Feasibility Study for a Fenced Woodland Caribou Safe Zone A Report to the OSLI Land Stewardship Working Group Prepared by Terrain FX Inc. Authors: Roger Creasey, MSc. P. Biol. Nick Roe, MSc. P. Biol., R. P. Bio. Luigi Morgantini, PhD. September 2011 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 5 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 7 Literature Cited................................................................................................................................... 8 1.0 STRATEGIC DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS..................................................................................... 9 1.1 Current Caribou Planning and Management Approaches............................................................. 9 1.2 The Fenced Safe Zone As Management by Direct Intervention.................................................. 10 1.2.1 A Vision for the Fenced Safe Zone ...................................................................................... 10 1.2.3 Population Intervention and Release ................................................................................... 11 1.2.4 Genetic Diversity.................................................................................................................. 12 1.2.5 Predator and Alternate Prey Removal.................................................................................. 12 1.2.6 Habitat and Land Use .......................................................................................................... 12 1.2.7 A Buffer Zone and the Future of Unenclosed Areas............................................................. 13 1.2.8 Targets, Expected Outcomes and Measures of Success..................................................... 13 1.2.9 Project Timeframe, Removal of the Fence and Project Termination..................................... 14 1.3 Candidate Herds ........................................................................................................................ 15 1.3.1 Locations and Population Status.......................................................................................... 15 1.3.2 Status of Habitat and Use of Thresholds.............................................................................. 17 1.4 Government Policy and Regulatory Considerations.................................................................... 18 1.4.1 Provincial Wildlife Act........................................................................................................... 18 1.4.2 Provincial Recovery Plan ..................................................................................................... 18 1.4.3 Alberta Woodland Caribou Policy......................................................................................... 19 1.4.4 The Land Use Framework and the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan.................................... 19 1.4.5 The Alberta Caribou Committee........................................................................................... 20 1.4.6 ERCB Information Letters and SRD Caribou Protection Plans............................................. 20 1.4.7 Other Pertinent Alberta Regulation ...................................................................................... 21 1.4.8 Federal Policy and Regulatory Context................................................................................ 21 1.5 Participation and Primary Responsibilities .................................................................................. 25 1.5.1 General Considerations ....................................................................................................... 25 1.5.2 Consultation and Ongoing Involvement................................................................................ 25 1.5.3 Media and Publicity.............................................................................................................. 26 1.6 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 26 1.7 Literature Cited........................................................................................................................... 26 2.0 TACTICAL DESIGN FEATURES .................................................................................................. 28 2.1 Size of the Area to be Enclosed ................................................................................................. 28 2.2 Location of the Area to be Enclosed........................................................................................... 29 2.3 Physical Habitat Conditions and Least Risk................................................................................ 30 2.4 Low Densities of Predators, Moose and Deer............................................................................. 31 2.5 Land Use.................................................................................................................................... 31 2.6 Fence Design and Features ....................................................................................................... 32 2.6.1 Placement and Barrier Considerations................................................................................. 32 2.6.2 Features and Dimensions .................................................................................................... 32 2.7 Fence Erection ........................................................................................................................... 33 2.7.1 Deployment, Access, Monitoring and Maintenance.............................................................. 33 2.7.2 Process for Enclosing Caribou............................................................................................. 34 2.8 Stakeholders Within The Area.................................................................................................... 34 2.9 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 34 2.10 Literature Cited......................................................................................................................... 35 3.0 METHODS FOR BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE....................................................................... 37 3.1 Fencing as a Management Option.............................................................................................. 37 2 3.2 Construction ............................................................................................................................... 38 3.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 39 3.4 Literature Cited........................................................................................................................... 39 4.0 CARIBOU MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................... 40 4.1 Caribou Population Inventory/Monitoring.................................................................................... 40 4.2 Population Size and Possible Augmentation .............................................................................. 40 4.3 Foraging/Nutritional Considerations............................................................................................ 41 4.4 Predation Management .............................................................................................................. 42 4.5 Animal Health Issues.................................................................................................................. 45 4.6 Access Management.................................................................................................................. 45 4.7 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 46 4.8 Literature cited............................................................................................................................ 46 5.0 RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES..................................................................................................... 50 5.1 Research Discussion.................................................................................................................. 50 5.2 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 53 5.3 Literature Cited........................................................................................................................... 53 6.0 COSTS AND TIMING .................................................................................................................... 55 6.1 Discussion.................................................................................................................................. 55 6.2 Design and Pre-construction ...................................................................................................... 58 6.3 Construction ............................................................................................................................... 58 6.3.1 Short Term Management Actions........................................................................................