A relatively mild winter in the lower reaches of the Bow Valley combined with few elk being hunted by wolves and cougars means Banff’s resident elk population is poised to grow.
A spring count showed there has been little change in the overall numbers of elk or their distribution in recent years, but with high elk calf survival last winter, Parks Canada officials say there is the possibility for growth.
Officials say public safety incidents remain low, with about 10 aggressive incidents this year, but year-round elk density on the winter range near Banff is high.
“The population trend is stable at around 260 animals, but this spring’s cow-calf ratio suggests we continue to have potential for rapid growth,” said wildlife biologist Tom Hurd.
“The calves had very high survival and they’re probably in great condition.”
The central Bow Valley elk herd uses wintering grounds near the Banff townsite where predators are rare, human use is high, and corridor restoration has been partially effective.
This year, an aerial survey counted 265 animals on May 10-11 in the Bow Valley between Lake Louise and the east park gates, with 215 of those in the Banff area near the golf course, Indian grounds and airstrip.
A large group of bulls was located in the Fairholme burn area east of Carrot Creek.
The ground-based classification, also done on May 10-11, counted 51 calves, along with 150 adult females, and 40 bulls and young males for a total of 241.
This resulted in a very high calf ratio of 34 calves per 100 females.
“Over-winter calf survival was high, reflecting low levels of natural predation and a mild winter in the valley bottom on the winter range,” Hurd said.
“Snow depths in the subalpine and alpine were very high this year, but they were pretty much average around Banff.”
Controlling the elk population within acceptable levels – for both environmental and public safety reasons – is part of the elk management strategy. The target elk densities are two per square kilometre.
Goals of the strategy also include increasing elk wariness and migration; reducing encounters with people; restoring wildlife corridors and habitat security and improving forest and grassland condition by reducing elk browsing.
Hurd said many of the goals in the elk management strategy are being achieved, but the mild winters and low natural predation rates are resulting in little reduction to the high year-round elk densities near Banff.
“We have forest and grassland damage as a result,” he said.
About half of the townsite herd continues to migrate to the backcountry in summer and the rest remain near Banff, but the overall population has remained stable at about 260 individuals.
In 2008, there were 254 elk counted in the central Bow Valley, in 2009 there were 267, in 2010 there were 240, in 2011 there were 263 and in 2012 there were 264 elk.
“The elk population simulations suggest that target elk densities – two per sq. km. – may be reached in 2019, assuming similar conditions of natural predation, winter severity, nutrition and management actions,” Hurd said.
Over the winter, Parks continued with the temporary rail fencing of six wildlife underpasses to keep elk on wintering grounds north of the Trans-Canada Highway, where they are more likely to be hunted by wolves and cougars.
About 130 animals moved to their winter range north of the highway on Jan. 3, at which time Parks Canada quickly put up the temporary rail fencing to keep them on the north side.
The herd remained there until March 20 when they moved south again through Five Mile Creek along the Bow River.
Hurd said there was moderate to high use of the Cascade-Norquay wildlife corridor by cougars over the winter, but very few wolves were there, resulting in low levels of predation on the elk herd.
“Very few kills were noted,” he said. “Cougar use of the Norquay Cascade Corridor was reasonably high, but most wolf use was by single individuals with very little pack activity.”
As part of the long-term elk management strategy, 19 resident non-migratory elk were culled over the course of the winter with the assistance from Stoney Nakoda and Siksika First Nations.
Six of the carcasses were provided to First Nations for food and ceremonial purposes, most were left for predators and scavengers and some carcasses were stored for use as bait to catch grizzly bears for a GPS collaring project.
Hurd said upcoming ground surveys this fall, and an assessment of summer migration rates and predation, will inform next steps for elk management next winter.
He said he would welcome public feedback, similar to what was provided through the disbanded montane advisory group.
“I think we’d certainly benefit from continuous scrutiny by that group or a similar group,” he said.
Meanwhile, observations in spring suggest the Bow Valley wolf pack had six pups, but only five have been seen lately.
“One has probably died; cause unknown,” Hurd said.
Two pups from last year, believed to be from the Bow Valley pack, were killed on the Trans-Canada Highway earlier this year, and one other young wolf was killed near Bath Creek west of Lake Louise.
Hurd said they don’t know how many pups were produced this year in the Fairholme wolf pack as the pack is not often observed.
“Mid-winter camera images showed three adults and six pups,” he said.
