CDC Logo

BC Conservation Data Centre: Species Summary


Rangifer tarandus pop. 1
Caribou (Southern Mountain Population)

 
Scientific Name: Rangifer tarandus pop. 1
English Name: Caribou (Southern Mountain Population)
 
Classification / Taxonomy
Scientific Name - Concept Reference: Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Classification Level: Population
Taxonomy Comments: Formerly a separate subspecies, RANGIFER TARANDUS MONTANUS Seton, this is now considered an ecotype, distinguished by a reliance on arboreal lichens for winter forage, in contrast with the northern populations which forage on ground lichens.
Species Group: Vertebrate Animal
Species Code: M-RATA-01
Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
Animalia Craniata Mammalia Artiodactyla Cervidae
   
Conservation Status / Legal Designation
Global Status: G5TNRQ
Provincial Status: S1 (Feb 2017)
BC List: Red
Provincial FRPA list: Y (May 2004)  
Provincial Wildlife Act:
COSEWIC Status: Endangered (May 2014)
SARA Schedule: 1  -  Threatened (Jun 2003)
General Status Canada:
   
Ecology & Life History
General Description:
Subspecies Comments: All Caribou in British Columbia are of the Woodland Caribou subspecies (Rangifer tarandus caribou). However, there are 3 ecotypes: boreal, northern and mountain (Heard and Vagt 1998). This CAS deals only with the Mountain Caribou ecotype.
Identification Comments: Mountain Caribou are not morphologically unique from other Woodland Caribou. They are distinguished on the basis of habits, habitat and, most readily, by distribution (Heard and Vagt 1998; Cichowski et al. 2004).
Provincial Reproduction Comments: Like all Caribou, Mountain Caribou have a polygynous mating system with harems of up to 12 (Cichowski et al. 2004). The rut extends from late September to mid-late October (Johnson and Miller 1979; Cichowski et al. 2004). Adult pregnancy rates of 84 to 100% have been reported (Wittmer 2004). Rettie and Messier (1998) reported pregnancy among all 5 tested yearlings (16-months old) for the boreal ecotype of Woodland Caribou. Gestation is about 230 days, with calves typically born in late May through early June (Cichowski et al. 2004).
Provincial Ecology Comments: Old forest is necessary for the provision of abundant arboreal lichen, and may also positively influence the forage value of understory forage plants (Rominger et al. 2000), although predation rates appear to keep Mountain Caribou populations well below the forage-based carrying capacity. Densities currently range from 0.03 to 0.15 Caribou/km2 (Mountain Caribou Technical Advisory Committee 2002) so predators generally could only use them as an opportunistic, rather than targeted, food source (Seip 1991, 1992; Thomas and Gray 2002). Despite this, the most important ecological requirement of Mountain Caribou is large tracts of old forest. In the period through 2002, Wittmer (2004) found the rate of population increase to vary between -0.19 and +0.05 among 15 subpopulations, with all but 2 being negative. Declines were most strongly associated with adult female mortality, which in turn was strongly linked to the proportion of younger forest within a subpopulation's range (generally a result of logging). This appears to be due to the predators, especially Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) and Cougars (Puma concolor) that are attracted by ungulates that forage in early-seral sites (Moose, Alces alces; White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus; Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus; and Elk, Cervus elaphus) and that opportunistically kill Caribou (Kinley and Apps 2001; Seip 1992; Wittmer 2004). Periodic extreme snow depths, especially if followed by below-average snow years, have been hypothesized to periodically limit late-winter food supply by shifting the lower limit of available lichen