BC Conservation Data Centre: Conservation Status Report
Rangifer tarandus pop. 14
Caribou (Boreal Population)
| Scientific Name: | Rangifer tarandus pop. 14 |
|---|---|
| English Name: | Caribou (Boreal Population) |
| Provincial Status Summary | |
| Status: | S2? |
| Date Status Assigned: | May 15, 2017 |
| Date Last Reviewed: | February 10, 2017 |
| Reasons: |
Boreal Caribou in British Columbia appear to occur at very low densities. The current estimate is 1280 caribou in six herds (BC Ministry of Environment 2008). The main threats are due to increased fragmentation from oil and gas exploration. The many linear corridors (roads and seismic lines), beyond their direct effects, provide easy access for predators, and increase alternate prey density, which in turn increases predator densities. These impacts are occurring throughout the species' range in BC, and are likely to increase with the current boom in oil and gas exploration/production in Northeastern BC. Their range is limited to the extreme northeastern portion of the province, and receives minimal protection through protected areas. The provincial population trend indicates a decline. Boreal Caribou are nationally designated as Threatened by COSEWIC. |
| Range | |
| Range Extent: | F = 20,000-200,000 square km |
| Range Extent Comments: | Boreal Caribou are found in approximately 15 % of British Columbia in the northeastern corner of the province (see range map). The overall distribution is based on the extent of boreal forest in British Columbia and is defined as the Etsho Plateau, Maxhamish Upland, Petitot Plain and Fort Nelson Lowland ecosections of the Taiga Plains Ecoprovince and the Clear Hills Ecosection of the Boreal Plains Ecoprovince. This area includes the area east of the Rocky Mountain foothills from the Yukon Border east of the Liard River as far south as the Doig River Drainage, upstream from its junction with the Beatton River. The western boundary generally follows the Liard River from the Yukon/North West Territories¿ boundary upstream to the junction with the Dunedin River, and runs approximately southeast to Fort St John. Caribou likely do not live in the drier aspen forests along the lowlands near the Peace River although the occasional transient has been seen in these areas. The total range area of Boreal Caribou in British Columbia is 51,171 km2 with known Ranges on 39,155 km2 and trace occurrences on 12,016 km2. |
| Area of Occupancy (km2): | H = 2,501-12,500 |
| Area of Occupancy Comments: | Boreal Caribou are known to occupy at least 39,155 km2 of the overall extent of their range, based on 4 Ranges and 13 Core Habitats delineated by Culling et al. (2004). Boreal Caribou Ranges and Core Habitats are based on available survey data, telemetry data, ecological mapping completed by Ducks Unlimited, information from adjacent jurisdictions (Alberta, North West Territories), and other sightings and observations. Ranges are broad areas of known historical or current use that supply the resources necessary to support local populations of Boreal Caribou. Core Habitats are areas of high current capability and suitability based on general habitat requirements (treed peatlands, terrestrial and arboreal lichen forage base) and documented occurrence. Further work is required to delineate Ranges for 2 Core Habitats located outside of the 4 identified Ranges, and to refine all Range and Core Habitat boundaries. |
| Occurrences & Population | |
| Number of Occurrences: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Currently, it is unknown how many Element Occurrences or local populations of Boreal Caribou occur in British Columbia. Recently, Culling et al. (2004) identified 4 Ranges and 13 Core Habitats for Boreal Caribou in northeastern British Columbia although they stressed that these Ranges did not necessarily represent local populations. |
| Number of Occurrences with Good Viability / Ecological Integrity: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Because the number of local populations is unknown, viability of those local populations is also unknown. |
| Number of Occurrences Appropriately Protected & Managed: | A = None |
| Comments: | Eight protected areas lie within the extent of Boreal Caribou distribution in northeastern British Columbia including: Klua Lakes Protected Area, Maxhamish Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area, Thinahtea Protected Area, Hay River Protected Area, Milligan Hills Provincial Park, Chinchaga Lakes Protected Area, Ekwan Lake Protected Area, and Sikanni-Old Growth Provincial Park. All eight protected areas are small (all less than 300 km2 and four less than 25 km2) and therefore do not contribute substantially to protection of Boreal Caribou in British Columbia. Most Boreal Caribou range in British Columbia falls within Enhanced Resource Development and General Resource Development zones as directed by the Fort St. John Land and Resource Management Plan and the Fort Nelson Land and Resource Management Plan. |
| Population Size: | D = 1,000 - 2,500 individuals |
| Comments: | Culling et al. (2004) recently estimated the population size of Boreal Caribou in British Columbia at 1512 caribou. They based the estimate on caribou densities determined for Ranges and Core Habitats from a winter survey conducted in March 2004. Although confidence limits are not available, the new total population estimate is believed to better represent actual Boreal Caribou numbers than the estimate of 725 as reported by Heard and Vagt (1998). |
