Can photograph identification be a useful tool in the identification of Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) at the Kootenay Pass Feeding Station, British Columbia?

• Other Authors: Laurie-Serruys, Kara (Laurie-Serruys, K) (Author) (Author)
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Megaptera novaeangliae; Ursus maritimus
• Online Access: https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/sc%3A4888

Recreation, Fish and Wildlife The use of photo-identification has been applied to marine mammals such as sea otters (Enhydra lutris), Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and have been applied to Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). Photo identification is the method of taking photographs of a universal marking on a species and using those to identify members of the herd or grouping without being invasive. With the photographs that are begin collected by these studies, researchers can compile these into a database and all researchers would be able to have access to these photos for identification in the field. I wanted to use this method of identification on Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and determine is this method can be used on wild herds, as well as a way to monitor a species population from a distance. The use of photo-identification on Bighorn sheep will require taking photographs of the rumps and the heads of each member of the herd that is located at the Kootenay Pass feeding station. This herd have been coming to the station for about 40 years and they have become accustom to having humans near, which makes this herd a perfect subject for this study. By testing this method on this herd, we can determine if this technique of identification can be used on wild herds and different species in the long run.