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Case, R., L. Buckland and M. Williams. 1996. The status
and management of the Bathurst caribou herd, Northwest Territories, Canada.
34 pp.
ABSTRACT
This
report outlines the goals and objectives used by the Department of
Renewable Resources for management of the Bathurst caribou herd during
the past 10 years. The
report also summarizes available data on ecology, discusses various uses
of the herd, addresses potential impacts of industrial and recreational
development, and describes management options for achieving goals and
objectives. In 1988, a
draft Bathurst Caribou Management Plan was widely circulated among
interest groups and the public, and public meetings were held throughout
the Bathurst caribou range to discuss management options.
This draft plan and comments received resulted in the management
program described in this report.
The
Bathurst caribou herd is the largest in the NWT and is accessible to
more people than other NWT herds. Bathurst
caribou presently occupy a range of approximately 250,000 km2.
In 1990, herd size was estimated at 352,000 caribou age one year
and older. At the present
time the herd is at a density of 2 caribou/ km2 over the
entire range.
The
Bathurst herd and range appear to be in very good condition.
Recruitment has been high for several years and hunter kill has
been relatively low. Hunter
harvest is a major source of mortality for the Bathurst herd. General
Hunting License holders make up the bulk of the hunting population,
followed by Resident, Non-resident and Non-resident alien hunters.
The total harvest of Bathurst caribou (including commercial
harvest) is estimated to be between 14,500 and 18,500.
It is felt that the herd can sustain this level of harvest. The wolf is the only major predator of barren-ground caribou
and is one of the main factors affecting natural mortality rates and,
therefore, population growth. Disease
and parasitism are believed to be relatively unimportant at this time,
although insect harassment may contribute to poorer fall condition and
possibly reduced fertility. Inter-
and intra-specific competition do not appear to significantly influence
population growth. No data
exist to suggest that weather has been a significant or direct cause of
mortality on the Bathurst range. Fire
is a significant factor affecting the distribution of plant species and
succession of the forests on the Bathurst range, but fire has had no
detectable affect on caribou productivity.
Through their influence on range quality and, therefore, caribou
distribution, forest fires may affect the availability of caribou to
some users.
Industrial
activities on the Bathurst range include mine sites, mineral exploration
camps, winter access roads and air strips.
Individually, most of the potential and proposed developments are
expected to have limited impact on the herd; however, development needs
to be addressed on a regional and cumulative basis.
A
main management objective for the Bathurst herd is to maintain a
population level high enough to sustain a harvest of at least 16,000
annually. A population of
between 300,000 and 600,000 has been identified as the range which will
meet this objective. The
total allowable harvest based on current information and the 1990
population estimate is approximately 23,000 caribou.
A calving ground survey to estimate the number of caribou in the
herd is recommended for 1996.
It
is intended that this report be the basis for future discussions on the
management of the Bathurst caribou herd.
It is recommended that a management plan for the Bathurst herd be
developed in consultation with all stakeholders following the calving
ground survey in 1996. |
