 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 2 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 3 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 4 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 5 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No Density 6 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 60m - Tree Species Condition Fed On DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access Canopy Closure 1 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 2 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 3 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 4 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 5 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No Density 6 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 80m - Tree Species Condition Fed On DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access Canopy Closure 1 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 2 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 3 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 4 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No 5 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No Density 6 Live / Dead Yes / No . Yes / No Yes / No

CENTRAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN CARIBOU FEEDING SITE FORM Date: / / mm/dd/yy car Plot No. - Biologists: / /

Cratering Feeding Sites Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Total no. of craters: 1 0 x = Total no. of craters Subsample every crater starting at the crater Cratering Feeding Sites Subsample M=Moss, TL=Terrestrial Lichen, KK=Knickiknick, BB=Blueberry, F=Forb, S=Sedge, G=Grass, CM=Clubmoss, WG=Wintergreen, US=Unknown Shrub Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Shrub Feeding Sites Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp. Distance: m Spp.

Arboreal Lichen Feeding Sites Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No. Distance: m No.

Total no. of trees: 1 0 x = Total no. of trees Subsample every tree starting at the tree Arboreal Lichen Feeding Tree Subsample

Distance Tree Species Condition DBH Abd % Bryoria Access % Alectoria Access m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No m Live / Dead . Yes / No Yes / No

Random Numbers (1-3) Random Numbers (1-6) Random Numbers (1-10) 123212213 162445364162 264741011087 331233132 343523145231 5182938693 212121321 251615632156 47351109526

PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - KENNEDY SIDING PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - KENNEDY SIDING

Date: / / mm/dd/yy Temp: Date: / / mm/dd/yy Temp: Snow Depth Class Hardness Snow Depth Class Hardness 0m cm Transect No. 0m cm Transect No. 10m cm Name: 10m cm Name: 20m cm Habitat: 20m cm Habitat: 30m cm Biologist 30m cm Biologist 40m cm Sinking Depth Distance 40m cm Sinking Depth Distance 50m cm cm m 50m cm cm m 60m cm cm m 60m cm cm m 70m cm cm m 70m cm cm m 80m cm cm m 80m cm cm m 90m cm cm m 90m cm cm m 100mcm 100mcm Time: Weather: Time: Weather: Fresh Tracks: Fresh Tracks: Comments: Comments:

Hardness Snow Depth Hardness Snow Depth Class Class 0m cm Transect No. 0m cm Transect No. 10m cm Name: 10m cm Name: 20m cm Habitat: 20m cm Habitat: 30m cm Biologist 30m cm Biologist 40m cm Sinking Depth Distance 40m cm Sinking Depth Distance 50m cm cm m 50m cm cm m 60m cm cm m 60m cm cm m 70m cm cm m 70m cm cm m 80m cm cm m 80m cm cm m 90m cm cm m 90m cm cm m 100mcm 100mcm Time: Weather: Time: Weather: Fresh Tracks: Fresh Tracks: Comments: Comments:

PERMANENT TRANSECT SUMMARY SHEET - KENNEDY SIDING PERMANENT TRANSECT SUMMARY SHEET - KENNEDY SIDING

Date: //mm/dd/yy Biologists / Date: //mm/dd/yy Biologists / Temp: Weather: Temp: Weather: No.Name Habitat Easting Northing Comments No.Name Habitat Easting Northing Comments 1 Kevin Old 512645 6105514 1 Kevin Old 512645 6105514 2 Stan Clearcut 512527 6106336 2 Stan Clearcut 512527 6106336 3 Tracy Regen 512317 6107281 3 Tracy Regen 512317 6107281 4 Elena Mature 511848 6108035 4 Elena Mature 511848 6108035 5 Dale Spaced 511132 6109739 5 Dale Spaced 511132 6109739 6 Ty Spaced 511343 6109170 6 Ty Spaced 511343 6109170 7 Doug Regen 512162 6109918 7 Doug Regen 512162 6109918 8 Orange Old 512142 6109980 8 Orange Old 512142 6109980 9 Murray Mature 511920 6108654 9 Murray Mature 511920 6108654 10 Glen Mature 511280 6107182 10 Glen Mature 511280 6107182 11 Cheryl Old 512564 6106202 11 Cheryl Old 512564 6106202 12 Heather Clearcut 511863 6107166 12 Heather Clearcut 511863 6107166 13 Connor Clearcut 511365 6107051 13 Connor Clearcut 511365 6107051 14 Kathy Spaced 511309 6109355 14 Kathy Spaced 511309 6109355 15 Mike Regen 511041 6109799 15 Mike Regen 511041 6109799 Caribou Habitat Use Sites Caribou Habitat Use Sites Total Number of Habitat Plots: Total Number of Habitat Plots: Caribou ID Plot No. Comments Caribou ID Plot No. Comments car - car - car - car - car - car - Caribou Collars Caribou Collars Car ID. Frequency Heard BPM Comments Car ID. Frequency Heard BPM Comments car003150.501 Yes / No car003150.501 Yes / No car004150.552 Yes / No car004150.552 Yes / No car011151.639 Yes / No car011151.639 Yes / No car024148.120 Yes / No car024148.120 Yes / No car025148.777 Yes / No car025148.777 Yes / No car026 B148.430 Yes / No car026 B148.430 Yes / No car027148.360 Yes / No car027148.360 Yes / No car028148.450 Yes / No car028148.450 Yes / No Comments: Comments:

PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - HELI SITES PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - HELI SITES Date of Collection: / / mm/dd/yy Biologist: Date of Collection: / / mm/dd/yy Biologist: Parsnip - Alpine Time: Bearing Parsnip - Alpine Time: Bearing Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Parsnip - Subalpine Parkland Bearing Parsnip - Subalpine Parkland Bearing Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Parsnip - Upper Elevation Subalpine Forest Bearing Parsnip - Upper Elevation Subalpine Forest Bearing Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Parsnip - Lower Elevation Subalpine Forest Bearing Parsnip - Lower Elevation Subalpine Forest Bearing Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Parsnip - Low Elevation Pine Flats Bearing Parsnip - Low Elevation Pine Flats Bearing Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Open Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Forest Snow Depth cm Sinking Depth cm Snow Class: Snow Hardness: Snow Class: Snow Hardness:

PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - HELI SUMMARY SHEET PERMANENT TRANSECT SNOW MEASUREMENTS - HELI SUMMARY SHEET Date: //mm/dd/yy Total Hours: . hrs Date: //mm/dd/yy Total Hours: . hrs Biologist / Pilot: Temp: Biologist / Pilot: Temp: Weather Conditions: Weather Conditions: Herd Habitat Type Easting NorthingElev. Comments Herd Habitat Type Easting Northing Elev. Comments Parsnip Alpine 556898 6090045 5710 Parsnip Alpine 556898 6090045 5710 Parsnip SA Parkland 5572616089664 5360 Parsnip SA Parkland 557261 6089664 5360 Parsnip High SA Forest 557766 6089489 4880 Parsnip High SA Forest 557766 6089489 4880 Parsnip Low SA Forest 558515 6089437 4320 Parsnip Low SA Forest 558515 6089437 4320 Parsnip Pine Forest 533251 6075625 2525 Parsnip Pine Forest 533251 6075625 2525 Quintette Alpine 595715 6105070 6445 Quintette Alpine 595715 6105070 6445 Quintette SA Parkland 596200 6106146 5650 Quintette SA Parkland 596200 6106146 5650 Quintette High SA Forest 597615 6106529 4770 Quintette High SA Forest 597615 6106529 4770 Quintette Low SA Forest 598057 6106689 4250 Quintette Low SA Forest 598057 6106689 4250 Quintette Pine Forest 605533 6118673 3880 Quintette Pine Forest 605533 6118673 3880 Moberly Alpine 535272 6169796 5640 Moberly Alpine 535272 6169796 5640 Moberly SA Parkland536271 6169049 5220 Moberly SA Parkland 536271 6169049 5220 Moberly High SA Forest 536615 6170067 4960 Moberly High SA Forest 536615 6170067 4960 Moberly Low SA Forest 538184 6170439 4250 Moberly Low SA Forest 538184 6170439 4250 Moberly Pine Forest 528853 6153951 3605 Moberly Pine Forest 528853 6153951 3605 Kennedy Alpine 524767 6123145 5990 Kennedy Alpine 524767 6123145 5990 Kennedy SA Parkland 525495 6122996 5160 Kennedy SA Parkland 525495 6122996 5160 Kennedy High SA Forest 525788 6123797 4990 Kennedy High SA Forest 525788 6123797 4990 Kennedy Low SA Forest 527727 6124732 4085 Kennedy Low SA Forest 527727 6124732 4085 Caribou Habitat Use Sites Total Number of Habitat Plots: Caribou Habitat Use Sites Total Number of Habitat Plots: Caribou ID Plot No. Population Caribou ID Plot No. Population car - car - car - car - car - car - car - car - car - car - car - car - Collared Caribou Total Number of Collared Caribou Heard: Collared Caribou Total Number of Collared Caribou Heard: Car ID. Heard BPM Car ID. Heard BPM Car ID. Heard BPM Car ID. Heard BPM car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No car Yes / No

