Editor:
Mountain caribou in the central populations of B.C. and Alberta have been declared endangered.
After a century of clearcut logging and hunting, the lights went on about 20 years ago and managers became concerned. The Species at Risk Recovery program is calling for a reduction of wolves to less than three wolves per 1,000 square kilometres – effectively a dramatic cull.
There is no historic record of caribou in Banff National Park. The first small band of about six animals was found by Eric Langshaw while on an aerial survey for elk with Luigi Morgantini’s research project. They were presumed to have drifted down from the Brazeau herd in Jasper. Over the next four decades, the group varied between half and a dozen animals. The recent demise in Banff was entirely due to natural causes.
We should not treat Banff and Jasper separately by their political boundaries, but rather by their biophysical eco-site attributes. Wildlife does not recognize boundaries except by available habitat. Let’s think in terms of a Rocky Mountains Park and put our efforts where they will do the most good.
A captive breeding program releasing domestic caribou back into small pockets of wild landscape is a desperate measure with little chance of success. Nor is it necessary to risk millions of dollars on such a long shot when there are surplus mountain caribou in northern British Columbia.
These strong wild animals are currently being hunted for sport at $2,000 per licence. They could be relocated alive to augment the southern herds, rather than be killed for decoration.
Perhaps some fresh wild blood in the still large A La Peche herd in northern Jasper (RMP) might result in recovery and, ultimately, dispersion south into previously occupied ranges which are currently in decline.
Rick Kunelius,
Banff