| Threats (to population, occurrences, or area affected) | |
| Degree of Threat: | A = Very high |
| Comments: | The primary threats to Boreal Caribou appear to be predation and linear corridor development (Boreal Caribou Technical Advisory Committee, in prep.). Associated with linear corridors are higher predation rates, increased human access and associated disturbance, habitat change, and potential reductions in winter food supply. Other factors that may potentially affect Boreal Caribou are weather and disease. Boreal Caribou are affected by a combination of these threats, which likely have cumulative impacts that may not be predictable by examining the effects of each factor separately. In northeastern British Columbia, seismic exploration and oil and gas well development are the most significant disturbance factors creating linear corridors in Boreal Caribou habitat (Boreal Caribou Technical Advisory Committee, in prep.). Although new low impact seismic techniques can reduce the negative effects of new seismic linear corridors, the current density of linear corridors in Boreal Caribou habitat in northeastern British Columbia is already a concern and increased industrial development is occurring (Ministry of Mines, Energy and Petroleum Resources). At its current level, forest harvesting poses a lower risk to Boreal Caribou than seismic exploration and oil and gas well development. The extent of commercial forest land in Boreal Caribou ranges in British Columbia is limited; however, harvesting planned for deciduous/aspen forests in 20 years may affect some areas within Boreal Caribou ranges. Also, with increased road construction resulting from increased oil and gas development, inaccessible patches of commercial forest within Boreal Caribou ranges will become more accessible and therefore more attractive for harvesting. |
| Trend (in population, range, area occupied, and/or condition of occurrences) | |
| Short-Term Trend: | F = Decline of 10-30% |
| Comments: | The largest herd, Chinchaga, which is a transboundry herd with Alberta is declining at an estimated 11% per year (Alberta Woodland Recovery Team 2005) The second largest herd, the Snake-Sahtaneh is also declining. The trend in the other herds (which account for less than half of the population) are unknown. In Alberta, studies on Boreal Caribou mortality and recruitment demonstrate that many local populations are currently declining (Dzus 2001, McLoughlin et al. 2003). Caribou populations with calf recruitment less than 15% calves or 25 calves/100 cows are considered to be decreasing (Bergerud 1980, Bergerud and Elliott 1998). In the Snake-Sahtaneh study area in northeastern British Columbia, calf recruitment was low both years (March 2003; 8.9 calves/100 cows, March 2004; 5.4 calves/100 cows; D. Culling, pers. comm.) suggesting that the population is likely in severe decline. The Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection found recruitment of 23.7 calves/100 cows in their 2004 late winter surveys of Management Units 7-55 and 7-56, |
| Long-Term Trend: | U = Unknown |
| Comments: | Lack of information on Boreal Caribou numbers and range in British Columbia preclude an assessment of long-term population trend. Although the long-term population trend is unknown, biologists believe that Boreal Caribou numbers in northeastern British Columbia have likely declined from historic levels (R. Backmeyer pers. comm.). Research conducted in Alberta has demonstrated functional loss of Boreal Woodland Caribou habitat adjacent to linear corridors (Dyer et al. 2001), and suggests that Boreal Caribou habitat has decreased from historic levels as a result of extensive linear corridor development. Boreal Caribou habitat and numbers have also decreased in other areas in Canada (Thomas and Gray 2002). |
| Other Factors | |
| Intrinsic Vulnerability: | B=Moderately vulnerable |
| Comments: | Intrinsic vulnerability of Boreal Caribou is ranked as moderate because the productivity of caribou is low compared to other cervids (alternate prey) in North America. Caribou only have one young per year and females do not generally breed until they are 2 years old. Consequently, the population growth rate (lambda) rarely exceeds 1.26, or 26% per year. Although overall productivity is low, the mean pregnancy rate of females ranges is high (Dzus 2001). Calf mortality during the first few months of life is high, often approaching 50% or greater. |
| Environmental Specificity: | A=Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce. |
| Comments: | Boreal Caribou are typically associated with large peatlands throughout the year. Annual range requirements include: calving ranges with low predation risk; access to an adequate supply of terrestrial and arboreal lichens; snow conditions that allow movement within the winter range; and, large tracts of annual range where caribou can exist at low densities as an anti-predator strategy and avoid linear corridors. Although boreal peatlands cover extensive areas in northeastern British Columbia, relatively undisturbed peatlands are rare, and will likely become more rare with the increased rate of oil and gas activity planned. |
