Wildlife Management
The South Chilcotin Mountains host a great diversity of wildlife. Grizzly, Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, Moose, Deer and so many others live in this area. WSTF and partners are involved in several studies concerning these species.
The Grizzly bear is abundant in our area. Since 1990, staff and guests of Chilcotin Holidays, a partner of the WSTF, have been taking part in studies to:
- Establish grizzly numbers in the Chilcotin Mountains and the Bridge River Watershed.
- Identify home ranges of family units.
- Track cub survival rate.
- Track human-bear conflict and bear displacement.
These studies have lead to demonstrate that Grizzly bear numbers are very high.
The indicators include that most sows have three cubs and some have four at a time.
The young grizzly bears are moving into less suitable habitat to establish home ranges because the best habitat is taken up by older bears.
A Mountain Goat population inventory, done by Chilcotin Holidays and the BC Ministry of Environment is ongoing since 2005 in the Bridge River Watershed area.
The project’s purpose is to update the existing data for each of the 25 population groups and to look at each population group for trends, numbers of billies, nannies, kids, and ratio of each type. The project survey concluded that the total mountain goat population had increased since the 1980s.
In one area, the goat herd numbers appeared down and will need further research. This group is located in the Shulaps Mountains.
A Mountain Goat long-term population survey led by Chilcotin Holidays staff has been monitoring the trends of each population group in bridge river watershed since 1990.
The survey also shows that populations are increasing.
A Moose study done by Chilcotin Holidays staff since 2005 in the Bridge River Watershed area aims to get population numbers and locate all winter ranges when the moose are in the most favored habitat. The results are that population numbers are increasing. The moose are moving into previously unused habitat and old logging areas have created favoured moose habitat.
Two Bighorn Sheep studies have taken place since 1991: one on Shulaps Mountain and the other in Big Creek, led by Chilcotin Holidays and staff.
The purpose is to get accurate population numbers for each group of rams, ewes, and lambs as well as yearly lamb survival, migration patterns, winter ranges, summer ranges, and predator impact. To date, the population is stable. Some displacement of summer range is taking place due to motocross riding in the alpine on the north end of Shulaps Mountain.
This has to be addressed through education, road deactivation, and regulations.
Future projects
In partnership with WSTF, there are great opportunities to lead studies in the south chilcotin mountains.
Because of a partnership with the Chilcotin holidays ranch and the related guiding tourism activities, samples and observations of the wildilfe are easy to collect and available for studies related to:
- interconnection between populations (DNA analysis)
- monitoring of key species, migration of population, interaction with livestock, interaction with humans, hunting effects, logging effects, territory studies, studies of the diet, survival of kids.
