Hiway16 Magazine... about people and places in north-central British Columbia, Canada

PAGE ONE
OF THREE

Telkwa Mountain Caribou

by Jim Easterday

We're fortunate to still have a small herd of Mountain Caribou in the Telkwa Mountains. There were probably hundreds of the animals in the early 1900s and old caribou antlers have been found on many local mountains all the way to north of the Hazeltons.

But by 1996, there were eight caribou left and the Telkwa herd was in danger of extinction.

This is a vulnerable species. 2500 Mountain Caribou live in BC. That's 98 percent of the entire Mountain Caribou population in the world. Most live in the mountain area from northwest of Prince George to the Yukon border.

A transplanted caribou calf with a radio collar
(Caribou photos courtesy of George Schultze and the staff at BC Environment)

In 1997, the Telkwa Caribou Recovery Plan was created by BC Environment

to enhance and sustain a viable caribou population in the Telkwas. By 1998, 32 adult caribou were transplanted from the Sustut/Chase herd and radio collars were fitted to keep track of the number and location of surviving animals.

Funding comes partially from the Habitat Conservation Fund paid by surcharges to hunting and fishing licenses.

Pilot Van Miller banks low to see caribou in the subalpine forest

The work to monitor the herd goes on. Every two weeks, year-round, a Cessna aircraft patrols the Telkwa Mountains and the Hazelton mountains from Roche de Boule south to Nadina Mt, east to Highway 16 and west to Burnie Lake.

Pilots, such as Van Miller from NT Air, use radio telemetry to locate each collared animal and to spot any non-collared caribou. Exact location and numbers are logged.

This has to be some of the most demanding bush flying in the world. Circling low enough among rock cliffs and blind canyons to see caribou the size of a large deer, is just short of airshow aerobatics in skill level.

In the year 2000, there were 60-65 caribou. Predation reduced the number to 55 -60 in 2001 but the forecast is for an increase to 65 animals in 2002.






copyright © 2001-2002, Northwest Design, Smithers, B.C., Canada