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Introduced Species Management in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands)

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Introduced Species Management in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) Introduced Species Management in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) Todd E. Golumbia Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site Box 37, Queen Charlotte City, BC, V0T 1S0, Canada [email protected] ABSTRACT Gwaii Haanas (Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site) recognizes species introductions on the archipelago of Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands) as one of the more important threats to ecological integrity in this region. These introductions may place many unique species or natural communities at risk. Several initiatives are underway to mitigate the effects of these species as well as to reduce the risk of range expansions or new introductions. This paper provides examples that illustrate the scope of introduced species research, monitoring, and restoration initiatives that are underway on Haida Gwaii. Key words: biodiversity, black rat, Haida Gwaii, introduced 80 km offshore of northwestern British Columbia. The pro- species, island, mule deer, Norway rat, protected areas, tected area of Gwaii Haanas (147,000 ha) encompasses the Queen Charlotte Islands, raccoon, restoration, wildlife man- southernmost 15% of the archipelago. Other significant pro- agement. tected areas, including Naikoon Provincial Park and associat- ed reserves (71,000 ha) in the northeast and V. L. Krajina A significant threat to biological diversity, particularly in is- Ecological Reserve (14,000 ha) on the west coast of Graham land ecosystems, is the introduction of nonnative species. Island, represent 8.5% of the land base. Many areas outside of Without human intervention to reverse some of the changes these disjunct reserves have been extensively logged and oth- that have taken place, and to prevent further introductions, erwise developed, particularly over the past 25–30 years. many unique species or natural communities may be at risk. The archipelago is recognized for high numbers of en- Gwaii Haanas (Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and demic, disjunct and rare species indicative of an insular Haida Heritage Site) as part of the larger archipelago of Haida ecosystem. In terms of species “at risk,” the British Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), recognizes species intro- Columbia (B.C.) Conservation Data Centre (1998) and the ductions as one of the most important threats to ecological Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada integrity (Golumbia 1999). While we cannot reverse the (COSEWIC) (1998) list 36 floral and 26 faunal species as clock to when introductions were not present, a large effort vulnerable, threatened, or endangered. In addition, 14 plant has been focused on identifying those introduced species is- associations are also listed. The life histories and habits of sues that are of the highest conservation priority and that are many island species reflect insular conditions where rela- feasible, socially acceptable, and cost effective. Several ini- tively few species have colonized. Exotic species tend to out- tiatives are trying to mitigate the effects of these species as compete and hence displace indigenous forms. The effects well as reduce the risk of range expansions or new introduc- are exacerbated in such systems because these species most tions. Because of the scale and complexity of these issues, often arrive without their predators or competitors. partnerships have been necessary to effectively set objectives While it is more difficult to track the introduction of flora and achieve our goals. Through the following examples in- and avifauna to the islands, the records for terrestrial mam- cluding exotic mammals (rats, raccoons, and deer) and inva- mal fauna are more certain and provide an interesting his- sive plants, the scope of current introduced species research, torical perspective to a currently distressing situation. monitoring, and restoration initiatives will be illustrated. Excluding humans, the terrestrial mammal fauna of Haida Like many island systems worldwide, Haida Gwaii is es- Gwaii consists of 13 indigenous species (one of which is ex- sentially isolated from continental influences and therefore tinct). Over the past 125 years, 10 mainland species have supports a unique assemblage of plants and animals. This ar- been introduced to Haida Gwaii (Table 1) resulting in almost chipelago of several hundred islands and islets covers ap- more introduced mammal species than indigenous! proximately 1 million ha in area and is located approximately Haida Gwaii also represents some of British Columbia’s L. M. Darling, editor. 2000. Proceedings of a Conference on the Biology and Management of Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15 - 19 Feb.,1999. Volume One. