Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks

Parks Canada has released a Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks to guide caribou conservation actions in the mountain national parks of Banff, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier. The strategy identifies key threats to the caribou populations and outlines actions to help mitigate these threats.

The Strategy

• The Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks (PDF, 2719 KB)
  
  
• Glossary

Hard copies of the Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks are available by request.

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Online Survey Results

Parks Canada values your input and suggestions to help us make the best possible management decisions in support of woodland caribou conservation. From November 25th, 2011 through January 31st, 2012, comments were collected from interested Canadians through an on-line survey. Here are the results of that survey:

• Thank you to everyone who took time to respond. Parks Canada received over 150 comments from across Canada. We are currently compiling this feedback and will share the results on this site as soon as possible.

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Woodland Caribou
© Parks Canada / Mark Bradley

How to get involved

Public information sessions and opportunities to participate in consultation on specific conservation actions will take place in each national park as they apply. Conservation actions will vary among the mountain national parks due to unique circumstances in each area. To find out about upcoming information sessions or to receive caribou conservation updates from Parks Canada, please contact us by email, phone, fax or mail at the following address.

Parks Canada Caribou
Jasper National Park
P.O. Box 10
Jasper, AB
T0E 1E0

Phone: 780-852-6204
Fax: 780-852-4775
Email: caribou@pc.gc.ca

Your comments and suggestions are used by Parks Canada to help guide the implementation of conservation actions in the mountain national parks.

Background

• The southern mountain population of woodland caribou has declined across western Canada. Listed as a Threatened Species under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), southern mountain caribou range includes parts of Mount Revelstoke, Glacier, Jasper and Banff National Parks.
  
  
• The Conservation Strategy for Southern Mountain Caribou in Canada’s National Parks is meant specifically to engage Canadians in caribou conservation by outlining Parks Canada’s conservation actions within the mountain national parks. It will also provide important information in the development of an Environment Canada-led recovery stategy for the entire population of southern mountain caribou as listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act.
  
  
  
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Strategy Highlights

Five Key threats to woodland caribou populations in the mountain parks have been identified and actions proposed to reduce these threats. Each action may or may not be applicable in all four of the mountain national parks (Banff, Jasper, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier).

1. Changes to predator-prey populations in and around caribou habitat

• Keep primary prey for caribou predators low by preventing “elk refuges”
• Monitor predator populations to anticipate their impact on caribou recovery
• Maintain/monitor caribou population size and habitat

2. Facilitated access for predators to caribou

• Provide visitors with opportunities for recreation in areas not important for caribou while restricting recreation in caribou habitat
• Discontinue setting early season ski tracks that lead to caribou winter habitat

3. Direct disturbance

• Reduce speed zones on roads through important habitat
• Implement periodic seasonal trail and road closures
• Relocate trails away from important caribou habitat
• Educate park visitors to avoid disturbing caribou

4. Habitat loss

• Use prescribed fire in areas away from caribou habitat to maintain a safe distance between caribou and their predators
• Use prescribed burns to guard against large fires within caribou habitat
• Development within important caribou habitat to be considered under exceptional circumstances only, and must not adversely affect caribou

5. The increased threats faced by populations that have already become dangerously small

• Re-introduce or add caribou where herd sizes are critically low
• Manage other threats to prevent caribou populations from becoming small

Woodland Caribou
© Mark Bradley

Web links

• Banff National Park – woodland caribou
• Jasper National Park – woodland caribou
• Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks - woodland caribou
• Woodland caribou – Southern Mountain population

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Video

Watch our video in YouTube


Woodland caribou numbers are declining across Canada. Five key threats have been identified for populations found in the mountain national parks of Banff, Glacier, Jasper and Mount Revelstoke. Parks Canada is working hard to reduce these threats and keep woodland caribou on the mountain landscapes. Video transcript

If you want to learn more about caribou conservation in the mountain national parks, visit Parks Canada's Species at Risk page.

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