EBM Working Group Focal Species Project Part 3: Knowledge Base for Focal Species and their Habitats in Coastal B.C. Prepared by: Hannah Horn P. Arcese K. Brunt A. Burger H. Davis F. Doyle K. Dunsworth P. Friele S. Gordon T. Hamilton G. MacHutchon T. Mahon E. McClaren V. Michelfelder B. Pollard G. Sutherland S. Taylor L. Waterhouse March 2009 Disclaimer This report was commissioned by the Ecosystem-Based Management Working Group (EBM WG) to provide information to support full implementation of EBM. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are exclusively the authors’, and may not reflect the values and opinions of EBM WG members. Acknowledgements Huge thanks to the many people who put so much time and effort into this document, reviewing and re‐reviewing the content and verifying and clarifying the details. The document is much improved because of your diligence. Cover photographs: Northern goshawk: Ian Jacobs Marbled murrelet: Alan Burger Kermode and grizzly bears and black‐tailed deer: Grant MacHutchon Mountain goat: Steve Gordon Tailed frog: Alex Brandt Recommended Citation Horn, H.L., P. Arcese, K. Brunt, A. Burger, H. Davis, F. Doyle, K. Dunsworth, P. Friele, S. Gordon, Hamilton, G. MacHutchon, T. Mahon, E. McClaren, V. Michelfelder, B. Pollard, G. Sutherland, S. Taylor, L. Waterhouse. 2009. Part 3: Knowledge Base for Focal Species and their Habitats in Coastal B.C. Report 3 of the EBM Working Group Focal Species Project. Integrated Land Management Bureau, Nanaimo, B.C. i Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 The Purpose of this Document ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 Overview of the legal and planning context ........................................................................ 1 1.3 Approach to information assembly ..................................................................................... 2 2.0 Selection of focal species ......................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Rationale for focal species selected ..................................................................................... 3 2.2 Additional species for consideration ................................................................................... 6 2.2.1 A process for selecting focal species ............................................................................ 6 2.2.2 Species of conservation concern .................................................................................. 7 2.2.3 Other potential focal species ........................................................................................ 9 2.3 References ............................................................................................................................ 9 3.0 American Black bear (Ursus americanus) .............................................................................. 11 3.1 Species Overview ............................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Habitat Quality .................................................................................................................. 14 3.2.1 Food availability .......................................................................................................... 15 3.2.2 Availability of den structures ...................................................................................... 16 3.2.3 Forested buffers .......................................................................................................... 17 3.2.4 Effect of roads ............................................................................................................ 17 3.2.5 Security as a driver of habitat selection ...................................................................... 18 3.3 Habitat Distribution, Spatial Configuration and Connectivity ........................................... 19 3.4 Habitat Quantity ................................................................................................................ 19 3.5 Research and inventory gaps ............................................................................................. 20 3.6 References and Recommended Readings .......................................................................... 21 4.0 Coastal Black‐tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) ................................................................. 24 4.1 Species Overview ............................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Habitat Quality .................................................................................................................. 27 4.2.1 Winter habitat ............................................................................................................. 27 4.2.2 Spring habitat .............................................................................................................. 29 4.2.3 Spring and summer forage .......................................................................................... 29 4.3 Habitat Distribution, Spatial Configuration and Connectivity ........................................... 29 4.4 Habitat Quantity ................................................................................................................ 31 4.5 Research and inventory gaps ............................................................................................. 31 4.6 References and Recommended Readings ......................................................................... 32 ii 5.0 Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) .................................................................................................... 35 5.1 Species Overview ............................................................................................................... 35 5.2 Habitat Quality ................................................................................................................... 39 5.2.1 Essential habitat complexes ........................................................................................ 39 5.2.2 Foraging habitat ........................................................................................................... 40 5.2.3 Specific old forest habitat attributes ........................................................................... 42 5.3 Habitat Distribution, Spatial Configuration and Connectivity ........................................... 43 5.4 Habitat Quantity ................................................................................................................ 44 5.5 Research and Inventory Gaps ............................................................................................ 45 5.6 References and Recommended Readings ......................................................................... 46 6.0 Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) ................................................................ 49 6.1 Species Overview ............................................................................................................... 49 6.2 Habitat Quality .................................................................................................................. 52 6.2.1 Terrestrial Habitat Quality .......................................................................................... 52 6.2.2 Marine Habitat Quality .............................................................................................. 55 6.3 Habitat Distribution, Spatial Configuration and Connectivity ........................................... 55 6.4 Habitat Quantity ................................................................................................................ 56 6.5 Research and inventory gaps ............................................................................................. 56 6.6 References and Recommended Readings ......................................................................... 57 7.0 Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) ................................................................................ 61 7.1 Species Overview ................................................................................................................ 61 7.2 Habitat Quality .................................................................................................................... 64 7.2.1 The importance of winter habitats ............................................................................. 64 7.2.2 Escape terrain complexes ........................................................................................... 65 7.2.3 Juxtaposition of forage and escape terrain complexes .............................................. 66 7.2.4 Specific habitat features: mineral licks ....................................................................... 66 7.3 Habitat Distribution, Spatial Configuration and Connectivity ........................................... 66 7.4 Habitat Quantity ................................................................................................................ 68 7.5 Research and inventory gaps ............................................................................................. 69 7.6 References and Recommended Readings ......................................................................... 69 8.0 Northern