Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Yukon Southern Lakes Area Volume 2: Species Status Assessment Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Yukon Southern Lakes Area Volume 2: Species Status Assessment Prepared by: Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Yukon Southern Lakes Area Volume 2: Species Status Assessment Acknowledgements The Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Southern Lakes Area was developed by the Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee (Appendix A, Volume 1). The committee acknowledges the support of Michelle Sicotte, Shawn Taylor, Tami Hamilton, and Joella Hogan. Volume 1 was drafted primarily by Brian Pelchat and Thomas Jung, with contributions and reviews by committee members, Michelle Sicotte, Tami Hamilton, Heather Clarke, and Shawn Taylor. Adam Roth provided the maps. Status assessments for Volume 2 were compiled by Rosa Brown, Frank Doyle, Rob Florkiewicz, Jim Hawkings, Michelle Henley, Scott Herron, Manfred Hoefs, Maria Leung, Wendy Nixon, Graham Pelchat, Ben Schonewille, Dave Sembsmoen, Mike Setterington, Michelle Sicotte, Pam Sinclair, Brian Slough, and Shawn Taylor. Committee members and staff from the governments reviewed drafts. Michelle Sicotte and Teresa Earle compiled the document. Several committee meetings were facilitated by Lindsay Staples, Norm McLean, Doug Clarke, Kelly Milner, and Betsy Jackson. Nancy Campbell and Dennis Senger provided communications support. Teresa Earle edited the documents. Staff members from the governments shared technical information, provided feedback on the assessment, participated in meetings, and assisted with logistics. The committee would like to thank the people from the Southern Lakes area who attended meetings and participated in the development of the regional wildlife assessment. In particular, Elders respectfully passed on traditional knowledge on the wildlife of the region, and guidance on how the area should be managed. Disclaimer This report describes the results of work by the Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee. The Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee recommendations shall not create any commitments or obligations that are legally binding or create or affect any legal rights of the Parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing these recommendations shall not create, affect, define or interpret any roles, responsibilities, rights, or interests under the First Nation Final or Self-Government Agreements. Copies available from: Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch, V-5A Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6 Phone (867) 667-5721, Fax (867) 393-6263 E-mail: [email protected] Also available online at www.southernlakeswildlife.ca Cover photos by Government of Yukon (caribou, swans) and Mark Connor (wood frog) Suggested citation: Southern Lakes Wildlife Coordinating Committee. 2012. Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Yukon Southern Lakes Region: Volume 2: Species Status Assessment. Environment Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon 168 pp. Table of Contents Acknowledgements......................................................................... Inside Cover Disclaimer................................................................................... Inside Cover Table of Contents ............................................................................................. i List of Tables................................................................................................... v List of Figures ................................................................................................ vi Summary........................................................................................................ 1 The Regional Wildlife Assessment.................................................................... 2 Scope........................................................................................................... 2 Organization ................................................................................................ 3 Audiences .................................................................................................... 4 Ungulates ....................................................................................................... 4 Introduction................................................................................................. 4 Species Assessments.................................................................................... 7 Stressors and Threats .................................................................................. 8 Education and Outreach ............................................................................ 12 Bison ............................................................................................................ 13 Species Significance ................................................................................... 13 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 13 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 15 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 16 Species Management.................................................................................. 16 Caribou......................................................................................................... 17 Species Significance ................................................................................... 17 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 17 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 21 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 21 Species Management.................................................................................. 22 Deer.............................................................................................................. 22 Species Significance ................................................................................... 22 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 22 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 24 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 24 Species Management.................................................................................. 24 Elk................................................................................................................ 25 Species Significance ................................................................................... 25 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 25 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 27 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 28 Species Management.................................................................................. 28 Goats............................................................................................................ 29 Species Significance ................................................................................... 29 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 30 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 31 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 31 Regional Assessment of Wildlife in the Yukon Southern Lakes Area i Volume 2: Species Status Assessment Species Management.................................................................................. 31 Moose ........................................................................................................... 31 Species Significance ................................................................................... 31 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 32 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 35 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 36 Species Management.................................................................................. 37 Sheep ........................................................................................................... 38 Species Significance ................................................................................... 38 Distribution and Abundance ...................................................................... 38 Harvest Trends........................................................................................... 39 Key Habitats .............................................................................................. 39 Species Management.................................................................................. 40 Large Carnivores........................................................................................... 40 Introduction..............................................................................................