CARIBOU CAPTURE DATA SHEET CARIBOU CAPTURE DATA SHEET

Date of Collection: //mm/dd/yy Date of Collection: //mm/dd/yy

Biologist: Time: hrs Biologist: Time: hrs

General Location: General Location: Initial UTM: Initial UTM: Capture UTM: Capture UTM:

Caribou ID: c a r VHF / GPS Caribou ID: c a r Frequency: . Capture / Recapture Frequency: . VHF / GPS

Blood Sample Red Purple Blood Sample Red Purple Label Top Top Spun Comments Label Top Top Spun Comments

Fecal Sample: Yes / No Fecal Label: Fecal Sample: Yes / No Fecal Label: Body Region Gerharts score Comments Body Region Gerharts score Comments Withers: Withers: Ribs: Ribs: Base of Tail: Base of Tail: Ultra Sound Measurement: . cm Est. Age Ultra Sound Measurement: . cm Est. Age Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Photo # Comments: Comments:

Appendix V. Habitat and Snow Classification Key

HABITAT AND SNOW CLASSIFICATION KEY HABITAT AND SNOW CLASSIFICATION KEY Code Macro Habitat Type Code Stand Type Code Macro Habitat Type Code Stand Type 1 Alpine 1 Spruce/Fir 1 Alpine 1 Spruce/Fir 2 Subalpine Parkland 2 Pine 2 Subalpine Parkland 2 Pine 3 Subalpine Forest 3 Deciduous 3 Subalpine Forest 3 Deciduous 4 Valley Bottom Forest 4 Conifer/Deciduous 4 Valley Bottom Forest 4 Conifer/Deciduous 5 Non-forested 5 Non-forested Code Micro Habitat Type Code Micro Habitat Type Class Tree Height 1 Rock Class Tree Height 1 Rock A1 Dominant Trees 2 Snow Patch A1 Dominant Trees 2 Snow Patch A2 Main Canopy 3 Tundra A2 Main Canopy 3 Tundra A3 Greater than 10m 4 Avalanche Chute A3 Greater than 10m 4 Avalanche Chute B1 2m to 10m 5 Shrubs B1 2m to 10m 5 Shrubs B2 Less than 2m 6 Trees B2 Less than 2m 6 Trees 7 Forest Opening 7 Forest Opening Code Feeding Type 8 Stream Code Feeding Type 8 Stream T Terrestrial Lichen 9 River T Terrestrial Lichen 9 River A Arboreal Licen 10 Lake A Arboreal Licen 10 Lake S Shrubs 11 Bog/Wetland S Shrubs 11 Bog/Wetland F Forbs 12 Road F Forbs 12 Road M Moss 13 Railway M Moss 13 Railway O Other 14 Seismic Line O Other 14 Seismic Line 15 Clearcut 15 Clearcut Code Caribou Age/Sex 16 Burn Code Caribou Age/Sex 16 Burn AC Adult Cow 17 Forb Meadow AC Adult Cow 17 Forb Meadow AB Adult Bull 18 Powerline AB Adult Bull 18 Powerline C Calf 19 C Calf 19 Other Y Yearling 20 Other Y Yearling

Code Snow Density Description Code Snow Density Description 1 Soft No effort to kick through 1 Soft No effort to kick through 2 Soft-Medium Some effort to kick through 2 Soft-Medium Some effort to kick through 3 Medium Hard to kick through 3 Medium Hard to kick through 4 Medium-Heavy Can’t kick through - snow probe easy 4 Medium-Heavy Can’t kick through - snow probe easy 5 Heavy Can't kick through - snow probe hard 5 Heavy Can't kick through - snow probe hard

Code Snow Moisture Description - when making snowball Code Snow Moisture Description - when making snowball 1 Dry Does not stick together 1 Dry Does not stick together 2 Moist Some sticks together but not all 2 Moist Some sticks together but not all 3 Wet All snow sticks together 3 Wet All snow sticks together 4 Slushy 4 Slushy 5 Crusty 5 Crusty 6 Icy 6 Icy