higher into the canopy (Goward 2002). Such climatic variation may increase under a regime of global climate change. It is unclear to what extent disturbance to Caribou from backcountry recreation such as snowmobiling, heli-skiing, cat-skiing and ski-touring may influence demography. However, snowmobiling has been correlated to long-term shifts in late-winter distribution (Kinley 2003), and there are indications of displacement into habitats of poorer forage quality and higher mortality risk (Simpson and Terry 2000; Mountain Caribou Technical Advisory Committee 2002). Diseases and parasites do not appear to have a signficant effect on Mountain Caribou (Cichowski et al. 2004).
Migration Characteristics:
(Global / Provincial)		 
    Nonmigrant:
    Local Migrant:
    Distant Migrant:
    Within Borders Migrant: 		N / N
N / Y
N / N
na / N
Provincial Mobility & Migration Comments: Home ranges vary from <100 to >800 km2 (Cichowski et al. 2004). Based on movements of radiocollared caribou in recent years, Wittmer (2004) revised the number of subpopulations from 13 (Mountain Caribou Technical Advisory Committee 2002) to 18. However, occasional activity has been recorded in the areas between subpopulations, including the rare movement of radiocollared animals. Mountain Caribou typically make elevational shifts four times annually (Edwards and Ritcey 1959; Stevenson et al. 2001). During late winter and summer, Mountain Caribou typically occur within the Engelmann Spruce - Subalpine Fir biogeoclimatic zone (ESSF) and occasionally the Alpine Tundra zone (AT). During early winter and spring, they normally occur at lower elevations, either within the Interior Cedar - Hemlock zone (ICH) in wetter, more rugged regions, or within the lower ESSF elsewhere. Thus, there is an annual cycle of moving up for late winter, down for spring, up during summer and down for early winter. In addition, pregnant females calve between spring and summer within rugged, high-elevation areas (usually the upper ESSF to AT). Seasonal migrations may include latitudinal movements varying from less than 5 km to roughly 50 km. Though variable among years and subpopulations, cues and approximate starting dates of each season are: late winter begins when snowpack is sufficiently deep and supportive to allow Mountain Caribou to reach the portion of the canopy with abundant arboreal lichens, which may be <2 to >4 m above ground (mid January); spring begins when snow melts sufficiently to allow foraging on ground-based foods (mid April); calving season for pregnant females begins immediately before giving birth (late May to early June); summer for females with dependent calves begins when calves have increased mobility (late June); summer for other individuals begins when snow melts sufficiently to allow ground-based foraging (June 1); and early winter begins with the first significant snowfall (late October). The magnitude of elevational migration varies among subpopulations from to about 300 to 650 m (Stevenson et al. 2001).
Habitats:
(Type / Subtype / Dependence) 		Alpine/Tundra / Alpine Grassland / Unknown
Alpine/Tundra / Alpine/Subalpine Meadow / Unknown
Alpine/Tundra / Krummholtz / Facultative - frequent use
Alpine/Tundra / Tundra / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Dry / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Mesic (average) / Facultative - frequent use
Forest / Conifer Forest - Moist/wet / Facultative - occasional use
Grassland/Shrub / Grassland / Facultative - occasional use
Grassland/Shrub / Meadow / Facultative - frequent use
Grassland/Shrub / Shrub - Natural / Facultative - frequent use
Other Unique Habitats / Avalanche Track / Facultative - occasional use
Riparian / Riparian Forest / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Cliff / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Facultative - occasional use
