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127 the American Badger The American badger (Taxidae taxus taxus), which is proposed for listing as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act, could also occur. The badger population is generally stable in southwestern Manitoba, including the RAA (D. Berezanski pers. comm). The Birtle area is considered within the core range for badger in Manitoba (D. Berezanski pers. comm.). 8.2.2 Current status A minimum of 52 mammal species could occur within the RAA (Appendix IV, Table 1). Four species, including the pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), plains bison (Bison bison bison), swift fox, (Vulpes velox), and plains grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) have been extirpated from Manitoba and the RAA. The cougar (Puma concolor) has no officially recognized breeding population in Manitoba, but it is possible that one exists (W. Watkins pers. comm.). Members of Gamblers First Nation indicate that there are cougars in the area (Manitoba Hydro 2017a). Cougars have been documented in the Porcupine Hills to Riding Mountain area and in the Spruce Woods to Turtle Mountain area (W. Watkins pers. comm.). 8.2.2.1 Ungulates Elk Elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) are a generalist species that use a wide range of habitats. Typically, deciduous forest is used for cover, while agriculture and haylands are used for foraging (Chranowski 2009). Elk typically avoid disturbances such as roads, forestry cut-blocks, and cattle (Chranowski 2009). There are approximately 7,000 elk in Manitoba, primarily within the Riding Mountain, Duck Mountain, Porcupine Hills, southern Interlake, Spruce Woods, Red Deer River, and Swan River Valley areas (Manitoba Sustainable Development n.d.[a]). The elk population in Manitoba and in the RAA is currently considered stable (K. Rebizant pers. comm.). A small number of elk occur within the RAA, and have been observed during aerial surveys conducted by Manitoba Sustainable Development and during aerial surveys for the Project (Photograph 8-1). Photograph 8-1: Elk observed during aerial survey, March 2016. 127 In 2015, a single elk was observed during aerial surveys of GHA 22. In 2016, 15 elk were observed during aerial surveys of the region (Appendix IV, Table 2). Seven elk signs were observed during the 2017 ground tracking survey, all in forest habitat (Appendix IV, Table 3). Ungulate observations (i.e., elk, moose and deer) from the 2016 aerial survey are shown in Map 8-4. Moose Moose (Alces alces) habitat typically consists of a mixture of early-succession forest interspersed with waterbodies and late-succession forest (Bowyer et al. 2003). This habitat is generally found within the aspen parkland and boreal forest regions of Manitoba and is strongly influenced by forest fires. There is a total of 19,156.6 ha ha of forest habitat in the RAA, 2,392.1 ha of which is in the LAA (Map 8-5). Prior to 1750, the range of moose in Manitoba did not extend northward past Thompson or eastward past the east side of Lake Winnipeg (Bryant 1955). Due to normal, post-glacial expansion and habitat alteration caused by anthropogenic influences, moose range in Manitoba expanded over the next 200 years to include the northernmost edge of the boreal forest (Bryant 1955). Today, moose range from the agricultural transition zone in southern Manitoba to Hudson Bay in the north. Historically, moose populations in the province were higher in comparison to today. In 1974, the moose population was an estimated 64,000 animals, with densities ranging from 0.1 moose/km2 in the boreal forest to 1.1 moose/km2 in the transition parkland, aspen parkland, and shrub meadow habitats (Krefting 1974). The most recent moose population estimate in Manitoba is 27,000 animals (Manitoba Sustainable Development n.d.[b]). In central and southern Manitoba, low moose numbers have resulted in closures of licensed and rights-based hunting in some GHAs. In 2017, 15 GHAs remained closed to all licensed and most rights-based moose hunting (Government of Manitoba 2017). While the moose population in Manitoba is generally decreasing, the population in the RAA is considered stable (K. Rebizant pers. comm.). Moose density in the RAA is greater than in some regions of the province, but is lower than in high- density areas such as Duck Mountain, Riding Mountain, and Porcupine Hills (K. Rebizant pers. comm.). There is no licensed moose hunting in GHA 22, which overlaps the RAA, but it is not closed to rights-based hunting. Several aerial surveys have occurred in the region as part of ungulate monitoring in GHA 22 by Manitoba Sustainable Development, as well as field studies for the Project. Manitoba Sustainable Development conducted aerial surveys in 2013 and 2015 and observed 195 moose (0.27 moose/km2) and 72 moose (density not available), respectively. During the 2016 survey, 165 moose (Photograph 8-2) were observed in the survey area (0.23 moose/km2). The highest densities of moose observed during these surveys were along the Assiniboine River Valley. The riparian habitat along the river likely provides moose with high-quality habitat and due to the relatively low density of roads and other linear features, limiting hunter access, and proving ample forage and shelter. 