Improving calf survival of the Central Selkirk Caribou Herd
The Central Selkirk Caribou Maternity Pen project was developed by the Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS) to support the recovery of the Central Selkirk herd of Southern Mountain Woodland Caribou This project is the best option to reach conservation and recovery objectives for this species in this population. If successful, many species will benefit by maintaining caribou on the landscape, as a suite of mature forest dependent species benefit from existing caribou habitat protections. A diverse partnership between First Nation Partners, Arrow Lake Caribou Society and the BC Provincial Caribou Program enable a range of engagement and leadership opportunities for local indigenous and non-indigenous communities to be involved in species at risk recovery and key local conservation initiatives.
Update: Eight caribou cows born in maternity pen
The Central Selkirk caribou maternity pen has completed two seasons.
In March 2023, 10 collared caribou cows were put into the secure pen, including the last remaining cow from the South Columbia herd.
Eight calves were born in the maternity pen. After 114 days, all but one were released into the traditional range of the Central Selkirk herd.
The weakest calf that was not released was transferred to the BC Wildlife Park in Kamloops.
Monitoring confirms the cows’ movements after release from the pen was consistent with past years, prior to being penned.
FWCP funding went toward the shepherding of the maternity pen by the Ktunaxa Nation Council. This was a critical component of pen operations and required a minimum of two staff to be on site at all times to ensure the health and safety of the caribou.
Executive Summary
Aq’am, Rez Dawgs and the Central Selkirk Caribou Society initially partnered on the Caribou Maternity Pen Project to support the calving process of the caribou, protect them from predation and providing food security at the earliest, most vulnerable parts of life as well as to ensure there was a First Nation voice at the table involved in all aspects of conservation. We came across the FWCP in our search for funding support and quickly realized that this project was in perfect alignment with the Species Population Enhancement benefit requirement. The long term benefit is 1) the caribou are in better position for a growing herd this year compared to last year 2) the community knowledge surrounding caribou, caribou habitat and conservation has significantly increased over the last year.
Throughout this report, we will share how this project benefitted the Central Selkirk Caribou Herd (Species Population Enhancement), the Ktunaxa Nation through both the sharing of indigenous knowledge – and capacity building for Ktunaxa Citizens and supported to development of best practices among indigenous and non-indigenous project partners.
Our focus throughout this project was on the role of ‘Caribou Shepherds’ and how to best support the day to day requirements of the pen. In the table of contents you will see Methods and it is there that the responsibilities and requirements of the shepherds are outline in detail.
We are grateful to have had the support from FWCP and to see how these funds could support a number of interconnected goals. All cows and calves were released from the pen into their natural habitat at 5:00 am on July 21st 2023, after spending 114 days in the pen. GPS collar data showed the group was in the alpine by the afternoon. It is yet to be determined if the caribou captured in Lake Creek will travel back to that area or if they will stay south of Trout Lake. The Columbia South cow has been moving with other collared cows since release and seems to have acclimated to the Central Selkirk’s and bonded with the local caribou well. Overall, habitat use since release has been consistent with their movement in years prior to being placed in the pen. The Central Selkirk Maternity Pen has now completed two operational seasons, and the project managers and supporters are hopeful for many successful years to come.
Click the provincial database link below to read the full final report for this project.