Preliminary Analysis of Hunter Observations of Northern Mountain Caribou in the

• Main Authors: Mackenzie Mountains, Nicholas C. Larter
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: LIST OF FIGURES.; Canada; Northwest Territories; Yukon; Mackenzie mountains; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.383.6424; http://www.arlis.org/docs/vol1/D/796857351.pdf

The contents of this paper are the sole responsibility of the authori The northern mountain population (NMP) of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) was assessed by the Committee on Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as a species of special concern in 2002 and was listed as such under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) in 2004. In the preparation of a SARA management plan, demographic information on the 39 delineated caribou herds was required (Environment Canada 2011). The Bonnet Plume and Redstone are two of the larger northern mountain caribou herds residing in the Mackenzie Mountains shared by the Yukon and Northwest Territories (NWT). Survey data from these herds are lacking, however Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) has collected voluntary wildlife observation data from the Mackenzie Mountain Outfitters and clients since 1991. I used this time series observation data to explore demographic characteristics of the Bonnet Plume and Redstone herds. I found consistent differences between the two herds in the ratios of calves per 100 adult females and male:female but also surprising consistency within herds over the past 20 years. ii