Response of Woodland Caribou to Roads, Trails, Campgrounds, and Levels of Human Activity in Jasper National Park
Extended Abstract: Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations are declining in many areas of North America and are now classified as Threatened in Canada (COSEWIC 2002). In southern Jasper National Park, woodland caribou populations have declined by almost 50% since 1988 even though th...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.605.4440 http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/400484/whittington_edited_final_feb_22.pdf |
| Summary: | Extended Abstract: Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations are declining in many areas of North America and are now classified as Threatened in Canada (COSEWIC 2002). In southern Jasper National Park, woodland caribou populations have declined by almost 50% since 1988 even though these caribou are not subject to industrial activity. Causes of this decline may include predation, poor quality habitat, habitat degradation from recreational activity, and increased predation risk due to wolves using ploughed roads and packed trails in winter. In this paper, we examine how 10 GPS-collared woodland caribou responded to roads, trails, campgrounds, and levels of human activity during summer 2003. Our specific questions were 1. In summer, do woodland caribou avoid roads, trails, and campgrounds? 2. If woodland caribou avoid these features, do levels of human activity affect the intensity of avoidance? 3. Do levels of human activity affect woodland caribou displacement distance? We identified woodland caribou habitat selection or avoidance by comparing the distribution of caribou with random locations from mid-April through mid-October. For each caribou location, we generated a random location with the same time-date stamp and ecoregion (alpine or |
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