Rock/Sparsely Vegetated Rock / Talus / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Bog / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Fen / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Marsh / Facultative - occasional use
Wetland / Swamp / Facultative - occasional use
Global Habitat Comments: During early winter, when deep, soft snow is present at higher elevations, prefer areas of low elevation, gentle terrain, high productivity, high canopy cover, and old and young forests with a mild, dry climate. In late winter, when snow has settled, they move to high elevation, old forest stands of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir, with northern aspects. During spring, prefer young and old closed canopy cedar, hemlock and spruce forests of high productivity at low elevations. In summer, prefer old subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce high elevation forests with high canopy closure (Apps et al. 2001). Often lengthy migrations are made between summer and winter areas.
Provincial Habitat Comments: Seasonal changes in habitat use are parallel to the seasonal migrations described above. Late-winter activity is mainly within open stands dominated by Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) and having abundant arboreal lichen. These are within the upper ESSF, including its parkland and woodland subzones. Spring habitat is defined by the presence of patches of ground where aspect, exposure, elevation or the presence of meltwater cause snow to melt sufficiently to allow foraging on ground-based foods. Depending on location, year and individual, this may be within the ICH, ESSF or AT zones, with microsites including tundra, small natural openings within the forest, and anthropogenic openings such as cutblocks, powerline corridors and roadsides. Calving habitat generally has at least partial snow cover, is in rugged landscapes near the ESSF/AT transition, and is remote from the locations of most other ungulates and their predators. Summer habitats are typically in or adjacent to old forests dominated by Subalpine Fir or Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii) within the ESSF, although there is periodic use of the AT. In regions with rugged terrain and very deep snow, early-winter habitats are generally old stands of Western Hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) within the ICH. Elsewhere, early-winter habitat includes old Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir in the lower to middle ESSF. For all seasons, the strongest predictor of caribou habitat is landscapes dominated by old forest (Apps and Kinley 2000a, 2000b; Hamilton et al. 2000; Apps et al. 2001; Johnson et al. 2004; Kinley and Apps 2005).
Food Habits:
Global Food Habits Comments:
Provincial Food Habits Comments: During late winter, almost the complete diet of Mountain Caribou is arboreal hair lichen, primarily Bryoria spp. but also including Alectoria sarmentosa and possibly Nodobryoria oregana. In spring and summer, Caribou consume a wide variety of forbs and graminoids, and secondarily lichens, fungi and the leaves of some shrubs. During early winter, the diet is a combination of "winter-green" deciduous shrubs such as Falsebox (Pachystima myrsinites) and in some areas Grouseberry (Vaccinium scoparium) with arboreal lichen from standing trees and windthrown trees, branches and lichen fragments. During this season there is also minor use of forbs and terrestrial lichen such as Cladonia spp. (Edwards and Ritcey 1960; Freddy 1974; Bloomfield 1979; Antifeau 1987; Simpson and Woods 1987; Stevenson et al. 2001; Kinley et al. 2003; Cichowski et al. 2004).
Global Phenology:
Provincial Phenology:
(1st half of month/
2nd half of month)
Colonial Breeder: N
Length(cm)/width(cm)/Weight(g): / /
Elevation (m) (min / max): Global: 
Provincial:  440 / 2800
   