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. and University College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, B.C. 490pp. 327 GOLUMBIA Table 1. Mammal species on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Indigenous Keen’s mouse Peromyscus keeni keeni P. keeni prevostensis dusky shrew Sorex monticolus elassodon Sorex monticolus prevostensis ermine Mustela erminea haidarum marten Martes americana nesophila river otter Lontra canadensis periclyzomae black bear Ursus americana carlottae Dawson caribou Rangifer tarandus dawsoni (extinct) Keen’s long-eared myotis Myotis keenii little brown bat Myotis lucifugus alascensis California myotis Myotis californicus caurinus silver-haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Introduced house mouse Mus musculus black rat Rattus rattus Norway rat Rattus norvegicus red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus lanuginosus raccoon Procyon lotor vancouverensis beaver Castor canadensis leucodontus muskrat Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis Sitka mule deer Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis European red deer Cervus elaphus elaphus Elk Cervus elaphus nelsoni most extensive seabird nesting habitat, with internationally support rats (Bertram and Nagorsen 1995). significant populations of some species. Of the 1.5 million Langara Island, located at the northern extreme of Haida seabirds breeding at numerous sites in Haida Gwaii, almost Gwaii, was historically one of British Columbia’s largest all nest in or on the ground with little or no natural defence seabird colonies. However, breeding populations of seabirds to predation. The introduction of efficient terrestrial preda- have either been lost or have declined precipitously. For tors has caused severe losses on even the largest colonies. example, the ancient murrelet, a COSEWIC-listed species, Several seabird species have been assigned a risk status has declined from an estimated historic population of based on the threats posed by introduced predators. 200,000 birds to a 1988 estimate of 24,000 (Bertram 1995). This decline has partly been due to rats (Kaiser et al. 1997). Several other islands have exhibited a similar trend in the RATS presence of rats. Rats have a long association with humankind. They are Restoration techniques developed and used successfully revered in some cultures but despised in most. A Jain temple for rat control in New Zealand over the past 10 years have located at Deshnoke in the state of Rajasthan is a place been used to clear rats from seabird colonies and thus enable where the rat is sacred and thousands reside in the small seabird populations to recover. The approach uses toxic shrine. In contrast, the province of Alberta proudly claims baits at fixed stations (Kaiser et al. 1997). The key to this “rat-free” status and boasts that “every rat that ends up in program’s success is the regular and continuous supply of the province, ends up dead” (Hodgson 1997). Rats are high- baits within every possible rat home range. The bait is a ly successful colonizers and have spread across the globe as second-generation coumarin-based anti-coagulant which is stowaways on many early maritime explorations. The black effective after 1 feeding; more traditional first-generation rat (Rattus rattus) has probably been on Haida Gwaii since compounds require multiple feedings and are therefore more the late 1700s and may have been here earlier. More recent susceptible to feeding avoidance behaviour and resistance by shipping activity has introduced the larger more aggressive the target organism (Kaiser et al. 1997). Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) to many islands in Haida The eradication project initiated by the Canadian Wildlife Gwaii. Rats are voracious predators, and on those islands Service (CWS) on Langara, Lucy, and Cox islands has been where they have been introduced, many seabird species successful. At the other end of the archipelago, Gwaii Haanas have disappeared or are in decline (Harfenist and Kaiser has successfully removed rats from St. James Island, which 1997). Eighteen islands in the archipelago are known to was also a large seabird colony island before the invasion of 328 Proc. Biology and Management of Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15–19 Feb. 1999. Introduced Species Management in Haida Gwaii rats. Based on the expertise of Gary Kaiser (CWS) and 1925 (Carl and Guiguet 1972, Pojar et al. 1980). Even Rowley Taylor (R.H. Taylor Associates), Gwaii Haanas staff though few individuals were introduced, they have flour- improved the methodology and bait station design to further ished without competition or predation. Hunting statistics prevent nontarget poisoning in the St. James project. Ten is- over a 20-year period (1976–1996) indicate that >34,000 an- lands within Gwaii Haanas still have rats on them. The in- imals have been harvested, in addition to food gathering by tent is to continue with this restoration
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