29 V the RESOURCE BASE the Stikine Plateau Area, with Its

29 V THE RESOURCE BASE The Stikine Plateau Area, with its resources according to the class to which mosaic pattern of environmental zones, they belong. For each major resource provides habitats for a wide range of plant exploited, a brief summary is provided of and animal species which were available for the habitat, characteristics, seasonal exploitation by the Tahltan people. This availability and abundance. chapter presents and describes these various Mammal Resources All of the ungulates, bears, and a Plateau is not involved in large scale variety of medium sized herbivores which migrations. Its movements primarily involve inhabit the study area were traditionally shifting from alpine tundra to winter forage (and still are today) valued as primary or within forested zones. In May caribou supplementary sources of food and raw move above treeline where calving takes materials. The Stikine Plateau area is one place on high exposed ridges in late May of the last remaining natural areas in North through June. Females and young form America to support such diverse as well as small nursery bands which remain on ridges abundant populations of large game animals. and in alpine meadows throughout the Since the turn of the century, people from summer where they feed on tundra grasses, various parts of the world have been drawn sedges, horsetails, flowering plants, and to the Stikine to hunt large game trophies leaves of willow and birch. Males descend and guide outfitting came to be an into forested areas during the summer and important means of livelihood for many remain until September at which time they Tahltans. shed velvet from their antlers. Largely due to the wilderness nature and Males and females come together in large remoteness of the area, little in the way of bands in alpine areas by the end of environmental studies or wildlife inventories September for the rutting season. In late has been carried out in the Stikine area fall caribou may move back to forested until very recently. A wildlife inventory, areas along subalpine creeks and lakes at conducted in Spatsizi Park in 1976, by B.C. lower elevations in order to shed antlers. Parks Branch, indicates that the ungulate Males shed their antlers between November potential of the area is excellent. Wintering and March, while pregnant females do not ranges in the park, extremely important for shed their antlers until after parturition in winter survival and productivity, compare June. In January, while the snow cover is favourably with the very best ungulate soft, caribou move up to tree line to feed ranges in other areas of the province on birch-lichen communities. Later in the (Osmond-Jones et. al_. 1977:32). Based on winter, in February to March when the accounts by local Tahltan people, it is snow cover in open areas becomes crusted, assumed that wildlife potential of other caribou move down to timbered areas in the plateau areas within the Stikine drainage subalpine zone along river valleys to feed with similar topography and climate is on mosses and lichens under the soft snow comparable to that of the Spatsizi. cover (Osmond-Jones et al.1977:36-43). During flights in September 19 76, Hazelwood and Hatler observed a minimum Caribou number of 12 0 0 caribou in Spatsizi The woodland caribou (Rangifer tar and us Provincial Park and estimated the osborni) which occurs in the Stikine population of Spatsizi Plateau area at 30 TAHLTAN ETHN0ARCHAE0L0GY about 2,000 animals (Osmond-Jones et_ Mule deer al_.1977:36). The woodland caribou weighs The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus up to 700 pounds (320 kg) (Cowan and hemionus) inhabits broad valleys of the Guiget 1956:384), with an average weight of middle and upper sections of the Stikine 400 pounds (180 kg) for adults. River and its major tributaries, keeping to lower elevations in winter and ascending Moose valleys in summer. It prefers burnt over areas where it browses on aspen, willow, Largest of the American deer family, the serviceberry, mountain juniper, balsam fir, moose also moves seasonally from alpine to herbaceous plants, and grasses in spring. forested habitats. Two sub-species of The mule deer mates in October to moose occur in the Stikine Plateau area. November with fawns born in June. Alces alces andersoni, weighing 900 to 1200 Antlers are shed during early winter. Males pounds (410 to 500 kg) inhabits most of weigh 180 to 400 pounds (82 - 180 kg) the area south of the Stikine River and while females weigh 120 to 160 pounds (54 east of the Tuya, while Alces alces gig as r a - 73 kg) (Cowan and Guiget 1977:369). larger variety weighing up to 1800 pounds Deer are not plentiful in the Stikine River (820 kg), occurs to the northwest of