| Other Rank Considerations: | |
| Information Gaps | |
| Research Needs: | A study recently completed on Boreal Caribou in the Snake-Sahtaneh watersheds in British Columbia and a study recently initiated in the Chinchaga area will provide some area-specific information for Boreal Caribou in those areas. However, additional information is needed for most of the Boreal Caribou range in British Columbia in British Columbia. Research priorities for Boreal Caribou in British Columbia are: 1. Primary population limiting factors. 2. Existence and distribution of local populations. 3.·Effects of industrial activities (conventional and new technologies) on habitat and populations. 4. General habitat use patterns. 5. Connectivity between local populations. |
| Inventory Needs: | Boreal Caribou populations are difficult to inventory so population size may be difficult to determine (Dzus 2001). Distribution of local populations should be determined and population trend for each local population should be addressed with radio-collared caribou studies of adult mortality and calf recruitment. |
| Stewardship | |
| Protection: | A central feature of Boreal Caribou ecology is believed to be 'spacing out' at low densities over the landscape. This strategy reduces predation risk, and allows for long-term persistence of caribou. Thus, there must be protection against loss and fragmentation of their habitat from oil and gas exploration and forest harvesting. The strategy for the recovery of Boreal Caribou in British Columbia (Boreal Caribou Technical Advisory Committee, in prep) needs to be finalized and a Recovery Action Plans need to be prepared. |
| Management: | Managers must consider Boreal Caribou habitat requirements, caribou disturbance, and mortality when planning and implementing oil and gas exploration and development, forest harvesting, and access associated with all types of development. Wildlife managers will also have to consider tools such a predator reduction that may be necessary to correct population declines. |
| Version | |
| Author: | Cichowski, D. and I. Hatter |
| Date: | January 19, 2007 |
| References | |
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DeMars, C. and S. Boutin. 2014. Assessing spatial factors affecting predation risk to boreal caribou calves. Final Report. University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. 54 p. |
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DeMars, C.A. and S. Boutin. 2018. Nowhere to Hide: Effects of Linear Features on Predator?Prey Dynamics in a Large Mammal System. J Anim. Ecol. 2018;87:274-284 |
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Backmeyer, R.J. 2004. Moose and Boreal Caribou Inventory: Management Units 7-55 and 7-56. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection ? Environmental Stewardship Division. Fort St. John, BC. 8p.
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Bergerud, A. T. and J.P. Elliott. 1998. Wolf predation in a multiple-ungulate system in northern British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 76(8): 1551-1569.
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Bridger, M. 2019. South Peace Caribou Recovery following Five Years of Experimental Wolf Reduction. BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. Fort St. John, BC.
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Leech, S.M., C. Whittaker, and the Doig River First Nation. 2016b. Boreal Caribou (caribou) Tsáá?ché ne dane Traditional Knowledge and Restoration Study. Report prepared for DRFN and the David Suzuki Foundation by the Firelight Group December 2016. 60pp.
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Thomas, D.C., and D.R. Gray. 2002. Update COSEWIC status report on the woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xi + 98pp.
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Wilson, S. F., and C. A. DeMars. 2015. A Bayesian approach to characterizing habitat use by, and impacts of anthropogenic features on, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northeast British Columbia. Canadian Wildlife Biology & Management 4:107-118.
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Wilson, S.F., C. Pasztor and S. Dickinson. 2010. Projected Boreal Caribou Habitat Conditions and Range Populations for Future Management Options in British Columbia. Report Prepared for Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Environment. Victoria, BC. 11pp.
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Winder R, F.E.C. Stewart, S. Nebel, et al. 2020. Cumulative Effects and Boreal Woodland Caribou: How Bow-Tie Risk Analysis Addresses a Critical Issue in Canada?s Forested Landscapes. Front. Ecol. Evol. 8:1.
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Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for information on how the CDC determines conservation status ranks. For global conservation status reports and ranks, please visit the NatureServe website http://www.natureserve.org/.
Suggested Citation:
B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 2007. Conservation Status Report: Rangifer tarandus pop. 14. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Jun 15, 2026).