 
Distribution
Endemic: N
Global Range Comment: Range through the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta, from the Peace River south to Jasper National Park; and in the Cariboo, Monashee, Selkirk and Purcell Mountains of British Columbia and northern Idaho.
 
Authors / Contributors
Global Information Author:
Last Updated: Mar 19, 1998
Provincial Information Author: Trevor A. Kinley
Last Updated: Jan 04, 2005
   
References and Related Literature
Almack, J.A. 2000. Recent Augmentation of Mountain Caribou to the Southern Selkirk Mountains of Northeastern Washington, Northern Idaho, and Southern British Columbia. P. 643 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Antifeau, T.D. 1987. The significance of snow and arboreal lichen in the winter ecology of mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the North Thompson watershed of British Columbia. Thesis, Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
Apps, C. D., B. N. McLellan, T. A. Kinley, and J. P. Flaa. 2001. Scale-dependent habitat selection by mountain caribou, Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. Journal of Wildlife Management 65:65-77.
Apps, C., and T. Kinley. 2000. Mountain Caribou Habitat Use, Movements, and Factors Associated with GPS Location Bias in the Robson Valley, British Columbia. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildl. Compensation Program, BC Hydro, B.C. Minist. Environ, Lands and Parks, B.C. Fish. 46pp.
Apps, C., and T. Kinley. 2000b. Multiscale habitat modeling for mountain caribou in the Columbia Highlands and Northern Columbia Mountains ecoregions, British Columbia. Prepared for Minist. Water, Land and Air Prot., Williams Lake, BC. Aspen Wildl. Res., Calgary, AB.
Apps, C., and T. Kinley. 2000c. Multi-scale habitat associations of mountain caribou in the southern Purcell Mountains, British Columbia. Prepared for East Kootenay Environ. Soc., Kimberley, BC, and Tembec Industries Inc., Cranbrook, BC. Aspen Wildl. Res., Calgary, AB.
Apps, C., B. McLellan, T. Kinley, and J. Flaa. 2001. Scale-dependent habitat selection by Mountain Caribou, Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. J. Wildl. Manage. 65(1):65-77.
Apps, C.D., B.N. McLellan, and J. Flaa. 2000. Multivariate Habitat Modeling for Mountain Caribou in the Columbia Mountains, British Columbia. P. 653 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Armleder, H.M., J.A. Young, and J.A. Youds. 2000. A Management Strategy for Mountain Caribou: The Cariboo Region Example. Pp. 645-651 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
B.C. Ministry of Environment. Recovery Planning in BC. B.C. Minist. Environ. Victoria, BC.
B.C. Ministry of Forests. 2003. Caribou and Deer Habitat: Projects, Publications and Contacts. Res. Branch Five Year Strategic Plan (1999-2003) Caribou and Deer Habitat Information. Online. Available: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/topics/caribou.htm
BC Ministry of Environment, BC Snowmobile Federation. 2006. Snowmobiling and Caribou in British Columbia. www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/twg/documents/snowmobile_caribou_brchr2006.pdf
Bloomfield, M.I. 1979. The ecology and status of mountain caribou and caribou range in central British Columbia. Thesis, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
British Columbia Ministry of Forests. 2003. Research Branch Publications, Bruce McLellan. Online. Available: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/pubs/bmclella.htm
British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection. 2004aa. Caribou in Accounts and measures for managing identified wildlife. British Columbia Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection, Victoria, BC. 52pp.
COSEWIC. 2002q. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the woodland caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou in Canada. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. Ottawa. xi + 98 pp.
Edwards, R.Y., and R.W. Ritcey. 1959. Migrations of caribou in a mountainous area in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. Can. Field-Nat. 73:21-25.
Edwards, R.Y., and R.W. Ritcey. 1960. Foods of caribou in Wells Gray Park, British Columbia. Can. Field-Nat. 74:3-7.
Flaa, J.P., and B.N. McLellan. 2000. Population Characteristics of the Lake Revelstoke Caribou. Pp. 639-642 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Forest Practices Board. 2002. Management and Conservation of Mountain Caribou Habitat in the Cariboo Region. Special Investigation 970137. FPB/SIR/09. 16pp.
Freddy, D.J. 1974. Status and management of the Selkirk caribou herd, 1973. Thesis, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow, ID.
Goward, T. 2002. Hair lichens, snowpack variation and the fate of mountain caribou: the LSC hypothesis. Pp. 43-44 in Mountain caribou in 21st century ecosystems. Columbia Mountains Inst. of Appl. Ecol., Revelstoke, BC.
Hamilton, D., S.F. Wilson, and G. Smith. 2000. Mountain caribou habitat use and population characteristics for the Central Selkirks Caribou Inventory Project. Prepared for Pope and Talbot Ltd., Nakusp, BC, Meadow Creek Cedar, Kaslo, BC, Slocan Forest Products Ltd., Slocan, BC, and Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Nelson, BC by Nanuq Consulting Ltd., Nelson, BC.