these area at present (Osmond-Jones e_t a l . two rivers. Preferred food consists of 19 77:5 6, B.C. Fish and Wildlife Branch young growth of deciduous trees and shrubs 1980). They provide an additional or including aspen, birch and willow as well occasional source of meat, however. as marshy plants and balsam fir (Cowan and Guiget 19 56:376). Woodland Buffalo The moose is a solitary browser which The woodland buffalo (Bison bison frequents ponds, swamps, lakes, and streams athabascae) formerly inhabited portions of in the alpine and subalpine zones in the Stikine Plateau (Teit 1956:68, Thorman summer when it feeds mainly on aquatic n.d.). A skull of recent origin has been vegetation. Moose gather in small groups in found in a bog near A tlin (Cowan and late September and during the rut in Guiget 1956:388). The buffalo grazes on October. They may be found in early grasses and forbes and has an estimated winter, when the snow cover is soft, feeding weight of 2000 to 2200 pounds (900 - 1000 near timberline on south facing slopes. kg). Later, when the snow becomes crusted, they move into forested areas along the major Mountain Goat river valleys. Antlers are shed in December The w hite, wooly m ountain goat and January. Young are born in June along (Oreamnos americanus columbiae) inhabits watercourses where they can be protected rough rocky crags on mountains above from wolves. Guide outfitters estimate the timberline and steep rocky canyons along moose population of the Spatsizi Plateau the Stikine. It grazes on a variety of area at about 2300 animals (Osmond-Jones el alpine grasses and forbes, all tree and aL 19 77:53). shrub species except spruce, and seeks Natural cycles of abundance and decline alkaline earth licks during summer. Mating in populations of large game animals such takes place in November to December. as moose are poorly understood. It appears Young are born in May to June. Females that moose inhabited the Stikine Plateau in and young form small gregarious bands earlier times but dramatically declined from while males are solitary. This goat weighs 1800 to 1877 (Emmons 1911:71). Moose 250 to 300 pounds (114 - 136 kg). Its populations have increased over the last one horns are not shed but increase in size hundred years while caribou populations annually (Cowan and Guiget 1956:392). have declined. Whether these changes in Goats do not move any great distance within population are related to small scale shifts their home range. A minimum population in the climate and vegetation of the area or of 521 goats has been observed within to other factors is unknown at the moment. Spatsizi Park, although not all ranges were THE RESOURCE BASE 31 surveyed (Osmond-Jones et. j i . 19 77:4 3). small mammals, and larger game when the Excellent goat habitat occurs throughout opportunity provides. The grizzly also the Stikine Plateau area. hibernates from November until March with one to four cubs born in mid-winter in Sheep alternate years. Although adults may weigh The habitat of sheep (Ovis dal 1 i stonei) up to 1100 pounds (500 kg) the average is the alpine meadows above timberline adult weight is 450 pounds (205 kg) (Cowan where it grazes on grasses, forbes, and and Guiget 1956 : 295-6). The study area dwarf willow. It uses distinct summer and provides much of the best wilderness winter ranges within the alpine zone. It habitat for grizzlies remaining in North seeks out rough, rocky terrain as protection America. The Spatsizi Plateau has an from predators and may be found feeding estimated potential for 25 0 grizzlies based with goats. Sheep are gregarious, although on comparison of habitat, range size and male and female bands are separate except density w ith stu dies in other areas during the rut which takes place from (Osmond-Jones et. al, 1977:59-60). mid-November to mid-December. Their horns are not shed, increasing in size Beaver annually. Mature sheep weigh 250 to 300 The American beaver (Castor canadensis pounds (114 - 136 kg) (Cowan and Guiget sagittatus) is a large aquatic rodent which 1956: 399). A minimum of 279 sheep has inhabits smaller streams and lakes in been observed in Spatsizi Park, although forested areas. Houses are constructed of much of the best sheep habitat has not sticks, logs and mud, about 12 feet (4 m) been surveyed. Since females mate with in diameter and rising to four feet (1.3 m) mature dominant rams, excessive hunting of above waterline. The beaver feeds on leaves these in recent years has had an adverse and bark of aspen, poplar, willow and some effect on reproductive capability and a conifers as well as marshy plants. Adults serious decline in sheep populations has have an average weight of 40 to 60 pounds resulted (Osmond-Jones el al.

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