Abstract
The Owl Lake boreal woodland caribou population is the most southerly population in Manitoba. It is provincially ranked as a High Conservation Concern Population. Forestry operations exist in the area and there are plans for further forest harvest and renewal. The Happy Lake logging road is the only main access through the Owl Lake winter range. This logging road is currently closed to the public and access is limited to forestry operations during specific times of the year. An integrated forestry/caribou management strategy for the area provides for the maintenance of minimum areas of functional habitat. Habitat quality along the road was compared to habitat quality in the winter core use areas, within the winter range and outside the winter range. To evaluate the extent of functional habitat near the road, we conducted animal location and movement analysis using GPS data collected from January 2002 to March 2006. Habitat quality in the winter range, core use areas and along the road were assessed and found to be similar. Analysis of caribou locations and movement illustrate less use of high quality habitat adjacent to the Happy Lake Road. Loss of functional habitat is suggested to occur within 1 kilometre of the road. This potential loss of functional habitat should be incorporated into integrated forestry and caribou conservation strategies. Road management is recommended to minimize the potential sensory disturbance and associated impacts of all weather access on boreal woodland caribou.
Highlights
Manitoba’s woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are designated as a threatened species under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act (1990)
We found a mean value for randomly selected disks in the winter kernel area of 0.68 and a mean Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) for disks along the road of 0.71 (Table 1)
When comparing the HSI in the random samples against the observed core winter area mean, we found that 6% of the random discs in the winter kernel area and 15% of sample discs along the road had a value of 0.72 or greater
Summary
Manitoba’s woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are designated as a threatened species under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act (1990). In response to the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), Manitoba Conservation released a Conservation and Recovery Strategy for Boreal Woodland Caribou in Manitoba (Manitoba Conservation, 2006). This strategy identifies ten boreal woodland caribou ranges in the province, of which three are identified as “High Conservation Concern”, including the Owl Lake herd. An integrated forestry/woodland caribou management strategy was developed to provide a framework for forest harvest and renewal based on quantifiable habitat objectives for the conservation of the Owl Lake Range (EMWCAC, 2005).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
