Wildlife in the Deh Cho

The Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee is developing a Land Use Plan that will determine This poster shows the preliminary results of Wildlife assessment commissioned by the what type of land use activities should occur and where these activities should take place. When committee. The purpose of this assessment was to compile wildlife information based on completed, the Land Use Plan will describe how the land, water and other resources in the Plan what is currently documented. In order to ensure that wildlife information is as complete and Area are to be protected, as well as how they can be used and developed. accurate as possible the Committee will be integrating information from a number of Wildlife Workshops in which elders, harvesters and biologists will be asked to fill in the remaining gaps in the wildlife information.

Caribou Interim Land Withdrawals Dall’s Sheep, Mountain Goat, Moose and Bison

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Pe Pe tito tit Pe t R ot R tit ive iv ot R r er Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic iv Wood Buffalo Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic er Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic British Columbia (Central Meridian 122W, Reference Latitude 60N National Park (Central Meridian 122W, Reference Latitude 60N Alberta (Central Meridian 122W, Reference Latitude 60N Standard Parallels at 60 and 65) British Columbia Standard Parallels at 60 and 65) Standard Parallels at 60 and 65) British Columbia Alberta Alberta Cartography By: Chris Turner, June 2003 Cartography By: Chris Turner, July 2003 Cartography By: Chris Turner, July 2003 Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee Moose Caribou are very important, both culturally and economically, to the Deh Cho areas from June to November, then move back into the valleys during the winter. On April 17th, 2003 the Government of Canada and the Deh Cho First Nations The land withdrawals were determined by combining maps of traditional use with These species are all important economically to the Deh Cho territory as they people. Traditional uses include tufting, moccasins, vests, gloves, dry meat, They seek out plateaus and upland areas for calving. Lichens are a primary food signed the Interim Land Withdrawals Agreement, withdrawing 70,718 km2 or 33% known sensitive ecological areas. In most cases, both the surface and subsurface generate revenues through the tourism industry and are traditional sources of food Moose are found throughout the Deh Cho. They are used for traditional foods, pemmican, and babiche (used for snowshoes). source so caribou seek out mature forests where lichens are most abundant. of the Deh Cho territory from development for the next 5 years. Coupled with the rights were withdrawn. The subsurface only withdrawals were used in known and clothing. Mineral licks are an important source of nutrients for these species, crafts, and clothing. Their seasonal range is not well documented - more existing Nahanni National Park Reserve and Edehzhie which was withdrawn last timber productive areas to allow timber harvesting to occur. so animals tend to concentrate wherever these are found. information needs to be gathered on this. Moose browse on shrubs and willow and are found in floodplains, wetlands and recent burns. Moose will seek water in Woodland Caribou are divided into two ecotypes, the boreal population and the Boreal Caribou occur along the Mackenzie Valley from the NWT/Alberta border to year through the Protected Areas Strategy, almost 50% of the Deh Cho is now off Dall's sheep northern mountain population (they are considered the same species). The the Mackenzie Delta. They prefer mature or old growth coniferous forests limits to new development. Pehdzeh Ki Deh is a new candidate site for the The purpose of the withdrawal is to provide interim protection to such areas while late summer to escape bugs and feed on river-side plants. The NWT moose department of Resources, Wildlife & Economic Development ( RWED) lists both associated with bogs, lakes and rivers, where ground and tree lichens are Protected Area Strategy and has not yet been withdrawn. the planning process is undertaken. The Deh Cho Land Use Planning Committee Dall's sheep occur in the western mountain ranges. They move little and use the population is estimated at approximately 20,000 individuals and is secure. has been busy gathering new information on the resource potential of the Deh same seasonal range each year. They feed mainly on grasses and sedges. ecotypes as “Sensitive” whereas the Committee on the Status of Endangered numerous. In winter, woodland caribou favour upland areas where snow is Wood Bison Wildlife of Canada (COSEWIC) lists the boreal population as “Threatened” and the reduced. In summer they prefer forest edges, marshes and meadows where they Land is withdrawn through a Federal Order in Council under the Territorial Lands Cho territory, to better identify areas of high conservation value and areas with Mineral licks and escape cover are important habitat components. Dall's sheep northern mountain population as “Special Concern” feed on new plants and grasses. The current population size is unknown, but Act. Withdrawals can be for both the surface and subsurface rights, or subsurface high resource potential where development should be focused. We will compare are listed as “Secure” by RWED. Their numbers are estimated to be between The Deh Cho territory is home to the only two disease-free wood bison herds in thought to be decreasing in the Deh Cho due to changing habitat conditions and only. The Deh Cho First Nations Interim Measures Agreement states that lands our results with the current withdrawals and revise them as required, in 15,500 and 27,500. the NWT: the Mackenzie Wood Bison Sanctuary (~2000 animals) and the Liard consultation with communities and our planning partners. River herd (103 animals). The Mackenzie population is the largest free-roaming Mountain Caribou are divided into 5 herds totaling 13,000 animals. Mountain increasing moose numbers. may be withdrawn using the following criteria: Mountain Goat Caribou migrate to higher elevations in the spring, stay in alpine and subalpine a. Lands harvested for food and medicinal purposes; wood bison population found in Canada. They graze on grasses, sedges and b. Culturally and spiritually significant areas; Mountain Goats occur in rugged mountainous terrain (cliffs, ledges, pinnacles) willow and are generally found around willow pastures, wet sedge meadows and c. Lands which are ecologically sensitive; and above the treeline. They have no seasonal migration and are always close to lakeshores. Wood Bison are listed as “Threatened” by COSEWIC. d. Watershed protection. escape terrain. They are listed as “May Be at Risk” by RWED. The population is estimated at 400 to 1,000 individuals. Black Bear, Grizzly Bear and Furbearers Wildlife Conservation Value Ranking Trumpeter Swan, Whooping Crane, Peregrine Falcon, Waterfowl and Fish