128 File Location: J:\MYP\MH_Birtle_Transmission\2017\Mxd\Report_Maps\Wildlife\20171211_BTP_UngulateAerialSurveyObservations2016_cp.mxd Silver Creek Birtle Transmission Project Project Infrastructure Browns Slough E Birtle South Station " River Assiniboine " 3" " " Final Preferred Route " " " Surveys " Binscarth " " Aerial Survey Area UV478 " " Species " " Ungulates (Moose, Mule Deer, " " " White-tailed Deer and Elk) "" " " " Coyote " " Gamblers First UV359" Grey Wolf Deerhorn " " Nation Creek " "" " Infrastructure ! " " ! Transmission Line " " " " 16 " " " Trans Canada Highway " "" " " " " " """ Silver Road "" " " Railway Line " Creek " " Landbase " !( " " Community " stro Community Pasture " " rm ng C " "A " k. """" " UV475 First Nation "" Wildlife Management Area (WMA) " Provincial Boundary " " Falloons " " Lake " " " " " """ " " " " " " Qu'Appelle " " " " " """" " "" " St-Lazare VU41 VU83 " "" River " 545 " " " UV " VU42 " "" " " Birtle " " " " " " " " " "" UV568 " " " Creek "" Birtle " " " Assiniboine River South " Station " Beaver" Creek " 3"E " "" " " MANITOBA "" "" SASKATCHEWAN " " " Birdtail UV571 " " " " " " " " "" " " " "" "" " " " "" " " VU83 " Birdtail Sioux First Nation "" McAuley " " Coordinate System: UTM Zone 14N NAD83 Data Source: MBHydro, ProvMB, NRCAN Date: December 10, 2017 ± Ungulate Aerial Survey 0 1.5 3 6 Kilometres Observations 2016 0 1.5 3 Miles 1:140,000 Map 8-4 Ungulate aerial survey observations 2016. ¯ Binscarth !( UV478 Birtle Transmission Project Russell Riding Mountain !( NationalUV359 Park Project Infrastructure E Birtle South Station Assiniboine River 3" Final Preferred Route 359 16 UV Assessment Areas Local Deerhorn GHA Regional 22 UV476 Silver Creek UV41 Habitat Forest MANITOBA Intact Forest (>200 ha) Upper SASKATCHEWAN Brandon Assiniboine !( Creek WMA Infrastructure 0 10 20 30 ! ! Transmission Line Kilometres Trans Canada Highway Road Railway Line Landbase !( Community Parkland Game Hunting Area (GHA) WMA Wildlife Management Area (WMA) National/Provincial Park Provincial Boundary Qu'Appelle River UV83 St-Lazare !( Assiniboine River UV42 !( Birtle Coordinate System: UTM Zone 14N NAD83 Creek Data Source: MBHydro, ProvMB, NRCAN Creek Date: December 10, 2017 ± 0 2 4 6 Kilometres Beaver Creek Birdtail Snake 0 1 2 3 Miles 1:135,000 3"E Forest Habitat in the Regional Assessment Area MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN File Location:J:\MYP\MH_Birtle_Transmission\2017\Mxd\Report_Maps\Wildlife\20171211_ForestHabitatInTheRegionalAssessmentArea_cp.mxd Map 8-5 Forest habitat in the Regional Assessment Area. A moose migration route was identified between Riding Mountain National Park to the Assiniboine River, and the RAA also provides seasonal habitat for moose (MNP LLP 2017). Moose signs were observed in forest and grassland habitat and along the final preferred route during the 2017 ground tracking survey (Appendix IV, Table 3). White-tailed Deer The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a generalist species that occupies a wide range of habitats. In winter, dense forest is used for cover, while agriculture and haylands are often used for feeding (Miller et al. 2003). A landscape containing a mosaic of these habitats is typically ideal (Miller et al. 2003). White-tailed deer range throughout the province, as far as Flin Flon to the northwest and the Bloodvein River to the southeast (Manitoba Sustainable Development n.d.[c]). The most recent white-tailed deer population estimate within the province is 150,000-160,000 individuals (Manitoba Sustainable Development n.d.[c]). Populations in the province are heavily influenced by winter weather and have ranged from a low of 60,000 in 1974 to a high of 250,000 in 1995 (Manitoba Sustainable Development n.d.[c]). The white-tailed deer population in Manitoba and in the RAA is currently considered stable (K. Rebizant pers. comm.). Between 1954 and 1965, historic estimates of the white-tailed deer population in the Assiniboine Valley portion of GHA 22 ranged from 311 to 1,146 animals. Aerial surveys of white-tailed deer occurred in the region in 1987, 1996, 2001, 2013, and 2015 as part of monitoring of GHA 22 by Manitoba Sustainable Development, and in 2016 for the Project. The population estimates from these surveys ranged from a low of 0.40 deer/km2 in 2016 to a high of 2.3 deer/km2 in 1996. The most recent population estimate (2014/15) provided by Manitoba Sustainable Development
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