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McLean, B. and P. Fraser. 1992. Calving ground fidelity of the
Bluenose caribou herd, 1986-1988. 22 pp.
ABSTRACT
The
traditional calving ground of the Bluenose caribou herd is northwest of
Bluenose Lake in an area encompassed by the Roscoe Brock and Hornaday rivers. To
assess fidelity to traditional calving grounds, 46 radio-collared female
caribou were relocated, during the calving period in three successive
years, 1986 to 1988. Annual locations of individual caribou were plotted
on a 1:250,000 topographical map and distances between locations in
successive years were measured. Over
the 3 year sampling period, the majority of collared females were
located in the central part of the calving ground.
Thirty percent were located between the Horton and Hornaday
rivers, 39% were between the Hornaday and Brock rivers, and 20% between
the Brock and Roscoe rivers. The
remaining 11% were located to the west on the Bathurst peninsula or to
the south. Two females were
never found on the calving ground while 9 females were not relocated in
1 of 3 years. The average
distance moved between annual locations was 43.6 + 30.8 km. Locations of
4 females differed by 90 km or more from their locations during previous
calving ground surveys and they were considered to be unfaithful to
their previous locations. Annual
variation exists in specific locality and concentrations within the
calving grounds and are thought to be the result of various factors
(i.e., snow cover, the presence or absence of predators).
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