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Bears Furbearers occupy the whole Deh Cho territory. The data came from the northern EBA Engineering Consultants of Yellowknife conducted a literature review and ! The long narrow strip up the center of the territory (oriented north-south) is of Trumpeter Swan Anatum Peregrine Falcon is one of three subspecies that occur below the tree line The Black Bear is listed as “Secure” by RWED. They are expected to occur land use information series, a 1970s research initiative. The information is old but analysis of wildlife and wildlife habitat in the Deh Cho. A number of species of special high value for trumpeter swan habitat. The long narrow strip up the center of the territory (oriented north-south) is and is the only breeding subspecies in the Deh Cho territory. It is listed as “At throughout the forested regions of the Deh Cho territory. The population is a good starting point for discussion. The square patches on the map result from concern were evaluated individually such as caribou, moose and endangered ! The Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary has been identified as a critical wildlife area considered a critical trumpeter swan habitat - 15% of the Canadian population Risk” by RWED and “Threatened” by COSEWIC. estimated between 3,000 to 10,000 individuals in the NWT. They eat mostly the edges of the original study plots rather than indicating the edge of range. It is species. Other species such as song birds, furbearers, and fish were evaluated in for the bison population as well as a calving area for woodland caribou. nests here, habitat is limited, and their distribution is restricted in the NWT. It was vegetation (grasses, sedges, berries), but increase their diet with winter-killed unlikely that furbearers are limited to these squares but they are probably a good groups. Wildlife Conservation Value Rankings are: ! Other caribou calving areas (e.g. around Cameron Hills) also identified under the International Biological Programme (IBP) as a key Waterfowl ungulates in the spring, and insects and fish in the summer. approximation of current range. Trappers & harvesters could provide their ! Low - areas identified as general range for a species; ! The small green points on the map represent documented fish spawning and migratory bird site. The Trumpeter Swan population is estimated at less than The northeast portion of the Deh Cho territory is a waterfowl migratory route. traditional knowledge of current furbearer habitat use to correct errors and fill data ! Moderate - areas that provide for year round habitat functions; migration sites, taken from fish sampling sites. They do not show the full 1,000 individuals. Each spring, 34 species migrate through here. Edehzhie is going through the The Grizzly bear is listed as “Special Concern” by COSEWIC and “Sensitive” by gaps in our maps. ! High - areas serving a more important role for the species (e.g. migration extent of fish habitat. In reality, fish can be expected to occur in most lakes Protected Areas Strategy to protect this route and key staging areas. RWED. The population is estimated to be between 3,500 and 4,800 and is corridor); and and rivers within the Deh Cho. Whooping Crane distributed in the and north of the treeline. They prefer The furbearers included in the report are; beaver, muskrat, marten, ermine, least ! Very High - areas providing habitat for critical life requirements (e.g. calving, The Dieppe Lake region of the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary is critical habitat for a Fish open alpine or tundra habitat but can be found occasionally in forests. A male's weasel, mink, striped skunk, river otter, and fisher. All are listed as “Secure” by nesting, staging and denning areas). The Committee has reviewed and compiled only what is currently documented for non-breeding segment of the whooping crane population. The estimated The small oval dots represent known fish spawning areas (very high potential) or home range can exceed 2000 Km2 in their search for food. They eat anything RWED, except the river otter (Sensitive) and fisher (May Be at Risk). Furbearers wildlife habitat. Wildlife Conservation Value Ranking, therefore, tends to emphasize population size is 144. The Whooping crane is listed as “At Risk” by RWED and migration routes (high potential). This information not complete - the map is a from roots and grasses to large mammals like caribou and moose. Berries are such as lynx, coyote, fox, wolverine, cougars, and wolves were treated under the Some key wildlife values in the Plan Area include: only those areas that have been researched and documented. “Endangered” by COSEWIC. better indication of where fish have been studied than a picture of fish habitat use. important in late summer and fall. carnivore section and are not mapped here. ! Nahanni National Park Reserve and the surrounding area is a critical area for In reality, fish occur in most lakes and rivers within the Deh Cho. A more complete woodland caribou, mountain goats, and Dall's sheep. Peregrine Falcon assessment of fish habitat needs to be done for use in the land use planning Furbearers The NWT is home to two subspecies of Peregrine Falcons found in Canada. The process.