Hatter, I. 2006. Mountain Caribou 2006 survey results, subpopulation trends and extinction risk. Draft for Technical Review. BC Ministry of Environment.
Hatter, I.W. 2000. Components of a Mountain Caribou Conservation Strategy for British Columbia. Pp. 631-635 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Hatter, I.W., J Quayle, and L R. Ramsay. 2004. A Conservation Status Assessment of the Mountain Caribou Ecotype Based on IUCN Red List Criteria. In T.D. Hooper, ed. Proc. of the Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conf. March 2-6, 2004, Victoria, B.C. Species at Risk 2004 Pathways to Recovery Conference Organizing Committee, Victoria, BC. 19pp.
Heard, D.C., and K.L. Vagt. 1998. Caribou in British Columbia: A 1996 status report. Rangifer, Spec. Issue 10:117-123.
Johnson, C.J., D.R. Seip, and M.S. Boyce. 2004. A quantitative approach to conservation planning: using resource selection functions to identify important habitats for mountain caribou. J. Appl. Ecol. 41:238-251.
Johnson, D.R., and D.R. Miller. 1979. Observations on reproduction of mountain caribou. Northwest Sci. 53:114-117.
Kinley, T A., et al. 2003. Characteristics of early-winter caribou, Rangifer tarandus caribou, feeding sites in the southern Purcell Mountains, British Columbia. Can. Field-Nat. 117:352-359.
Kinley, T. 1999. Mountain Caribou. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp.
Kinley, T. 2002. 2002 Population Survey for the South Purcell Subpopulation of Mountain Caribou. Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. 11pp.
Kinley, T. 2003a. Snowmobile - mountain caribou interactions: a summary of perceptions and an analysis of trends in caribou distribution. Prepared for Minist. Water, Land and Air Prot., Victoria, BC by Sylvan Consulting Ltd., Invermere, BC.
Kinley, T., and C. Apps. 2001. Mortality patterns in a subpopulation of endangered mountain caribou. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 29(1):158-164.
Kinley, T.A., and C.D. Apps. 2000. Population Status and Mortality of Mountain Caribou in the Southern Purcell Mountains, British Columbia. Pp. 655-661 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
Kinley, T.A., and C.D. Apps. 2005. Caribou habitat assessment for the Priest Lake endowment lands. Volume 1: habitat modeling for the South Selkirk ecosystem. Prepared for Idaho Dep. Lands, Boise, ID. Sylvan Consulting Ltd., Invermere, BC.
Mountain Caribou Technical Advisory Committee (MCTAC). 2002. A Strategy for the Recovery of Mountain Caribou in British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Water, Land and Air Prot., Biodiv. Branch. Recovery Plan RP-02. 85pp.
Paquet, M. 2000. Caribou in British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. 6pp.
Rettie, W.J., and F. Messier. 1998. Dynamics of woodland caribou populations at the southern limit of their range in Saskatchewan. Can. J. Zool. 76:251-259.
Rominger, E.M., et al. 2000. Autumn foraging dynamics of woodland caribou in experimentally manipulated habitats, northeastern Washington, USA. J. Wildl. Manage. 64:160-167.
Saxena, A., and K. Gazey. 2000. A Case Study of Applied Habitat Suitability Assessment in Forest Management Planning. Pp. 147-154 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 1; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 490pp.
Seip, D.R. 1991. Predation and caribou populations. Rangifer Spec. Issue 7:46-52.
Seip, D.R. 1992. Factors limiting woodland caribou populations and their interrelationships with wolves and moose in southeastern British Columbia. Can. J. Zool. 70:1494-1503.
Shackleton, D. 1999. Hoofed Mammals of British Columbia. UBC Press in collaboration with Royal B.C. Mus. 272pp.
Simpson, K., and E. Terry. 2000. Impacts of Backcountry Recreation Activities on Mountain Caribou. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. Working Rep. WR-99. 12pp.
Simpson, K., and G.P. Woods. 1987. Movements and habitats of caribou in the mountains of southern British Columbia., B.C. Minist. Environ. and Parks., Nelson. Wildl. Bull. No. B-57.
Stevenson, S.K. et al. 2001. Mountain Caribou in Managed Forests: Recommendations for Managers, 2nd edition. B.C. Minist. Environ, Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch. Tech. Rep. R-26. 71pp.
Stevenson, S.K., and D.S. Coxson. 2000. Effects of Partial Cutting on Arboreal Lichens Used by Mountain Caribou. Pp. 663-664 in L.M. Darling, ed. 2000. Proc. Conf. on the Biology and Manage. Species and Habitats at Risk, Kamloops, B.C., 15-19 Feb., 1999. Vol. 2; B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Victoria, BC, and Univ. College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, BC. 520pp.
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.
Wittmer, H.U. 2004. Mechanisms underlying the decline of mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia. Dissertation, Univ. British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
 

Please visit the website Conservation Status Ranks for definitions of the data fields used in this summary report.

Suggested Citation:

B.C. Conservation Data Centre. 1998. Species Summary: Rangifer tarandus pop. 1. B.C. Minist. of Environment. Available: https://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/ (accessed Oct 20, 2026).