Wildlife Species Habitat Models and Final Wildlife Suitability Ratings for the Itcha / Ilgachuz Area Prepared for: Wildlife Branch Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks Williams Lake, BC. Prepared By: Stefan Himmer and Damian Power Arctos Wildlife Services Hagensborg, BC. June 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................1 1.2 STUDY AREA..................................................................................................................1 2.0 METHODS ..............................................................................................................................3 3.0 LITERATURE CITED............................................................................................................4 4.0 WILDLIFE SPECIES ACCOUNTS AND HABITAT RATING METHODS .......................5 4.1 NORTHERN CARIBOU .....................................................................................................5 4.1.1 Name:...........................................................................................................................5 4.1.2 Status:...........................................................................................................................5 4.1.3 Distribution ..................................................................................................................5 4.1.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements......................................................................6 4.1.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................12 4.1.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................13 4.1.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................14 4.1.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................14 4.1.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................15 4.2 MOOSE.........................................................................................................................18 4.2.1 Name:.........................................................................................................................18 4.2.2 Status:.........................................................................................................................18 4.2.3 Distribution ................................................................................................................18 4.2.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements....................................................................18 4.2.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................20 4.2.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................24 4.2.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................24 4.2.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................25 4.2.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................26 4.3 MOUNTAIN GOAT ........................................................................................................28 4.3.1 Name:.........................................................................................................................28 4.3.2 Status:.........................................................................................................................28 4.3.3 Distribution ................................................................................................................28 4.3.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements....................................................................28 4.3.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................32 4.3.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................33 4.3.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................33 4.3.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................34 4.3.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................35 4.4 CALIFORNIA BIGHORN SHEEP ......................................................................................37 4.4.1 Name:.........................................................................................................................37 4.4.2 Status:.........................................................................................................................37 4.4.3 Distribution ................................................................................................................37 4.4.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements....................................................................37 4.4.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................40 4.4.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................40 4.4.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................41 4.4.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................42 4.4.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................43 4.5 GRIZZLY BEAR.............................................................................................................44 4.5.1 Name:.........................................................................................................................44 4.5.2 Status:.........................................................................................................................44 4.5.3 Distribution ................................................................................................................44 4.5.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements....................................................................45 4.5.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................45 4.5.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................49 4.5.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................50 4.5.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................50 4.5.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................52 4.6 BLACK BEAR................................................................................................................53 4.6.1 Name:.........................................................................................................................53 4.6.2 Status:.........................................................................................................................53 4.6.3 Distribution ................................................................................................................53 4.6.4 Ecology and Key Habitat Requirements....................................................................53 4.6.5 Habitat Use - Life Requisites.....................................................................................55 4.6.6 Seasons of Use ...........................................................................................................58 4.6.7 Habitat Use and Ecosystem Attributes ......................................................................59 4.6.8 Ratings .......................................................................................................................59 4.6.9 Literature Cited..........................................................................................................61 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Crosswalk for mapping units listed in Caribou Habitat Units of the Itcha and Ilgachuz Area (Clement 1987) and Ecosystem Units of the Itcha/Ilgachuz Area (Clement and Dalziel 1999). .......................................................................................................................................8 Table 2. Important forage species for northern caribou. The most important or preferred species are in bold type. .....................................................................................................................10 Table 3. Monthly life requisites for northern caribou...................................................................13 Table 4. Terrestrial ecosystem mapping (TEM) relationships for each life requisite for northern caribou. ..................................................................................................................................14