Seeking sanctuary: the neonatal calving period among central mountain woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)

We examined a long-term GPS-collar data set (1998–2014) collected from 81 adult female caribou in two central mountain herds in A lberta and British Columbia, Canada. Although we were unable to validate our results with aerial surveys and pregnancy tests, our estimates of parturition rates, survival rates, calving dates, and habitat selection were consistent with previous studies. We identified 83 calving sites. Female caribou selected calving sites and postparturition habitat on high-elevation ridgetops with gradual slopes and avoided anthropogenic linear features. Female caribou displayed low fidelity to interannual calving ranges with a mean distance of 8.7 km between calving ranges. Fidelity was lower in areas with h igh seismic-line density. Conservation of high-elevation habitat with limited anthropogenic disturbance is likely to provide the greatest benefit to central mountain caribou during the neonatal calving period, and represents a potential management strategy for population recovery efforts.
Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - Category: Zoology Authors: Source Type: research