Fire and the Decline of a Mountain Caribou Herd

Abstract

Kootenays in the south-east corner of the province to the Cassiar region in the north-west reports are much the same except that there is variation as to when the declines first occurred. Banfield (1949) has noted this condition in his treatment of the status of caribou in America. Two features have characterized this decline. It has progressed from south to north, beginning in the south shortly after 1900 (Munro, 1947). In central British Columbia it began in the 1930's. The decline in the north appears to be quite recent but information from this wilderness is not detailed. Secondly, the decline has not wiped out most bands for which there is information. Apparently few caribou ranges have had their herds completely eliminated. Many causes have been suggested for this decline, the most frequently heard being wolves, hunters including Indians, and moose which are said to be incompatible with caribou. None of these suggestions withstands careful scrutiny. Declines have occurred in wolf-free areas. The spectacular increase of moose throughout central British Columbia since 1920 has undoubtedly reduced hunting pressure upon caribou. Finally, every story of moose-caribou incompatibility, when examined, is based upon the caribou decline being concurrent with the moose increase, and not upon observation of the two species together in the field. One of the decreased caribou herds inhabits Wells Gray Park (Lat. 520N, Long. 120'W) in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia. For four years wildlife investigations in this park have gathered information on this herd, but it is difficult to study both from its wandering habits and the rough country that is its range. The data gathered are fragmentary but are sufficient to form a general history of the herd when combined with information obtained from homesteaders who have lived near